AMERICA SINGS MEGA POST PART 5 - the Carousel Theater Comes to a screeching halt and the erosion begins!

AMERICA SINGS MEGA POST PART 5 - the Carousel Theater Comes to a screeching halt and the erosion begins!

This sign gave guests hopeful expectations for almost a decade!!

And while things seemed quietly the same on the outside: We knew that Imagineering were working busily on the 3rd Disneyland Generation Carousel Theater show right!!???

Well, not exactly!

Guests haven't sat here in many many years ---but people WERE using it!

Here we see a sad and ill fitting use for the exit stage of America Sings being used as a training and presentation room! Notice the ORIGINAL Carousel Of Progress seats with walnut armrests??

(don't worry.....the Weasel, Sam and Owl have been removed for years when this picture was taken)

Even the Colonel left the Old South behind!

To the left of ACT 1 (OLD SOUTH) is the "welcome-introduction theater"--when this picture was taken it was being used as extra offices for Disneyland engineering and construction

Debris and collapsing set pieces are strewn about!

In ACT 2 THE OLD WEST we see the REMAINS of old wagon REMAINS.

The scrim hangs from the clouds was once used for the haunting-romantic number "Home on The Range"

This saloon use to be one of my favorite show sets.

In ACT 4, MODERN TIMES. Notice how the stage trap doors have been boarded up!

The magic that once was.............

How would you like to be hired at Disneyland at then be shown to your new office here!?? I'd LOVE IT!!

Some last looks of the upper balcony details of AMERICA SINGS. Notice the trash bags left up there!

When the first paint scheme was being tested for Inoventions, the first coverings of paint were peeling here-and-there (no lead!!) and I was able to get a piece of the "peel". Why??? because I liked it!!----it featured a top peel of INOVENTIONS, with an exposed layer of AMERICA SINGS..AND..................a third exposed layer of CAROUSEL OF PROGRESS MURAL!!!!! A Tomorrowland retrospective (in paint) in the palm of my hand!!!

More architectural views.

Now some of you may have noticed that there were no scenes of ACT 3, The GAY 90's. That's because by this time entertainment costuming was using that theater for storage. The interior showed no signs of it's Turn-of-the-century elegance. Just drywall and rack and racks of costumes. HOWEVER..............................downstairs was another story!!!!!

It was amazing that even after almost a decade there were figures and props left in here!!! see the waiter pig from the GAY 90's sequence! on the floor was even the steel shadow silhouette of the Wandering boy segment "Drinking Rabbit". Above would have been the GAY 90's STAGE and sets.

When this exterior shot was taken there was only a few more days left before the AMERICA SINGS remnants would be gutted and tossed forever! See the barricades ready to go up!?

Come back and visit TOMORROWLOUNGE to see the Carousel Theater get gutted and a revue of some attractions that almost took residence here--like THE CENTURY OF PROGRESS---PLECTU'S GALACTIC SHOWBOAT EXTRODINAIR and other concepts in AMERICA SINGS MEGA POST # 6!!!!!

AMERICA SINGS MEGA POST PART 4!!!! inside and outside the "Swinging Carousel Theater"

AMERICA SINGS MEGA POST PART 4!!!! inside and outside the "Swinging Carousel Theater"

HEY!!! AMERICA SINGS IS OPEN!!!!!

These cheerful fellas are wearing Disneyland's newest 1974 Tomorrowland costume (in summer & winter versions) - these were designed by Tom Pierce who also brought us the first Haunted Mansion costume and the Small World Gondolier costume that was used  until the 1990's. Tom designed thousands and thousands of Disney park costumes for operations and attractions (like Country Bear Jamboree and every AA show at EPCOT!!)

And here's something for the ladies of tomorrow.......these are images of costumes (also in summer & winter versions) redone without Del Monte's sponsorship--the big red tomato patch would have gone center on the white waistline on the ladies, and near the name badge on the men's version

Does that Sam the Eagle  and stars graphic look likes it was added later to you?? Well it should! Can you guess what was removed from the original sign?  A giant Del Monte Tomato logo!!

This is a rare version of this guide with the opening date printed (or stamped!) on the cover

I liked how both the murals of The Carousel pf Progress and America Sings combined the upper stationery section and the lower rotating section to appear as one large mural within the graceful guest ramps and balcony of the theater.  Innoventions does not do this making the upper section look overly massive and heavy -I majored in environmental design with an emphasis in architecture so things like that bother me......

A view of AMERICA SINGS from the PeopleMover!!

As a kid the 1890's Act was always one of my favorites! With all the advancements with technology and animatronics I don't think AA figures will ever be as perfect as these. The shapes and movements were perfect to there designs and Marc Davis , Blaine Gibson and the programers knew how to take advantage of limitations. Bill Justice would say  "Just because someone wants a bear to dance like a Rockett- he can't dance like a Rockett --he's still a bear!!"  (but can a Rockett dance like a BEAR!!???)

