Sept.23,1962, The Golden Horseshoe Revue` hits milestone!
Fifty years ago, "The Golden Horseshoe Revue" aired it 10,000th performance on the NBC series "Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color." The Sept.23, 1962, episodew aired in color and featured show regulars Betty Taylor and Wally Boag, as well aas special guest stars Annette Funicello, Gene Sheldon and Ed Wynn. With saloon skirts swinging and banjos strumming, the stars celebrated this special milestone with-as Walt Disney himself put it-a "a real rootin`,tootin`,shootin`show."
"The Golden Horseshoe Revue" ran at the Golden Horseshoe Cafe` in Disneyland Park for over 30 years, making it the resort's longest-running show. From its first performance in July 1955 to its final performance in Oct. 1986, performers sang, danced and joked their way into audience guests hearts. The stage show now hosts "the Laughing Stock Co.," another Western comedy show, which performs daily.
History and Heritage...Dr Lee
Monday, September 24, 2012
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Dancing as fast as she can:
Disneyland opening day choreographer Miriam Nelson, 91, is still tap dancing years after all these years.
Miriam already had an impressive career as a Hollywood choreographer, working with the likes of Judy Garland, Fred Astaire and Betty Davis, when she was hired to choreograph the performances for Disneyland's televised grand opening on July 17, 1955. A then-record-breaking television audience of 90 million watched the live broadcast.
Miriam, who visited Disneyland Park last month (August), recalled seeing Walt Disney during rehearsals, which were moved to Disneyland just before opening day.
"When I was rehearsing out here it was so hot, so my gals were just wearing little shorts and halter tops to stay cool, and Walt wandered by to see what we were up to,"she said. The next day,she received a note from Walt. "It said, 'Would you please ask your girl dancers to cover up a little more? The workman are all stopping by to watch and we are never going to get this park open!'"
When it came to go live, the production was not without some hitches. For the Fantasyland shot, Disney characters were staged and instructed to help a few childern onto attractions. But as soon as the Fantasyland drawbridge dropped, Miriam said that hundreds of childern descended upon the unsuspecting characters.
"It scared the characters to death," Miriam recalled. "They turned and ran into the castle!"
Miriam also choreographed the opening day parade and frontierland appearance by "Davy Crockett" stars Fess Parker and Buddy Ebsen. Years later, she worked on "Fantasy on Parade," "On Stage U.S.A.," "Disney on Parade" and even a special performance of "The Golden Horseshoe Show" for the Foreign Correspondence Dinner with President Richard Nixon in 1969.
Miriam continues to travel the world teaching others how to dance and is an actice member of the nonprofit organization SHARE, which raises funds for disable and adused childern, which she helped found in 1953. In 2009, she published her autobiography, "My Life Dancing with the Stars."
On opening day,I was 3 years, 3 weeks,and 2 days old, born June 20, 1952...Dr Lee
Miriam already had an impressive career as a Hollywood choreographer, working with the likes of Judy Garland, Fred Astaire and Betty Davis, when she was hired to choreograph the performances for Disneyland's televised grand opening on July 17, 1955. A then-record-breaking television audience of 90 million watched the live broadcast.
Miriam, who visited Disneyland Park last month (August), recalled seeing Walt Disney during rehearsals, which were moved to Disneyland just before opening day.
"When I was rehearsing out here it was so hot, so my gals were just wearing little shorts and halter tops to stay cool, and Walt wandered by to see what we were up to,"she said. The next day,she received a note from Walt. "It said, 'Would you please ask your girl dancers to cover up a little more? The workman are all stopping by to watch and we are never going to get this park open!'"
When it came to go live, the production was not without some hitches. For the Fantasyland shot, Disney characters were staged and instructed to help a few childern onto attractions. But as soon as the Fantasyland drawbridge dropped, Miriam said that hundreds of childern descended upon the unsuspecting characters.
"It scared the characters to death," Miriam recalled. "They turned and ran into the castle!"
Miriam also choreographed the opening day parade and frontierland appearance by "Davy Crockett" stars Fess Parker and Buddy Ebsen. Years later, she worked on "Fantasy on Parade," "On Stage U.S.A.," "Disney on Parade" and even a special performance of "The Golden Horseshoe Show" for the Foreign Correspondence Dinner with President Richard Nixon in 1969.
Miriam continues to travel the world teaching others how to dance and is an actice member of the nonprofit organization SHARE, which raises funds for disable and adused childern, which she helped found in 1953. In 2009, she published her autobiography, "My Life Dancing with the Stars."
