To finance Disneyland he wanted to build, Walt Disney turned to the new medium of television. As host Leonard Maltin notes on this two- disc set of televised specials for the amusement park, Disney used the series to promote it, "and no one seemed to mind." ABC agreed to invest in return for a weekly one-hour program. The "Disneyland" TV show premiered on October 27, 1954: "Disneyland Story" introduced the park and its various lands, which would be the subject of future programs. The opening-day special, "Dateline Disneyland" (July 17, 1955), attracted an estimated audience of 90 million--virtually every television household in America. Hosted by Art Linkletter, Robert Cummings, and Ronald Reagan, the live broadcast includes such unplanned moments as Linkletter searching frantically for a microphone in Fantasyland. The Tenth Anniversary show (January 3, 1965) features cameos of Mary Blair and Marc Davis, two celebrated animation artists. Home movie footage of Walt pacing off distances at the barren site in Anaheim is intercut with peeks at forthcoming attractions. "Disneyland After Dark" (April 15, 1962) offers performances by Annette Funicello, Bobby Burgess, Bobby Rydell, Louis Armstrong, and a prepubescent quartet of Osmond Brothers. A must-have set for Disneyland buffs, Disney collectors, and nostalgic baby boomers.
--Charles Solomon
A special presentation of four Disneyland television specials -
The Disneyland Story, Dateline Disneyland, Operation Disneyland, Disneyland After Dark - plus
The Disneyland 10th Anniversary Show, all originally broadcast between 1955 and 1970, and hosted by Walt Disney himself. Also includes additional archival footage of Disneyland's opening day and other rare materials. Introduction by Leonard Maltin.
1 Great idea - wrong content
Great idea but wrong shows selected for the collection.
I recently discovered some of the shows that highlight the Disneyland park in Southern California while watching the old "Wonderful World of Disney" series on the Disney Channel. They were shown several times, so I recorded them on VHS tapes.
I bought this set thinking the programs I loved so much were included. I was wrong.
So you know what I am talking about, there were three shows in particular that should be, but are not, in this DVD set:
(1) Disneyland USA - I think dated 1956 and is pre-Wonderful World of Disney television show. This featurette was in COLOR and provides a tour of the original Disneyland park after it opened. It includes each of the "lands" and is nothing but park, park, park. It even has an extended piece on the Adventureland water ride. This program was more like a travel log feature that may have been shown in theaters (probably with a Disney movie).
(2) Day at Disneyland - from the Wonderful World of Disney television show and shown in BLACK and WHITE. This show started in the studio with Walt and Tinkerbell and moves to a tent in the parking lot from a Disney company picnic. It seems to have re-used footage from the Disneyland USA featurette and covered each "land" quite extensively.
(3) Pirates of the Carribbean - from the Wonderful World of Disney television show and shown in COLOR. This incredible show provides a design view of the ride, the actual building of the sets and mannequins and then film of the press opening with a full run through of the ride (like you were really in the little boat with the first riders).
It was shows like those listed above that really captured what the part must have been like in the beginning. It is really sad that the Anniversary Show and Disneyland at Night episodes were included but these three shows listed above did not.
2 Revisionist History
This dvd is indeed edited. Where are the mouseketeers? On the original program Dateline Disneyland they were shown marching in the parade and they did their own special musical number and roll call. You won't see them here.Folks, this is NOT the entire program that was shown nation wide on television in July, 1955. Disney only wants you to see what they want you to see. Could this be revisionist history? Disney,if Walt wanted them to be included in the original 1955 program,who are you to take out what your founder originally wanted? If you're going to edit out things that Walt approved or had no problems with, then don't call yourself "The Walt Disney Company" anymore. Since his name is a part of the company name, then his values should always be there and nothing should ever be edited out that he approved of. Otherwise, you're truly not "The WALT DISNEY Company"! ALWAYS do things the way Walt would have done them or no longer call yourself "The WALT DISNEY Company". In a way, to be "The Walt Disney Company" you need to be the man himself.
3 The star (Disneyland) deserves more screen time.
This is perhaps the most disappointing entry in the otherwise strong Walt Disney Treasures series, mainly because there's so little about Disneyland itself in it. The two discs feature four episodes from the Disney TV series, plus a companion feature so brief (under 9 minutes!) that it's hardly worth inclusion:
"The Disneyland Story" from 1954 shows how the TV series was essentially created to help bankroll construction of the theme park, but the episode features virtually no footage of the park or its construction (which was completed, remarkably, in less than a year). Instead, we see only models, padded with a rare glimpse of "Song of the South" but only in black-and-white. (Elsewhere in the Treasures series, footage originally filmed in color but broadcast in black-and-white is shown on the DVDs in color, but not this time, probably because the Disney Company has long been embarrassed by SOS's racial content--it's never been released in the U.S. on DVD.)
"Dateline Disneyland" features almost 90 minutes of live television coverage from opening day in 1955. It's heavily padded, however, with celebrity sightings, boring dedication speeches, marching bands and staged street performances that do little to highlight the attractions of the park. (How many times does the announcer have to say, "And here's Danny Thomas with his family!" before we get the point? I found myself fast-forwarding through two-thirds of this show.)
With the exception of some priceless color footage of jazz great Louis Armstrong performing on board the Mark Twain, "Disneyland After Dark" features mostly unremarkable stage acts interspersed with precious few scenes of the park lit up at night. All Walt Disney's scenes are filmed with actors on a sound stage--and they look it.
