In 1971, the main boulevard of Main Street was bisected by Center Street, which effectively created a crossroads. The result was that Main Street consisted of four separate blocks. The area across from East Center Street, where the Emporium Gallery sits today, was previously home to West Center Street. This extinct thoroughfare was the original home of the Harmony Barber Shop, as well as a variety of other shops. In 2001, the entirety of West Center Street was closed to make way for an expansion of the Emporium, and the Harmony Barber Shop was relocated to its current location in Town Square.
Other than the closure of West Center Street, most of the other changes on Main Street, U.S.A. since the Magic Kingdom’s opening day in 1971 involve shops being added and subtracted to the charming boulevard, including some surprising previous tenants. For example, Main Street was previously home to a tobacco shop known as the Tobacconist, which sold pipes and various other tobacco products. This is surprising for a number of reasons, including that Walt Disney died from lung cancer in 1966.
Main Street also included a penny arcade, which featured vintage coin operated games and moving picture machines. The Penny Arcade closed in 1995. As discussed above, many of the vintage games previously housed there can now be found on the second floor of the Main Street train station.
The Plaza Swan Boats attraction was one of the most unique Main Street offerings that unfortunately is now extinct. This fleet of slow-moving, natural-gas-powered vessels transported guests on a leisurely journey from the central hub waterway to Adventureland and past the Swiss Family Treehouse before returning to the central hub. It operated seasonally from May of 1973 until its closure in August of 1983.
As is the case with any real-world town, Main Street, U.S.A. continues to change and evolve over time, most recently with significant renovation work performed on the central hub in 2015 to add more walkways and seating areas.
The Windows of Main Street, U.S.A.
Main Street, U.S.A. is home to some of the most meaningful and fun tributes in all of Walt Disney World. If you look up while taking a stroll down this practically perfect thoroughfare, you will see a variety of names decorating numerous second- and third-story windows. These inscriptions honor individuals who made substantial contributions to the Disney company generally and the Disney parks specifically. The individuals honored include executives, artists, Imagineers, and Disney family members. These names are intertwined with fun advertisements to various businesses that are presumably conducted on the upper levels of the Main Street buildings, and in many cases humorously relate to the individual’s real-life contribution to the Disney company.
Below is a complete listing of these windows, where they can be found, and a summary of the magical secrets behind them:
Walt Disney World Railroad Office—Keeping Dreams on Track—Walter E. Disney, Chief Engineer.
location
On the Clock Tower above the Main Street, U.S.A. train station.
backstory
This window pays tribute to Walter Elias Disney and honors his love of trains and railroads.
Broggie’s Buggies—Hand Made Wagons, Surreys, Sleighs—Roger Broggie, Wheelwright.
location
Ground level of the Car Barn.
backstory
Roger Broggie is famously known as being Walt Disney’s first Imagineer and, like Walt, an avid lover of railroads. Broggie was first hired by Walt in 1939 and eventually transitioned to working on ride and show systems for Disneyland. Broggie’s work at Disney World included the Walt Disney World Railroad, the monorail, and the Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover (formerly known as the WEDway PeopleMover).
Owen Pope—Harness Maker—“Saddles A Specialty”—Leather Goods—Feed & Grain Supplies.
location
Ground level of the Car Barn.
backstory
Owen Pope was in charge of the horse operations first at Disneyland and later at Disney World.
Fashions by John—Dressmaking, Hemstitching & Picoting—Tom Peirce, Orpha Harryman, Ken Creekmore, Alyja Paskevicius and John Keehne.
location
Above The Chapeau.
backstory
The individuals listed were the original leaders of the costume department for Walt Disney World, making both the window advertisement itself and its placement above The Chapeau hat shop appropriate.
General Joe’s Building Permits—Licensed in Florida—Gen. Joe Potter, Raconteur.
location
Above the Main Street Confectionery.
backstory
Major General William E. “Joe” Potter was the first Disney employee in Florida. He was hired by Walt to direct the construction of the infrastructure of Walt Disney World. Potter was one of the few people on the planet suited for such a project, as he had served as governor of the Panama Canal Zone. He was also a great storyteller, which is where the “Raconteur” reference comes in.
