Chuck Abbott

There aren’t many people whose careers include roadside service on a superhighway, bobsledding on the mighty Matterhorn, piloting a launch down mysterious jungle rivers, setting sail with bloodthirsty pirates, and preparing astronauts for their space adventures—but Chuck Abbott did all those things and more during his 36 years as one of Disneyland’s foremost Attractions Hosts.

Chuck entered the Disneyland on-ramp on August 10, 1955, as a ride operator on the Autopia, “In the days when there was no track, and Cast Members had to be quick on their feet to avoid a collision with oncoming guests,�? he recalled. Chuck made his way around the attractions of the young Park, “working wherever I was put,�? he said.

Although Chuck worked directly with Walt Disney on the Pirates of the Caribbean during its planning and construction (and was then made opening foreman for the attraction in 1967), Chuck maintained that his most memorable moment at Disney was meeting his future wife, Norma, who also worked at the Park.

In 1969, Chuck was named “Foreman of the Year�? at the Matterhorn. In 1977 he was foreman for the opening of Space Mountain, and returned to the Matterhorn for the big rehab and reopening of the attraction in 1978. During the course of his career he also served as foreman of the Submarine Voyage, Jungle Cruise, Mine Train through Nature’s Wonderland, and many other attractions.

In 1987, Chuck conceived and initiated the Cast Member seeing-eye dog fund, which became a highly successful volunteer group.

Chuck’s outside interests included travel, camping, and fishing. Those who worked with Chuck recall how much they enjoyed his sense of humor—and how deeply they respected his dedication and work ethic, and his comprehensive working knowledge of the attractions.

He was a member of Club 55, a group of original Disneyland Cast Members, named for Disneyland's inaugural year. In 1991, Chuck retired after 36 years with the Park, and moved to Utah, where he passed away on July 7, 2003.

Abbott’s wife Norma accepted his award. “The Park was his life,�? she said. She assured the audience that her husband would have been thrilled with the award. “He would be so honored today.�? She concluded, “I thank you for remembering him.�?

The next Legend Award was presented to Jack Olsen, whose memorable work on behalf of Disney theme park merchandising is commemorated in a window on Main Street USA.

Jack Olsen

The window on Main Street reads, “Olsen’s Imported Novelties & Souvenirs, ‘World’s Largest Collection of Keychains,’ Jack Olsen ‘The Merchant Prince’.�? The window is a playful tribute to the 22-year Disney career of the man who stocked the shelves at Disneyland and the Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom with T shirts, plush toys, ceramics, books, and toys (and yes, key chains), for two decades.

Born in Salt Lake City, Utah in 1923, Jack moved to California in 1926. Following graduation from Grossmont High School, Jack attended Penn State College, where he majored in mathematics. He served four years in the Armed Forces during World War II, for which he received two Purple Hearts and two Presidential Citations while a Tech Sergeant with the 78th Infantry Division in Europe.

After the War, he managed artists’ supply stores and art galleries in the Los Angeles area, and had his own ceramics manufacturing and importing firm. He was, throughout his life, an artist, painting in oils and watercolors, and creating in ceramics and other art media.

Employed in early 1955 as a background artist at the Walt Disney Studio, Jack soon became manager of stores then operated by the Studio at Disneyland. He was transferred to Disneyland’s Merchandising Division in 1960 as manager of Product and Project Design and Development. In 1964, he became director of the Merchandising Division, and held that position until 1970 when, as Vice President of Merchandising, he contributed his many talents to the successful opening and operation of Walt Disney World.

Jack retired from Walt Disney World in 1977, and passed away after a lengthy disability in April 1980.

Bill Sullivan accepted the Legend Award on behalf of his friend and colleague, Jack Olsen.

Senior Music Producer and Director Bruce Healey introduced the next honoree, Jack Wagner, “The Voice of Disneyland.�?

Jack Wagner

For more than two decades, Jack Wagner’s cheerful, friendly tone vocally captured the Disney spirit, making announcements at the Disney Parks, in touring ice and arena shows, and doing voice-over for television programs, commercials and audio-visual presentations.

Jack’s French-born parents were both musicians and his late older brother, Roger, was director of the world famous Roger Wagner Chorale. Wagner began his own performing career at age four, dubbing American-made movies into French for foreign release. As a teenager, he was an MGM contract player, and in the 1950s he made 1,244 appearances on the classic TV program “The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet.�? He was also featured on “‘The Ann Sothern Show,�? “Sea Hunt,�? “Dragnet,�? and other popular series of the decade. Los Angeles’ top-ranked radio personality, Wagner also had an interview show, “Hollywood on a Silver Platter,�? that was syndicated to more than 1,200 radio stations worldwide.

Wagner’s association with Disneyland began in 1955 when he was invited to attend opening day. In the ensuing years, he did guest announcing and narration for Christmas parades and other special programs, coming on board full time as Production Consultant in 1970, and shortly thereafter being named Park Announcer as well. “From there, it just kind of snowballed,�? he recalled.

It has been said that no other man’s voice has been heard over so many loudspeakers by so many people. Wagner also produced music and sound for many of the parades and live shows at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World, provided background music for the themed lands in those Parks and Tokyo Disneyland, and produced record albums featuring Park talent.

Wagner’s recording for Disney was done at his own studio, two miles from Disneyland, in rooms filled with sophisticated audio and video equipment and walls lined with memorabilia: Theme Park opening day tickets, a golden spike commemorating the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad opening, posters, badges, clocks and plaques of appreciation for his years of service.

Although vocal cord surgery forced his retirement in 1991, he continued to make short announcements for Disneyland.

Jack was felled by a heart attack in June of 1995. Even today, his voice can still be heard in Disney Parks and the trams at the Orlando International Airport.

Wagner’s wife, Mary Alice, began her comments by saying, “My heart is so filled. I’m so grateful. I don’t know whether to cry or laugh.�? She spoke fondly of her life with Wagner, and of their lives at Disney. “There’s magic in the air at Disney still,�? she declared. Her son then took the microphone, and in a voice reminiscent of his father’s, reminded all to be sure to “keep hands, arms, feet and legs inside at all times!�?

“Vesey Walker! Golly!�? With those words, Stan Freese of the Disneyland talent department began his introduction of the beloved director of the original Disneyland Band.