Throwback Thursday Machine: Carousel of Progress
I am pretty big on Disney Parks history so i have decided to start a new segment for the blog. Every Thursday i will post a poll with 4 attractions you can pick from to be featured in the next post. Once the poll is closed on the followingWednesday, i will post a blog piece on the winning attraction the next day on thursday.. This first week's attraction pretty much won by a landslide.
The winner was CAROUSEL OF PROGRESS!
The Carousel of Progress attraction is literally a Disney Classic Attraction. When you first think Disney World however, most guests don't consider this attraction the must do on their list. But it's history is so important. Many fans treasure this ride and would literally riot if Disney ever stupidly decided to get rid of it. Now what is it that makes this attraction so special?
Carousel of Progress is a ride where you take a trip through the 20th century with one american family and see how the industrial revolution changed everything for them. It's about a 20 minute ride and narrated by the patriarch of the family, John. The show is done in four acts as described by DisneyWorld.com :
General Electric Carousel of Progress opened at Disneyland on July 2, 1967 but sadly Walt never saw its grand reopening as he passed away in December 1966. Everything in the attraction pretty much remained the same but there were slight changes. A new voice was recorded for Mother, "Christmas in the Home of the 1960s" was slightly updated in set design and technology, all references to General Electric's passé "Medallion Home" campaign were dropped, and Father from "The Home of the 1940s" now sat on a bar stool, rather than on the kitchen nook bench.
At Disneyland, the show ended with a fifth act on the upper level with a detailed model of Progress City. On the upper level, a 4-minute post show, narrated by Mother and Father, with a few barks and growls from their dog, coincided with guests gazing at an enormous model of Progress City. Progress City was based on Walt Disney's original concept for Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow (EPCOT) and the Walt Disney World property.
Among other changes, a new cast and performers were shown in the 1975 version including Andrew Duggan as the father. the first 3 acts had cosmetic changes as well. The finale was changed to "New Years Eve in the Home of the 1980s." Finally the dog's breed was changed.
Once GE dropped its sponsorship, the attraction closed briefly to remove GE references from it. The GE logo was replaced with a logo that showed a blueprint of the six carousel theaters surrounding the six fixed stages on the signs outside of the attraction and the silver GE curtain was kept but a round sign with the blueprint logo and the name Carousel of Progress hid the GE logo. The GE logo still exists on several household appliances throughout the attraction, like the refrigerator in Act 3, which features the GE logo and the words, "General Electric" on it. This is one of the remaining logos that can still be seen today.
In August 1993, it was closed for refurbishment to reflect the New Tomorrowland. the attraction and show was renamed "Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress." The finale scene was update to "Christmas in the House of 2000." A new cast was hired for the narration recordings, with American writer, raconteur, and radio personality Jean Shepherd as the voice of the father (Shepherd also does a pre-show narration about the history behind the attraction). Additionally, Rex Allen, the voice of the father at the original Disneyland attraction, plays the Grandfather in Act 4 of the show. For the first time, names of some of the characters in the attraction were revealed. A 4-minute pre-show about the creation of the attraction was played on monitors while guests waited in line. And thankfully the original theme song for the attraction returned as well. The attraction then reopened to the public on November 23, 1993.
Since then , it has gone under minor refurbishments including the most recent being a new change of color which can be seen here. As of today you can still enjoy acts 1-3 as they were at the world's fair and disneyland. Act 4 has been changed many times featuring some retro 90s feels including reeboks haha.
Take a peek behind the scenes of carousel of progress!
MORE PHOTOS
Current Cast includes:
That does it for PixieDustandPlanes' First ever edition of Throwback Thursday Machine featuring Carousel of Progress. Be sure to lookout for the next poll on my twitter : HecallsmePP this thursday and vote for which attraction you want to see next week!
Until then!
THERE'S A GREAT BIG BEAUTIFUL TOMORROW! SHINING AT THE END OF EVER Y DAY!
Which attraction should i do my disney history blog post on first?— PineapplePrincess (@hecallsmePP) June 22, 2016
The winner was CAROUSEL OF PROGRESS!
The Carousel of Progress attraction is literally a Disney Classic Attraction. When you first think Disney World however, most guests don't consider this attraction the must do on their list. But it's history is so important. Many fans treasure this ride and would literally riot if Disney ever stupidly decided to get rid of it. Now what is it that makes this attraction so special?
Carousel of Progress is a ride where you take a trip through the 20th century with one american family and see how the industrial revolution changed everything for them. It's about a 20 minute ride and narrated by the patriarch of the family, John. The show is done in four acts as described by DisneyWorld.com :
- Act 1: Spring, Turn of the 20th Century
See how advances like gas lamps, the hand-cranked washing machine and a gramophone made the pre-electric era a breeze. - Act 2: Summer, 1920s
Behold modern conveniences like the electric iron, the radio, the sewing machine and the light bulb— brought to life through the power of electricity. - Act 3: Autumn, 1940s
The automatic dishwasher, an electric exercise machine and the introduction of the television are just some of the wonders that made life in suburbia even easier. - Act 4: Winter, The Present
Today's high-tech marvels include virtual-reality games, high-definition televisions and voice-activated household appliances.
