Belated Geek-End Update, Tuesday, September 29, 2009

I was on a research trip to Walt Disney World this weekend, hence the delay in the Geek-End update. This update includes posts from 9/19/2009 to 9/24/2009.

• Princess Fee at DF'82 looks at Disneyland Paris' Au Chalet de la Marionette.
• Early Amusement Parks of Orange County has some vintage photos of the Skyway at Disneyland.
• DisneyShawn looks at some of the great restroom signs at the Disneyland Resort.
• Major Pepperidge at Gorilla's Don't Blog shares some 1964 World's Fair photos of Progressland and the Autoparts Harmonic Orchestra!
• Mark at Insights and Sounds posts a retrospective on all of the Space Mountains.
• FoxxFur at Passport 2 Dreams posts the second part of her See the Village series. Part one is here.
• Richard from Photos from the Parks gives us a great lesson on photographing the Haunted Mansion.
• The Disney Blog celebrates 5,000 posts! Congratulations, John!

Kodak Picture Spot!

Mary Blair at the Contemporary

Main Street Flower Market

In 2001, the West side of Center Street at the Magic Kingdom was turned into a new segment of the Emporium, creating one long shopping district that stretches from Town Square to the Hub. One of the areas that was lost was the Main Street Flower Market, as seen in postcard WDW-11605. Not only is the evolution of the characters evident, but make sure to check out the almost unwieldy plastic gloves they are wearing. At least Minnie still loves polka dots!

Main Street Flower Market

In a picture perfect setting, Mickey has hundreds of brilliantly colored blossoms to choose from, as he picks a bouquet for Minnie.

WDW-11605

In the following shot, circa 1972, you can see the front of the Greenhouse, which stood to the left of the Main Street Flower Market. You can see other pictures from the same series here.

At the north end of the Emporium is one of the two side streets that make Main Street seem longer than it really is. Here is the flower market, packed with colorful blossoms, both real and silk. A favorite picture spot, the flower market contains benches, flower wagons, and other props for photographic poses. The façades in this cul-de-sac are narrow and of different styles and are painted with different, contrasting colors. This gives the illusion that lots is going on here — far more activity and variety than the space might normally warrant. Flowers can be bought here at the Greenhouse — silk ones to be stored in the lockers under the train station or real ones (and topiaries) to be sent to the kennel at the TTC where a plant-sitter will take care of them until they are retrieved.
--Vinyl Leaves: Walt Disney World And America by Stephen M. Fjellman. p. 172.

Geek-End Update, Saturday, September 19, 2008

• Richard from Photos From the Park looks at Aladdin's Oasis.
• Jack Spence takes a detailed look at the TTA and its history.
• FoxxFur from Passport2Dreams takes us back to the Village Marketplace, circa 1977.
• Matterhorn at Stuff From the Park posts some vintage Disneyland attraction posters in Adventureland.
• Daveland takes a look at law enforcement at Disneyland and the exterior of the Haunted Mansion.
• Princess Fee at DF'82 looks at the names of the Dentists at Parc Disneyland.
• Michael Barrier posts an essay on Walt and Norman Rockwell.
• Tony at the W.E.D. page takes us inside the Empress Lilly for an early character breakfast.

DVD Review: X-Men Volumes 3 & 4

• X-Men, Volume Three (Marvel Collection)
• X-Men, Volume Four (Marvel Collection)
  

We had a blast watching this 4-disc (combined) set of Marvel cartoons based on original X-men comic book stories. You might be asking why a Disney site is reviewing the X-Men animated series. The set is being released through Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment and with all of the recent discussions concerning Disney's four-billion dollar acquisition, it seemed like it would be fun! Good family viewing with my boys who are in the perfect age range for superheroes.

Ideally, these discs are for X-Men fans, comic book fans and superhero fans. If your only exposure to the X-Men has been from the fantastic theatrical releases, then these cartoons will shock you. Wolverine retains his gruff attitude but it is difficult to take him serious when he wears the comic book outfit. The stories are a lot of fun and will provide hours of entertainment.

