Uploaded October 2025 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
After speaking with director Frank H. Woodward and producer Ernest Alonzo (with a cameo from Bob Gurr himself) about their compelling new documentary, it's clear that 'Bob Gurr: Living by Design' screening at the Newport Beach Film Festival is more than a tribute, it’s a vibrant, personal portrait of a true visionary, proving why he deserves the title of Disney Legend. Directed by Woodward and produced by Alonzo, the film offers an intimate look at Gurr’s extraordinary life and legends he's influenced. Through candid interviews, personal stories, and a few unexpected surprises, the documentary dives deep into his unparalleled career and his enduring passions as we approach Mr. Gurr's 94th birthday, including his lifelong love of cars and his massive Instagram following (over 136,000 followers).
A legendary Disney Imagineer, Bob Gurr, who prefers to refer to himself as a designer instead of an engineer, was part of Walt Disney’s original design team that brought Disneyland to life. His fingerprints are all over some of the park’s most iconic attractions: the Doombuggie at the Haunted Mansion, the Autopia cars, the Monorail, Matterhorn Bobsleds, the Submarine Voyage and the Main Street Vehicles. He also engineered the hip joint for the Mr. Lincoln animatronic and helped design the vehicles for the Flying Saucers and the Magic Skyway at the 1964–65 New York World's Fair.
In the documentary Gurr shares a story about the late President Richard Nixon and how he, "kidnapped" the then vice president and his family, while ditching the secret service.
Outside of Disney, Gurr’s innovations continued as he created Universal Studios’ original 30-foot animatronic King Kong and was one of three designers behind the explosive Pirate Ship battle at Treasure Island in Las Vegas, NV.
Adding yet another surprising chapter to his life story, Gurr has two distinct military service records: one as a civilian during WWII and another as a Brigadier in the New Zealand Army.
Bob Gurr lives a life most of us could only image and 'Bob Gurr: Living by Design' gives us a glimpse of what it feels like to be someone who enjoys every second of those 94 years.
'Bob Gurr: Living by Design' is screening at the Newport Beach Film Festival on Sunday, October 19, 2025, at 5:45 p.m. at the Triangle Cinema.
Follow Bob Gurr on Instagram at instagram.com/bobgurrofficial
To purchase tickets for 'Bob Gurr: Living by Design' visit: newportbeachff2025.eventive.org/films/689ba15dccb816fb0d311351.
Triangle Cinema is located at:
870 Harbor Blvd.
Costa Mesa, CA 92627
#bobgurr #nbff #disneylegend #disneyland #universalstudios #documentary #filmfestival #fanboynation
After speaking with director Frank H. Woodward and producer Ernest Alonzo (with a cameo from Bob Gurr himself) about their compelling new documentary, it's clear that 'Bob Gurr: Living by Design' screening at the Newport Beach Film Festival is more than a tribute, it’s a vibrant, personal portrait of a true visionary, proving why he deserves the title of Disney Legend. Directed by Woodward and produced by Alonzo, the film offers an intimate look at Gurr’s extraordinary life and legends he's influenced. Through candid interviews, personal stories, and a few unexpected surprises, the documentary dives deep into his unparalleled career and his enduring passions as we approach Mr. Gurr's 94th birthday, including his lifelong love of cars and his massive Instagram following (over 136,000 followers).
A legendary Disney Imagineer, Bob Gurr, who prefers to refer to himself as a designer instead of an engineer, was part of Walt Disney’s original design team that brought Disneyland to life. His fingerprints are all over some of the park’s most iconic attractions: the Doombuggie at the Haunted Mansion, the Autopia cars, the Monorail, Matterhorn Bobsleds, the Submarine Voyage and the Main Street Vehicles. He also engineered the hip joint for the Mr. Lincoln animatronic and helped design the vehicles for the Flying Saucers and the Magic Skyway at the 1964–65 New York World's Fair.
In the documentary Gurr shares a story about the late President Richard Nixon and how he, "kidnapped" the then vice president and his family, while ditching the secret service.
Outside of Disney, Gurr’s innovations continued as he created Universal Studios’ original 30-foot animatronic King Kong and was one of three designers behind the explosive Pirate Ship battle at Treasure Island in Las Vegas, NV.
Adding yet another surprising chapter to his life story, Gurr has two distinct military service records: one as a civilian during WWII and another as a Brigadier in the New Zealand Army.
Bob Gurr lives a life most of us could only image and 'Bob Gurr: Living by Design' gives us a glimpse of what it feels like to be someone who enjoys every second of those 94 years.
'Bob Gurr: Living by Design' is screening at the Newport Beach Film Festival on Sunday, October 19, 2025, at 5:45 p.m. at the Triangle Cinema.
Follow Bob Gurr on Instagram at instagram.com/bobgurrofficial
To purchase tickets for 'Bob Gurr: Living by Design' visit: newportbeachff2025.eventive.org/films/689ba15dccb816fb0d311351.
Triangle Cinema is located at:
870 Harbor Blvd.
Costa Mesa, CA 92627
#bobgurr #nbff #disneylegend #disneyland #universalstudios #documentary #filmfestival #fanboynation
