Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the 1964 New York World's Fair in Disneyland! Part Two - The Illinois Pavillion

So, after seeing a few dinosaurs in Part One, the next place I headed to was Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln which looks nothing like the Illinois Pavilion in my guide book.
This was one of the crowning achievements by Disney and forever changed the landscape of their attractions. Could you imagine Pirates of the Caribbean or the Haunted Mansion with figures that just stood there with no movement of any kind? It's hard to believe there was a time without audio-animatronic figures and Lincoln was the first.
This doesn't look like the right place.
Inside you will fine this beautiful replica of the Capitol Building in Washington D.C.
This is a replica of the original 1964 sculpt of Lincoln's head created by Disney Legend Blaine Gibson.
Conceptual art created for the 1964 New York World's Fair by Disney Legend Sam McKim.
"The Burden of War" by John DeCuir.
The Disney Legends that signed this book are as follows, starting at the top:

Robert Henry (Bob) Gurr - designer who worked on all four Disney produced World's Fair shows including working on the ride systems for both Small World and Ford's Magic Skyway as well as the internal mechanisms for the Lincoln figure

Richard Sherman - songwriter who along with his brother Robert wrote the iconic song "it's a small world" but also my personal favorite, "It's A Great Big, Beautiful Tomorrow" for the Carousel of Progress which was part of Progressland

Rolly Crump - best known for creating the stunning Tower of The Four Winds in front of the "it's a small world" at the World's Fair but was the designer for Ford's Magic Skyway and also the art director for it's a small world

Alice Davis - costume designer who created all the costumes for the figures for "it's a small world."

Blaine Gibson - sculpted all four shows including his most famous creation, Abraham Lincoln for the Illinois Pavilion.

Marty Sklar - writer of concepts, narrations and publications for the Ford, G.E. and Small World shows
The same Disney Legends also signed the 1964 New York World's Fair Souvenir Map.

Now we are off to visit a spinning building...



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