Bit of Kodak History

My oldest son and his family stumbled into this little ice cream parlor. As Eastman Kodak aka Kodak holds a very special place in our family history, he sent us a photo of this vintage mirror bearing a company ad.  It was due to my father in law's kindness that my then girlfriend and I got to dine in Disneyland's very exclusive Club 33.  Later on, his generosity was expressed in passing on to us free tickets to Walt's park and even Florida's Magic Kingdom and EPCOT Center. 

Last night we watched a one hour television special from about Walt Disney World from 1977. Beyond the endlessly cheery music and storyline, the presentation included some ads- and mostly of products that no longer exist. So, preserving this piece of history seems all the more important.

If You Can't Go to Tom Sawyer Island, Go Here Instead

The closure of Tom Sawyer Island at Magic Kingdom got you down? Does the removal of the Rivers of America bring a tear to your eye and make you wish for the days when Walt Disney ran Imagineering? Don't worry! We have you covered! There's a great place within reach that will remind you of the golden days of theme park design at its best.

Just head down the street from Walt Disney World and take a turn into Universal Orlando Resort. Head into Islands of Adventure. Walk past Hogsmeade and Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey and even go beyond Velocicoaster. Travel into Jurassic Park and stop. Take a deep breathe. Look around until you find Camp Jurassic. 

This place has all the charm and design detail you'd see on the soon to be demolished Disney island, just with a bit more thrill. Beautifully designed amber studded caves remind you this is not Huck Finn's playground. Is there something dangerous lurking around the bend?

Maybe there are flying dinosaurs overhead. Oh, no! It looks like the creature has a few victims that are being taken high above the island. I guess you could go up there for quite a ride and an incredible view.

But if you're inside those caves and hear a monstrous beast roaming them, hurry up! Get out of those caves, and take shelter up above! At least you'll get a better view of what is on the prowl. And you'll get to see how much there is to explore. 

This overlooked gem in a park stacked with thrills brings a different and immersive vibe on the world of prehistoric creatures. So, if you're missing Tom Sawyer Island and soon, the rest of Dinoland U.S.A. at Disney's Animal Kingdom, this is the place to go! Yes, Universal now owns dinosaurs in the theme park world. But at least they do it well!

(Photographs copyright Mark Taft.)

Why I Was Wrong to Ignore The Chosen

The global phenomenon known as The Chosen should have been a must see television event for this Christian man, but I've avoided it. Why? I saw one maybe two episodes when it first came out. It was definitely well produced, but I really didn't want a series that added to the truths in the Bible. I wanted to keep the facts straight from what was conjecture and not confuse story elements with truth. But then, unexpectedly, something changed. We restarted the show, and it was episode three of season one that caught me. "Jesus Loves the Little Children". Actor Jonathan Roumie's tender portrayal of the Messiah, the Savior of the World, as he interacted with a group of kids grabbed my heart. 

I got a bit choked up inside. Then Jesus' words from him that I know so well rung in my head:

"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” These words of his recorded in Matthew 11 verses 28-30 seemed fresh and new once more. And they were once again very personal. I hope they are personal for you as well.

As I went to turn on the television and watch another episode, a series called Jonathan and Jesus popped up. It's a four episode look that takes viewers behind the scenes. But not of the show per se. It's an in-depth look at what actor Jonathan Roumie has gone through as he wrestles playing the Son of God. It's as riveting as the series which birthed the behind the scenes look. Really challenging and inspiring at the same time.

So now, I've changed my mind and am watching The Chosen. (If I had to pick one episode so far to watch, it would be episode 7 of season one. Jesus encounters different people and asks them to follow him. It's powerful and very heart wrenching to say the least.) 

So, I'm now a fan of The Chosen. I'm still paying attention to what is said and if it's Biblically accurate. But I'm asking God to touch my heart and keep me tender toward Him as I watch. Needless to say, God has grabbed my attention in a fresh way. And I couldn't be happier about it.

Dancing with Olivia Newton-John

Olivia Newton-John. There's no one like her! Xanadu may have been a bomb of a movie, but the music was certainly fun. Magic was the definitive standout. I knew it was a smash the first time I heard it! Another hit was Suddenly with Cliff Richard, but my personal favorite was Dancin', a duet with the Tubes. It was a nifty blend of Rock and 40's Swing. But I always longed for a solo version that was all Olivia all the time. Thanks to a friend on the A&M Corner discussion boards, he created it on my behalf. That took some real magic- and I love it!

A Birthday Without A Photo

Finally! Blogger was up to its old tricks again!  I wanted to upload a photo of our youngest daughter and her father on her birthday, but no such luck! But today, it worked. Since our birthdays are very close together, we often celebrate together. One year, she decided to take me to the Denver Zoo to sit in the sand near the manta ray exhibit and have a margarita together. What a creative and thoughtful gift! A bit of Southern California in the middle of the plains of Colorado. Anyway, happy birthday to our youngest daughter! What an amazing woman of God she is!