I Think that Stork or Crane is showing off!

Our "Bird In A Gilded Cage" was voiced by Cheryl Poole --who also voiced Trixie over at Country Bear Jamboree!! ( I think she looks like Phylis Diller --The Bird in the cage --not Cheryl Poole!)

A perfect song for an obvious gag!

I really miss this show!

Some "architectural shots" most people didn't think to shoot back in the day. But I Did!!

I was wished for a PeopleMover train to pass ---but it was never going to happen again.

I can't begin to tell you how many people ask me to PLEASE post a image of the TOP of the America Sings roof!!!! So here it is!!!!!! (ok.........maybe a handful of people requested this image. Or come to think of it........no one has EVER requested an image of the America Sings roof. But I'm glad I took it!!

Ok........take a good look at this last shot. It will come in handy for tomorrows post-- Be sure to have a box of tissues handy!!!  

"On behalf of Disneyland and our friends at Del  Monte , we hope you enjoyed AMERICA SINGS!. Now please gather your belongings and exit through the doors in which you came, and enjoy the rest of your visit to TOMORROWLOUNGE!!"

Please join TOMORROWLOUNGE for its next AMERICA SINGS MEGA POST ( #5) as we feature the abadoned and destroyed AMERICA SINGS interior and exterior!!!!

TOMORROWLAND'S CAROUSEL OF PROGRESS TO BECOME A CAROUSEL OF SONG! - AMERICA SINGS MEGA POST PART 2

    

Once Walt Disney World in Florida opened  attention was focused on the new Florida park, and General Electric felt the 'Progress Story" had been well told in California and wanted the popular Carousel of Progress attraction to be moved to Disney's newest magic Kingdom.  With that move Disneyland would soon be left with a large EMPTY high guest capacity theater in Tomorrowland. During the late 60's and early 70's famed Imagineer Marc Davis developed dozens and dozens of possible audio animatronic based shows -and one that was loosely considered was a barn in Frontierland where musically talented animals would perform old time America favorite songs. This seems to be a combination of the proposed Ford "Cruise-O-Magic" Theater were animals would sing the benefits of Ford automobiles, as well as a distillation of Country Bear Jubilee which eventually became the Country Bear Jamboree.

 These frogs would soon be "heading' South"

Much of  Marc Davis' earliest work for the Frontierland Barn show featured mostly farm/ American West type animals --mostly in country and Old West clothing, but  very simple garb--a hat or a vest--maybe some overalls or a simple bonnet keeping the animals far more animal and less humanesque.

When the Carousel Theater became a future option, Marc Davis and Al Bertino took the "Animal Barn" show and began to fit it in to the multiple act theater format of the "Carousel of Progress" giving  it the working name "Carousel of Song". Disneyland and WED also knew of the pending American Bicentennial and wanted to tie that theme into the show resulting in the shows official hosts: Sam The Eagle & his sidekick Ollie The Owl. Disneyland wanted to be sure guest knew of it's patriotic theme and the "Carousel of Song" became "AMERICA SINGS"

Marc Davis and Al Bertino selected all the songs for the show --they listen to a lot of music and since neither could read music they hired a piano player who couldn't sing! Marc Davis said : "Al wasn't much help on that. he's an Italian --the only one who can't sing a tune!" They chose popular songs people  know --and stayed away from songs that dealt with war, but always looked to see if a gag or laugh could be brought out in the selected song.  The America Sings show came together in about two years.

This unused concept for the song "Bicycle Built for Two"

This was one of many ORIGINAL WED concept pieces the Disney Gallery SOLD in the late 80's!!

Several artists created concept art for the new Carousel Theater show

Marc's concepts are sculpted into reality

And...........if you thought the second level of the Carousel Theater was going to be neglected--you are very wrong! WED was considering several things for the top of America Sings including a Bicentennial exhibit, a restaurant and the UFO SHOW!!!

THE UFO SHOW TOMORROWLAND

OPENING 1975

DISNEYLAND

The UFO SHOW (the working name) was described by WED as in 1974 as: "a little something planned for upstairs of "America Sings" Here guests will travel in cars on direction, armed with air guns, while eerie, unhuman, gremlin-like targets pop up and dart the other direction. Upon completion the attraction will be the first "shooting Gallery" where the marksman's position moves as well as the target's

hmmmmmm 30 years before Buzz Lightyears Astro Blasters!!!

Above is your ticket to come back and ride the Swinging Carousel Theater as AMERICA SINGS opens in our America Sings Salute Mega post part 3!!!!

AMERICA SINGS!!!
OPENING  JUNE 29th 1974!!!!

Some WED file art by Marc Davis

The SWINGING CAROUSEL THEATER 1974!

Please come back and join  us at TOMORROWLOUNGE for a musical joyride to music-land U.S.A!!!