"Disneyland 10th Anniversary" from 1965 is the only segment that truly lives up to this set's billing as a showcase for Disneyland. Disney himself gives viewers a tour around the "imagineering" department, showing off early conceptual sketches and models for such classic attractions as the Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean, neither of which opened until after Disney's death in 1966. We meet such ground-breaking imagineers as Mary Blair and Marc Davis. Finally, we see color footage, narrated by Disney, of attractions that have long since been retired, like the Flying Saucers and Submarine Voyage. It takes a film like this to remind us what a boneyard Tomorrowland has become since Disney's death, but this episode alone is not enough to recommend the whole package.
4 Disneyland USA: One to Really Look Forward To!
Walt Disney Treaures Review 4 of 11
Sorry, no easter eggs on this set. (hidden DVD features)
Disneyland USA, the fourth and final volume of wave 1, is probaly the most important. Here, as with all the others, the DVD is enclosed in a numbered tin, along with a lithograph of the poster for Autopia, and a program booklet with a list of features and a letter from Leonard Maltin, the host of the series. On disc 1, we trace the early years of Disneyland with two complete episodes from the original TV show. Each have an intro by Maltin
The Disneyland Story: The very first episode of the Disneyland Television series, which give clips of whats to come in each section of the Disneyland television series anthology. There is a sneak peek of Disneyland, a peek at the new Davy Crockett series, and a tribute to Mickey featuring two entire cartoons.
Dateline Disneyland: Join your hosts Art Linkletter, Ronald Reagan, and Bob Cummings as they cover live, the inagural day at Disneyland, with the late Reagan covering the dedication. This is the most important of the set, and is a treat for Disneyland film buffs and fans alike.
On disc two, there are two more shows in full color, with intros by Maltin.
Disneyland After Dark: Here, we get to meet amazing stars from the sixties, journey through Disneyland after dark, and meet a couple of the famous "Mouseketeers," including Annete Funicello.
Disneyland 10th Anniversary: This piece has two parts. One showing new attractions at Disneyland, mainly the then in progress Pirates of the Carribean, Haunted Manision and Its a Small World. Then the history of the park, during construction, new attractions and a lot of other juicy stuff.
Finally there are the bonus features.
The Magic Kingdom and the Magic of Television: This documentary gives a short history of the park and the Disneyland TV Show with Leonard Maltin
Gallery: A gallery of photographs and posters, as well as merchandise.
The smallest of the four in wave 1, Disneyland USA could have a little more material. However, that is a small price to pay for the historical broadcasts in this wonderful set. I'll write the reviews for Wave 2 tomorrow. See you then.
List of Reviews of Walt Disney Treasures:
Silly Symphonies
Mickey Mouse in Living Color
Davy Crockett
Disneyland USA
Mickey Mouse in Black and White
The Complete Goofy
Behind the Scenes at Walt Disney Studios
Mickey Mouse in Living Color Volume 2
The Chronological Donlad Volume 1
On Front Lines
Tomorrowland
All with the complete list of features, including Easter Eggs! (hidden DVD features)
5 For Whom Ever LOVES Disneyland
This is a good DVD overall. I enjoyed the t.v shows. I would have, however, like to have seen more of "the making" of the rides and maybe even some more current Disneyland on this.
6 Heavy, Tear-Jerking Nostalgia For the Disney Fanatic
This set wasn't created for the typical Disney fan, it was created for folks like me: Disney ADDICTS. We fanatics tend to be more demanding, but I always pride myself in being able to appreciate the good points, while still realizing the flaws, in all Disney products. I've managed to get my hands on all the Disney Treasures sets so far, and so far they've all been wonderful, but this review is about the unnecessarily weakest one, Disneyland, U.S.A.
There are 4 feature programs and 2 extras in this set. Disc 1 contains The Disneyland Story and Dateline Disneyland, both black and white. The Disneyland Story is the 1st ever episode of the Disneyland TV series. This milestone from 1954 begins with Walt Disney telling us of his plans to build the Disneyland Park, then switches to a discussion about the TV series and how it will tell stories from the various areas of the theme park, such as Davy Crockett's story from Frontierland. The 2nd half of this feature is a tribute to Mickey Mouse (by way of cartoon clips), as Walt expresses that he wants everyone to remember that, "It all started with a mouse." The 2nd feature on Disc One, Dateline: Disneyland, is the live ABC Broadcast of Disneyland's opening day in 1955, hosted by Art Linkletter, Ronald Reagan, and Bob Cummings. This features the hosts in the various "Lands" of the park, explaining the themes and rides of each of them. We are treated to celebs like Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis, Jr. riding rides, and live performances by the likes of Fess Parker and Buddy Ebsen. We also see Walt's own, live dedication ceremonies of the Park and its various lands. It can really bring a tear to the eye of a true fan.
Disc 2 contains two more features, Disneyland After Dark and Disneyland 10th Anniversary, both in color, and this time from the 1960s. Some time has passed, and now the park is an established American treasure! Disneyland After Dark is a collection of live performances from musical celebrities of the time, such as Annette Funicello and Bobby Rydell in Tomorrowland, the Osmond Quartet at the Plaza Gardens, and the highlight for me, Louis Armstrong aboard the Mark Twain! We also are treated to hula dancers and a fire dance in Adventureland. In Disneyland 10th Anniversary, we see some of Walt's last work on the park as he gives Miss Disneyland Tencentennial (some sort of Disneyland 10th Anniversary Beauty Pageant Winner) a tour of the Imagineering Department to fill her in on future park plans before she goes on tour. Here we get to see Disney attractions in early production stages, such as a 1/8th inch to a foot scale model of It's A Small World and miniature versions of some elements of the Haunted Mansion. Walt also explains audio-animatronics, showing the work being done for Pirates of the Caribbean, and treating us to a sample of the Enchanted Tiki Room show. We also see various clips of early park production and a parade down Main Street. Also on the 2nd disc are the extras; a gallery of some of the Disneyland ride poster art over the years, and a short Leonard Maltin featurette on Disneyland.
