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? 😜
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 · last mo.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.
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 · 2mo agoIt 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.
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.
RIP Dean Tavoularis, renowned production designer & one of the most important Imagineers that Disney fans have never heard of. His bio only mentions his work on Lady and the Tramp and leaves out the 8 years he worked for WED. I interviewed Dean in 2019 & I'll share details of that interview shortly.
Meanwhile, on that other site, this happened. OP Alea must have found that shot online somewhere and didn’t know who the subject in the photo was, but she was right about the flex.
The hotel I’m occupying in Asheville, North Carolina, uses antlers in all of their decorating.
What little lunar knowledge I have I probably picked up from Disney. One of the first scientists to speculate what the dark side of the moon looked like was Renaissance man Roger Hayward, shown here on the left directing the sculpting of the Moon for Disneyland’s Rocket to the Moon ride…
In color, as they stand before a hole in the ground where the Haunted Mansion will soon rise.
Jason Schultz@jason.parkendium.com · 4mo agoApril 26, 1962 ROYAL VISIT -- Iran's Imperial Majesty, Mohammed Reza Shah Pahlavi, and Empress Farah made a quick visit to Disneyland this morning following their brief tour in Southern California. The Empress is clutching a toy Pluto presented to her by Walt Disney.
If you see this, post a character from space.
David Landon@4gottenfuturist.bsky.social · 4mo agoIf you see this, post a character from space
Meant to send this retraction earlier: fellow Disney historian @hollifieldjim.bsky.social, who knows much more about Darby O’Gill than I do, has corrected my assertion about the location of the folly on the lake; it was not on the studio backlot. He should know, he’s writing THE book about the film!
Jim Hollifield@hollifieldjim.bsky.social · 5mo agoThat structure was built on location up there next to that real lake. The Archives had the construction orders but the more interesting part pertained to the teardown. Because filming had wrapped, there was no catering so the work order stressed that the teardown crew had to bring their own lunches!
Continuing the new wave of serious Disneyland studies, this work by Roland Betancourt is a must-read for mid-century tech archaeologists. It chronicles the early technologies that made the park viable, which Disney then perfected for its own bespoke use. There are some surprises!
“The Computer” as envisioned in 1964 by two of Hollywood’s top art directors, Jack, Martin Smith and Bill Creber. From the TV series Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea.