Imagineers undoubtedly pave the way for future theme park designers, often being the first to implement a new technology, style, or even standard that raises the industry bar. But sometimes, Imagineers themselves achieve firsts within Disney itself. Meet Harriet Burns, the first female Imagineer.
Source: D23
A born and raised Texan, Burns and her family moved to LA in 1953, when she was just 25 years old. She had studied advanced design at the University of New Mexico, and began her career designing props and sets for local television shows and for hotels in Las Vegas. After getting a taste of theme park life working at Santa’s Village in Lake Arrowhead, CA, Burns applied for a job at Disney.
Burns earned her stripes as a prop and set painter for the Mickey Mouse Club, and she became notorious for getting dirty with power tools, all while wearing high heels and a skirt.
It was the 1950s. I wore color-coordinated dresses, high heels, and gloves to work. Girls didn’t wear slacks back then, although I carried a pair in a little sack, just in case I had to climb into high places.
Source: LA Times
Burns shared a desk with Fred Joerger, a model builder, and soon began collaborating with him on projects for Disney’s new theme park: Disneyland. Before long, Burns, Joerger, and Wathel Rogers became the founding members of WED Enterprises, which would evolve into Walt Disney Imagineering.
Her first assignment as an Imagineer was to build a model for Sleeping Beauty Castle. No pressure. Surprisingly, the castle model was NOT the job she found the hardest – it was working on the Tiki Room birds!
When they breathed out, it would be fine, but when they came back they scrunched. They looked like they had mites.
Source: Wikipedia
As you’ll see in the list below, Burns became a Jane-of-all-trades, contributing to an overwhelming number of attractions and lands in a wide variety of roles.
Figure Furnishing (applying paint & finishing touches to both animatronics and static figures)
Model Design
- Haunted Mansion
- Matterhorn Bobsleds
- New Orleans Square
- Pirates of the Caribbean
- Sleeping Beauty Castle
Stage Design
Walt featured Burns on numerous Wonderful World of Color episodes, a Disney show providing behind-the-scenes stories of the entire company, including the parks. She finally retired in 1986, and made a final first: the first woman to receive a window on Main Street, in 1992. You can find her window above the Carriage Place Clothing Co., a wonderful spot in the Town Square. I like to stop there for a moment from time to time and appreciate how Burns paved the way for so many women (and men) in Imagineering.
