BAH(on tv)

[kcnole]

When MGM first opened the tower was the icon of the park. I still remember all the advertisement when the park opened and everything focused on the tower as the icon. The problem is that guests didn't really identify with it. It was out of site for most of the day so Disney felt that the park really didn't have an identifiable icon to use. That's when the hat was decided upon.

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

Qft!

Whether it was a good choice or not (I never thought it was), the Earfful Tower was definitely the structure that was marketed as the park icon on opening day. Like it or not, whatever marketing chooses to make "the icon" becomes "the icon" to most people. That's the only reason the Hat is "the icon"...because it's placed next to CC, SSE and ToL on all the T-shirts and golf ball sets. Nobody really thinks it deserves that honor in its own right.

When MGM first opened the tower was the icon of the park. I still remember all the advertisement when the park opened and everything focused on the tower as the icon. The problem is that guests didn't really identify with it. It was out of site for most of the day so Disney felt that the park really didn't have an identifiable icon to use. That's when the hat was decided upon.

The public speaks.

 

[EpcotServo]

Not at home, and I won't be for a bit....I'll go looking soon. :lol: Maybe it was online, where I read about the Earful Tower.

I still disagree. The Theater is the "Castle", yes. I understand that. It's the WEENIE. It represents that part of the park, and draws you in, but is not a representation of the park itself. That's how I see it, anyway. Read it too, somewhere...It might have been by Kurtti.

Disagree with the "Filled with Icons" idea, too....I think you are confusing it with weenies.

HOW on earth does a WATER TOWER that you can only see from ONE part of the park or for less then five minutes on an ATTRACTION encapsulate the spirit, magic, majesty of the Entertainment Industry vs. the world's most famous Theater, paved literally with the hands and feet of the talent and stars that the entire industry is built on? It's not only emblematic of Hollywood at the grandeur of and the peak of it's power over the hearts of millions, it's also the most classic depiction of the everyday gateway into this very entertaining world of magic and make believe, THE THEATER. It works on EVERY LEVEL. There's NO COMPETITION in the field of Lead Icons for Studios, when there's LITERALLY a BUILDING IN THE CENTER OF THE PARK THAT REPRESENTS THE ENTIRE SPIRIT OF THE PARK. Yet, Holy Cow! Here we have a WATER TOWER built where practically NOBODY CAN SEE IT, and we're calling THAT the Icon because they decided it looked better on Napkins! Why don't we call the Archway the Icon, it's even more grand and you can see it for more places whydontcha?

And of course the park is filled with icons. Is Big Thunder Mountain not an Icon? What about the clock tower of Pirates of the Caribbean, the pyarmids of Imagination? all Iconic. A park needs to be filled with icons, and Studios has the most, hence this confusion, but I gurantee you the one true icon, in spirit, soul, vision, location, and knowledge is the Chinese Theater. They can put the hat or the tower or whatever, but the Icon of Studios is/has/always will be the Theater.

I am the "Studios Guy" for pete's sake...You think someone would believe me...

:lol:

Anyways, Walt Disney Imagineering designed an Icon for Studios. The Chinese Theater. Marketing has never liked the Theater. (This part, I know as Fact.) I believe in the park as it is, not so much how it's marketed or dictated, and I'm sticking with WDI and the spirit of the park. Chinese Theater is the icon. Maybe not on Hats, glasses, or napkins...but it's the icon the park's built around, physically and spiritually.