The set comes in a lovely snap case with a small litho, and is in a very nice tin box with serial number. If you are a nut for Disneyland and Disney history in general, this set is for you. Be warned though, if it's a tour of the park you are looking for, you won't find it here. Many of us were disappointed that the actual film, "Disneyland, U.S.A.," was not in this set. Strange, considering the title. That short film actually IS a tour of the park, and hopefully will find its way to DVD SOMEDAY. My other complaints? Well, the DVD set is missing scenes involving the original Mousketeers, as well as certain Tiki Room sequences. All I can say is I HATE it when I buy a DVD and find out it's been edited, but especially when it's classic Disney, as was the case with Melody Time and Make Mine Music! That's just unacceptable, especially in these Deluxe sets! Also, the "do not try this at home" warnings added onto the fire-dance and fire-walk sequences were totally unnecessary and annoying. Lastly, there was the problem of simply not enough stuff. C'mon, there is a ton of material they could have included! I would have been satisfied if they had at least included Disneyland, USA. They also could have included some of the Birthday specials of the past years, like that Disneyland Birthday that had Tony Danza, Charles Fleischer, Ernest, etc... That would have been nice! But, despite these complaints, I do love the set, I just hope this is not the only time we'll ever see this material on DVD, because we definitely require unedited releases, not to mention releases of the other episodes of the Disneyland TV show, from day one to today; from Swamp Fox to Fluppy Dogs, from The Scarecrow to Mickey's 60th Birthday. Not to mention all the other stuff on the parks, like Disneyland, U.S.A., Gala Day At Disneyland, and Disneyland Showtime. Let's hope we see another Disneyland set for these shows, and some sets for my favorite place, Walt Disney World! But unless you are incredibly easily disappointed, I encourage any fans of Disney history, or Disney park history, to pick up this set and check out the other Disney Treasures collections! Even with its disappointments, this set is still a hit!
7 Mickey Mouse Clubless!!!
For the most part the DVD of Dateline Disneyland and the rest was quite clear. However, I am concerned that the two parts where the Mousketeers appeared in the network version have been deleted. Can you give me some information as to why this is?
8 An absolute must for any Disney fan
This DVD interested me because I love the Disney Parks. I had no idea that I would be educated about Disney Studios operations and see so many appearances of Walt Disney himself. I enjoyed seeing the historical footage of Disneyland and the planning process that goes into creating a place like Disneyland. All in all, I loved it.
9 Perfect for Disneyland Devotees
If you're a Disneyland fanatic, you'll love this DVD! If you're not, then don't bother. That isn't meant to be a criticism of this set at all. However, if you're thinking about buying this DVD, make sure you know what you're getting.
This fine collection includes four hour-long broadcasts from the original "Disneyland" TV series on ABC in the 1950s and 1960s. There are no "in-depth" documentaries on the park today, or any sort of Travel Channel-esque behind-the-scenes looks.
The original television broadcasts include a show filmed before Disneyland was built, "Dateline Disneyland" - the show broadcast live the date Disneyland opened, a show celebrating Disneyland's 10th anniversary, and a show about Disneyland after dark.
These four shows are absolutely fascinating for those interested in the history of Disneyland and the Disney company. Walt Disney is the host for all but the "Dateline Disneyland" episode, which is co-hosted by Art Linkletter, Ronald Reagan, and other Hollywood stars. The first show takes viewers to an orange grove west of Los Angeles, the site of the future Disneyland. It also features Walt Disney introducing his park with maps, drawings, and models. "Dateline Disneyland" is a lot of fun as you watch the park on opening day - including the broadcasting snafus. Art Linkletter runs around for a few minutes in search of a microphone, many rides break down, and other problems arise to be documented in this important historical collection.
Disneyland After Dark showcases the happenings in the park during nightime. This is a fun look at the park, also hosted by Walt Disney. The last broadcast, Disneyland's 10th anniversary, might be the best of the set. It too is hosted by Walt, just a year and a half before his death. At one point, Walt shows off Disneyland's newest idea, a ride called "Pirates of the Carribean". The ride hasn't opened yet, but Disney shows some of the audio-animatronics that will be used.
If you're looking for a DVD that takes you behind-the-scenes at Disneyland and gives you a comprehensive look at the history of the park and the status of Disneyland today, look elsewhere. If you're a fellow Disneyland aficionado interested in some fascinating and important historical broadcasts, get this great set now.
10 DisneyLand, the way Walt wanted it to be
We just went on a trip to Disney World and I wanted my 4 year old son to see how it all started. This DVD set, while mostly in black and white, kept his and our interest because a lot of the original designs still exist today. The DVD is for Disney Land, but Disney World was built on the successes of Disney Land, so everything is similar. It was a lot of fun to see how the concepts became reality. On the second disc there are interviews with Walt Disney where he describes things that he would like to see. These things, including EPCOT became a reality after he had passed away, but his vision is what EPCOT was designed around. I highly recommend this DVD set, even though Elvis is not mentioned at all.
11 For a casual viewer, this is not the set...
As a huge Disney fan and a person who appreciates documentaries a great deal, I can attest that this is one of my favorite DVD collections. I cannot hoever, promise that it will be one of yours. To the average DVD viewer, this DVD may just seem like boring footage of a bygone era and wont move you in any way. Although I was not alive when most of this footage was shot, I can understand what the times were like and gain a great deal of insight into the making of Disneyland just from the interviews and footage. The looks on the faces of children when they see Davy Crockett riding in seals the et for me and helps me remember the weeks i spent at Disneyland and Disneyworld. I would recommend this set to you only if you are interested in Disneyland a great deal.
12 Nostalgic Trip Back in Time
Another byproduct of Leonard Maltin•À?s wonderful •À?Walt Disney Treasures•À? Collection on DVD, this set includes four episodes from Walt Disney•À?s weekly television series that deal with the creation and first decade of the Disneyland theme park in Anaheim, California. The highlight of the set could easily be the •À?Tenth Anniversary Show•À?, a color episode in which Walt Disney shows guests not only what has opened at the park during the previous ten years, but also includes a behind-the-scenes look at attractions not yet opened, including the popular •À?Haunted Mansion•À? ad •À?Pirates of the Caribbean•À? attractions. The show also includes an entertaining musical number performed by the Disneyland characters, many of which look very different than they do today. •À?Dateline: Disneyland•À? is another definite highlight and includes the live broadcast from the park•À?s opening day hosted by Art Linkletter Ronald Regan, and Bob Cumming. The set also includes the music-filled •À?Disneyland After Dark•À? and the •À?Disneyland Story•À?, the first episode of the Disneyland Television series in which Walt introduces the world to the already-being-constructed park. This is a great DVD and a must-have for Disney fans.
13 Great, but not the best...
I thought this was a great DVD, but I found it a bit lacking. I'm only 18, so I always ask my parents what Disneyland was like in their youth. I expected to see more about the Haunted Mansion, and Pirates of the Caribbean. I realize that Walt Disney died before the Mansion was completed, but those are some of the things I wanted to see. However, seeing so many rides, attractions, and changes was a great experience. My mom and I watched it and we talked about Disneyland the whole night. It was also a treat to see some footage of Song of the South. I understand why Disney has no plans for re-release as the characters and the many stereotypes were very racial to me. All in all, this is one of the better DVD's I've seen, and it is definetly a collectible. Now if only they'd release one on Walt Disney World...
14 SO Disappointing
A Treasure? Let me check: do I care what Leonard Maltin thinks about Disneyland? And although some people may consider 60s television snippets of Louis Armstrong and the Osmonds just amazingly happily nostalgic, the supershiny metal box says the 2-disc set is going to be about, heh, Disneyland.
It's not. Well, sorta not. Apparently my expectations were too high: pre-park construction videos and photos (the three minutes on disc two don't get the job done), significant material on the park's evolution (look! our monorail was built! people are getting on it!), and maybe, just maybe, something about what the park meant to people besides Walt Disney and various publicity-hungry celebrities.
Verdict: boo.
15 Surprise anouther edited Disney DVD.
This DVD is advatised as uncut & uncesored but it really isn't. Just like the Fantasia DVD. I can't stand when Disney tries to lie to there customers.
16 Walt Disney's Disneyland USA
Disneyland USA was my favorite of the first four Disney Treasures tins. It shows why the original Disney theme park will always be set apart from the rest: Walt was there, he built it.
These four programs shows Walt going through the planning stages of Disneyland, the opening day in 1955, a good tour of Disneyland at night and it's 10th anniversary special. All are great examples of how Walt was devoted to making his first theme park better for the visitors.
This is seen especially in the 10th Anniversary Show where he shows his plans for New Orleans Square, It's a small world, Pirates of the Carrabean and The Haunted Mansion very enthusiastically.
But the best is the opening day ceremony when Walt dedicated the his park and the four lands. These are things that the other Disney parks around the world did not have, the presence of the founder. This is why I think Disneyland USA is a long overdue release to show the personal investment that Walt Disney put into his theme park.
I did not give this package 5 stars becuase of the edits, and I thought some more shows would have been good. Hopefully more will be released in 2005 for Disneyland's 50th Anniversary. But until then this is a good deal. Any fan of Walt Disney's should have this document of his theme park.
17 iI only it had more....
For hardcore Disney nostalgia fans only, these were printed at a limited edition. This is a great compilation of Wonderful World of Disney episodes about Disneyland, if only it had more. Two very important episodes, and 2 others that are intersting should have been included for this to be complete. I do not understand the reasoing for not including these in waht is supposed tobe completist series. The other "Treasures" series DVD's are very complete, such as the Goofy that includes ALL of his cartoon shorts. So this one should have all the Disneyland themed shows, but is missing "Gala Day at Disneyland" and my personal favorite "From the Pirates of the Caribbean to Tommorrowland". Also the other anniversary shows and the Worlds Fair show that shows the many of the attractions in their original conception would have been a nice addition.
Of course what this disc does include are the great shots of the Osmonds as very young kids performing at the park. On another episode they show a teenage Kurt Russel singing on the Tommorowland stage with a rock band. And the footage of Louis Armstrong singing on the Mark Twain is priceless. What would have been a nice addition is archival footage of the Firehouse Five plus Two singing at the Golden Horseshoe Saloon. If you are a completist, it is nice to add to your collection. If Disney was actually making a complete compilation, they would have added the other episodes.
18 A Historical Diamond in the Rough
This 2 DVD Set is fantastic. It shows "Opening Day" at Disneyland in 1955. Most of all, it brings Walt Disney down from his legendary post and shows just how human and full of energy he was. He narrates many of the sections on these discs.
It has great video of Disney before it was even built out completely. Disney after Dark is a great show. I lived in California for 28 or my 30 years and miss Orange County a lot. The after dark special reminds of the summer nights at Disneyland that I would watch fireworks and listen to jazz in Carnation Plaza and in New Orleans Square.
