Disney History

Disney History

Articles on the rich history of the Walt Disney Company.

Designer Times Bob Gurr (4/13/2005)
Disney Legend Bob Gurr presents the 60th part in his series of columns the early days at Disney and his career. This month Bob gives a case history of designing the Mk III and IV Monorails.

Designer Times Bob Gurr (3/10/2005)
Disney Legend Bob Gurr presents the 59th part in his series of columns the early days at Disney and his career. This month Bob talks about the design process.

Designer Times Bob Gurr (2/10/2005)
Disney Legend Bob Gurr presents the 58th part in his series of columns the early days at Disney and his career. This month Bob talks about working Mickey Mouse Airlines - Traveling at Disney

Designer Times Bob Gurr (1/10/2005)
Bob has a special column on his friend and fellow Disney Legend, Ward Kimball.

Designer Times Bob Gurr (12/9/2004)
Disney Legend Bob Gurr presents the 56th part in his series of columns the early days at Disney and his career. This month Bob talks about working on the last movie monster, Godzilla.

Designer Times Bob Gurr (11/10/2004)
Disney Legend Bob Gurr presents the 55th part in his series of columns the early days at Disney and his career. This month Bob has more on his Las Vegas days.

Designer Times Bob Gurr (10/13/2004)
Disney Legend Bob Gurr presents the 54th part in his series of columns the early days at Disney and his career. This month Bob talks about some of the secrets behind Las Vegas' Treasure Island Pirate Battle Show.

Designer Times Bob Gurr (9/8/2004)
Legendary Imagineer Bob Gurr presents the 53rd part in his series of columns the early days at Disney and his career. This month Bob talks about his work on the Treasure Island Pirate Battle Show in Las Vegas.

Designer Times Bob Gurr (8/11/2004)
Legendary Imagineer Bob Gurr presents the 52nd part in his series of columns the early days at Disney and his career. This month Bob talks about his work with Iwerks.

Designer Times Bob Gurr (7/14/2004)
Legendary Imagineer Bob Gurr presents the 51st part in his series of columns the early days at Disney and his career. This month Bob talks about his work on the Jurassic Park Movie T-Rex Animated Figure.

The Wren's Nest, Birth of the Laughing Place Mark A. Thompson (6/30/2004)
Guest contributor Mark A. Thompson takes a detailed look at the birthplace of the real Laughing Place - Joel Chandler Harris' Home.

Designer Times Bob Gurr (6/9/2004)
Legendary Imagineer Bob Gurr presents the 50th part in his series of columns the early days at Disney and his career. This month Bob talks about his work on the falling helicopter at Universal Studios' King Kong.

Designer Times Bob Gurr (5/12/2004)
Legendary Imagineer Bob Gurr presents the 49th part in his series of columns the early days at Disney and his career. This month Bob talks about his work on King Kong for Universal Studios.

Designer Times Bob Gurr (4/14/2004)
Legendary Imagineer Bob Gurr presents the 48th part in his series of columns the early days at Disney and his career. This month Bob talks about his work for Universal Studios on the 2010 Special Effects demonstration.

Designer Times Bob Gurr (3/10/2004)
Legendary Imagineer Bob Gurr presents the 47th part in his series of columns the early days at Disney and his career. This month Bob talks about his work on the Tommy Walker Productions Spacecraft.

Designer Times Bob Gurr (2/11/2004)
Legendary Imagineer Bob Gurr presents the 46th part in his series of columns the early days at Disney and his career. This month Bob continues talking about his work on the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics closing ceremony.

Designer Times: 1984 Los Angeles Olympics - Closing Ceremonies Spacecraft Bob Gurr (1/14/2004)
Legendary Imagineer Bob Gurr presents the 45th part in his series of columns the early days at Disney and his career. This month Bob talks about his work on the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics closing ceremony.

Designer Times Bob Gurr (12/10/2003)
Legendary Imagineer Bob Gurr presents the 44th part in his series of columns the early days at Disney and his career. This month Bob talks about working on Animated Lighting EFX for the 1984 Michael Jackson Victory Tour.

Designer Times Bob Gurr (11/12/2003)
Legendary Imagineer Bob Gurr presents the 43rd part in his series of columns the early days at Disney and his career. This month Bob talks about working on King Kong at Universal Studios.

Designer Times Bob Gurr (10/8/2003)
Legendary Imagineer Bob Gurr presents the 42nd part in his series of columns the early days at Disney and his career. This month Bob talks about working on the Conan Swords and Sorcery Show for Universal Studios.