Goodbye Rivers of America and a Large Piece of Magic Kingdom History

This is the view I will miss the most with the demolition of Rivers of America at the Magic Kingdom. It's the one I first saw in 1974 on my first visit to the original Walt Disney World park. The stately Haunted Mansion up on a hill in Liberty Square and Aunt Polly's over at Tom Sawyer Island. 

Back then, there was no Big Thunder Mountain or Splash Mountain on the other side, just wilderness to explore while riding the Admiral Joe Fowler Riverboat, Davy Crockett Explorer Canoes, the rafts, or the Mike Fink Keel Boats. It was a beautiful simpler time. Imagineering had created a wonderful, totally atmospheric piece of Americana. But nothing lasts forever.  

The Disney Parks blog reported these changes last year in August to a shocked crowd at D23:

"The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro, with the help of Tow Mater via video call, announced that a new area inspired by the Pixar Animation Studios film “Cars” will be coming to a reimagined section of Frontierland at Magic Kingdom. “The American West has always been about keeping your eyes on the horizon … believing in yourself, carving your own path, and striving toward success. That goes for miners in the mountains, bears from the country, a princess from the bayou … or a race car from the big city,” Josh told the crowd."

The crowd was silent, then some booed, and then it was on to the next announcement. 

Today is the last day to experience a very important piece of Magic Kingdom history. What a sad, sad day it is.

(Photographer unknown.)

Blessed is the Nation whose God is the Lord

"Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage!" So reads Psalm 33:12 in the Bible. As you watch the Hall of Presidents, Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln or the American Adventure at the Disney parks, listen with an open mind and heart. You'll hear the story of how God was so involved in the creation of our nation. Do we still believe that? I do. 

No, we're not perfect- but you cannot take away our heritage. Many try, but it's evil to remove what God has done and his role in our story. I'll be very curious to see what stories historian Ken Burns uncovers with the new documentary on PBS, The American Revolution.

Personally, as we celebrate 4th of July, our Independence Day, we should stop and ask ourselves if we are truly living a free and vicarious life.  God's Word shows us the truth once again: "Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom." (2 Corinthians 3:17) How we gain this real freedom is through turning our lives over to Jesus, holding nothing back- holding absolutely nothing back- and letting him transform us into what He intends for us to be. It may be painful at times, but pleasing God begins to be the priority of those He calls his children. His Spirit is always present when we submit to God and His ways. Every day is a new opportunity and a choice. What will you choose?

Carpenters Rock Del Webb's Sahara Tahoe

Here's a rare little photograph of the Del Webb's Sahara Tahoe Resort in Lake Tahoe advertising the Carpenters. The date is either March 17-19 or August 22-28, 1972. Regardless, it is one of the first times that Richard and Karen Carpenter headlined a show. Opening act was Foster Brooks, whose famous act was based on him playing a lovable drunk- certainly not politically contact now. Del Webb's was quite a prestigious place to be playing! But by this point in time, the resort would be thrilled to have such a big act. With 3 mega hit albums (Close to You, Carpenters and A Song for You) and 8 equally great selling singles in a row (Close to You, We're Only Just Begun, For All We Know, Rainy Days and Mondays, Superstar, Hurting Each Other, It's Going to Take Some Time, and Goodbye to Love) the brother/sister act was dominating the Top 40 sales and radio airplay charts. Ah, the good old days! 

It's all documented in the terrifically detailed book Carpenters: The Musical Legacy by Mike Cidoni-Lennox and Chris May. Think you know Karen and Richard? Well, the book will surprise you. Check it out.

(Photographer unknown.)

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This is part of a continuing series on the albums of Karen and Richard Carpenter. There are so many stand alone posts highlighting different aspects of their career, recordings, rare photographs, and life that I've lost count. 

Below is the list of my "Revisited /Fresh Look" reviews and then my initial ones a decade earlier. Each have different photos and clippings.

My Revisited / Fresh Look at the albums:

Offering / Ticket to Ride
Close to You
Carpenters 
A Song for You 

Now & Then

The Singles 1969 - 1973

Live in Japan

Horizon

A Kind of Hush

Live at the Palladium

Passage

The Singles 1974 - 1978

Christmas Portrait

Karen Carpenter (The Solo Album)

Music, Music, Music

My Initial Reviews of the albums:

Offering/Ticket to Ride

Close to You

Carpenters

A Song for You

Now & Then

The Singles 1969-1973

Live In Japan

Horizon

A Kind of Hush

Live at the Palladium

Passage

The Singles 1974-1978

Christmas Portrait

Made in America

Voice of the Heart

An Old Fashioned Christmas

Time (Richard Solo)

Lovelines

Karen Carpenter (Solo)

As Time Goes By