MARK This episode of Yesterworld is sponsored by VRV. With VRV, you can watch all your favorite Nickelodeon shows of the past. And now with Boomerang, they have all of your classic cartoons of the past. So stay tuned after the video to learn more, and to start your ad-free 30-day trial of VRV Premium. Check out the link in the description, or go to vrv.co/yesterworld.
In April of 1964, the Carousel of Progress made its debut at the New York World’s Fair. Two relocations and over fifty years later, it now stands as technically Magic Kingdom’s oldest attraction. However, much like the show’s theme of progress, a lot has changed over the years. So let’s explore the evolution of Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress.
(Opening sequence) --- Though you might think the evolution of the Carousel of Progress begins with the New York World’s Fair, it actually goes back a decade earlier with the unbuilt land of Edison Square. A while back, I explored the subject in detail for a previous episode…and since this is already gonna be a pretty long video, I’m gonna do my best to summarize it in just under a minute.
Much like the unbuilt Liberty Street, Edison Square was one of the early planned expansions for Disneyland. And within this new land was to be a signature attraction: General Electric’s ‘Harnessing the Lightning.’ The show was to feature a cast of electromechanical personalities telling the story of the advancement of technology through a four-act structure: the days of pre-electricity; the days of early electricity; the present day, in terms of when the attraction was to open; and finally, 19?8 as an unspecified future; and the should would have ended with an epilogue in the form of a GE product showcase.
But remember, this was still around 1957, and these electromechanical personalities - AKA human-like animatronics - were still a ways off. This, combined with GE’s 1960 legal troubles that included $50 million in damages, jail sentences for managers, and others fleeing the country led to the project being put on indefinite hold. However, as an effort to restore their reputation with the public, around 1963 General Electric approached Walt Disney to collaborate on a pavilion for the New York World’s Fair.
(Mark’s head is superimposed on the art museum scene from Rocky as he hits the 1-minute mark in the nick of time.)
This really was perfect timing, as the Tiki Room had recently showcased Audio-Animatronics and a human version was being developed for Disneyland’s ultimately unrealized Hall of Presidents show. So taking many of the ideas and concepts for Harnessing the Lightning, the attraction was reworked into the Carousel of Progress. And much like “it’s a small world,” which also debuted at the fair, Walt Disney enlisted the help of the Sherman Brothers for a catchy new theme.
(Clip from the Wonderful World of Color. The Sherman Brothers perform their new song.)
SHERMAN BROTHERS There’s a great big beautiful tomorrow Shining at the end of every day
MARK Though Carousel of Progress was just one of the many experiences at GE’s Progressland, it was by far the most popular among visitors. Once inside the theater, a beautifully animated kaleidoscope-style curtain mesmerized visitors. You might even notice the host, who was seated next to a control box…though as to just how much the show was automated is debated. After an introduction, the theater revolved in a clockwise direction to Act 1. And what’s interesting is that while in test footage from WED, the first act took place between 1880 and 1900, this was changed by the time it debuted at the fair, which reflected the Edison Square proposal.
(Clip of the test footage.)
JOHN What year? Oh, somewhere between 1880 and 1900.
(Clip of the original show.)
JOHN What year is it? Oh, just before the turn of the century.
MARK After Father talked about all the latest innovations, Scene 1 showed mother and young daughter washing laundry. And while the scene wouldn’t change much visually over the years, it did have one…um…exception.
JOHN Now Mother has time for recreations, like, uh…
SARAH Like canning and polishing the stove?
JOHN (chuckles) Okay, Mother. You just iron the wrinkles out of my shirt.
SARAH Yes, dear…
MARK Scene 2 showed the at the time voiceless son using a brand new invention: the air suction vacuum cleaner. Scene 3 showed Granny listening to what’s referred to as a ‘talking box,’ and in Scene 4, Daughter was seen getting ready for a trolley party.
Act 2 took place in 1920, where, much like in Harnessing the Lightning, the scene featured the many wires for early electronic devices, and the first scene of the act yet again had Mother doing the laundry.
JOHN Now it’s no problem at all to get my collar smoothed. Right, Mother?
SARAH Yes, dear…
MARK For Scene 2, the grandfather and son listened to a phonograph, with the grandfather using what at the time was called a ‘crystal set radio receiver.’ In the third scene, Daughter was in her room and was told to go to bed…which I’ve always found odd, since it has very little to do with electricity and is absent from all the Edison Square and Carousel of Progress concept art. But this wasn’t the case for the fourth scene, in which you met Cousin Orville, as his presence dates all the way back to the original ‘Harnessing the Lightning’ proposals.
Speaking of Edison Square, though its third act took place during the present day of the attraction’s planned opening, this one took place in the 1940s. It’s also really the only act that’s completely different from how it appears from both concept art in Harnessing the Lightning and Carousel of Progress.
