REBROADCAST: 84. Glenn Barker on Creating Sound at Walt Disney Imagineering for More Than 45 Years

Glenn Barker worked on so many cool attractions, including Disneyland.

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I recently learned the sad news that Disney Imagineer Glenn Barker passed away several weeks ago. Glenn had an incredible career as a sound designer for Disney’s theme parks for more than 45 years. Beyond his career accomplishments, he was also a genuine and friendly man who downplayed his success. I spoke to Glenn on the podcast in October 2019 for Episode 84, and it remains one of my favorite all-time interviews. I’m rebroadcasting this podcast episode today as a tribute to Glenn and his amazing work.

The queue for Space Mountain at Disneyland sets the stage perfectly for the attraction. — Photo by Dan Heaton

During the podcast, we talk about his background and work on so many iconic Disney rides and shows. His diverse projects include Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Space Mountain, Impressions de France, The Matterhorn, Star Tours, and Pirates of the Caribbean. This list represents a small portion of Glenn’s career, which also involves Disney Cruise Line and the 50th Anniversary special with Steve Martin. He’s also the voice of The Hatbox Ghost at Disneyland and gives other fun Easter eggs about his place in the parks.

I really enjoy the way that Glenn explains the process for designing sounds at theme parks. Specifically, his explanation of the audio for the Pirates of the Caribbean battle scene illustrates the complexity in supporting a show scene. He also describes the tricky process of creating on-board audio for Space Mountain at Disneyland. I hope this episode helps you learn more about Glenn’s amazing career.