We Lost our Captain!

The King of Animation with the King of Pop


I know it is a different topic then what we talk about here at the Carolwood blog but it is worth discussing. On June 25, 2009 the world lost one of the most diverse and amazing entertainers, Michael Jackson. For 50 years he has been apart of our life and culture and has left this world with a legacy that will continue to move and inspire us through this contributions to music and dance. He was an inovator who always tried to deliver the best quatliy product regarless of what anybody else thought, reminds me of someone else i know....
During the height of his career he partnered with Disney (a company in which he admired) to create a new form of attraction involving a 3D short movie titled Captain EO. In September of 1986 Captain EO opened in Tomorrowland at Disneyland and had an eleven year run. When Michael opened his private estate Neverland Ranch in 1988 it included a zoo and a theme park, with a Ferris wheel, merry-go-round, zipper, spider, sea dragon, wave swinger, super slide, dragon wagon kiddie roller coaster, and bumper cars, and what do you know it was surrounded by a train!
It's sad to see such a wonderful individual gone who has made such a mark on this world, it's almost like seeing a piece of your child hood pass away as well.

Michael Jackson
1958-2009

The Broad Side of a Barn

The first run on the Carolwood Pacific Railroad took place on May 7, 1950. The 2,615 feet of track included a 46 foot long trestle and a 90 foot long tunnel under his wife's flower bed. Amidst the railroad, Walt had a barn built where he could monitor and remotely control the switches on the track. The barn also served as a workshop and a place for Walt and his friends to relax.
When the Holmby Hills home was sold, the new owners had plans to preserve the house, but discovered that due to structural issues and asbestos, they demolished the existing structures and built a new home.
Fortunately, Walt's daughter Diane Disney Miller recognized the importance of the Barn and began the process of saving it before escrow closed. Diane contacted Michael and Sharon Broggie, founders of the Carolwood Pacific Historical Society, who began planning what to do with the Barn. A general contractor, Bill Abel, was hired to dismantle the Barn and it was stored until an agreement was secured with the City of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles Live Steamers Museum. It opened in Griffith Park as a loan to the people of Los Angeles on July 19, 1999, and is located inside the 1/8th scale track, the same scale that Walt had at his home.Walt spent many hours in the Barn not only working on his trains, but thinking about new projects and ideas. One could say that this Barn is the birthplace of Imagineering.
Today, the Barn is in a beautifully landscaped part of the park, with several nice picnic tables and many benches. Bring your family and a picnic basket to enjoy your lunch and some Walt Disney, railroad, and Disneyland history. The Barn is small, but full of many interesting items to learn about, and lots of wonderful stories.
The barn is open to the public every 3rd Sunday of the month by LA Live Steamers at Griffith Park. They just issued this statement about tomorrow.


Sunday, June 21, 2009
Dad's Day at Walt Disney's Barn and Ollie Johnston's Depot
Walt Disney's Carolwood Barn, Griffith Park LA Live Steamers area
Celebrate Father's Day at Walt Disney's Barn. Free commemorative Barn pin to all fathers who bring a child or grandchild to Walt's Barn (while supplies last). Opens at 11 am closes at 3 pm. Free admission and free parking. Free rides on miniature trains by Los Angeles Live Steamers. Steam demonstration plant will be operating. Picnic area available.

We hope to see you out there!

The E-Ticket

When most people here the word e-ticket they think of something spectacular, such as a wonderful experience or a ride, or even a Disneyland ticket book. But, today i am talking about the magazine, The E-Ticket. If your not familar with The E-Ticket Magazine it is a seasonal magazine that features articles about Disneyland attractions and interviews with some of the people who helped bring these wonderful experiences to life. I am sad to report that The E-Ticket is going to be completing its run this summer with their final issue of #46. Even though they will be finishing distribution of new magazines you can still purchase older issues that are currently on CD-ROM. One issue that strikes perticular interest here at the Carolwood Blog is issue #10. This individual magazine debuted during the Winter of 1990-1991 and it was titled Riding the Carolwood Pacific Railroad with Walt Disney. You cannot buy it as a magazine any more but it is still for sale on their website with the CD-ROM. Check out the website at www.the-e-ticket.com

Your Host Walt Disney

The Walt Disney Treasures collections has had this DVD set out since 2006. If you havent purchased it yet i suggest you do its worth every cent. There is one Disneyland Television show on here in perticular that is titled "Where Do The Stories Come From" which aried in 1956. During the last segment of the show Walt takes us on a journey through model railroading. We are able to hop aboard Ward Kimball's Emma Nevada Locamotive, check out Ollie Johnston's railroad club, and then the icing on the cake! You guessed it! A round trip ride through Walt's backyard Carolwood estate on the Lilly Belle! This is a must see for anyone.