Yale Gracey (1910 - 1983)

Yale Gracey was born on the third of September, 1910.

He is best remembered as a genius with creative vision.  For example, he was responsible for many of the brilliant special effects in the Haunted Mansion attraction, as well as the Pirates of the Caribbean.

Yale Gracey was first a layout artist for the Disney company, which he joined in 1939.  He worked on Pinnochio, a 1940 release.   

Yale Gracey was also an Art Director for the original Fantasia, which premiered 13 November 1940.

His name appeared among the credits of the Disney short, Donald's Off Day, which was released 8 December 1944.  This short cartoon was also the directorial debut of Jack Hannah.

In 1961, he moved to the WED Enterprises division of the Disney company, and created lighting and designed special effects for several attractions, most notably the Pirates of the Caribbean and the Haunted Mansion.

(Some morose romantics have erroneously reported that Mr. Gracey died in 1970, and that his violent death inspired the hanging figure represented by the "ghost host."  This is not true.  Mr. Gracey was still very much alive and actively at work, during the first half of the 1970's.)

He retired from Disney in 1975, but remained in the Los Angeles area.

Yale Gracey died in September 1983, at age 72.

 

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