Hello my friends and welcome to one of the most exciting shows in the history of the Disney Avenue Podcast. Today’s guest is no stranger to the Disney community and has always been a man on the move. For nearly 40 years, he has helped move countless Disney theme park guests aboard vehicles and ride conveyances of his own design. As he’s often stated, “If it moves on wheels at Disneyland, I probably designed it.” And he certainly has. He has developed more than 100 designs for attractions ranging from Autopia and Matterhorn Bobsleds to the Disneyland and Walt Disney World Monorails. He is the one and only Bob Gurr. Bob has an amazing new documentary coming out soon titled, Bob Gurr: Turning Dreams into Reality which we’ll be discussing among other highlights from his storied career working with Walt. You can learn more about the film and how to buy yourself a copy by clicking HERE. And, as if having Bob on the Disney Avenue Podcast wasn’t enough, legendary former Imagineer Tim Delaney, who was our very first guest here on the show, is joining us today as a very special cohost. Teaming up with a big named former Imagineer like Tim Delaney to interview the great Bob Gurr has not only created a spectacular show for our listeners to experience, but has been a dream come true. And so friends, it is with great pleasure and excitement to welcome Bob Gurr to the Disney Avenue Podcast. If you enjoy listening to the show and hearing from Disney Legends like Bob Gurr, please please please head on over to iTunes and leave us a quick rating and review to help us spread the word to other Disney fans around the world. Thank you for tuning in and spending some of your precious time with us. **Subscribe on iTunes** Like Us On Facebook New RSS Feed Write a Review DisneyAvenue.com Bob Gurr documentary   The Disney Avenue Podcast would like to thank our producer Geren Piltz and our graphic designer Brian Vermillion for their contributions to this show.

Disney Avenue Podcast

Show #21 - The Most Amazing Interview with Disney Legend Bob Gurr

Welcome back to another exciting episode of the Disney Avenue Podcast. On today's show, host Keith Mahne is joined by MiceChat CEO Dusty Sage for an amazing interview with Disney Legend Charlie Ridgway. Before Charlie was hired as a cast member under Walt, he promoted Disneyland as a news reporter. During 1954-55, while the Park was still under construction, he authored some of the very first articles about Disneyland to appear in any of the major metropolitan newspapers. He also covered Disneyland’s grand opening celebration on July 17, 1955. Eight years later, he joined the Park’s publicity staff in 1963. Charlie helped launch the opening of Walt Disney World in 1971, Epcot Center in 1982, Disneyland Paris in 1992, as well as other special projects for celebrations such as Donald Duck’s 50th birthday and so much more. Charlie shared some truly amazing stories with us on the show so be sure not to miss this one. After more than 40 years with the Walt Disney Company, Charlie retired in 1994. He would go on to consult on special projects, including the launch of Disney’s Animal Kingdom and the Disney Cruise Line. Charlie published his fantastic memoir, “Spinning Disney’s World,” in 2007 that is a MUST READ for any Disney fan so be sure to grab your copy HERE. Charlie became a Disney Legend in 1999 and it is such an honor to have him join us on the show today.  With that said friends, it is with great excitement to welcome Disney Legend Charlie Ridgway to the Disney Avenue Podcast…Enjoy. **Subscribe on iTunes** Like Us On Facebook New RSS Feed Write a Review DisneyAvenue.com You can help support and follow the Walt Disney Birthplace Project by clicking HERE. The Disney Avenue Podcast would like to thank our producer Geren Piltz and our graphic designer Brian Vermillion for their contributions to this show!

Show #20 - Interview with Disney Legend Charlie Ridgway

Welcome to another exciting episode of the Disney Avenue Podcast. For our very first show of 2016, we are joined by R.J. and Suzanne Ogren who are two former Walt Disney World cast members and they are about to blow you away with some amazing stories from their incredible careers working at the vacation kingdom. R.J. painted Animatronic figures and "plussed" attractions. Suzanne drove monorails, marched in parades, and entertained as Sleepy the dwarf, among other things. Together, the Ogrens brought their unique skills to Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom during its formative years. R.J. and Suzanne are about to share their wonderful memories with us so make sure not to miss this fantastic show. Their new book that is available now is titled Together in the Dream: The Unique Careers of a Husband and Wife in the Early Decades of Walt Disney World. You'll read stories such as how Disney trains its monorail drivers, and the surprisingly rigorous tests they must pass to qualify, life in the "Dwarf unit" and the tight-knit group of cast members who perform as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in the Magic Kingdom, why some Animatronic characters don't wear pants, and even about that time R.J. had to repair a bullet hole in the Haunted Mansion. Make sure to grab your copy today at ThemeParkPress.com or Amazon. So friends, sit back and relax as we listen to the incredible stories and history of R.J. and Suzanne Ogren in this fantastic episode of the Disney Avenue Podcast…Enjoy! **Subscribe on iTunes**   Like Us On Facebook   New RSS Feed   Write a Review DisneyAvenue.com The Disney Avenue Podcast would like to thank our producer Geren Piltz and our graphic designer Brian Vermillion for their contributions to this show!

