Q : Since the remodel of Club 33, there are many rumors and myths being circulated again. I was hoping you could help clear some of them up regarding the harpsichord (and artist who painted the top), the phone booth (Happiest Millionaire?), vulture, French lift, and any others that you feel could use clarification.
Karen, Mesa, Arizona
A: The Club 33 harpsichord is not an antique. The painting on the underside of the lid was by Disney Imagineer Collin Campbell. The phone booth was indeed a prop in The Happiest Millionaire, but the open elevator was simply a reconstruction based on early elevators. The vulture and other figures that were in the trophy room were Audio-Animatronics® figures, and were meant to converse with the guests; the process was planned but never used.
Q : I’m interested in the music of the Parks. Not just the attraction and parade music but also the background music played in each area of the Parks and Resorts. Are those produced “in-house” or are they purchased for use? Are they available for purchase? Nothing would put me at ease more than being able to listen to the background music of Old Key West, Fort Wilderness, or the Wilderness Lodge.
Bill, Leola, Pennsylvania
A: Much of the background music for the Disney parks is licensed by Disney, but some is written and recorded specifically for its particular usage. It is normally not available for purchase, though occasionally tracks have been included on official park albums.
Q : I am a graduate student researching the early days of the Disney theme parks alongside other simultaneously emerging technologies of illusion and entertainment. I am especially curious about Disney’s interest, if any, in virtual reality devices and ideas. I have seen it written in several places around the Internet that Morton Heilig (considered one of the founding thinkers of modern virtual reality ideas) functioned as some sort of technical adviser for The Walt Disney Company, but have been unable to verify this connection. Can you shed some light on Heilig’s past with Disney?
Catherine, Seattle, Washington
A: Mr. Heilig’s resume on his website notes that he worked for a time for Walt Disney Imagineering in special effects, theater design, and 3-D.
Q : I’m a staunch believer that Disney and trains go together—there’s no other way of putting it. It’s a match made in heaven, you might say. So my question is, is it true that for the opening of the Grand Canyon Diorama in 1958, Walt had guests transported to Anaheim on an Atchison, Topeka, & Santa Fe Railroad Business Car? And, if so, which business car was used?
David, Downey, California
A: For the grand opening of the diorama on March 31, 1958, Disneyland made arrangements for media guests to be transported in “special railway cars” (no description given) from Union Station in downtown Los Angeles to Anaheim Station, and hence by Disneyland Main Street buses to the park. The cars, attached to the San Diegan, left L.A. at 11:05 a.m. and the guests arrived at the park by 11:25.
Q : I have reason to believe that I have an original Alice in Wonderland Fantasyland poster and not a remake. I am being told that Authentic Fantasyland posters have Copyright logos in the bottom left corner saying “Walt Disney Productions.” Is there any truth to this?
Dillon, Lacey, Washington
A: For an answer to your question, I turned to Vanessa Hunt of Walt Disney Imagineering, who has co-authored an upcoming book entitled Poster Art of the Disney Parks. According to Vanessa, “‘© Walt Disney Productions’ appeared on attraction posters for all of the Lands for Disneyland, Walt Disney World, and Tokyo Disneyland up until 1985; the location of the copyright varies from poster to poster, but Alice’s is in the bottom-left corner.” She added that all of the original posters were silk-screened, and produced in a 36″ x 54″ size. The paper is fairly thick and often backed with linen; a reproduction would not be silk-screened and on a thinner poster paper.  There were some full-size reproductions done for the Walt Disney Galleries, part of the Disney Stores, in the 1990s.
Q : There is a song from Disney, I believe it was at the original Innoventions, where we sat and saw a computer “behind the scenes”. The lyrics to a repetitive portion of the song are “That’s why I’m a rooter of the computer, everybody needs a friend!” I would love to know who is singing that?
Diana, Melbourne, Florida
A: The attraction in CommuniCore was the Astuter Computer Revue (1982-1984), with the song, “The Computer Song,” which was written by the Sherman Brothers, sung by Ken Jennings portraying Earlie the Pearlie. Jennings was selected for the role after performing Tobias in Sweeney Todd on Broadway.
Q : My husband and I love discovering all of the personal touches around Disneyland that honor individuals that made Disney what it is today. Among other things, we have noticed Disney’s family crest above the castle, a nod to his father and other animators and Imagineers on windows. Are there any other hidden treasures around the park that honor his wife, daughters, brother, or any other family members?
Crystal, Reseda, California
A: Here are some: If you look above New Orleans Square, you will see WD and RD in the wrought iron of the balcony. The special parlor car on the train is named the Lilly Belle after Walt’s wife Lillian. There used to be a Willard P. Bounds Blacksmith and U.S. Marshal location in Frontierland, named for Lillian’s father. There is also on display the chunk of a petrified tree that Walt gave Lillian for their wedding anniversary. And, of course, there is the bronze statue of Walt with Mickey in the center of the Hub.
Q : My wife and I this year will celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary. On our honeymoon, we spent one night by Disneyland to go there the next day. One of the things we always talk about missing is the It’s A Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow, as we call it in the round that goes through the ages with music. Will that ever come out on a DVD if a visual recording of it in its complete show is around? We kind of remember it mentioned decades ago on The Wonderful World of Disney.
David, Castle Rock, Colorado
A: That is the Carousel of Progress, and it is currently located at the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. The song, however, was changed to “The Best Time of Your Life” from 1975 to 1993. Disney does not release its theme park shows on DVD.
Q : A friend of mine loved to visit Top of the World at the Contemporary Resort at Walt Disney World from 1972 until its closing. Can you give me a list of stars who performed there over the years? If so, are there photographs of the band that played there?
Deborah, Orlando, Florida
A: The Archives does not have a complete list of the performers at the Top of the World supper club, but they included such celebrity artists as Phyllis Diller, Peter Marshall, Shari Lewis, Frankie Avalon, Cab Calloway, Johnny Ray, Sammy Davis Jr., Donald O’Connor, Diahann Carroll, Patti Page, Jack Jones, Carol Lawrence, Billy Eckstein, Rosemary Clooney, and Kay Ballard. After a decade, the celebrity performers were phased out and replaced by a show entitled Broadway at the Top. I have seen band photos on the Internet.
Q : I have long heard that Disney provides gifts or cast-member exclusives to its employees for certain events or anniversaries, whether that be personal or Company. When does this program date to, and do you have an item that you received that is a personal favorite?
Dan, Edwardsville, Illinois
A: Disneyland began honoring its cast members with service awards beginning with its “Tencennial” in 1965, but the Disney Studio did not follow suit until 1981. But besides these service awards, there were indeed occasional gifts to cast members throughout the company, starting also around the 1980s. Often it would be a button or pin. I fondly remember an ornate metal key given to us at the opening of New Fantasyland at Disneyland in 1983, and special commemorative bronze coins for the grand openings of Epcot and Tokyo Disneyland. Cast members were also given the opportunity to purchase limited edition lithographs created for Mickey Mouse’s 50th birthday and other events, and there were occasional cast-exclusive cels.