Disney's Carousel of Progress

[V.C. Brunswick]

Originally created for the GE Pavilion at the 1964 World's Fair, the Carousel of Progress was an audio animatronic celebration of the advances that progress had brought to the American home in the early 1900s, the 1920s, the 1940s and the present -- the original script had all kinds of pointed references to GE. In 1967 the attraction was moved to California Disneyland and then subsequently moved to it's present home at Walt Disney World. I remember this was one of my favorite attractions back when it was at Disneyland.

A re-creation of the original 1967 ending.

 

[Gingerella72]

This was one of my favorite attractions at Disney World too! The last time I was there was in 2000, and they had it open for guests only at select times (re: hardly at all). I hope that they don't get rid of it, but just continue updating it as needed. Maybe as more time goes by, add in more eras.

Along these same lines, here are some links commemorating past attractions that have been replaced.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/...5490.html#s328285&title=Submarine_Voyage_thru

http://www.yesterland.com/

http://www.orlando-florida.net/press-releases/top-10-defunctdisney-world-attractions.htm

I sorely miss "If You Had Wings". I'm so glad they still have the Electric Light Parade though! That song is forever intwined in my childhood memories.

[video=youtube;eLXtR6vC6XM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLXtR6vC6XM[/video]

 

[Atomic Age]

I have very fond memories of the Carousel of Progress at Disneyland. To this day they have never found a good use for the building that used to house it. America Sings was okay, but really only good for about 1 or 2 viewings, then it lost its appeal.

I like the idea of a "Future Showcase" that they have now, but it would be better in another building, put the rotating theaters back in and come up with a really cool new show for it.

Doug

 

[V.C. Brunswick]

I like the current Rover. When I was a kid I thought the original one looked a bit scary and I think one of his littermates was also in the Pirates of the Carribbean. lol

I've also noticed that the historical timeline is a bit off. In Act I it's supposed to be Valentines Day 1904 but they talk about Little Egypt dancing at the St. Louis World's Fair which didn't open until April of that year and news couldn't have been THAT slow in 1904 because the Wright Brothers had already made their historic flight the year before! Then in Act II, which is July 4, 1927, Lindbergh is also spoken of in the future tense even though his Transatlantic flight had already occurred two months before.

 

[Espee]

I remember the electric fan placed to blow across a chunk of ice in a pan...
I don't keep close track of Disney (and I didn't check the links) but I believe an employee died at Anaheim, crushed by the carousel mechanism.

 

[Atomic Age]

I remember the electric fan placed to blow across a chunk of ice in a pan...
I don't keep close track of Disney (and I didn't check the links) but I believe an employee died at Anaheim, crushed by the carousel mechanism.

Yes she was caught between the walls as the carousel rotated from one scene to the next.

Doug

 

[rue]

I never saw it.

The one thing that I loved that's gone now is the Country Bear Jamboree

 

[sheeplady]

Is the ending in the second video (the "new" ending) posted supposed to be present day? Or the future?

'Cause I seem to lack a voice command oven. Maybe they exist but I've never seen one.

I also never knew that they let the electrical wires hang down like that in the 1920s. In all the pictures I've seen where they are exposed they are clipped out of the way. Was this common?

 

[John in Covina]

I saw this at the 1964 Worlds Fair in NY! I am not sure I saw it at Disneyland. It is a piece of my childhood. I also recall the Goodyear tire ferris wheel.

 

[V.C. Brunswick]

Is the ending in the second video (the "new" ending) posted supposed to be present day? Or the future?

'Cause I seem to lack a voice command oven. Maybe they exist but I've never seen one.

I also never knew that they let the electrical wires hang down like that in the 1920s. In all the pictures I've seen where they are exposed they are clipped out of the way. Was this common?

I think they're trying to suggest that back in the 1920s homes with electricity was a new thing -- at least for the average person -- and that the wiring, particularly in small towns and rural areas where most of the populace still lived back then tended to be DIY. The fact that not everybody had electricity yet is evidenced by many of the radios from the '20s with their "A", "B", and "C" batteries.

