Many imagineers leave a mark on one specific attraction or land – really immersing themselves in that creative piece of the Disney puzzle. But a select few have a much broader influence, touching many parks throughout the course of their careers. Herbert Ryman falls into the latter category, leaving his artistic fingerprint across the wide world of Disney.
Source: Ryman Arts
Herbert Dickens Ryman Jr. was born on June 28, 1910, in Vernon, Illinois, into a family that initially had other plans for his future. His mother dreamt of him pursuing a medical career, but when Ryman fell gravely ill with scarlet fever, she softened her stance. With his health improving, she gave her blessing for him to chase his true passion—art.
Ryman graduated from the Art Institute of Chicago, and began his career as a production designer during Hollywood’s golden age, working for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) on iconic films like David Copperfield, Mutiny on the Bounty, and The Wizard of Oz. He then joined Walt Disney Studios in 1938 after Walt saw his artwork at an exhibit, and served as art director for Fantasia and Dumbo.
Source: Sotto Studios
And when Walt starting dreaming up his new theme park project in the early 50s, Ryman seemed like the perfect fit. On a fateful weekend in September 1953—now famously dubbed the “Lost Weekend”—Ryman sketched the very first map of Disneyland. Working side-by-side with Walt, he brought to life the whimsical concepts that would convince investors and other stakeholders that Disneyland was a viable project. Ryman himself admitted he was hesitant to take on the task, but as he put it:
Walt Disney just swept me off my feet.
Once the park project picked up steam, so did Ryman’s contributions. Just some of his biggest design projects included:
- Icons: Sleeping Beauty Castle and Cinderella Castle (in Walt Disney World)
- Lands: Main Street USA and New Orleans Square
- Attractions: Great Moments With Mr. Lincoln, It’s A Small World, Jungle Cruise, Pirates of the Caribbean
- Park concepting: EPCOT, Tokyo Disneyland, Disneyland Paris
My own dream of happiness would be to live in every spot on our globe. To see and study and record and most of all, to understand. And to pass on in some tangible form a fragment of that enthusiasm and love.
Source: EPCOT Legacy
Herbert Ryman passed away in 1989, and his friends and family founded Ryman Arts just a year later in his honor. This nonprofit organization continues his legacy, mentoring young artists and instilling in them the classical skills that defined Ryman’s career. He shares a window on Main Street with fellow Imagineers Peter Ellenshaw and John Hench, appropriately under the “Plaza School of Art”.
