Tales from the Laughing Place Magazine Issue #11 dedicated to Epcot's 25th
Click here for a much larger version of this picture
Tales from the Laughing Place Magazine Issue #11
(November 26, 2007) Today Publisher Lee J MacDonald confirmed that Issue 11 of Tales from the Laughing Place Magazine, the magazine devoted to the creativity of the Walt Disney Company has been dedicated to the twenty-fifth anniversary of the most ambitious second gate theme park ever built: Walt Disney World's Epcot Center.
"Firstly I would like to apologize to all of our readers for the delay in the shipment of Issue 11," Lee began. "We have been working very closely with Walt Disney Imagineering to ensure that we have access to the most comprehensive selection of Epcot images available today. This has been a lengthy and complicated process but we are confident that the final version will be worth the wait."
Tales from the Laughing Place Magazine has been given unparalleled access to the WDI library for artwork, photographs and other conceptual work relating to the development and construction of Epcot Center that culminated in the park's opening on October 1, 1982. Across the entire issue that has been dedicated to the park there are 54 either rarely-seen or never-before-published images from both Future World and World Showcase.
"We have worked closely with Imagineering Ambassador and Disney Legend Martin A. (Marty) Sklar to ensure that our information is as factually correct as possible. This was an unprecedented opportunity for us to reveal the real story behind the creation of a multi-billion dollar theme park that was a huge gamble for a company that was struggling in the late seventies to remain relevant," Lee continued. "In addition we have spoken with many of the imagineers that cut their teeth so to speak on this project including current Senior Vice-President, Creative Eric Jacobson. However the issue is not just a retrospective look into the past but also a sneak peek into the future of the park and its place in the Walt Disney World canon of parks. The issue also contains articles about the creation of the latest crop of projects including the renewal of Spaceship Earth, O'Canada and Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros."
Issue 11 is 52 pages in all and the contents will be as follows:
Tales of Twenty-5: Circles of Life – A comprehensive 22-page article that looks back at the development of Disney's first second gate theme park with stories retold by Marty Sklar and Eric Jacobson;
Tales of Twenty-5: New Horizons – An exclusive article about the redevelopment of Epcot's central icon: Spaceship Earth with show producers Bob Zalk and Susan Bryan and Show Writer Pam Fisher;
Tales of Twenty-5: The Long and the Short of It – The new O'Canada movie starring Martin Short with Show Writer Steve Spiegel and Production Director David Katzman;
Tales of Twenty-5: Day of the Duck – A look at the development of the Mexico Pavilion's latest River of Time featuring Donald Duck, Panchito and JosÈ Carioca with Show Director George Scribner;
The Ghost Re-host: Enhancing Magic Kingdom's Haunted Mansion with Show Producer Kathy Rogers;
Tales from the Tokyo Disney Resort: Value-Added Traditions – An explanation of two of the resort's traditional festivals: New Year's Holidays and Star Light Festival; and
The Douse Mouse: A behind-the-scenes tour of the creation of Vice-President of Spectacles Steven Davison's Hong Kong Disneyland summertime parade Mickey's Waterworks.
"Following on from our two-cover tenth issue this publication also has a huge first for us," Lee revealed. "The cover image of Spaceship Earth will feature a metallic silver ink finish that will be a fitting treatment for one of the most recognizable structures at any Disney theme park."
"In total 40 pages of Issue 11 is devoted to Epcot. For twenty five years the park has captivated guests' imagination and we hope that we can capture some of the magic that has been invested into this theme park over the past quarter-century with our retrospective," Lee concluded. "For many Epcot has been an enigma full of myths and legends. We hope to reveal the true story of the development of this historic gate."
Issue 11 will be shipping in December. Tales from the Laughing Place Magazine is available as part of a four-issue subscription or individually. For further information please visit our website: http://www.talesfromthelaughingplace.com
To purchase this issue or a subscription, visit The Laughing Place Store.
Click here for a much larger version of this picture
Click here for a much larger version of this picture
Click here for a much larger version of this picture
Click here for a much larger version of this picture
Click here for a much larger version of this picture
Click here for a much larger version of this picture
Click here for a much larger version of this picture
-- Posted November 26, 2007