Fifty Years of the Florida Pirates

Given that I am in the process of writing a book on the Pirates of the Caribbean and it is the fiftieth anniversary of the Walt Disney World version of the attraction, I included brief excerpts of the book's coverage of the opening weekend of the Pirates and the resultant experience.

NOTE: This is a work-in-progress and does not necessarily reflect the final product. I hope you all enjoy this!

The New Direction of This Site

I have been thinking a lot about my direction or purpose in life as of late. I always knew it was to be somewhat of an eccentric educator of sorts, whether it is about my special interests or just life experience. I also knew it was that of a multimedia artist, which stretches things out further. I have been swamped by new obligations and responsibilities, yet I know I mustn't give up my dreams or talents. I would be devastated if I knowingly let my potential go to waste, so that at least partially motivates me. Now I am just trying to be smarter and more efficient about everything I do. Surely, more decisive is the coolest way of putting it as it almost gives one the impression of being at the helm of a fearsome fleet.

That said, I am not giving up on my hyper fixations or any of my current projects, but I am reconsidering how I share them or go about all of this. For five years, I have used this site to document an assortment of observations, thoughts, and analyses. In addition to this site, I plan to return to YouTube, but instead of self-help-type videos or basic reviews from the driver seat of my car, I plan to do something more professional and varied yet hyper-focused. My output on here is notoriously sparse, particularly within the past few years, but I do have a lot of articles to finish as well as a variety of projects to complete, ranging from music to videos as well as art/designs and a couple of book projects in the pipeline. It is an arduous process to focus a lot of time, energy, and finite resources towards a diverse range of projects, but hopefully it will be all worth it. I will continue periodically posting. The new-ish plan is to do at least a weekly review or something of that nature. Nothing too cumbersome at this time, but something to supplement the articles. I figure I can do some things on here and on YouTube with the possibility of an outlet for exclusive content. But I am getting ahead of myself...again.

-JL

Slinging for Success: How Corporate-Mandated IPs Can Inspire Tangential Learning

It has been a while since I last posted on here, but I would like to share some thoughts I have about Marvel, edutainment, and the nature of theme parks. 

First off, I am not a huge fan of IP (intellectual property) taking precedence over original (non-Disney IP) ideas, but I am a fan of it fitting properly. Two and a half years ago, I explained my thoughts on why Epcot's World Showcase was not the right venue for Disney IP in a way that Fantasyland at the Magic Kingdom is obviously, but I am thinking about how IP can serve a more serious-minded purpose. This leads me to how that serious-minded aspect is a needed part of the themed space and how it inspires guests on various levels, including a deep moral message and/or tangential learning.

I have defended several attractions, such as Hall of Presidents, Pirates of the Caribbean, It's a Small World, and others, as examples of tangential learning experiences that serve more than just as an air-conditioned spot to rest (blasphemous) or pure fun. Former-Disney Imagineer Joe Rohde, who is known for his focus on authenticity and realism in the themed space, went on the record to say that theme parks are and should be more than pure fun, which is what more intellectually-minded theme park nerds have been saying for years (including myself, obviously).

Back in the 1950's, Disneyland was touted as a place where families would be able to have fun together, learn a bit about the world, and grow as people (while incidentally embodying the spirit of childhood merriment). IP was not super abundant in Disneyland during its early era, but Walt Disney did have attractions in almost each land corresponding to a Disney IP (or Disneyfied IP). For example, Adventureland was initially designed as True-Life Adventureland, based on the True-Life Adventure series of nature documentaries Disney had made in the 1950's. Frontierland obviously had Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer alongside Davy Crockett and Mike Fink. Tomorrowland had the Man on the Moon (specifically created for Disneyland) infused with the Rocket to the Moon attraction. Fantasyland obviously had most of the IP at Disneyland. With what they did have, it felt more like pieces of a larger puzzle than the whole image.

Last week, I returned to Disneyland after a 15-month absence from the parks. Notably, the biggest changes made to the Disneyland Resort (aside from the obligatory precautions due to the Covid-19 pandemic) was the addition of Marvel's Avengers Campus in Disney's California Adventure. Now I had seen footage of the newest ride "Web-Slingers" and the festive opening with a flying Spider-Man animatronic, but I was finally experiencing it. Naturally, I had my share of criticism and concern over the IP choice as well as the theming, but I do have hope that this new addition can serve a purpose

My hope was/is that young people who are visiting the park and connecting with the IPs would take it upon themselves to go farther. Instead of merely seeing Spider-Man lose control of the WEB labs, they can be inspired to learn about computers and other technology for future benefit. They can go from the ride with an interest in technology, for example, and apply it to their educations, careers, and our society.