Show #19 - Interview with Two WDW Cast Members from the Early Years

It's the most wonderful time of year here on the Disney Avenue Podcast and boy, what an amazing show we have in store for you. As many of you know, Christmas and Disney go hand in hand. I’ve yet to experience a Christmas display or Spectacle anywhere on earth that can top Disney. The beautiful lights and decorations along Main Street, the beauty of Cinderella Castle decked out in millions of lights, and, of course, that little light show over in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the truly breathtaking Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights.  As many of you may have heard by now, this year, 2015, will be the last year that Disney will be showcasing this 20-year-old holiday tradition. And so, with the Holiday Season now upon us and with the closing of the Osborne Lights, I thought, what can we do here on the Disney Avenue Podcast to really capture that Disney Christmas spirit, what can we do to entertain our listeners and bring them more of our signature interviews, history and stories from big names in the Disney stratosphere? And then it hit me! Why not continue a Disney Avenue Podcast Christmas tradition by inviting the top Disney historian and author on the planet earth to come on the show and tell us all about the history of the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights and other gone but not forgotten Walt Disney World Christmas classics. So friends, it is with Christmas cheer and everything holly and jolly, to welcome back for a third time to the Disney Avenue Podcast, the one and only, Jim Korkis. While listening to this wonderful show, please be sure to head on over to themeparkpress.com and grab yourself a copy of Jim's brand new books on sale now. There aren't better stocking stuffers around, I assure you! Merry Christmas everyone and enjoy the show... **Subscribe on iTunes**   Like Us On Facebook   New RSS Feed   Write a Review DisneyAvenue.com The Disney Avenue Podcast would like to thank our producer Geren Piltz and our graphic designer Brian Vermillion for their contributions to this show!

Show #18 - History of the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights with Jim Korkis

The Disney Avenue Podcast returns with another amazing guest from the Disney universe. Dave Bossert, who is currently the Producer, Creative Director and Head of Classic Projects at Walt Disney Animation Studios, joins host Keith Michael Mahne and Dusty Sage of MiceChat.com for a spectacular interview. Dave Bossert studied at the Character Animation program at CalArts. He has contributed his talents as a visual effects animator to such films as The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Lion King, Pocahontas, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas, Hercules, and many others. He is the author of one of my favorite books titled "Remembering Roy E. Disney: Memories and Photos of a Storied Life", which was published by Disney Press in 2013. He has also authored "An Animator's Gallery: Eric Goldberg Draws the Disney Characters" and his newest book "Dali and Disney: Destino" which are all available now on Amazon. Friends, it is with great excitement to welcome Dave Bossert to the Disney Avenue Podcast…Enjoy. **Subscribe on iTunes**   Like Us On Facebook   New RSS Feed   Write a Review DisneyAvenue.com The Disney Avenue Podcast would like to thank our producer Geren Piltz and our graphic designer Brian Vermillion for their contributions to this show!

Show #17 - Dave Bossert Interview

This time around on the Disney Avenue Podcast, we interview the former Executive Vice President of Operations for the Walt Disney World Resort, the incredible Lee Cockerell. As the Senior Operating Executive for ten years, Lee has led a team of 40,000 Cast Members and was responsible for the operations of 20 resort hotels, 4 theme parks, 2 water parks, a shopping & entertainment village and the ESPN sports and recreation complex in addition to the ancillary operations which supported the number one vacation destination in the world. Lee offers us some wonderful insight on what it takes to run a resort complex like the incredible Walt Disney World. This is a show you won't want to miss... **Subscribe on iTunes**   Like Us On Facebook   New RSS Feed   Write a Review DisneyAvenue.com The Disney Avenue Podcast would like to thank our producer Geren Piltz and our graphic designer Brian Vermillion for their contributions to this show!

