Letters to the Editor - Sep 3, 1999

Letters to the Editor
Page 1 of 1

by Our Readers (archives)
September 3, 1999
The first month of LaughingPlace.com is over and here's what our readers had to say. Your takes on DCA merchandise, the Haunted Mansion Event, KLOS and much more!

Here at LaughingPlace.com we receive lots of feedback on the articles we run and the site in general. Our goal has always been to run a Letters to the Editor column, we just haven't had the time to gather one together ... until now. Welcome to the first Letters to the Editor column on LaughingPlace.com. Unlike our other columns, this one does not have a regular schedule. Instead, we'll do it as warranted by the letters we receive. Please keep your feedback coming, both positive and negative. We really want to hear from you!

The KLOS incident, and Chris Reed's Guest Relations column about it, caused a little bit of controversy:

The commentary on Mark and Brian you made was totally uncalled for. Mark and Brian have made many charitable contributions in the past and have done many wonderful things for people. Have you even listened to their show for an extended period of time? To come right out and say that they should be fired is ridiculous. People take JOKES way to seriously. People are just faaar to sensitive nowadays. Watch any black comic and listen to how many times they make fun of white people and how many off color comments they make about white people. It is a double standard that blacks can make fun of whites, but not vice versa. Black people need to finally LIGHTEN UP!! This is just a ploy to hit the jackpot and make money from a big corporation like Disney, and is utterly ridiculous. Stick to sports writing...
  --- GDK

I completely agree about this whole "Black Hoe" thing. It's absolutely appalling that a Disney subsidiary is responsible for such tasteless trash, and the company should definitely be held responsible. It was a BIG mistake on Disney's part. That doesn't mean that people should boycott the entire company. By patronizing the good parts of Disney and boycotting the bad, a much more effective message can be sent.
  -- C

Disney DID apologize, and the "activists" organizing the boycotts and picket-lines have said that was "not enough". ... This is nothing more than a publicity stunt. Look at the facts, Disney (which is nothing more than the parent company in this whole ordeal, they had no idea this was going on) IMMEDIATELY shut down the skit when they found out about it, they issued apologies, and they forced some people at the radio station to undergo "sensitivity training". They did that AS SOON as they found out about it. And after all that, the "activists" claim Disney should have done more. Let me tell you, in a business setting that is MUCH more than most companies do, and it is one of the most socially responsive policies I have ever seen. Your column was very well written and we agree on some things. I just wanted to let you know that the "activists" are no longer just asking for an apology. They want more...money and/or attention.
-- NM

Splashtranauts brought memories for some of our readers:

Splash Mountain was my first Disney ride. I was expecting it to be a three minute ride with a final scary drop. Instead what I dot was a ten minute spectacular that caused me to fall in love with Disneyland.
-- SW

This article was great. Not only can I really relate to the people that loved Disneyland and it's cool rides with such a passion, but I love it that Tony and Bruce could have understood that and given people such a great chance of a lifetime.
-- N

Our most popular article thus far has been the two part recap (Part I, Part II) of the June 26 Haunted Mansion special event:

I didn't attend, I thought it was to expensive to get into the Fantasyland Theater and the Mansion...but from the pictures I think that Cynthia Harriss did a way better job than Paul Pressler did at the opening of the New Tomorrowland. She dressed up in a costume and Pressler came out in a suit and tie.. the article is great for the people that didn't attend the event.
-- B

Unfortunately, I missed the event. However, I am a HUGE Fan of The Haunted Mansion Dark Ride. I loved your article and can't wait to read and see more!!! This is wonderfully spoooooky! I also am a HUGE Fan of Marc Davis - he is truly inspiring! However, I know that Walt often credits Teamwork, and this project was successful because of it! "It takes people to make the dream a reality!", as Walt would say. So, WAY TO GO!!!! to all those involved then, now, and tomorrow in keeping the Haunted Mansion Dark Ride alive and thriving!!!
-- P

In mid-August LaughingPlace.com had it's first chance to interview a Disney Legend, X. Atencio:

I thought that this was a great article and I love hearing about past Disney Legends, especially ones who knew Walt. Hearing about the person that wrote the script for my favorite ride (Pirates) was great. It might be just because people try to hold Disney up on a pedestal these days but when I hear about things currently going on at Disneyland, it just doesn't seem anywhere near as magical as things were back in the "Walt" days. But I'm sure that I'm practicing a little idoling myself, since I'll admit that when I read in your article that Walt said "hell," I was a little shocked. Heh, well, keep up the great job with Laughing Place.com, I love this site.
-- NS

No article thus far has generated as much mail as our Disney's California Adventure Merchandise article in which readers not only got a chance to see the merchandise, they saw the new DCA logo as well:

I LOVE the new logo. MUCH better than the old one. I like the use of Grizzly Peak as an icon. And I'm going to DL in a month and YES, I will buy DCA stuff. Very exciting!
-- GT

The DCA merchandise seems to be the standard souvenir stuff so far. I hope Disney comes out with some more interesting DCA items soon. I like the logo. It is a lot neater than the original design for it.
-- anon

The stuff is okay, but the logo makes me think of a California Raisin Box!
-- JV

I like the new merchandise logo, and look forward to the new items that they say will be introduced in the very near future.
-- JL

The new logo stinks... I much preferred the writing on the original press materials, and the bear looks very outdated. Too bad... and isn't the sun (not the bear) supposed to be the theme of DCA?
-- anon

I think that it's a good idea that they are putting merchandise out early. It helps to raise morale. I like the new logo but the old one worked better for me. I think it'll grow on people in time.
-- MM

The DCA logo is very corporate and boring. There are too many various elements, and none tie together to make a single statement. It is a bad graphic statement.
-- anon

Proof that not all the email we get here is praise, here are a couple differing opinions on the August 1 major change to LaughingPlace.com

Can't tell you enough the fantastic job you did on the re-do of the site. Absolutely fantastic.
-- CR

I don't like it! I cant find any thing that I was looking at before your big craptacular change.
-- anon

Keep those cards and letters coming! We appreciate them all ... even that last one.


-- Posted September 3, 1999