Joined Dec 2012
1,131 Posts | 3+
Savannah, GA
Joined Jul 2010
7,575 Posts | 16+
Georgia, USA
Joined Mar 2010
1,329 Posts | 6+
Ohio
Walt Disney the man or Walt Disney the entertainment empire? I doubt most people have seen his face, so If you say the man I'd have to counter with Ray Kroc.
Joined Mar 2011
1,875 Posts | 0+
Georgia USA
He was no hermit ... he was all over television... everyone has seen his face ...
and the entertainment empire you speak of is just one aspect of why he is on top by a mile
Joined Apr 2011
10,429 Posts | 21+
Virginia
I just got tickets for my trip back to the U.S. and I land in New York for 20 perfect days of Americana. So I have to include the greatest 3 baseball players from the greatest baseball city in The United States.
The Cultural Icons for 20th Century United States for me are:
Edwin, Duke, Snider
Willie Howard Mays Jr.
Mickey Charles Mantle
The Cultural Icons for 20th Century United States for me are:
Edwin, Duke, Snider
Willie Howard Mays Jr.
Mickey Charles Mantle
Joined Jul 2011
5,952 Posts | 32+
Belgium
Joined Jul 2010
7,575 Posts | 16+
Georgia, USA
In all seriousness, I agree. For several years, when I was a kid, Walt would introduce each episode of the Disney tv series that ran on Sunday evenings. It was rather popular.
Don't forget Harley Davidson. I also think of such writers who were widely read by older generations here in Italy: Hemingway, Faulkner, Steinbeck.
In the end I would say the Statue of Liberty.
In the end I would say the Statue of Liberty.
Joined Mar 2010
1,329 Posts | 6+
Ohio
Which is why I would show no trepidation in nominating him as one of the "Most Influential" Americans of the 20th Century. Perhaps it's a generational thing, but I think of Walt Disney I personally don't envision the man Walt, I see visons plastic mouse ears or The Magical Kingdom theme parks. It's synonymous with American culture as is the Golden Arches of McDonald's or Coca-Cola.
As an Icon, Elvis is and will forever reign as 'The King.'
Joined Mar 2011
1,875 Posts | 0+
Georgia USA
I don't know how old you are ... but the rest of us all saw plenty of him
also...
Snow White
Pinnochio
Sleeping Beauty
Dumbo
Fantasia
Mary Poppins
Bambi
Peter Pan
the Jungle Book
Alice in Wonderland
the .... and the Tramp
101 Dalmatians
the Little Mermaid
Beauty and the Beast
the Lion King
Sunday Night's the Wonderful World of Disney
& the Mickey Mouse Club
Joined Mar 2009
25,361 Posts | 13+
Texas
Joined Dec 2010
5,581 Posts | 721+
Pillium
Last edited:
True, but way off topic.
Mary Quant, VW Beetle (bug), Fidel Castro, the Berlin wall and Yuri Gagarin all define the sixties yet none of them are American cultural icons either.
Joined Aug 2011
7,045 Posts | 6+
Texas
This may sound weird, but since the 60's there has been too many British cross overs to the US that i dare say their has been a further blending of American and British culture. More intertwined i might say.
Joined Aug 2011
7,045 Posts | 6+
Texas
My vote goes to the Duke:
Have i befriended you yet? I need to check.Besides John Wayne, Elvis Presley, Martin Luther King & Spider-Man i'd have too say Walt Disney completes the top of my list. Not in any particular order of course.
Joined Nov 2012
5,292 Posts | 531+
Seattle
I would disagree re. Elvis, because he was American cultural icon for the Americans. In Europe, his fame is definitely obscured by the Beatles. Correct me if I am wrong, but for any European, Beatles win, hands down.
I would say, Marylin Monroe. Her screen image was so captivating and overwhelming. In the XX century, it was the face overwhelmingly associated with America.
I would say, Marylin Monroe. Her screen image was so captivating and overwhelming. In the XX century, it was the face overwhelmingly associated with America.
Joined Jul 2007
9,098 Posts | 19+
Canada
Last edited:
For the late 20th century I would probably say Ronald McDonald. Because it is so strongly associated with the most notable aspect of recent American society: polarization.
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