I came upon this conclusion when considering why I was drawn to the subjects I've had an affinity for since childhood. Some subjects were more a result of just being entranced by the overall mystique of history, but a litany of specific subjects were sparked and encouraged by the edutainment content of Disney parks as well as the historical spirit of the parks.

I was drawn to learning about piracy due to the Pirates of the Caribbean and the associated bibliography of cultural and historical references. Similarly, the Hall of Presidents and Lincoln presentations encouraged my growing interest in US political history. Adventureland, Small World, and World Showcase added to my appreciation of different cultures (to be fair, being a military dependent and avid reader also helped). The implied history of various themed lands lead me to researching more and more. 

Attractions, such as Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion, Hall of Presidents, Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln, It's a Small World, Carousel of Progress, the Enchanted Tiki Room, Jungle Cruise, the Mark Twain, Sailing Ship Columbia, Great Movie Ride, Spaceship Earth, the Land, and countless others, have inspired me personally in my pursuit of knowledge and happiness.

Of an earlier generation, there were musicians who were drawn to America Sings and scientists who were sucked into the world of molecules due to Adventure Thru Inner Space. The IP of 1955 Disneyland, especially in Tomorrowland and Frontierland, had a particular effect on even earlier generations of kids. Arguably, the edutainment drama of the Submarine Voyage with references to the real world of seafaring and oceanography has encouraged interests in vessels, naval history, and oceanography. Even in the IP-infused reboot of the Disneyland experience, there are references to sea life ranging from coral reefs to fish. As someone who was not able to ride the original, I enjoyed the ride when it opened and had felt that the fun facts at the beginning of our Submarine Voyage added to the experience, despite the ride being fundamentally about, well, Finding Nemo (and not the murderous captain of the Nautilus, either).

This is not a case for IP, but a possibility I welcome as an advocate of edutainment in theme parks. While I am not always a fan of IP everywhere (especially where the connection to the theme seems tenuous), I can appreciate the benefit of inspiring countless kids and encouraging interest in the world. I hope that the WEB Slingers attraction at DCA can inspire kids or contribute to a greater good just like the classics had inspired me and countless others. I am certain that aside from the military-industrial theming (which feels both right and wrong for DCA in a sense) as well as the IP choice, the possible benefits of the attraction can be at least considered. For someone who is cynical and skeptical about new additions being as great or monumental as a lot of the classic and iconic offerings, I do have hope that the attraction and others like it would be conducive to a deeper meaning, a desire to learn more and grow, and a greater purpose that ultimately fits. Like it has been stated, there is more to the theme park than pure fun and the sooner we can recognize that there are benefits beyond the thrill factor, the sooner we can evolve as a society.

PREHISTORIA: A PRIMEVAL PLAYGROUND

WELCOME TO PREHISTORIA, A PRIMEVAL WONDERLAND OF ADVENTURE AND FANTASY, WHERE THE MOUNTAINS, JUNGLES, AND DESERTS OF YEARS PAST TEEM WITH LIFE. RANGING FROM THE DINOSAURS THAT ROAMED THE EARTH AT ITS DAWN TO THE EARLIEST ANCESTORS OF OUR OWN SPECIES, PREHISTORIA IS A PLAYGROUND OF THE PRIMEVAL. 

THE PREHISTORIA VILLAGE IS AN EARLY HUMAN SETTLEMENT WHERE THE BEGINNING OF HUMANKIND IS IN BLOOM. THE INVENTION OF THE WHEEL, THE DISCOVERY OF FIRE, AND THE EARLIEST COMMUNICATION CAN BE OBSERVED AND EXPERIENCED. 

MEANWHILE, THE PREHISTORIC PRESERVE IS AN INTERACTIVE PLAYGROUND OF EXPLORATION AND DISCOVERY. DINOSAURS, IN THEIR ENDLESS VARIETY, ROAM THESE UNCHARTED GROUNDS AND EXPLORERS MAY EVEN ENCOUNTER A FEW DURING THEIR EXPEDITION.

