Where's Darkbeer1?

TP2000

TP2000

Well-Known Member
Phroobar said:
I'm in complete shock. It's been a year and we didn't know. I'm so sorry to hear of his passing.
Click to expand...

I know, that struck me too. I knew he had been absent from the boards obviously, but I'm concerned it took a year for us to find out he had passed on. I read the bio on that coaster fan website, and his widow hosted what sounds like a lovely celebration of life for him, and I'm sorry we didn't know.

Which makes me think about how we might set up a notification system for online communities like this, where many of us like Darkbeer have been known for decades. I can think of another half dozen folks here whose names I've seen on various message boards for 25+ years now. Many of us are not getting younger, and fast.

As for me, I'm going to talk to the nice folks at Goodyear to see if they'd agree to send the blimp over Disneyland when I pass on with the blimp's big message board just flashing "He's Dead." ;)

But look at the time, it just hit 7 o'clock and I need to go make tonight's cocktail and salute Darkbeer! Cheers, my friend! 😇🍸
 
SuddenStorm

SuddenStorm

Well-Known Member
This is really sad news- I genuinely enjoyed his contributions to the forum as well as anecdotes he shared via PM's with me.

His story was also incredible- he battled health issues for years but didn't let that stop him, even completing various race events and remained active with the City of Anaheim.

I'm honored that I was able to meet him and his wife in person back in 2020- he was at the resort the same day I was so I messaged him and was able to say hi. We chatted for about 30 minutes- he and his wife were delightful to chat with.

I know he had various park photo albums he took during the 2000's online. I am going to go through and try to preserve as much of his online contribution as possible, if only so his legacy can live on with future generations of park fans.
 
FerretAfros

FerretAfros

Well-Known Member
I'm sad to hear this, and that it took us so long to find out. Between learning of Darkbeer's passing and Al Lutz's passing earlier this week (which only seemed to get discussed on the WDW side of the board: https://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/the-passing-of-al-lutz.984001/ ) it truly seems like the end of an era for the Disneyland fandom (and amusement parks in general).

For those who weren't active at the time, Darkbeer and Al Lutz were especially important in the mid-00's, particularly during the lead-up to the 50th. Prior to the rise of social media, blogs, and all the really niche corners of the internet, these two led the way in shaping the conversations around the parks. Al had great sources within the company giving short- and long-term news, while also freely criticizing elements that were not up to standard. Darkbeer shared hundreds of photographs of the goings-on in on a regular basis on, first on the old Epson photo site and later on his Smugmug site, during an era when simply sharing that much data was a large undertaking of its own.

It was a rocky time for Disneyland, coming out of the slashed maintenance budgets and safety issues of the Pressler era with an unknown future ahead. Darkbeer's near-daily photos captured the evolving state of the park, at a time when nearly every single facade was refurbished within about 9 months; it was a huge undertaking that he took in stride and helped put him on the map. People frequently say they want a 50th-style overhaul of a park; that this approach became so widely known (and remembered) is thanks to him.

Both of these guys were instrumental not only in shaping the way that we talk about the parks, but also had impacts on how the parks are operated. I remember a specific instance when the Mark Twain was closed for several weeks for refurbishment, only to return with much of the rotting wood on the decks and railings still in place; Darkbeer was there to take photos of it, and within a few days, it was back under unplanned refurbishment (much shorter the second time) in which those issues were mysteriously fixed. Al's commentary frequently tweaked the ways that things operated, smoothing out issues for cast and guests alike.

For folks who weren't around then, it's difficult to overstate how widespread Al and Darkbeer's work was. Before widespread social media, they were the go-to sources for news about the parks; with few other options for meaningful news, they were really able to control the narrative and focus an unflinching eye on what was happening at the parks. Al's Tuesday column was awaited and discussed with regularity, both on the handful of online forums at the time, and in more mainstream places like the OC Register and LA Times. This was before the big crackdown on leaks in the company, so more often than not he was breaking meaningful news and analyzing it long before Disney had planned to make it public. (Based on the timing, content, and leanings of many of the WDI-related stories, I've long suspected - but never confirmed - that Tony Baxter himself was one of Al's primary sources)

Their work directly led to the creation of the Disney Parks Blog and the big parks news presentations at the D23 Expo, as a way for the company to get out ahead of the fan sites and control the narrative. While those have both devolved into mostly meaningless fluff in the last 5-10 years, they continue to shape the way that the company interacts with its customers and shares big announcements.