On opening day,I was 3 years, 3 weeks,and 2 days old, born June 20, 1952...Dr Lee
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Halloween Time At the Disneyland Resort:
Getting Goosebumps? Halloween Time haunts the Disneyland Resort starting Sept. 14,2012.
The most frightfully fun time of the year at the Disneyland Resort is creeping up fast!!
From Sept.14 through Oct. 31,2012, The Happiest Place on Earth gets downright spooky as Halloween Time brings seasonal attractions, entertainment and chillingly cool offerings for ghouls and goblins of all ages.
The superbly supernatural Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy and Haunted Mansion Holiday will be back at Disneyland Park, along with the Main Street Pumpkin Festival and the Dia de los Muertos celebration in Frontierland. Watch out for your favorite Disney Villains, plus Mickey Mouse and friends in their Halloween costumes. And keep a weather eye open, because the Pirates League has landed for a limited time to give Guests swashbuckling makeovers in New Orleans Square.
At Disney California Adventure Park, the Art of Frankenweenie Exhibition features a behind-the-scenes look at the new film from director Tim Burton, coming to theaters Oct.5,2012, along with an extended "Frankenweenie" 3-D sneak peek at the Muppet*Vision theater.
But we're just getting started: Look for seasonal food and beverage offerings plus specialty merchandise throughout the Disneyland Resort. And get your costume ready, because Guests can trick or treat in the ultimate Disney neighborhood, Disneyland Park, during Mickey's Halloween Party on select nights from Sept.28 to Oct. 31,2012.
Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort, Nice...Dr Lee
The most frightfully fun time of the year at the Disneyland Resort is creeping up fast!!
From Sept.14 through Oct. 31,2012, The Happiest Place on Earth gets downright spooky as Halloween Time brings seasonal attractions, entertainment and chillingly cool offerings for ghouls and goblins of all ages.
The superbly supernatural Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy and Haunted Mansion Holiday will be back at Disneyland Park, along with the Main Street Pumpkin Festival and the Dia de los Muertos celebration in Frontierland. Watch out for your favorite Disney Villains, plus Mickey Mouse and friends in their Halloween costumes. And keep a weather eye open, because the Pirates League has landed for a limited time to give Guests swashbuckling makeovers in New Orleans Square.
At Disney California Adventure Park, the Art of Frankenweenie Exhibition features a behind-the-scenes look at the new film from director Tim Burton, coming to theaters Oct.5,2012, along with an extended "Frankenweenie" 3-D sneak peek at the Muppet*Vision theater.
But we're just getting started: Look for seasonal food and beverage offerings plus specialty merchandise throughout the Disneyland Resort. And get your costume ready, because Guests can trick or treat in the ultimate Disney neighborhood, Disneyland Park, during Mickey's Halloween Party on select nights from Sept.28 to Oct. 31,2012.
Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort, Nice...Dr Lee
Monday, September 10, 2012
Oswald the Lucky Rabbit makes his debut:
Before Mickey Mouse became a global sensation, there was Oswald the Lucky Rabbit.
In 1927, distributor Charles Mintz, commissioned Walt Disney and animator Ub Iwerks to create a cartoon character for Universal Studio's first cartoon series. The pair created Oswald, a mischievous rabbit who debuted in the short "Trolley Troubles" Sept. 5 1927. The Oswald cartoon series became a hit with audiences.
A year later, in a pay dispute with Mintz, Walt lost the rights to Oswald and also discvovered that Mintz had secretly hired some of his animators. On the train ride back to California after meeting with Mintz in New York, Walt dreamed up the idea for a new character- and Mickey Mouse was born.
Oswald wound up starring in 194 shorts, 26 of them under Walt's direction. The Walt Disney Company negotiated the return of the rights to Oswald from NBC Universal, and Oswald went on to win a starring role in the video game Epic Mickey (2010), as well as his very own merchandise location,Oswald's, in Disney California Adventure Park. Oswald will reunite with Mickey Mouse on Nov.18 in "Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two."
Fun Fact:
A candy bar, stencil and pin-backed button featuring the lovable Oswald were the first merchandise items featuring a Disney character.
Just some History and Heritage...Dr Lee
In 1927, distributor Charles Mintz, commissioned Walt Disney and animator Ub Iwerks to create a cartoon character for Universal Studio's first cartoon series. The pair created Oswald, a mischievous rabbit who debuted in the short "Trolley Troubles" Sept. 5 1927. The Oswald cartoon series became a hit with audiences.
A year later, in a pay dispute with Mintz, Walt lost the rights to Oswald and also discvovered that Mintz had secretly hired some of his animators. On the train ride back to California after meeting with Mintz in New York, Walt dreamed up the idea for a new character- and Mickey Mouse was born.