Fifty Years of Frantic Spooks and Swinging Wakes

NOTE: THIS WAS WRITTEN, BUT NOT PUBLISHED IN 2019. THIS WAS MEANT AS A TRIBUTE TO THE ULTIMATE HAUNTED EXPERIENCE.

It was August 1969 and the decade was nearing its end. John F. Kennedy's promise to put a man on the moon was posthumously fulfilled that July. Meanwhile, another project promised in the early 1960's was the Haunted Mansion at Disneyland. Despite years of rotting there on the side of a hill overlooking the Rivers of America, it was nearing its completion. After all, it was as early as 1964 when that year's souvenir guidebook hinted at what would be seen in the Haunted Mansion with "stereophonic screams" and yet it wouldn't be for another five years that guests would know what truly possessed that house on the hill.

Today, I will be sharing a few fun facts about the Haunted Mansion in honor of the attraction's fiftieth anniversary.

1. A SHELL OF A TIME

The infamous white facade of the Haunted Mansion was completed by late 1962 and yet it wouldn't be years until the ride was finally completed. Meanwhile, the facade of the Mansion sat dormant for a number of years, even giving life to a number of urban legends, including that a member of the press had died of a heart attack during a preview. Of course, this didn't happen, but apparently it was a popular tale told on the playgrounds of Southern California in the 1960's.


2. WHAT A STRETCH OF TIME

The exterior of the Haunted Mansion was completed around November 1962 and yet it wouldn't be another six years until construction work on the actual ride began. Despite construction walls surrounding the Mansion as early as October 1967 and the foundation being worked on during 1968, the show building took about four months to complete from October 1968 and February 1969.

Since the actual Mansion was built when the attraction was developed as a walk-thru experience which required a means of conveyance to get guests out of the park and into a show building, the infamous "stretching rooms" (elevators) were installed when the facade was built. Of course, this doesn't mean that the paintings or the wallpaper were a part of what was done in 1962. That was finally installed and unveiled in 1969.


3. WHAT A BOAT!

The Haunted Mansion was going to be a boat ride! Well, not exactly. You see that while the original plans called for a walk-thru experience, it was suggested, even in passing, that the Haunted Mansion should use the ride system developed for It's a Small World and the Pirates of the Caribbean. This was suggested around the time of the New York World's Fair and the boat ride concept is typically seen as a footnote in the Mansion's history. Walt allegedly said something to the effect that Disneyland had enough boat rides, which was ironic given that Small World and Pirates were not even built at the park.

4. ORGAN DONOR

The pipe organ at the far end of the Grand Ballroom was used in the 1954 film Twenty-Thousand Leagues Under the Sea before it eventually made its resting place in the Haunted Mansion. After the film was released, Disneyland was going to open the following year and since Tomorrowland wasn't ready to debut, Disneyland planners thought it was a novel (excuse the pun) idea to repurpose Captain Nemo's massive organ in a Tomorrowland exhibit dedicated to the film. However, the exhibit closed along with Tomorrowland in 1966 for a much-needed update. Since Imagineers likely knew that somehow their Haunted Mansion would need a suitable pipe organ for its future ballroom, the Captain's organ was salvaged and eventually installed in 1969 when the Mansion was being finished. I believe it may have been stored away at the Park or even back at the Studio in the prop warehouse.


5. THE HILL HOUSE

According to Imagineering lore, the 1963 film the Haunting served as an inspiration to the Imagineers and by default, the set designers. This is apparent by the interior architecture of the Corridor of Doors with, well, doors. There was at least one screening that is known to have happened.


6. PALACE DE DISNEY

It was believed by younger members of the public that, besides an infamously deadly preview, the Haunted Mansion was the residence of a Mr. Walt Disney. This rumor was "confirmed" by the great Alice Davis in an interview from ages ago. Of course, while Mr. Disney certainly had his way around the Park as well as access to the latest and greatest construction sites of his time, he didn't dwell within the Mansion for three BIG reasons. First off, why would Mr. Disney live in a creepy, rotting mansion on the edge of civilization when he had a cozy apartment above the firehouse on Main Street and that future penthouse in New Orleans Square? Second, it was almost certainly skin-and-bones during Disney's time with the only things in the Mansion proper being the elevators and the foyer with a few other cramped spaces. In fact, erecting the massive show building behind the Mansion was something that was completed between late 1968 and early 1969, two years after his death, and had actually buttoned up the bottom part of the Mansion, which had been exposed to the elements from 1962 until 1968. Also, the Mansion itself only had two elevator pits and the foyer. What kind of house is that!? Third, he wouldn't have time to make himself at home with the fact that kids would hang onto the fence surrounding the house and staring at it as if kinetic abilities can expedite the opening.


