Episode #115 - Doug Live

Today's show focuses on a live show that holds a unique place in Disney history. The show is Doug Live! and its unique because it was not based on a Disney property - it was based on a Nickelodeon show that was bought out by Disney, and appeared on ABC morning.

Joining me to discuss it is Gary Miceli, a lover of the show and a Doug Live! specialist...you can find Gary on Facebook. Feel free to contact him with any questions you might have about the show...

A promotional item from Disney in 1999 read:

It's really tough being 12. And no one knows the trials, tribulations and triumphs of being a 12-year-old kid better than the title star of the "Disney's Doug Live!" musical stage show coming to Disney-MGM Studios.

The spring 1999 debut of "Disney's Doug Live!" will be part of the largest expansion in Walt Disney World history.

Disney's Doug -- star of the popular ABC "One Saturday Morning" television show with the same name -- will come to life through a mix of live performances and animation several times each day at Disney-MGM Studios in an original story developed especially for the theme park. "Disney's Doug Live!" replaces the SuperStar TV attraction which closed Sept. 26.

The new story of "Disney's Doug Live!" follows Doug Funnie, his dog Porkchop, best friend Skeeter, secret crush Patti and class bully Roger through the ups and downs of pre-teen life.

Disney-MGM Studios guests can be part of the show as lucky audience members will be chosen to play small parts in each performance of "Disney's Doug Live!"

You can watch the show here.  Its a lot of fun!

Episode #114 - Haunted Mansion stories

Its Halloween time again and friend-of-the-show Kristi is back to talk about the Haunted Mansion, and beyond.  Come and take a listen to the darker side of the park, and hear some fun ghost-oriented stories. (with apologies, the podcast this week is a little long at 41 minutes, but I think you will find its well worth your time!)


These are the scenes from the Haunted Mansion that we discuss:

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Below is "The HatBox Ghost" video. Its the only known video of the element in DisneyLand in 1969:

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Kristi references a video of the haunted mansion with some alterations. You can see "The Haunted Mansion: Hatbox Ghost Edition" at Vimeo.com/26227940

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Great Expectations is available at The Gutenberg Project , for free.

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Here are the Top 5 creepy things, in the Magic Kingdom, but not in the Haunted Mansion:

#5 Platypuses with Eggs (Its a Small World)


#4 Tiki Totems (Enchanted Tiki Room)


#3 Pirate on the Ship (Pirates of the Caribbean)


#2 Injun Joe's Cave (Tom Sawyer's Island)
 

#1 Tiger's glowing eyes in Shirley Temple's (Jungle Cruise)

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Bad Apple, was just released by Vagabondage Press Books and is available everywhere in print and all e-book formats. You can find it here:http://bit.ly/BadAppleKPS. (Remember 50% of the proceeds are being donated to charity)

Her newest scary story, "The Thing Inside," is in an anthology called Unnatural Tales of the Jackalope, available from Western Legends Press in both Paperback and Kindle on Amazon.

If you want to see the book trailers for either of these, they're on Kristi's website here: http://kristipetersenschoonover.com/trailers/

A ghost story writer who still sleeps with the lights on, Kristi Petersen Schoonover’s fiction has appeared in countless magazines and anthologies. She holds an MFA from Goddard College, has received three Norman Mailer Writers Colony Residencies, is editor for Read Short Fiction, and hosts the Scary Scribes podcast for Paranormal, Eh? Radio Network in Canada. Her work Skeletons in the Swimmin’ Hole is a collection of ghost stories set in Disney Parks; her horror novel, Bad Apple, is now available from Vagabondage Press Books. She’s also a member of the New England Horror Writers Association. More info: www.kristipetersenschoonover.com.

Episode #113 - EPCOT opening audio

Today's podcast is a look back at opening day in EPCOT. I have audio from then-chairman of the board E Cardon "Card" Walker, standing in front of a crowd offering a short dedication ceremony, some audio from the actual park opening - and that includes music and an introduction by Jack Wagner.

And then, I present part of the audio from a live TV feed from EPCOT that was shown on CBS to promote its opening. If you're interested in watching the whole video - including some of the cheesy scenes, amusing comments, moderately bad acting and Disney-fied music - be sure and watch the YouTube video below.

And finally, I have a few quotes and promotional materials to share. It's a look back at the actual opening of the park, and in some ways looking ahead to the promise of tomorrow....that never was.


In particular, Kaye specifically references an Israel pavillion, a Spain pavillion, and talks with Alex Haley about the concepts for the Africa pavillion....

Episode #112 - Epcot Stories

Continuing a celebration of EPCOT, on this podcast I have a guest who was on the construction crew and who was there for opening day as a CastMember. My friend Charles is my guest, and we chat about his memories of that time and he gives you a feeling for what that time was like, and I set some context for what it was like for those of us who saw it from the outside. I hope you enjoy this retrospective.

Curious as to what a "dragline" is?  Check out this wikipedia entry

The Odyssey Restaurant