Show #16 - Lee Cockerell Interview

Welcome friends to another episode of the Disney Avenue Podcast. As you all know, the Disney community is unlike any other. It's filled with amazing people who love to help each other out and enjoy reveling in the magic together. Although we are all different, we all share and have experienced that feeling you get when you walk into a Disney Park. We all know that feeling of safety and escape it provides us. Someone who really appreciates that comfort is a wonderful man named Guy Spagnoli. Guy is a Vietnam veteran, and just like all of our service men and women, is a hero in my opinion. Guy is currently the subject of a documentary in production called Keep Moving Forward about his struggles with PTSD and how he uses Disney to self-medicate. I think it's an important story to be told and one we can all relate to which is why I’ve invited Guy and the producers of this heartfelt documentary, Brent and Emily on the show so that you can hear from them personally and understand why this project is so important. It is with great honor and respect to welcome Guy Spangnoli and the producers of the documentary Keep Moving Forward, Brent Bandemer and Emily Strong to the Disney Avenue Podcast….Enjoy! Keep Moving Forward Kickstarter campaign   **Subscribe on iTunes**   Like Us On Facebook   New RSS Feed   Write a Review DisneyAvenue.com The Disney Avenue Podcast would like to thank our producer Geren Piltz and our graphic designer Brian Vermillion for their contributions to this show!

Show #15 - Keep Moving Forward Documentary

Welcome back friends to another special episode of the Disney Avenue Podcast. With all the excitement going on right now for the 60th anniversary of Disneyland, I though…what could we do on this show to really make it special for you in commemorating the 60th? And then it hit me…let's invite the one and only Marty Sklar to come back on the show and tell us all about the opening of Disneyland because, well, simply put, Marty was there with Walt on that special day! Friends, it is with great joy and excitement that the Disney Avenue Podcast welcome back the legend himself to discuss the opening of Disneyland 60 years ago, the one and only Marty Sklar…..Enjoy! **Subscribe on iTunes**   Like Us On Facebook   New RSS Feed   Write a Review DisneyAvenue.com The Disney Avenue Podcast would like to thank our producer Geren Piltz and our graphic designer Brian Vermillion for their contributions to this show!

Show #14 - Marty Sklar on the Opening of Disneyland

Welcome to the April 2015 episode of the Disney Avenue Podcast! This month we have legendary animator Floyd Norman joining us. Though he prefers to be called a “cartoonist,” few other artists working in animation today can boast a career as varied as that of Floyd Norman. From the 1950s to today, Floyd’s diverse career, insightful viewpoint, and unflinching honesty have truly made him a Disney Legend. The Disney Avenue Podcast is thrilled to bring to you the legendary animator himself. Enjoy! **Subscribe on iTunes**   Like Us On Facebook   New RSS Feed   Write a Review DisneyAvenue.com   The Disney Avenue Podcast would like to thank our producer Geren Piltz and our graphic designer Brian Vermillion for their contributions to this show! 

Show #13 - Floyd Norman Interview

Welcome back friends to the March 2015 edition of the Disney Avenue Podcast! Host Keith Michael Mahne and Dusty Sage of MiceChat.com interview the queen of creativity herself, the amazingly talented Terri Harden. If you've always wanted to know how to become an Imagineer or wanted to hear what being an Imagineer is all about then you are in luck as Terri is about to lay it all out for you! Terri is the definition of creativity and is just an amazing person! Just a few quick facts about her - she has been involved with over 42 films and TV projects including Ghostbusters and Captain EO. She is a tremendous sculptor and artist and always dreamed of landing a job as an Imagineer. In 1987 the company finally came calling and after 8 interviews she got the job! Your about to hear her wonderful story and get some really amazing insight into Imagineering. We'll also get a surprise visit by Terri's bulldog Tillie during the interview and you'll find out what I mean by that in a bit. It is with great pleasure to present to you the amazing Terri Hardin... Terri is very open to helping others achieve their dreams of becoming a successful artist so if you'd like to follow Terri or even get in touch with her, make sure to visit her new website TerriHardinspeaks.com. If you'd like to stay up to date with DisneyAvenue.com, make sure to head on over to our Facebook page and join the 28,000 current members, it's a great community of Disney fans like yourselves and we always post our latest articles, photos and shows there. Lastly, and this is so important, if you've enjoyed today's show please click on the link to iTunes and leave us a quick rating and review. This will help us spread the word to other Disney fans out there and your support is greatly appreciated. Enjoy the show... **Subscribe on iTunes**   Like Us On Facebook   New RSS Feed   Write a Review DisneyAvenue.com   The Disney Avenue Podcast would like to thank our producer Geren Piltz and our graphic designer Brian Vermillion for their contributions to this show!

