May 12, 2014

America Sings Once Again

Disneyland's carousel theater has hosted an interesting mix of shows. First, it was home to the West Coast debut of the Carousel of Progress, and more lately, it's been home to Innoventions and the even more recent influx of Marvel characters.

In between, the theater hosted Imagineer Marc Davis' tribute to the bicentennial of the U.S.A., America Sings. Why a musical tribute to America was found in Tomorrowland still puzzles, but what a sweet little show it was!

This piece of concept art depicts the Roaring 20's


From 1974 to 1988, the Audio-Animatronics show delighted audiences of all ages. Then, the characters made their way over to the other side of the park when they were found in Tony Baxter's classic Splash Mountain


Plans for a new Tomorrowland included a new show called Plectu's Intergalactic Revue.  Although the concept art looked intriguing (and I captured it, above, on a whim in 1990), wiser heads prevailed, and the alien based showed never made it.

The soundtrack for America Sings can be found on the 50th Anniversary boxed set, celebrating Disneyland's history. For this piece alone, the expensive and now out of print set is worth the expense... along with some pieces of rarely seen concept art in the souvenir booklet.

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

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