One man's observations today about the worlds of Yesterday, Tomorrow, and Fantasy.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
GUEST BLOG: LUDWIG VON DRAKE'S NEW CAROUSEL OF PROGRESS
ACT 1: PROGRESS
The audience take their seats in the rotating Carousel of Progress Theater, facing a wall painted with a mural of Ludwig Von Drake's laboratory/office/library. The theater walls continue the theme. As the show begins and the music swells, the first stage appears, with a LUDWIG VON DRAKE ANIMATRONIC in front of a chalkboard. While attention is on Ludwig and after the theater lights dim, the wall behind the audience lowers to reveal HUEY, DEWEY, and LOUIE seated in the last row and DONALD DUCK on a video camera.
VON DRAKE: Okay, now everybody take their seat, it's time to get started. Madam, if you take off the hat with the crazy ears so the person behind you can see. Ahem! Welcome to the New Carousel of Progress! I'm Professor Ludwig Von Drake, but of course you knew that already because I am so famous. Now you zee, it's called a carousel because it goes around and around like a merry-go-round-whatzis, and it's the Carousel of Progress because - "progress" - well, progress is a word that means different things to different ducks. For zum people, it is the sound of a motor (BACK RIGHT OF AUDIENCE, LOUD MOTOR SOUND) and for some it is the roar of a rocket (ANIMATED ROCKET ZIPS OVERHEAD LOUDLY) and for others it is the zound of a symphony -
DONALD DUCK: (HUMMING BEETHOVEN'S FIFTH, FROM THE BACK OF THE ROOM) dum-dum-dum-DUM, dum-dum-dum-DUM.
LUDWIG: Isn't zat nice? With the impani and the piccolo, and- wait a minute! Zat's not a symphony! Zat's a Donald!
DONALD: Heh-heh-heh.
LUDWIG: Now where was I? Oh yes, progress. You zee, back in the 20th century, people got a lot of ideas into their heads about what ze vorld of tomorrow was going to look like. We were all going to live in plastic bubble houses, on different planet...
(WHILE HE TALKS, HE SKETCHES ON THE CHALKBOARD, AND HIS DRAWINGS COME TO LIFE. FOOTAGE FROM OLD "WONDERFUL WORLD OF COLOR" SEGMENTS COME OUT OF THE CHALK SKETCHES, AND SHOW A FIFTIES VERSION OF THE FUTURE-ROBOTS, CRAZY SPACESHIPS, ETC. AN ANIMATED DONALD APPEARS IN A SMALL FUTURISTIC ROOM WITH SLIDING DOORS IN A SILVER FUTURISTIC JUMPSUIT.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Monday, January 25, 2010
Walt Disney Family Museum March Events
MARCH LECTURES
March 20 –Disney Innovator Don Iwerks discusses the Nodal Point Camera invented by his legendary father, Ub
3:00 pm, Theater
tickets available online at http://www.waltdisney.org/
The making of Darby O’Gill and the Little People (1959) presented particular challenges. Walt Disney wanted the audience to believe that Darby was talking and singing with the King at the Leprechauns but the scale had to be perfect. To tackle this technical problem, he turned to Ub Iwerks, Join Don Iwerks—former Disney executive, founder of Iwerks Entertainment, and son of Ub as he talks about Ub’s creation, the Nodal Point Camera.
March 28 –Disney’s first Female Imagineer, Harriet Burns, visits during Women’s History Month
3:00 pm, Theater
tickets available online at http://www.waltdisney.org/
Harriet Burns became the first woman to work at WED Enterprises, adding her special touch to Disneyland’s Sleeping Beauty’s Castle, the Haunted Mansion, and the Enchanted Tiki Room. Her daughter, Pam Burns-Clair, and Don Peri, author of “Working with Walt: Interview with Disney Artists,” will introduce you to a woman who worked beside legends and became one herself.
FILM OF THE MONTH
Darby O’Gill and the Little People
1:00pm and 4:00pm, Theater
(except Tuesdays, March 13, March 20 and March 28.
tickets available online at http://www.waltdisney.org/
Before he was James Bond, actor Sean Connery was Michael Murphy, an Irishman caught up in the magical adventures of Darby O’Gill and the Little People (1959). Follow Darby (Albert Sharpe) as he tries to out trick the King of the Leprechauns and reach that pot of gold. Does he succeed? You will have to come to one of our screenings to find out.
MUSIC BY MOZART
March 13 – String Circle Quartet
4:00 p.m., Special Exhibition Hall
tickets available online at http://www.waltdisney.org/
This musical adventure will pair the last string quartet of Mozart’s with the first of Benjamin Britten’s; these are both pieces of sparkling wit, great beauty, and off beat character. Jonathan Dimmock will join the quartet on piano in a quintet arrangement written by Mozart for glass harmonica.
