Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #82834 in Books
• Published on: 2007-10-10
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 160 pages

Synopsis
This book features the original imagineers and the transformation of outdoor entertainment. The history of the originators of Disneyland and subsequent Disney theme parks is told through their own eyes and the eyes of Walt Disney himself. 50 years ago, Walt Disney utterly transformed the concept of outdoor entertainment venues. Using his innate talent for combining disparate skills and personalities, he assembled a creative team that blended imagination with engineering and called them 'Imagineers'. "Walt Disney's Legends of Imagineering" introduces the original Imagineers - the creative force that collectively brought the magic to life in the Disneyland theme park. Their vision sparked the outdoor entertainment revolution that, today, is responsible for the global success of the Disney brand and the envied object of countless imitators. It explores their individual relationships, both with Walt and with each other; their creative breakthroughs and failures; and their rivalries and professional politics.

Lavishly illustrated with rare and never-before-seen artwork and photographs, "Walt Disney's Legends of Imagineering" is more than just a history: it is a celebration of the creative genius that put flesh and bone to the incomparable enchantment of Disney.

Customer Reviews

Great read but could have been even better
As a huge fan of the Disney Parks & Theme Parks in general, I love to read about how the parks came about, how they were designed, built, enjoyed by the public & often tweaked with improvements. If you're going to read this type of book, then there's nowhere really better to focus on than Disneyland. It's the supreme-being of all theme parks & if it wasn't for Uncle Walt, who knows whether or not we'd be spending some of our most memorable days exploring exciting jungles by boat or wandering down authentic streets from days-gone-by.

With the above in mind, Jeff Kurti has crafted a lovely large format book featuring a few pages at a time focusing on each of the most well-recognised Imagineers. Each Imagineer, many now passed away, gets a short back-story including how they came to join Disney & how Walt moved them from the Studio to the parks & what they subsequently brought to Disney's Theme parks. It's a very good book but, whilst these people have indeed brought happiness to millions & I myself hold these dear to my heart, 28 biographies featuring people that ultimately ended up working on the same park is overkill. Whilst reading I couldn't help but think how much more enjoyable it would have been if a part of the book was devoted to Imagineers that perhaps didn't have a large part to play in Disneyland's early days but played important roles in later attractions & parks, people like Tony Baxter & Joe Rhode & classic rides like the Tower of Terror & Expedition Everest.

If Jeff Kurtti ends up releasing a follow up book featuring Imagineer's such as those above I will be delighted & I think this book would then be better off for having it's "sequel" to create a better balance. That said it's still a lovely read but if you are a fan & already own several books on the creation of Disneyland then like I, you may crave a little more variety in terms of parks & people featured. I do hope Disney keeps releasing books of this variety though as they are always beautifully laid out & informative.