The cottage industry of mommy blogs of the late 00/early 10's and the modern Disney influencer culture (such as it is) all have their roots in Al and Darkbeer's work. With the rise of social media and overall increase in online content, viewership and news sources both became more fractured, making it far more difficult to reach a broad audience. However, Disney's short leash on their 'official' influencers (as highlighted in that recent Starcruiser video) is a direct result of the company's reaction to Al and Darkbeer's work, still in place some 2 decades later.

While I don't think I ever met either of them in person, I certainly read enough of Al's work and interacted with Darkbeer on the forums enough to feel like I knew them; Darkbeer in particular felt like a familiar face to me, after decades of chatting about various things in the parks, city government, and beyond. For those who are newer to the online parks fandom, it's really hard to understate how big their impact has been both on the way that the parks are operated and the way that we talk about them. It's tough to learn of both of their passings so close together. Following in the spirit of Al's weekly columns, it's only fitting to raise a warm beverage and breakfast pastry to them!
 
Phroobar

Phroobar

Well-Known Member
FerretAfros said:
I'm sad to hear this, and that it took us so long to find out. Between learning of Darkbeer's passing and Al Lutz's passing earlier this week (which only seemed to get discussed on the WDW side of the board: https://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/the-passing-of-al-lutz.984001/ ) it truly seems like the end of an era for the Disneyland fandom (and amusement parks in general).

For those who weren't active at the time, Darkbeer and Al Lutz were especially important in the mid-00's, particularly during the lead-up to the 50th. Prior to the rise of social media, blogs, and all the really niche corners of the internet, these two led the way in shaping the conversations around the parks. Al had great sources within the company giving short- and long-term news, while also freely criticizing elements that were not up to standard. Darkbeer shared hundreds of photographs of the goings-on in on a regular basis on, first on the old Epson photo site and later on his Smugmug site, during an era when simply sharing that much data was a large undertaking of its own.

It was a rocky time for Disneyland, coming out of the slashed maintenance budgets and safety issues of the Pressler era with an unknown future ahead. Darkbeer's near-daily photos captured the evolving state of the park, at a time when nearly every single facade was refurbished within about 9 months; it was a huge undertaking that he took in stride and helped put him on the map. People frequently say they want a 50th-style overhaul of a park; that this approach became so widely known (and remembered) is thanks to him.

Both of these guys were instrumental not only in shaping the way that we talk about the parks, but also had impacts on how the parks are operated. I remember a specific instance when the Mark Twain was closed for several weeks for refurbishment, only to return with much of the rotting wood on the decks and railings still in place; Darkbeer was there to take photos of it, and within a few days, it was back under unplanned refurbishment (much shorter the second time) in which those issues were mysteriously fixed. Al's commentary frequently tweaked the ways that things operated, smoothing out issues for cast and guests alike.

For folks who weren't around then, it's difficult to overstate how widespread Al and Darkbeer's work was. Before widespread social media, they were the go-to sources for news about the parks; with few other options for meaningful news, they were really able to control the narrative and focus an unflinching eye on what was happening at the parks. Al's Tuesday column was awaited and discussed with regularity, both on the handful of online forums at the time, and in more mainstream places like the OC Register and LA Times. This was before the big crackdown on leaks in the company, so more often than not he was breaking meaningful news and analyzing it long before Disney had planned to make it public. (Based on the timing, content, and leanings of many of the WDI-related stories, I've long suspected - but never confirmed - that Tony Baxter himself was one of Al's primary sources)

Their work directly led to the creation of the Disney Parks Blog and the big parks news presentations at the D23 Expo, as a way for the company to get out ahead of the fan sites and control the narrative. While those have both devolved into mostly meaningless fluff in the last 5-10 years, they continue to shape the way that the company interacts with its customers and shares big announcements.

