America On Parade, June 1976
I have a small group of photos from a nighttime version of "America on Parade", the salute to America in honor of the Bicentennial that ran from 1975 through sometime in 1976. I think. The pictures aren't great, and they are of a parade, after all, so they qualify for a Snoozle Sunday. These are in no particular order, though I used Wikipedia for reference when possible.
Columbus's Ship - in 1492, before the creation of America, Italian explorer Christopher Columbus travelled the then-unknown seas, seeing what kind of discoveries he has managed to find and bring him into the new worlds. This float resembled a pirate ship.
OK, I'm not really sure what this float celebrated, but it's got cool dancers on a flag-themed float. They all studied "float dancing" at Juiliard, one of the most difficult disciplines.
This next float was so incredible that our photographer took two pictures of it. It's a riverboat, just like the ones that moved cargo and passengers along the Mississippi.
At first I thought that the pilot was supposed to be Mark Twain, but maybe not. Robert Fulton? Robert Goulet?
Wikipedia helpfully describes this float as "Giant Bell". You don't say! Does the bell have a crack in it, by any chance? I hope they saved the warranty. If there's one thing that I can pass on to you, it's that you should ALWAYS pay for the extended warranty!
And finally, a stagecoach rumbles past, bringing settlers out West in the hopes of establishing better lives for themselves in the new territories. They also want to go to amusement parks and eat hamburgers and have aquariums full of tropical fish.
17 comments:
Major-
My sources tell me America on Parade ran from June, 1975 thru September, 1976 - at both parks.
Thanks, Major.
Nanook, that’s interesting. I wonder why the parade didn’t go until the end of 1976??
Major, those big-heads are even creepier at night. And the strange lighting makes it feel ‘nightmarish.’ But thanks anyway…these are still fun. :o)
Yeah, if you look up Snoozle in the dictionary (any dictionary) you'll find "parade" listed as a synonym. (Sorry, parade lovers.)
In this photo, Columbus's ship looks to be about 10 inches tall. He must've been extremely small in stature; could've benefited from a few doses of human growth hormone. Setting aside that Columbus never set foot in North America, let's suppose he did. Besides the indigenous folk, he would have encountered European Vikings, who beat him here by about 500 years. 'Ol Chris was a bit late to the party!
I had never heard of "float dancing" 'til just now. Another "only at GDB" factoid!
Seeing the Riverboat float and Liberty Bell float has reminded me (as Sue noted) that the various characters in this parade all had huge heads... I guess they suffered from macrocephaly. What a weird-looking bell. It's skinny! It looks more like an old-timey telephone receiver.
Sue nailed it! Creepy and nightmarish.
A good time to head to Pirates and Haunted Mansion! Thanks, Major.
I’m not into Disney park parade …. However there are some exceptions and AMERICA ON PARADE is one of them . The parade was spectacular and extremely popular with guests. If you don’t like AMERICA ON PARADE …. You never saw it in person!! The parade was designed to look like dolls and toys …. And the soundtrack was comprised of the Sadie Mae band organ but it was enhanced with a moog synthesizer - the same one used for Main Street Electrical Parade . The costumes on the “people of America “ were designed by the same costumer who created all the costumes for THE WILD WILD WEST tv show. At the time AMERICA ON PARADE was the largest Disney marketing campaign at the time and the first to be done simultaneously at both Disneyland & Walt Disney World. At the conclusion of the parade many of the People of America costumes were converted to be People of World Showcase at EPCOT CENTER . It’s a myth that Epcot guests were afraid of them … they were somr of the most photographed elements of early Epcot Center … they were removed because of the extreme cost of up keeping them and when Disney gave in and decided to add the traditional Disney characters , the People of World Showcase were retired.
The sound of the creaking sailing ship masts from the COLUMBUS segment was created by Jack Wagoner : he had musician Don Dorsey ( main st electrical parade creator) sit on a old piano stool and lean back and forth . Jack then took the recording and played it back and a slow speed and it resulted in the perfect ship mast creaking.
AMERICA ON PARADE was the best parade of all the parades … in Walnut Grove.
Yes, "America On Parade" was one of the best Disneyland parades ever. I'd say maybe it was tied with the 1977 version of The Main Street Electrical Parade. I'm also partial to the 1981 version of "Fantasy On Parade".....not just because I was in it, but because it really was a kick-a** parade.
I have never seen a picture of that float from the second image. But I do recognize who it is. It's the clean-shaven group, "Hooray For Everything." They were regular performers over at Duff Gardens, and would close each and every show with their signature song, "Take A Walk On The Wild Side."
Thanks for the A.O.P. Snoozles, Major. I think they could also qualify as Blurzles, and Over Expozurles, but they are A-okay in my book!
Maybe that riverboat pilot is supposed to be Robert Wadlow. He’s about the same height.
I have to agree with Mike and TM! - America on Parade was spectacular, and I use it (and my recollections of my childhood emotions towards it) as the yardstick by which all other daytime Disney parades are judged (the 1977 - with 1981 additions - Main Street Electrical Parade is the standard for nighttime parades).
Sue, America on Parade ended in September, 1976 because some of the floats needed to be repurposed for the Pooh for President campaign in October. :-)
I join Mike, TM! & Chuck in love and praise of this parade.
I was a huge fan of America on Parade. With the exception of the Main Street Electrical Parade, I consider America on Parade to be the best parade ever produced by Disney. It told the story of American history through parade units and fun characters. I always loved the style of the is parade as well, both parade units and doll-like characters. Just being there watching it filled me with a sense of wonder and magic. To me, this is when the Disney parks were at their peak.
