Bob Gurr is more than a Disney Legend; he is a themed entertainment industry icon. Best known for his contributions to Walt Disney Imagineering, Bob is credited with more than 100 designs for attractions spanning the past 40 years. A Los Angeles native, Bob has always had a fascination with mechanical devices, and has a deep love of automobiles. After studying industrial design at Art Center College of Design, Bob was hired by Ford Motor Company. Following a brief stint there, Bob went into business for himself, where he was contracted by WED Enterprises (Walt Disney’s personal development branch of The Walt Disney Company, which would later become Walt Disney Imagineering) to consult on Disneyland’s Autopia attraction concept. Walt Disney was taken with Bob, and soon asked him to join the WED group and focus solely on the design and development of Disneyland. Some of Bob’s Disney design credits include: the Flying Saucers, Autopia, Matterhorn Bobsleds, PeopleMover, Monorail, Main Street Vehicles, Ford Motor Company’s Magic Skyway attraction for the 1964-’65 World’s Fair, and the development of the Omnimover – the ride system used in both Adventure Thru Inner Space and The Haunted Mansion. Bob was instrumental in the development of Disney’s first Audio-Animatronics figure, Abraham Lincoln, which debut also at the New York World’s Fair in its Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln show, which now resides at Disneyland. In 2004, Bob Gurr was honored as a Disney Legend by the company. He continues to consult on global Disney projects.
In addition to his work at Disney, Bob’s contributions to the industry also include the creation of Sequoia Creative, Inc. which produced the massive serpent for Universal Studios Hollywood’s Conan The Barbarian stage show, as well as the beloved King Kong figure that was a star feature of the Studio Tour until a fire destroyed it in 2008. Bob also was key in the development of the UFO that flew over the Closing Ceremonies of the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, and consulted for Stephen Spielberg in the early development stages of Jurassic Park on creating the film’s Tyrannosaurus rex animatronic figure.
In 1999, Bob was honored by the Themed Entertainment Association with its Lifetime Achievement Award.