One of the highlights of this DVD is the performance Louis Armstrong gives on the Mark Twain River boat. Splendid entertainment.
5 Stars all the way. Great gift for any Disney lover.
19 Better than nothing at all (ahem)
While this DVD collection is probably a "must" for hardcore Disneyland fans, it is indeed censored/edited and the collection certainly should have included more Disneyland classics, such as 1959's "Gala Day At Disneyland", celebrating the "new" 1959 additions, especially the Matterhorn.
I especially and personally resent the removal of the Mouseketeer coverage in the "Dateline Disneyland" segment. I wisely taped this off the Disney Channel some years ago and will indeed keep that tape! Perhaps the current Disney Company was/is too cheap to pay the royalties to the former Mouseketeers for their inclusion on this premium-priced (ahem) collection.
I am not a Disney/Disneyland neophyte. I grew up with Disney, and watched the opening of Disneyland on live TV. I feel that the present version of the Disney company should treat its devoted fans and customers better than it does. By the way, I'm also among those who viewed and enjoyed the wonderful Disney movie, "Song of the South", as a young child (on its second release-- about 1953), and I adamantly insist on Disney making it available to its fans here in the USA (the video/Laserdisc has been available in Japan and England for quite some time....).
Well, we can hope that the state of affairs will improve. "Hope springs eternal", as the adage goes. =)
20 The Perfect Trip to Disneyland
"Walt Disney Treasures - Disneyland USA," is the perfect trip to Disneyland.
The first program takes you back in time as Walt Disney plans Disneyland. Unfortunately, the first program has very little on Disneyland itself and actually concentrates more about what the Disneyland TV show will be about and then has a tribune to Mickey Mouse. Still, the opening
minutes are appreciated.
Next, you get to go LIVE way back to July 1955 on the day that Disneyland opened. This is a special treat to see Disneyland on the very first day!
Then you will speed ahead to 1962 for "Disneyland at Night!" This is a colorful and musical treat of Disneyland after the sun goes down. If you don't care for the music, don't worry, the pictures are beautiful and you will enjoy seeing what Disneyland looked like at night in 1962.
Finally, you are taken to January 1965 for Disneyland's Tenth year special. You'll have the behind the scenes peak at up-coming attractions like "Haunted Mansion" and "Pirates of the Caribbean." There is also some dancing and music to celebrate this very special year.
Overall, this beautifully presented and limited DVD set in tin case, is perfect for anyone who is a fan of Disneyland. Pop in the DVDs and you will be taken to the "happiest place on earth."
Enjoy!
21 Walt Doing What He DOes Best
I loved this colelction of specials, TV Shows and Documentaries on the opening of the park. Watching the live broadcast made me feel like I was actually there.
The detail and opening menus and introductions by Leonard Maltan and tendious but interesting. The DVD runs very long and has a lot of surprises. I must have watched it three times when I first got it!
I especially like the focusing on all the celebrities that cmae for the opening of the most famous Theme Park in the world. Inclusing the then actor,Ronald Regan!
A must to own!
22 A Major Disappointment
I was very disappointed with "Disneyland USA" because I just wanted to indulge myself in reminiscence about the park and there was just was not enough of the park represented to get the feeling of what it all meant to me. It left a big void in remembrances for me. "Disneyland USA" does not capture the spirit or heart of what Disneyland is or was. For a 2-disc set this is a major disappointment. There are several surprises and memorable moments contained but not enough to lift my spirits. I just felt sorry.
23 MUST HAVE for any Disney buff
I have always wanted to see the full live opening of Disneyland and now I finally have. This DVD is a MUST own for anyone that loves Disney.
24 Tampering with History
I was real happy to see some of the "classic" Wonderful World of Disney finally get to DVD--but somewhat less so when I realized that the good folks at Disney had decided to do some judicious editing/censoring of the shows. In "Disneyland After Dark", do we REALLY need to have a bold new "warning" on the screen that the Polynesian fire walkers and flame twirlers are "professional" and "not to try this at home"? You can see this same show on the Disney Channel without this distracting "subtitles". Also, in "Dateline: Disneyland", the entire sequence with the Mousketeers is missing--something I almost missed until I re-viewed a tape I had made from the Disney Channel of the same program! I have heard there is some problem with clearance to sell their likenesses. If Disney is going to wholeheartedly go into the DVD home video market, let it be with their ORIGINAL programs (of which they have so many wonderful shows). The presentation of "special collections" of restored programming is just a bit misleading for the consumer.
25 Disneyland USA
4 shows on a set:
The Disneyland Story, Dateline Disneyland, Disneyland After Dark, Disneyland Tenth Anniversary.
26 Disney does it again...
What should have been a fantastic DVD release is scuttled by the Disney company. As has been documented in other posts, the shows are edited (although the box claims they're 'uncensored') and there are intrusive safety warnings during the firewalker scenes. Very silly. If this set was complete and unaltered, it'd be a 5-star release. Unfortunately Disney couldn't seem to get the release right despite the fact that the original shows air on the Disney Channel all the time.
27 Disneyland as seen through the airwaves...
In order to get financing for his theme park, Walt Disney agreed to a weekly television program called appropriately, DISNEYLAND. In addition to regular programming, he wisely used this series to promote the park. This DVD set (served in a gorgeous metal case) features large portions of four of the DISNEYLAND themed episodes. The first episode features a look at the park 10 months before opening. the second, opening day of the park including all sorts of technical mishaps. The third, a look at the park at night featuring lots of life performances. And finally, the last feature sthe park on its 10 year anniversary. All of these episodes are great for archival purposes but they are only for a Disney Die-Hard. They don't tell a story and spend most of their time in self-promotion. they are well remastered but quite often the source material is horrible so it'll never look great. This will be the least re-visited of the four DISNEY TREASURES DVDs. As in the others in the series, Leonard Maltin introduces the episodes with appropriate excitement and intelligence.
