Originally Posted By rasvar One thing to note, whenever you look at audioanimatronics in still photos, they never really look that good. I have yet to see the new show. So I will wait until I get a chance to see it. The thing I always look for are the realistic moves. See if they caught the mannerisims. I always love looking at the "banter" going on in the background. One of my favorites, and I don't know if it is still there, is when it looked like Reagan was nodding off.
Originally Posted By Disneybrad One reason I think that the newer Presidents tend to not look as good, is that most of us have seen them live, either on TV, or in person. To me they look very good up until around Kennedy. But then again that is the Preisdent that really started being seen more often on TV, in higher quality footage. I'm sure people who remember seeing Presidents before that, may think they don't look as good, plus the older ones, we only have old arcival quality photos and paintings to base what what think they look like from, unlike the current ones where we know exectly how they are suposed to look.
Originally Posted By clamagic2 Disneybrad echos what I was thinking. I am anxious to see the new program but think I will miss the destinctive voice of Maya Angelou.
Originally Posted By Disneybrad I like the new narration voice much better than Angelou's there was something about her way of speaking that got to me. I don't think they new voice is a known person, but it is one of those voices that sounds like someone you know.
Originally Posted By Kevin I also think the new speaker is much easier to follow. Also, when you are sitting watching the show, GWB looks much more realistic. The problem here is that you have a very close-up still photo which is obviously very unforgiving. However, when you see him standing in a darkened room from 20 yards away, it seems great.
Originally Posted By ToonKirby Why did they get rid of Mya Angalou? Anybody know? I agree that his shirt collar looks weird, maybe it was just the picture. Btw, the last picture is great. Good for patriotic Disney fans as wallpaper.
Originally Posted By rasvar Its possible that she did not wish it to continue once Clinton was out of office. She was tied very close to him. Other then that, I really don't know. I have not heard the new show to see if there is a tone shift. this is one item that I am not really up on how the decisions are made, so i am just speculating.
Originally Posted By Disneybrad The naration is identical to the previous, just with a new speaker. So if you are wondering about the tone of the message I would say it is the same, just with a deep male voice instead.
Originally Posted By clamagic2 I understand your feelings about Maya Angelou's way of speaking. But, that is what gives her voice the recognizable quality that it has. Remember, she is in her '70's and vocal chords are muscles that age just like others in the body. She still has a strong delivery and is sought after for that quality. She is recognized as an American icon and one of our most important National poets. I think that history will bear that out in years to come linking her with Robert Frost and other national treasures. She is also a very savy business woman and has an astute manager. I don't think that she would have requested to be removed just because Bill is not longer the President. I think she probably had a limited run contract that expired and she either didn't choose to continue or Disney decided that it wanted someone without such a destinctive, identifiable voice.
Originally Posted By Jim in Pasadena CA From a different perspective -- when I first visited 'The Hall of Presidents' with the new narration, I was not familiar with the speaking voice of Maya Angelou -- nor did I recall any mention of her being narrator. Therefore, when the show started, and I heard the narrator voice, it sounded like an effeminate black man -- like Meshach Taylor doing his schtick on "Designing Women." It was pretty presumptuous for Disney to think that the average theme park goer is going to A. Know who Maya Angelou is B. Know here speaking voice. It's not like it was narrated by Oprah Winfrey -- or even James Earl Jones.
Originally Posted By woody >>Why did they get rid of Mya Angalou? Anybody know? She spoke at Clinton's Inauguration. She would be entirely inappropriate for Bush's show because she set the tone for the Clinton Administration. Since the Presidency is image and presentation, Bush deserves his own tone and image. They should have Rev. Graham provide the narration or introduction (Billy Graham's son) who spoke at GWB's Inauguration.
Originally Posted By clamagic2 I didn't know that narration at HOP was a partisan thing?! As I said earlier, her contract was probably up for renewal and everyone decided to pass. No deep meanings or anything. As for Rev. Graham, if you are going to do that, you might as well get the original, Billy Graham himself. After all, he's still a dynamic speaker and he did a superb job at the National Cathedral for the Memorial Service. And he couldn't possibly be seen as partisan. He has prayed with and advised every president since Eisenhower!
Originally Posted By woody >>I didn't know that narration at HOP was a partisan thing? Its not partisan, but it could be perceived as one, which is why they must choose a non-partisan narrator. Mya Angalou is symbolic of the Clinton Administration. Would Barbra Streisand be appropriate to sing the National Anthem at GWB's Inauguration? I don't think so. And she would care!!! Billy Graham would work, but he couldn't go to the Inauguration for health reasons. He is non-partisan so it wouldn't matter whether he spoke at Clinton or Bush's Inauguration.
Originally Posted By Jim in Pasadena CA How about simply having a narrator? Someone who's not famous? In this era of WDI and their literal thinking, maybe a return to a "Narrator" is the best thing. After all, if you're spending your time wondering if they narrator is Billy Graham, or Billy Graham's son, or Billy Bob Thorton...is that really the emphasis?
Originally Posted By clamagic2 Our politically correct vibes are in overdrive. We're not talking about who should speak or sing at an Inauguartion or what party they do or don't belong to. We're talking about the narration at a patriotic themed attraction at a theme park. And frankly, if they could get Barbra to sing at any attraction it wouldn't matter who or what is was, it would be fabulous!!!
Originally Posted By woody >>>We're talking about the narration at a patriotic themed attraction at a theme park. Image and symbolism does matter especially for the patriotic. >>>And frankly, if they could get Barbra to sing at any attraction it wouldn't matter who or what is was, it would be fabulous!!! Hmmm... No way!!!
Originally Posted By americaonparade I wish they would bring back the cool back theater 3-D sound effect: "Ya' tall drink of water!" in re to Abe Lincoln.
Originally Posted By meomi One thing I do know about stage work, his collar may be overemphasized to bring attention to his face, and pictures might do what a live performance would do when you are sitting in the theater. I will definitely be visiting this attraction in the near future. GOod pictures as always. You know although it is easy to slip into some kind of political discussion especially about HOP, I have to give it to LP for great coverage on all the events around Disney Co. Thanks for the good coverage and pictures.
Originally Posted By Eric Paddon At the risk of reopening a thread from long ago only because I am new to this forum and wanted to find out information on what had happened to this once beloved attraction of mine, I confess to a disappointment that a real opportunity was not made to rectify the travesty that was done in 1993 when the original narration program and the original Lincoln speech was disgracefully cast aside because a Marxist historian named Eric Foner complained about it being "McCarthyistic". Having had a chance to rediscover the original narration program from a copy of the soundtrack released on LP in 1972, the Lincoln speech of the original program is more timely than ever in the post-9/11 world. It's a tragedy that WDW visitors have been denied the chance to hear it since 1993.
