Monday
May282012

Date Night at Disneyland - show notes for episode 115

Its officially summer (although not technically for three weeks) and we would like to kick off the season with a summery episode where we take a look at something we were inspired to investigate after hearing it on our 50 Magical Years CD collection: Date Night at Disneylanf

This show is both a history of both the Carnation Plaza Gardens and a history of the live music that occupied the area.

The area is was first home to the Disneyland bandstand after it was forced to move as it obstructed the view of the Sleeping Beauty Castle from the hub.  It was so popular that a large outdoor dance hall was built in 1956, which stood there untl May of 2012 where it will be replaced by the Princess Fantasy Fair. 

Along with nightly dance music, Disneyland decided to capitalize on the sites popularty by creating Date Night at Disneyland.  The house band, The Elliott Brothers even released an album recorded at Disneyland.

Disney also released a special ticket book for Date Nighters (via Vintage Disneyland Tickets)

Some ads from 1957 and 1959

This one is interesting

 And my favorite,

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Enjoy!

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We want to thank you again for listening! 

Carnation Plaza Gardens photo via Dateline Disneyland

Monday
May212012

Introducing..... 30 Years of Discovery - show notes for episode 114

To celebrate Epcot's 30th Anniversary we are proud to launch a new series celebrating the five decades of Epcot.   This week we launch the first of this five part series, that wil culminate with Epcot's 30th anniversary this October.  

The first installment examines Walt's Dream of EPCOT, the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow and Walt's early ideas for the Florida Project including the most important and exciting aspect, EPCOT.  

We consider the following:

 - What is an Epcot

 - Thinkers and Theorists

 - Ebenezer Howard and the Garden City of Tomorrow

 - Walts unique Plan

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Enjoy!

Sunday
May132012

The Brown Derby - episode 113 show notes

This week on WEDWay Radio we take a look at one of the original attractions from the first year of the Disney MGM Studios, one its fantastic restaurants (which I believe are attractions as well), The Hollywood Brown Derby.

The Brown Derby was modeled from one of the four original Brown Derby restaurants from the golden age of Hollywood.  What many might not know is that here were actually four different Brown Derbys, and none are around today.  

The first opened in 1926 on Wilshire Blvd, known as the Wilshire Brown Derby.  This is the version that is shaped like an actual hat.

The second opened in 1929 on Vine, and is probably the most famous because of all of the stars that frequented the restaurant in the 1930's, 40's and 50's.  This is probably because of its close proximity to the movie studios in Hollywood.

In the 1980's when Disney began planning the Disney MGM Studios, they licensed the name, the likeness and the caricatures from the couple who purchased the rights to the Brown Derby from the Cobb family (Cobb salad).  Many of the design elements and thematic gestures are taken directly from the original Brown Derby, including caricatures, horeshoe booths, Spanish Mission Revival arhitecture and more.

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We want to thank you for continuing to support the show! 

Image above provided by the intelligent, well spoken and good looking Tom Bricker of the Disney Tourist Blog 

Sunday
May062012

WDW Project Update - show notes for episode 112

 

Monday
Apr162012

Tomorrowland 1.0 - show notes for episode 111

We all know that there was once a time when the attractions of Tomorrowland were more themed to the foreseeable future of Amerrican industry and consumer products.  It wasnt until the last thirty years that fantasy based attractions like Star Tours and Buzz Light Year Astroblasters (or Space Ranger Spin) made permanent homes in Tomorrowland, taking away from this theme.

On episode 111 of WEDWay Radio we take a look at a few of the early attractions that made up Tomorrowland, satisfying its early theme.  While these attractions today would probably seem laughable today (The Bathroom of Tomorrowland and the Hall of Chemistry) they were generally created to showcase the promise of the Space Age.

However, these areas might not be even classified as attractions today.  They certaining weren't rides, and they weren't shows either.  Instead Walt called upon several corporations to supply information and sometimes talent to present a vision of the future and how their products would serve it.

The Hall of Aluminum Fame

"Aluminum in our Future" December 1955 - July 1960

This attraction was located in the first building on the right, where Star Tours is located today.  Inside the building, guests would find an exhibit of Todays and Tomorrows uses of aluiminum.  Once inside, you entered the exhibit through a long telescope, and found a wall of reflective aluminum at the end.  The attraction winded around several large displays until you were introduced to Kap the Kaiser Aluminum Pig and invited to "See the brightest star in the World of Metals - Kaiser Aluminum".  Joining the pig were a knight and a space man. 

The Hall of Chemistry

"Chemistry's Part of Future Living" July 1955 - September 1966

 This fun loving attraction was all about the present and potential chemistry that we all enjoy. 

The Dairy Bar

"Today's Food Build Tomorrow's Man" January 1956 -  September 1958

 One of the more fabled attractions of Disneylands early days, the Dairy Bar was where patrons could get a cold glass of milk and check out the future of dairy-customer relations (Milkmen wth jetpacks)

The Bathroom of Tomorrow

April 1956 - August 1960

All joking aside, this was more than just a fancy toilet. The Bathroom of Tomorrow displayed the future of the newest room in the house (remember it was the 1950's) and how gold plated fixtures wer in our future.  Also, there was a funky toilet.

The Thimble Drome Flight Circle

September 1955 - January 1966

 Hobbyist could take their prized model airplanes for a whimsical flight in the Tomorrowlands circle.  This evokes a time when Tomorrowland was more than attraction based in Pixar films, and a theme park was still a park.

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea Exhibit

August 1955 - August 1966

This attraction was thrown together at the last minute and lasted 11 years.  Coming off the success of the 1953 film, Disney wanted to showcase some of the sets from the film and allow visitors to see the final resting place of the Nautilus.  Remember, this was four years prior to the submarine attraction, so guests were getting their only look at submarine life. 

Enjoy!

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We want to thank you again for listening!