Disneyland Windows on Main Street (E-M)
Goto Section: Intro and A-D • E-M • N-Y
Peter Ellenshaw
Location: Above Main Street Photo Supply Company
Inscription: Plaza School of Art - Instructors - Hebert Ryman - John Hench - Peter
Ellenshaw
Peter Ellenshaw was a painter at WED. His most famous Disneyland work is the classic
rendering of Disneyland that Walt Disney pointed to on the Disneyland show prior to the
park's opening. He also painted the diorama for Space Station X-1. Peter was also a matte
painter at the studios on such films as Mary Poppins and 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea. In
fact, two of his paintings for 20,000 Leagues were a part the 20,000 Leagues Exhibit at
early Disneyland.
Back to List
Morgan "Bill" Evans
Location: Above the Opera House
Inscription: Evans Gardens - Exotic & Rare Species - Freeway Collections - Est. 1910 -
Morgan (Bill) Evans - Senior Partner
Bill Evans was the original Disneyland landscaper. His beautiful work can be seen
everywhere you walk. The "Freeway Collections" in the inscription refers to the
practice of collecting trees before the bulldozers paving the way for the 5 Freeway got to
them and relocating them to Disneyland. For an insightful interview with Bill Evans, check
out the The "E" Ticket #23.
Back to List
Van Arsdale France
Location: Above the unoccupied spot between Great American Pastimes and the Main Street
Magic Shop
Inscription: Van Arsdale France - Founder and Professor Emeritus - Disney Universities
Van France was brought in by Walt Disney to train the employees. He was instrumental in
the development of Disney University. He also wrote the script for the Rainbow Cavern Mine
Ride.
Back to List
Blaine Gibson
Location: Above the Opera House
Inscription: The Busy Hands School - Sculpting, Whittling & Soap Carving & Blaine
Gibson - The Eternal Pursuit of the Artists Craft
Blaine Gibson was an animator at the studios before joining WED. There he became a
sculptor and worked on the Indian Village, the Submarine, Mr. Toad, Jungle Cruise, Mr.
Lincoln and Pirates of the Caribean, among many others. But perhaps his most visible work
is the "Partners" statue located in the hub of Disneyland. For a wonderful
interview with Blaine, check out The "E" Ticket #21.
Back to List
D. S. Gilmore
Location: Above New Century Timepieces
Inscription: D. S. Gilmore, MD - E. G. Upjohn, MD
A personal friend of Walt's and chairman of the Upjohn Co.
Back to List
J. S. Hamel
Location: Above the Main Street Bank
Inscription: J.S. Hamel - Consulting Engineer
J. S. Hamel was a civil and electrical engineer hired by Walt to help build Disneyland.
His projects include Schweitzer Falls of the Jungle Cruise.
Alastair Dallas: Jacob Samuel "Sam" Hamel was another unsung genius. All the
water in the park, the system of pipes and sluicegates that keep the water moving and
fresh, was his purview. He and Joe Fowler invented the submarine ride, according to the
patent. Hamel had a consulting mechanical and electrical engineering practice and
Disneyland was just one client. I understand that Walt contacted General Electric, which
had innovated in the design of the 1939 World's Fair, regarding Disneyland and they
declined but recommended Hamel.
Back to List
John Hench
Location: Above Main Street Photo Supply Company
Inscription: Plaza School of Art - Instructors - Herbert Ryman - John Hench - Peter
Ellenshaw
John Hench has been called the single person, after Walt, who had the greatest impact on
the design of Disneyland. He was an original member of WED. Some of his projects include
Main Street, Adventure Thru Inner Space and Snow White's Grotto. He also conceived the
Space Port, an idea that later evolved into Space Mountain. John Hench has been
involved in the creative development of every Disney Theme Park.
Back to List
Alexander Irvine
Location: Above the Baby Care Center
Inscription: Alexander Irvine, M.D.
Opthamologist father of Richard Irvine, Walt's eye doctor and founder of the Doheny
Eye Institute.
Back to List
Richard Irvine
Location: Above Main Street Bank
Inscription: Richard Irvine - Marvin Davis
Richard "Dick" Irvine worked on the initial building of Disneyland. His projects
include the Mickey Mouse Circus. Richard eventually became president of Imagineering and
was named a Disney Legend. He has a daughter-in-law, Kim Irvine, who is fast becoming
famous for projects such as King Triton's Fountain and the Sleeping Beauty Castle
renovation.
Back to List
Robert F. Jani
Location: Above the Opera House.
Inscription: Main Street Electrical Parade World Headquarters – Robert F Jani, Master
Showman
Longtime Vice President of Entertainment and creator of the Main Street Electrical Parade
which ran from 1972-1996..
