Disneyland Windows > Roger E. Broggie
Location: The Magic Shop, Main Street USA, Disneyland.
Many consider him Walt Disney's first Imagineer. In 1939, Roger Broggie joined Walt Disney Studios in Burbank as a precision machinist, assigned to install the technically complex multiplane cameras. Working with Disney Legend, Ub Iwerks, Broggie developed new special effects at Disney Studios. In 1949, Broggie supervised the construction for Walt Disney's backyard railroad, the Carolwood Pacific, as well as the 1/8th scale Lilly Belle engine. Broggie was promoted to the head of the Disney Studios Machine Shop in 1950. Broggie's mechanical genius helped make Disney Magic possible. He developed many of the Oscar winning visual effects for 20,000 Legues Under the Sea. His technical expertise was used to create classic Disney attractions, like the Santa Fe & Disneyland Railroad, the Monorail system, Matterhorn Bobsleds, Circle Vision, and Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln. After more than 50 years with the Disney Company, Broggie retired in 1975.
Disney Legend Roger Broggie died in Los Angeles, on November 4, 1991. He was honored with windows at the Disney Parks, and Engine No. 3 of the Walt Disney World Railroad was renamed the Roger Broggie.
His son, Michael Broggie, also worked for the Walt Disney Studios and is considered an authority on Walt Disney. He authored the award winning Walt Disney's Railroad Story and is Chairman of the Carolwood Pacific Historical Society, which operates Walt Disney's Carolwood Barn Museum at Griffith Park.