Hollywood Publishing Co.—Manuscripts and Melodramas—F.X. Atencio, Al Bertino, Marty Sklar.
location
Above the Main Street Confectionery.
backstory
Francis Xavier “X.” Atencio wrote the scripts for Pirates of the Caribbean and the Haunted Mansion, as well as the lyrics for their respective theme songs, “Yo Ho (A Pirate’s Life for Me)”, and “Grim Grinning Ghosts.” Al Bertino was best known for his work on the Country Bear Jamboree. Marty Sklar’s career with the Disney company spanned decades, including serving as president for Walt Disney Imagineering.
Safe & Sound Amplification Co.—Gordon Williams, Ed Chisholm.
location
Above the Main Street Confectionery.
backstory
This window pays tribute to two Disney Imagineers. Gordon Williams was an audio-animatronics expert who also made notable contributions to the sound effects on the Haunted Mansion. Ed Chisolm was a mechanical engineer for the Disney company.
Dreamers & Doers Development Co.—“If We Can Dream It—We Can Do It!”—Roy O. Disney, Chairman.
location
Above the Main Street Confectionery.
backstory
Roy O. Disney was Walt’s brother and business partner, and probably the most under-appreciated contributor to the development of Walt Disney World. Following Walt’s death in 1966, Roy once again delayed his retirement to ensure that Walt’s dream of Disney World did come true. Roy died in December 1971, two months after the Magic Kingdom’s opening day.
Hyperion Film & Camera Exchange—World’s Largest Film Library—Screenings Daily at 4 p.m.—Dick Pfahler, Bob Gibeaut, Bill Bosche, Jack Boyd, McLaren Stewart.
location
Above the Main Street Confectionery.
backstory
This window pays homage to Walt’s first studio famously located at 2719 Hyperion Avenue. The individuals listed were in charge of the film elements for the attractions in Disney World.
Graphics Complete—Catalogue of Brochures for Every Occasion—Layouts on Request—Burbank—C. Robert Moore, Norm Noceti.
location
Above the Main Street Confectionery.
backstory
This window pays homage to a pair of graphic designers who worked for the Disney company.
Draughting Corporation—Doug Cayne, Delineator—“A Straight Line is the First Rule”—Associates Ron Bowman, Glenn Durflinger, Don Holmquist, Dick Kline, George Nelson.
location
Above the Main Street Confectionery.
backstory
This window pays tribute to several Disney Imagineers who provided initial design work on numerous Disney projects.
Town Square Tailors—Tailors to the Presidents—Bob Phelps, Prop.
location
Above the Main Street Confectionery.
backstory
Bob Phelps designed costumes for many of the attractions in Walt Disney World, including the Hall of Presidents, which gives rise to his window tribute. The window features an American
bald eagle holding scissors and thread.
Buena Vista Magic Lantern Slides—Treat Your Friends to Our Special Tricks—Yale Gracey, Bud Martin, Ken O’Brien, Wathel Rogers.
location
Above the Main Street Confectionery.
backstory
Yale Gracey was best known for his work on the Haunted Mansion, including use of the Pepper’s Ghost technique to bring ghosts to life in the Grand Ballroom scene. Bud Marin was known for his expertise in lighting effects on a variety of Disney attractions, and Ken O’Brien was known for his work on audio-animatronics. The father of audio-animatronics, however, was Wathel Rogers, whose credits include work on Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room, Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress, Pirates of the Caribbean, and the Jungle Cruise.
Buena Vista Construction Company—State Bonded Licensed—Schedules Changed While-You-Wait—General Contractor—Bill Irwin, Field Calculations—Larry Reiser, Synchronizer—Pete Markham, Engineer—Francis Stanek, Prognostications—Dan Dingman, Reckoning.
location
Above the Main Street Confectionery.
backstory
This window honors Buena Vista Construction Company, general contractor for the construction of Disney World.
