Who are your all-time favorite Imagineers, and why?

[Circarama]

I gotta pick this guy,
Bob Gurr.


He designed the original Autopia cars, the Monorail, The Mr. Toad ride vehicles, The Flying Saucers, the Motorboats, the Matterhorn Bobsleds and ride layout, all of the Main Street vehicles, the Omnibus, the Tomorowland Viewliner, and the humble parking lot trams of old.
He's also responsible for the original look of the subs in the Submarine Attraction, and the Omni-Mover that is what transports you around the haunted Mansion.



Who's your favorite Imagineer(s)?

[hollywood1939]

Re: Who are your all-time favorite Imagineers, and why?

Tony Baxter because he oversaw Splash Mountain, Thunder Mountain, Indiana Jones Adventure, the Tomorrowland upgrade, and parts of Toon Town plus a lot more.

[Cousin Orville]

Re: Who are your all-time favorite Imagineers, and why?

There are many unrecognized Imagineers that will never get the credit they deserve, but mine happens to be Herb Ryman. He had a talent and a life much larger than Disney. Although he could not and did not take projects into the field which is a rite of passage for Imagineers, I liked him. He embodied the spirit of WDI in it's most talented and irreverent state. His best quote was "bad taste costs no more".

[Hyperbole]

Re: Who are your all-time favorite Imagineers, and why?

My top three fave Imagineers are X Atencio, Tony Baxter and Herb Ryman. All three were great thinkers, embraced the idea of Disney "magic", and left an indelible and irreplaceable mark on Disneyland!

[Speedway]

Re: Who are your all-time favorite Imagineers, and why?

Yeah, I would love to know more about the unrecognised Imagineers who did so much, it would make a change from the 'golden' Imagineers that Disney loves to publicise like Baxter, Sklar etc.

I love Alice Davis' work on Pirates of the Caribbean and "it's a small world", as well as her husband's for that matter, but I also love Mary Blair's work on "it's a small world" as well. I just love the art style and the colour.

[barfownz]

Re: Who are your all-time favorite Imagineers, and why?

Tony Baxter, Mark Davis, Claude Coats and Marty Sklar!

[nish221]

Re: Who are your all-time favorite Imagineers, and why?

My favorite Imagineer is John Hench.

He is credited with being one of the first to put forward the
idea of "Art of the Show" which is the basis for the level of theming in DL,
"suspension of disbelief", theming with colors, theming with architecture, all which are the logical underpinnings of what makes a Disney park special. (and still are the stated modus operandi for WDI)

He helped design the Cinderella's castle in WDW MK and the Space Mountain.
He also disigned the original ride specific costumes and the color
pallet for DL. He's also known for designing the Squaw Valley Olympics torch
and as the official Mickey Mouse portrait artist.

Finally, he looked close enough to Walt that he was asked often by visitors
to DL for his autograph (as Walt)!!

[barfownz]

Re: Who are your all-time favorite Imagineers, and why?

One question: When did Claude Coats die?

[mickeyandme67]

Re: Who are your all-time favorite Imagineers, and why?

Sam McKim. I love his concept art for Frontierland and Mr. Lincoln. His Disneyland park maps from 1958 through 1964 are inspiring and his largely unknown, but very amusing, work on the Pirates arcade in 1966 should not be forgotten. BTW... I miss Fortune Red.

[barfownz]

Re: Who are your all-time favorite Imagineers, and why?

I miss Fortune Red.

I do too. Same with the CM's in the pieces of eight and a few of my friends.

[mycroft16]

Re: Who are your all-time favorite Imagineers, and why?

Harper Goff, for his work on Main St, one of my favorite areas of the park to just sit and take it all in. And he grew up near where I grew up.

[Walt Jr.]

Re: Who are your all-time favorite Imagineers, and why?

Mark Davis!

[Opus1guy]

Re: Who are your all-time favorite Imagineers, and why?

Impossible to pick just one.

But if someone put a gun to my head and made me pick one person who encapsulated all that was great in Imagineers...I'd have to go with Herbie.

[DsnyFvr]

Re: Who are your all-time favorite Imagineers, and why?

Sam McKim. I love his concept art for Frontierland and Mr. Lincoln. His Disneyland park maps from 1958 through 1964 are inspiring and his largely unknown, but very amusing, work on the Pirates arcade in 1966 should not be forgotten. BTW... I miss Fortune Red.

I would have to agree. I had a chance to meet and talk with on a couple of occasions. He was so humble and one of the nicesest peope you will ever meet. I count myself fortunate for having been able to spend time with him. He is definitly missed.

[Disneyland Daddy]

Re: Who are your all-time favorite Imagineers, and why?

Well..........we have Imagineers because of Walt Disney - so in my book, he was the original. So, Walt Disney is my choice as fave.

[DsnyFvr]

Re: Who are your all-time favorite Imagineers, and why?

Impossible to pick just one.

I would also agree with that. One thing that always amazed me ithe amount of talent Walt was able to gather together. The impact that these men and women have made on the company cannot be overstated. Simply amazing !!

[SmellyOrangutan]

Re: Who are your all-time favorite Imagineers, and why?

The geniuses behind Pirates of the Caribbean and the Haunted Mansion.

[Sambo]

Re: Who are your all-time favorite Imagineers, and why?

John Hench, Bob Gurr, Rolly Crump are my favorites. Second favorites are Mark Davis, Claude Coats, Sam McKim, and Harper Goff. Of course the work of Mary Blair and Alice Davis gets them on my list as well...

[BlueSkyDriveBy]

Re: Who are your all-time favorite Imagineers, and why?

One question: When did Claude Coats die?

Claude retired from Imagineering in 1989, and passed away in 1992.

[BlueSkyDriveBy]

Re: Who are your all-time favorite Imagineers, and why?

There are so many to choose from! It's difficult to pick simply one. But there is one Imagineer who often gets overlooked, whom I've always admired: Blaine Gibson.

I took art lessons in my youth, yearning to be a sculptor and dimensional designer. In a word, I sucked at it. So truly gifted sculptors have always been my heroes. And Blaine has always been Disney's greatest.

http://legends.disney.go.com/legends...=Blaine+Gibson

:bow: