All Ears® Guest Blog - Page 2

Read More from Columns at AllEars

Disney and Florida Attractions News Blog

AllEars® Team Blog

Salute to All Things Disney but Mostly Disneyland

Picture This!

Walt Disney Had An Exit Strategy For The 1964-1965 New York World’s Fair

Posted on by Chuck Schmidt
Once the 1964-1965 New York World's Fair ceased operating, it didn’t take very long before the demolition of dozens of pavilions began, which was a shame, considering many of the structures were designed and built by some of the world's most prominent architectural firms. Pavilion sponsors were given a mere 90 days to tear down their exhibits. Things were decidedly different when it came to the four exhibits presented by the Walt Disney Company. It seems Walt Disney had an exit strategy … and a plan.
One Comment

Makin’ Memories: The Talent Behind The Tunes In Disney Parks

Posted on by Chuck Schmidt
When Marty Sklar was knee-deep in the planning of EPCOT back in the late 1970s, he had one of those lightbulb moments that helped define the project. That’s when Marty came to the harsh realization that, despite all the hard work and meticulous planning that had already taken place, Disney had overlooked something very fundamental and functional ... a park staple that hadn’t seen anything new for more than a decade. We’re talking about music.
One Comment

DISNEYLAND AT 70: Tom Nabbe Was On The Outside Looking In When The Park Opened

Posted on by Chuck Schmidt
Thanks to TV star Danny Thomas, furture Disney Legend Tom Nabbe was able to secure much sought-after admission tickets to Disneyland on July 17, 1955 -- opening day. Once inside, Tom discovered that most of the attractions were malfunctioning and "there was trash heaped up on the ground. In my decades and decades with Disney, that was the trashiest I'd ever seen the park."
2 Comments

DISNEYLAND AT 70: Van France Saw First-Hand What ‘Car-Mageddon’ Looked Like

Posted on by Chuck Schmidt
The chaos that enveloped Disneyland on July 17, 1955, has become legendary. Broiling hot weather, ride malfunctions, no working water fountains, too many people. But the bedlam wasn’t just confined to the themed lands inside the berm. There was a madhouse outside the park as well. Van France was given the task of overseeing automobile traffic heading in and out of the park on that fateful day.
One Comment

DISNEYLAND AT 70: Jack Lindquist Went From Sweaty Bystander To Disneyland’s First President

Posted on by Chuck Schmidt
Jack Lindquist had the opportunity to walk around Disneyland a few weeks before opening day as a representative of Kelvinator, which was one of Disneyland’s many corporate sponsors. He began his self-guided tour by walking out to Town Square, where he saw the railroad station, the opera house, a fire station, and City Hall, all nearing completion. His eyes then glanced at a large department store, called The Emporium, then the Upjohn drug store, the Kodak photo shop and the Carnation ice cream parlor. Then he looked straight up Main Street USA in awe “of a real fairytale castle under construction,” he said. “At that moment, I realized that this Disney guy wasn’t building some nickel-and-dime amusement park. This was an entirely new concept in entertainment. It was damn exciting.”
One Comment

DISNEYLAND AT 70: Charlie Ridgway Found His Niche Covering Disneyland’s Opening

Posted on by Chuck Schmidt
Charlie Ridgway, who capped his wide-ranging professional career by being named a Disney Legend in 1999, was among the thousands of overheated people in attendance for Disneyland’s opening day. He was on assignment, covering the event for the Los Angeles Times-Mirror newspaper. “It was hot,” Charlie remembered during an interview I had with him in 2014, “and there were way too many people in the park. And not only that, but many of the attractions kept breaking down.” The day became known as Black Sunday for a reason.
No Comments