Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3pTRxr4U58&feature=related" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...=related</a> Remember the dreadful 'EPCOT's Daredevil Circus Spectacular' from 1987? I found a video of it on YouTube. See that Ringmaster? Commander StarCirc? That's me! Jim in Merced, CA! Check it out.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros That's quite an interesting show. I've only watched the first part, but I already have some questions about it. Where did they keep the elephants between the shows? I can't think of anywhere near the Fountain of Nations that could have been used. And how did they get them from their holding are to the fountain? That seems like it might have some crowd control issues, with elephants crossing guests' paths. It's pretty cool that they have a live band, but are all the random elephant noises really nessecary? I can't really tell whether you're supposed to pay attention to the elephants or the aerialists. They both seem like they're doing something, but neither one ever really seems to be the focal point. I guess it's supposed to be like a three ring circus with several acts going on at a time, but I just can't concentrate on that many things. I'm too ADD. Where was this filmed from? It seems like it's on the roof of one of the Communicore buildings (either above what's now the Electric Umbrella or the Coke place), which gives it a really nice angle, but I have to wonder who was up there doing the filming. The fountain makes an interesting stage with the water cascading off the sides, but I can't help but think about how miserably hot that must have been in the summer, since there is no shade around there. And it's kind of sad that they didn't get to show off the fountain for that time, since it's one of my favorite parts of the park.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA Fun questions FerretAmos: I wasn't involved in much of the operations of it -- I was just a 'sub' announcer. Here's what I remember. Elephants were kept behind 'Imagination' pavilion as I recall. They were walked through the park walkways just before the show. A heavy duty ramp was built for the elephants to get to the 'stage' that was created on top of that fountain. Random elephant noises in the music track -- yeah. Elephants or aerialists? What do you look at? Right. The whole show was pretty much like that. Where do you look? I think the person who filmed this was a cast member -- given all his movies of Future Corps and Future World Brass, I'm guessing he was in one of those bands. It's interesting that there's footage of me doing Commander StarCirc, and I would imagine I only performed it maybe 10-12 days total. The other Commander StarCirc -- the one who performed it most days -- was a guy in his late 50s -- famous around the Orlando area doing commercials and so forth -- super nice guy and he had a totally different character if you will, than I had. Of course, I was wearing a silver lame jumpsuit, with matching ankle boots. Combined with my poofy 80s blond hair, I looked like some kind of fruity surfer boy from Planet Zoom. And the version you're seeing here is 'Plan B' -- in the original, they had one of the weight-lifter guys do all of the Ringmaster announcements -- that was quickly changed, and Norm and I were the Ringmasters. Again, as I remember, due to negative guest reaction, the show closed about 6 months earlier than it was supposed to run. But even with that -- it was a fun show to perform. Running up that ramp and hearing my voice booming off of World Showcase was a real rush. Plus, all the circus performers and the Future World Brass member, and other actors were all really cool people and fun to work with.
Originally Posted By sjhym33 I was a manager in WS during the circus. I got to walk the elephants from the gates at what is now the old Millinium Village to the stage. Elephants walk fast. The elephants were housed where the Millinium Village now sits. The circus acts were booked for a year. When the EPCOT Circus closed rather quickly it left the performers without a job since most of the other circus's around had already booked all their acts for the upcoming season. A lot of unhappy people. I was never a fan of the circus. It felt out of place to me.
Originally Posted By beamerdog Cool, Jim! Personally, I was fascinated with the blonde head of hair on one of the women, lol. <<not a big fan of the animal part of the circus.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss <<Running up that ramp and hearing my voice booming off of World Showcase was a real rush.>> Perhaps the best part of the show was when you said, "The greatest show in SPACE space space space space..." The rest of it was...well, I'm not surprised guests reacted negatively. Yikes, what a train wreck.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA The rest of it was...well, I'm not surprised guests reacted negatively. Yikes, what a train wreck.> Truly It sure didn't work in the middle of Future World's Communicore. But it was fun!
Originally Posted By Tiggirl Wow! You were the "Master of the Rings of Space"! That's pretty impressive! I hope you put that on your resume. ~Beth
Originally Posted By Disneymom443 Very cool,to be the Master of the Rings of Space. You have a great voice. So how was it to see yourself from 22years ago?
Originally Posted By CarolinaDisneyDad It's always fun to see what people look like. Changed much? Elephants in Epcot does seem an odd fit. For that money they could have had multiple small shows or quartets. I still miss the quartet that opened for beauty and the beast and am rationalizing how to get them back.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA davewasbaloo -- the first part of the announcement -- 'And now, the Master of the Rings of Space -- Commander StarCirc' -- that actually is the Voice of Disneyland and Walt Disney World -- the late Jack Wagner.
Originally Posted By Labuda Weird, Jim... sorry,. I could have sworn I saw you with brown hair on two adults one child way back when... am I mistaken?
Originally Posted By brotherdave By the way, Jim. Has anyone uncovered your bit in Cedar Point's Disaster Transport pre-show??? I'd love to see it again!