7. THE METAMORPHOSIS WALL

The loading area wall was altered sometime around 2005 or later. What I mean is the wall parallel to the staircase the Doom Buggies climb where there is this exit door and control panel. When the ride was under construction in 1969, the wall was originally built farther away from the staircase. Still that wall had a door and a glowing 1960's era exit sign mounted on its side over the door, possibly as a reminder that timid guests could always "find a way out". The wall and its fixtures existed in that spot from 1969 until that time in the mid-2000's when Imagineers reworked the spatial aspects of the ride to streamline potential evacuations. For years, I wondered about that "disturbance in the force" when it came to the wall suddenly feeling closer to the stairs and had complied notes from previous visits and YouTube videos, which prove the approximate 2005 era renovations as the source of the "moving wall". I would like to note that the existence of a wall that seemingly moves from its original position to be closer to the ride itself is something I'd expect from the Haunted Mansion in a roundabout way.

8. ANOTHER SIGN

Similarly taken away from the Haunted Mansion was a small sign at the end of the ride that cautioned people about a dead end where they return to the living world. It was likely installed as a way of signaling the end of the ride so guests could be ready to exit their Doom Buggies without issues while still maintaining that zany spirit (pardon the expression) of the attraction. While its installation date is not clear, it was certainly removed from the ride in the 2000's, likely as part of that aforementioned refurbishment that took out a wall in the loading area. Still, its use of the Ruebens typeface, which was not only popular for a number of tourist attractions at the time, but it was reportedly a corrupted typeface from the late 1800's, fitting in with the locale of the Disneyland Haunted Mansion.

9. MIND YOUR MANORS

The historiography of the Haunted Mansion prior to the 2010's has been mostly confined to a certain narrative. I say mostly because various fans of the Haunted Mansion have been driving a fan-based historiography (some of which has been acknowledged and even promoted by Disney in recent years) since the 1990's when the Internet brought tons of Disney historians closer, most of which were fans or Imagineers. So the notion of authorship of the attraction has been expanded and elaborated in recent years. We knew in the 60's and 70's of Marc Davis and Yale Gracey from newspaper features. By the late 90's, the standard narrative included Ken Anderson's 1957-58 efforts (albeit simplified and often conflated with each other), Rolly Crump and Yale Gracey's work on the illusions between 1959 and 1960, and then having Marc Davis, Claude Coats, and eventually X Atencio work on what became the final attraction after the World's Fair. One can only speculate to the various iterations of the Haunted Mansion from the first Ken Anderson walk thru to the finalized 1969 show. How might a pure Claude Coats mood-fest work? How about a Marc Davis gag house? Heck, Sam McKim was partial to the humorous approach and had contributed to it. Meanwhile, Rolly Crump imagined something just plain weird. At any rate, what is known for certain is that tons of folks at WED worked on what became the greatest Haunted House of all time.

10. DOOMED

The issue of capacity always plagued the development of the Haunted Mansion from the time it started out as a walk thru spook house to even after it opened in 1969. There was the apparent realization by Walt that it would certainly require, at some point, to have some sort of conveyance to mitigate the issue of low capacity. Ideas of having tour groups directed by a guide came into contact with concerns over efficiency. The storied debate over content is not as interesting as the actual conflict over the movement within the attraction. 

There were a few ideas of conveyances for the Haunted Mansion, one of which dates back to the 1957 Ken Anderson efforts. The necessity of an elevator to lower guests below the berm to reach the show building caused that type of conveyance on its own to become the first. However, the actual ride type conveyance from this era would actually be a platform that would be lowered and moved on a track through the Haunted House. Walt reportedly became disenchanted with walk-thru attractions after the Sleeping Beauty Diorama that year and probably understood that it would certainly have to take on the form of a ride at some point. While even the walk thru capacity was doubled by the suggestion and even construction of a second walk thru (the construction of the two stretching rooms is a relic of that walk thru plan), there were different ideas for what should be there, such as a boat ride or the back-to-back walk thru experiences, and that partially caused that delay. The work on the Pirates, the World's Fair, and New Tomorrowland had delayed the Mansion's completion in part and yet it gave WED the tools to finish the Haunted Mansion.

