Reliving Fond Memories
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How Much Is That Puppet In The Window?
A vivid moment stands out from youth: of entering the park, the train whistles steaming the air, hearing the jaunty cakewalk music of Main Street...and running to see the new animated feature being released. How would I do this? By checking out the windows of the Emporium.
Along the front of the Emporium, several windows presented small tableaus of the newest animated feature. I always thought this a wonderful and creative way to advertise. The windows are plugging company product, yet are entertaining in their own way. These puppets generated enthusiasm by its own ingenuity, not focus-marketed false hype. It was this imaginative way of drawing attention that made Disneyland special. Like the attraction posters, the windows were unique and served two purposes: drawing attention to themselves and getting the people excited about the attraction.
I remember seeing The Rescuers windows the summer of 1977. The sunken steamboat, the Swamp mobile: my imagination was energized. I walked back and forth from window to window, taking in every detail. The colors of the sets, the motion of the characters. Looking upward, following the strings and seeing the little motors painted black. My father said to my mother: "I can see the wheels turning in his head." This was the movie that brought the decision that I was going into the animation field.
I was always excited to run to the windows and see what new Disney movie was heading out. Sometimes the tableaus were for live action movies. I remember Bert and Mary Poppins dancing with the penguins. Even The Black Hole spent time behind glass, The Cygnus heaving back and forth all day long.
The windows are still there, though some windows have been turned to the store inside. Still, what remains is still a great tradition of Disney advertising. And without the sophomoric puns too!
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-- David Mink
Reliving Fond Memories is normally posted the third Wednesday of each month.
The opinions expressed by our David Mink, and all of our columnists, do not necessarily represent the feelings of LaughingPlace.com or any of its employees or advertisers. All speculation and rumors about the future plans of the Walt Disney Company are just that - speculation and rumors - and should be treated as such.
-- Posted April 27, 2004
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