1963, Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room opened to the public. The Tiki Room was unlike anything seen before. It was a technological marvel that used state-of-the-art computers to create characters that talked, moved and even breathed in a lifelike way.
This was Disney’s first use of Audio Animatronics with cast member and Imagineer Lee Adams. (Thurl Ravenscroft is Fritz, Tangaroa and some of the Tiki Masks)
February 14, 1969, a recording session was held at Walt Disney Productions for the much-anticipated Haunted Mansion attraction.
The day singers, Thurl Ravenscroft, Jay Meyer, Bob Ebright, Chuck Schroeder and Verne Rowe performed the Grim Grinning Ghost theme. Afterwards, session leader Allan Davies will notice how
well the five men look together and cast them as the famous “singing bust heads” for the attraction!
October 2, 1971, the Admiral Joe Fowler Riverboat debuts operations at Disney’s Magic Kingdom. Do you know the back story of Admiral Joe Fowler, a Disney Legend?
Disney Legend, Joe the “Can do” guy Fowler (July 9, 1894 – December 6, 1993) attended the United States Naval Academy and was a graduate from M.I.T. with a master’s degree in naval architecture. He was a rear admiral of the United States Navy, who after his retirement had an important role in overseeing the construction of Disneyland and Walt Disney World. Joe Fowler was hired as a construction boss for Disneyland. After Disneyland was completed, Fowler stayed on as General Manager of the park for its first 10 years, and assisted with the construction of Walt Disney World. He retired from The Walt Disney Company in 1978 though he continued on as a consultant.
The dock for the two large ships in Disneyland’s Rivers of America, located across from The Haunted Mansion is named Fowler’s Harbor. One of the buildings is called “Fowler’s Inn”. In 1999, one of the ferries that crosses the Seven Seas Lagoon taking guests from the Ticket and Transportation Center to the Magic Kingdom was renamed Admiral Joe Fowler in his honor; it was originally known as the Magic Kingdom I.
June 14, 1958, The dock in Frontierland and the southwest side of the Rivers of America were named Fowler’s Harbor.
Admiral Joe Fowler was without question, one of the most productive and knowledgeable men in Disney History.
Admiral Fowler, thank you for your service, thank you for the magic, and rest in peace.
Steve Martin working at Merlin’s Magic Shop, Disneyland circa 1950s
Today is Disney Legend, Disney Cast Member, Comedy Writer, Stand-Up Comedian, Actor & Director Steve Martin’s Birthday! He was born in Waco, Texas.
Not only can Steve Martin be seen on The Muppet Show and The Muppet Movie, Fantasia 2000 and Father of the Bride; but, cast member and Disney Legend Steve Martin started out working at Disneyland selling guidebooks and working in Merlin’s Magic Shop! Martin alse appeared in the special attraction, Disneyland: The First 50 Magical Years.
Martin was also in the home movie, Disneyland Dream which now is in the Library of Congress’s National Film Registry.
All Over Print Disney Villain Scarf
Edward Bear was renamed Winnie-the-Pooh because “Winnipeg” was a favorite attraction on display at the London Zoological Gardens.
During World War I, a Canadian soldier named Harry Colebourn made a pet of a black bear cub he bought from a hunter for $20. He named it Winnipeg—or “Winnie” for short. The bear became his troop’s mascot and later a resident of the London Zoological Gardens. There, she was an adored attraction, especially to a little boy named Christopher Robin Milne, son of author A.A. Milne. He renamed his teddy, Edward Bear after her. This same teddy bear, as well as most of Christopher Robin’s toys are on display at the New York Public Library.
Christopher Robin and his stuffed bear became immortalized by his father, A.A. Milne in a series of books. Those books then became a favorite franchise of Walt Disney.
~~Oh, yes, I’m rumbly in my tumbly. Time for something sweet.~~
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Did you know that Walt Disney had a hobby in trains? He loved trains. Matter of fact, it was his love of trains that crossed his path with Disney Legend, Harper Goff (designer of the Nautilis for 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and inventor of many special effects).
Walt Disney was such a train enthusiast that, with the help of friends, (Disney Legends: Ward Kimball and Roger Broggie) designed the Carolwood Pacific Railroad” which was a miniture railroad in his own backyard that ran a half-mile long and had a layout that included a 46-foot-long trestle, loops, overpasses, gradients, an elevated dirt berm, and a 90-foot tunnel underneath Mrs. Disney’s flower bed. He even named the miniature working steam locomotive built by Roger E. Broggie of the Disney Studios Lilly Belle in his wife’s honor.
On this day in history, June 19, 1958, the fourth locomotive arrived to Disney’s backlot, to be rebuilt and put into service at Disney. It was purchased in New Jersey for $2000. This train would become No. 4 locomotive and be placed into service for the Disney Railroad (DRR).
Disney Legend Roger Broggie purchased this No. 4 locomotive from New Jersey. The locomotive had been built by Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1925. The train was being used as a tourist train at Pine Creek Railroad in New Jersey. Prior to that, it had been initially used by the Raritan River Sand Company in New Jersey.
After its purchase, the locomotive was delivered to the Walt Disney Studios’ machine shop and restored. The Locomotive No. 4 became the “Roy O Disney”. Named after Walt’s older brother who saw the completion of Walt Disney World after Walt’s passing in 1966.
All Over Print Disney Villain Scarf
May 2, 1964, the New York World’s Fair opened with Disney’s Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln.
Disney Imagineers are the very first to create Audio-Animatronics. Specifically, Disney Legend Blaine Gibson created the Abraham Lincoln exhibit which debuted at this Disney attraction at the 1964 World’s Fair in New York City.
This exhibit can be still be seen at the Walt Disney: One Man’s Dream attraction at the Hollywood Studios. CaribbeanDays can take you there!
Related:
Animatronics by Disney | Denville Community News and Events
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