Zeitgeist's The Spirit Of The Time Episode 37: Laine Dunham White

Passenger 37: Disney Legend, Academy Award and Golden Globe-nominated producer, director, writer, painter — and drummer — who produced two of the world’s most popular animated films: Disney’s “Beauty & the Beast” and “The Lion King,” Don Hahn.   Don Hahn is a true renaissance man, beginning his career in music, moving into producing some of Disney’s most beloved animated features, before directing live action films and documentaries, writing popular books on Disney Animation and creativity, and attempting to capture the real world through "dabs of colored mud" in his iPad paintings. From “Beauty & The Beast,” The Lion King,” “Who Framed Roger Rabbit,” and “The Hunchback of Notre Dame," to “Maleficent,” “The Haunted Mansion” and “Howard,” Don has created intellectual properties and characters that have inspired many beloved location-based entertainment projects. Plan now to join our first Oscar-nominated guest (who also holds two honorary doctorate degrees!) aboard the time machine for what promises to be an epic journey with an extraordinary talent!

Passenger 36: Former creative director/show producer at Walt Disney Imagineering, Universal Creative, Sony Development, Knott’s Berry Farm, and Hildene, who played a primary role on the creation of the Disney-MGM Studios and then oversaw the design, installation, and construction of the original Tower of Terror attraction at the park, Laine Dunham White (former Houser and Akiyama)!   Laine Dunham White has spent over three decades conceiving, designing, and producing world-class theme park attractions and compelling museum exhibits. Known to many as Laine Houser and Laine Aikyama, she is an ArtCenter grad who, since childhood, has excelled at tapping into her skills of observation, communication, composition, and storytelling to paint, draw, and bring immersive environments to life. Now in retirement on Cape Cod, we’ve lured Laine back into the spotlight for a ride on the time machine! Set your timepiece now to join us for an exciting journey with one of the industry’s best and brightest women!

Passenger 35: Former technical director and senior show & ride executive for Walt Disney Imagineering, former president of Spectra Entertainment and Auriga Entertainment, and current president of Contour Entertainment, Chris Brown.   Chris Brown is what happens when technical prowess, extreme creativity, and business acumen all collide in a purple explosion of talent and humor! Plan now to witness the final flight of year three as this accomplished former Disney Imagineer and president of Contour Entertainment climbs aboard the time machine to share his history and wisdom acquired from such projects as Spaceship Earth and the Imagination pavilion at Epcot, Star Tours at Disneyland, the Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park, Tokyo Disneyland, Magic World (Dubai), Sony Music Box (Berlin), Doha Entertainment District, Star Trek: The Tour, Imagica Park (Mumbai), and many more!

Passenger 34: Former Disney Imagineer & creative exec at Universal, Sony, SpectraFX & Contour involved in such classic projects as EPCOT Center, Catastrophe Canyon/Disney-MGM Studios, Blizzard Beach, Poseidon’s Fury/UIOA, & The Beatles' Yellow Submarine simulator, Richard Vaughn.   Richard Vaughn is an artist, a designer, and an articulate creative leader who has been involved in some of the most exciting immersive entertainment projects around the world. He has lead teams and overseen projects for big owner/operators like Disney, Universal, and Sony, as well as two start-ups, SpectraFX and Contour Entertainment. Richard has brought his clever and intellectual artistic abilities to EPCOT Center, the Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park, Universal’s Islands of Adventure, Sony’s Metreon and its German sister in Potsdamer-Platz, Berlin. He developed a longstanding relationship with Apple Corps that lead to a number of Beatles-themed projects. And he lead his father’s band, The Billy Vaughn Orchestra, on multiple tours of Japan. Set your clocks now to travel back in time with one of our industry’s most talented designers!

Passenger 33: Former creative leader at SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, Herschend Family Entertainment, Paramount Parks, Carnival Cruise Lines, and Landmark Entertainment Group, Anthony Esparza! Few have so successfully established and executed the creative vision for so many owner/operators in the immersive entertainment world as Anthony Esparza. One of the industry’s few Latinx executives, Anthony began his career in the model shop at Landmark Entertainment Group in 1980. He was soon elevated to oversee the company's design department before moving to Charlotte, NC to head up the theme park development division for Paramount Parks. Anthony then moved to Atlanta, GA to do the same for Herschend Family Entertainment before relocating to Orlando, FL to modernize the SeaWorld and Busch Gardens parks. As if that wasn’t enough, he then helped to bring the first roller coaster to the high seas for Carnival Cruise Lines! Plan now to join us as Anthony climbs aboard the time machine for a journey back to all of these iconic roles, stories of the hundreds of projects he's developed, and the wisdom he’s collected throughout his illustrious 40+ year career.

