Originally Posted By JBStew Opening Day was something of a combination of three-ring circus and wild west (and literally in Frontierland!) and no one could have pulled it off by "just reading cue cards." That Reagan went on to be our President allows the timeline of history to bend backwards and touch Disneyland again. That Reagan was a man that appeared to share many of the sensibilities and visions of the future that Walt Disney held is also significant. (and please note that I am not a fan of Reagan's administration, but I have geniune respect for the office and for those that have held it. We are talking about our history as a nation.)
Originally Posted By hilker I attended Disneylands opening day with my mother on my 5th birthday. I wanted to ride on the "Teacups" but my mother didn't. Ronald Reagan watched this unfold and offered to take me. I screamed on the ride and had a blast with him. I've never forgotten that or his kindness. I still have the opening day ticket. Thanks for the memories!
Originally Posted By narkspud To totexpert - horse hockey. To hilker - What a neat story! >>Reagan did a fine job of setting the mood for the speech that Walt Disney delivered.<< The broadcast also caught him having a hissy fit after they cut him off to go to a commercial break.
Originally Posted By Darkbeer JimHillMedia.com has a great story today... <a href="http://www.jimhillmedia.com/articles/guest/wsampson.06112004.1.htm" target="_blank">http://www.jimhillmedia.com/ar ticles/guest/wsampson.06112004.1.htm</a> Article is titled, "Remembering Ronald Reagan and the World of Disney".
Originally Posted By BRING-BACK-TOAD >>Reagan cut the school lunch program, now I have brittle bones<< GOOD Im glad he cut the program, all that does is suck money out of the taxpayers and gives it to people who don't need it. God Bless you Ronald Reagan
Originally Posted By imadisneygal ::Turn on Sarcast-O-Meter here:: Yeah, who ever said that little kids whose working parents can only afford to feed their kids one meal a day deserve a little extra healthy food?! Give me a break. This article isn't about Reagan's politics, it's about his life and him as a human being. He was a kind man and President of our country. Does it really do anyone any good to argue about it now? Either honor his life and his passing as a fellow human being, or go on being bitter about his politics. Whichever you choose speaks volumes about what you really hold important.
Originally Posted By narkspud Today's certainly not the day to be dissing Reagan, regardless of how you feel about his politics. But, really, Toad, can you at least try and keep such idiocy confined to the World Events section?
Originally Posted By totexpert -Oh, I forgot. You're some little kid somewhere typing on your Dad's computer. Ah, so nice. Getting personal. Shows ones true colors! -Chill, bro. Your remarks are FAR too offensive, and VERY inappropriate (not to mention plain dumb) at this time. Reagan was a mediocre president who did not defend millions of persons with aids and sent this country tumbling into Trillions of dollars of debt. This whole "mourning" issue is simply pout of hand and is horrific posturing by the bumbling George W.
Originally Posted By knoxvelour Though I did think it was pretty funny when he fired the air traffic controllers when they went on strike. That took some guts.
Originally Posted By BRING-BACK-TOAD >>Today's certainly not the day to be dissing Reagan, regardless of how you feel about his politics. But, really, Toad, can you at least try and keep such idiocy confined to the World Events section?<< I AM NOT dissing Reagan I am applauding the man for cutting the school lunch program. I love Reagan I am a conservative republican and think he was one of our greatest presidents! PLEEEEEZE
Originally Posted By BRING-BACK-TOAD You must not have realized that I was serious when I said that I was not being sarcastic.
Originally Posted By DMarsh Again, I respectfully ask my fellow LPers to confine their comments here to the subject matter of the article-- Ronald Reagan's contribution to the opening of Disneyland. I purposely avoided making any judgement calls about his character. And I felt it would have been wildly inappropriate to either promote or criticize his later political career in this forum. As far as his performance on July 17, 1955 goes, I remain very impressed by the work of all three correspondents. It was, to that date, the largest and most complicated live event ever broadcast in America. The morning rehearsal ended in complete chaos. (By the way, it was Walt Disney, not Ronald Reagan, who was caught complaining about his cue live on camera.) I cannot speak for the "ease" with which Reagan performed that day, as I have never spoken to him about it, or read any of his comments. But I can tell you that based on my personal experience covering events for LP, including "red carpets," that the reporters are not simply lounging about, reading from cue cards, and collecting big checks. It's hard work. And it's made all the harder when one is acutely aware that, to be successful, it must appear to be pleasant and effortless. (And it is made just as difficult when one must be very, very gracious to the occassional trouble-maker.)
Originally Posted By davidt01 Thank you Mr. Marsh for your article on Ronald Reagan. It was exactly what I was hoping to find this morning, when I 'googled' for "Ronald Reagan Disney". Also, thanks to CuriosWolfSo for the 'Disney Treasures' reference. I've seen 'clips', from time to time, but I've always wanted to see the entire "Opening Day" coverage, again. My DVD (which I just ordered form Amazon) should be here by the end of next week. About 630AM Thursday (on C-SPAN) I saw a 10 (or 11) year old girl, dressed in a very nice "Mickey & Minnie" sweatshirt, walking with her mom and dad through the Capital Rotunda to pay their family's respect to Ronald Reagan. As I watched, I was hoping that she knows (or will soon learn) about President Reagan's 'Disney connection'. I've certainly enjoyed the irony that the synergy between ABC and Disney helped them 'both' to prosper and allowed the beneficiary (of a financial deal struck in desperation) to eventually purchase it's benefactor. I've been to WDW twice and Disneyland once, sort-of... In 1979, when my daughter was7, and again last fall, with her and my 12 year old grandson, I spent a week at WDW's Fort Wilderness. When I was 11, my family took a trip from our home in Texas to Anaheim to visit my Dad's sister. While we were there she took us to see 'the sights' the Pacific Ocean, Saturn's ring's (through the telescope on Mt. Palomar), Knot's Berry Farm and a huge 'untouched' orange grove where she took my picture, beside a rather modest sign which read "The Future Home of Disneyland", on July 16, 1954. So, I've always said "I was there." I was just 366 days early,,,
Originally Posted By BRING-BACK-TOAD >>a huge 'untouched' orange grove where she took my picture, beside a rather modest sign which read "The Future Home of Disneyland", on July 16, 1954. So, I've always said "I was there." I was just 366 days early,,,<< And you have never been back to Disneyland since?
