Everything Changes

In 1967, Roy O. Disney put his brother's company up for sale. It was acquired by the ITT company, a conglomerate out of New York City. The ITT company owned the Sheraton hotel company as well and many other companies. What he didn't realize is that this would spark many changes.
 
January 1968
Archie Comics for sale, MCA, Gulf+Western possible buyers.
ITT announcing that "Florida Disneyland" progressing as planned.
AT&T imagines telephony by way of computers.
 
February 1968
Archie Comics buyers list: ITT, ABC, Gulf+Western, Westinghouse, MCA, Hassenfield Brothers, Bally Manufacturing.
ABC to launch new film label, "Hollywood Pictures".
Times-Mirror Company to acquire KOMO of Seattle, Washington.
Hearst to form Hearst Broadcasting Company.
CBS to launch CBS Films.
 
March 1968
Archie Comics buyer confirmed as ABC.
RCA: "NBC not up for sale".
AT&T: "Telephony by computers is the future of the business".
Nolan Bushnell graduates from the University of California, Berkeley.
Seattle to host DNC at Seattle Center Coliseum.
Donald J. Trump expelled from Wharton University.
Richard Nixon drops out of primaries.
American Independent Productions founded in Long Beach, California.
 
April 1968
ABC announces Hollywood Pictures debut film to feature Nichols, May, Newhart.
Kansas City, MO, to host RNC.
Newly expelled Wharton University student Donald J. Trump begins working in his father's business.
Speaking of working in his father's business, R.E. "Ted" Turner III takes over his father's billboard business.
ITT announces deal with American Motors Company to feature AMC cars at Disneyland, "Florida Disneyland".
MCA no longer interested in buying ABC.
 
May 1968
ABC announces Hollywood Pictures debut film to be about Wild West and be written by a little-known Jewish writer named Mel Brooks.
Hubert H. Humphrey becomes presumptive Democratic nominee, meanwhile Nelson Rockefeller is the presumptive Republican nominee.
AT&T believes that "telephony by computing" is possible.
 
June 1968
Gannett, the newspaper company, announces they are buying the CBS network from Westinghouse for $3.4. million dollars.
Knight Ridder acquires 35 stations to create a company called "Metromedia".
Columbia Pictures is to be sold to RCA, owners of the NBC TV network and RCA Records for $7.4. million.
IBM to acquire Hewlett-Packard for $4.6. billion.
Steven Jobs begins attending high school.
George Lucas begins work on his first film, THX-138.
Hollywood Pictures announces that the Wild West film (Brooks/Nichols/May/Newhart) will be called Blazing Saddles and feature a black sheriff played by Richard Pryor. (Hollywood Pictures is owned by ABC, and this is there debut).
AT&T's "telephony by computing" idea shows up as a government memo for ARPA.
(By the way, MLK was still shot, but RFK is alive and it is rumored Hubert H. Humphrey will announce him as a Vice Presidential pick).
 
July 1968
Chuck Jones announces he is founding Chuck Jones Studios.
Gannett announces that CBS Films will release THX-138, the first work of a young filmmaker named George Lucas.
Hollywood Pictures announces that Blazing Saddles will begin filming in mid-1969.
Paul Simon, the musician announces that he will contribute to Blazing Saddles.
James Caan announces that he will have a role in Blazing Saddles.
 
August 1968
The VP's are announced: Hubert H. Humphrey picks RFK, and Nelson Rockefeller picks Richard Nixon.
ITT announces that the "Florida Disneyland" will be called Walt Disney World.
Hollywood Pictures announces that Blazing Saddles will have a $4.5. million budget.
THX-138 begins filming.
ITT announces that in addition to their Sheraton hotel brand and American Motors, newly-created soft-drink giant PepsiCo, Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing, and Gulf Oil will be partners of Walt Disney World.
Chuck Jones Studios announces it's distribution deal with Warner Bros.
@Beta.003 who else should I put in as sponsors at Walt Disney World, and what should Chuck Jones Studios's first project be?
 
October 1968
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer goes up for sale. These are the bidders: Time, Inc., Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing, Motorola, & American Express.
The first ever Vice Presidential debate is held at Washington State University. RFK is generally considered the winner of the night.
MCA announces that they will be joining in on the Walt Disney World project.
Mattel, a small toy company out of El Segundo, CA, announces that they are being acquired by MCA.
 
ABC:
ABC
Archie Comics
Hollywood Pictures
Gulf+Western:
Paramount
Stax Records
Madison Square Garden -> New York Knicks (NBA), New York Rangers (NHL)
RCA:
NBC
RCA Records
Columbia Pictures
ITT:
Walt Disney Productions
Disney Parks -> Disneyland, "Walt Disney World"
MCA:
MCA Records
Universal Pictures
Up for sale:
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
 
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