Passenger 32: The long-awaited return of the former Disney Imagineer responsible for leading the design of such beloved parks and attractions as EPCOT Center, Star Tours, Sleeping Beauty Castle and Fantasyland at Disneyland Paris, Hong Kong Disneyland, and Carsland at Disney California Adventure, Tom Morris!   Our very first time machine passenger climbs aboard again to complete the incredible journey we began back in 2021! Plan now to join us as we transport Disney icon Tom Morris back to where we left off in the 1980s and onward to the present. Along the way, Tom will share untold stories and insights into his many built and never-realized projects, including Disneyland Paris, Hong Kong Disneyland, DisneyQuest, Carsland, Radiator Springs Racers, and his upcoming book on the history of Walt Disney Imagineering and the design of Disneyland! Don’t miss this epic adventure with one of Disney’s most prolific (and funny) Imagineers!

Passenger 31: Forty-year industry veteran; writer, director, and producer of over 80 themed entertainment projects for both Walt Disney Imagineering and Universal Creative, Mike West. From The ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter, to the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular, The Simpsons Ride to Skull Island: Reign of Kong, Mike West is one of just a handful of creatives who has contributed to the global success of both Disney and Universal theme parks. Set your watch now to join us as Mike climbs aboard the time machine to discuss his quarter century as a writer, director and producer at Walt Disney Imagineering, as well as his 14 years as an executive producer at Universal Creative - including leading the initial blue sky development of the upcoming Epic Universe theme park!

PASSENGER 30:  Veteran art director, designer and illustrator of physical and virtual worlds whose projects include Mickey’s Toontown, Splash Mountain (WDW), San Francisco’s annual Dickens Fair, and theme parks and attractions for Universal, THG, The Jim Henson Company, Herschend Family Entertainment, and Walkabout Mini Golf for Mighty Coconut, Don Carson. Few designers have the talent and skills to find success creating both theme parks and video games, but Don Carson easily transitions between physical and virtual; pen and stylus; concrete and pixels. Starting his career as a show set designer at Walt Disney Imagineering in the 1980s, Don soon traded the glamor of Hollywood for the backwoods of Oregon where he began freelancing for the major owner/operators and design firms in the location-based entertainment industry. Then he played the CD-ROM game “Myst” and discovered a whole new medium in which he could use all his storytelling techniques in an experience that could last for days! Join us as Don climbs aboard the time machine for a fascinating journey through his unique career of marrying the freedom of exploration found in video games with the design process used for creating physical environments!

PASSENGER 29: Former senior vice president of concept design at Walt Disney Imagineering, whose projects include Main Street USA at Disneyland Paris, Space Mountain, trackless dark rides, and consulting to Virgin Galactic, Porsche and Aston Martin, Eddie Sotto. The hair; the voice; the sweet seduction of another brilliant idea. Of course we’re talking about Eddie Sotto, who got his start at Knott’s Berry Farm and Landmark Entertainment Group before shaking things up at Walt Disney Imagineering with his blacklight-bathed office, vision for pushing Main Street USA in Paris from the turn-of-the-century to the 1920s, reimagining the Theme Building at LAX to Encounter Restaurant, and work on Pooh’s Hunny Hunt, Mission Space, and Indiana Jones & the Temple of Doom. Join us as Eddie climbs aboard the time machine to revisit these groundbreaking projects, as well as the award-winning work he’s done since 2004 at SottoStudios for the likes of Virgin Galactic, Blue Origin, Aston Martin, Porsche, and Universal Studios.

PASSENGER 28: Walt Disney Animation director (“Oliver & Company," “The Prince & the Pauper"), Walt Disney Imagineer (“Mickey’s PhilharMagic,” “Gran Fiesta Starring the Three Caballeros”), and fine artist (Panama Canal Expansion, Shanghai Disneyland, Disney Cruise Lines”), George Scribner!   Renaissance artist George Scribner lives three distinct lives: traditional animator and former Walt Disney Animation director, responsible for the classic “Oliver & Company,” Walt Disney Imagineering attraction director, whose projects include “Mickey’s PhilharMagic” worldwide, the Magic Lamp Theater at Tokyo Disneyland, and “Gran Fiesta Starring the Three Caballeros” inside Epcot’s Mexico Pavilion, and fine artist extraordinaire, who from 2007 to 2016 documented in breathtaking oil paintings the expansion of the Panama Canal (his place of birth), the construction of Shanghai Disneyland, and now the Disney Cruise Lines. Plan now to join us as George boards our time machine for an unforgettable journey through his fascinating career, including stops for leading the story and concept designs for Disney’s “The Lion King,” and “Fantasia 2000,” and working for legendary animators Chuck Jones and Hanna-Barbera!