JOHN Now we’re in the frantic forties, and it’s amazing how today’s household appliances are helping to take over the hard work.
MARK The first scene in Act 2 [sic - 3] showed Grandma and Grandpa having taken over the den with a combination radio-record player unit. In Scene 2, Mother was seen working on the rumpus room, with Scene 3 showing Daughter working out on…whatever those things are called.
JANE Besides, I wouldn’t be seen in his old jalopy. Makes me bounce and shake like a bowl of jelly.
MARK The fourth scene showed the kids watching a brand new television set - and if the kid looks familiar, he’d later appear in Space Mountain’s Home of the Living. But I’m getting ahead of myself.
Finally came Act 4, which took place during the Christmas season of the 1960s, where Mother and Father sat on a couch talking about all the latest inventions. Though it’s worth noting that, while Edison Square’s version took place in the future, the setting of the New York penthouse remained the same. But what’s really interesting is that it seems for a brief time, there was a third character in the scene…but he or she was replaced by a cat at some point.
SARAH You’re probably wondering what happened to Grandma and Grandpa. Well, they’re no longer with us…
MARK Don’t worry, this was just a joke.
SARAH They have their own home now, in a community for senior citizens.
(Movie footage of a character bursting out laughing with Walt’s face superimposed over the character.)
MARK After the curtains closed, visitors were directed to a ramp that took them up to the building’s second floor. Here, you could find other experiences, like the Sky-Dome, the first public display of thermonuclear fission; and a showcase of GE products of the present and future.
As I mentioned earlier, the Carousel of Progress was incredibly popular - so popular that it was decided to bring the show to Disneyland, and GE would stay on as its sponsor. However, this wasn’t just a simple addition, but part of a major facelift for Tomorrowland. You see, when Disneyland first opened, Tomorrowland was far from the futuristic land Walt Disney had originally envisioned, and it was so behind schedule that the iconic rocket was installed only days before opening. And while this literally has nothing to do with the story, I wanted to point out this really cool footage of Walt Disney riding a bike when Tomorrowland was under construction.
So alongside other new attractions like the PeopleMover and Adventure Thru Inner Space, the Carousel of Progress seemed like a perfect fit. As far as where to put it, it was decided to use the location at the time home to the Space Bar restaurant, and Tomorrowland closed for construction in October of 1966. And while the Carousel Theater itself would see a few alterations in size and engineering, by and large it remained the same.
(Clip from Wonderful World of Color.)
ANNOUNCER This scale model represents more than five acres of new attractions in Tomorrowland. Inside these buildings are shows and exhibits presented by half a dozen of America’s leading companies.
MARK Slated for 1967, visitors eagerly awaited the opening of New Tomorrowland, and Walt Disney often visited the construction site during the first month or so. Around the same time, he also filmed the introduction to the Florida Project, in which he proposed his Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow. This would take physical form as a large model, to be housed in the second floor of the show building for the Carousel of Progress.
But sadly, Walt Disney wouldn’t live to see the realization of his New Tomorrowland, as he tragically passed away before the end of the year. And though his idea for a community of tomorrow as originally envisioned pretty much ended with his passing. The team would still finish the model in his honor, and it wasn’t long before construction on the Carousel of Progress continued and opened alongside New Tomorrowland in July of 1967.
ANNOUNCER One of the hit shows of the New York World’s Fair is now in its new home in Tomorrowland: the Carousel of Progress.
MARK For Disneyland’s version, the animatronics were given a cosmetic update - most notably Father and the dog, who were repositioned for the various acts of the show, as well as a few of the on-stage props. And Mother would also receive a new appearance and new voiceover. The final scene featured the biggest change, as in addition to a redesigned set, behind Mother and Father was now a backdrop of EPCOT. This is also how you can tell the difference between the World’s Fair and Disneyland version. Another change is a bit of a mystery, as while these were taken at the Carousel of Progress, I’ve yet to find a single photo providing any context as to where they might have been.
SARAH Merry Christmas!
JOHN Merry Christmas.
DOG (whines)
MARK Much like the World’s Fair version, after the show visitors took a ramp up to the second floor - only here, it was to view the incredible model of Walt Disney’s EPCOT. You could also view this by riding the PeopleMover, but it seems the only footage of this was in the Tomorrowland 1967 TV special.
ANNOUNCER Realistic to the smallest detail, this animated model is a living blueprint of new ideas and systems for future cities.
MARK But now, let’s fast forward to around 1972, as by this point the Magic Kingdom had recently opened as Disney’s second theme park. It was also around this time that evidently, GE did a study and found that 80% of the visitors that saw the Carousel of Progress were Anaheim locals and repeat visitors - and for a company whose stake in the attraction was purely a financial one, they saw this as a poor return on the investment. So they asked Disney to move the attraction to their brand new theme park in Florida to gain exposure to a new audience…and in return, they’d sign a new ten-year contract. Interestingly, early blueprints for the Magic Kingdom indicate they wanted to build a version of the Carousel of Progress there anyway.
