Jennings Osborne, Holiday Display Creator, Dead at 67

This year’s holiday display at Disney’s Hollywood Studios will be just a little dimmer. The bright burning light that was the life of Jennings Osborne has burnt out. Osborne died at age 67 from complications related to a heart attack suffered last year. Everyone at The Disney Blog sends their condolences to the family of Osborne.

Jennings and the rest of the Arkansas Osborne family became famous for their holiday lighting display. The display drew visitors from miles around. At first it consumed their home, then their yard, then they bought the neighbor’s homes and decorated them too. Finally the community decided the display was just too much trouble and sued to get the display closed.

Osborne was forced to move the display to Disney-MGM Studios, now called Disney’s Hollywood Studios. In 1995 The Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights took up residence in the Residential Street area of the backlot. In 2004 the display had to move to the Streets of America (formerly Streets of New York) when the Residential Street was razed to make way for Lights, Motors, Action stunt show.

It’s very sad that Jennings Osborne, a man who obviously loved life, died so young. However his legend lives on at Disney World and in his philanthropic efforts in Arkansas. He will be missed.