Vintage DL Slide Show at Egyptian- March 25/26

[LSPoorEeyorick]

I've been wanting to go to one of these for awhile.

Who's coming with me? (http://godblessamericana.com/events/?PHPSESSID=74dd3a22a80fee1c5d96560a72ad30a1)

[CoasterMatt]

Oh man... I'd love to go to that!

[Ghoulish Delight]

That sounds fantastic!!! Someone needs to go check the calander.

[Ghoulish Delight]

I think CP and I are planning on seeing this on the 25th. Anyone else interested?

[Snowflake]

Aw, damn, ask me, am I depressed now or what?
Donna

[innerSpaceman]

Yes, I wanna go!



It's kinda on the expensive side, though. Which is why I never went to the ones they used to have during GayDay weekend. I've always regretted not seeing it, but I still have sticker shock at paying $50 for me and my honey to attend.

[NickO'Time]

This sounds exciting. It looks great. there are times I so envy you folks.;)

[LSPoorEeyorick]

I'm vaguely considering it-- but it is expensive, indeed. Nevertheless, I always hear about this and I always want to go and I always regret it when I don't. Thinkthinkthink. I'll get back to you.

[Boss Radio]

I would like to attend.

[Ghoulish Delight]

I would like to attend.Sweet!

It seems to be general admission, so I guess those that attend will do our best to get seats together. I wish we could meet up beforehand for food and/or drinks, but CP's working until 6, we're gonna barely make it up to Hollywood in time as it is.

[Not Afraid]

Not sure about us. I trying to score freebies but I don'tknow if that's going to work. I also think I might want to go on the 26th after we go to the SONIC thing.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Not sure about us. I trying to score freebies but I don'tknow if that's going to work. I also think I might want to go on the 26th after we go to the SONIC thing.The 26th is an afternoon showing, 1PM

[innerSpaceman]

Bah. Well, how about up-all-night slumber party at my place between the Retro Slides and Sonic Show?

[€uroMeinke]

Bah. Well, how about up-all-night slumber party at my place between the Retro Slides and Sonic Show?

Can we listen to minimalist music while we do that?

[Kevy Baby]

Can we listen to minimalist music while we do that?If one listens to minimalist music at maximum volume, is it just considered a medium experience?

[€uroMeinke]

If one listens to minimalist music at maximum volume, is it just considered a medium experience?

Not if it's John Cage's 4'33"

[Ghoulish Delight]

Bah. Well, how about up-all-night slumber party at my place between the Retro Slides and Sonic Show?Sold!

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Well, looks like we are still going to this, but sans sleepover :( due to Greg's father's injury. Can't stay up all night and then be presentable for family...can we?

Such is life. But this slide show thingy should be awesome.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Holy crap, thank you LSPE for alerting us to this!

We went on Saturday, ran into Boss Radio and wife (who we hadn't seen in close to 4 years!!) and it was an absolute treat. It was at the Egyptian, but what we didn't realize is that it was not in the main theater, rather a small theater off to the side with only 60 or so seats. Which was great, a nice intimate setting. The crowd ranged everywhere from the lady who say the slide of a 1974 park map and said, "That must be from the last 10 year" to, well, us.

Charles Phoenix, the host and collector of the slides, was an interesting character. Native Southern Californian who loves the city and Disneyland. He's definitely a fan, not a geek. His facts weren't always accurate, and he had just discovered The Nickel Tour that morning. But his love for the park and his memories was crystal clear.

And the slides were phenominal. Scavanged from yard sales, estate sales, thrift shops, family, and friends, it was a magical window into a Disneyland I never knew. And from the perspective of guests, which are always the best photos, imo.

Some highlights of the evening:

* In a short video advertising his "Disneyland tour of Downtown Los Angels", we saw the Bob Baker Marionette Theater...which gave me instant, vivid flashbacks to 1st grade where my class won a trip there in a candy sales drive! That was awesome

* In attendance...legendary Disneyland designer, Bob Gerr. He was responsible for designs of The Monorail, The Sky Buckets, Autopia cars, the Viewliner, and much more I'm sure. He was able to point out the Oldsmobile bits he used fo the Viewliner's engine design, the Ford tail lights in back, the Buick headlamp covers on the Autopia cars (made the Buick dealer's day when they went in to order 80 or so of those things), etc.

* Slides of "Freedomland USA", a short lived Disneyland ripoff (designed by ex-Disney designer Cornelius Wood, rumored to perhaps have been embezzling from Disney, or just taking too much credit for himself in choosing the orange grove location for Disneyland) in the Bronx that cost $60 million to build in 1959 (closed in 1964, not coincidentally the same year as the NY World's Fair) The Nara Dreamland of its time, eerily similar to Disneyland in design, but with some odd attraction choices...like the Chicago area that periodically caught fire, the SF area that had earthquakes, and Louissiana dark ride called "Tornado Adventure".

Once my dad's further on the road to recovery, I'm going to have to have him dig up the old slide boxes...

[innerSpaceman]

OMG, you mean I could have gone to the Nara Dreamland of my childhood, but never knew about it?!?!?

Oh, the calamity!

[Not Afraid]

Grrrrrr. We were able to go at the last minute but it was sold out. Waaaa.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Wow, I see now how precious the beautiful color slides he had of Freedomland are. Ain't many photos of it out on the net.

Here are a couple that show the ripoffitude pretty well...

I guess the photos weren't working, so here's a link to the site (scroll down for the best pics) http://www.eccentrix.com/members/freedomland/gallery.htm

Heck, just check out the post cards (http://www.eccentrix.com/members/freedomland/gallphot.htm).

[Cadaverous Pallor]

It was a thrill sitting in the intimate theater with mostly died-in-the-wool Disney geeks. Everytime they switched the slide in old-school projector, everything would go pitch black for a moment, and then "Ahhhh!" as the next Kodachrome frame jumped into view. And these weren't faked sounds - we gasped and gaped at these windows to Disneyland's past. Seeing everything in color from a ground-level tourist's eye was a revelation.

Especially intriguing was the Fantasyland I never knew - a kaleidescope of colors and shapes, all vying for your attention at once. Everything so squished together, everything seeming flimsy and temporary.

Rocket Jets on the ground in a Tomorrowland with tiny walkways....stagecoaches you have to climb a ladder to ride...a fantastic shot of a Phantom Boat (I had no clue they each had a CM pilot)....the "side streets" of Main Street sans Cone Shop and Carnation....

I didn't want it to end.

[Ghoulish Delight]

sans Cone Shop and Carnation....
Au contraire, Carnation was the order of the day in that photo...the flower! The whole of Center Street filled with Carnation brand carnations. Absolutely gorgeous.

[Not Afraid]

For those of us who missed this, he has done this show every year for the past couple of years and is currently hoping to expand thoe show to more than 2 days if the theater can offer the time. I think they are in negotiations at the moment.

[Snowflake]

Great Report! :snap:

I'm green with envy!