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

HOW on earth does a WATER TOWER that you can only see from ONE part of the park or for less then five minutes on an ATTRACTION encapsulate the spirit, magic, majesty of the Entertainment Industry vs. the world's most famous Theater, paved literally with the hands and feet of the talent and stars that the entire industry is built on? It's not only emblematic of Hollywood at the grandeur of and the peak of it's power over the hearts of millions, it's also the most classic depiction of the everyday gateway into this very entertaining world of magic and make believe, THE THEATER. It works on EVERY LEVEL. There's NO COMPETITION in the field of Lead Icons for Studios, when there's LITERALLY a BUILDING IN THE CENTER OF THE PARK THAT REPRESENTS THE ENTIRE SPIRIT OF THE PARK. Yet, Holy Cow! Here we have a WATER TOWER built where practically NOBODY CAN SEE IT, and we're calling THAT the Icon because they decided it looked better on Napkins! Why don't we call the Archway the Icon, it's even more grand and you can see it for more places whydontcha?

And of course the park is filled with icons. Is Big Thunder Mountain not an Icon? What about the clock tower of Pirates of the Caribbean, the pyarmids of Imagination? all Iconic. A park needs to be filled with icons, and Studios has the most, hence this confusion, but I gurantee you the one true icon, in spirit, soul, vision, location, and knowledge is the Chinese Theater. They can put the hat or the tower or whatever, but the Icon of Studios is/has/always will be the Theater.

I am the "Studios Guy" for pete's sake...You think someone would believe me...

:lol:

Anyways, Walt Disney Imagineering designed an Icon for Studios. The Chinese Theater. Marketing has never liked the Theater. (This part, I know as Fact.) I believe in the park as it is, not so much how it's marketed or dictated, and I'm sticking with WDI and the spirit of the park. Chinese Theater is the icon. Maybe not on Hats, glasses, or napkins...but it's the icon the park's built around, physically and spiritually.

:dazzle::lookaroun


*backs away*

You seriously just hit on one of the major issues that I have with DHS. These problems are not answerable because WDI neglected to think about that. As you said, the Theater does not work in Marketing. Which it doesn't. It might be iconic in the park, and easy to recognize, but standing on it's own? You think about the one in the REAL Hollywood. Not DHS's. That's a problem...The ICON needed to be unique...and a Earful Tower is more unique than a copied facade from 6925 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood. At least it is OUTSIDE the park. In? It's obviously the theater...which makes it a weenie.

I have no idea how The Earful Tower is supposed to represent all that you mentioned. Yet, it does. Or did.

Personally, I'm fine with the ET being the icon. I like it.

 

[EpcotServo]

Personally, I'm fine with the ET being the icon. I like it.

I like the Earful Tower too. I love it. It's a great icon...for the Backlot.

It just ain't the Main Icon. Maybe a close third between Tower of Terror, because that one will always be the one people think about it always anyways.
:lol:

Personally it reminds me of Tokyo DisneySea. Mt. Prometheus isn't technically the icon, the Aquasphere (The name eludes me at the moment.) is the emblematic and designed icon, and actually represents the theme, a Volcano, kind of doesn't...But Mt. Prometheus is clearly the icon right? Not to mention you have Tower of Terror, the Columbia, the Temple of the Crystal Skull, The Fortress, all big iconic structures riddling the skyline. Kind of like Studios on a smaller scale, only we built a hat in front of our Mt. Prometheus and our Aquasphere is taller but just as easily passed by.

:lol:

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

I like the Earful Tower too. I love it. It's a great icon...for the Backlot.

It just ain't the Main Icon. Maybe a close third between Tower of Terror, because that one will always be the one people think about it always anyways.
:lol:

I really doubt that people think TOT when you say Studios...icon wise. Attraction wise, no doubt.

 

[EpcotServo]

I really doubt that people think TOT when you say Studios...icon wise. Attraction wise, no doubt.

Spend more time on the bus or water taxi...People see Tower first and think "Studios" before any other icon gets a chance.
:lol:

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

Spend more time on the bus or water taxi...People see Tower first and think "Studios" before any other icon gets a chance.
:lol:

Using that logic, I can see the Swan and Dolphin from a overpass on I-4. Should I then think it's the icon for WDW, now?:hammer:

 

[_Scar]

I get all excited when I see S&D and it's the only obvious thing that tells you that you're in WDW when entering besides the mickey pole and street signs....

but I think this is the WDW icon since it's pretty special to me ...

