Lanny Smoot Has Become the First Imagineer Inducted Into the National Inventors Hall of Fame
Disney Research Fellow and longtime Imagineer Lanny Smoot is being inducted into the National Inventor of Hall of Fame.
Smoot is the first Disney Imagineer to receive prestigious recognition. In fact, the only other individual from the Walt Disney Company to be inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame was Walt Disney himself in 2000.
Walt was inducted posthumously in 2000 for the multiplane camera.
“I was honored and humbled at being inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame. With all of the inventing greats, however, I caught a true lump in my throat when I realized that I was only the second person at The Walt Disney Company being presented with this honor, and the first person was Walt Disney himself.”
A Storied Career
During his storied three-decade career at Walt Disney Imagineering, Smoot has pushed the boundaries of technology to help deliver one-of-a-kind experiences to Disney parks around the world.
Smoot has worked as a theatrical technology creator, inventor, electrical engineer, scientist, and researcher and has patented over 100 inventions.
In fact, based on patents issued, Smoot is one of the most prolific Black inventors in American history, according to Disney patent attorney Stuart Langley.
Of his over 100 patents, 74 of his inventions were created during his 25 years working at Disney.
“At Disney Experiences, we’re committed to world-class storytelling, creativity, and innovation in everything we do, and Lanny Smoot embodies every one of those ideals,” said Josh D’Amaro, Chairman, Disney Experiences. “As Disney’s most prolific inventor, Lanny continues to amaze all of us with his artistic ingenuity, technical expertise, and endless imagination.”
Making Disney Magic
Among Smoot’s most recognizable achievements was his creation of Madame Leota’s ability to float at Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion, the state-of-the-art extendable lightsaber used by Disney Live Entertainment, the Magic Playfoor interactive game experience on the Disney Cruise Line, and the interactive koy ponds at the Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel’s Crystal Lotus Restaurant.
Interstingly, when deciding which of his patents he wanted to highlight as part of his National Inventors Hall of Fame induction, Smoot chose the former Innoventions Exhibit “Where’s the Fire.”
For those who don’t remember, the EPCOT interactive exhibit allowed guests to “shine” a special flashlight throughout the house and expose hidden fire dangers.
Prior to joining Disney, Smoot attended Columbia University and worked at Bell Laboratories and Bell Communications Research.
Congratulations Lanny!
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