We’ve all heard the official stories about the origins of Disneyland and Walt Disney’s ideas for the park. The basics are well-known, but they really just scratch the surface. We’re learning more today about the people that created this remarkable place. Walt brought together a talented collection of artists that helped make Disneyland happen. One of the key figures was Claude Coats, who had created striking background paintings for Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Pinocchio. His design skills translated perfectly to theme park attractions, and he played a key role in many classics. Coats’ Disneyland work deserves more attention, and a new book from David A. Bossert finally reveals his contributions.
Claude Coats: Walt Disney’s Imagineer – the Making of Disneyland: from Toad Hall to the Haunted Mansion and Beyond does more than just tell the story of an unheralded Imagineer. It gives us a detailed look at the early days of Disneyland. The beautiful collection of vintage photos, concept art, and other materials documents how Walt’s dream became a reality. Coats worked at the center of attractions like the Submarine Voyage, Pirates of the Caribbean, the Mine Train through Nature’s Wonderland, and other highlights from the ’50s and ’60s. Bossert provides a behind-the-scenes tour along each step of Disneyland’s growth into the quintessential theme park.
The book opens with a preface from Coats’ son Alan and foreword by Imagineer Tony Baxter, and both have cool stories. Baxter describes an impromptu tour of Pirates of the Caribbean during its construction when he was young and worked at Disneyland. It’s great to start with personal stories about the modest guy. Bossert mentions his own interactions with Coats while working at Disney in the introduction. This insiders’ perspective is everywhere in this title, which includes quotes from experts like Baxter and Tom K. Morris along with the artwork. The combination of background information and personal stories makes this more than a history guide.
A Up-Close Look at Disneyland in the ’50s and ’60s
Claude Coats: Walt Disney’s Imagineer is not a comprehensive biography that details his entire output at Disney. Bossert focuses on Coats’ work for WED from 1956 through 1969, and there’s plenty to cover. I would enjoy seeing another volume documenting his attractions at Walt Disney World like If You Had Wings and Horizons. The structure benefits this book since it allows for more depth on each Disneyland attraction. Bossert doesn’t pack too much into the 264 pages. He can take detours like the trip to Japan and tours of NASA to show how they influenced Coats’ work. I also knew little about either topic and really enjoyed learning about those visits.
The coffee table book format helps to present Coats’ work and the attractions in all their splendor. The photos above show how the full-page color shots and artwork fit inside the book. For example, the massive Grand Canyon Diorama crosses the fold on several pages and showcases the grand backgrounds. It’s really something to see and well beyond what you might find online. These aren’t the typical pictures you see in every Disney publication, and many come from the Coats Family Collection. It made me appreciate small areas that I’ve grown to take for granted in the parks.
The final section presents “The Art of Claude Coats” gallery that ventures beyond his work at Disneyland. It includes gorgeous watercolors from the 1930s and progresses through Gouache and acrylics in his later years. I loved Coats’ art inspired by his travels around the world, including Machu Picchu, the Kara Mon Gate in Japan, and Portofino in Italy. This section reminds us that Coats was so much more than a theme park designer. His talents with color, spacing, and backgrounds helped create the magic of Disneyland. Whether you’re an expert on theme park history or just love Disneyland, there is a treasure trove to enjoy within this striking and insightful new book.
Purchase a copy of Claude Coats: Walt Disney’s Imagineer – the Making of Disneyland: from Toad Hall to the Haunted Mansion and Beyond directly from the Old Mill Press website.
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I have to admit I was a bit disappointed that WDW was completely ignored in this book, especially since it came out at the same time as the 50th Anniversary and also because the book on Marc Davis had been comprehensive and included all of his WDW work. If they end up doing another volume some day, that will be great but I admit I was hoping to see some in-depth treatment on “If You Had Wings” that Claude worked on. It’s usually been up to the devoted amateur WDW historians to learn the story about the attractions of the early years of WDW whereas the more “official” publications have tended to give the early years of WDW short shrift.
I spoke to author Dave Bossert on the podcast, and he did mention that he’s working on a Part 2 of the book that would cover the WDW work by Claude Coats. I really hope that happens, as I would love to learn more about If You Had Wings and other work in Florida.