Now onto the history of this great attraction!
Believe it or not, our journey with this attraction begins at Disneyland with Uncle Walt himself. Iin the late 1950s, Walt had planned to expand Main Street USA after the initial success of Disneyland Park. He was going to expand it with two districts: International Street and Edison Square. In Edison Square, a concept for an attraction was thought of that would be the centerpiece of the land. An attraction that showed the progression of american homes. It would show off the evolution of electricity in homes such as appliances, particularly GE appliances, and how it benefited the home. It would be hosted by audioanimatronic "Wilbur K. Watt." After each time period or act guests would walk over to the next one. Acts would be the following:
- American home, pre-electricity
- American home, advent of electricity
- Contemporary living
- The electronic age
Edison Square was supposed to be the urban residential neighborhood across from Main Street USA which would've been right behind the Plaza Inn between Main Street and Tomorrowland.
But with it being the year 2016, we know by now that Edison Square pretty much never made it off the drawing board nor did International Street. But really how cool would that have been? Edison Square may not have made it off the drawing board but the centerpiece attraction still lived on.
Fast forward to the 1960s and General Electric comes to Walt with the idea to have him develop a show for the company's pavilion at the 1964-1965 New York World's Fair. Walt jumped at the chance to join forces once again with GE , who would fund it and bring in all the necessary technology to make it a reality. Walt brought back his centerpiece attraction idea to GE and they ate it up. Thankfully during the planning stage, imagineers had perfected Audianimatronics technology needed to operate the performers for the show. The tech used to operate Enchanted Tiki Room and Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln, another attraction made for the World's Fair, made carousel of progress possible. It didn't have the best audioanimatronics but it was enough to get it functional and operational for the fair.
Led by Imagineers, Bob Gurr (Disney Legend) and Robert E. Broggie , they came up with the idea of a carousel theater. Instead of having the guests get up and walk tot he next act, guests could stay seated and revolve around a set of stages.letting guests be comfortable and avoiding time consuming changes between audiences during each act.
Walt asked songwriters Richard and Robert Sherman to make a song that could be used between acts in the show. The ending result was "There's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow." According to the Duo , they considered this walt's theme song because he was so optimistic about the future and technology.
TAKE A LISTEN TO IT HERE
The concept was soon renamed "Progressland" and debuted at the fair as one of the most visited pavilions there. What made it unique was the theater being a circle of six theaters with dividers that revolved clockwise around them every four minutes. The load and unload theaters were all identical with a wall of light, kaleidoscopic screen and performers appearing from the 1890s to the 1960s. Apparently more than 200 people entered and exited every 4 minutes and the wait line was usually about an hour.
Fast forward and the fair has ended but the attraction is still alive. Walt now had the perfect attraction to hold down the New Tomorrowland for Disneyland. He had components of the show shipped to Disneyland and still had the GE sponsorship. A rounded two story building was built in tomorrowland where the space bar food and eating area was previously.
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| Facades of Edison Square would feature turn of the century cities like San Fran or Chicago PC: ProgressCityUSA.com |
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| Map of proposed Edison Square Expansion PC: ProgressCityUSA.com |
Fast forward to the 1960s and General Electric comes to Walt with the idea to have him develop a show for the company's pavilion at the 1964-1965 New York World's Fair. Walt jumped at the chance to join forces once again with GE , who would fund it and bring in all the necessary technology to make it a reality. Walt brought back his centerpiece attraction idea to GE and they ate it up. Thankfully during the planning stage, imagineers had perfected Audianimatronics technology needed to operate the performers for the show. The tech used to operate Enchanted Tiki Room and Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln, another attraction made for the World's Fair, made carousel of progress possible. It didn't have the best audioanimatronics but it was enough to get it functional and operational for the fair.
Led by Imagineers, Bob Gurr (Disney Legend) and Robert E. Broggie , they came up with the idea of a carousel theater. Instead of having the guests get up and walk tot he next act, guests could stay seated and revolve around a set of stages.letting guests be comfortable and avoiding time consuming changes between audiences during each act.
Walt asked songwriters Richard and Robert Sherman to make a song that could be used between acts in the show. The ending result was "There's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow." According to the Duo , they considered this walt's theme song because he was so optimistic about the future and technology.
TAKE A LISTEN TO IT HERE
The concept was soon renamed "Progressland" and debuted at the fair as one of the most visited pavilions there. What made it unique was the theater being a circle of six theaters with dividers that revolved clockwise around them every four minutes. The load and unload theaters were all identical with a wall of light, kaleidoscopic screen and performers appearing from the 1890s to the 1960s. Apparently more than 200 people entered and exited every 4 minutes and the wait line was usually about an hour.
