Introducing Bob Gurr’s DESIGN: Those Were The Times

Written by Bob Gurr. Posted in Bob Gurr, Design: Those Were The Times, Disney, Disney History

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Published on January 07, 2013 at 5:05 am with 50 Comments

EDITORS NOTE: We are delighted to introduce you to a new MiceChat column from a name that almost all of you know, Bob Gurr. And if you aren’t familiar with the name, you’ve absolutely experienced the attractions he designed and collaborated on for Disney over his legendary career. Bob recently released an autobiography that was so well received that he’s been flooded with requests for a sequel.  Today’s column is an introduction from Bob, join us again on Wednesday of this week for his first not-to-be-missed article!

I’ve received many requests to write another book from readers of DESIGN: Just for Fun. Being a self publisher is more than a full time job, especially when you value the freedom that retirement provides from timely organized work. Note that work is a four letter word, which ought to be politely avoided. But since some folks are quite persistent that I should share more tales, here’s the compromise; not another book, but a periodic column to appear exclusively on MiceChat whenever the urge to write cannot be resisted. Not necessarily monthly, but whenever.

Bob Gurr takes a ride on his Autopia (note the lack of a center guide rail).

What will the column be about? While Disney and Design have been my main topics, folks have enjoyed many tales of “other stuff” – early Imagineers, attraction craftsmen, and various early Disneyland characters. Tales too, of life as a kid, being a teenager in WWII, what were the 1930 depression years like – Southern California early car culture. Get me started on fighter planes and gliders – you’ll get an earful for sure. Do you thrive on conflicting opinions – history personally experienced, those first person accounts? Stick around, this might be fun.

So here’s the deal; the Wheel of Years will be sent spinning and when the clicking stops, the red arrow will point to a year – that’s where we’ll start. The tale can flow forward or backward, flow into any subject depending on where my 81 year old hard drive decides to go. We’ll both be off on an adventure to whatever we find.
Well folks, do you take me up on my offer? Come back this Wednesday for our first spin of the wheel.

About Bob Gurr

Bob Gurr is a true Disney legend who was hired on to design the Autopia for Disneyland. Over nearly four decades, Bob would become famous for developing the Monorails, Submarines, Flying Saucers, antique cars and double-decker buses of Main Street, Ford Motor Company's Magic Skyway (at the 1964-65 New York World's Fair), Omnimover ride system, Matterhorn and lots more. It has been said that if it moves, Bob probably played a part. Upon leaving Imagineering in 1981, Bob worked on a number of "leisure-time spectaculars" and "fantastical beasts" for parks and developments all over the world. Most notably, he created King Kong and Conan's Serpent for Universal Studios Hollywood, A UFO for the closing ceremonies of the 1984 Los Angeles Summer Olympics, and the memorable T-Rex figure featured in Steven Spielberg's motion picture "Jurassic Park." You can find Bob's column, Design: Those Were The Times, right here on MiceChat. Though don't pin Bob down to a schedule, he's busy being "retired."

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50 Comments

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Comments for Introducing Bob Gurr’s DESIGN: Those Were The Times are now closed.

  1. Jeff Heimbuch

    January 7, 2013 at 5:19 am

    Can’t wait to read more, Bob!

  2. bamato

    January 7, 2013 at 5:19 am

    Looking forward to it!

  3. dland_lover

    January 7, 2013 at 5:26 am

    Definitely looking forward to this series! Thank you for taking the time to do this!

  4. Dusty Sage

    January 7, 2013 at 5:43 am

    Welcome aboard Bob! Can’t wait to see where that spinning wheel will take us.

  5. Donnyabear

    January 7, 2013 at 5:48 am

    Let’s spin it!

  6. ttintagel

    January 7, 2013 at 6:08 am

    Can’t wait!

  7. George Taylor

    January 7, 2013 at 6:34 am

    Very excited to see this column! Yay!

  8. QuiGonJ

    January 7, 2013 at 6:37 am

    I really enjoyed your book, and look forward to hearing from you. :)

  9. mratigan

    January 7, 2013 at 6:44 am

    This is going to be a great look into your projects
    Can’t wait!!!!

  10. Irving

    January 7, 2013 at 6:50 am

    Wow!…what a hit, really excited for this Wednesday and see where the wheel of years will take us

  11. CAspace

    January 7, 2013 at 7:05 am

    Welcome Mr. Gurr! This is
    Amazing! I cannot wait to read more about your adventures.
    Thanks so much for sharing them with us!

  12. Joshnyah

    January 7, 2013 at 7:27 am

    This is absolutely great news!!! I am a huge fan “not just size” fan of Mr Gurr. In fact I was right next to him the whole night of haunt and was way to chicken to even tell him how big of a fan I am. One day I will get the nerve but until then I will love reading the things this legend has done and seen. To pick this brain would unlock stories of magic and wonder I cannot wait. I especially would love to hear of anything about the moments he had with Walt and the love and labor that went into the monorail. I am so geeked out on this right now. Way to go MC!

  13. Joshnyah

    January 7, 2013 at 7:30 am

    Oh man I cannot wait to hear his take on the War! Spin the wheel now:) I would pay for a Micechat story time just like in grade school. Circle around children :)

  14. Circarama

    January 7, 2013 at 7:54 am

    And yet another reason why MiceChat is the go-to Disney discussion board. Having been around Mr Gurr before, I can attest to the depth and breadth of his knowledge. The man is an absolute gold mine of historical information, yet so humble that were he standing next to me while writing this he would say, “No gushing!”.
    Bravo MiceChat! Can’t wait for the first installment!

  15. Eric Davis

    January 7, 2013 at 8:01 am

    I am so excited for this!

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