Roland
Crump was honored in September 2004 with the Disney
Legends Awards. This award recognizes outstanding
individuals who have been instrumental in creating the
magic of Disney films, TV, Imagineering, animation and
music.
To get a
handle on this spirited, multi-talented Disney designer,
think: Leonardo DiVinci's Universal Man. A true
original, even among Imagineers, Rolly drew forth genius
in others. Concept designer John Horny observed, "Rolly
has a knack for bringing out the best in others.
Trusting their talent, he encourages artists to push
their creativity to the limits. It's a rare creative
person who can let others run with the ball." Show
writer Jim Steinmeyer added, "The idea is king with
Rolly. It doesn't have to be his vision, as long as it
works."
Born in
1930 in Alhambra, CA, Rolly took a pay cut as a "dipper"
in a ceramic factory to join Walt Disney Studios in 1952
with little more than six Saturdays of art instruction
at Chouinard Art Institute. Intent on learning all
aspects of the business, he took advantage of Disney's
open-door policy, wandering into departments and
observing the work of sculptors, animators and
designers. During this time, Crump not only honed his
artistic skills, but gained a strong belief in his own
abilities. "Walt taught me to be confident about myself.
I learned not to be intimidated by any project." To help
pay his family's bills, he built sewer man holes on the
weekends. He served as an in-between artist and later,
assistant animator, contributing to Peter Pan, Lady
and the Tramp, 101 Dalmations, Sleeping Beauty and
others.
In 1959,
he joined show design at 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 Tike Room and
Adventureland Bazaar. Rolly served as 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. "It still
brings tears to my eyes when I see people coming out with a
smile. I am really proud of the fact that I was part of
the team that built It's a Small World." When the
attraction moved to Disneyland in 1966, Rolly designed
the larger-than-life animated clock at the 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 Bros. and Barnum &
Bailey Circus World in Florida, among others.
He
Returned in 1976 to contribute to EPCOT Center, serving
as project designer for The Land and 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, VA 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. His work included
theme parks in Tokyo and the Gambling Hall of Fame in
Las Vegas. He also designed restaurants in Denver.
Rolly
Crump "retired" from The Walt Disney Company in 1996,
but don't believe it. He's still breathing life into
original ideas at his home in Fallbrook, CA. Even a
quick glance around Rolly's home will tell you that you
are looking at the living space of an artist. On walls
painted in shades of terra cotta, yellow, green and blue
hang Japanese kimonos, African masks and Oriental art.
The library is dotted with his paintings of legendary
entertainer Josephine Baker. In the TV room, an Indian
canopy of vibrant hue and pattern covers the ceiling.
Crump's home isn't a surprise when you consider his
working life. Most of his days are spent tending to his
20-acre farm in Rainbow, making sure weeds are pulled
and the avocado trees are well-watered during the
summer. He continues to paint and sculpt papier-mâché
figures and use his artistic expertise to benefit the
local charity group Rally for Children.
|