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Michael Broggie (born June 19, 1942) is an historian and author who has researched the life and legacy of Walt Disney. As a public speaker, he toured the country lecturing on his first-person experiences with Walt Disney and many of the Disney Legends, including his father, Roger E. Broggie, who was selected by Walt Disney to be his first Imagineer.
Born in Los Angeles, California, Broggie grew up between Lake Arrowhead and the San Fernando Valley. His father, Roger E. Broggie, was the head of Walt Disney Studio's machine shop. As a small child, Michael Broggie got to ride on Walt Disney's backyard 1/8-scale model Carolwood Pacific Railroad, which his father helped to build.
Broggie earned an MBA and a doctorate in Marketing - summa cum laude - at Pacific University, San Diego; a BA in communications from California State University, Northridge; and an AA in Journalism - with honors - from Los Angeles Valley College. He is a veteran of the United States Air Force, where he served in the Aerospace Medical Command as a pharmacy specialist. He attended Lincoln University School of Law, San Francisco but did not graduate. He attended Rim of the World High School at Lake Arrowhead and graduated from North Hollywood High School. In 2010, he was awarded an Honorary Diploma by Rim of the World High School, where his family annually sponsors music scholarship awards to a graduating boy and girl in memory of his mother, Thelma C. Broggie, who was a concert violinist. He has two children, Michael Jr. and Stephen and one stepson, Timothy.
Broggie's first job with Disney was in 1960, as an attractions Cast Member (ride operator) at Disneyland on the Autopia and Mine Train during summer seasons while attending college. After completing his undergraduate education, he joined the Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, California, as a publicity writer in the motion picture marketing department.
For three years in the early 1970s, he returned to his hometown of Lake Arrowhead and served as the executive vice president and general manager of Lake Arrowhead Development Company, owners and developers of the resort. Under his administration, the lake was transferred to a community corporation owned in common by area property owners.
On behalf of the model railroad industry, Broggie appeared in 30 cities as the featured presenter of “Walt Disney's Railroad Story” on a national tour titled “World's Greatest Hobby.”
With his wife, Sharon, he is co-founder and Chairman of The Carolwood Society and the Carolwood Foundation. The foundation operates Walt Disney's Carolwood Barn and other Disney-related exhibits within the Los Angeles Live Steamers Railroad Museum in Griffith Park, Los Angeles, on behalf of Walt Disney's family.
A member of the Westlake Yacht Club, he was founder and served as the initial CEO of The Nautical Foundation, a non-profit corporation that raises funds to promote the values and opportunities of youth and competitive sailing.
He is co-founder and president of the Prescott Police Foundation. He and Sharon served eight years as volunteers in the Prescott Police Department's unit of Citizens on Patrol (COP). He was appointed to three terms on the Appeals Board of the Prescott Fire Department, the last term as chairman ended in 2020.
He is advocating for the State of Arizona to again compete for motion picture and television productions, which was a successful industry for many decades until the state eliminated certain tax incentives and other financial benefits. He estimates that Arizona has lost over a billion dollars and employment opportunities to other states that aggressively pursue the film industry. Dating back to the silent era, over 130 motion pictures and countless television productions and commercials have been made in Arizona due to its climate and variety of scenic locales.
Michael and Sharon reside at Prescott Lakes, Arizona.
Broggie is the author or co-author of eight books. His book released in June 2006 Air Force One: The Final Mission , describing the history of the Presidential Boeing 707 installed at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California. His 430-page book, Walt Disney’s Railroad Story , was awarded in 1998 with the Benjamin Franklin Gold Medal for Best Biography from the Publishers Marketing Association (PMA). [1] Broggie's biographical profile of Warren Buffett’s longtime partner, Charlie Munger, is contained in a 470-page book edited by Peter Kaufman, Poor Charlie’s Almanack , released in 2005. His inspirational book of photographs and motivational words beginning with the letter C titled "Walt Disney's Words of Wisdom" was released in 2010. "The History of Disney Merchandise" was written for The Walt Disney Company in 2001. "Walt Disney's Happy Place," is an illustrated biography of Walt Disney designed for shared reading by children and adults. He is the author of the official souvenir guide to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum. As a commission by the City of Irwindale, California, he researched and wrote "The History of Irwindale: Garden of Rocks." He has authored and edited numerous articles for regional and national publications.
