Here’s a nice all-encompassing Tomorrowland view: The PeopleMover, Rocket Jets, The Carousel of Progress on the left, and the Tomorrowland Terrace. SOOOOO many cool things to do in Tomorrowland (not that I'm making a commentary on how Tomorrowland currently kinda’ sucks).
Time for a little snack break. Is that a frozen chocolate-covered banana? Yum!
Here is my mystery shot of the series; anyone know what this is of?
Last shot of Tomorrowland shows the Skyway Buckets sailing through the Matterhorn:
See more Tomorrowland photos at my website.
14 comments:
Hi Dave. I think your mystery photo is the Tomorrowland Videopolis dance pavilion, a shot taken from the train and posted here upside down. It looks closed-up; if I recall, Disneyland had its first murder there earlier that summer--which might explain why somebody bothered to take such a poor quality "spy photo" from over the fence. IOW, this may be a momento of a pretty sad chapter in Disney lore.
I agree with Wonderboss (but not about the first murder there.) It is the Videopolis dance area (now the Princess Party pavilion!) The knife attack happened in Tomorrowland.
But what part of Tomorrowland, Matt? Wasn't Videopolis in Tomorrowland? (Sits right on the border I guess, so you could designate it one or the other, I suppose). I always heard the killing happened at one of the dances there...
PIC#1 Great overall shot of TL. Beauty.
I agree that this is a quick snap of Videopolis(sp?) taken from the train as it rolls by. Although it's decorated "tomorrowland style" to attract teenagers and young adults, it's deep in Fantasyland.
It was one of the first major changed Mike Eisner made to the park, showing how much he coveted the youth dollar, and how respecting land themes wasn't going to stop him.
I did some cheap internet research, and I didn't find reference to a murder at Videopolis, but I do recall that the dance pavilion didn't last long once upper management discovered that bringing in "edgy urban youth" also brought in "edgy urban youth problems". The venue was turned into a children's theater.
Ah Videopolis. Anyone remember the weird lights they had that you would shake your head and pictures would appear? (Like music notes and such)
It was definitely not in Tomorrowland.... it was way back by Small World and the Fantasyland Station... or was it Videopolis Station at that time? Gotta check my old guidebooks.
Great shots, Dave.
And such a random shot with the banana. Maybe the photog had a crush on her.
Yeah - sorry, Videopolis was in Fantasyland - not Tomorrowland...
Rod - where have you been? Good to hear from you!
Just kickin' around, Chris. Been finishing another book so not much time for extraneous blog posts. Thanks for the welcome.
I believe the knife attack was by the Matterhorn. The guy who was knifed grabbed the other guy's girlfriend. This happened in 1981.
Videopolis was closed due to issues with same sex couples dancing together. Disneyland lost the lawsuit and decided to shut it down. As stated, it was turned into a theater and is now set up for the Princess Meet and Greet.
Sounds like you know what you're talking about, Matterhorn. Just goes to illustrate, I guess, that while urban legends usually have a kernel of truth in them somewhere, you can count on that kernal being all covered over with barnacles of falsehood.
The guy who was knifed grabbed the other guy's girlfriend. This happened in 1981.
I was C/S then, this incident resulted in a policy of there always being a marked ambulance standing by backstage. At the time this wasn't so, and the family wasn't too happy about that.
The breakroom joke was "What's the newest E-ticket ride?"
A slow drive down Harbor in a white van.
Videopolis! Holy cow I haven't thought of that in years. I was of club going age when that was around. I was one of those elements they tried to keep out. I remember being stopped and asked to leave twice. Once for dancing with another guy and another time for having spikes on my jacket. It was interesting to see aspects of club life seep into the park. It was a time when you could get a blowjob in the Fantasyland restroom. I guess I have Eisner to thank for that hummer. The park at the time did its best to discriminate. If they didn't like the color of your hair they would refuse entrance. This just fueled the fires of rebellion. We would find creating ways to dress while going thru the gates and quickly change into our needed outfits for the night Only to be stopped later and asked to change or leave. It was a park in a very obvious state of change.
Just remembered something else... they used to play "Hot Hot Hot" by Buster Poindexter during the fireworks every night.
Wow.
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