Disneyland Windows on Main Street (E-M)

Goto Section: Intro and A-D • E-M • N-Y

Peter Ellenshaw Morgan (Bill) Evans Van Arsdale France Blaine Gibson D. S. Gilmore J.S. Hamel John Hench Alexander Irvine

Richard Irvine Robert F Jani Fred Joerger Emile Kuri Leopold Gunther R. Lessing Jack Lindquist

Mrs. M.A. Mang Ivan Martin Wilson "Bill" Martin Edward T. Meck Christopher D. Miller George Mills Seb Morey

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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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..
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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.
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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."
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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).
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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).
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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.
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Posted: 5/24/13




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