 

[C&D]

There was another thread not to long ago addressing the Hat; most didn't mind it too much, but most thought the location poor.

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

I get all excited when I see S&D and it's the only obvious thing that tells you that you're in WDW when entering besides the mickey pole and street signs....

but I think this is the WDW icon since it's pretty special to me ...

:ROFLOL::ROFLOL::sohappy::sohappy:


I love that sign! SO the icon.:lookaroun:lol:

 

[kcnole]

The Icon is whatever Disney chooses to use as the marketing icon for the park, and at opening it was the tower. Now it may not have been the best choice. I agree with you that the theater is fantastic, but it wasn't what they decided to be the icon for use on logos. That was the tower.

You're right though that many people never gravitated to it like the other two icons at the time in the castle and SSE. Maybe because it wasn't also the weenie of the park, maybe because it was just a water tower. Since the public never really gravitated to it they needed something else.

For whatever reason, whether it be legal or not, they never wanted to use the theater as the icon of the park. WDI may have loved that idea, personally I love that idea, but the organization went another direction and decided to cover up the theater and create a new icon in the process with the hat.

 

[Wilt Dasney]

I think Evan makes a good point that the Chinese Theatre has problems as an icon, in that it's a literal recreation of a place that exists in the real world. It'd be like opening Disney's France Adventure and using the Eiffel Tower as the icon. There's nothing uniquely Disney about it.

I'm personally of the opinion that Studios has several iconic structures (Earfful Tower, Chinese theatre, Hat, ToT, and yes, even the Mickey Crossroads globe), but no Undisputed Central Icon® like the other parks.

However, from a marketing standpoint, it's clearly the Hat, before which it was clearly the water tower.

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

I think Evan makes a good point that the Chinese Theatre has problems as an icon, in that it's a literal recreation of a place that exists in the real world. It'd be like opening Disney's France Adventure and using the Eiffel Tower as the icon. There's nothing uniquely Disney about it.

I'm personally of the opinion that Studios has several iconic structures (Earfful Tower, Chinese theatre, Hat, ToT, and yes, even the Mickey Crossroads globe), but no Undisputed Central Icon® like the other parks.

However, from a marketing standpoint, it's clearly the Hat, before which it was clearly the water tower.

Thanks, and agreed. The same can be said about all of the parks.:wave:

 

[_Scar]

to quote a past thread of mine D)...

Here's my [lousy] drawing/photoshopping of my idea of the ideal Sorcerer's Hat in Disney's Hollywood Studios.

First off, the hat is now laying on the ground flat with no Mickey body limbs in sight. Secondly, I wrapped a film strip around the hat extending from a distant reel (not proportional [perspective]). Also the Tinkerbell at the top signifying one of Disney movie's top characters. Below Tink's feet is the last bit of film that eventually is small enough to seem like Tink is leading it and blending in with it. Tink also is meant to have a trail of pixie dust (LEDs) at night... but more of that later. There are 4 movie cameras positioned around the icon. Two shone above, and two not shown (time restraints on my end). One missing is on top of the film reel, and the other is on a camera cart with Walt looking being in the camera man seat. The camera's main objective is to project images onto the surface of the film strip...

This was probably my inspiration for drawing these because I always loved to imagine what it would be like walking into DHS and seeing clips of classic Disney movies playing. The idea and process is pretty self explanatory. The cameras (which are larger to be out of reach of guests) hold HD projectors to screen the clips.

Some other ideas for the hat-​

• Showing live Fantasmic/American Idol Experience​
• Playing Twilight Zone at night that somehow connects to the two icons​
• Each camera could have a different Studios character manning each (Kermit, Mickey, Woody) or even famous Disney directors & Lucas (Lucas, Laseter, and Burton)​
• Play 1930's Mickey, Goofy, Pluto, and Donald cartoons​

So, what are some of YOUR ideas?!​

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

^ Sorry, but but needs to go. :lol:It's WAY overstayed it's welcome....but this would have made it a slightly easier pill to swallow.

