By Jim Korkis
Most Disney fans are aware that the handprints in the forecourt of the Chinese Theater at Disney Hollywood Studios are real. Between 1989 and 1995, some well-known entertainment celebrities placed their hand and foot prints into the wet concrete blocks.
Many of those blocks were not installed but stored backstage. In addition, depending upon the willingness of the participants, a duplicate or two were made in case of damage to the original.
When Sunset Boulevard opened in July 1994, a new Theater of the Stars (designed to be reminiscent of the fabled Hollywood Bowl) was opened. In the forecourt entrance to the 1,500 seat theater, some of those previously unused blocks were placed in that location.
Originally, the theater was located on Hollywood Boulevard at approximately the area where Sunset Boulevard begins today from May 1, 1989 to May 2, 1993. The overwhelming popularity of the park dedicated to the Hollywood that Never Was but Always Will Be resulted in immediate plans for an expansion.
Without fanfare, in a effort to enhance the re-location of the theater, the Walt Disney World Imagineers decided that they would use some of the celebrity imprinted blocks that were in storage and the most logical place was the new Theater of the Stars.
Here is a chronological listing of all of those blocks. Some blocks were undated. Many of these entertainers had long and varied careers with many triumphs. Because of space, I have limited the identifications to their best known credit which in most cases was television oriented.
Sherman Hemsley 5/23/89
George Jefferson on the CBS television series All in the Family (1973-1974) and The Jeffersons (1975-1985)
Loretta Swit 5/28/89
Major Margaret “Hot Lips” Houlihan on M*A*S*H (1972-1983).
Martin Mull 6/7/89
Block includes a caricature of his face
Leon Carp, Roseanne Conner’s boss (and later business partner), on the TV series Roseanne (1991-1997).
James Doohan 7/3/89
Block says “Beam Me Up”.
Montgomery “Scotty” Scott, Chief Engineer of the starship the U.S.S. Enterprise, in the original television series and original film series Star Trek (1966-1991).
John Astin 8/26/89
Gomez Addams on The Addams Family (1964-1966)
Bob Denver 10/15/89
Block also includes the name “Gilligan”
The hapless shipwrecked sailor Gilligan on Gilligan’s Island (1964-1967)
McLean Stevenson 12/19/89
Lt. Colonel Henry Blake on the TV series M*A*S*H.
Howie Mandel 2/2/90
Judge on America’s Got Talent starting in 2010.
Lou Ferrigno 4/18/90
The green monster known as the Hulk in the television series The Incredible Hulk (1977-1982) and as himself in the sitcom The King of Queens (2000-2007).
Monty Hall 6/14/90
Block says “Let’s Make a Deal”
Developer, producer and host of tv game show Let’s Make a Deal (1963-1991)
Tom Poston 6/24/90
He placed an extra upside down hand in between his two hand prints
George Utley, bumbling country handyman of the Stratford Inn, on sitcom Newhart (1982-1990). He was nominated three times for an Emmy for Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series for this role.
David Leisure 7/7/90
Charley Dietz in the sitcom Empty Nest (1988 – 1995) and fictional (and “lying”) automotive commerical “pitch man” Joe Isuzu.
Charlotte Rae 8/28/90
Edna Garrett, the housemother of Eastland boarding school, in the sitcom The Facts of Life (1979-1988)
George Wendt 8/31/90
Norm Peterson on the television show Cheers (1982-1993)
In Part Two, I will document the remaining blocks and why you might consider taking a look at them soon to photograph them or to place your hands in the prints and see how you measure up before they fade away.
RELATED INFORMATION AND LINKS
Disney Historian Jim Korkis goes up into his imaginary attic to rummage around his archives and often stumbles across an unusual story about Walt Disney World. Those who have met me know that I take real joy in talking about Walt Disney.
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Check out Jim’s other “From the Attic” Blogs
Full features from the Walt Disney World Chronicles series by Jim Korkis can be found in the AllEars® Archives: /ae/archives.htm
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Jim Korkis is an internationally respected Disney Historian who has written hundreds of articles about all things Disney for more than three decades. As a former Walt Disney World cast member, his skills and historical knowledge were utilized by Disney Entertainment, Imagineering, Disney Design Group, Yellow Shoes Marketing, Disney Cruise Line, Disney Feature Animation Florida, Disney Institute, WDW Travel Company, Disney Vacation Club and many other departments.
He is the author of three new books, available in both paperback and Kindle versions on Amazon.com:
The Book of Mouse: A Celebration of Walt Disney’s Mickey Mouse
Who’s Afraid of the Song of the South
"The REVISED Vault of Walt":
Dear Jim,
Did you forget any celebrities handprints in front of the theater of the stars in your list?
Sincerely
Matthew