28 Cheap Time Travel
Disneyland is my favorite place on earth. I've alwys wondered about the live opening of the park I've heard so much about and it's wonderful to finally see it for myself! All four of these shows are great commercials for the park and really made me want to go back again. Not only are they instructive in how the park has changed, but they remain very entertaining. I was grooving along with Louis Armstrong, laughing at the scientist with the ping pong balls, amazed at the backstage material of Pirates of the Carribean, and applauding the Davey Crockett performance in Frontierland. It was a great first viewing! I only wish it was a bit more special somehow.
There isn't any real bonus material and the shows themselves, though fun to watch don't give me time to truly inspect the park as much as I thought they would. I guess a documentary is what I'm looing for to add to the experience. I'm very glad I purchased the DVD, but I'm not sure how much I'll be rewatching it. The shows include reused footage from other programs ie: The Sorcerer's Apprentice and Lonesome Ghosts (both in black ans white) as well as Disneyland footage seen in one show, shown again in another. I realise that's how these show's originally aired, but something is needed to make it more of a learning experience. The menu system is strange in that I didn't know which show I was accessing. But, still this a great set for any fan of Disneyland and should not be missed.
29 Warning: Scenes cut. Faded color print. No chapter access.
This is the biggest DVD disappointment of the year. First, these are edited episodes. The episodes shown on the Disney Channel for the past 18 years are more complete. Cut scenes include songs from the Enchanted Tiki Room and every scene with the Mouseketeers at the 1955 opening of Disneyland! Was it simply because Disney didn't want to pay them royalties? There may be additional cuts, since the running times are much shorter than the original programs (even without ads).
Edited material should be labeled as such; I bought the set for material that is missing. That alone would be reason for a no-star rating.
Second, the prints of the color episodes are faded and speckled, even though Disney has better source material available; the Disney Channel versions have excellent color and no speckles. It's disappointing that Disney didn't bother to use their best prints for the DVD presentation. (The Davy Crockett box set is also poor, compared with cable prints.)
Third, the menus are bare-bones, with no direct access to the many chapters, which include many performances or brief appearances that would have made natural chapter stops. In addition, extras are skimpy and rather pointless. The "documentary" simply shows brief clips of scenes already in the episodes. There are no behind-the-scenes photos or text, either on the discs or in the booklet. (This could have been a treasure trove of backstage information.) Instead, Leonard Maltin's commentary is forced upon us at the start. If non-original programming must be added, it should be optionally accessible.
These were some of my favorite shows when I was young, so I was greatly looking forward to the DVD. Yes, it provides fascinating programming you may not have access to, but it does not reveal that it is cut, and it is sloppy in its poor presentation and lack of DVD potential, including menu features. I hope that Disney is persuaded to improve upon this in its future releases of treasured TV programming. They were always the gold standard in caring for the audience; let's hope they become so once again.
PS: Sammy Davis Jr. is second-billed as "entertainment." Sammy fans will also feel ripped off. All he does is drive by in a bumper car. Did anyone at Disney actually look at these shows?
30 Be Warned: More Cuts
Despite the package's Claim that the shows are uncut, The sequence with the 1950's Mouseketeers in "Dateline Disneyland" (after Mickey & Minnie enter the Disneyland theater) has been completely removed from the DVD. Not a treasure at all.
31 Oh...he is one.
DVD Pro's.
1. Being able to freeze frame long enough to see that Bob Cummings is *not* kissing his wife in Frontierland.
2. Seeing Frankie and Sammy riding the cars of the Autopia.
3. Watching Walt wag his tongue almost lasciviously at the young hostess named ambAssador of Disneyland during its 10'th Anniversary.
4. Nice shots of a few of the rides, e.g. Matterhorn.
5. Jose explaining how the Tiki-birds' audio-animatronics work.
6. Watching foreign professor explain concept of nuclear fission via ping-pong balls and mouse-traps.
7. Tiny segment of Song of the South.
DVD Con's
1. Probably could have all been fit onto one DVD.
2. Leonard Maltin as the Narrator.
3. Uninteresting menus that don't really indicate well what you're going to see.
4. Regurgitated footage through many segments.
If you don't have the Disney Channel and have never seen this stuff, it's probably not a bad buy.
32 Treat for Disneyland Fans
Leonard Maltin opens each of the segments with commentary about what you will see.
The first show is the grand-opening of Disneyland in 1955 as seen on live television. Art Linkletter hosts with Bob Cummings and Ronald Reagan as co-hosts. This is an exciting glimpse of the first day and fun to see the live action misques. Frank Sinatra with young son driving the autopia car followed by Sammy Davis Jr, Fess Parker and Buddy Ebsen do a song and dance number, Art Linkletter's family, and other notables make this an instant trip down memory lane. (The Atomic Energy Pavillion was especially enlightening)There is even the old logo for the ABC network. The only bad part of this special is the sometimes poor quality of the Black & White film.
The Ten Anniversary segment is in color and provides a real treat as you see the concept art and models for Pirates of the Carribbean, Haunted Mansion, etc. If you look closely, you'll see differences between the models and the rides today. Walt Disney hosts and you see The Shah of Iran, Marc Davis, other imagineers, and the 10th Anniversary hostess. The flavor of this period is evident in the clothes and attitudes expressed, plus the comments about the rides.