Oswald wound up starring in 194 shorts, 26 of them under Walt's direction. The Walt Disney Company negotiated the return of the rights to Oswald from NBC Universal, and Oswald went on to win a starring role in the video game Epic Mickey (2010), as well as his very own merchandise location,Oswald's, in Disney California Adventure Park. Oswald will reunite with Mickey Mouse on Nov.18 in "Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two."
Fun Fact:
A candy bar, stencil and pin-backed button featuring the lovable Oswald were the first merchandise items featuring a Disney character.
Just some History and Heritage...Dr Lee
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Disneyland Park launches old-style newspaper:
Disneyland creators are turning to an old-fashion method of giving out information to guests: a newspaper!
The Buena Vista Bugle debuted this summer at Disney California Adventure Park as part of the park's makeover to explain new features. Disney is producing the information in a very 1920s and 1930s way, matching the architecture and style of the Buena Vista Street entrance corridor.
Disney California Adventure Park Cast Members borrowed the concept from its neighbor- Disneyland Park, which produced The Disneyland News beginning in 1955. At California Adventure Park, Buena Vista Street is the equivalent of Disneyland's Main Street,U.S.A., where The Disneyland News used to be distributed.
Disney California Adventure Park wanted to find something besides the map and guide to tell stories of the park to Guests. The Red Car News Boys street show had entertained with a newspaper as a prop, so Cast Members decided to add a real four-page newspaper for the first month of Disney California Adventure Park's expansion, which debuted in June.
But the Bugle gained popularity: between 12 percent and 15 percent of surveyed Guests reported that they got information from the newspaper. And it's common to see guests relaxing on a park bench or sipping a Starbucks coffee at an outside table, flipping the pages.
The fonts, writing style and features, and even the gritty black-and-white print are all like those of the newspapers of that era.
The copy comes from an in-house writer but in the voice of the characters of Buena Vista Street. A snarky, fictional food critic, Inglebert Irving, gives recommendations on drinks and appetizers. A celebrity-sighting column shows where characters can be spotted. The back page is designed in the style of a want-ad section, but has listings of shows, entertainment and stores.
The bottom corner has a high-tech addition: a QR Code to download the park's official Twitter account.
Cast Members are now handing out the free newspaper's third edition, which is also available on metal racks and counters. Disney is already planning a Halloween and holiday editions.
Its called imagination...Dr Lee
The Buena Vista Bugle debuted this summer at Disney California Adventure Park as part of the park's makeover to explain new features. Disney is producing the information in a very 1920s and 1930s way, matching the architecture and style of the Buena Vista Street entrance corridor.
Disney California Adventure Park Cast Members borrowed the concept from its neighbor- Disneyland Park, which produced The Disneyland News beginning in 1955. At California Adventure Park, Buena Vista Street is the equivalent of Disneyland's Main Street,U.S.A., where The Disneyland News used to be distributed.
Disney California Adventure Park wanted to find something besides the map and guide to tell stories of the park to Guests. The Red Car News Boys street show had entertained with a newspaper as a prop, so Cast Members decided to add a real four-page newspaper for the first month of Disney California Adventure Park's expansion, which debuted in June.
But the Bugle gained popularity: between 12 percent and 15 percent of surveyed Guests reported that they got information from the newspaper. And it's common to see guests relaxing on a park bench or sipping a Starbucks coffee at an outside table, flipping the pages.
The fonts, writing style and features, and even the gritty black-and-white print are all like those of the newspapers of that era.
The copy comes from an in-house writer but in the voice of the characters of Buena Vista Street. A snarky, fictional food critic, Inglebert Irving, gives recommendations on drinks and appetizers. A celebrity-sighting column shows where characters can be spotted. The back page is designed in the style of a want-ad section, but has listings of shows, entertainment and stores.
The bottom corner has a high-tech addition: a QR Code to download the park's official Twitter account.
Cast Members are now handing out the free newspaper's third edition, which is also available on metal racks and counters. Disney is already planning a Halloween and holiday editions.
Its called imagination...Dr Lee
Disneyland Park making it's tallest gingerbread house:
At 9 feet tall with a ghost train around it, the upcoming gingerbread house will stand the tallest and feature the most complex special effects in the Haunted Mansion Holiday's 12-year history.
Disneyland Park will debut it's new, spooky gingerbread house when the seasonal version of the Haunted Mamsion attraction opens Sept. 14,2012. Disneyland Park transforms the haunted Mansion into the theme of Tim Burton's "The nightmare Before Christmas" during the Halloween and Christmas holiday periods.
