The Imagineer, named a Disney Legend in 2004, was a key designer for the ‘Haunted Mansion,’ ‘Enchanted Tiki Room,’ ‘Adventureland Bazaar,’ and ’It’s a Small World’ attractions at Disneyland.
Disney Legend Rolly Crump, Imagineer and key designer for the ‘Haunted Mansion,’ ‘Enchanted Tiki Room’ and ‘Adventureland Bazaar’ Disney attractions, has passed away at 93. The sad news was shared on the Walt Disney Company website.
Crump also served as a designer on the attractions featured at the 1964-65 New York World's Fair, including “It's a Small World." When the attraction moved to Disneyland in 1966, Crump designed the larger-than-life animated clock at the entrance, which sends puppet children on parade with each quarter-hour gong. The Imagineer’s works also included contributing to the initial design of the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World in Florida.
Labeled the “diamond in the rough” at Disney, Crump was instrumental in creating the look of early Disneyland despite lacking a formal college degree. The young hopeful was hired by the budding Walt Disney Co. in 1952 when he was just 22 and served as assistant to animation master Eric Larson in his early years. During this time, Crump contributed his talents as an in-between artist and later, an assistant animator, on Disney animation classics including Peter Pan, Lady and the Tramp, Sleeping Beauty, and 101 Dalmatians.
Crump passed peacefully in his Carlsbad home, and is survived by his son Christopher.
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