PUBLIC PROGRAMMING FOR MARCH
DISNEY DISCOVERIES: Second Saturday of each month
March 13 – An Enchanted Tiki Bird
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm, Learning Center: Art Studio
Imaginations and creativity will soar with our new Disney Discoveries! The second Saturday of each month, join us for family fun and activities in the Learning Center. The activities planned by our education staff will inspire the hidden artist in young visitors while learning about the life and work of Walt Disney.
The Disney Discoveries! activities are free with paid admission to the Museum. No ticket is needed for members—just show your membership card.
LOOK CLOSER:
March 26 & 27 – Inside Audio-Animatronics: The Making of Mr. Lincoln
11:00 am and 3:00 pm, Gallery 9, Lower Level
Would you like to know more about one of the artifacts in the galleries? Our Look Closer series will give you that opportunity—staff will reveal little known facts—and behind the scenes information during the 30-minute gallery talk.
The Look Closer series is free with paid admission or paid membership.
What: March 2010 events at The Walt Disney Family Museum
Where: The Walt Disney Family Museum
104 Montgomery Street, The Presidio of San Francisco
San Francisco, CA 94129
Admissions: Various: check Website for details.
Website: http://www.waltdisney.org/
www.facebook.com/thewaltdisneyfamilymuseum
www.twitter.com/wdfmuseum
Main Phone: 415-345-6800
DESIGN: Disney's Hollywood Studios land by land - Part 3
The idea for this park was launched in 1985 and for the first time a Disney theme park was opened merely to fit a business need and be a model of controlled growth in reaction to anticipated demand. At the time, this half-day park was designed to compliment a visit to Typhoon Lagoon and Pleasure Island. Just as important was dual function of being a real production studio with three sound stages, production offices, a postproduction audio and video facility; it’s own wardrobe, property, camera, and lighting departments. The facilities featured glass walls so that visitors could peek inside a working movie-making facility. Projects shot on the back lot include Honey, I Blew Up the Kid, Passenger 57 and TV shows like The Mickey Mouse Club and Wheel of Fortune.
The building facades use a cinematic trick known as forced perspective. This technique is used throughout Walt Disney world. Legendary Imagineer John Hench defines forced perspective as “a form of one-point linear perspective in which receding space is compressed by exaggerating the proximity of the implied vanishing point to the viewer”. Forced perspective is the design pattern that gives buildings the appearance of greater height and scale. It is why the castle looks so grand and Everest looks so tall. In the back lot area, it allows the designers to fit in the New York or San Francisco skylines in such a small space.
COMMISSARY LANE
Within the walls of the ABC Commissary is a 50-foot Art Deco mural of the Studios most iconic buildings. They include the front gate, the Animation Courtyard gate, and the entrance to the Chinese Theater, the American Idol Experience theater, and others.
One of the Imagineering tools is what they call “Atmospheric” architecture. The Imagineers define Atmospheric architecture as “creating the illusion that visitors are outdoors, although they are actually indoors.” The first application in a Disney theme park was the Blue Bayou within Disneyland’s Pirates of the Caribbean. EPCOT has the San Angel Inn within the Mexican Pavilion. The Imagineers took this concept to the extreme with the Sci-Fi Dine-in Theater Restaurant.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
DAILY DOSE OF DISNEY
1993 – Mickey’s Toontown opens at Disneyland. Opening day attractions include:
Mickey’s House - Minnie’s House - Miss Daisy Boat - Acorn Ball Crawl - Jolly Trolley - Gadget’s Go-Coaster - Goofy’s Bounce House - Chip ‘n’ Dale’s Treehouse
Samland: The 9 Month Review
DCA Food and Wine Festival Michael Jordon's Wine tasting class is here.
43 Disneyland attractions in one day and home in time for dinner is right here.
The Model Mountain - Expedition Everest
The Model Mountain - Disneyland's Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Up! Screening at El Capitan guest blog by Laura Dahl
Disneyland Single Rider lines
DCA Single Rider lines
Disneyland's Haunted Mansion gets the Last Laugh
The matching train stations of Disneyland
DCA's Hidden Walt Disney
Samland's June 13, 2009 Magic Morning Report
The best touring tip of them all: Getting to Disneyland early
The Disneyland Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Goat Trick
A ride on the tender car on the Disneyland Railroad
Disneyland's Pixie Hollow special spot
An August 2009 Disneyland Trip Report
Another August 2009 Disneyland Trip Report
September 2009 Disneyland Trip Report
October 2009 Disneyland Trip Report
September 2009 WDW Trip Report - Part One
September 2009 WDW Trip Report - Part Two
September 2009 WDW Trip Report - Part Three
The SamLand Library
My favorite spot at Napa Rose
What does Tom Morrow do between shows?
Disneyland's Toontown and the Urban Transect - Part One
Disneyland's Toontown and the Urban Transect - Part Two
A Disneyland Hidden Walt
Part One
Part Two
Part Three
Part Four
Part Five
Part Six
Part Seven
Introduction to the Urban Design series is here.
A walk down the Magic Kingdom's Main Street - Part One.
A walk down the Magic Kingdom's Main Street - Part Two.