Designer Times Bob Gurr (9/10/2003)
Legendary Imagineer Bob Gurr presents the 41st part in his series of columns the early days at Disney and his career. This month Bob talks about the RiverTowne Animated Restaurant Show.

Designer Times Bob Gurr (8/12/2003)
Legendary Imagineer Bob Gurr presents the 40th part in his series of columns the early days at Disney and his career. This month Bob looks at his work immedietely after Disney.

Designer Times Bob Gurr (7/9/2003)
Legendary Imagineer Bob Gurr presents the 39th part in his series of columns the early days at Disney and his career. This month Bob looks at his work on Tokyo Disneyland.

Designer Times Bob Gurr (6/11/2003)
Legendary Imagineer Bob Gurr presents the 38th part in his series of columns the early days at Disney and his career. This month Bob takes you through some of the projects of the late-70s.

Designer Times Bob Gurr (5/14/2003)
Legendary Imagineer Bob Gurr presents the 37th part in his series of columns the early days at Disney and his career. This month Bob talks developing Epcot and GM's participation in it.

Designer Times Bob Gurr (4/9/2003)
Legendary Imagineer Bob Gurr presents the 36th part in his series of columns the early days at Disney and his career. This month Bob talks about some of the projects he was assigned to in the years after the opening of Walt Disney World.

Designer Times Bob Gurr (3/12/2003)
Legendary Imagineer Bob Gurr presents the 35th part in his series of columns the early days at Disney and his career. This month Bob talks about the building submarines at Walt Disney World.

The World Report Stephen Halpin (3/10/2003)
With EPCOT's 20th' anniversary occuring last October 1st, Steve looks at the history of the park.

Profile of Sam McKim Scarlett Stahl (2/13/2003)
A profile of the life and career of Imagineer and Disney Legend Sam McKim.

Designer Times Bob Gurr (2/12/2003)
Legendary Imagineer Bob Gurr presents the 34th part in his series of columns the early days at Disneyland and his career. This month Bob talks about the history of the parking lot trams.

Designer Times Bob Gurr (1/8/2003)
Legendary Imagineer Bob Gurr presents the 33rd part in his series of columns on his career. This month Bob talks about putting Disney Monorails in Las Vegas.

Designer Times Bob Gurr (12/11/2002)
Legendary Imagineer Bob Gurr presents the 32nd part in his series of columns on the early days of Disneyland. This month Bob continues talking about the Autopia.

Designer Times Bob Gurr (11/13/2002)
Legendary Imagineer Bob Gurr presents the 31st part in his series of columns on the early days of Disneyland. This month Bob talks about some of the internal workings of the Autopia.

Carolwood Pacific Historical Society Ward Kimball Tribute Kevin Beltzner (11/6/2002)
Kevin reports on the Ward Kimball tribute held by the Carolwood Pacific Historical Society last July 28th.

Designer Times Bob Gurr (10/10/2002)
Legendary Imagineer Bob Gurr presents the 30th part in his series of columns on the early days of Disneyland. This month Bob talks about designing the Omnimover.

Designer Times Bob Gurr (9/10/2002)
Legendary Imagineer Bob Gurr presents the 29th part in his series of columns on the early days of Disneyland. This month Bob talks about the Peoplemover, the Skway and the AstroJets..

Designer Times Bob Gurr (8/14/2002)
Legendary Imagineer Bob Gurr presents the 28th part in his series of columns on the early days of Disneyland. This month Bob talks about the Mark III Monorail.

Designer Times Bob Gurr (7/11/2002)
Legendary Imagineer Bob Gurr presents the 27th part in his series of columns on the early days of Disneyland. This month Bob talks about second generation Monorail development.

Designer Times Bob Gurr (6/12/2002)
Legendary Imagineer Bob Gurr presents the 26th part in his series of columns on the early days of Disneyland. This month Bob talks about designing Mr. Lincoln.

The Disneyland Resort - Then and Now Doug Marsh (5/24/2002)
A pictorial showing some of the changes at the Disneyland Resort over the past few years.

Fantasmic! Celebrates 10 Years Doobie Moseley and Doug Marsh (5/13/2002)
A look back at 10 years of Fantasmic! Including some construction pictrues and a pictorial of the show.

Designer Times Bob Gurr (5/8/2002)
Legendary Imagineer Bob Gurr presents the 25th part in his series of columns on the early days of Disneyland. This month Bob talks about the Carousel of Progress.