Show #12 - Interview with Former Imagineer Terri Hardin

The Disney Avenue Podcast is back with this month's show featuring another fantastic interview with Disney Legend, Walt Disney Archives founder and former chief archivist David Smith! Dusty Sage, of MiceChat.com, teams up with host Keith Michael Mahne for another amazing show. It was a wonderful conversation and a whole lot of fun. Walt Disney Archives founder and former chief archivist David Smith officially joined The Walt Disney Company on June 22, 1970, but his Disney roots are even deeper. A fan of Disney films throughout his youth, Dave explained in our interview, “I grew up in Southern California, and so my appreciation of Disneyland began as a child.” In 1967, he had become interested in compiling an extensive bibliography on Walt Disney. With approval from the Disney organization, he spent more than a year researching all Disney publications and productions. When the Disney family and Studio management decided to attempt to preserve Walt Disney’s papers, awards, and memorabilia, it was natural for them to contact Dave to do a study, and make a recommendation which established the guidelines and objectives of the Archives. Dave was selected as archivist, and in the years since the Archives was established it has come to be recognized as a model among corporate archives in the country. Dave is regarded as the final authority on matters of Disney history. The Disney Avenue Podcast is pleased to present our interview with the legend himself, Dave Smith...Enjoy! **Subscribe on iTunes**   Like Us On Facebook   New RSS Feed   Write a Review DisneyAvenue.com   The Disney Avenue Podcast would like to thank our producer Geren Piltz and our graphic designer Brian Vermillion for their contributions to this show! 

Show #11 - Dave Smith Interview

Born in Southern California in 1952, Ron was born to be a performer.  He was a puppeteer, ventriloquist, magician and actor, who was fascinated by Walt Disney’s Disneyland and so was born his dream of one day performing at the park. Ron got his first theme park job in 1970, and over the ensuing 40 years he’s done it all – writing, directing, consulting, managing and performing for multiple production companies and in eight theme parks and five themed restaurants across America. Some of his roles were as the comic in Disneyland’s Golden Horseshoe Revue, King Henry 8th in 1520 A.D. Medieval Restaurant, the strolling Dreamfinder in EPCOT Center’s Journey Into Imagination, creative supervisor for Universal Studios Florida’s Celebrity Look-Alikes and historical re-enactor in Titanic, the Exhibition. Today, Ron makes his home in Central Florida where he keeps busy writing, acting, doing voice-overs and consulting on media and themed entertainment projects. Ron has a wonderful book out called From Dreamer to Dreamfinder that you can purchase here at Bamboo Forest Publishing or from Amazon. The Disney Avenue Podcast is honored to have him on the show with us today and so, without further ado, the Disney Avenue Podcast presents Ron Schneider…Enjoy!   **Subscribe on iTunes**   Like Us On Facebook   New RSS Feed   Write a Review DisneyAvenue.com   The Disney Avenue Podcast would like to thank our producer Geren Piltz and our graphic designer Brian Vermillion for their contributions to this show!  

Show #10 - Ron Schneider Interview

 **Subscribe on iTunes** The Disney Avenue Podcast returns with a wonderful Christmas Special that is sure to get you in the Holiday spirit. Disney historian and author Jim Korkis joins host Keith Michael Mahne for a wonderful interview on Walt Disney featuring some amazing and rarely heard Christmas stories from his life. Jim is the ultimate "go-to guy" on Walt Disney and we couldn't think of a better person to have on this Christmas Special. Jim tells us about Walt's love of the Holiday Season, what Christmas was like for Walt as a child, about a special gift to Lillian that inspired a classic animated movie, and so much more. So get cozy by the fire, grab a warm cup of hot chocolate and enjoy this Disney Avenue Podcast Christmas Special...Merry Christmas everyone!!! After you listen to the show, please make sure to check out Jim's wonderful books at themeparkpress.com and Amazon. They make the perfect Christmas gift for any Disney enthusiast! Like Us On Facebook DisneyAvenue.com New RSS Feed The Disney Avenue Podcast would like to thank Geren Piltz for his contributions to this show!

