I lived in Southern California for 11 years visiting Disneyland frequently. I knew that the train station in Frontierland had a telegraph version of Walt Disney’s words used to dedicate the park. I also knew that it was not morse code, but a variant used… Read More »Fixing the Disneyland Frontierland Train Station Telegraph Message
A few years ago Disney remodeled the gallery inside the American Pavilion at EPCOT so they could host some world class attractions. It’s a small space, but I’ve been impressed which what they’ve used it for so far. A new exhibit will be coming in… Read More »The Kinsey Collection Comes to EPCOT in 2013
The Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco has lined up a great series of screenings and talks for the end of the year. The special Snow White and the Stop Motion exhibits also continue through the spring, including screenings and talks about Snow White. Don Hahn’s film “Christmas with Walt” is a historical look at how it was celebrated in film, at the parks, and by the Disney family. Legendary Disney Imagineer Bob Gurr will give a talk on how Walt was able to inspire his Imagineers to build Disneyland in less than a year. Finally, this Wednesday, head down to the museum to celebrate Walt’s Birthday.
Dates and details below the jump:
Read More »Upcoming Talks and Screenings at Walt Disney Family Museum
There was a time when Disneyland’s Tomorrowland positively reeked of futurism. Mass transportation, space exploration, and the benefits of scientific research were all put on a pedestal for the American public. One of the most famous examples of this was a partnership with Monsanto, MIT, and Imagineering to build a home made of plastics.
The home sat at the entrance to Tomorrowland, where the Pixie Hollow meet & greet is now, from 1957 to 1967. Touring inside the “House of the Future”, you would find a variety of innovations each with the promise of making living easier and more comfortable. From plastic furnishings to a microwave oven or electric dishwasher guests were wowed with what the future would bring. At least for a few years before these things actually did start to make it into the common household.
This film features the home of the future as part of Monsanto’s efforts to promote the use of plastics in everything. It’s a great look inside the structure for those who never had a chance to see it first hand:
Part two is below the jump:
A terrific collection of photos from around Disneyland on November 6th and 7th can be found over on LaughingPlace.com. The park was playing host to a Hollywood movie production for “Saving Mr. Banks” complete with mega stars and set design meant to recapture the early… Read More »Disneyland goes Retro for Saving Mr. Banks
When I heard that Dreamworks movies would be distributed by the Walt Disney Studios, I immediately thought of how terrific it would be if Disney was able to distribute “Lincoln,” the movie Spielberg had been working on since 2001. If you’ve read even the shortest biography of Walt Disney you know that he admired Lincoln as our nation’s finest president. When Walt chose the first human being to be represented by an audio-animatronic, it was Lincoln who would once again wow the masses with his oratory. He has his own attraction at Disneyland and is featured in Walt Disney World’s Hall of Presidents.
Lincoln has not be neglected by films either. Among the many times he’s appeared in the theaters, Henry Fonda played the 16th president in “Young Mr. Lincoln” in a film by John Ford and Raymond Massey played him twice, once in “Abe Lincoln in Illinois” and once in “How the West was Won.” Hal Holbrook, one of my favorite actors, won an emmy for his 1976 portrayal of Lincoln in an acclaimed TV special. (Holbrook reprised the role in the mid 80’s TV mini-series “North & South”).
Holbrook also has a role in Spielberg’s Lincoln, but it’s not the President. That role is filled impressively by Daniel Day-Lewis who took over from Liam Neeson who declared himself too old. Day-Lewis reportedly took a year to become Lincoln as part of his preparation for the role and would periodically text his co-actors in the voice of Lincoln as they prepared for the film. This all pays off when Day-Lewis disappears from the screen and you are watching Honest Abe work his way through these tumultuous moments in history. Day-Lewis’s ability to become the person he is portraying will no doubt earn him another academy award nomination and likely a third gold statue when all the votes are in.
Read More »Lincoln, my Review of Spielberg’s Latest Masterpiece
I’ve long felt an affinity for the work and writing of author Cory Doctorow, in particular his love of the classic Disney attraction Walt Disney’s Haunted Mansion. It’s a love I share. However, we came to our love in very different ways. Doctorow’s found it’s… Read More »Author Cory Doctorow Reveals Basis for His Haunted Mansion Obsession
One of the most watched DVDs in our home is the volume of Pixar animated shorts. It chronicles the artistic and technological journey of the company from The Adventures of Andre and Wally B in 1984 (when they were still a part of Lucasfilm) and… Read More »Pixar Shorts Volume 2 Now Available for Pre-Order