tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440013033477237104.post6493369151140624071..comments2024-03-18T04:26:52.991-07:00Comments on Meet The World: Olympic Spirit At Disneyland - 1980's (Mega Post!)TokyoMagic!http://www.blogger.com/profile/16340756514811789233noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440013033477237104.post-65051827813637895152018-03-22T16:51:59.923-07:002018-03-22T16:51:59.923-07:00Hi WaltsMusic. I think we have all tossed things ...Hi WaltsMusic. I think we have all tossed things out that we later regretted getting rid of. I am just glad that you have some kind of record of the American Gazette Parade....and America Sings too. I hope you don't mind that I included your video in my post. I just checked out your blog and really like what you have posted so far. I'm going to add you to my "blog list!"TokyoMagic!https://www.blogger.com/profile/16340756514811789233noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440013033477237104.post-23060529463020372362018-03-22T13:26:36.183-07:002018-03-22T13:26:36.183-07:00Hi TM, first time poster here. The youtube video w...Hi TM, first time poster here. The youtube video was done by me. Taken originally with my old Sony Betacam on a trip to the park when I was stationed at Naval Hospital San Diego. Unfortunately I transferred the beta film to VHS and stored for years. Wish I would have kept the beta, it would have been much better quality. At least i kept most of the parade intact. I once had the entire America Sings on beta and my wife convinced me to edit it down when we transferred to VHS. Oh the horror! WaltsMusichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18265966987358023193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440013033477237104.post-86885091200304178622018-03-02T12:57:34.556-08:002018-03-02T12:57:34.556-08:00Disney Dudebro, I'm not a very big fan of the ...Disney Dudebro, I'm not a very big fan of the Olympics either. I only watched a smidgen of the opening ceremony for the Winter Olympics last month, and I didn't watch any of the events. The last time I had any interest in the Winter Olympics was back in 1994, when Nancy Kerrigan and Tonya Harding were battling it out on the ice!TokyoMagic!https://www.blogger.com/profile/16340756514811789233noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440013033477237104.post-2172814608392358852018-03-02T08:58:44.953-08:002018-03-02T08:58:44.953-08:00Can't say I'm a big fan of the Olympics, b...Can't say I'm a big fan of the Olympics, but any excuse for Disney to get patriotic is a good one for me. Nice blog post! ;)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440013033477237104.post-13839209789667908052018-02-17T03:48:22.161-08:002018-02-17T03:48:22.161-08:00Chuck, I have three different versions of TSI maps...Chuck, I have three different versions of TSI maps that I picked up during three different visits to the park. On one version the secret escape tunnel is shown and on the other two versions, it has been removed. The map showing the tunnel is coded "D-776 R-2" and the other two have "D-776 R-3" and D-776 R-4" printed on them and the tunnel has been removed from both of them. I'm not completely sure how to read the codes. I'm assuming the "R" stands for "Revised" or "Revision." I could have sworn that I got the maps during different visits to the park in 1976, but I could be remembering the dates incorrectly after all these years. I do remember going into Fort Wilderness and being surprised to see the door closed with a padlock on it and the sign above the door removed. We immediately went to the tunnel's exit down along the shore and found that it had been "covered over" with faux rockwork. Maybe that was during a 1977 visit?TokyoMagic!https://www.blogger.com/profile/16340756514811789233noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440013033477237104.post-67591053112720278472018-02-17T03:33:33.613-08:002018-02-17T03:33:33.613-08:00This comment has been removed by the author.TokyoMagic!https://www.blogger.com/profile/16340756514811789233noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440013033477237104.post-71519225878844108462018-02-16T10:48:48.533-08:002018-02-16T10:48:48.533-08:00TM!, I'm pretty sure the escape tunnel was sti...TM!, I'm pretty sure the escape tunnel was still there in late October of '76. We always made a point to visit TSI and hit every single cave, and that was my last childhood visit to the Park.Chucknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440013033477237104.post-35655895003595904882018-02-15T03:15:27.404-08:002018-02-15T03:15:27.404-08:00Stefano, I never thought about the scantily-clad p...Stefano, I never thought about the scantily-clad performers over the years, but you are right. I think there were even some scantily clad men in the Tahitian Terrace show (twirling their fire poles!)<br /><br />I remember that summer of '84, when the crowds stayed away from the theme parks. I was working at Knott's that summer and management let a lot of the new-hires go before summer was even close to being over, simply because of the low attendance. I'll have to plan to go to DL in 2028, just to avoid the crowds.....if that pattern repeats itself the next time Los Angeles hosts the Olympic Games. Unfortunately, by then the admission price will probably be $500 for one day/one park.