Episodes

In the 28th installment of this educational series, Shelly & Noe Valladolid turn their attention to the Sunshine State. Which is where Walt, after an extensive land search, decides to build the East Coast version of Disneyland in the 1960s Over the course of this episode, listeners will learn about: What are some of the shell company names that Disney used while purchasing pieces of property outside of Orlando How did a plucky news maven figure out what Walt was up to in Central Florida Why did ...

In the 27 th installment of this educational series, Shelly and Noe Valladolid return to Anaheim. Where, during the mid-1960s, the Imagineers reimagined one side of Disneyland and added an attraction that has been a fan favorite for nearly 60 years now Over the course of this episode, listeners will learn about What three attractions were NOT affected by the closure and re-opening of Tomorrowland Which Disneyland attraction was originally supposed to be a wax museum How did Alice Davis prevent “...

In the 26th installment of this educational series, Shelly & Noe Valladolid takes us back to Tampa, Florida in 1959. Which is where a bird sanctuary built next to a brewery hospitality center eventually turned into thrill ride central. Over the course of this episode, listeners will learn about • Where was the first Busch Gardens located• How did Busch Gardens in Tampa react to the opening of Walt Disney World• What happened to the wooden coaster Gwazi• What American dynasty backed Colonial ...

In the 25th installment of this educational series, Shelly & Noe Valladolid journey to Flushing Meadows. There, they shine a spotlight on the four attractions that the Imagineers created for the 1964–1965 New York World's Fair. Including the two that Disney Legend Bob Gurr designed. Over the course of this episode, listeners will learn about: What Disney attractions were influenced by the Magic Skyway at the Ford Wonder Rotunda How many Ford Mustangs were sold at the Fair Where could you go to s...

In the 24th installment of this educational series, Shelly & Noe Valladolid discuss how Walt reacted in the late 1950s to the increasing competition his family fun park faced in the themed entertainment space. More to the point, which now-classic attractions were added to Disneyland during this era. Over the course of this episode, listeners will learn about: What did the Skyway look like when it first opened Why did the Pack Mule & Stagecoach get a name change How did the House of the Future co...

In the 23rd installment of this educational series, Shelly & Noe Valladolid head down to the water. To be specific, Santa Monica, California. Where CBS tried to get in the theme park business by radically reimagining a 30-year-old amusement pier. Over the course of this episode, listeners will learn about: What was the original name of the first amusement pier in this location What nearby amusement park did Abbott Kinney build What was the first attraction on “The Million Dollar Pier” Who narrat...

In the 22nd installment of this educational series, Shelly & Noe Valladolid continue their look at C.V. Wood (the original president of Disneyland). In particular, what happened when Wood decided to enter direct competition with Disney and subsequently established his own theme park design company? Over the course of this episode, listeners will learn about: Why was Pleasure Island called “The Disneyland of the Northeast” What became of that theme park’s mechanical Moby Dick Which city in Arizon...

In the 21st installment of this educational series, Shelly and Noe Valladolid talk about what happened when C.V. Wood (the original president of Disneyland) went off in 1956 and set up his own theme park design company. This episode takes a close look at Freedomland & Magic Mountain Over the course of this episode, listeners will learn about: How many theme park designers did C.V. Wood take with him when he exited Disneyland What was the first theme park that Wood worked on after he stopped...

In the 20th installment of this educational series, Shelly & Noe Valladolid talk about the land search for Walt’s family fun park. More to the point, how the Company settled on “Disneyland” as just the right name for this project. Throughout this episode, listeners will learn about: Where Disneyland was initially supposed to be built Which cities inspired Main Street, U.S.A., and the Park’s Opera HouseWho said that “… Disneyland will not be a commercial venture” What did the Stanford Research I...

In the 19th installment of this educational series, Shelly & Noe Valladolid talk about what happened in September of 1953 prior to Roy O. Disney’s fateful flight out to NYC. They also talk about how the material that Walt’s brother showed to executives at CBS, NBC & ABC to sell them on Disneyland was created. Throughout this episode, listeners will learn about: How did Herbie Ryman’s “Lost Weekend” with Walt REALLY go down Which “Lands” were initially proposed for Walt’s family fun park How did ...

In the 18th installment of this educational series, Shelly & Noe Valladolid explore how Walt Disney’s lifelong fascination with trains impacted the development of his family fun park. Special guest Roger Colton sheds light on this specific aspect of Disneyland history. Throughout this episode, listeners will learn about: * Why is Walt’s visit to the Chicago Railroad Fair in 1948 considered such an important moment in the development history of Disneyland * Which specific Disneyland attractio...

In the seventeenth installment of this educational series, Shelly & Noe Valladolid continue their look back at the history of themed entertainment. This time around, they're joined by veteran Imagineer Joe Lanzisero, who looks back at how AA figures were developed for the Disney Parks. Throughout today's episode, listeners will learn about: How Electro the Robot wowed folks at the 1939 New York World's Fair How "Project Little Man" influenced the creation of "Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln" Wher...