Plaza School of Music—Sheet Music B. Baker—Band Uniforms B. Jackman—Music Rolls G. Bruns.
location
Above the Emporium.
backstory
This window honors Buddy Baker, who scored many Disney attractions, including writing “Grim Grinning Ghosts” with X. Atencio; Bob Jackman, who co-wrote the “Swisskapolka” that is played in the Swiss Family Treehouse; and George Bruns, who worked on numerous projects, including the “Ballad of Davy Crockett,” and “Yo-Ho (A Pirate’s Life for Me)” from Pirates of the Caribbean.
Super Structures Inc.—Engineers and Associates—Don Edgren, John Wise, Partners—Associates: Morrie Houser, Lou Jennings, John Joyce, Ken Klug, Stan Maslak, John Zovich.
location
Above the Emporium.
backstory
This window honors Disney Imagineers who played key engineering and other roles in the opening of Walt Disney World.
Home Sweet Home Interior Decorators—Emile Kuri, Proprietor.
location
Above the Emporium.
backstory
Emile Kuri was the chief interior and exterior decorator for both Walt Disney World and Disneyland.
Rainbow Paint Co. Polychromatists—Lonnie R. Lindley—World’s Largest Collection of Color Samples.
location
Above the Emporium.
backstory
Lonnie Lindley served as head of the Walt Disney World paint shop, hence the reference to “Color Samples.”
The Human Dynamo Calculating Machine Co.—Michael Bagnall, Office Mgr.—David Snyder, Program Supervisor.
location
Above the Emporium.
backstory
Bagnall served as chief financial officer for the Disney company. Synder led the Digital Animation Control System (DACS), the computer system that controls the attractions, shows, and effects throughout the Magic Kingdom.
Walsh’s Chimney Sweep & Pest Control Co.—Burbank, Calif.—Cincinnati, Ohio—Professor Bill Walsh—The Bug Lover.
location
Above the Emporium.
backstory
Bill Walsh wrote and produced many Disney films, including two of the most famous in Disney history: Mary Poppins (1964), hence the “Chimney Sweep” reference, and The Love Bug (1968), hence “The Bug Lover” reference.
Dr. Card Walker—Licensed Practitioner of Psychiatry—And Justice of the Peace—We Never Close Except for Golf.
location
Above the Emporium.
backstory
E. Cardon “Card” Walker served as president, chairman, and CEO of Walt Disney Productions, notably elevating his leadership role in the wake of Walt Disney’s death. Walker’s window pays tribute to two of his “talents”: mediating between conflicting personalities…and golf.
Project Detective Agency—Private Investigations—We Never Sleep—Ed Bullard, Investigator.
location
Above the Emporium.
backstory
This window honors a former head of Walt Disney World Security, Ed Bullard.
New Era Band & Choir Studio—If It’s New, It’s the Latest—Instruction—Talent Agents—Robert Jani, Bandmaster—Charles Corson, Casting Director.
location
Above the Emporium.
backstory
Robert Jani served as the director of entertainment at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World. Charles Corson was an executive in Disney World’s entertainment division.
Dolls by Miss Joyce—Dollmaker for the World—Shops in New York, California, Florida, Japan & Paris—Owner and Founder Joyce Carlson.
location
Above the Emporium.
backstory
Joyce Carlson created the dolls for “it’s a small world,” making the “Dollmaker for the World” reference one of the most appropriate and fun window tributes on Main Street.
Main Street Music Co.—Ron Logan, Conductor
—“Leading the Band into a New Century.”
location
Above the Emporium.
backstory
Ron Logan served as music director for Walt Disney World and spent more than four decades with the Disney company.
Little Gremlins Mechanical Toys—Toy Makers & Associates—“We Build ’Em, You Run ’Em.”—Bob Booth, Roger Broggie, Jr., John Franke, Neil Gallagher, John Gladish, Rudy Pena, Dave Schweninger, Dick Van Every, Jim Verity.
location
Above the Emporium.
backstory
This window pays tribute to numerous individuals who worked for Imagineering’s manufacturing division known as “MAPO.”
