Hello and welcome back to my continuing series Thoughts While Watching, where we watch vintage-to-vintage-ish Disney media with modern eyes and wonder accordingly. Today we’re setting the time machine to waywayback – let’s visit Disneyland with Uncle Walt again!
I’ve pulled another episode of The Wonderful World of Disney (Color?), this one called “Disneyland After Dark.” I went in excited to find out what qualified as spicy nighttime content in 1962, but I must say I was blown out of the proverbial water by what Mr. Disney provided. Yes, admittedly, there are some… interesting moments, socially. And some pretty crazy fashion, particularly the hats. Still, Disneyland really pulled out all the stops for this episode. Louis mothereffin’ Armstrong is there and everything!
The whole thing comes in under an hour and is worth an enthusiastic look for any and every Disney historian. I will personally guarantee you time well spent. So press play and let’s think this through together, shall we?
23 THOUGHTS I HAD WHILE WATCHING “DISNEYLAND AFTER DARK” (1962)
1 Hold on – if this came out in 1962, how is Mary Poppins (1964) featured in the Wonderful World of Disney opening montage?
2 Ugh, I love mid-century modern style. Just look at the chrometastic cars and vintage monorail!
3 Awww, I’ve missed you, Uncle Walt.
4 “Girls, too!” Different Times strike again!
5 You know, aside from pointed moments at World Showcase I don’t know if I’ve ever actively watched the decorative lighting activate in the parks. Walt’s not wrong; it definitely adds a something.
6 Are these the Dapper Dans in different outfits or did The DDs used to have barbershop competition? I did like their hat bit.
7 Did Disneyland regularly trot Annette Funicello out for concerts on any old day, or was it only ever special for the cameras?
8 Also, when, as a nation, did we stop learning how to dance? I’m not upset per se, just curious.
9 Also also, I will take Annette’s dress in every color, please and thank you.
10 I know I’ve heard of Bobby Rydell but all I can think of is Rydell High from Grease. [Wikipedia informs me that this was intentional!]
11 Please don’t let the Tahitian thing be weird, please don’t let the Tahitian thing be weird…
12 Of course they had to make it weird. They sure do cut to that guy eating ribs a lot.
13 Okay, at least they’re providing cultural context. That’s something.
14 THIS WOMAN’S HAT IS INSANE.
15 They should start doing regular entertainment on the riverboat ride at the Magic Kingdom. Inject some life in that thing. I know they had that Tiana-themed parade/dessert party for a while, but I heard you couldn’t really see much. Just make the boat itself a bigger attraction, y’know?
16 Monette Moore is laying down some quality hot jazz which this audience clearly does not deserve. They can’t even clap on the dang beat reliably. Where’s Harry Connick, Jr. when you need him?
17 JESUS CHRIST LOUIS ARMSTRONG?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!
(What do you think his fee was?)
18 This whole sequence is a ready-made blueprint for a Princess and the Frog floor show. Somebody get Iger on the phone! Is it too late to modify Tiana’s Bayou Adventure?
19 I’m definitely having fun watching you have fun, Uncle Walt.
20 Oh good, the Osmond brothers are back. I liked them better as Romulans.
21 I tried to look up this Tony Paris character and got precious little. Not even a Wikipedia page on the guy. Somebody from the ’60s tell me if he was a big deal.
22 Is this the progenitor of the Frozen singalong? Yay! Alternatively, if it is the seed that sprouted the Beauty & the Beast singalong, BOO.
23 WALT GOT THE HAT.
BEST EPISODE YET?!
I’ve given the Thoughts While Watching treatment to some pretty fun stuff, but I gotta say, this episode might be my favorite so far. I mean, sure, it would’ve been better if Kurt Russell were there, but the jazz scene alone was worth the hour. Don’t hold me too that just yet, though – there are still plenty of episodes yet to watch! I may even think while I do it.
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