The Disneyland Monorail Opening: Nixon's Joyride

Did you know that in 1959, for just a few moments, Vice President Richard Nixon was whisked away from his secret service detail without any planning on the first ever passenger monorail in the US, and it all happened at Disneyland?

The Disneyland Story by Sam Gennawey

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It was a European vacation in 1958 in which Walt Disney first experienced a monorail. After seeing the vehicle produced by ALWEG, a German company, Walt decided that he wanted one of his own in Disneyland. Back in those days, Disney projects didn’t undergo layers and layers of approvals and studies. If Walt had an idea he wanted worked on, that’s all it took.

So Imagineering legend Bob Gurr headed over to Germany to study the ALWEG trains and start working on a unique version for Disney. It wasn’t as simple as just buying their technology. Gurr found the ALWEG trains weren’t that good looking and needed a new look. On top of that the plans for the Disneyland attraction would call for some tight turns and unusually steep inclines and declines. Lastly, Disney wanted to make sure the monorails were built with parts that could be sourced locally. They didn’t necessarily want to wait for parts to be flown over from Germany whenever something broke down.

As a result, while ALWEG was still technically attributed with the final Monorail that would come to be, their actual involvement was pretty light. Much of the design was done by Disney. Still, ALWEG was involved enough that the attractions official name on opening day would be the “Disneyland ALWEG Monorail System”. It would become the first passenger monorail system to operate daily in the Western hemisphere.

At $1.3 million dollars, the monorail system wasn’t cheap. On top of that, it wasn’t easy to build either. The weeks leading up to the opening of the attraction were plagued with technical problems and breakdowns. It was so bad that even up until the night before the debut of the attraction Bob Gurr and German engineer Konrad Deller were designing and building replacement parts for the system.

The following morning, on June 14th 1959, it was time for the Mark I Red Monorail to make it’s grand televised debut. Being the force behind the attraction, Gurr was given a last minute uniform and assigned to be the captain for Monorails maiden voyage. In preparation for the broadcast of the grand opening, he pulled the Monorail into the station and left it on so that the cab could remain air conditioned.

It was at that moment that Walt Disney, Vice President at the time Richard Nixon, his family, and his secret service detail showed up. Nixon and his family were going to be involved in the ribbon cutting ceremony. However before it all began, Walt started to show Nixon and his family the interior of the monorail. With it already powered up and running, it wasn’t long before Walt told Gurr to give everyone a lap around the track, so he did… with the secret service left behind on the monorail platform.

Nixon found it amusing that they were able to ditch the secret service, but Gurr was a little stressed. He has just inadvertently kidnapped the vice president on a monorail that was giving him nothing but technical problems during the weeks prior. His main goal was to get the VP back to the station in one piece.

Luckily the trip around the track was uneventful and without any breakdowns. However any relief was short lived. According to Gurr, as they approached the station one of Nixon’s daughters asked if they could ride around one more time, to which Walt replied “Bobby, give ‘em another ride.” So the monorail pulled into the station… and rolled right out again. The secret service agents ran alongside the monorail in a hope they’d be able to jump on board, but with closed doors there wasn’t any chance of that, so one more time the monorail pulled out with the agents left behind to watch.

The second lap would be as uneventful as the first, and luckily nobody would get in any trouble for the unexpected joyride. In fact, the biggest hiccup of the whole debut would be some trouble cutting the ceremonial ribbon, which was nothing a little ripping and a jump cut couldn’t solve.

Later an engineer from ALWEG would highlight the absurdity of the situation. He pointed out that it took ALWEG seven years before they’d feel comfortable putting the public on their trains. Yet Disney, in just six months time, built a monorail and put their nation’s Vice President on it for a few laps without the secret service.

[JustinBradleyPhotographer]

I heard this story directly from Richard Nixon's Nephew, who rode the monorail that day. I have not watched this whole video yet but Don Jr told me Howard Hughes was there.

[kodyeldridge]

Walt: give em another ride
Bob: I'm not sure th-
Walt: DID I STUTTER?!

[calebrimer]

Probably the funniest event in the History of Walt, showing just how confident he was with his creations.

[JaniceJean]

I had the privilege to meet Gurr last October and during his Q&A he talked about this. I’ve heard the story before but didn’t know it was him driving the monorail. It was so thrilling to relive this story through his own point of view and voice. Seriously I got emotional lol

[orange]

That must be a funny story to tell, “I accidentally ”kidnapped” the Vice President with a Disneyland Monorail.”

[wumpofficial]

The idea that the secret service was runninh after the monorail was hilarious to think about

[JetblackThemeTime]

Nixon was reportedly heard yelling "I AM NOT A CROOK!" ;)

[alfiedavies]

Just like "mind if we borrow your vice-president? Well TOO BAD!"

[meadiebee]

walt: bobby, give 'em another ride!
bob gurr: walt nO
secret service: walt nO
other passengers: walt nO
nixton: walt nO
the entirety of disneyland: walt nO
walt: walt y e s

[cardboardbelt]

Not the last time Nixon would be involved in something memorable on Disney property.

[nairbpenguinlizard]

I remember this from the Keys to the Kingdom tour at WDW XD

[bluetreefiddy]

that must have made a great headline in the papers walt disney kidnaps nixon with a monorail

[ThemeParkRider]

Great job Rob! This story reminds me of when Bob Gurr was struggling to get the parking lot trams to go uphill when WDW first opened. That would be a fun video to do. Keep it up!

[KristinLovesDisney]

Great story and great video! I love how you add all of the vintage clips into your videos as you tell the stories!! So happy I found your channel!!!

[SeriouslyCreepy]

Nixon was such a Disney Fanatic. It's interesting to think about! You re the man!

[michaeltaylor]

Gotta love Uncle Walt! I'd heard this story before, but NEVER tire of hearing it. Later that evening a shoe collector fell off stranding the train just outside the station. A little boy had to (pee) Uncle Walt was on that train & the boy "went" right off the side of the monorail in Fantasyland. LOL

[dfinctec]

Dude...your videos are awesome!   I was born in 71 and just down the street from Disney....so I've pretty much seen it all, but you seem to always find the most little known facts to talk about!   Thanks!

[jwprimetime]

Dude you are the perfect Disney narrator!!

[FTTPRO]

OH SHIT! That line though! " To many it felt like magic!" Dude, that hit me right in the feels!

[JackKendall]

Brilliant Video Rob! I know the story, but even though I knew it, it's great how you tell 'em!