Walter Elias Disney was an American animator, film producer and entrepreneur. A pioneer of the American animation industry, he introduced several developments in the production of cartoons. As a film producer, he holds the record for most Academy Awards earned and nominations by an individual, having won 22 Oscars from 59 nominations. He was presented with two Golden Globe Special Achievement Awards and an Emmy Award, among other honors. Several of his films are included in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress and have also been named as some of the greatest films ever by the American Film Institute. Disney was the first person to be nominated for Academy Awards in six different categories.
Roy Oliver Disney was an American businessman who co-founded The Walt Disney Company with his younger brother Walt Disney. He also served as the company's first CEO and was the father of Roy E. Disney.
Ward Walrath Kimball was an American animator employed by Walt Disney Animation Studios. He was part of Walt Disney's main team of animators, known collectively as Disney's Nine Old Men. His films have been honored with two Academy Awards for Best Animated Short Film.
Lillian Marie Disney was an American ink artist at the Disney Studios and the wife of Walt Disney from 1925 until his death in 1966. Born in Spalding, Idaho, Disney graduated from high school in Lapwai before moving to Lewiston to attend college. She left Idaho in 1923 to move to southern California, where she would meet future husband Walt while working as a secretary at Walt Disney Animation Studios.
Oliver Martin Johnston Jr. was an American motion picture animator. He was one of Disney's Nine Old Men, and the last surviving at the time of his death from natural causes. He was recognized by The Walt Disney Company with its Disney Legend Award in 1989. His work was recognized with the National Medal of Arts in 2005.
The Carolwood Pacific Railroad (CPRR) was a 7+1⁄4-inch gauge ridable miniature railroad run by Walt Disney in the backyard of his home in the Holmby Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. It featured the Lilly Belle, a 1:8-scale live steam locomotive named after Disney's wife, Lillian Disney, and built by the Walt Disney Studios' machine shop. The locomotive made its first test run on December 24, 1949. It pulled a set of freight cars, as well as a caboose that was almost entirely built by Disney himself. It was Disney's lifelong fascination with trains, as well as his interest in miniature models, that led to the creation of the CPRR. The railroad, which became operational in 1950, was 2,615 feet (797 m) long and encircled his house. The backyard railroad attracted visitors to Disney's home; he invited them to ride and occasionally drive his miniature train. In 1953, after an accident occurred in which a guest was injured, the CPRR was closed to the public.
Roger Edward Broggie was an American mechanical engineer who worked with Walt Disney and the Walt Disney Company. He is considered the first Disney Imagineer.
The Disneyland Railroad (DRR), formerly known as the Santa Fe & Disneyland Railroad, is a 3-foot narrow-gauge heritage railroad and attraction in the Disneyland theme park of the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, in the United States. Its route is 1.2 miles (1.9 km) long and encircles the majority of the park, with train stations in four different park areas. The rail line, which was constructed by WED Enterprises, operates with two steam locomotives built by WED and three historic steam locomotives originally built by Baldwin Locomotive Works. The ride takes roughly 18 minutes to complete a round trip on its main line when three trains are running, and 20 minutes when four trains are running. Two to four trains can be in operation at any time, three on average.
Esmond Cardon Walker, commonly known as E. Cardon Walker or Card Walker, was an American businessman who served as a top executive at Walt Disney Productions during the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. He was born in Rexburg, Idaho.
