In this shot, I am literally living under Pereira’s shadow! Red star marks my hood.

Jason Schultz@jason.parkendium.com · 2w ago

No parallels detected.

Another Pereira masterpiece I grew up under the shadow of was his 1972 Pacific Mutual headquarters in Newport Center. What I find interesting about his work during this, his most modernistic phase, was that it was all being designed out of a repurposed barn, left over from an old Buffalo Ranch!

If you haven’t seen Leslie Iwerks’ remarkable documentary, Disneyland Handcrafted—or even if you have—don’t miss this special screening of the critically acclaimed, eye-opening film at Bowers Museum on Sunday, Sept. 27, presented by Ryman Arts. LINK TO TICKETS: app.betterunite.com/rymanarts/pa...

Madman Muntz. Must’ve been an L.A. thing while I grew up in OC. Flamboyant car dealer/electronic engineer/inventor demo’d his 4-track tape cartridge to WED engineers as a method of playing on-board narration in different languages at the push of a button for the 1964-65 NYWF Ford Pavilion…

WDW historians have seen this before somewhere. Yes, you have.

Classic William Pereira & Associates design, from his Newport Center days. My mom worked on the 3rd floor in the Bridal Salon. We used to wait by the bells to pick her up after her shift, then go eat at Coco’s across the way. Photo from the USC Pereira Collection.

So here’s the scoop from retired WDI show producer Chrissie Allen: “It was a contest to see how many Imagineers you could recruit to interview at WDI. It started when we were hiring up for the Disney Decade. Former WDW/WDI cm Mike Bounds added these shots from the summer 1990 WDEye.

Progress City@progresscityusa.com · 3w ago

I have one of these too, and always assumed it was for the planned WESTCOT coaster attraction, but 1988 would probably have been too early for that. I've heard an alternate explanation in the past, but have forgotten it. @tomkmorris.bsky.social would probably know.

Official answer from one who used it, anicon jock, Dave Feiten!

Tom K Morris@tomkmorris.bsky.social · last mo.

I never noticed in this oft-seen promotional footage: 1. The circled gizmo, which I just learned is called a Waldo. 2. That the programming console Bill Justice is using is an early, pre-pictographic version of the DACS animation console many of us are familiar with (although now obsolete). 🥳

Ladies (or Gentlemen): This is your one chance to slip into some high heels and have them sink into the ground in the middle of Town Square!

Jason Schultz@jason.parkendium.com · 4w ago

You guys aren’t missing much. Best thing is this, and you can see it with the real City Hall and Fire Station any time! (Except now, of course.)

I never noticed in this oft-seen promotional footage: 1. The circled gizmo, which I just learned is called a Waldo. 2. That the programming console Bill Justice is using is an early, pre-pictographic version of the DACS animation console many of us are familiar with (although now obsolete). 🥳

🎵 It’s time for Floydering… 🎶 A little summer magic in the Hollywood Hills!

Wooden you know it wasn’t made of concrete?

Jason Schultz@jason.parkendium.com · 2mo ago

Space Mountain at Disneyland from Main Street (1976).

Last night I was surrounded by John DeCuir Jrs.

Not Marty Sklar and not Art Buchwald.

The 1953 Site Location Study by Stanford Research narrowed Disneyland’s site choices to 4. Sites were vetted for availability, meaning they were “in play.” One of the sites in the OC still stands exactly as it was in 1954, incl surrounding homes and structures. Nice big site but not freeway close…

Don Iwerks saw it all happen since 1950, the birth of Disneyland & the theme park industry. More importantly, Don was a soft-spoken powerhouse of knowledge & support, always ready to answer questions & share his knowledge with younger staff. My thoughts are with Leslie & the entire Iwerks family.

I will be occasionally posting Granny appreciation photos, as I’ve come across a trove, many more than I imagined. Most are from newspapers or GE internal newsletters. Officially named Mrs. G.E. Faire, Progressland personnel usually referred to her as “Granny” or sometimes “Grandma Moses.” Get it? 😜

How it looked the day after, October 1965.

11-year old boy takes off with Granny as Carousel of Progress closes! Authorities say the boy climbed onto the stage, slashed the scrim, grabbed the figure & exited with her in a wheelchair. The boy was stopped on the Peoplemover platform while attempting to take the figure on the ride. Film at 11.

Granny got around a lot more than I thought before her debut at the Fair.

The Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe always comes to mind, although I’ve never seen “The Harvey Girls.” Maybe now I will, because this prolonged musical number is over the top. youtu.be/zSgrOvMLWsY?...

Judy Garland Sings “On the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe” (Clip) | The Harvey Girls | TCM

YouTube video by Turner Classic Movies

youtu.be

Jason Schultz@jason.parkendium.com · 3mo ago

I was just thinking that I don’t play enough railroad songs for the kids. Maybe I need to take them to the Tehachapi Loop this summer and restrict the travel music to just that. This recording of The Limeliters performing Wabash Cannonball might be my favorite train song. What’s yours?

Hey everyone! Join Bob Gurr, Michael Broggie, & me on Aug 1 at Chapman University for a special program honoring the late Roger Broggie Sr, presented by the Carolwood Society. We’ll discuss the earliest days of WED Imagineering & the original Imagineers. For deets & tix, Google CarolwoodAtChapman

That time I was invited to the G8 Summit, Deauville, France.

I don’t usually post film reviews, but I saw Toy Story 5 at a press screening & have to say it was encouraging to see a film so skillfully balance high entertainment with a timely message—w/out having to obviously “preach” it. To that point, this is a good model for Disney/Pixar going forward.

Maybe they heard you!

Jason Schultz@jason.parkendium.com · 5mo ago

IDEA: Carousel of Progress attraction, but each scene goes backwards in time and life improves as technology is stripped away.

I'm 100% for this! The show as we’ve known it was a result of sponsorship with GE. Before that, it was planned as a nostalgic show for a neighborhood of Main Street. It now sits in Tomorrowland, and context matters. It wants to be a show that doesn’t focus on household appliances but BETTER LIVING!☀️

Kevin & Jody@kevinandjody.bsky.social · 4mo ago

It was a dream come true to collaborate on this project. The talented team has a deep passion for the original NYWF show and plenty of nostalgia for the several iterations that have come since. Super excited to see all the ideas, nods and technical progress come together!! Opens in 2027.

I’m with Walt!

In honor of NBC’s 100th anniversary, I cleaned-up and color-corrected a lo-res version of the original Disney-animated Peacock that I found on the Internet sometime ago. This is my inaugural foray into the world of Topaz. Chat GPT held my hand.

This photo taken in San Juan, Puerto Rico, from a private collection, deserves a closer look.