Each year, a massive gingerbread with a new theme stands as the centerpiece of the ballroom's table. This year, Jack's Gingerbread House will look like movie character Jack Skellington's home on top of a spindly peak.
Cast Member Bakers and decorators cover the entire structure- a wooden house and hard-foam base- with gingerbread and fondant, an icing-like substance used in pastry sculptures. The house itself is about 3 feet tall and the base is about 6 feet tall. Zero, the ghost dog, will fly around the tower.
Around the house for the first time, Guests can watch a see-through ghost train that will appear to travel around the base of the house. For the train, Disneyland Park is using the same reflective special effects used for the see-through ghosts in the ballroom scene.
The gingerbread house likely will weigh 400 to 500 pounds.
About 20 Cast Members work to complete the house. Decorators will start covering the structure after Labor Day and spend a final two days on details after it is moved inside the Haunted Mansion.
Sept.14th, hey, that's next week,COOL!!!...Dr Lee
Disneyland Park will debut it's new, spooky gingerbread house when the seasonal version of the Haunted Mamsion attraction opens Sept. 14,2012. Disneyland Park transforms the haunted Mansion into the theme of Tim Burton's "The nightmare Before Christmas" during the Halloween and Christmas holiday periods.
Each year, a massive gingerbread with a new theme stands as the centerpiece of the ballroom's table. This year, Jack's Gingerbread House will look like movie character Jack Skellington's home on top of a spindly peak.
Cast Member Bakers and decorators cover the entire structure- a wooden house and hard-foam base- with gingerbread and fondant, an icing-like substance used in pastry sculptures. The house itself is about 3 feet tall and the base is about 6 feet tall. Zero, the ghost dog, will fly around the tower.
Around the house for the first time, Guests can watch a see-through ghost train that will appear to travel around the base of the house. For the train, Disneyland Park is using the same reflective special effects used for the see-through ghosts in the ballroom scene.
The gingerbread house likely will weigh 400 to 500 pounds.
About 20 Cast Members work to complete the house. Decorators will start covering the structure after Labor Day and spend a final two days on details after it is moved inside the Haunted Mansion.
Sept.14th, hey, that's next week,COOL!!!...Dr Lee
Man pleads no contest for fake Disney Passports:
Dozens of Guests were turned away from the Disneyland Resort over the past several months after buying fake Passports, some linked to a Compton man, police said.
Terance Hutchinson, 35,pleaded no contest to making counterfeit Passports following his arrest. Hutchinson was released after his appearance in Los Angeles Superior Court.
Police said a Guest responded to an ad on Craigslist to buy some Passports- valued at $87 each- for $55 each, said Sgt. Mike Austin of the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department's Carson station. After meeting up with the man at a Carson shopping center, these Guests were rejected at the main entrance of the Disneyland Resort because these Passports all had the same barcode and had already been used.
The Guest filed a police report and police set up surveillance when the Guest met up again with Terance under the premise of buying additional Passports. Terance was arrested after the Guest met up with him and identified him.
Terance Hutchinson is scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 21 in Los Angeles Superior Court.
That old saying, "if it sounds to good to be true, it probably isn't"...Dr Lee
(Eugene Fields, The Orange County Register)
Terance Hutchinson, 35,pleaded no contest to making counterfeit Passports following his arrest. Hutchinson was released after his appearance in Los Angeles Superior Court.
Police said a Guest responded to an ad on Craigslist to buy some Passports- valued at $87 each- for $55 each, said Sgt. Mike Austin of the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department's Carson station. After meeting up with the man at a Carson shopping center, these Guests were rejected at the main entrance of the Disneyland Resort because these Passports all had the same barcode and had already been used.
The Guest filed a police report and police set up surveillance when the Guest met up again with Terance under the premise of buying additional Passports. Terance was arrested after the Guest met up with him and identified him.
Terance Hutchinson is scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 21 in Los Angeles Superior Court.
That old saying, "if it sounds to good to be true, it probably isn't"...Dr Lee
(Eugene Fields, The Orange County Register)
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Princesses beware!! Pirates invade `land?
If your heart be set on discoverin` treasure and sailin` the high seas- not to mention a complete makeover- then adventure awaits at the new Pirates League in Disneyland Park, mateys!
From Sept. 1 through Oct. 31 in the Court of Angels in New Orleans Square, Guests ages three and up can choose from one of three pirate transformations, train to swashbuckle and even take the official Pirate League Oath to become part of Captain Jack's legendary crew.This interactive pirate experience originally debuted at magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort in May 2009 and aboard the Disney Fantasy earlier this year.
