Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA Heard through some of my old contacts that due to a law suit from one of the sco-writers of the song 'Hoop-Dee-Doo Polka' -- that Disney has decided to change the opening song to the "Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue" after 30+ years of using it without permission. There's a fairly detailed and accurate description of what's going on at this Disney blog. <a href="http://www.disunplugged.com/2011/03/25/hoop-dee-doo-musical-revue-subject-of-copyright-battle/" target="_blank">http://www.disunplugged.com/20...-battle/</a> It's one of those -- 'How'd Disney get away with using it for so long?' kind of things...
Originally Posted By Manfried Classic. A new owner just smells money, or thinks they do with encouragement from a lawyer. "The first thing we did was shoot all the lawyers!" Disney should not change this but go after this with a vengeance.
Originally Posted By WDWVacationer Hoop Dee Doo is a WDW necessity. My favorite thing in WDW and this song is fantastic. Hope Disney wins this.
Originally Posted By MousDad What's there for Disney to go after? They clearly infringed the copyright? Their pulling the song is telling that they know they can't win. The parody argument clearly won't fly, as the purpose of the revue is not to make fun of the original composer's work. The copyright owner is in full compliance with the law in going after Disney, and has the blessing of the framers of the U.S. Constitution. The fact that pleasant memories from a great show at a place we all love to visit and defend are at risk is unfortunate, but irrelevant to the issue.
Originally Posted By MousDad ^ Sorry, should have been a period after the second sentence. It was a statement, not a question.
Originally Posted By ChiMike While I too think copyright law has become too protective, I can appreciate the irony of it being too protective against one of the corporations that have lobbied hard to make it just that.
Originally Posted By DlandDug I can't believe they haven't been paying for use of the song all along. I had no idea it wasn't an original composition.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer ^ Same here. That's what's most shocking. But this is nothing new. In the early years of the resort, the BGM was frequently played off a record.
Originally Posted By DlandDug >>In the early years of the resort, the BGM was frequently played off a record.<< Jack Wagner compiled many of these "needle drop" medleys. They couldn't even track down all the music from the original Enchanted Tiki Room patio when it was being refurbished in 2005. The Christmas music loop from Disneyland is still in use, despite the fact that many of the albums have been out of print for years.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer ^ Yup. Though really quaint, I'm surprised that Walt let them do that.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip I've always thought the Hoop was over-rated. I've been twice and at today's prices don't plan to go again. I'd far rather take the money and buy the cheap seats at Cirque.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 Haven't had time to read the original blog, but I find it beyond amusing that Disney has apparently been using someone else's IP/music for years without paying for it. Maybe Lou Mongello, Jeff Lange, Tour Guide Mike and the rest are just doing what Walt would have done, right? ;-)
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper <<I've always thought the Hoop was over-rated. I've been twice and at today's prices don't plan to go again.>> I have to agree. I thought it was nice the first time I went, but I've never had the desire to go back.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA Just for comparison's sake...here's the opening of the 'Hoop Dee Doo Revue' at Walt Disney World. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKOGXG3JlgU" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...GXG3JlgU</a> And here's Perry Como's recording of 'Hoop Dee Doo Polka' <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zaK6iANjSg8" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...6iANjSg8</a> You be the judge.
Originally Posted By Manfried I think the copyright law should protect, but not for the eternal time it now does. I think at most it should be life of the author plus 50 years when it is an individual, or say 100 years maximum. And since the original author of the music saw the show and did not sue, in fact went back repeated times, any lawyer could make a case for the fact that he gave it tacit approval. But then that person is gone, so leave it to the lawyers since there is nothing on paper. Sigh.
Originally Posted By MousDad ^^ Your expectations are not far off from reality. It's life+70, or 105 years for corporate (made for hire) works. And the number one rule in IP is 'always get everything in writing.' It sounds like this was just sloppiness on Disney's part. They will probably settle for a reasonable amount of what the licensing fees would have been, and set up a new licensing arrangement to keep the show going. That's what they should do anyway.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA Apparently, the rumored changes at 'Hoop Dee Doo Revue' did happen. New opening song. Anybody checked it out?
Originally Posted By Westsider Amazing that Disney got away with this for 40 years. I assume the Hoop Dee Doo started in '71? I've only been to that show once a couple years ago, and I don't remember much as the waitress zeroed in on my shortly after we all sat down, and I was forced to go up onstage and be the Indian Scout in the show. I have no idea what was happening after that, as I think I've blocked it from my memory to protect my psyche, although my buddies got a big kick out of it. The whole thing seemed vaguely like an old episode of Hee-Haw. I'm surprised that type of entertainment still works in the 21st century. It's probably something that works better in Florida with the tourists from the South and Midwest?
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA The music licensing issue aside, my feeling is that 'Hoop-dee-doo' has been able to survive for so long, because it is that corny, homespun type of entertainment. It's avoided the slick, polished, perhaps over-produced feel of some of the other shows on property. As a contract the show that used to take place 'On Top of the World' in the Contemporary is no longer. And neither is the 'Diamond Horseshoe' And other copycat dinner shows have come and gone in Orlando too. 'Fort Liberty' anyone?
