Originally Posted By ssWEDguy I was looking at aerial photos of Epcot the other day, pictures that were taken when the park was new. Interesting to see the difference between what what there then, and what is there now. One thing drew my attention -- the "Communicore" buildings on either side of the main backside fountain are pretty much symettrical in size and shape on either side. Except on the side over by the Universe of Energy. There, the buildings have an extra sizeable extension built onto the backside. The monorail comes close to and goes between the Universe of Energy and the backside of this extended building. I got to thinking about that odd shape, and I'm wondering now if that isn't the show building for the Computer Astuter Review show? That show involved looking down into a room full of big MainFrame computer equipment, and cartoon characters that would appear in and among the equipment to do the musical review. As I recall, the computer equipment was a real, working mainframe. It was down in the floor below. Mainframes were almost always installed down low, underground. There were even real humans working in that room doing what computer operators used to do. The audience was above looking down and through the glass wall that was used for the projection reflection. Same idea as the Haunted Mansion ballroom scene. Am I wrong on this? Is this where that show was? What is there now? Anything at all? Is the computer room still there? Is the glass wall still there?
Originally Posted By brotherdave I believe you are correct about it's location. And, if I'm not mistaken, that was indeed one of the main computer control rooms for the park. (Funny how computers used to take up whole entire large climate controlled rooms compared to what we have today!) As for what that area is used for now, I have no idea. Is it possible that this may still be "Epcot Computer Central"?
Originally Posted By Rsey103 I remember that show fondly... Wikipedia says the computer show was replaced with Backstage Magic. (Still there?) They say the building still has some of the original carpet and light fixtures from the old CommuniCore days. I'd like to go back in time and visit Epcot Center during the early 80's.... (In that same building, did anyone enjoy the Epcot Poll as I did?)
Originally Posted By brotherdave I was fortunate enough to see both the Astuter Computer Revue and Backstage Magic. I actually have a partial video that I shot of the second show. It wasn't terrible, but, it wasn't exactly exciting, either. If it were still there today, it would most certainly be one of the most outdated shows on property! Computers have progressed so much more rapidly than anyone could have imagined back then! Walt Dated World has a few items, including pictures about the attractions... <a href="http://www.waltdatedworld.bravepages.com/id114.htm" target="_blank">http://www.waltdatedworld.brav epages.com/id114.htm</a>
Originally Posted By ssWEDguy Actually, I'm trying to recall where the Entrance and Exit was for this attraction. And was the Electric Umbrella always there? Guest relations is now directly east and across from SSE. Has Guest Relations always been there?
Originally Posted By brotherdave No, Guest Relations used to be inside Earth Station at the exit to Spaceship Earth. It was moved during the mid-90s during the conversion of Communicore to Innoventions. As for the entrance, it was located inside the Communicore East building. I believe the entrance into Communicore was through the same doors that lead into Innoventions. Inside, there were numerous displays and hands-on computer equipment. On the right hand side as you entered Communicore was American Express' Travelport, on the left was EPCOT Computer Central. Straight back (as the main corridor curved to the right) and on the left was the Exxon Energy Exchange. On the right, as you approached the breezeway that divided the building was, and still is, the Electric Umbrella (though I believe it used to be called something else.) The EPCOT Computer Central area (as with all of the exhibit areas) were sunken down below the main corridor about 5 feet or so, and could be reached by short stairways and ramps. (This was true for most of the Communicore exhibits.) Near the window overlooking Spaceship Earth (and where I believe Guest Relations is today) was the small blue robot known as SMRT-1. You could 'talk' to SMRT-1 via telephones placed around the robot, offering one of the first character interactive attractions at Epcot. The limited motion robot would turn to face you, move its arms and other subtle features, when it was your turn to talk to it. I believe it was more like multiple choice questions with him instead of an actual conversation, but, you get the idea. Also located here was "Create-A-Coaster" featuring the beaver from Lady and the Tramp helping you create a very primitive computer generated roller coaster. In today's world of Roller Coaster Tycoon and other similar home PC games, it is almost laughable by today's standards. But, it was still fun, at least back in the 1980s! Other touch screen video games were featured from loading luggage onto airplanes correctly to building an American flag. Again, primitive by today's standards, but, lightyears ahead of any computers