The cottage industry of mommy blogs of the late 00/early 10's and the modern Disney influencer culture (such as it is) all have their roots in Al and Darkbeer's work. With the rise of social media and overall increase in online content, viewership and news sources both became more fractured, making it far more difficult to reach a broad audience. However, Disney's short leash on their 'official' influencers (as highlighted in that recent Starcruiser video) is a direct result of the company's reaction to Al and Darkbeer's work, still in place some 2 decades later.

While I don't think I ever met either of them in person, I certainly read enough of Al's work and interacted with Darkbeer on the forums enough to feel like I knew them; Darkbeer in particular felt like a familiar face to me, after decades of chatting about various things in the parks, city government, and beyond. For those who are newer to the online parks fandom, it's really hard to understate how big their impact has been both on the way that the parks are operated and the way that we talk about them. It's tough to learn of both of their passings so close together. Following in the spirit of Al's weekly columns, it's only fitting to raise a warm beverage and breakfast pastry to them!
Click to expand...
There will never be another couple of people like Al Lutz and Darkbeer. We could really use someone like them again to cut threw the online crap and deliver real news. Disney can get away with pretty much anything (TBA) and be praised for mediocracy. When they were around, it kept TDA on top of things. Now the only thing that will wake TDA up will be a guest death. I fear history is repeating itself and there is no one at the watchtower.
 
smooch

smooch

Well-Known Member
Thank you for this update. Last week during work I was on here, thought of Darkbeer1, and tried to search his profile or anything online for updates, fearing something with his health battles. I didn't know him much personally on here, only a few interactions, but he always seemed so kind and informative and just genuine. Always got happy seeing a Darkbeer1 post. I am really sad to hear this happened last year, but it sounds beautiful they had people meet up at Knott's before and ride Silver Bullet in his memory. Rest in peace, and well wishes to his friends, family, and anyone in his life.
 
M

MoonRakerSCM

Well-Known Member
Very sorry to read this. I saw him once at the parks and we had some great conversations on here a while back. He's off to a place with a better Disney company.
 
TP2000

TP2000

Well-Known Member
FerretAfros said:
I'm sad to hear this, and that it took us so long to find out. Between learning of Darkbeer's passing and Al Lutz's passing earlier this week (which only seemed to get discussed on the WDW side of the board: https://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/the-passing-of-al-lutz.984001/ ) it truly seems like the end of an era for the Disneyland fandom (and amusement parks in general).

For those who weren't active at the time, Darkbeer and Al Lutz were especially important in the mid-00's, particularly during the lead-up to the 50th. Prior to the rise of social media, blogs, and all the really niche corners of the internet, these two led the way in shaping the conversations around the parks. Al had great sources within the company giving short- and long-term news, while also freely criticizing elements that were not up to standard. Darkbeer shared hundreds of photographs of the goings-on in on a regular basis on, first on the old Epson photo site and later on his Smugmug site, during an era when simply sharing that much data was a large undertaking of its own.

It was a rocky time for Disneyland, coming out of the slashed maintenance budgets and safety issues of the Pressler era with an unknown future ahead. Darkbeer's near-daily photos captured the evolving state of the park, at a time when nearly every single facade was refurbished within about 9 months; it was a huge undertaking that he took in stride and helped put him on the map. People frequently say they want a 50th-style overhaul of a park; that this approach became so widely known (and remembered) is thanks to him.

Both of these guys were instrumental not only in shaping the way that we talk about the parks, but also had impacts on how the parks are operated. I remember a specific instance when the Mark Twain was closed for several weeks for refurbishment, only to return with much of the rotting wood on the decks and railings still in place; Darkbeer was there to take photos of it, and within a few days, it was back under unplanned refurbishment (much shorter the second time) in which those issues were mysteriously fixed. Al's commentary frequently tweaked the ways that things operated, smoothing out issues for cast and guests alike.

