August 1996

MORE POWER Date: 08/27/96 Category: NEWS Page: 1A JONATHAN WEIL, Democrat-Gazette Business Writer Jennings Osborne's contract with the Walt Disney World Co. isn't just some Mickey Mouse operation.Osborne is expanding his relationship with Walt Disney World Co., gaining access to some of the corporation's animated floats and participating in a contest to decorate a lucky winner's house for Christmas.And each time the Disney executives visit Little Rock to meet with Osborne, the Christmas lights on the large Nativity scene, and those illuminating an electric portrait of Mickey Mouse shaking hands with Santa Claus, will be glowing. Just like they did last week."I did it as a surprise to Disney," Osborne said. "Every time they come I'll put them up."No longer just the millionaire founder of Arkansas Research Medical Testing Center, Osborne has been awarded the title of a full-fledged Disney "imagineer" -- a term Disney uses for its animation and creative engineering team. Osborne says he is donating his services.The partnership materialized last year after the Arkansas Supreme Court ruled that Osborne's longtime Christmas extravaganza of 3 million lights and animated characters was a nuisance to neighbors. Last Christmas, Disney display Osborne's creation on Residential Street at the Disney-MGM Studios lot at Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. -- a tradition Disney says it will keep up this year.As for what's he's "imagineering," Osborne said he's keeping most of his plans a secret.But he said Disney is giving him at least five floats from Disneyland's Main Street Electrical Light Parade to toy with --a dancing bear, a pink elephant, a hippopotamus, and two mushrooms: one pink, the other blue.Disney is retiring the parades at its California and Florida theme parks after this year. Osborne said Disney would move his five floats from California to Florida later this year. He said he'll mix the floats into the Residential Street show, which he said will expand now that Disney has increased its power capabilities to accommodate the display.Osborne also said Disney and Coca-Cola Co. will sponsor a nationwide contest beginning this fall. The prize: Osborne will decorate the winner's house in time for Christmas.Additionally, Osborne said he will oversee a makeover for MGM Studios' Earful Tower --the theme park's landmark water-tower, whose top boasts Mickey Mouse ears. Osborne said he envisions turning the water-tower into a giant Mickey Mouse.Other ideas include using Osborne's lights to decorate Cinderella's castle at the Magic Kingdom, Osborne said. Osborne also said he's tinkering with new color schemes and prototypes, including a mechanism that makes his lighted angels appear like they're flying."I love to work with somebody where they never say No,"' Osborne said. Osborne said he met with three Disney executives last week: Malcolm Ross, vice president for MGM Studios; Phil Holmes, general manager for operations and entertainment at MGM; and John Phelan, program development manager at Walt Disney World. None were available for comment on Monday.Osborne also said he's planning two new Christmastime displays around Arkansas, but won't say where. "I can't say that," Osborne said. "No-o-o-o, ho-o-o-o-o. That's part of Christmas. You're always wanting to unwrap my packages."Plans already are under way for repeat performances at St. Vincent Infirmary Medical Center in Little Rock, the Ronald McDonald House across from Arkansas Children's Hospital in Little Rock, the Little Rock Zoo and the Warren Town Square, among other sites. Osborne also said he plans to "Osbornetize" Riverfront Park."It's for the world to enjoy, since my neighbors on Cantrell are not very excited about my Christmas decorations," Osborne said. "The children are, though. Christmas is for the children."Still unresolved is Osborne's Chapter 11 bankruptcy case in Little Rock. The IRS contends that Osborne and his wife, Mitzi, owe at least $1.2 million in taxes. The Osbornes say the bill is closer to $600,000. Osborne also owes $207,996 in state taxes.U.S. Bankruptcy Judge James Mixon still has not approved a bankruptcy plan for Osborne. Osborne's attorney, Robert Lowry, said the Disney partnership isn't interfering with the Osbornes' bankruptcy proceedings. But the Osbornes' spending habits occasionally have raised questions.The 1995 Disney contract with the Osbornes was sealed under court order as a part of the bankruptcy proceedings.In motions filed May 28, the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration had asked Mixon to dismiss the bankruptcy, charging that the Osbornes were spending money unreasonably and unnecessarily. The state agency said the Osbornes spent $20,000 to take an entourage of 16 people to Disney World in late 1995. As part of the original light deal, Disney paid for Osborne, his wife and daughter to go to the theme part for a week.And it said the Osbornes spent about $25,000 on a fireworks display for the 1996 Riverfest event in Little Rock. The agency later withdrew the motions, and two hearings on them scheduled for last month were canceled.Osborne was vague about plans to expand the show at his three side-by-side homes at 4 Robinwood Drive, fronting Cantrell Road, this year. Last year, he decorated the homes with a toned-down display of about 12,000 lights, including the Nativity and Mickey Mouse scenes."I'm sure they won't be happy, but I'm not here to make them happy," he said of the neighbors whose lawsuits prompted the Arkansas Supreme Court order last year. "This is just a mechanism that brings a lot of happiness to a lot of people."Catherine Cockrill, one of the neighbors who sued Osborne over the lights, said she just hopes this Christmas will be a quiet one. "We just want to enjoy our Christmas season and it's been nice and peaceful this past year," Cockrill said. "And we hope he'll abide by the orders of the state Supreme Court."

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