Center Street Academy of Fine Art Painting & Sculpture—Collin Campbell, Blaine Gibson, Herbert Ryman, Mary Blair, Dorothea Redmond.
location
East Center Street.
backstory
This window features the cream of the crop of Disney artists. Campbell was a noted Disney artist whose work was instrumental in bringing the concepts for what the Magic Kingdom would be to life. Ryman’s countless works include the first drawing of what would become Disneyland, and a famous initial sketch of Cinderella Castle. Gibson was a noted sculptor whose work includes the Partners and Sharing the Magic statues on Main Street, U.S.A., and the busts of the audio-animatronics in the Hall of Presidents. Mary Blair is most famous for her work on “it’s a small world,” and Dorothea Redmond for her work on the five mosaics in the Cinderella Castle passageway.
Windermere Fraternal Hall—“Lodge Meetings Every Friday”—Charter Members—Bob Allen, Pete Crimmings, Dick Evans, Bill Hoelscher, Bob Matheison, Bill Sullivan.
location
East Center Street, above Crystal Arts.
backstory
These individuals were all members of the Park Operating Committee for Walt Disney World.
Golden State Graphic Arts Studio—Latest Artistic Principles Employed—Ken Chapman, Paul Hartley, Sam McKim, Elmer Plummer, Ernie Prinzhorn.
location
East Center Street.
backstory
These individuals worked in the graphic arts division for the Disney company in California, hence the “Golden State” reference.
General Contractor Bud Dare—We “Dare” You to Find a Better Deal—Reedy Creek, Bay Lake, Lake Buena Vista.
location
East Center Street.
backstory
Bud Dare served as the senior vice president of Operations for the Disney company.
Elias Disney—Contractor—Est. 1895.
location
East Center Street.
backstory
This window pays tribute to Walt Disney’s father Elias. In 1895, Elias Disney formed his own construction com
pany.
Sayers & Company—College of Business—Satisfied Graduates from Coast to Coast—References on Request—Jack Sayers, National Rep.—Pete Clark, Western Mgr.—Norm Fagrell, Eastern Mgr.
location
East Center Street.
backstory
This window honors Disney executives who were in charge of lessee relations for Disney parks. Jack Sayers served as vice president of Lessee Relations for Disneyland and Walt Disney World. Pete Clark served as director of Lessee Relations for Disneyland, and Norm Fagrell served in the same role for Disney World.
Olsen’s Imported Novelties & Souvenirs—“World’s Largest Collection OF Keychains”—Jack Olsen—“The Merchant Prince.”
location
East Center Street, above Crystal Arts.
backstory
Jack Olsen ran the merchandising operations for both Disneyland and Walt Disney World.
The Double Check Co.—“A Penny Saved is a Penny Earned,” B. Franklin—Auditors and Bookkeepers—Larry Tryon, Mike Bagnall, Carl Bongirno, Jim McManus, Warren Robertson.
location
Above Crystal Arts.
backstory
This window pays tribute to various Disney executives who, not surprisingly based on the window advertisement, played key roles in the financial stability of the Disney company.
Dyer Predictions & Prestidigitation—“A Florida Institution Since ’67”—Bonar Dyer, President.
location
Above Crystal Arts.
backstory
Bonar Dyer was the vice president of Industrial Relations for Walt Disney Productions. Dyer was known for “working magic” and effectively negotiating union relations matters for the Disney company. His window humorously includes a rabbit in a top hat and a crystal ball.
Evans & Assoc. Tree Surgeons—“We Grow ’Em, You Show ’Em—Morgan Evans, D.T.S., Tony Virginia, A.T.S.
location
Above Crystal Arts.
backstory
Morgan “Bill” Evans was a landscaper who was in charge of landscaping Walt Disney World including relocating two thousand trees to the Disney World property. Evans retired in 1975, although he continued to consult with the company. Virginia later became the head of landscaping for Walt Disney World.
The Backstories and Magical Secrets of Walt Disney World Page 4