Available packages include Jake and the Never Land Pirates, First Mate and Empress (created especially for pirate princesses!) Packages range from $29.95-$34.95.
Landlubbers Beware! Reservations for these transformations book up fast, especially on Mickey's Halloween Party nights, so don't wait!
Call now at 714-781-STYLE.
Love the holidays at the Disneyland Resort...Dr Lee
From Sept. 1 through Oct. 31 in the Court of Angels in New Orleans Square, Guests ages three and up can choose from one of three pirate transformations, train to swashbuckle and even take the official Pirate League Oath to become part of Captain Jack's legendary crew.This interactive pirate experience originally debuted at magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort in May 2009 and aboard the Disney Fantasy earlier this year.
Available packages include Jake and the Never Land Pirates, First Mate and Empress (created especially for pirate princesses!) Packages range from $29.95-$34.95.
Landlubbers Beware! Reservations for these transformations book up fast, especially on Mickey's Halloween Party nights, so don't wait!
Call now at 714-781-STYLE.
Love the holidays at the Disneyland Resort...Dr Lee
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
D23 Presents TREASURES of the Walt Disney Archives: The Reagan Library
From Walt Disney's original Disneyland nametag to the fiery orange wig Johnny Depp wore in Tim Burton's "Alice in Wonderland," a recently opened exhibit at The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum is delighting Disney Guests with the largest collection of Walt Disney treasures ever assembled.
The Walt Disney Archives Cast Members assembled a stunning collection of more than 500 archival treasures- many of which had never been publicly displayed before- for D23 Presents Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives. The exhibit, brought to the Reagan Library by D23, the official Disney Fan Club, is on view at the Reagan Library, located in Simi Valley, through April 2013.
Walt Disney Archives Director Becky Cline, who curated the exhibit along with Archives Cast Members, says that when Chief Archivist Emeritus Dave Smith started the Disney Archives in 1970, "he could talk to Roy O. Disney and [famed animator] Ub Iwerks and asked what it was like to work with Walt Disney in the 1920s and to create Mickey Mouse. Those guys are all gone now. We don't have the `Nine Old Men` anymore, we don't have the founders of the Walt Disney Company and there are very few people around anymore who knew them personally. So it's very important now that that legacy and memories are in the Archives because we can protect it and build upon it."
Bronze busts of Walt Disney and President Reagan, flanked by American flags, welcome guests to the library, along with a plaque describing the men as longtime friends and "eternal optimists who shared a belief in the essential goodness of the American way of life." But their connection goes deeper than that. On July 17,1955, Reagan, then a Hollywood actor, helped host live Disneyland opening-day coverage and, in 1968, endorsed the first Walt Disney postage stamp. In 1984, Reagan's second inaugural festivities were moved to Epcot due to inclement weather in Washington, D.C., and two years later, Reagan declared Dec.5 National Walt Disney Day. The 40th president of the United States even returned to Disneyland in 1990 to celebrate its 35th anniversary.
Just more Disney history...Dr Lee
The Walt Disney Archives Cast Members assembled a stunning collection of more than 500 archival treasures- many of which had never been publicly displayed before- for D23 Presents Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives. The exhibit, brought to the Reagan Library by D23, the official Disney Fan Club, is on view at the Reagan Library, located in Simi Valley, through April 2013.
Walt Disney Archives Director Becky Cline, who curated the exhibit along with Archives Cast Members, says that when Chief Archivist Emeritus Dave Smith started the Disney Archives in 1970, "he could talk to Roy O. Disney and [famed animator] Ub Iwerks and asked what it was like to work with Walt Disney in the 1920s and to create Mickey Mouse. Those guys are all gone now. We don't have the `Nine Old Men` anymore, we don't have the founders of the Walt Disney Company and there are very few people around anymore who knew them personally. So it's very important now that that legacy and memories are in the Archives because we can protect it and build upon it."
Bronze busts of Walt Disney and President Reagan, flanked by American flags, welcome guests to the library, along with a plaque describing the men as longtime friends and "eternal optimists who shared a belief in the essential goodness of the American way of life." But their connection goes deeper than that. On July 17,1955, Reagan, then a Hollywood actor, helped host live Disneyland opening-day coverage and, in 1968, endorsed the first Walt Disney postage stamp. In 1984, Reagan's second inaugural festivities were moved to Epcot due to inclement weather in Washington, D.C., and two years later, Reagan declared Dec.5 National Walt Disney Day. The 40th president of the United States even returned to Disneyland in 1990 to celebrate its 35th anniversary.
Just more Disney history...Dr Lee
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