Disneyland Postcards from the 50s-80s

[SuddenStorm]

Man, that would have made for an amazing thread!

I can only imagine the photos. She was older- so unless a younger family member helps her out I worry the photos she has will never be preserved- she needs to scan and upload them to a Google Account in case there's a fire or flood or something.

 

[mickEblu]

I did! Well, not the 50s, but I think my first childhood visit was in 1961. Retaining memories was a recent skill then, but my strongest recollections are of Mine Train Trough Nature's Wonderland (particularly Rainbow Caverns), The Submarine Voyage, and all of Fantasyland. I think I remember being fascinated by the flying saucers in Tomorrowland but I don't think I could ride.

Tomorrowland '67 brought my family back to DL, and that experience, Pirates and The Tiki Room stitched Disneyland into my fabric (though that fabric is frayed and unraveling with age).

My childhood at DL was the late 80s through the Mid 90s. Never thought I’d be nostalgic for the 90’s or 2000’s for that matter. Not just for DL but in general. I’ve realized as I get older the time period I get nostalgic for moves with it. Seems like I just need at least 10-15 years of separation to feel it. Anyway my childhood at DL was all about the West side of the park… and Captain EO. Which to you probably sounds like what it would sound like to me if someone says they’re nostalgic for Buzz Lightyear Astroblasters one day.

 

[Practical Pig]

Anyway my childhood at DL was all about the West side of the park… and Captain EO. Which to you probably sounds like what it would sound like to me if someone says they’re nostalgic for Buzz Lightyear Astroblasters one day.

With respect to you and everyone else nostalgic for Captain EO, you got that right!

I'm not sure why my 1961 trip didn't seem to leave an impression of Rivers of America on me, since that's part of the heart of DL of me. But then I grew up having no memory of one of my great-uncles only to learn as an adult that he was with us on that trip

 

[SuddenStorm]

and Captain EO. Which to you probably sounds like what it would sound like to me if someone says they’re nostalgic for Buzz Lightyear Astroblasters one day.

I mean Eo remains the best use of that theater since the '80s. It's one of those things where the replacements haven't been as good- so of course we're nostalgic for it.

I saw it once during it's return in like 2014. Wish I had gone more times.

There's no reason for them not to show it, the theater is just sitting empty now.

 

[mickEblu]

I mean Eo remains the best use of that theater since the '80s. It's one of those things where the replacements haven't been as good- so of course we're nostalgic for it.

I saw it once during it's return in like 2014. Wish I had gone more times.

There's no reason for them not to show it, the theater is just sitting empty now.

Well I’m nostalgic for it because it’s just one of the more vivid experiences from my early DL trips but yes I agree by far the best use of that theatre. And original reason for that theatre.

 

[Practical Pig]

I mean Eo remains the best use of that theater since the '80s. It's one of those things where the replacements haven't been as good- so of course we're nostalgic for it.

I saw it once during it's return in like 2014. Wish I had gone more times.

There's no reason for them not to show it, the theater is just sitting empty now.

I agree with all that. I was just older than Michael Jackson's demographic, and never saw the appeal. But I don't get why that theater is empty now when it could be helping absorb the crowds with minimal staff, and with plenty of Captain EO fans roaming the park.

 

[SuddenStorm]

I agree with all that. I was just older than Michael Jackson's demographic, and never saw the appeal. But I don't get why that theater is empty now when it could be helping absorb the crowds with minimal staff, and with plenty of Captain EO fans roaming the park.

Now that it's digital they don't even need a projectionist. Just one CM to let people into the theater and press play.

Though honestly if they don't bring it back I'm in favor of them bringing back the Space Place windows (back where Space Fastpass used to be) and turning that theater into covered seating. This would leave Pizza Planet open to bringing back an attraction there.

 

[Phroobar]

Now that it's digital they don't even need a projectionist. Just one CM to let people into the theater and press play.

Though honestly if they don't bring it back I'm in favor of them bringing back the Space Place windows (back where Space Fastpass used to be) and turning that theater into covered seating. This would leave Pizza Planet open to bringing back an attraction there.

Now you are talking. Better yet, remove the roof and put the Space Stage there for some adult live entertainment that Disneyland is missing.

 

[truecoat]

I always wanted to see it when MJ was at the height of popularity back in the day. I saw it for the first time when it returned and thought it was awful.

 

[mickEblu]

I always wanted to see it when MJ was at the height of popularity back in the day. I saw it for the first time when it returned and thought it was awful.

Yeah you had to see it in the 80s as a kid. Then it was the best thing ever.

 

[truecoat]

Yeah you had to see it in the 80s as a kid. Then it was the best thing ever.

Yeah, I think 20-year-old me would have liked it a bit better but I'm not sure.

 

[Phroobar]

I always wanted to see it when MJ was at the height of popularity back in the day. I saw it for the first time when it returned and thought it was awful.

It's a glorified 80s music video. They might as well show Thriller or Moonwalker. The better idea would be to show Flight of Passage but I don't think WoW needs the marketing push.

 

[PiratesMansion]

EO is absolutely a glorified music video, sure, but what a deliriously weird and fun one!

Did it belong in the parks in the 2010's? Probably not. But I always got a kick out of it, though a fair amount of the joy I got out of it was probably not in the way the original filmmakers intended.

But it was something else to do back when the Magic Eye Theater was treated as an actual attraction and not just another movie trailer showcase.

 

[SuddenStorm]

EO is absolutely a glorified music video, sure, but what a deliriously weird and fun one!

Did it belong in the parks in the 2010's? Probably not. But I always got a kick out of it, though a fair amount of the joy I got out of it was probably not in the way the original filmmakers intended.

But it was something else to do back when the Magic Eye Theater was treated as an actual attraction and not just another movie trailer showcase.

Disneyland is sorely lacking in slower paced, theater style attractions now.

Country Bears? Gone. America Sings? Gone. Eo? Gone. Tiki Room? Shortened.

These types of shows go a long way to widening the appeal of Disneyland, especially for people who don't want to ride roller coasters. They also enhance the richness and diversity of the park's offerings.

 

[Phroobar]

Disneyland is sorely lacking in slower paced, theater style attractions now.

Country Bears? Gone. America Sings? Gone. Eo? Gone. Tiki Room? Shortened.

These types of shows go a long way to widening the appeal of Disneyland, especially for people who don't want to ride roller coasters. They also enhance the richness and diversity of the park's offerings.

AA shows are a product of a bygone era. You don't even see them outside of Disneyland anymore. Rainforest Café is mostly gone and Chuck E Cheese shows barely even function anymore.

 

[Consumer]

AA shows are a product of a bygone era. You don't even see them outside of Disneyland anymore. Rainforest Café is mostly gone and Chuck E Cheese shows barely even function anymore.

I mostly lament the loss of Marc Davis' wonderful designs. Even with Splash Mountain, my greatest lament is the removal of the America Sings animatronics. Anything that takes away from Marc Davis' legacy on the parks is a loss, in my opinion.

 

[CaptinEO]

Bring back Captain EO!

 

[Phroobar]

Bring back Captain EO!

Let's not.

Let's have something brand new.

 

[CaptinEO]

Let's not.

Let's have something brand new.

Right now we have nothing.

 

[Phroobar]

Right now we have nothing.

You know, you come from nothing
You're going back to nothing
What have you lost? Nothing

Nothing will come from nothing, ya know what they say
Cheer up ya old bugga c'mon give us a grin