So in 1973, Disneyland’s Carousel of Progress was closed and was soon replaced by a new show by the name of America Sings.
ANNOUNCER Eagle Sam takes guests on a tour of our nation’s musical heritage with stops in four eras: the down-home setting of the early South, the adventurous life of the old West, the fast-living days of the gay nineties, and the rockin’ renditions of modern times.
MARK Construction on the new carousel began in 1974, and was built alongside Space Mountain and the WEDWay PeopleMover, both of which would open in January of 1975. However, as part of GE’s new contract was the removal of the Sherman Brothers’ ‘Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow,’ as allegedly GE’s president wanted visitors to focus on the products of now rather than the products of tomorrow. So the musical duo wrote a new theme, ‘The Best Time of Your Life.’
(Movie clip of two people driving in a car, with the GE logo as the driver’s head. ‘There’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow’ plays on the radio.)
DRIVER This song sucks! (changes the station)
(‘The Best Time of Your Life’ starts playing instead. The passenger glares at him.)
MARK For this version, the script was given a rewrite, and all the voice actors were recast, including the replacement of Rex Allen as Father by Andrew Duggan. Also, while the previously mentioned kaleidoscope curtains may have been a sight to behold for visitors, they were a headache for maintenance. So in their place were a set of generic silver curtains. The theater would also now revolve in a counterclockwise direction instead of clockwise.
(Clips of the show.)
JOHN (hums along to the birds chirping) Well, the robins are back.
MARK The first major change could be seen in the first scene of Act 1, where the son who previously was vacuuming was now looking at his father’s stereoscope. Another change was in Act 2, in which Mother was promoted from doing Father’s laundry to embroidery.
JOHN Mother now has time to enjoy her embroidery in the cool of the evening. Right, Mother?
SARAH Yes, dear…
MARK Though the rest of Act 2 remained the same visually, Father and Daughter now had a new exchange.
JOHN I’m also getting a little static from my daughter.
JANE I don’t see any harm in my looking for a job, Daddy.
JOHN It’s a man’s world out there, Jane.
JANE Well, it won’t always be, Father.
MARK Oh, yeah, and for some reason, the dog’s name was changed from Buster to Queenie, along with the scrapping of the original gag in which the dog was constantly interrupting.
(Sound clips from the original show.)
BUSTER (growls)
JOHN Rover! Mind your manners.
BUSTER (growls)
JOHN Cut that out, Buster! Well, our…
BUSTER (growls)
JOHN Sport!
MARK In Act 3, Father was again repositioned, this time behind a table. And evidently, in this version it was decided that Grandma and Grandpa would steal the kids’ television, as while they still took over the den, it now had their TV set.
GRANDMA Come on! Come on! Knock ‘im tight! Let him have it! That’s it, tiger! Come on!
MARK For the second scene, Mother remodeling for the rumpus room was changed to their son working on a model airplane, which was actually based on a piece of original unused concept art. Scene 3 still had Daughter working out on…whatever those things are called, and in the fourth scene, the kids watching TV were replaced by Mother working on the rumpus room.
Of course, the most drastic visual change from Disneyland’s version was the final scene, which now featured the entire family celebrating New Year’s Eve in the 1970s. In this completely new scene, Father worked on his traditional New Year’s chili, Mother talks about her work as an activist, and Grandma makes a joke.
GRANDMA In my day, women only had time for fun things, like…canning and polishing the stove.
MARK Eventually, the family turns on the New Year’s celebration on TV, which takes place - where else? - but at the Magic Kingdom. The scene also really, really beat the audience over the head with the new theme song.
JANE (hums and plays guitar) Now is the best time of your life
GRANDPA But I admit, the time we live in really is the best time.
JOHN Yes, this is the best time. Every day of the year can be the best time of your life.
FAMILY Now is the time Now is the best time Now is the best time of your life
MARK Now, unlike Disneyland’s version, this one did not have a second floor with a view of the EPCOT Model. Instead, the model was relocated to a display aboard the brand new WEDWay PeopleMover…but sadly, only a fraction of the original model was kept intact. As to where the rest wound up, it’s a bit of a mystery.
The Carousel of Progress went mostly unchanged for almost a decade, but in the ’80s several of the voice actors were changed and the final scene was given another update.
GRANDMA I think we’re living in a wonderful time.
JIMMY Do you really feel that way?
GRANDMA The eighties are a wonderful time.