Show #9 - Christmas Special with Jim Korkis

 **Subscribe on iTunes** Contact Us Like Us On Facebook Disney Avenue New RSS Feed The Disney Avenue Podcast returns with a fantastic interview with Walt Disney Imagineering's original “designing woman” Alice Davis. Married to Disney Legend Marc Davis, she enjoyed a fashionable Disney career of her own, designing and dressing animated figures for such beloved Disneyland attractions as it’s a small world and Pirates of the Caribbean. One day, she received a call from her former art instructor and future husband, Marc. He needed a costume designed and created for Helene Stanley to wear for some live-action reference footage being filmed to inspire his animation of the lead character Briar Rose in Sleeping Beauty. That job led Alice to design costumes for Disney’s live-action motion picture Toby Tyler. In 1963, Walt Disney recruited Alice to contribute her skill to the attraction it’s a small world for the 1964-65 New York World’s Fair. Collaborating with art designer and Disney Legend Mary Blair, Alice researched, designed, and supervised the creation of more than 150 highly detailed costumes for the Audio-Animatronics children of the world. During this time, Alice also formulated costuming procedures, set up a manufacturing base, and developed quality control refurbishing techniques, which established the standards for three-dimensional characters in rides and shows created by WDI. In 1965, she translated the pirates’ attire from Marc’s original drawings of the shiver-me-timbers cast and crew into clothing designs and patterns for all of the costumes featured in Pirates of the Caribbean. Two years later, when the attraction opened at Disneyland, guests were dazzled by the animated figures and their colorful, textured pirate-wear. Later, Alice contributed to General Electric’s Carousel of Progress and the Flight to the Moon attractions. Married in June 1956, Alice and Marc enjoyed a Disney fairy-tale-romance-come-true for 44 years until Marc’s death in 2000. Alice has continued to consult for the Company, and remains a frequent face at Disneyland events. She was honored with a window on Main Street, U.S.A. at Disneyland—next to her husband’s window—on May 10, 2012. The Disney Avenue Podcast would like to thank Geren Piltz for his contributions to this show!

Show #8 - Alice Davis Interview

 **Subscribe on iTunes**   On this episode of the Disney Avenue Podcast, host Keith Michael Mahne and Dusty Sage of MiceChat.com team up for another amazing interview with the one and only Rolly Crump! Words may not fully describe this man, but one thing is for certain, he was a true “original,” even among Imagineers as Rolly drew forth genius in others.   Born Roland Fargo Crump on February 27, 1930, in Alhambra, California, Rolly took a pay cut as a “dipper” in a ceramic factory to join The Walt Disney Studios in 1952. To help pay bills, he built sewer manholes on weekends. He served as an in-between artist and, later, assistant animator, contributing to Peter Pan, Lady and the Tramp, Sleeping Beauty, and others.   In 1959, he joined show design at WED Enterprises, now known as Walt Disney Imagineering. There, he became one of Walt’s key designers for some of Disneyland’s groundbreaking new attractions and shops, including the Haunted Mansion, Enchanted Tiki Room, and Adventureland Bazaar.   Rolly served as a key designer on the Disney attractions featured at the 1964-65 New York World’s Fair, including it’s a small world, for which he designed the Tower of the Four Winds marquee. When the attraction moved to Disneyland in 1966, Rolly designed the larger-than-life animated clock at its entrance, which sends puppet children on parade with each quarter-hour gong.   After contributing to the initial design of the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World in Florida, and developing story and set designs for NBC’s Disney on Parade in 1970, Rolly left the Company to consult on projects including Busch Gardens in Florida and California, the ABC Wildlife Preserve in Maryland, and Ringling Brothers & Barnum and Bailey Circus World in Florida, among others.   He returned in 1976 to contribute to EPCOT Center, serving as project designer for The Land and the Wonders of Life pavilions. He also participated in master planning for an expansion of Disneyland until 1981, when he again departed to lead design on a proposed Cousteau Ocean Center in Norfolk, Virginia, and to launch his own firm, the Mariposa Design Group, developing an array of themed projects around the world, including an international celebration for the country of Oman.   In 1992, Rolly returned to Imagineering as executive designer, redesigning and refurbishing The Land and Innoventions at Epcot Center. Rolly “retired” from The Walt Disney Company in 1996, but continued to work on a number of creative projects. He was inducted as a Disney Legend in 2004 and released his autobiography, It’s Kind of a Cute Story, in 2012.   Get ready for a truly amazing show... you just might hear a "cute story" or two...   Contact Us Like Us On Facebook Disney Avenue New RSS Feed   The Disney Avenue Podcast would like to thank our producer Geren Piltz and our graphic designer Brian Vermillion for their contributions to this show!  

Show #7 - Interview with Imagineering Legend Rolly Crump

The Disney Avenue Podcast features interviews, insights and opinions with top Imagineers and other popular figures in the Disney stratosphere. We hope you enjoy your stroll down Disney Avenue; it's not Main Street, but it's close to it!