Robert Arthur Mattey was an American visual special effects artist, who worked on various live-action Disney productions throughout the 1950s and 1960s as well as an Imagineer who designed various animatronics for Disneyland.
Born in 1910, Mattey became fascinated by the film production while visiting his father working on faux coins for 1927's The King of Kings. By the 1930s, Mattey had begun working behind the scenes as a set builder and an early contributor to what would be known as special effects for films, like King Kong (1933), Tarzan and his Mate, The Lady Said No, Wake of the Red Witch, and The High and The Mighty though much of his work at this time had him remained uncredited.
In the 1950s, Harper Goff saw his work with mechanized effects in Wake of the Witch and Mattey was hired to mechanize the giant squid for 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea alongside sculptor Chris Mueller. The success of the film and effects led to a permanent job at Disney where he joined Walt Disney Imagineering when Disneyland was first being created as head of the Mechanical Effects Department. Following his Academy Award nomination for The Absent-Minded Professor, Mattey continued to contribute to films, such as Babes in Toyland, Mary Poppins, The Monkey's Uncle, Blackbeard's Ghost, and The Love Bug. Outside of Disney, he became know for his creation of the three animatronic sharks used in Steven Spielberg's 1975 film Jaws.
Throughout 1955 to the 1970s, Mattey designed animatronic characters on attractions, like the animals for Jungle Cruise and the Rivers of America, bubbling mud baths for the Mine Train Through Nature's Wonderland, early mock-ups for The Haunted Mansion, and the 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea walk-through attraction. He even mechanized magic in Fantasyland where he animated the charming figure of Timothy Mouse high atop the Dumbo the Flying Elephant attraction and gave guests severe sensory overload in the finale of Mr. Toad's Wild Ride.
By the 1980s, Mattey had retired and, in 1993, passed away at his home in Los Angeles. He was cremated.
Filmography[]
| Year | Film | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1954 | 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea | Special effects director (uncredited) |
| 1961 | The Absent-Minded Professor | Special effects |
| 1961 | Babes in Toyland | Special effects |
| 1963 | Son of Flubber | Special effects |
| 1963 | "Johnny Shiloh" | Special effects |
| 1964 | Mary Poppins | Special effects |
| 1965 | The Monkey's Uncle | Special effects |
| 1966 | Lt. Robin Crusoe USN | Special effects |
| 1967 | The Happiest Millionaire | Special effects |
| 1967 | The Gnome-Mobile | Special effects |
| 1968 | Blackbeard's Ghost | Special effects |
| 1968 | Never a Dull Moment | Special effects |
| 1968 | The Love Bug | Special effects |
| 1970 | The Boatniks | Special effects |
| 1970 | The Wild Country | Special effects |
| 1971 | The Barefoot Executive | Head special effects (uncredited) |
| 1971 | Scandalous John | Special effects |
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- When Disneyland opened in 1955, Mattey was given a dedication window on Main Street U.S.A. located on the second floor of the Market House. The window states "Bob Mattey - Taxidermist." In the 1970s, his window was moved and altered, but today it has been returned to its original state, to pay homage to him.
