Originally Posted By Doobie This topic is for Discussion of: <a href="http://www.LaughingPlace.com/News-ID509610.asp" target="_blank">9/27/05 2005 Disney Legends Ceremony</a>
Originally Posted By CuriosWolfSo Great story and pictures, Doug! You should be a Disney Legend yourself!
Originally Posted By DlandDug Bill "Sully" Sullivan's bio was, indeed, missed. There's actually a page missing from the article. Here's the Sullivan bio and details of his acceptance: William E. Sullivan On Sunday, July 17, 1955, Bill “Sully†Sullivan was tuned in to ABC-TV. “I watched the opening ceremonies for Disneyland. The following Saturday I went down and applied for a job. Monday I quit Northrop Aircraft, and Tuesday I reported to work as a ticket taker at the Jungle Cruise.†Sullivan was 19 years old. He progressed from ticket-taker to ride operator to operations supervisor at Disneyland, learning all aspects of the operation on the way. “I took a summer job and I’ve been here ever since,†Sully said in an interview shortly before his retirement. He was subsequently sent to Squaw Valley a member of the operations team that assisted in the opening and operating of the Winter Olympics in 1960, where Disney was in charge of Pageantry. Sully then served as assistant manager for the Disney-designed attractions at the 1964-65 New York World’s Fair. “Walt was a really warm individual,†Sully remembers fondly. “He had a great sense of humor and he loved people. He was an executive, but not what you perceive as an ‘executive.’ He was a real team guy.†Sully participated in the operations management of a number of lavish Disney film premieres, including Mary Poppins at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre and The Happiest Millionaire at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre. He relocated to Florida for the opening of Walt Disney World in 1971. While in Florida, Sully served a stint as director of PICO (Project Installation and Coordination Office), coordinating operational design input and installation of owner-furnished equipment at Epcot, after which he was the director of Epcot Center operations. In 1987 he was named vice president of the Magic Kingdom, and was responsible for operation of the park including attractions, merchandising, transportation, entertainment, ticket sales, guest relations, costuming, foods, custodial, maintenance, planned work, and horticulture. Sully retired in 1993 after 38 years with Disney, and without a single regret. “If I had to do it all over,†he says, “I’d do it all again tomorrow.†There was affectionate applause as Sullivan took the stage. He quipped, “I’ve always been amazed at the legends… and now I are one!†He marveled over the years he had spent at Disney, saying, “I didn’t know I did all that. I’m tired.†(You may note that the bios were written by Jeff Kurtti, and supplied by the Walt Disney Company.)
Originally Posted By DlandDug Producer Sayre Wiseman introduced Bob Jani, creator of the Main Street Electrical Parade. Bob Jani Bob Jani had a spectacular career producing spectaculars. In addition to some of The Walt Disney Company’s most storied entertainment events, Bob produced such festivities as the U.S. Bicentennial Celebration in New York Harbor in 1976, a revitalizing stage show for Radio City Music Hall, and half time entertainment at the Super Bowl. Born in Los Angeles in 1934, Bob earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Telecommunications and Stage Production and Design at University of Southern California. He first joined the Disney organization in 1955, as head of the newly created Guest Relations Department at Disneyland. After a two-year stint in the U.S. Army as Entertainment Director, Bob became Director of Special Events for USC before forming his own private enterprise, Pacific Pageants, in 1961. Bob rejoined the Disney Organization in 1967, as director of Entertainment, and rose swiftly to vice president, and then to creative director of Walt Disney Productions, simultaneously forming his own production company, Robert F. Jani Productions, Inc. in 1978. Both on his own and with Disney, Bob put on much of the live entertainment that has become standard fare at Disneyland and Walt Disney World. Among his many achievements were America on Parade and, perhaps his greatest Disney legacy, The Main Street Electrical Parade. Bob left Disney in 1978, to head the revival of Radio City Music Hall’s “Magnificent Christmas Spectacular.†From 1979 to 1982, he was in charge of all live stage productions at the venerable New York City landmark after a decade of decline, reestablishing its status as “The Showplace of the Nation.†In 1981, Bob produced The Glory of Christmas, with a cast of 400 and a small menagerie of animals at the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove. Bob drafted the master plan but did not provide the staging for the opening and closing ceremonies of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics (that contract eventually went to David L. Wolper.). Functioning worldwide as producer as well as production consultant, Bob was also artistic director for the Hollywood Bowl, producer of several television specials, and master plan consultant for Disneyland Paris and Disney-MGM Studios at Walt Disney World. Bob died in August 1989, at his Palos Verdes Estates home after a three-year struggle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, known commonly as Lou Gehrig’s disease. He was 55. Jani’s wife Joan accepted on his behalf. She said that Jani didn’t need to study creativity, it was a God given talent. “He started at the age of four, creating shows under his mother’s dining room table,†she said. With his family’s encouragement, he put on shows for the neighborhood kids. She spoke of a memorable visit to FAO Schwartz. Although their children were grown, Jani picked up three fuzzy animals, one a caterpillar. When his puzzled wife asked what they were for, Jani replied, “I have an idea.†That idea became the Main Street Electrical Parade.
Originally Posted By SJHYM I worked for Sully for several years. He could be tough at times but always cared about the guests and their experiences in "Walts" park. He would on occasion sit in my office and tell me Walt stories. Some of my best days at WDW.