An Interview with John CaneMaker and a look at Walt Disney's Nine Old Men Rhett Wickham (5/7/2002)
Rhett looks at the book Walt Disney's Nine Old Men & The Art of Animation and talks to the book's author, John Canemaker.

Designer Times Bob Gurr (4/10/2002)
Legendary Imagineer Bob Gurr presents the 24th part in his series of columns on the early days of Disneyland. This month Bob talks more about 1964 New York World's Fair and the Magic Skyway.

Designer Times Bob Gurr (2/13/2002)
Legendary Imagineer Bob Gurr presents the 22nd part in his series of columns on the early days of Disneyland. This month Bob talks building the Monorail Tractors.

Designer Times Bob Gurr (1/9/2002)
Legendary Imagineer Bob Gurr presents the 21st part in his series of columns on the early days of Disneyland. This month Bob talks about Duck Bumps and Disneyland's famous Flying Saucers

Designer Times Bob Gurr (12/12/2001)
Legendary Imagineer Bob Gurr presents the 20th part in his series of columns on the early days of Disneyland. This month Bob looks at Walt's runabout.

Thoughts on Walt Disney Personalities (12/5/2001)
In honor of the 100th anniversary of the birth of Walt Disney LaughingPlace.com presents thoughts on Walt from various Disney personalities.

Words From Walt Matthew Walker (12/5/2001)
Words from Walt is a special column running daily on LaughingPlace.com from December 5th through December 31st to help celebrate the 100th anniversary of Walt Disney's birth. Each day brings one of Walt Disney's well-known quotes and ties to provide some context behind the words.

Designer Times Bob Gurr (11/14/2001)
Legendary Imagineer Bob Gurr presents the 19th part in his series of columns on the early days of Disneyland. This month Bob looks at the classic Autopia..

Designer Times Bob Gurr (10/10/2001)
Legendary Imagineer Bob Gurr presents the 18th part in his series of columns on the early days of Disneyland. This month Bob takes a look back at the Matterhorn.

A Look at Walt: The Man Behind the Myth Michael Broggie (9/17/2001)
A look at the documentary Walt: The Man Behind the Myth by one of the film's interviewees.

Designer Times Bob Gurr (9/12/2001)
Legendary Imagineer Bob Gurr presents the 17th part in his series of columns on the early days of Disneyland. This month Bob takes a short detour to Las Vegas to talk Monorails.

On the Trail of Disney -- A Guide to Locations with Disney Connections Don Bitz (8/13/2001)
Don Bitz takes a look at locations in Southern California where Disney live-action movies have been filmed.

Designer Times Bob Gurr (8/8/2001)
Legendary Imagineer Bob Gurr presents the 16th part in his series of columns on the early days of Disneyland. This month Bob tells some great Monorail stories.

Designer Times Bob Gurr (7/11/2001)
Legendary Imagineer Bob Gurr presents the 15th part in his series of columns on the early days of Disneyland. This month Bob looks at the very hectic days leading up to the new Tomorrowland of 1959.

Designer Times Bob Gurr (6/13/2001)
Legendary Imagineer Bob Gurr presents the 14th part in his series of columns on the early days of Disneyland. In this column Bob looks at designing some of the early Disney animals.

Designer Times Bob Gurr (5/9/2001)
Legendary Imagineer Bob Gurr presents the thirteenth part in his series of columns on the early days of Disneyland. In this column Bob looks at Disneyland's Excursion Train.

Designer Times Bob Gurr (4/11/2001)
Legendary Imagineer Bob Gurr presents the twelfth part in his series of columns on the early days of Disneyland. In this column Bob looks at the precursor to the Monorail - the Viewliner.

Designer Times Bob Gurr (3/14/2001)
Legendary Imagineer Bob Gurr presents the eleventh part in his series of columns on the early days of Disneyland. In this column Bob focuses on more of the early Disneyland vehicles and the development of some visual gags.

Designer Times Bob Gurr (3/13/2002)
Legendary Imagineer Bob Gurr presents the 23rd part in his series of columns on the early days of Disneyland. This month Bob talks about 1964 New York World's Fair and the Magic Skyway.

Designer Times Bob Gurr (2/14/2001)
Legendary Imagineer Bob Gurr presents the tenth part in his series of columns on the early days of Disneyland. This column Bob discusses the design of the Main Street Vehicles.

Designer Times Bob Gurr (1/10/2001)
Legendary Imagineer Bob Gurr presents the ninth part in his series of columns on the early days of Disneyland. This column Bob discusses learning to redesign attractions that weren't quite making it.