The Walt Disney World Railroad (WDWRR) is a 3-foot narrow-gauge heritage railroad and attraction located within the Magic Kingdom theme park of Walt Disney World in Bay Lake, Florida, in the United States. Its route is 1.5 miles (2.4 km) in length and encircles most of the park, with train stations in three different park areas. The rail line, constructed by WED Enterprises, operates with four historic steam locomotives originally built by Baldwin Locomotive Works. It takes about 20 minutes for each train to complete a round trip on the WDWRR's main line loop. On a typical day, the railroad has two trains in operation; on busy days, it has three trains.
Retlaw Enterprises, originally Walt Disney Miniature Railroad, then Walt Disney, Inc. (WDI), and then WED Enterprises (WED), was a privately held company owned by the heirs of entertainment mogul Walt Disney. Disney formed the company to control the rights to his name and to manage two Disneyland attractions that he personally owned. The name, Retlaw, is Walter spelled backwards.
The Viewliner Train of Tomorrow was a 2 ft 6 in narrow-gauge, miniature train that once operated alongside portions of the Disneyland Railroad main line.
The Fort Wilderness Railroad (FWRR) was a 3.5-mile (5.6 km), 2 ft 6 in narrow-gauge heritage railroad located at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground in Walt Disney World. The railroad officially opened on January 1, 1974, and provided transportation for the resort's various campsites. Due to issues with track maintenance, pedestrian safety, noise concerns, and the low fuel capacity of its steam locomotives, the FWRR closed permanently in February 1980. Railroad ties remain in place along certain sections of the railroad's former right-of-way, and its four locomotives and surviving passenger cars are now owned by private collectors.
The Grizzly Flats Railroad (GFRR) was a 3-foot narrow-gauge heritage railroad owned by Disney animator Ward Kimball at his home in San Gabriel, California. The railroad had 900 feet (274.3 m) of track, and was operated from 1942 to 2006. It was the first full-size backyard railroad in the United States.
The Los Angeles Live Steamers Railroad Museum (LALSRM) is a non-profit public-benefit corporation founded in 1956 by live steam enthusiasts for the purpose of educating the public about railroad history and lore, and to promote live steam and scale model railroad technology. The museum is located in Griffith Park in Los Angeles, California and is open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Sunday weather permitting. In 1956, all of the model locomotives were steam-powered, hence the name "Live Steamers". Over the years, gasoline-powered models of diesel locomotives and battery-electric locomotives and trolleys have also become popular. The museum operates a 7+1⁄2 in gauge miniature railway on which these locomotives pull trains that the public can ride.
Golden Oak at Walt Disney World Resort is an upscale residential community within the Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. It was designed by Walt Disney Imagineering and is owned and operated by a newly formed Disney subsidiary, Golden Oak Realty within Disney Signature Experiences. The first phase of development is located southeast of the Magic Kingdom Park in Bay Lake. The area was named to pay homage to Walt Disney's Golden Oak Ranch in California. The first few home sites were available for purchase in late 2010 and completed in late 2011. Later on, a Four Seasons resort opened due north of the property with the company purchasing several properties to serve in its "private residences" initiative on the WDW property.
The Central Pacific Railroad number 173 was a 4-4-0 steam locomotive built by Norris-Lancaster for the Western Pacific Railroad in 1864. After its acquisition by Central Pacific, 173 was involved in a bad wreck, lying idle for two years before undergoing a sweeping reconstruction by the line's Sacramento Shops. It subsequently became the prototype for the railroad's engines when the CP began constructing locomotives. The engine was successful, and more engines were built to 173's design.
The Mine Train Through Nature's Wonderland was a 2 ft 6 in narrow gauge railroad attraction in Frontierland in Disneyland, that featured Audio-Animatronic animals in natural desert- and woods-themed environments. It opened on June 12, 1960, as an extension of Rainbow Caverns Mine Train, which opened on July 2, 1956. It closed on January 2, 1977, to make room for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.
Gerald M. Best (1895–1985) was a noted railroad historian, writer, photographer, and one of the top sound engineers in the motion picture industry.
Lawrence Muzzy Lansburgh was an American producer, director, and screenwriter known for his films featuring animals.
Famous People of Prescott, Arizona (Website of the City of Prescott, AZ)
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