Back to List
Fred Joerger
Location: Above the Carnation Co.
Inscription: Decorative Fountains and Watercolor - By Fred Joerger
Fred Joerger worked on Disneyland's waterways, the Matterhorn and as a designer on
Storybook Land.
Alastair Dallas: I met Fred while working on EPCOT and then Tokyo Disneyland.
Pleasant, artistic fellow. He was called in as art director for rockwork and special
finishes such as distressed timbers. I seem to recall from my research that his father was
an academy award winning art director from 1930s-40s Hollywood.
Back to List
Emile Kuri
Location: Above the Market House
Inscription: Emile Kuri - Interior Decorator
The following information on Emile Kuri is courtesty of Brian Bergstrom (ke6sus@catholic.org):
"Emile contributed considerable decorating talent to many of the parks settings from
the park's earliest stages to the time he retired. Emile was responsible for designing the
lower level of the Sailing Ship Columbia. Emile supervised the Studio's Set Decorating
Department, and regularly assisted in creating Academy Award winning stage settings. Emile
was also Walt's personal interior decorator."
Back to List
Leopold
Location: Above Disneyana
Inscription: Attorney at Law - Youngman & Leopold
Leopold was a senior partner in Youngman, Hungate and Leopold, a firm that played
important roles in the early Disneyland negotiations. (Still don't know his first name
though).
Back to List
Gunther R. Lessing
Location: .Above the Disneyana Shop
Inscription: Gunther R. Lessing, Esq
Gunther R. Lessing was a lawyer for Walt Disney and the studios for more than three
decades. He represented Disney in a dispute over the money from "The Skeleton
Dance", the first of the Silly Symphonies.
Back to List
Jack Lindquist
Location: Above City Hall
Inscription: J. B. Lindquist - Honorary Mayor of Disneyland - "Jack of All Trades.
Master of Fun"
Jack Lindquist was a Disney publicist. He conceived "Operation Water," which was
the pouring of waters from all the oceans of the world into the Small World waterway by
Walt and children of the world. He went on to become the President of Disneyland.
Back to List
M. A. Mang
Location: Above New Century Timepieces
Inscription: Good Neighbor Foundation - "Caring and Giving Come From the Heart"
- Mrs. M. A. Mang - Director
Mary Anne Mang was Manager of Public Relations at Disneyland for many years.
Back to List
Ivan Martin
Location: Above the Market House
Inscription: Buena Vista Construction Co. - Jack Rorex - Ivan Martin - Cash Shockey
Ivan Martin worked on the construction of Disneyland.
Back to List
Wilson "Bill" Martin
Location: Above the Main Street Bank
Inscription: Wilson Martin - Gabriel Scognamillo
Art Director and project designer on numberous attractions including Sleeping Beauty
Castle, Monorail, and Pirates of the Caribbean.
Back to List
Edward T. Meck
Location: Above the China Closet
Inscription: The Disneyland News - Edward T. Meck - Editor In Chief
Edward was one of Disneyland's original publicists. The Disneyland News was a promotional
newspaper peddled to guests by paperboys during the early years of the park.
Thanks to Brian Bergstrom for providing some of this information on Edward.
Alastair Dallas: "Ted" if I recall - is currently running either Magic Mountain
or Knott's Berry Farm. Sorry, I've forgotten, but I have met the fellow. I seem to
memorize people based on actors-Meck reminds me of Martin Milner from Adam-12.
Back to List
Christopher D. Miller
Location: Above the restrooms near the Carnation Co.
Inscription: Christopher D. Miller - Turkish Baths
Christopher Miller was Walt's first grandson by his daughter Diane and his son-in-law Ron
Miller.
Back to List
George Mills
Location: Above the Market House
Inscription: Carpenters & Joiners - George Mills - Ray Conway - Chas Alexander
George Mills was in charge of the Mill (carpentry).
Back to List
Seb Morey
Location: Above the Market House
Inscription: Seb Morey - Taxidermist
Seb Morey was Disneyland's original taxidermist and did a large portion of the work on the
Jungle Cruise.
Back to List
Laughing Place Podcast
The LPP goes presidential this week as they discuss the Hall of Presidents, Hong Kong Disneyland announcements, Princess Protection Program, DCA's possible private club and lots of viewer feedback including Brent's Corner plus the Captain's Challenge and 50 Words on Transformers. Sponsored by HoJoAnaheim.com and MouseEarVacations.com.
Disneyland Attraction Posters at
The LaughingPlace Store
The LaughingPlace Store now carries a Disneyland Attraction Posters from Sanders CC Gallery
LP Live Recent Picture
PAP in hand I start my 4th of July adventure to the DL Resort
Posted: 7/4/09