Robert (Bob) Jani (May 25, 1934 - August 7, 1989) was an American event producer who specialized in spectaculars. He is most recognized for his affiliation with the

Walt Disney Company The Walt Disney Company, commonly known as Disney (), is an American multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate headquartered at the Walt Disney Studios complex in Burbank, California. Disney was originally founded on October ...

and some of its most famous entertainment events. He is also credited with producing the 1976

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Celebration in New York Harbor and the Super Bowl's half-time entertainment. In the latter part of his career, he rejuvenated the Radio City Music Hall stage show.

Early years

Jani was born in Los Angeles in 1934. He graduated from the

University of Southern California , mottoeng = "Let whoever earns the palm bear it" , religious_affiliation = Nonsectarian—historically Methodist , established = , accreditation = WSCUC , type = Private research university , academic_affiliations = , endowment = $8.1 ...

(USC) with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Telecommunications and Stage Production and Design. He was 21 when he first joined the Disney organization as the head of the newly created Guest Relations Department at

Disneyland Disneyland is a theme park in Anaheim, California. Opened in 1955, it was the first theme park opened by The Walt Disney Company and the only one designed and constructed under the direct supervision of Walt Disney. Disney initially envision ...

in 1955.

Early career

He became Director of Special Events for his alma mater USC after working as the Entertainment Director for the

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for two years. While working at USC, he is credited with the idea of a Trojan warrior riding Traveler as the school's mascot.

Disney legacy

In 1961, Jani formed Pacific Pageants, his own private event company. However, by 1967 he rejoined the Disney Organization as Director of Entertainment, replacing his predecessor, fellow USC alumnus Tommy Walker. He quickly rose to vice president, and then to creative director of

Walt Disney Productions The Walt Disney Company, commonly known as Disney (), is an American multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate headquartered at the Walt Disney Studios complex in Burbank, California. Disney was originally founded on October 1 ...

. Jani created much of the live entertainment that has become a standard at Disneyland and

Walt Disney World The Walt Disney World Resort, also called Walt Disney World or Disney World, is an entertainment resort complex in Bay Lake and Lake Buena Vista, Florida, United States, near the cities of Orlando and Kissimmee. Opened on October 1, 1971, ...

. Among his many achievements were

America on Parade America on Parade ("AOP") was a temporary replacement for Disneyland's and the Magic Kingdom's The Main Street Electrical Parade ("MSEP") for the United States Bicentennial and for Disneyland's 20th and The Magic Kingdom's 5th anniversaries. Like ...

and, perhaps his greatest Disney legacy, the Main Street Electrical Parade. The Main Street Electrical Parade was designed by Hub Braden, and the original electric parade units built by a display company in Chicago, Illinois. The Walt Disney Company inducted Bob Jani into its "Disney Legends" program in 2005. Established in 1987, the Disney Legends program acknowledges and honors the individuals whose imagination, talents and dreams have created Disney magic. The Disney organization dedicated a window on Main Street at Disneyland to Jani.

Later career

Bob Jani produced the Richard Nixon Washington D.C. 4 July Inaugural "Honor America Day" in 1976. Bob had his Disneyland Entertainment designer Hub Braden (as a service volunteer Democrat) design the raised show stage platform and framing structure. Braden had his twin brother John Braden (as a service volunteer Republican), an ABC-NY TV staff art director, supervise set construction and installation at the Washington, D.C. Park presentation site. This Washington D.C.

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celebration has become an annual city, national and televised event. In 1978, he formed Robert F. Jani Productions, Inc. and left Disney.HighBeam
/ref> Through his own production company, he revitalized Radio City Music Hall's "Magnificent Christmas Spectacular." From 1979 to 1982, he was in charge of all live stage productions and reestablished this New York City landmark from its decade of decline as "The Showplace of the Nation." Among the other spectacular undertakings he produced in the 5,882-seat theater were ''America'', which had a 27-week record run, and ''Encore'' and ''Manhattan Showboat'', which received critical and public acclaim. Jani created the master plan for the opening and closing ceremonies of the

1984 Summer Olympics The 1984 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the XXIII Olympiad and also known as Los Angeles 1984) were an international multi-sport event held from July 28 to August 12, 1984, in Los Angeles, California, United States. It marked the sec ...

in Los Angeles, but he did not provide the staging which eventually was awarded to

David L. Wolper David Lloyd Wolper (January 11, 1928 – August 10, 2010) was an American television and film producer, responsible for shows such as ''Roots'', '' The Thorn Birds'', and ''North and South'', and the theatrically-released films ''L.A. Confiden ...

. Jani was also artistic director for the Hollywood Bowl, producer of several television specials, and master plan consultant for

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and

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at Walt Disney World. He worked worldwide as producer and production consultant during his last years. Along with Tommy Walker and Andrea Elizabeth Michaels, he is noted as an event industry pioneer.

Death

Robert Jani died in August 1989 at his Palos Verdes Estates home after a three-year struggle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, known commonly as Lou Gehrig's disease. He was 54.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jani, Robert 1934 births 1989 deaths Walt Disney Parks and Resorts people American entertainment industry businesspeople University of Southern California alumni People from Los Angeles Neurological disease deaths in California Deaths from motor neuron disease