Originally Posted By narkspud A couple clarifications, just for the record: Toad, I should have been clearer in my response. I can see that you admire Reagan, and I didn't mean to imply that you didn't. What I objected to was your school lunch remark. But let us leave this sordid scene, as school lunches are quite off topic here. Which is what I really meant to say. I know about Disney's confusing on-camera cue. The Reagan thing I was referring to was not on camera, but was caught by an open microphone as Art Linkletter interviewed Danny Thomas outside Rocket to the Moon. It starts at about 53:42 on the DVD. I wasn't mentioning it to discredit Reagan, and it really isn't a big deal--I just found it amusing that it went out over the air. No doubt there was a lot of grouchy talk behind the scenes that didn't get picked up--it was obviously a very stressful gig. And after all, Ronald did have every reason to believe that his mike was off. I've been involved in some live television broadcasts myself, and I'm still amazed at the audacity (yes, even stupidity) the network and the Disney folks showed by even trying something as complex as "Dateline Disneyland"--in an unfinished themepark, open for the very first time, filled to the gills with customers, in blazing hot weather. I'm sure it would've been a mess even with today's digital wireless technology, and they were attempting it in the vacuum tubes and cables days of 1955! I'm amazed they managed to even stay on the air (more or less) for the whole 90 minutes. You think hosting that show was mindless and easy, when practically every cue was missed, equipment was failing, and the broadcast was running several more minutes behind schedule with every segment? Heck, the hosts deserved danger pay and maybe even a few medals.
Originally Posted By WorldDisney BRING-BACK-TOAD: I sometimes wonder if all conservatives think like you? I'm going to give the benefit of the doubt on this one and say "No". As for Reagan, it's nice he's being remembered in such a classy way, but I admit I don't understand all this fawning over him? He certainly wasn't "loved" in MY neighborhood.
Originally Posted By Doobie Guys, enough with this. This is a positive topic to talk about Reagan's relationship with Disney and people's positive feelings about Reagan at this time. Anything more can go in World Events. Further political comments will be removed from here. Thanks. Doobie.
Originally Posted By AladdinAZ Hosting any show live on tv in 1955 had to be quite a technological marvel. To do this on Disneyland's opening day, especially with the various cuts from main street to other parts of the magic kingdom make it even more complex. No doubt Reagan's experience as a sports announcer came in handy for this event. Reagan had accomplished so much in his life that I have not seen any Books, magazines, pictures, heard any mention, nor any side note of him being a host for DL's opening (Outside of Disney web sites.) A small note in one of his biographies would have been nice, though. It is nice to know about and see that he was in DL for the 35th Anniversary. As insignificant as being a host for DL's opening was, comparred to his future accomplishments, he must have been happy to have had a small part in opening Disneyland.
Originally Posted By DMarsh Thank you, Doobie. Good insights, narkspud. I will go back and look at that portion of the broadcast. Davidt01-- welcome to the LaughingPlace. Do you still have the photograph you described? If so, I would be very interested (indeed most anxious) to see a copy of it. If you would be willing to share, please contact LaughingPlace and let them know that Doug Marsh would like to see your picture. And thank you for the kind comments on the article, in addition to the very interesting personal memory.
Originally Posted By HyperTyper >>Anyone ever been to the Reagan Library in California? << I went several years ago, after a day at Disneyland. (It was in 1999, I believe ... while DCA was under construction.) The library is DEFINITELY a treat. The perfect place to spend a quiet half-day, after a hectic day at Disney. (I don't know how quiet the library will be this summer, following Reagan's death.) The museum itself is a remarkable treat ... with dozens upon dozens of interesting memoriabilia, including the actual x-ray of Reagan's gunshot wound. There are some neat films to view with clips from his presidency. There is also a stunning replica of the Oval Office. Apparently, the Reagans wanted it (in part) because the Oval Office is not included in the tour of the White House itself, and because Ronald Reagan had such high esteem for the office (literally and figuratively) of the Presidency. It's quite neat to peek inside and get a feel for what the real thing must be like. Out back (near where the president is now buried) is a huge concrete slab from the Berlin wall. It looks drab, tacky and so completely out-of-place in that beautiful setting (with either spray-painted artwork or grafitti all over it) but it so-well illustrates why Reagan was so successful and so beloved ... because he didn't mind seeing ugliness in the world and calling it what it was. The complex and grounds are lovely. One couldn't wish for a better burial place. It's somewhat remote ... above the city and removed from the noise and commotion. For anyone who visits the southern California area, I highly recommend a visit. I know next time I'm in the area, I'll be back.
