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Garner Holt doesn’t work at Walt Disney Imagineering, but his company has played a key role in creating many of Disney’s most popular attractions. Garner Holt Productions is the leader in building animatronics and other figures at theme parks, including Disneyland. Their work is on display around the world, but they aren’t a household name to the average guest. The reality of these magical creations remains behind the scenes.
Garner is my guest on this episode of The Tomorrow Society Podcast. We talk about how he got started building figures when he was still in high school. His Uncle Sam caught the eye of Imagineers at Disney, and he eventually started working with them down the road. Garner talks about the challenging early days and how he finally got the chance to prove his skills for the MGM Grand Adventures theme park in Las Vegas.
The first key project with Disney for Garner was the Haunted Mansion Holiday and its Jack Skellington animatronic. He talks about that experience and what it was like to create the massive dragon for Fantasmic! at Disneyland. Those attractions were just the starting point for much more work including Radiator Springs Racers at Disney California Adventure. Garner also talks about his work inspiring the next generation with the Garner Holt Foundation and advice for working in the industry. It was great to talk with such a talented figure in the world off theme parks.
Show Notes: Garner Holt
Learn more about Garner Holt Productions on their official website.
Check out a demonstration of the highly advanced Abraham Lincoln animatronic created by Garner Holt Productions as part of its Living Faces of History project.
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