When I was younger and first began learning some of the secrets of Disneyland, I thought the coolest tribute that one could ever realize was being enshrined on a window on the upper stories of Main Street USA. Here were the names of the very people who made the Happiest Place on Earth a reality. Here was a thank you from Walt Disney for their hard work and dedication. Here was a monument that millions of park attendees pass by every year, the majority not even knowing exactly what it is they are looking at. And that's the beauty of the windows on Main Street – their placement resembling business advertisements along buildings from the turn of the 20th Century is so effective, most visitors don't even give them a second thought. And while there may never be enough panes of glass to immortalize all of the people who have contributed to Disneyland's success, the tradition of tributizing Disney legends on Main Street windows continues on today.

On March 30, 2007, Disneyland hosted a Main Street window dedication to honor Roger Broggie, often credited as being the first Imagineer. Roger provided the Disney Studios with its technical artistry, working on such mechanical entities as the multiplane camera, the Santa Fe & Disneyland Railroad and Audio-Animatronic figures. Though the honor of a Main Street window at Disneyland had not yet been bestowed upon him, Roger has been recognized for his contributions to Disney with a window at the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World dedicated to him, a steam engine named for him on the Walt Disney World Railroad and having been named a Disney Legend in 1990.

The window dedication was to happen before park opening and those in attendance began gathering just after dawn outside of Disneyland's entry gates. The E.P. Ripley sat atop the berm in Main Street Station, its whistle a welcome sound as the railroad had just returned from a lengthy rehab. Old friends greeted each other with broad smiles and big hugs. Introductions were made in an effort to make new faces feel included. Disney Legends, such as Alice Davis and Bob Gurr, joined five generations of Broggies, including Roger's 92-year-old sister, to celebrate the day.

And a celebration it was. Chairs were aligned down Main Street, facing the Magic Shop, where a podium was set up beneath a green cloth-covered, second-story window. Disney fans took time out to ask for pictures with Imagineer Tony Baxter while Roger's son, Michael, conducted an interview with Disneyland's Cast TV. Railroad cast members were well represented, roaming the area in their work attire. The atmosphere was festive. The Broggie family reunion was in full swing.

Disneyland Resort President Ed Grier started the proceedings after an introductory song from the Dapper Dans. He then welcomed Disney Imagineering Ambassador Marty Sklar, who spoke about Roger almost as though he had been an older sibling attending the same high school. Mickey Mouse was a huge hit and actually performed the unveiling of the window. Michael Broggie told the same stories of his father that he has probably told hundreds of times before but still sounding as if it was the first time sharing them. Emotion seemed to overwhelm him at one point – pride in his dad and in his dad's accomplishments clearly evident.

After the formal festivities had ended, attendees of the ceremony were invited to board the E.P. Ripley at Main Street Station for a short trip to New Orleans Square for a breakfast reception. Even though there was an inclination to remain at the ceremony site and talk amongst each other, the need to clear the area was pressing and everyone was herded onboard the train. I rode just down from Ed Grier, who spoke of his background and experience with Kendra Trahan, author of The Disneyland Detective and a member of the board of governors of the Carolwood Historical Society, talking about having worked at every Disney theme park except Hong Kong Disneyland in his 25 year Disney career.

A nice display highlighting Roger Broggie's Disney influence was set up at the French Market restaurant where the breakfast reception was being held. Guests waited in line for food and drink while a single guitar player provided a nice background atmosphere with his music. I spent most of the time just being a fly on the wall. How cool was it to spend the beginning of my day with the sun washing over Disneyland with some of the very people responsible for its creation more than 50 years ago! Michael Broggie spent time acting as host of the event, presenting Ed Grier with a copy of his Walt Disney's Railroad Story book, inviting family to the train station for a group photo and making sure that guests left with a special memento of the occasion - a pin fashioned after his father's new window on Main Street.

Like the Jungle Cruise joke about the worst part of the voyage being the return to civilization, I found three hours had flown by entirely too quickly and I had to make my way back to work for the day. I'll never find immortalization in a window on Main Street but if I'm lucky perhaps I'll earn the love and appreciation from my daughter that the Broggie children have for their father. Because that, I found, is the coolest tribute of all.

Please enjoy a behind-the-scenes recap of Roger Broggie's Main Street Window Dedication with more than 35 pictures.

Pages in this recap include:

• Transcription of the ceremony
• Photos - Event speakers, Mickey Mouse, window unveiling
• Photos - Window replica unveiling, ceremony conclusion
• Photos - Breakfast reception, Disney Legends

Continued ...

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