MARVEL X-MEN: VOLUME THREE – The X-Men are back for more nonstop thrills and excitement in Volume 3 of the definitive animated series. Faithfully created from the pages of the original Marvel® comic books, these classic stories are a must-have for any X-Men fan! When the all-powerful Dark Phoenix inhabits the body of Jean Grey, The X-Men go to battle in order to save one of their own. Get into the action with 15 spine-tingling episodes, including the 4-part "Dark Phoenix" saga, in this collectible 2-disc set!

Episode Guide

Disc 1
o Savage Land, Strange Heart (Part 1)
o Savage Land, Strange Heart (Part 2)
o Obsession
o The Dark Phoenix (Part 1)
o The Dark Phoenix (Part 2)
o The Dark Phoenix (Part 3)
o The Dark Phoenix (Part 4)

Disc 2
o Cold Comfort
o Orphan’s End
o The Juggernaut Returns
o Nightcrawler
o Weapon X, Lies, and Video Tape
o One Man’s Worth (Part 1)
o One Man’s Worth (Part 2)
o Courage

MARVEL X-MEN: VOLUME FOUR - The action reaches all-new heights in Volume 4 of the landmark X-Men animated series. With adventures adapted directly from the original Marvel® comic books, this collection is a rich piece of the X-Men legacy and a must-have for every X-Men fan.

The X-Men must join forces with the heroes of the future when Apocalypse, a mighty mutant, is driven completely mad by his powers! Discover the stunning conclusion to the 4-part epic "Beyond Good And Evil" in this sensational 14-episode set.

Episode Guide
Disc 1
o Proteus (Part 1)
o Proteus (Part 2)
o Sanctuary (Part 1)
o Sanctuary (Part 2)
o Beyond Good And Evil (Part 1)
o Beyond Good And Evil (Part 2)
o Beyond Good And Evil (Part 3)
o Beyond Good And Evil (Part 4)

Disc 2
o Have Yourself a Morlock Little X-Mas
o The Lotus and the Steel
o Love in Vain
o Secrets, Not Long Buried
o Xavier Remembers
o Family Ties

Book Update

I received my review copies of Steve Barrett's recently released Hidden Mickeys guides.

• Hidden Mickeys, 4th Edition: A Field Guide to Walt Disney World's Best Kept Secrets
  

• Disneyland's Hidden Mickeys, 2nd Edition: A Field Guide to Disneyland Resort's Best-Kept Secrets

Geek-End Update, Saturday, September 12, 2009

• Princess Fee has an enlightening look around Disneyland Paris: Main Street USA, Princess-style, Frontierland, Adventureland and Discoveryland.
• Andy at The Backside of Water posts a fun detail from the MuppetVision building.
• Daveland has a fascinating look at Marjorie Reed, stagecoaches and Disneyland. And The Haunted Mansion 40th Anniversary Event.
• Disney On Parole takes us back 30 years to the 1979 Magic Kingdom Club.
• Jennifer at Broke Hoedown takes a detailed look at the Phantom Manor.
• The Disney Food Blog wonders if El Pirata y El Perico is ever open (with some great pictures).
• Michael at Progress City, USA has written an article about adding India to the World Showcase.
• TagToonz has a reprint of a 1978 interview with Virginia Davis.
• Hans Perk at A Film L.A. reviews Walt and El Groupo.
• Early Amusement Parks of Orange County has a great photo of the Midget Autopia.

Don't forget to add Luau Cove Marina to your blog reader! It is a new production from the creator of the always intriguing Passport2Dreams. The promise is three new Disney photos each week:

Luau Cove Marina is a thrice-weekly photo blog devoted to Walt Disney World imagery. Pure photos, nothing else. All of these photos were taken using a Lumix GH1 and a variety of lenses. Photographed by Peter Rabbit and FoxxFur.

May these photos bring back happy memories or inspire new ones.

A side project of Passport to Dreams Old & New.

Book Update

I received my review copy of Wally Boag: Clown Prince of Disneyland today. Written by Wally Boag and Gene Sands, it is a look at Wally's career--with short entries and an amazing amount of pictures.

