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, Introducing Bob Gurr’s DESIGN: Those Were The Times
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.

Bob Gurr, Introducing Bob Gurr’s DESIGN: Those Were The Times

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.
Bob Gurr, Introducing Bob Gurr’s DESIGN: Those Were The Times
Well folks, do you take me up on my offer? Come back this Wednesday for our first spin of the wheel.

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Bob Gurr
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."