Setting the Stage
On this day in 1955, Walt Disney received a memorandum from WED (the predecessor of Disney Imagineering) about the wording of the plaques that he wanted above the Disneyland tunnel entrances.
Bill Martin
Happy Birthday Disney Legend Bill Martin! On this day in 1917, Wilson “Bill” Martin was born in Marshalltown, Iowa. Bill was the art director in charge of the original design of Fantasyland and is responsible for attraction layout designs that shape guest experiences today at Disney Parks around the globe.
Bill Evans – Walt’s Green Thumb
On this day in 1910, Morgan “Bill” Evans was born in Santa Monica, California. As Disney Imagineering Legend Marty Sklar describes him, “Bill defined Disney theme park landscaping.”
Behind the Attraction Preview
Disney has just announced that a new original “pop history” docuseries focused on Disney Parks attractions will be debuting Friday, July 16th on Disney+. Behind the Attraction is a 10-episode, hourlong series produced by Seven Bucks Production (co-founded by part-time Jungle Cruise skipper Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson) in partnership with Brian Volk-Weiss, the creator behind the hit Netflix pop-culture docuseries “The Toys That Made Us.”
Green Imagineering
A recent Orange County Register article highlighted a number of enhancements made to the Haunted Mansion attraction while the park was closed during the pandemic. In addition to a few improvements inside the mansion, the pet cemetery outside also received some thematic upgrades.
A Role for Joe
The partnership between Walt Disney and Admiral Joe Fowler was essential for getting Disneyland built and open under the time and financial constraints impacting the park’s construction.
A Treat for Anaheim’s Halloween Parade
One of the first previews of original Disneyland attractions came as a treat to attendees of the 1954 Anaheim Halloween Festival parade. Concept art below by Yale Gracey shows the parade floats designed by Disney for the city’s big annual event.
Disneyland’s Only True Residents
On this day in 1910, one of Disneyland’s very first employees and only true residents, Owen Pope, was born in Josephine, Texas. Pope, along with his wife Dolly, are the only people to ever live at and literally call Disneyland their home.
Disneyland Comes Here
On this day in 1954, the exact location of where Disneyland would be built was revealed for the first time in a front page story by the Anaheim Bulletin along with a headline that read “Disneyland Comes Here.”
The Father of Fantasyland
Disney artist and Imagineer Bruce Bushman was born on this day in 1911. Bushman, pictured here with Walt Disney, was a lead designer of the original Fantasyland as you can see by his concept art on the walls. Bushman was first hired by the Disney Studios to work on Fantasia on April 5, 1937. He’d…