 

[sheeplady]

I think they're trying to suggest that back in the 1920s homes with electricity was a new thing -- at least for the average person -- and that the wiring, particularly in small towns and rural areas where most of the populace still lived back then tended to be DIY. The fact that not everybody had electricity yet is evidenced by many of the radios from the '20s with their "A", "B", and "C" batteries.

Ok, that actually makes a lot of sense. The area I grew up in didn't have electric until the late 1930s/ 1940s; so honestly I have only seen early electric in pictures (and not my family pictures).

I've been in houses with the old wires stapled to the walls for things like clocks and occasionally outlets. I think the last time I saw that must have been the very late 90s. I'm sure those houses are all updated now.

 

[Tango Yankee]

Nice. Growing up in southern California in the 60's and 70's the Carousel was a favorite of mine as well. The motorboats were cool, too! I have a photograph somewhere of the model of Space Mountain they had on display in 1977; you can see me and my girlfriend reflected in the glass. We were there for my high school's senior's day. I don't think I actually got a chance to ride it until 10 or more years later.

Anyone remember the original Mickey Mouse balloons? The ones that were a colored Mickey Mouse head and ears balloon inside a clear balloon?

Cheers,
Tom

 

[V.C. Brunswick]

The motor boats are gone. They were taken out a few years ago when they redid the submarine ride. I always thought it was funny that the motor boats were part of Fantasyland as I always thought of it as a Tomorrowland kind of ride.

 

[rue]

Anyone remember the original Mickey Mouse balloons? The ones that were a colored Mickey Mouse head and ears balloon inside a clear balloon?

Cheers,
Tom

I do!

The motor boats are gone. They were taken out a few years ago when they redid the submarine ride. I always thought it was funny that the motor boats were part of Fantasyland as I always thought of it as a Tomorrowland kind of ride.

I think you told me that before.... so depressing

The Jungle Ride is still there right??

 

[Espee]

I never saw it.

The one thing that I loved that's gone now is the Country Bear Jamboree

------------------------
"There... was.... bl-ood on the sad-dle..."

 

[rue]

------------------------
"There... was.... bl-ood on the sad-dle..."

[video=youtube_share;V40sgsHhGfA]http://youtu.be/V40sgsHhGfA[/video]

 

[Espee]

It may have been mentioned elsewhere, but currently (on certain days of the week) the esteemed Reynolds Brothers (Ralf and John, with helpers) are performing at Disney's California Adventure as "The Ellis Island Boys."

 

[vitanola]

I saw this at the 1964 Worlds Fair in NY! I am not sure I saw it at Disneyland. It is a piece of my childhood. I also recall the Goodyear tire ferris wheel.

United States Tire Ferris Wheel. US tire merged with Royal Tire to become UNIROYAL. The ferris wheel tire still exists. After the fair closed it was moved to Detroit and installed as a (still) advertising sign on the side of I-94. Every few years it receives a facelift so as to reflect the latest in tire styling.

 

[vitanola]

The fact that not everybody had electricity yet is evidenced by many of the radios from the '20s with their "A", "B", and "C" batteries.

Well, satisfactory AC operated tubes were only introduced in 1927, by the end of which year the battery radio was pretty much a dead letter as a mass market item.

The wires running everywhere do seem to be a bit of a comic exaggeration, though. Remember that electric refrigerator sales at this time generally included installation. My grandmother bought her General Electric refrigerator from the Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company (the local electric utility) back in 1933. The cost was $15.00 down and $8.00/month, including the installation of an electric outlet for this refrigerator.

Note that by the late 1920's the so-called "schoolhouse" light fixture fitted with a 150 watt Mazda Type C light bulb was pretty well universal in kitchens (at least in the cities and towns), replacing in most cases the bare bulbs on cords and dust-catching chandeliers of the turn-of-the-century. These improved units were often installed by the local power and light company for a nominal charge. In homes which lacked outlets, these fixtures would often include a pendant switch and convenience outlet combination on a cord which would hang from the fixture.

 

[V.C. Brunswick]

The Jungle Ride is still there right??