Backlot theatre to be demolished

[marni1971]

Anyway... I only scanned a snippet of this Park map from Summer 1991. According to the maps, BatB was NEVER at the theatre off Hollywood Blvd. ________ Tracy was and so was the original show, "Hooray for Disney Stars" or something like that. But BatB was always at this location prior to Sunset Blvd opening. Even when ToT opened but Sunset Blvd was not yet open, BatB remained at this backlot location.

Close... BatB IS listed in my summer 1992 guidebook as at the original Theatre of the Stars on Hollywood. "Diamond Double Cross" played alternately with "Hollywood! Hollywood!" prior to this at the same location. To confirm it I`ve found a video of B&TB playing here too.

Interesting tidbit; for a short period, Here Come the Muppets AND MuppetVision 3D were both open.

 

[steve2wdw]

Hmm, I have this map, it shows Sunset Blvd being built. But the copyright on the Kodak add is for '93 on it, with most of the rides having '91 copyrights. Is it possible BatB showed at the original Theater of the Stars for a short while and moved when it was torn down to complete Sunset? I have a really good memory of seeing BatB at the original Theater of the stars.

The first place I saw B&tB (I believe early '91) was at the original TotS on Hollywood, before Sunset construction was even started. It must have moved to the Backlot during Sunset construction, then moved to it's present location.

 

[Rwall10279]

Yeah, I found two maps that look VERY similar except that one has ToT on it and one has Star Tours. The one with ToT shows BatB at its present location. You'll notice this map has Star Tours on it. This is the 1st map (from 1991) I have that shows BatB.

This could be fun and an excuse to organize my WDW park maps

Yeah, I have the one with Star Tours on the front. I seem to have lost my maps from before that one .

Looks like Marni saved me from going through my stacks of old photos though! lol, at least I know I'm not crazy now. I wonder how long it played there? It couldn't have been for long (the original TotS that is).

 

[kennyj29]

Everytime a new opening is started in a park, everyone always wishes its a coaster. I love coasters but I wish they could come up with something original and not a coaster. Something totally different.

 

[ImaYoyo]

Did some snooping and the rumor about it being rehabilitated to provide a venue for DCI, WGI was one of those false rumors that was planted by unknown parties. Thats all I have for now:zipit:

Nope, it's a venue for Festival Disney, what I had said was festival disney is SIMILAR to a DCI or WGI, but Disney's version. I think some folks got that confused with WILL BE for DCI/WGI. And this info has already been confirmed by K.S. and K.H. w/DYGP.

And it's not a rehab, it's a complete demolition and rebuild to an indoor theater. Confirmed 07/16 at 220 C.P. 3rd floor.

 

[CSUFSteve]

Close... BatB IS listed in my summer 1992 guidebook as at the original Theatre of the Stars on Hollywood. "Diamond Double Cross" played alternately with "Hollywood! Hollywood!" prior to this at the same location. To confirm it I`ve found a video of B&TB playing here too.

Interesting tidbit; for a short period, Here Come the Muppets AND MuppetVision 3D were both open.

Interesting. Now I'm really curious to go dig through my old maps. Summer 1992 you say?? What's the cover look like?

Believe it or not, I have only seen BatB twice. My only memories of it are at its present location.

Now you've got me looking over at the clock to see when it's time to go home, haha!!

 

[marni1971]

Interesting. Now I'm really curious to go dig through my old maps. Summer 1992 you say?? What's the cover look like?

Yep - it took a bit of finding. The cover has the 20th logo top left (Oct 91 to Oct 92), small Indy and large Star Tours pics, and is still a stapled book. Green Text on orange shadow. Disney ref 20965. Voyage of the Little Mermaid is open, hence my Summer 1992 date - though Mermaid opened Jan 92 so I`ll have to expand the guesstimate for B&TB at Hollywood to the first half of `92. Specific B&TB reference on page 8. Remind me and I`ll scan it when I have time.

BTW; you at EPCOT on the 1st I take it?? :wave:

 

[jt04]

Nope, it's a venue for Festival Disney, what I had said was festival disney is SIMILAR to a DCI or WGI, but Disney's version. I think some folks got that confused with WILL BE for DCI/WGI. And this info has already been confirmed by K.S. and K.H. w/DYGP.

And it's not a rehab, it's a complete demolition and rebuild to an indoor theater. Confirmed 07/16 at 220 C.P. 3rd floor.