I had seen up to that time in the early 1980s! As for the main show itself sponsored by Sperry, (Astuter Computer Review, then replaced by Backstage Magic), you went up a set of two ramps on the back wall, which served as both the queue line and pre-show for the attraction. While standing in line, you would watch overhead video screens introducing you to the world of computers and the host character for the show. When the preshow was over, you were led through the automated doors into the main theatre. Two large movie screens on either end would serve as the focal point for most of the show. Astuter Computer Review featured a "Pearly" performer from the United Kingdom pavilion as the host. He sang a fun "Computer Song" by the Sherman Brothers during the show (which was featured on the first "Official Album of EPCOT Center" when the park first opened.) A large wall dropped showing off the actual computer center for Epcot Center which we were sitting above. He was shrunk down and transported to Epcot Computer Central via a "Pepper's Ghost" effect similar to the ballroom in the Haunted Mansion. Here, he introduced many process that the computers at EPCOT and WDW controlled, including AA's, ride and show controls, lighting, sales, resort reservations, etc. During the show, an animatronic Mr. Eggz from the Kitchen Kabaret was used to show how computers controlled the many AA characters at Disney. After a brief run, Backstage Magic replaced the original show in 1984. Gone was the catchy computer song and the Pearly entertainer. Disney 'Cast Member' Julie was the new hostess, along with a traditionally animated character, I/O (not to be confused with Michael Jackson's Captain Eo at the other side of Future World). I/O was basically a dynamic 'star like' character that changed shapes at will and only responded in chirps and beeps (sort of like R2-D2). Pretty much, the same basic themes were kept as Julie was shrunk and transported into the computer room, but I/O became more like a fibre optic light that bounced around the glass that separated the theatre from the actual computer room. One of the more impressive features of both shows was a large scale model of EPCOT Center that sat above the computer room and would light up to demonstrate areas that each computer featured would control. Overall, the shows were educational and somewhat entertaining. But, neither was exceptional in either category. It was definitely a show to see 'if you had time', usually after seeing all the other major attractions at the park. I don't recall either attraction EVER having a long line. When it was finally retired in the early to mid 90s, it was definitely past its prime. Not too many people were upset at their demise, but, it does seem a bit nostalgic now to recall them. Now, it would be interesting to know what's left of the REAL computer center that was showcased in during the show!
Originally Posted By DlandDug I saw Backstage Magic, with Julie and I/O (that stands for Input/Output, of course.) I specifically recall a technician walking right through Julie during our viewing. What most inpressed me out in the World Port were the touch screen TVs. They were the first I saw in any practical application. I still cannot believe that this whole area is empty today.
Originally Posted By brotherdave Funny you should mention that! I remember seeing the same thing happen during my first viewing of Backstage Magic! It briefly destroyed the 'magic' of Julie being in the computer center!
Originally Posted By ssWEDguy brotherdave -- Thanks for all the great detail about the Astutor Computer attraction. I am going to use some of what you've written to go searching someday for some of the remnants. Does the Sperry Corporation even exist anymore? -------------------- And while we're at it -- in the computer history category -- I seem to remember years back that the mainframe field was dominated by IBM, but that there were six? other mainframe companies that competed against IBM. Can you name the six? As I recall, there was even a 6-letter word that served as an acronym for the 6 companies. I remember Sperry, Univac, RCA, and Burroughs. Who were the other 2? They kind of all collapsed into each other along the way, except for IBM. ------------------------ I even remember visiting a company way back when that had an RCA Victor Mainframe.
Originally Posted By brotherdave We operated a PRIME system at my company back in the mid-late 1980s. Before that was BASIC4. PRIME may have been one of those companies that you mentioned. DIGITAL was once another large mainfraim giant that was used at the university that I attended in the early 80s.
Originally Posted By brotherdave By the way, Sperry and Univac merged during the first year of EPCOT Center. Univac was to be the original sponsor for EPCOT Computer Central, then it became Sperry-Univac, then eventually just Sperry again, if I recall correctly. I remember seeing a commercial for Sperry during the early years of EPCOT that featured Kirk Douglas in the park touting how Sperry computers were so integral in the operations of EPCOT Center. Does anyone else remember that commercial?
Originally Posted By brotherdave Also, didn't Sperry Univac become Unisys later on? Or do I have the timeline for those companies confused?
