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1964 World's Fair

The History of the Carousel of Progress – Up the Waterfall Episode 19

3 February 2020 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

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Carousel of Progress FatherNow most carousels just go round and round without getting anywhere.  But on this one, at every turn, we’ll be making progress.  And progress is not just moving ahead.  It’s dreaming and working and building a better way of life.  Progress is the sound of a motor, the hum of a turbine, the heartbeat of a factory, the sound of a symphony, the roar of a rocket.  Progress is people getting release from drudgery, gaining more time to enjoy themselves and live richer lives.  And as long as man dreams and works and builds, this progress will go on…in your life and mine.

And with those words, Rex Allen began the original “Progressland” attraction hosted by General Electric at the 1964-65 World’s Fair in New York. Progressland is more familiar to us as the theatre portion of the experience – the Carousel of Progress. In truth, there was quite a lot more to the World’s Fair exhibit and we go over all of its retro-fabulous history. While we may all be able to recite the current iteration of the classic Carousel of Progress attraction, it does have a very interesting and storied past, including Walt Disney’s personal involvement in its creation.

Progressland pavilion at the 1964 World's Fair - a Walt Disney Production - the original Carousel of Progress
General Electric’s Progressland pavilion – a Walt Disney Production – from the 1964-65 World’s Fair in New York

 

In this episode of Up the Waterfall podcast, we journey back to the very beginnings of this beloved attraction, the changes it has experienced over the decades, and what we hope will happen for its future. We hope you enjoy this info-packed episode, I know we loved recording it!

Progressland at night 1964 World's Fair
General Electric’s Progressland pavilion at night

You can listen anywhere you download and listen to podcasts, including: 

  • Apple Podcasts
  • Google Podcasts
  • Spotify
  • Stitcher
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  • Anchor

(If there’s a podcast service where you can’t find our show, let us know and we’ll get it added there!)

You can also watch on our Up the Waterfall YouTube Playlist – where you can see our fun opening sequence and some fun images of the Carousel of Progress over the years. Here’s the latest episode:

 

Feel free to comment below with your memories of Carousel of Progress, any questions or info you’d like to add, or if it’s easier, head to the Zannaland Facebook page and join the discussion there with fellow Carousel of Progress fans!

Progressland concept art
Early concept art for the Progressland energy-filled future

 

Progressland concept art
Artist rendering of the incredible drama of nuclear fusion from the Progressland exhibit

 

Here are some of the books and recordings mentioned in this episode (the links will go to the item on amazon.com and are affiliate links – meaning no extra cost for you but a small portion goes back to zannaland if you make a purchase – thank you for supporting our site!):

Walt Disney and the World's Fair
The images from this post are from this CD set and booklet an amazing trove of Disney history!
Designing Disney by John Hench
Designing Disney – Imagineering and the Art of the Show by John Hench
Walt Disney Imagineering book
Walt Disney Imagineering – A Behind the Dreams Look at Making Magic Real


 

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Filed Under: Disney Attractions, Disney Past, Up the Waterfall Podcast Tagged With: 1964 World's Fair, Carousel of Progress, Carousel of Progress history, CoP, Disney Attractions, Disney history, Disney history podcast, General Electric Progressland, history of Carousel of Progress, imagineering, John Hench, New York World's Fair, Progressland, Up the Waterfall, Up the Waterfall podcast, Walt Disney

NEW Tomorrowland Trailer Reveals Much More

9 March 2015 by Suzannah Otis 2 Comments

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tomorrowland54fa25d19980eIf you are like me, you’ve been looking forward to this film when it was just a title – Tomorrowland. The name held so much promise and hope…getting to see sneak peeks at the Disney D23 Expo in 2013, was just enough excitement to make believers out of so many. Combined with the alternate reality interactive game The Optimist that played out in California, by fans all across the country before the Expo, leading up to a final adventure where participants received a Tomorrowland pin, the build up for this film has been immense, among Disney nerds like me.

During the most recent D23 Destination D here in Walt Disney World, we were treated to some of the behind-the-scenes secrets about filming in Disneyland and recreating the scenes from the 1964 New York World’s Fair. These scenes have still not been seen elsewhere in any trailers, and with this new trailer released today, we are launched even further into this other world, filled with science fiction and unimaginable realities. We learn that the girl from the trailer has been chosen for a reason – but why? I’ve thought from the first moments seeing the World’s Fair scenes, that those would be flashbacks to George Clooney’s character as a boy…perhaps I’m right, perhaps I’m completely off-base. Whatever the story, it has gotten my interest and I cannot wait to see Tomorrowland on May 22!

For those who may not have been following along for the past two years, the official synopsis is as follows:

Two-time Oscar® winner Brad Bird’s riveting, mystery adventure “Tomorrowland,” starring Academy Award® winner George Clooney. Bound by a shared destiny, former boy-genius Frank (Clooney), jaded by disillusionment, and Casey (Britt Robertson), a bright, optimistic teen bursting with scientific curiosity, embark on a danger-filled mission to unearth the secrets of an enigmatic place somewhere in time and space known only as “Tomorrowland.” What they must do there changes the world—and them—forever.

Enjoy the newest trailer below, and feel free to share your theories and thoughts on the the film in the comments below:

 

George Clooney Tomorrowland

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Filed Under: D23 Expo, Movie Reviews, Movies & Books, Official Disney, Reviews, Top Stories Tagged With: 1964 World's Fair, Brad Bird, Damon Lindelof, George Clooney, The Optimist, Tomorrowland, Tomorrowland film, Tomorrowland movie, Tomorrowland trailer, Walt Disney, Walt Disney Pictures

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