The Disneyland After Dark special is in sharper color and is highlighted by performances by Louis Armstrong, Annette Funicello, Bobby R., and the elem. school-aged Osmond brothers.
Walt Disney has a few fun scenes signing autographs and introducing various performers. I was amused to see a caption below the fire-walkers show which stated "not to do this at home." It was also a treat to see the faces of the audiences enjoying the shows.
When finished watching both DVD's in this package, I was pleased and hoping for more releases similar to this one.
33 A step in the right direction.
It's nice that this collection of vintage Disneyland television programs has been made available and you get pretty much what is described above. However, a MAJOR DISSAPOINTMENT is that two segments have been edited from the Tiki Room portion of "Disneylands 10th Anniversary"--"Let's All Sing Like the Birdies" and the Hawaiian War Chant numbers have but cut without explanation. I assume this has to do with licensing, but I can't imagine why Disney couldn't have gotten around that somehow. It is a real shame because those segments really showcased all the little animated tiki statues and carvings, and it was a real kick to see the audience whistling along to the song. They could have at least included that footage with an alternate audio track as supplemental material.
Another dissapointment is the documentary that is tacked on to the 2nd disk. It seems slapped together of mostly recycled footage already appearing on the disk, isn't terribly insightful, and the clips are edited so tightly that you barely have a chance to take in an image before it dissappears.
If you can get past these, though, Disneyland fans will not be dissapointed.
A NICE UNSUNG FEATURE is the photo gallery, which is several pages of DISNEYLAND ATTRACTION POSTERS. Unfortunately not all are included, (notably missing is StoryBook Land and the Golden Horseshoe Revue, etc.) but what is there is a nice sampling of attractions posters both old and new.
Hopefully this disk is just the beginning and we can look forward to a "Disneyland Volume II" (a package including "Disneyland Goes to the World's Fair", "From Pirates of the Caribbean to Tomorrowland", and "Disneyland Showtime" would be a real treat). Kudos to Leonard Maltin for initiating this project.
34 Take a look back at a very different, very wonderful time...
Of the four "Walt Disney Treasures" DVDs released to date, this one is my favorite. I was born in 1969, so all of these shows aired long before I was born, yet somehow they even manage to make *me* feel nostalgic for 1954-64! Why? I can't really explain. All I know is that life seemed much simpler then...and Disney's optimisim is infectious. Maybe its that this DVD evokes the seemingly care free innocence of my own childhood even though its from a different time period. What I wouldn't give for a time machine...
Each episode is wonderful to watch. Make sure to go through them in chronological order. Naturally, the image quality suffers some on the live broadcast episode on the opening of the park, but the other episodes look fantastic. Great care was obviously taken in preparing these for disc. Leonard Maltin's introductions are quite good and very informative. He comes across as a very likeable guy who is obviously passionate about the subject matter and very fond of what he is doing.
My only criticism (which is not enough to remove one of the five stars I've given it) is that the supplemental material is slightly lacking. The gallery images are quite interesting and are well worth going through, but you don't learn much in "The Magic Kingdom and the Magic of Television" featurette that you haven't already learned watching Maltin's introductions and the episodes themselves. Still, who can complain? This package is worth its weight in in gold to me. Disney Enterprises must be congratulated for going into their vaults to release something like this. The old animation material is all fine, and I loved the Davy Crockett set, but if I could only keep one, it would be this one. May it be more of many interesting and obscure live action material that Disney brings out of its vaults to share with the public.
I love this DVD.
35 A Time Capsule for Disneyland and TV alike!
This set not only shows the history of Disneyland but it also shows a unique history of television making in the 50s and 60s. Not to mention the musical talents of the time. Its amazing what one man started. From the happiest place on earth to the incredible buiseness side of Disney that goes unseen. Walt was a genious and this set shows that.
I love watching walt sign all those autographs! Its hilarious to see the stuff that people wanted signed. I also love how his signature started with a huge W and by the end of the show it was a straight line.
I am now 25 years old and I grew up in Southern California. I went to Disneyland a ton of times as a child and an adult. I grew up watching all these shows on Re Run. I dont think I respected them then as I do now. At that point I watched just to see the park but now I can watch as a more critical viewer. I admire the things this man did to push his product. I cant wait for the Disney Treasures - Walt Disney, the legend! I hope there will be one!
36 A GREAT SET BUT NOT UNCUT
I WAS REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS DVD SET. AND IT`S GREAT AND ENTERTAINING. HOWEVER I WAS DISAPOINTED TO SEE THAT THE TENTH ANNIVERSARY SHOW IS NOT UNCUT,THE TIKI ROOM SEQUENCE HAS BEEN EDITED, WHY? I DON`T KNOW, BUT I STILL LIKE THE BOX SET. IT DOES HAS SOME GREAT STUFF!! AND I WOULD LOVE TO SEE MORE SETS OF THE SAME. BUT IT SEEMS IF YOUR PROMISED SOMETHING IN THE AD(UNCUT& UNCENSORED) YOU SHOULD DELIVER. BUT THESE RAVINGS ARE MINOR BUY IT ANYWAY IT`S CHEAPER THAN TIME TRAVEL!!!!