Rolly Crump was certainly disappointed when he learned in 1967 that the Haunted Mansion would not only exclude his Museum of the Weird at its exit, but it would require a conveyance for the majority of the attraction. After all, the Ops team at Disneyland urged WED between 1964 and 1966 to not design the Mansion as a walk thru and to instead consider a ride to accommodate the much-needed capacity. Similar pleas had caused the Pirates to evolve into a boat ride between 1961 and 1963 and by 1966, the prospects of a walk thru Haunted Mansion were becoming more and more endangered. Between 1965 and 1966, WED worked on the Omnimover ride system, which was planned for the Monsanto ride-exhibit in New Tomorrowland and had been suggested around the time for the Haunted Mansion. It was made definite that the Haunted Mansion would have an Omnimover ride system in 1967 and well, the rest is history. 

An Appreciation for Black History, Culture, and People

I understand that this site focuses on the fun, historical, and obscure, but I want to clarify that I believe that black lives matter and that police brutality is not acceptable. Though, my words may appear to be clinging onto the cause, which in return has been portrayed as a passing social media trend, despite BLM existing since about 2013, I do believe in racial justice and equality. Growing up, I was made aware of my own differences and I tried to learn all I could about other people, places, and cultures. I am appreciative and inspired by black culture and music. I made a video about a year or two ago about why black history matters. However, this is not about me. It's about an issue that I cannot stay silent on any platform about injustice. It's been suggested that an injustice anywhere constitutes an injustice everywhere and I firmly believe that.

I do wish that this enacts change for the better and that hopefully race relations will heal. I do not tolerate bigotry or abuse and will not allow it on this platform.

A WORD ABOUT HISTORICAL CONTEXT AND LEGITIMACY

On a similar note, I have maintained that historical examples of bigotry, intolerance, and stereotyping should be taught with the proper historical context. However, while society's prejudices have been seen as the norm of the era, it should be recognized that there was always a person or a group that opposed something that society condoned. It doesn't make it morally right, but historical context helps explain why certain things were seen as acceptable. At any rate, the thing that matters is that we don't excuse the atrocities, genocides, tragedies, and incidents of the past and we look towards solving the issues that affect our present and even future. In short, learning about the US Civil War requires an understanding of the various events pertinent to the issues of sectionalism and slavery. With this in mind, it is equally important to check the sources. I would be more inclined to read primary sources and accredited historical publications than a recruitment page for a neo-Confederate group. Revisionism is one of the mortal enemies of true historical inquiry. By that, I refer to the omission or denial of actual history as well as the fabrication, which is also a tricky notion. Basically, as a historian, you have a few duties. One is to be truthful and unrelenting in your search of the truth. Another would be to understand the context of everything pertaining to the truth, or at least the aspect of the truth you're investigating. The last one would be to tell the story as a record of the past.

I will be posting more often on this. I do have a number of posts that I worked on, but at this point, I am taking a small break due to the relevance of the aforementioned message that black people, culture, and history matters and I will never stray from that.

With that being said, I urge the study of black history and the belief that black lives matter.

WELCOME TO MY SITE

Welcome to my site. I am John and I am currently a history major at Arizona State University. I have designed exhibits for the various "Pop-Up" displays at my campus over the past three years and it has reinforced my resolve to participate in the theme park business, which brings up why this site even exists.

I chose the broad subject of tourist history and theme park history to showcase my knowledge, expertise, and experience with the themed entertainment industry as well as other related subjects. Basically, this is a history site, and it is relevant to my studies as a history major as well as someone in the themed entertainment industry. The purpose is very much in step with the purpose of theme parks, museums, and other related establishments: to inform, to entertain, and to inspire. With this in mind, I do have a keen insight into how all these factors come together and constitutes the big picture. While I am not allowed to divulge certain information at times, what should be remembered is that this site is dedicated to analyzing theme park history and design. Of course, I diverge from this time and time again to discuss matters related to politics and pop culture.

I hope you enjoy your time.