Altadenan Joe Rohde, vice president of Walt Disney Imagineering, will discuss the creation of the thrill ride "Expedition Everest" in the wrap-up of the Pacific Asia Museum's "Active Cultures" series at 7:30 PM Fri., March 25.
The lecture is at the museum, 46 N. Los Robles Ave., Pasadena. Free to members, $10 for non-members, and there is a cash bar.
Rohde is an Imagineer – which means he designs attractions, hotels and theme parks for Disney. A few years after graduating from Occidental College, he started out as a model maker for Epcot back in 1980, joining a troupe of young artists and the old-timers who had worked on Disneyland and the opening of Walt Disney World. Joe’s painting skills – combined with a well-honed gift for theatrics and set design picked up from his drama-teacher mom and camera-operator dad – helped him move into the ranks of design executives; he oversaw the design and development of Animal Kingdom, which opened in 1998 in the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.
Animal Kingdom is unique among Disney parks in that it takes a realistic (for a theme park!) approach to its varied environments (Asia and Africa as well as “Dinoland” and “Camp Minnie-Mickey”) and stories (poaching, deforestation, overdevelopment, plus A Bug’s Life and The Lion King). The park’s main thesis is that humans love animals; it takes a strong conservation stance, and has been an integral part of Disney’s renewed commitment toward conservation.
Joe’s lifelong affinity for art, adventure and culture has led him on adventures both personal and professional — let’s just say his frequent flyer account is always topped up… way up. He’s been on lots of adventures (including one alongside Jeff Corwin, looking for the Abominable Snowman) and speaks on design all over the world.
