Strange question about SSE

TB4244

TB4244

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
A question has been bothering me for years about Spaceship Earth that I'd really like an answer to. Its regarding the figure of the kid that is selling the newspapers, you know, the one with his back to you yelling "Extra, extra, read all about it!"?

Does he have a face?

Technically they didn't need to provide one as you don't see it from the ride cars, so have his features been left weirdly blank?

I know its an odd question, but I'd love to know what he looks like from the other side. Does anyone know, or will it now creep everyone out for ever more?
 
DisneyJunkie

DisneyJunkie

Well-Known Member
Yes, he does have a face. Actually, he used to face out towards your SSE ride vehicles calling out to get a paper. Apparently they moved his location due to the fact that it wouldn't make much sense for him to be inside the building (and facing inside) shouting out to people within it to come get a paper. Facially, he just looks like an animatronic kid with plain features.

I think they moved him to the back of that scene around the same time they did the other changes like Judy Dench's narration and the interactive touch screen stuff. Prior to that, he was right in front facing you.
 
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epcotisbest

epcotisbest

Well-Known Member
TB4244 said:
A question has been bothering me for years about Spaceship Earth that I'd really like an answer to. Its regarding the figure of the kid that is selling the newspapers, you know, the one with his back to you yelling "Extra, extra, read all about it!"?

Does he have a face?

Technically they didn't need to provide one as you don't see it from the ride cars, so have his features been left weirdly blank?

I know its an odd question, but I'd love to know what he looks like from the other side. Does anyone know, or will it now creep everyone out for ever more?
Click to expand...
newspaper boy.jpg
 
TB4244

TB4244

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
grim-grinning_toast said:
HAHAHAH! I never used to think about that but now, it's all I'll think about.
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You're welcome, I pointed it out to a couple of other people and its freaking them out too ;)
Disneydreamer23 said:
No lie! I think this every time I ride!!! I am glad you asked this mystery question I have been wondering for years!
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I had to ask, it was really bugging me.
BrittanyEarnsHerEars said:
Actually, he is now turned around because his face now has a "scar" on it. It's really not as horrible looking as the word "scar" makes it sound, but that's the best way to describe it.
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So it's like a dirty smudge more than a physical scar?

Oh and thanks for the pics @epcotisbest and @Cmdr_Crimson
That helps!
 
DisneyJunkie

DisneyJunkie

Well-Known Member
BrittanyEarnsHerEars said:
Actually, he is now turned around because his face now has a "scar" on it. It's really not as horrible looking as the word "scar" makes it sound, but that's the best way to describe it.
Click to expand...

I heard that rumor too, but then a few CM friends of mine said that wasn't the case. They said it was more of a "well he shouldn't have faced the riders to begin with" thing.
 
BrittanyRose428

BrittanyRose428

Well-Known Member
DisneyJunkie said:
I heard that rumor too, but then a few CM friends of mine said that wasn't the case. They said it was more of a "well he shouldn't have faced the riders to begin with" thing.
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When I was a CM and I did the backstage tour there our guide said that was the case, as well as my roommate who works at SSE. When we saw his face on the tour it wasn't really horrible looking, it was more like a little smudge or discoloration thatI guess could have looked like a scar from a small distance.
 
Goofyernmost

Goofyernmost

Well-Known Member
TB4244 said:
A question has been bothering me for years about Spaceship Earth that I'd really like an answer to. Its regarding the figure of the kid that is selling the newspapers, you know, the one with his back to you yelling "Extra, extra, read all about it!"?

Does he have a face?

Technically they didn't need to provide one as you don't see it from the ride cars, so have his features been left weirdly blank?

I know its an odd question, but I'd love to know what he looks like from the other side. Does anyone know, or will it now creep everyone out for ever more?
Click to expand...
It has never been officially explained, but, even though for us it seems weird that he is facing the other way, one has to look at it as a depiction of real life. We are riding in a time machine. We are not visible to him, in the fantasy sense. To have him facing toward a non-existent group of people, on a non-existent train, selling newspapers to no one, never did make sense in the strict sense of detail. Now facing the street selling papers to people of his imaginary community is in keeping with theme and fantasy.

An argument has been made that something happened to the AA and it's face became distorted so they turned it around rather then fix it to save money. Logically, since they have a boatload of artist there that could recreate the face and are already on payroll, it would make no sense at all to move it, along with all it's mechanical components, to where it is now. Originally it was very, very close to the ride vehicles, so it was a significant move.
 
yedliW

yedliW

Well-Known Member
The thing that has always got me is whose garage is it? Is it Hewlett/Packard.. Jobs/Woz.. Gates/Allen, or is it meant to be a generic representation of all 3?

There is writing on the mailbox, but I can never read it.. the cars are moving to fast for the lighting for me to read it..
 
baloofigment14

baloofigment14

Well-Known Member
yedliW said:
The thing that has always got me is whose garage is it? Is it Hewlett/Packard.. Jobs/Woz.. Gates/Allen, or is it meant to be a generic representation of all 3?

There is writing on the mailbox, but I can never read it.. the cars are moving to fast for the lighting for me to read it..
Click to expand...
That's a good question. I'm not for sure, but based on the narration which says, "Young people with a passion for shaping the future put the power of the computer in everyone's hands", it sounds like it is meant to be everyone in general.
Full script here- http://www.wdwthemeparks.com/detail...eship-earth/spaceship-earth-script-judy-dench
 
yedliW

yedliW

Well-Known Member
That's kinda what i figured.. since they are so vague about it.. I posed this question on another board, and someone responded that I was basically stupid for thinking it could possibly be anyone besides Apple..
 
TB4244

TB4244

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
yedliW said:
The thing that has always got me is whose garage is it? Is it Hewlett/Packard.. Jobs/Woz.. Gates/Allen, or is it meant to be a generic representation of all 3?
Click to expand...
I've always assumed it was supposed to be a young Steve Jobs, but I suppose it could be anyone who was involved in the development in the early home computers etc?
 

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