For folks who weren't around then, it's difficult to overstate how widespread Al and Darkbeer's work was. Before widespread social media, they were the go-to sources for news about the parks; with few other options for meaningful news, they were really able to control the narrative and focus an unflinching eye on what was happening at the parks. Al's Tuesday column was awaited and discussed with regularity, both on the handful of online forums at the time, and in more mainstream places like the OC Register and LA Times. This was before the big crackdown on leaks in the company, so more often than not he was breaking meaningful news and analyzing it long before Disney had planned to make it public. (Based on the timing, content, and leanings of many of the WDI-related stories, I've long suspected - but never confirmed - that Tony Baxter himself was one of Al's primary sources)

Their work directly led to the creation of the Disney Parks Blog and the big parks news presentations at the D23 Expo, as a way for the company to get out ahead of the fan sites and control the narrative. While those have both devolved into mostly meaningless fluff in the last 5-10 years, they continue to shape the way that the company interacts with its customers and shares big announcements.

The cottage industry of mommy blogs of the late 00/early 10's and the modern Disney influencer culture (such as it is) all have their roots in Al and Darkbeer's work. With the rise of social media and overall increase in online content, viewership and news sources both became more fractured, making it far more difficult to reach a broad audience. However, Disney's short leash on their 'official' influencers (as highlighted in that recent Starcruiser video) is a direct result of the company's reaction to Al and Darkbeer's work, still in place some 2 decades later.

While I don't think I ever met either of them in person, I certainly read enough of Al's work and interacted with Darkbeer on the forums enough to feel like I knew them; Darkbeer in particular felt like a familiar face to me, after decades of chatting about various things in the parks, city government, and beyond. For those who are newer to the online parks fandom, it's really hard to understate how big their impact has been both on the way that the parks are operated and the way that we talk about them. It's tough to learn of both of their passings so close together. Following in the spirit of Al's weekly columns, it's only fitting to raise a warm beverage and breakfast pastry to them!
Click to expand...

Beautifully said. Just beautiful. Thank you old friend! (We've never met in person, but your screen name is so gosh darned funny that I've remembered it, and all your spot-on posts and instinct, for decades.)

Anyone under age 30 who is wondering what all the fuss is about, go read that brilliantly composed and informative post from @FerretAfros above. I know it's more than two sentences long and doesn't come with a TikTok dance craze to learn, but just read it and digest it. You'll be a smarter Disneyland fan for it. And when you watch the upcoming Burbank execs do their dog and pony show at D23 this August, you'll have a much better point of reference to filter all that crap through. 🧐
 
mickEblu

mickEblu

Well-Known Member
TP2000 said:
I know, that struck me too. I knew he had been absent from the boards obviously, but I'm concerned it took a year for us to find out he had passed on. I read the bio on that coaster fan website, and his widow hosted what sounds like a lovely celebration of life for him, and I'm sorry we didn't know.

Which makes me think about how we might set up a notification system for online communities like this, where many of us like Darkbeer have been known for decades. I can think of another half dozen folks here whose names I've seen on various message boards for 25+ years now. Many of us are not getting younger, and fast.

As for me, I'm going to talk to the nice folks at Goodyear to see if they'd agree to send the blimp over Disneyland when I pass on with the blimp's big message board just flashing "He's Dead." ;)

But look at the time, it just hit 7 o'clock and I need to go make tonight's cocktail and salute Darkbeer! Cheers, my friend! 😇🍸
Click to expand...

LOL @ the Goodyear blimp approach.

My mind went to the same two places yours did when I first heard the sad news. July 18th and how can we set up a notification system for situations like this. Makes you wonder how often this happens where a member just disappears. In Darkbeers case however, I thought maybe his wife would have notified people (even us on forums like this) considering he was such a presence in the theme park world and on sites like this.

Cheers to Darkbeer! You will be missed. I was late to the fan community (2013 Michechat / 2014 WDW Magic) so I missed your hey day but Ive heard the stories and had the chance to enjoy your posts here for a while. May you rest in peace. I'll be thinking of you on July 18th.
 
Phroobar

Phroobar

Well-Known Member
He was a pleasant man too. He would give you the facts (that he could) and not act like he knew everything. He treated everyone with kindness, respect and never talked down to us. He didn't care if you didn't give him "likes" or agreed with him. His job was to inform the community. He is someone we all should try to behave like around here.
 

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