Robert Jani

Robert Frank Jani (May 25, 1934 – August 7, 1989) was an American event producer, creative director, and entertainment executive who specialized in live entertainment, ceremonies, and spectaculars.

Jani is most recognized for his longtime affiliation with The Walt Disney Company and some of its most iconic pieces of live entertainment at its theme parks. He is also credited with producing the 1976 U.S. Bicentennial Celebration in New York Harbor and several Super Bowl half-time shows. In the latter part of his career, he rejuvenated Radio City Music Hall as a live entertainment venue.

Early years Jani was born in Los Angeles, California. He attended the University of Southern California (USC) and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in telecommunications and stage production and design. Jani is credited with suggesting the park contract with guest performing groups at Christmas time, which began with the 1956 season.

After his two years of service in the Army, Jani returned to USC in 1958 and became the university's director of special events.

In 1961, Jani formed Pacific Pageants, his own event production company, as a side venture, but continued his full-time position at USC. But by early 1967, Jani's workload with Pacific Pageants had grown and he resigned from USC. Jani took the company into the world of live arena shows with Disney on Parade in 1967. Jani also conceived and supervised the multi-day opening ceremonies for Walt Disney World in October 1971, which included an orchestra made up of musicians from all over the world and a 1,076-piece marching band.

In 1976, Jani produced the Washington D.C. July 4 Inaugural "Honor America Day." Jani had his Disneyland entertainment designer Hub Braden (as a service volunteer Democrat) design the raised show stage platform and framing structure. Braden had his twin brother John Braden (as a service volunteer Republican), an ABC-NY TV staff art director, supervise set construction and installation at the presentation site. The Washington D.C. Fourth of July celebration has become an annual city, national, and televised event.

After Disney In 1978, Jani left Disney and formed Robert F. Jani Productions. Through his production company, Jani became the artistic director for Radio City Music Hall and revitalized the iconic Magnificent Christmas Spectacular. From 1979 to 1982, Jani was in charge of all live stage productions at Radio City and reestablished the New York City landmark as "The Showplace of the Nation."

Among his other post-Disney achievements was work on the inaugural ceremonies for Ronald Reagan as president in both 1981 and 1985. In 1981, Jani was commissioned by Dr. Robert Schuller to create The Glory of Christmas pageant for Schuller's Crystal Cathedral. Jani was also the master entertainment planning consultant for Disneyland Paris and the Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park (now known as Disney's Hollywood Studios) at Walt Disney World.

Jani worked worldwide as producer and production consultant during his last years. Along with Tommy Walker and Andrea Elizabeth Michaels, he is noted as a live event industry pioneer.

Personal life and death Jani married Joan Chapman in 1956. They had three children, two of whom survived into adulthood—Joy and Jeff.

Robert Jani died on August 7, 1989 at his Rancho Palos Verdes home after a three-year struggle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), known commonly as Lou Gehrig's disease. For his contributions to the Disney legacy, Jani was posthumously given a window on Main Street, U.S.A. in Disneyland in 1996 and was named a Disney Legend in 2005.