MARK The scene was rid of the 1970s home design and updated with a more modern look, with a flatscreen TV, a computer, and wardrobe changes for the entire family…and a new pug for the Magic Kingdom. Oh yeah, and Father’s traditional New Year’s Eve chili was changed to…omelets?
FATHER Oh, essentials. Glad you mentioned that. It's time for me to start my New Year's Eve spectacular. Omelet superb avec jambon.
JIMMY Known in other circles as ‘ham and eggs.’
(Bursting out laughing clip, now with Eisner’s face instead.)
MARK However, by 1985, GE’s contract expired and they opted to not renew, which meant a redesign of the attraction’s logo and the removal of all the GE references. But supposedly, they did continue to support the attraction until around 1992, by which time the 1980s references were edited out and the computer in the final scene was updated as well.
The next big change to the attraction came in 1993, when Magic Kingdom’s Tomorrowland was preparing for another makeover. Now, I’ve already talked plenty about the history, controversy, and disappointment of Disneyland and Magic Kingdom’s new Tomorrowland…compared to what was originally planned, at least. But what I haven’t touched on just how close the Carousel of Progress came to being closed forever. Looking at early development plans showed a new flying saucer attraction set to replace the carousel show building. But allegedly for budgetary reasons - yes, budgetary reasons - this was scrapped, as the cheaper option was to just give Carousel of Progress an update.
However, this one by far had the most drastic changes to the attraction since its original debut, and was fittingly rebranded as ‘Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress.’ This version also saw the return of ‘It’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow,’ with ‘The Best Time of Your Life’ becoming part of the area music for the new Tomorrowland. Now, if you’re like me, this fact just totally blew your mind. So here’s a quick comparison.
(Both versions are played one after the other.)
New actors were cast in virtually all of the roles, including Father, who was now voiced by Jean Shepard. And while the time periods remain the same, Act 1 now took place on Valentine’s Day. The scenes in the first act didn’t change much visually, but after thirty years it was now time for Father to take on some of the household chores.
JOHN Oh, that’s right, folks. Now Sarah has time for other things, like…
SARAH Like canning and cleaning the oven?
JOHN Yes, dear…
(Bursting out laughing clip, now with Iger’s face instead.)
MARK Act 2 now revolved around the fourth of July, and every single scene was given a new overlay, with the most noticeable being Mother, who is now working on costumes rather than Father’s clothes. The other being Daughter, who is getting ready for a celebration in her costume…and interestingly, Cousin Orville was now Uncle Orville.
Act 3 now loosely revolved around Halloween, with the son now working on a jack-o’-lantern instead of a model airplane, and the addition of a number of props that have come and gone over the years.
And much like the previous versions, the final scene saw the biggest changes - this time, to Christmas and the house of the 2000s. And it now featured technology of the future, like voice-activated lighting and electronic devices and virtual reality. And you might recognize the voice of the grandfather as the original father from the World’s Fair and Disneyland versions.
JOHN (1967) You know, spring cleaning is a lot easier than it used to be.
GRANDPA (1993) (chuckles) For a while, we didn't even have a house phone. Not to mention laserdiscs and high-def TV.
MARK Now, from here you might assume I jump to a 2000 version, or even a 2010 version. But aside from changes to its exterior, the Carousel of Progress has gone virtually unchanged for almost three decades. Yep, the ‘90s were almost thirty years ago. …Hold on, I wanna future-proof this episode, just in case.
(Rewind)
…has gone virtually unchanged for almost four decades. Yep, the ‘90s were almost forty years ago.
While rumors still persist about an update in the near future, what I admire most about the attraction in its current state are all the props from the abandoned scenes and elements left over from the original versions. So as far as what the future holds for the Carousel of Progress, I think it’s just like the song: When it becomes a reality, it’ll be a dream come true for you and me.
But what already is a reality is being able to watch your favorite classic cartoons on VRV, as while I’ve previously mentioned, their collection of live-action and animated Nickelodeon shows, VRV now offers Boomerang. Now, unlike Nickelodeon, these shows were a bit before my time, but I still grew up with them in the form of reruns. So relive cartoons from your childhood - or maybe technically your parents’ childhood - like The Jetsons, Scooby-Doo, Popeye, The Smurfs, and even more in stunning quality.
But VRV has way more to offer than just Nickelodeon and Boomerang. So whether you’re a fan of anime, documentaries, or independent cartoons like The Bravest Warrior [sic], they have something for just about everyone. Best of all, you can download the app on your favorite devices and watch your favorite shows on the go - anywhere, any time. You can even download episodes to your device for offline viewing. So to get started, just click on the link in the description to start your 30-day ad-free trial of VRV Premium today, or go to vrv.cow/yesterworld. As always, thank you all so much for watching and make sure to subscribe and hit the notification bell so you don’t miss future episodes, and I’ll see you next time on Yesterworld.