A walk through the Magic Kingdom's Adventureland - Part One.
A walk through the Magic Kingdom's Adventureland - Part Two.
A walk through the Magic Kingdom's Liberty Square through Frontierland - Part One
A walk through the Magic Kingdom's Liberty Square through Frontierland - Part Two
A walk through the Magic Kingdom's Liberty Square through Frontierland - Part Three
A walk through the Magic Kingdom's Liberty Square through Frontierland - Part Four
A walk through the Magic Kingdom's Tomorrowland - Part One
A walk through the Magic Kingdom's Tomorrowland - Part Two
Mousejunkies
Mouse Maps 2009
The Hidden Magic of Walt Disney World
Walt's Words of Wisdom
Anaheim Vacationland
Knotts Berry Farm: the Early Years
THE WDW ARRIVAL EXPERIENCE SERIES
Epcot - Part One
Epcot - Part Two
Splash Mountain
Dumbo the Flying Elephant
Astro Orbiter vs. Astro Orbitor
WDW Railroad vs. Disneyland Railroad - Part One
WDW Railroad vs. Disneyland Railroad - Part Two
Snow White
Disneyland's Matterhorn Bobsleds vs. Animal Kingdom's Expedition Everest
Disney's California Adventure A Bug's Land
Adventures Thru Inner Space Booklet
Disneyland Grad Nite '67
Rocket to the Moon Certificate
THE PROCESS OF UNFOLDING
Part One - Introduction to the Series
Part Two - The 90% Solution
Part Three - Why does it work?
Part Four - It's all about Centers
Part Five - More about Centers
Part Six - Introduction to the 15 Properties
Part Seven - The 15 Properties that create beauty
Part Eight - Levels of Scale
Part Nine - Strong Centers
Saturday, January 23, 2010
DAILY DOSE OF DISNEY
Thursday, January 21, 2010
DAILY DOSE OF DISNEY
1960 – Gala Day at Disneyland opens at the movie theaters.
1968 – Disneyland – From the Pirates of the Caribbean to the World of Tomorrow airs on NBC.
1982 – Kraft Salutes Walt Disney World’s 10th Anniversary airs on CBS.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
SURPRISE: Main Street Party Line Phones
PARTY LINE CONVERSATION
Everybody likes gossip, right? How about a little old-fashioned gossip? I mean really old-fashioned. Like the type you might pick up if you go on to one of those new fangled telephone machines down at the corner market.
You can relive those days down at the Market House (formerly the Swift Market) at the corner of Main Street and Center. You know the place -- the one with the potbellied stove, and all of the kitchen and household items. I bet you probably just stopped to buy some coffee or candy, right?
Adjacent to the doors are some old-time telephones with a sign that invites you to:
Stop a minute and pick up the earpiece. Sorry that it doesn’t clip on your ear but this is the way great-grandpa did it. If you don’t hear something immediately, just click the hookswitch, which holds the earpiece. That should do it.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Disneyland's Adventureland 03: The Tiki Room Lanai
Within this magical place are a number of spots to sit down and get away from the hustle and bustle of the constricted entrance into Adventureland. Plus, you can take advantage of the Dole Whip stand and who among us can resist? You frequently get a shorter line from the lanai side. What is a Dole whip? It is a non-dairy dessert that comes on its own or with pineapple juice. Kind of like a soft ice cream texture. I am sure there are more places where one can get this delicious, cold treat but in my universe it is here, in Adventureland, the stand at the Magic Kingdom in WDW, or Cap’t Cooks at the Polynesian Resort.
Once you have your tasty treat in hand find a shady seat looking at the big screen TV built in to the Dole Whip store. . I recommend the seat wall that is along the Tiki building and is shaded by Tangaroa (the big tree with flowers at the end of the branches). You don’t have to rush. You can take your time here and just watch the pre-show (what I like to do) or you can bring your food with you into the show.
The film has not really changed over the years and it teaches us everything we need to know about pineapple production back in the day when they actually grew pineapples in Hawaii.
Walt first envisioned the Tiki Room as a dinner theater. The building was designed with a kitchen nearby and for many years the seats were those bought for the dining room. They tried to test the show and had it mocked up at the studios. What they found was nobody wanted to leave. They just sat there in awe. So they gave up. This is the reason why you can find one of the best bathrooms in all of Disneyland here.
Once the film ends the show really begins. Magic comes over the lanai and the Tikis spring to life. Well, spring might be overstating things a bit. Let’s just say that they talk story and have a few special effects?
You start with Maui who roped the sun and created the concept of time who is followed by Koro who parties a bit much. Tangaroa-ru, the Goddess of the East Wind hangs with Kina Kuluua, the Goddess of Rain. Pele spouts fire out of her head and gets Ngendei, The Earth Balancer so shaken up he shakes. Rongo just plays around with a kite all day and Tangaroa, Father of all Gods and Goddesses (and voiced by Thurl Ravenscroft) provides the appropriate climax with multiple births.
