Tomorrowland '67 [Part 3]

[BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023]

Really cool article excerpted from ImagineeringDisney. Follow the link for LOTS more.

Tomorrowland '67 [Part 3]

Thursday, September 6, 2012 at 7:30AM Posted by Mitch

We continue our

Tomorrowland '67 series

and begin to focus on each individual Tomorrowland attraction. The first attraction on our list is none other than Walt Disney's esteemed Carousel of Progress.

Walt Disney had a large hand in the development of Carousel of Progress. He kindly shared a behind-the-scenes look at some of the development of the unique attraction in a broadcast called “Disneyland Goes to the World’s Fair”.

Either way, we see an excited and charming Walt Disney share an idea that had been evolving for years. It was an idea that dated back to the concept of Edison Square.

Edison Square’s “Harnessing the Lightning” Attraction

The idea of a family presenting inventions that enrich our daily lives began with Edison Square. Edison Square was to be a residential street and extension of Disneyland’s Main Street, U.S.A. but sadly never came to be.

Instead of sitting in a theater guests would have walked from scene to scene in sort of a museum-type setting. Starting on the south side of the cul-de-sac you would have walked counter-clockwise until exiting the attraction on the north side of the street.

The pavilion was divided into four main parts. The Carousel of Progress was the main attraction. The “Skydome Spectacular”, the “Medallion City” exhibit, and the “Nuclear Fusion Demonstration” were three post-shows found on the upper level of the pavilion.

Carousel of Progress at Disneyland

Walt Disney had the components of the stage show shipped to Disneyland to be a part of New Tomorrowland. G.E. continued their sponsorship. A round two-story building was constructed in Tomorrowland where the old Space Bar food stand and eating area previously stood.

At this point Disneyland goers had not been exposed to highly animated human Audio Animatronic figures for very long. Mr. Lincoln arrived less than a year earlier (Remember, Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln opened at Disneyland while the World’s Fair was still open for another three months– two Lincolns!). Pirates of the Caribbean with its many human figures had only been open for some three and a half months.

Animatronic “Father” and “Mother” and their family members hosted the seated audience. They brought their visitors through time from the late 1800s up to the late 1960s/early 1970s, which was considered “the present and/or near future”. They shared the latest technological advancements of each period. Naturally they referenced products of the attraction’s sponsor, G.E.

Act 4 showed the family living in Progress City. A painted backdrop of the radial city’s center towers was visible out the living room windows in the back portion of the stage. It was as if their “all-electric home” was positioned in one of the city’s outer residential areas.

The fifth rotation brought the audience to a moving speed ramp located directly in front the seating area, center stage. Guests were invited to “spring up out of your seats... through the doorway and up the moving ramp” where Act 5 awaited them. “On the second floor Mother and Father from our theater show will join you to tell you all about Progress City. So please keep moving. Don’t stand in the way of progress.”

The following two photos are from the World's Fair but they represent they Disneyland speedramp layout. Provided by The World's Fair Community.

Upper Level, Progress City Model

This is where those custom models and maps come in handy. Thanks to a fan who wishes to remain anonymous we have three rare architectural drawings of the upper level. These have been invaluable in determining the guest flow and in the creation of these images.

At the top of the ramp the walkway curved and divided into three platforms leading guests southward in a clockwise direction.

The opposite side of the upper level was not accessible to guests. Was it used for storage? Did G.E. have a lounge up there? Is that where the maintenance guys took naps? What a large area to not be utilized.

Act 5

Father and Mother hosted this Act 5 though audio dialogue only. The couple spoke of the city’s various features and spotlights shined down onto the model accordingly. Parts of the model were mechanically animated. Miniature cars, monorails, and carnival rides moved. (The remaining pieces of the model on display today in Magic Kingdom are not animated).

Somehow (consider it a miracle!) it still operates today and continues to be a nerd-favorite. The Progress City model was hacked into manageable pieces and also relocated to Magic Kingdom. Guests can see see a smaller portion of the model city while riding Magic Kingdom’s PeopleMover.

In a previous post specifically about the Progress City Model we shared just how much of the model was put on display at Magic Kingdom.

America Sings replaced Carousel of Progress at Disneyland.

Carousel of Progress Today

Although you cannot enjoy its sequel, you can still enjoy Carousel of Progress at Magic Kingdom’s Tomorrowland. Acts 1-3 are very similarly to those presented at the World’s Fair and at Disneyland.

Progress City Model Today

model suffers from lack of proper maintenance but nevertheless, it's still there. But please, no flash photography! It looks better under normal show lighting.

A comparison of Magic Kingdom's Carousel of Progress building from 70s and today.

http://www.imagineer...N=1346909224638

I even painted the laptop “Mother” is working on. She had been hitting it with her hand requiring some serious touchup work. I gave a couple of the “Rovers” some help. Of course I spent lots of time wondering around observing every detail, from the hand-painted backdrops to the various "G.E" markings to the animatronic birds on the tree branch. Of course I explored the backsides of each set.

http://www.imagineer...N=1346948878740

http://www.imagineer...N=1346909444401

What a delight it was to work with some of the same set pieces presented by Walt Disney to the world all those years ago.

Tomorrowland '67 [Part 1]

Tomorrowland '67 [Part 2]

Carousel of Progress Like You’ve Never Seen It

THEN AND NOW: Walt at Disneyland

EPCOT City Model [Part 1]

http://www.imagineer...-67-part-3.html

[Lil Lisa 53]

Cool website. I bookmarked that one. I'm going to have to spend some more time checking it out.

[DaveInTN 3,247]

That Progress City model has always fascinated me. If only I could travel back to a time when it could be viewed in its entirety. To imagine the intricate work that went into building it.

[BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023]

Cool website. I bookmarked that one. I'm going to have to spend some more time checking it out.

I love that site. That not only have really cool articles, they have access to some amazing old artwork and photos that I never see anywhere else.