In the sixteenth installment of this educational series, Shelly & Noe Valladolid continued their look back at the history of themed entertainment. This time around, they focus on some of the innovations Walt Disney helped introduce with his family fun park. Throughout this episode, listeners will learn about: How far back in history do automatons go? Who was the first creator to use pneumatics What sort of control systems were used originally at Disneyland Park When were Audio Animatronics first...

In the fifteenth installment of this educational series, Shelly & Noe Valladolid continued\ their look at the history of themed entertainment. This episode emphasizes how the industry changed after the First World War. Throughout this episode, listeners will learn about: What are the specific components of an Old Mill Ride What is typically found inside of a Tunnel of Love attraction (Besides kissing couples, I mean) Where were the first of these attractions built? When did old flight equipment ...

In the fourteenth installment of this educational series, Shelly & Noe Valladolid look at the history of this seminal thrill ride. Which started off as a strictly seasonal offering but eventually grew to become an amusement park mainstay. Over the course of this episode, listeners will learn about: · What are the icy origins of the roller coaster · What is an Americanski Gorsky · What was the first looping coaster · When was the Golden Age of Roller Coaster in the United States ·...

In the thirteenth installment of this educational series, Shelly & Noe Valladolid talk about the origins of two theme park favorites; how the very first carousels & Ferris Wheels were developed & constructed. Throughout this episode, listeners will learn about: What do knights have to do with the creation of the very first carousel What’s the main difference between a carousel and a merry-go-round How did amusement park operators compel customers to ride the outermost ring of horses on a carouse...

In the twelfth installment of this educational series, Shelly & Noe Valladolid talk about how a small, roadside berry stand in Buena Park, CA eventually grew to become one of America’s most popular theme parks Throughout this episode, listeners will learn about: How an abandoned berry plant found in a ditch became a thriving family business How the tea room at Knott’s Berry Place eventually transformed into Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner Restaurant How was the piece for Knott’s “Ghost Town Village...

In the seventh installment of this educational series, Shelly & Noe Valladolid talk about how a working ranch & farm in the San Fernando Valley eventually became one of Southern California’s most popular tourist attractions Throughout this episode, listeners will learn about: When was Universal City officially founded Which Disney vet designed the Glamour Trams Who built the 50-foot-tall King Kong animatronic for this theme park On what floor of “Back to the Future: The Ride” was Steve Spielber...

In the tenth installment of this educational series, Shelly & Noe Valladolid talk about the three great amusement parks that once occupied the southwesternmost section of Brooklyn. For this episode, listeners will learn about: The rowdy early history of this island The Elephantine Colossus and her sisters How the arrest of Coney Island’s “boss” opened the door for Amusement Parks Sea Lion Park, which eventually became Luna Park The “Insanatorium” in Steeplechase Park And the life and death of To...

In the ninth installment of this educational series, Shelly & Noe Valladolid talk about how – as the 19th Century gave way to the 20th – amusement parks as we know them today began to pop up around the country Throughout this episode, listeners will learn about: How Lake Compouce sprang up from a failed explosives experiment How Disney’s Boardwalk Resort was originally supposed to feature a selection of classic theme park attractions How a young immigrant went from sleeping under an Atlantic Cit...

In the eighth installment of this educational series, Shelly & Noe Valladolid talk about how savvy rail & beer companies took advantage of trolley downtime to create new entertainment destinations at the end of the line. Over the course of this episode, listeners will learn about: How Tivoli Gardens directly influenced the design of Disneyland A Ferris wheel from 1897 that is still operational today Early animatronics in Jenny’s Whim How the rise of the automobile signaled the death knell for tr...

In the seventh installment of this educational series, Shelly & Noe Valladolid talk about what happened in themed entertainment at the start of the 20th Century. How World’s Fairs continued to grow and develop Over the course of this episode, listeners will learn about: The 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St Louis In what ways did the Brussels International Exposition of 1910 influence the design of Main Street, USA How did the Exposition Universelle impact Disneyland Paris Where was the o...

In the second installment of this particular chapter in their ongoing series, Noe & Shelly Valladolid continue their exploration of the Columbian Exposition of 1893, with a specific emphasis on how the White City directly influenced Disneyland. Over the course of this episode, listeners will learn about: What it was like to stroll down the Exposition’s Midway Plaisance Why the White City’s planned Bazaar of Nations turned into an entertainment free-for-all How the Exposition’s “Streets of Cairo”...

In the latest installment of this continuing series, Noe & Shelly Valladolid look at the Columbian Exposition of 1893. Which many have called the most influential World’s Fair of all time. Over the course of this episode, listeners will learn about: How Chicago won out over New York, Washington DC & St. Louis when it came to the opportunity to be the host city for this World’s Fair Why the famous poem about Columbus was changed How the Swift Meats Company sponsored the Columbian Exposition and t...