The Red Car Rides Again
It’s been quite a while since the Red Cars of the Pacific Electric rolled through the streets of Los Angeles.
I was really glad to hear that the PE would play a role in Buena Vista Street. And even though I have driven a real Hollywood car out at the Orange Empire Railway Museum a few years ago, I admit to having some doubts when I first heard of the cars here. Especially the choice of a center entrance car! I would have thought something like the Red Cars in San Pedro would have worked well here.
The interior of the recreated PE 500 with walkover seats and high platform loading at San Pedro’s Red Car.
The two cars at California Adventure, numbered 717 and 623, seem very much at home here. Now, just to get people to notice them and get out of the way when they pass! It shouldn’t take a conductor to walk ahead of the car along it’s route from the park entrance on Buena Vista St all the way to the Tower of Terror. People should be able to get out of the way on their own.
(The real car 717 still lives out at Orange Empire, although in the red scheme worn by the faux 623. It even inspired the film makers of “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” as they created a rubber tired version of the car, now living in Florida on the Studios backlot tour in Orlando.
The rubber tired faux 717 during the filming of “Who Framed Roger Rabbit”
Photo credit – Orange Empire Railway Museum
The real Pacific Electric car 717, now restored at the Orange Empire Railway Museum.
Photo Credit – John Smatlak
While I understand that full sized cars might have not have fit into this setting, I give Imagineering full marks for working within the constraints given. Although I’m still betting that the overhead wire doesn’t last. Another nice touch, even if the lawyers wouldn’t permit it to be used for power. These cars use batteries, charged via an induction system, cleverly hidden at each end of the line.
I did not get the chance to ride either of the cars during my recent visit to the California Adventure park, but hope to do so soon! It’s grand to see this part of Southern Calif0rnia’s transportation past brought to life for new generations.
The Voices of Liberty
Not all of the new things at the Disneyland resort are in the California Adventure park.
Back across the Esplanade, you’ll find an addition over at the Opera House in Main Street’s Town Square. Said addition being the folks above, known as “The Voices of Liberty”. Imported for the summer from Epcot’s American Experience, the troupe of vocal talents is sure to win fans at Disneyland as well.
They began with a song in front of the Opera House and then moved inside, mingling with the crowd.
I have always been a fan of live entertainment at the Park. Something about a performance rather than just another recording, I guess. The Voices of Liberty does not disappoint here. This fresh approach to entertaining and educating is a welcome one.
Moving inside the Opera House, the group performed a series of songs that tie in well with the Lincoln presentation. The added dimension to that show is well worth the addition of 10 minutes.
On our visit, Saturday through Monday in late June, the Voices of Liberty were appearing Friday through Tuesday, on the hour from 11 am to 5 pm. If you get the opportunity, you really owe yourself the treat to stop by and enjoy their performance. At this time, they are scheduled to be at Disneyland until September.
And then, while you’re already in the theater, enjoy the classic “Great Moments with Mister Lincoln”.
It’s a fine way to enjoy some of Disneyland’s best!
It all started with Walt.
Is it really the case here? Could it be that one part of the Company that bears his name didn’t get the memo? You know… the one where the Walt Disney Company is slowly being transformed into just plain Disney.
Think about it for a moment. A whole new entrance to a theme park set in a version of Southern California that Walt might have encountered when he first arrived from Kansas City in 1923. Including a really inspirational statue at street level of a young Walt Disney and a young Mickey Mouse that guests are encouraged to have their photo’s taken with. And then a really swell line of merchandise based on that same image.
Doesn’t sound like a company set to remove it’s founder from memory does it?
Add to that, these photo’s of Walt (with an autograph) for sale all over both parks.
Some really nice images, there. From all through the years. And reasonably priced too. For a company that seems to be trying to remove the man’s name from memory, this seems to fly in the face of that.
I’m glad to see that we’re getting a reminder that one man’s dream continues to inspire both inside and outside the Walt Disney Company.
Return from the wilds of Orange County
Well, I’m back.