I can't wait to sink my teeth into this one!

For more information, visit wallyboag.com.

Look out!

I figured that it was time that I put in my two cents about the acquisition of Marvel by Disney...

This photo is from my one and only trip to Universal Studios Hollywood in 1998. Of course, we did spend the first day at Disneyland, but that is another story all together!

DVD Review: Bedknobs and Broomsticks

Bedknobs and Broomsticks (The Enchanted Musical Edition) 1971, Rated G (2009 DVD)

Bedknobs and Broomsticks is a fun, family movie that will charm you with its innocence.

When young Charlie, Carrie and Paul move to a small village during World War II, they discover their host, Miss Price (Angela Lansbury), is an apprentice witch! Although her early attempts at magic create hilarious results, she successfully casts a traveling spell on an ordinary bedknob, and they fly to the fantastic, animated Isle of Naboombu to find a powerful spell that will save England! All-new fun is brewing in this Enchanted Musical Edition, including "The Wizards of Special Effects" feature. Also starring David Tomlinson (MARY POPPINS) and Roddy McDowall, BEDKNOBS AND BROOMSTICKS is a heartwarming adventure viewers will love to revisit!

Eglantine Price is a hapless witch in training that finds herself the ward of three children that have been evacuated from London during the bombing raids of World War II. The children learn of Miss Price's secret and join her as they try to track down the Substitutiary Locomotion spell, which could help England in the War.

Their travels (on the enchanted bed) take them to London, the bottom of the Briny Sea and to the Isle of Naboombu. Most people remember the film for the animated scenes of the Briny Sea and Naboombu which were directed by Ward Kimball, one of Disney's Nine Old Men. The animated sections were two of the more charming pieces of the film; we laughed through most of the soccer match.

The Sherman Brothers wrote the songs for the film, which include The Age of Not Believing, Portobello Road and The Beautiful Briny. Out of all of the DVD extras that are included, Music Magic: The Sherman Brothers, is the one worth the money. Host Angela Lansbury traces the history of the development of the songs and there is a rare look at a song never before heard.

Overall, this is a film created by the team that brought us Mary Poppins sans Walt. Like Pete's Dragon, it has very memorable characters and scenes--the music stands out more in Bedknobs than Pete's Dragon, but both films offer quality, family entertainment.

Treguna, Mekoides, Trecorum Satis Dee!

King Leonidas on the Calliope Float from the Main Street Electrical Parade in 1985. I believe that he does have his soccer shorts underneath his robe!

Geek-End Update, Saturday, September 5, 2009

• FoxxFur at Passport2Dreams has posted a hi-def video of Epcot. Make sure you visit her site and request more videos! (There is a hi-def link on her site.)
• Vintage Alice in Wonderland posts about the little known Alice in Wonderland Days at Disneyland.
• Destination Disney posts images from an older Discovery Island map.
• Richard at Photos From the Parks takes us on a tour of the Walt Disney World Railroad. All aboard!
• Michael at Progress City USA looks at the earliest character breakfasts at Walt Disney World.
• Jenn at Broke Hoedown offers her thoughts (and some photos) on Disneyland Paris.
• Didier at Disney History gives us a glowing mini-review of a new book.
• Major Pepperidge at Gorillas Don't Blog has posted a fantastic map, with anecdotes, by Chris Merritt of Nature's Wonderland.
• Wade Sampson at Mouseplanet looks at the time Chuck Jones spent at Disney.
• Daveland has some great shots of Pirates and information on the new Wally Boag book.
• Michael Barrier looks at a model sheet of early Mickey drawings and investigates!
• Ryan at the Main Street Gazette has scanned the fascinating set of Disney safety cards.

Magic Moments in the Magic Kingdom

Some of my favorite postcards are the ones with multiple images from various areas in the parks and resorts. The following postcard looks at Main Street, the Rivers of America and Tomorrowland. Make sure to notice the Sky Way buckets and how cute Minnie looks in polka dots!

Mickey, Minnie, Goofy and Pluto welcome visitors to the Magic Kingdom, where the charms of the past meet the thrills of the future. WDW-11801