 

[Studios Fan]

My main problem with the hat is that it destroys the sightlines of the Chinese Theater. I wouldn't mind the theater or the tower (earful or terror) to be the main icon.

 

[Little Green Men]

Numerous places list the Earful Tower as the original icon.

http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/guides/mgm/st-overview.htm

"Originally, the Earffel Tower was the park's icon, only to be outdone by yet another oversized hat."

http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WMXJ3

"After over 10 years as the icon for Disney/MGM Studios, Earful Tower was replaced by the Sorcerer Mickey hat within the park."

http://forums.tannerworld.com/showthread.php?t=21039

"The park icon at the time was the Earful Towerhttp://forums.tannerworld.com/showthread.php?t=9733, a water tower with mouse ears."

http://en.allexperts.com/e/e/ea/earful_tower.htm

"The original Earful Tower still stands at Disney-MGM Studios at Walt Disney World in Florida. The tower used to be the park's icon, but in 2001 The Sorcerer's Hat was built and became the icon."

[FONT='Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] http://www.thisdayindisneyhistory.com/WorldOfDisneyParks.html

"The park's original icon was the Earful Tower, but today the park is represented by The Sorcerer's Hat"[/FONT]

And a picture with all park icons on it:

http://www.disneyformosavacation.com/disney_logos.jpg

 

[krankenstein]

At this point, I just want the gawd awfulness of it banished to Yesterland. :dazzle:

 

[Exprcoofto]

HOW on earth does a WATER TOWER that you can only see from ONE part of the park or for less then five minutes on an ATTRACTION encapsulate the spirit, magic, majesty of the Entertainment Industry vs. the world's most famous Theater, paved literally with the hands and feet of the talent and stars that the entire industry is built on? It's not only emblematic of Hollywood at the grandeur of and the peak of it's power over the hearts of millions, it's also the most classic depiction of the everyday gateway into this very entertaining world of magic and make believe, THE THEATER. It works on EVERY LEVEL. There's NO COMPETITION in the field of Lead Icons for Studios, when there's LITERALLY a BUILDING IN THE CENTER OF THE PARK THAT REPRESENTS THE ENTIRE SPIRIT OF THE PARK. Yet, Holy Cow! Here we have a WATER TOWER built where practically NOBODY CAN SEE IT, and we're calling THAT the Icon because they decided it looked better on Napkins! Why don't we call the Archway the Icon, it's even more grand and you can see it for more places whydontcha?

And of course the park is filled with icons. Is Big Thunder Mountain not an Icon? What about the clock tower of Pirates of the Caribbean, the pyarmids of Imagination? all Iconic. A park needs to be filled with icons, and Studios has the most, hence this confusion, but I gurantee you the one true icon, in spirit, soul, vision, location, and knowledge is the Chinese Theater. They can put the hat or the tower or whatever, but the Icon of Studios is/has/always will be the Theater.

I am the "Studios Guy" for pete's sake...You think someone would believe me...

:lol:

Anyways, Walt Disney Imagineering designed an Icon for Studios. The Chinese Theater. Marketing has never liked the Theater. (This part, I know as Fact.) I believe in the park as it is, not so much how it's marketed or dictated, and I'm sticking with WDI and the spirit of the park. Chinese Theater is the icon. Maybe not on Hats, glasses, or napkins...but it's the icon the park's built around, physically and spiritually.

This is exactly how I feel, and you put that all very well. Forget merchandise, the theater represents the park as a whole.

^ Sorry, but but needs to go. :lol:It's WAY overstayed it's welcome....but this would have made it a slightly easier pill to swallow.

The hat will never be removed as the icon, but its location might. While its over stayed its welcome, now a days people see and remember that as the icon.