Survived a long weekend in Orange County and lived to tell the tale.
So… Where to begin?
Disney California Adventure. All of the dollars invested indeed have paid off here. That’s the Reader’s Digest version. The longer story I’ll share in future postings. But safe to say, Disney has succeeded in making the park what it was intended to be. A companion to Disneyland that helps to generate multi-day visits by guests.
A few highlights. Radiator Springs or Carsland is a genuine hit. A wonderful reproduction from the film by Pixar. Weaknesses of that particular story aside, the area provides plenty of entertainment and diversion for all ages. But one has to wonder what the place will be like when the mercury climbs toward the century mark. Especially those folks waiting hours in line down in the concrete canyon that is the queue for Radiator Springs Racers.
Buena Vista Street. Wow! A counterpart to Main Street and filled with an upgraded shopping and dining experience – especially the Carthay Circle Restaurant and lounge! Sadly, Elias and Company all but duplicates World of Disney. But there is hope as area specific merchandise has gained a foothold in DCA. And the park still has plenty of things left to fix.
It is a wonderful start. Here’s hoping that Imagineering is given similar budgets to continue all over the full Disneyland resort.
Across the Esplanade, the areas that got all the work recently look great. Carnation Cafe inside and out sparkles, busy as ever. The Matterhorn looks good, although a somewhat bonehead maneuver to whoever redesigned the queue for the attraction. One line around the left side and only that side of the attraction open loading guests until almost 11 am on a Tuesday? A 45 to 60 minute wait here really? Sorry, got to go back to lines on both sides and both sides of the mountain up and running earlier in the day. It is a favorite guest attraction and deserves less new thinking and more reliance on what has worked before.
Ah well… more to come! More postings with more to share in the days ahead. Enjoy!
Notes from the Roadside
Big doings in Anaheim. Lots of projects coming to conclusion at Disneyland. Especially Carsland.
No secret. I’m a fan of the open road. Out going places, seeing things I never have had the chance to see before. So, yes… I’ll be joining folks to see the new at California Adventure soon enough.
But back to that road. I’ve had the luck or misfortune to have been through enough places that most folks never see, let alone stop and explore. And I am smart enough to say that the road opens ahead of me with plenty more of these kind of places ahead.
All kinds of places that could pass for their own versions of Radiator Springs. The kind of spot along the road where one extra customer can mean the difference between prosperity and bankruptcy. And I have been that extra customer, buying that soft drink and snack. You know, the one that after driving for several hours with nothing in sight, that makes you smile at the prospect. A stretch of the legs. And that bathroom break, with indoor plumbing.
It is possible still to drive the miles without seeing civilization. You often have to leave the Interstate and bigger highways to do it, but even in today’s world of hyperconnectivity, those stretches of roadway are out there.
The photo above is one such place. Along a portion of Santa Fe Avenue, in the middle of the San Joaquin valley, south of Merced. You can stop alongside the road and other than the railroad and the road, there is nothing. The view in all directions? Nothing. Not a sign of civilization anywhere.
And even though the area here has cell phone coverage, it is not hard to imagine one’s self years ago. Back before the phone, land line variety, was even something you could find easily. Out in spaces like this, believe it or not, rural meant just that. If you were not self sufficient, you might not have electricity or indoor plumbing. Hard to believe but some places still come close out there. Gold Point, Nevada for example.
Burning Man doesn’t come close to what I’m writing about here. Sure, it may be off the face off the planet. But anybody who has ever been to Gerlach (on purpose, mind you) can tell you that. Nope, these are the places that few people ever see. I mean few. Not 60,000 plus all gathered for an homage to dust.
The pioneer spirit? Maybe. Living off the grid? Maybe. Life without air-conditioning? Well, plenty of people do manage just fine. Give up the Internet? Not a bad idea…
But all kinds of places are still out there waiting to be seen, waiting to be found. So, start that motor and head off for the unknown. Liable to be a good cup of coffee and a nice slice of pie somewhere out there worth finding!