<br /><br />The carving up of the river and the island (and the berm with it's 50-60 year old trees!) still makes me sick when I think about it. And I do believe that the "major" ruining of the park began with Michael Eisner....if you don't count the ripping out of the Mine Train thru Nature's Wonderland in '77 or Captain Hook's Pirate Ship and Skull Rock in '82, which by the way, I do count! I think the secret escape tunnel from Fort Wilderness disappeared long before '84. I seem to remember it being gone by '76......but I could be wrong about that. Maybe someone will confirm that date for us here.<br /><br />Thanks for commenting on my post!<br /><br />TokyoMagic!https://www.blogger.com/profile/16340756514811789233noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440013033477237104.post-36691576438628364392018-02-12T11:27:03.998-08:002018-02-12T11:27:03.998-08:00Some fine nostalgia here---the American Gazette Pa...Some fine nostalgia here---the American Gazette Parade reminds us that Disneyland could put on entertainment that was a leetle sexy, while never straying from the wholesome; think the Tahitian Terrace dancers, nubile live mermaids, bare-chested hunks in the Indian Village.<br />I recall an item in the L.A.Times during the Olympics: "Theme Parks: Open Season". Apparently locals feared mobs of visitors and stayed away from Southern California's amusements; we only have to wait till 2028 for a replay of light summer attendance! I was at Disneyland shortly after the Olympics ended; crowded, but not oppressive.<br /><br />Your photos are historically important for another reason; this is Disneyland just before Michael Eisner headed the company. It is less than 3 years to Star Tours, which road eventually leads to the carving up of a beloved river for You-Know-What Land.<br /><br />Speaking of ruining things --- I think the beginning of the end for Tom Sawyer's Island was noticeable that summer of '84; by then the secret escape tunnel from Fort Wilderness had been sealed off forever.<br /><br />Stefanohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08272565584453671850noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440013033477237104.post-90565408642413477482018-02-11T11:50:45.654-08:002018-02-11T11:50:45.654-08:00Major, I took a lot of pics, but I wish I had take...Major, I took a lot of pics, but I wish I had taken a pic of the Olympians when they were seated at the tables in front of the Opera House, signing autographs....or at least a better pic of them on the parade float. I'm also a little surprised about the solid bronze metal. I guess Disney was still aiming for quality at that time. Today, it would probably be made out of resin, or it would be in the form of a cloisonne pin. And I can't believe that I forgot to mention "The Better Half." I do love them, but unfortunately they aren't half the band that they used to be. TokyoMagic!https://www.blogger.com/profile/16340756514811789233noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440013033477237104.post-68338006268550614012018-02-11T10:08:09.497-08:002018-02-11T10:08:09.497-08:00Wow, so cool that you got all those autographs! Ev...Wow, so cool that you got all those autographs! Even some Olympians from 1932 and 1936, and that one guy who participated in FIVE Olympics in rowing. I’ve hardly done ANY Olympics. The bronze medal is a very cool extra, I am amazed it isn’t plastic. Meanwhile, you love Sunshine Balloon, The New Establishment, and Sound Castle, but what about “The Better Half”? Huh? Why do you hate them so much? They have feelings too, you know! <br /><br />I am impressed that you were already documenting your visits to the park so thoroughly, even in 1984 - something I never did.Major Pepperidgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09843598326995116014noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440013033477237104.post-36562911030808195742018-02-09T23:07:23.346-08:002018-02-09T23:07:23.346-08:00Ken, go ahead! I give you permission to get start...Ken, go ahead! I give you permission to get started on how they ruined the Space Mountain complex! They ruin everything, don't they? And yes, I got Greg Louganis' signature while I was at Disneyland....also Bob Seagren's....and "the rest." I liked the Uncle Sam character too and miss the type of parades that they used to have back in the day. In that Uncle Sam pic, did you notice that the Small World clock had it's "blue and white" color scheme and also the, "Sorry Folks, It's A Small World is closed" sign? I wish I had gotten a better photo of that sign!TokyoMagic!https://www.blogger.com/profile/16340756514811789233noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2440013033477237104.post-27376654575359292522018-02-09T15:25:03.932-08:002018-02-09T15:25:03.932-08:00But... but... but, I do want to get started on how...But... but... but, I do want to get started on how they ruined the Space Mountain complex. They really did ruin it.<br /><br />That's a nice photo of the Space Stage. I usually watched a show while dining on the upper level of The Space Place dining area overlooking the stage. I have great memories of that.<br /><br />So you got Greg Louiganis' signature while you were at Disneyland? That is too cool!<br /><br />Also, nice parade shots from Small World Plaza. I like the Uncle Sam parade character too. He's great! I miss these more old-fashioned parades compared to the highly stylized high tech parades they put on nowadays.<br /><br />Thanks for another great post, TM!K. Martinezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03960970051790617367noreply@blogger.com