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| Guidebook for GE Pavilion PC: ImagineeringDisney.com |
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| Original Carousel Location in Disneyland PC: ImagineeringDisney.com |
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| Layout of Carousel of Progress at Disneyland PC: ImagineeringDisney.com |
Above are photos of the attraction at Disneyland in the 1960s.
Act 5 brought guests up via Speedramp.
The two photos above, provided by ImagineeringDisney, are photos of the speedramp from the world's fair but this is a perfect picture of what the speedramp would have been like at Disneyland too. Also through ImagineeringDisney, an anonymous fan provided 3 rare architectural drawings of the upper level.
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| At top of ramp, walkway curves and divides into 3 platforms leading guests southward in a clockwise direction |
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| Tiered viewing areas overlook large half circle Progress City |
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| Peoplemover track came through the southside of building after crossing the roof of flight to the moon. Guests could look down and gaze at Progress City and guests viewing it as well |
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| Large area of the Attraction which is undetermined for its use. |
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| Photo of Progress City PC:ImagineeringDisney |
Fun fact is that there are differences between EPCOT and Progress City. Progress City was model for an actual working city with full time residents that could have existed anywhere in the US. EPCOT was an experimental city intended for Florida, which later became Walt Disney World. It would've been a working template for progress cities across the world.
In the 1970s, GE asked Disney to relocate the attraction to Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World. The Disneyland show closed its doors on September 9, 1973 and moved to Florida. The Progress City model was broken down and parts of it was put back together in florida. It can be seen from the peoplemover as it goes through Stitch's Great Escape. At Disney World, there is no fifth act, no upper level or speed ramp. unlike the other versions, it rotated counterclockwise rather than clockwise. Horizons is considered to be the sequel to Carousel of progress and was located at EPCOT but no longer exists. A future post regarding this will be coming soon!
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| Poster for Horizons |
At Disneyland, its replacement attraction was "America Sings" a salute to american music which was a part of celebrating america's bicentennial. This show closed in 1988 and was not replaced until 10 years later.
Carousel of Progress opened in Magic Kingdom on January 15, 1975 with Space Mountain. General Electric signed a 10 year sponsorship contract with Carousel of Progress at Magic Kingdom and dropped it in 1985 exactly. A brand new song was also written by the Sherman brothers as one of the big changes. This was asked by GE since they did not want their guests "waiting for a great big beautiful tomorrow." GE wanted guests to buy their appliances so the new song was created and titled "The Best Time of Your Life."
It can be listened to by clicking the link below and you can decide for yourself which song is better. the original or the new.
Among other changes, a new cast and performers were shown in the 1975 version including Andrew Duggan as the father. the first 3 acts had cosmetic changes as well. The finale was changed to "New Years Eve in the Home of the 1980s." Finally the dog's breed was changed.
Once GE dropped its sponsorship, the attraction closed briefly to remove GE references from it. The GE logo was replaced with a logo that showed a blueprint of the six carousel theaters surrounding the six fixed stages on the signs outside of the attraction and the silver GE curtain was kept but a round sign with the blueprint logo and the name Carousel of Progress hid the GE logo. The GE logo still exists on several household appliances throughout the attraction, like the refrigerator in Act 3, which features the GE logo and the words, "General Electric" on it. This is one of the remaining logos that can still be seen today.
In August 1993, it was closed for refurbishment to reflect the New Tomorrowland. the attraction and show was renamed "Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress." The finale scene was update to "Christmas in the House of 2000." A new cast was hired for the narration recordings, with American writer, raconteur, and radio personality Jean Shepherd as the voice of the father (Shepherd also does a pre-show narration about the history behind the attraction). Additionally, Rex Allen, the voice of the father at the original Disneyland attraction, plays the Grandfather in Act 4 of the show. For the first time, names of some of the characters in the attraction were revealed. A 4-minute pre-show about the creation of the attraction was played on monitors while guests waited in line. And thankfully the original theme song for the attraction returned as well. The attraction then reopened to the public on November 23, 1993.
Since then , it has gone under minor refurbishments including the most recent being a new change of color which can be seen here. As of today you can still enjoy acts 1-3 as they were at the world's fair and disneyland. Act 4 has been changed many times featuring some retro 90s feels including reeboks haha.
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| Finale Scene or Act 4 |
MORE PHOTOS
Current Cast includes:
| Father—John | Jean Shepherd |
| Mother—Sarah | B.J. Ward |
| Daughter—Patricia | Debi Derryberry |
| Young son—James | Peter Nelson |
| Teenage son—James | Paul Osterhout |
| Grandfather | Rex Allen |
| Grandmother | Mary Cervantes |
| Grandmother (Act 4) | Janet Waldo |
| Uncle Orville | Mel Blanc |
| Radio Personalities | Noel Blanc |
Until then!
THERE'S A GREAT BIG BEAUTIFUL TOMORROW! SHINING AT THE END OF EVER Y DAY!
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