37 Walt and his Greatast Achievements
Disneyland U.S.A! Mickey Mouse in Living Color! Davy Crockett:The Complete Televised Series! and of course Silly Symponies! Walt Disney created many great television and cartoon shorts. Now, they come out with a collection that is sure to entertain and educate. I think I should give a brief overview of the series first. This is a collection of limited in number DVDs with only 150,000 of each. But you may get them now and be one of the few who get them. The series include still galleries, featurettes, cartoons, T.V. shows, and Tintroductions by respected film critic Leonard Maltin. Here is an overview of each of the four two disc DVD sets. Silly Symphonies: Oh boy! What a collection. I bet that you have seen most of you only a few of all of these 41 shows. My favorites are "Three Little Pigs", "The Old Mill", and "Three Little Wolves." But of all of these, I have only seen three Silly Symphonie on this set. Extras include a still gallery, The Song of the Silly Symponies featurette with Richard Sherman and Leonard Maltin, Silly Symphonie Merchandise Featurette with Dave Smith and Leonard Maltin, and Introductions by Leonard Maltin. Next show is Davy Crockett. These five telivision shows are the most popular in the set. Along with all five, there are also The Davy Crockett Craze featurette with Leonard Maltin, Still Gallery, Davy Crockett Merchandise featurette with Leonard Maltin, Easter egg: The Ballad of Davy Crockett, and finally introductions by Leonard Maltin. Next set is Disneyland U.S.A., featuring 5 T.V. Shows with Operations Disneyland, Dateline Disneyland, Disneyland After Dark, Disneyland Tenth Anniversary Show, and the Disneyland Story. Other features are still gallery and introductions by Leonard Maltin. The fourth and final set is the Mickey Mouse. It features 26 Mickey shorts with a bonus easter egg name Mickey's Birthday cartoon and a still gallery. As well as introductions by Leonard Maltin.
In all these sets, they come with lithographs and you get them in a special tin. Get you copies today before they are all sold out. Enjoy!
38 A Trip Back in Time
I grew up watching The Wonderful World of Disney and the specials that he presented on Disneyland still live in my memory. For me, Disneyland will always be the most special place on earth because of the effect these Disney specials had on me as a child. This DVD will bring back the magic of your childhood as you sat in front of the TV dreaming of your trip to Disneyland. I never got to go to Disneyland as a child. A trip from the east coast to California was way beyond my parent's means. But Disneyland is no less magical to me as an adult. And this DVD, and the memories it rekindles, help me relive that magic. It will help you go back to that time of innocence and wonder like nothing else. Highly recommended. Time travel is possible.
39 Looks to be a great package
If you are planning on buying this you probably want to know what's on it. Despite the title "Disneyland USA" it doesn't include the short feature "Disneyland USA but has 4 great TV shows on Disneyland. The first is "The Disneyland Story"(B&W) This premiere episode of the "Disneyland" television series features Walt giving a brief tour of the studio and discussing the format of the series. Also included: a brief look at Mickey's career and clips from various Disney films. This was released 10/27/54 and is 49 minutes long. The second feature is "Dateline Disneyland"(B&W) hosted by Art Linkletter, Bob Cummings and Ronald Reagan; the live opening of Disneyland includes the opening ceremonies and a visit to all park's "lands." Highlights of the coverage include visits with Fess Parker, Buddy Ebsen, Danny Thomas, the Mouseketeers and Governor Knight of California. This was released 7/17/55 and is 1 hour 30 minutes. The third feature is "Disneyland After Dark"(Color) Walt Disney hosts this look at live entertainment in the different sections of Disneyland at night. In Tomorrowland Annette and Bobby sing. In Advertureland a fire dance is performed. On the Mark Twain steamboat Louis Armstrong plays jazz. At the Plaza Gardens the Osmond Brothers make their network television premiere. This was broadcast 4/15/62 and is 1 hour long. The final episode is "Disneyland Tenth Anniversary"(Color) Walt Disney hosts behind-the-scenes look at some new exhibits and talks with exhibit designers as they create new features for Disneyland's tenth anniversary. The second part of the show features production numbers performed in the park; a parade down Main Street. Clips from initial park construction are shown. This was broadcast 1/3/65 and is 52 minutes long. This looks to be a great collection and also has a featurette with Leonard Maltin and a few other extras. This is all packaged in a tin case and comes with a lithograph. For any Disneyland fan this is a must!
40 Looks to be a great package
If you are planning on buying this you probably want to know what's on it. Despite the title "Disneyland USA" it doesn't include the short feature "Disneyland USA but has 4 great TV shows on Disneyland. The first is "The Disneyland Story"(B&W) This premiere episode of the "Disneyland" television series features Walt giving a brief tour of the studio and discussing the format of the series. Also included: a brief look at Mickey's career and clips from various Disney films. This was released 10/27/54 and is 49 minutes long. The second feature is "Dateline Disneyland"(B&W) hosted by Art Linkletter, Bob Cummings and Ronald Reagan; the live opening of Disneyland includes the opening ceremonies and a visit to all park's "lands." Highlights of the coverage include visits with Fess Parker, Buddy Ebsen, Danny Thomas, the Mouseketeers and Governor Knight of California. This was released 7/17/55 and is 1 hour 30 minutes. The third feature is "Disneyland After Dark"(Color) Walt Disney hosts this look at live entertainment in the different sections of Disneyland at night. In Tomorrowland Annette and Bobby sing. In Advertureland a fire dance is performed. On the Mark Twain steamboat Louis Armstrong plays jazz. At the Plaza Gardens the Osmond Brothers make their network television premiere. This was broadcast 4/15/62 and is 1 hour long. The final episode is "Disneyland Tenth Anniversary"(Color) Walt Disney hosts behind-the-scenes look at some new exhibits and talks with exhibit designers as they create new features for Disneyland's tenth anniversary. The second part of the show features production numbers performed in the park; a parade down Main Street. Clips from initial park construction are shown. This was broadcast 1/3/65 and is 52 minutes long. This looks to be a great collection and also has a featurette with Leonard Maltin and a few other extras. This is all packaged in a tin case and comes with a lithograph. For any Disneyland fan this is a must!