Originally Posted By seanyoda For ssWEDguy's question, there this from the wikipedia entry for UNIVAC -- <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UNIVAC" target="_blank">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U NIVAC</a> << In the 1960s, UNIVAC was one of the eight major computer companies in an industry then referred to as "Snow White and the seven dwarfs"—IBM, the largest, being Snow White and the others being the dwarfs: Burroughs, NCR, Control Data Corporation, General Electric, RCA and Honeywell. (Another industry player, albeit much smaller, was Scientific Data Systems). In the 1970s, after GE sold its computer business to Honywell and RCA sold its to Univac, the analogy to the seven dwarfs of legend became less apt and the remaining small firms became known as the "BUNCH" (Burroughs, Univac, NCR, Control Data, and Honeywell). >> As for Digital Equipment Corporation, their specialty was not mainframes but minicomputers such as the PDP-8, PDP-11, and VAX. PDPs and VAXen could be found at quite a few universities. FYI, on April Fools Day in 1984, there was a hoax that went out on USENET involving a fictitious VAX in the USSR called kremvax -- <a href="http://www.godfatherof.nl/kremvax.html" target="_blank">http://www.godfatherof.nl/krem vax.html</a>
Originally Posted By avromark You know I'd love a copy of these shows for nostalgia value... Geek! Geek! Geek!
Originally Posted By seanyoda Again, to quote the wikipedia entry on UNIVAC -- << In 1953 or 1954 Remington Rand merged their tabulating machine division in Norwalk, Connecticut, the Engineering Research Associates "scientific" computer division, and the UNIVAC "business" computer division into a single division under the UNIVAC name. In 1955 Remington Rand merged with Sperry Corporation to become Sperry Rand. The UNIVAC division of Remington Rand was renamed the Univac division of Sperry Rand. General Douglas MacArthur was chosen to head the company. Around 1975, to assist "corporate identity" the name was changed to Sperry Univac, along with "Sperry Remington", "Sperry New Holland" etc. >>
Originally Posted By brotherdave Thanks for the info on Sperry/Univac, Digital and the other computer companies. I knew I probably had some of my info mixed up.
Originally Posted By g7 The main floor of EPCOT Computer Central (know to the Cast simply as "Central") was a few steps down (nor more than maybe 2 or 3 feet) from the corridor level, as all of the other exhibit areas (Energy Exchange, EPCOT Opinion Poll, FutureCom, ExpoRobotics) were. The actual computer room though, was level with the rest of EPCOT Computer Central. To the left of, and behind the entrance ramp to Astuter Computer Review/Backstage Magic, was a set of double doors. Beyond those, was a short hallway. To the left in that hallway, was an elevator for taking wheelchair guests upstairs to the show area. To the right, was a door to the "green room" where the Pepper's Ghost equipment was housed (basically, right beneath you as you stood at the top landing of the ramp). If you continued forward down that short hallway, directly ahead were another set of double doors leading to the computer room. There was not a single mainframe, but a collection of computers and related equipment; about 6 or 8 VAX 11/780's, as I recall; 4 MicroVax's (all DEC equipment, curiously enough, with the show sponsored by Sperry/Unisys); numerous Bin Loops, SCUs (Show Control Units), some other microcomputers whose name escapes me at the moment (I think they were Data General, and the same thing used for GPRCS). Most of what you saw from the show, were the bin loops (the orange washing-machine sized boxes with smoked-glass lids) which contained conitnuous-loop 24-track audio and timing signals for ride animation. The racks to the right (and possibly those behind the right-hand console) were SCUs. The consoles incorporated modified CompuColor II microcomputers, with their very distinctive keyboards (most of the keys were caramel-colored, but 8 keys were in different colors, corresponding to the 8 colors the CompuColor could display). The room extended two or three times farther back than you could see from the show. In the very back were the VAX's, and row upon row of Pioneer laserdisc players for the World Key Information System. As I understand, most or all of that is gone now. There's no use for the laserdiscs, binloops have been replaced with digital audio on PCMCIA cards, the VAXs--which now would be ancient--were used primarily for the long-defunct World Key, and I believe show control is now localized at each attraction. If you want to see Central again, rent the Disney move D.A.R.Y.L.. The "lab" from that movie, was actually Central! They just slapped placards on the equipment. You can read more about Central--and other Ride & Show technology, and EPCOT history on my Universe of Energy web site at <a href="http://energy.planet7.org/" target="_blank">http://energy.planet7.org/</a> You'll find the Central and Ride & Show stuff under the Pavilion section. G7
Originally Posted By g7 For what it's worth, the computer I was trying to remember was the Data General NOVA. As best I can piece together, GPRCS (General Purpose Ride Control System) was based on the NOVA, and they had one or two of them in Central, for reasons I don't know.
Originally Posted By g7 Thanks, BrotherDave, for the detailed descriptions of ECC. It jogged some wonderful memories for me! I know Communicore would be "dated" today if it had been left alone, but I so wish they could have kept the opennes and character of that space, rather than turning into the dark, claustrophobic, chaotic Innoventions. I've never been able to spend more than two minutes in there; I've caught only a passing glance of it. G7