It all makes sense now. Thanks. (Except that last sentence)

 

[CSUFSteve]

Yep - it took a bit of finding. The cover has the 20th logo top left (Oct 91 to Oct 92), small Indy and large Star Tours pics, and is still a stapled book. Green Text on orange shadow. Disney ref 20965. Voyage of the Little Mermaid is open, hence my Summer 1992 date - though Mermaid opened Jan 92 so I`ll have to expand the guesstimate for B&TB at Hollywood to the first half of `92. Specific B&TB reference on page 8. Remind me and I`ll scan it when I have time.

BTW; you at EPCOT on the 1st I take it?? :wave:

YES - I wouldn't be anywhere but Epcot on Oct 1!!!

So apparently I am not sure which year the guidebook I posted is from. I have Summer 1990, Summer 1991, both of which clearly show NO BatB show at all.

The one I posted is a guideMAP, looks to be nearly the same cover as yours (green lettering, orange shadow, VotLM, small Indy, large Star Tours, with BatB in the upper left corner) but no 20th logo. It has pics of Aladdin's Royal Caravan, references to Sorcerey in the Sky, SciFi, Mama Melrose, and EPCOT Center. It shows a construction crane where Sunset Blvd is, and shows that ToT is "opening Fall 1994". Also, SuperStar Television references "I Love Lucy", "Cheers", and "The Tonight Show". Muppets were already 4D. So this map, as I posted, clearly shows BatB in the Backlot location.

Fast forward to guideMAP from July 25- Aug, 1994. Sunset Blvd has opened, ToT has opened. Mickey Mania parade at MK is referenced, "Epcot 94", no more Sorcerey in the Sky, SuperStar includes "Home Improvement" and on the front cover, Star Tours is now the little graphic on upper left, ToT is the focal graphic; still green lettering on orange shadow. But now BatB is in its current location on Sunset Blvd.

So apparently, if BatB was only temporarily at Backlot, that's the only map I have.

Gosh, I apparently really need to keep my guidemap collection better organized. Can't believe I don't have anything from 1992!! I have a TON of maps from 2002 though, haha.

 

[flFigment]

I just wish they would bring the Hunchback show back.
It was an amazing show and was always full and still have no idea why it left

 

[GymLeaderPhil]

After looking at all of the older guidemaps I just realized that the Honey I Shrunk the Kids playground was still open. Sure does bring back some painful and hot memories sliding down an empty Kodak Film canister in 1990.

 

[CSUFSteve]

I just wish they would bring the Hunchback show back.
It was an amazing show and was always full and still have no idea why it left

I could never get into Florida's version of the show. Disneyland's was so completely immersive because it was a theatre in the round and they made such great use of the space! It was difficult to watch a traditional only-action-taking-place-is-in-front-of-you show.

I still resent the fact that they use Disneyland's Festival Arena for frickin' Corporate Picnics. Ugh. Just like it's annoying to know they'll soon be using Wonders of Life for that purpose as well (aside from F&WF)

 

[Blackie Pueblo]

I'm confused. What does the majority want when they tear down those buildings? Do you want more shows or more rides? I myself am a little torn. What I DO think is Disneys Hollywood Studios should stick to it's theme like the other parks do. DHS should have more to do with the making of movies, and, since they are changing the name, with Hollywood in general. I have no issue with creating more rides, as long as they are fun and theme based.

"To all who come to this happy place...welcome."
---Walter Elias Disney

 

[PKD]

I stand corrected; B&TB did indeed begin at TotS on Hollywood before moving to the Backlot sometime before summer 1993 :wave:

I saw it at the TotS in May of 92. Awww the old says of MGM studios *sigh*

 

[CaptainMichael]

I'm confused. What does the majority want when they tear down those buildings? Do you want more shows or more rides? I myself am a little torn. What I DO think is Disneys Hollywood Studios should stick to it's theme like the other parks do. DHS should have more to do with the making of movies, and, since they are changing the name, with Hollywood in general. I have no issue with creating more rides, as long as they are fun and theme based.

"To all who come to this happy place...welcome."
---Walter Elias Disney

Well, I can only speak for myself. I want something worthwhile back there, not just empty facades that look cool. The other night I walked back there and it felt to me like I was walking through an empty city, a ghost town if you will. There was no magic, no nothing. When I was on Star Tours, the guy next to me said, "We paid $70 for this?"

I want attractions; timeless, quality attractions. Things that divert traffic away from Sunset Blvd. I'd prefer actual rides over shows, but if they want to put in a show like Aladdin from Disneyland that'd be okay with me. I don't however, want another temporary, cheap fix that 2 years from now (being generous) will have just been a marketing induced fad [HSM].