Designer Times Bob Gurr (12/13/2000)
Legendary Imagineer Bob Gurr presents the eighth part in his series of columns on the early days of Disneyland. This column focus on Bob's attempts to meet Walt's demands for unique Disneyland vehicles.

Designer Times Bob Gurr (11/8/2000)
Legendary Imagineer Bob Gurr presents the seventh part in his series of columns on the early days of Disneyland. This column focus on getting the Disneyland steam trains up and running.

Designer Times Bob Gurr (10/11/2000)
Legendary Imagineer Bob Gurr presents the sixth part in his series of columns on the early days of Disneyland. This column focus on the weeks after Disneyland's opening. Also in this column is Bob's account of the Club 33 Breakfast and Imagineer Tour of Disneyland to benefit the Ryman-Carroll Foundation as told from the "other side".

Designer Times Bob Gurr (9/13/2000)
Legendary Imagineer Bob Gurr presents the fifth part in his series of columns on the early days of Disneyland. This column is all about opening day at the Autopia.

Designer Times Bob Gurr (8/9/2000)
Legendary Imagineer Bob Gurr presents the fourth part in his series of columns on the early days of Disneyland.

Designer Times Bob Gurr (7/12/2000)
Legendary Imagineer Bob Gurr presents the third part in his series of columns on the early days of Disneyland.

Designer Times Bob Gurr (6/14/2000)
Legendary Imagineer Bob Gurr presents the second part in his series of columns on the early days of Disneyland.

Designer Times Bob Gurr (5/10/2000)
Our newest regular column, Designer Times is by legendary Imagineer Bob Gurr and will focus on the early days of Disneyland from a first person perspective.

An Interview with the Sherman Brothers Doobie Moseley (5/5/2000)
The Sherman Brothers are famous for creating many Disney soundtracks including Mary Poppins, The Jungle Book and The Aristocats. Today LaughingPlace.com is thrilled to present an interview with the Sherman Brothers.

Review: Walt's Time: From Before to Beyond Doobie Moseley (5/4/2000)
Walt's Time: From Before to Beyond chronocles the life and career of the Sherman Brothers starting with their songwriting father Al Sherman through the Walt Disney years and up to their contributions to the New Tomorrowland. This review of the book tells you just how good it is.

Space Mountain - The First 25 Years Doobie Moseley (1/18/2000)
On January 15, 1972 Space Mountain debuted at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World. 25 years later, with four versions around the world, it remains one of the most popular Disney attractions of all time.

Memories of Marc Davis Doobie Moseley (1/14/2000)
On January 12, 2000 former Disney animator and Imagineer Marc Davis passed away at the age of 86. This article shares many pictures and memories of the Disney Legend.

Disneyland Closes The Skyway - Five Year Anniversary Ken Pellman (11/10/1999)
On November 9, 1994 Disneyland's Skyway, which had run for 38 years, had its last ride. This report, written immedietely after the closing, takes you back to that last night. On November 9, 1999, the five year anniversary of the closing, the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World closed their Skyway as well.

Life Lessons From The Great Professor Rick West (10/15/1999)
In this feature, columnist Rick West, who knew Van France personally for many years, shares a few very special memories of this Disney Legend who passed away this week.

Special Report: The Life of Van Arsdale France Doobie Moseley (10/14/1999)
On October 14th, the family of Van Arsdale France released the news that he had passed away. This short Special Report will give you some insight into the career of Disney Legend Van France.

Interview With a Legend: Bob Gurr Doobie Moseley (9/10/1999)
Bob Gurr, the designer of the Autopia cars and many other Disneyland attraction vehicles, shares his memories of opening day, the first Autopia cars and Walt in this interview.

Interview With a Legend: X. Atencio John Frost (8/9/1999)
Disney Legend X. Atencio is best known for writing the script and lyrics for Pirates of the Caribbean and the Haunted Mansion. Here we bring you an interview where he discusses those projects and much more.

30 years of the Haunted Mansion John Frost (7/24/1999)
For 30 years the Haunted Mansion has thrilled and chilled guests from around the world. In the first part of our series celebrating this anniversary, read about its history and its enormous following.

 

Laughing Place Podcast
On this week's show the LPP crew discuss their rides on Toy Story Mania, Disney's financial results, an outing to Arabian Nights and the Disney Channel Games Concert plus the Captain's Challenge and a 50 word or less review of Iron Man.


Disney Fine Art at
The LaughingPlace Store
The LaughingPlace Store now carries a selection of Disney Fine Art from ACME Archives and Sanders CC Gallery