And what Disney parade ever had a book published about it? Only America on Parade that I know of. Thanks, Major.
Ken sums up my feelings as well. I saw this parade in daylight, and it was great. I had a picture or two, I will hunt for those. The big character heads are reminiscent of those Spanish parades with the religious figures. The Electrical Parade was the best, however. Now, Disney parades are just loud and block traffic, a great excuse to go ride Pirates.
Thank you Major, the photos aren’t great but they do touch memories.
Thank you too to Nanook and MS for answering my questions yesterday. I have a couple of albums recorded live at Garden of Allah, which must have been quite a place.
JG
I'm sure the parade was great in person, but something about these pictures remind me of visions I have when sleeping off a cold on codeine.
Even if the extended warranty doesn't cover the crack on the bell, it should be covered for melting.
Hi folks, sorry about yesterday, I was out from morning until late!
Nanook, I’m surprised that it only ran for just over a year!
Lou and Sue, yes, I wonder that too. Was it moved to Florida?
JB, it’s always a frustration when going through a batch of slides when I find one parade photo, because that often means that there are another five - or eight - or a dozen - additional parade pix. Argh. Remember, Columbus had three ships, and the “Niña” *was* only 10 inches tall. I’m always a bit surprised at the people who get upset about how Columbus Day is less of a thing these days, who cares? It was fun when I was a kid, and didn’t know anything. “Float dancing” is kind of a lost art, most performers are just faking it. Those big-headed characters are a style I guess, and I’m glad that the park put all that creative work into a big extravaganza.
Mike Cozart, I definitely saw America On Parade, and was all ready for it, since I also had the Viewmaster set and a paperback book all about the parade. How many parades got an accompanying book?? I’m sure I liked the parade OK, but I sure didn’t love it the way I loved the Main Street Electrical Parade, which seems like the general consensus. I’d never heard the story that people in EPCOT were afraid of the characters, that’s just silly. “Look at that giant lady, ma!”. “Land sakes, pa! She’s going to eat us!”. Like I said to JB, I appreciate that they made a big, elaborate, and expensive parade for guests, even if it wasn’t exactly my thing. “… in Walnut Grove”?? Isn’t that the town in “Little House on the Prairie”?
TokyoMagic!, with the exception of a Christmas parade or two, my dad was a big one for taking the opportunity to hop on rides with short lines while everybody else was standing on Main Street! So I’m sure I missed many of them, I have vague memories of seeing floats pass in the distance above the heads of the crowds. I love “Hooray For Everything” and their version of “Take a Walk on the Wild Side”, it’s even better than the original.
Chuck, I had to look up Robert Wadlow - the name rang a bell! They had a life-sized statue of him at the “Ripley’s Believe It Or Not” museum on Hollywood Blvd. Hot take: that guy was tall. I think you should just use a regular yardstick, but I’m not the boss of you. Pooh for President: if only.
K. Martinez, I had no idea there was so much love for “America On Parade”. You asked the same question I asked about the book! I wonder if I still have my AOP Viewmaster packet? It’s possible that it is in a box somewhere. To be honest, 1976 was so long ago that I don’t have super vivid memories of my feelings about the parade, but always thought that it was nice - just not my favorite.
JG, they had some other characters in earlier parades with the big doll-like heads, I always wondered if they were the inspiration for AOP? It does seem like high volume and “high energy” are the main goals for for parades these days. Last year I did the old trick of heading to some rides!
Dean Finder, I’m sure that the fact that these are night photos (with bad focus and weird color) adds to the strangeness. You only covered the melting if you got the double secret gold level extended warranty.
OK, it looks like I'm out-numbered here, parade-wise. So, all I gotta say is, "You kids get off my lawn!" ;-p
^ JB, I saw the parade in person and must say that I found it to be 'memorable.' 'Memorable' as in Trilogy of Terror memorable. Hey, we can run over to PoTC now and enjoy the short line. ;o)
Major; AMERICA ON PARADE ran simultaneously at both parks - all floats and costumes were done in duplicate - actually the People of America “ doll costumes were done in groups of 4 - 2 for each park ( just in case!!)
Few of the parade characters are given specific names … Ben Franklin , Betsy Ross, Columbus , Tom Sawyer ,Huck Finn, Becky Thatcher are a few exceptions… but many of the costumes on the people are very Hollywood inspired …. The notes of the Riverboat float segment costume artwork say “showboat “ and the others are listed as “cakewalk dancers” …. I suspect the “Captain” is inspired by Capatain Andy …. From the musical Showboat .. a few other characters are listed as “Rhett” and “Scarlet” (Gone with the Wind) ….. the AMERICA on Parade hardcover/softcover book shows most of the final character costume designs for the parade … however the designers note and character names are omitted from the book’s art reproductions . A set of jumbo postcards featuring the costume art concepts was being developed but was never released ( that I’ve ever seen ) but two packs of jumbo postcards featuring the images of the actual parade scenes did get produced and these are somewhat difficult to find today .
JB, I never want to “yuck somebody’s yum” as they say; again, I did not hate AOP, but I was not a fan. I do think that being just the right age makes a big difference in how you might have felt about it.
Lou an Sue, ha ha, if only they could have worked the Zuni fetish doll into the parade!
Mike Cozart, if the parade was at both parks, then I’m doubly amazed that it didn’t run longer. It must have cost a fortune! I assume that they must have reused many features in subsequent parades. These days, they’ll celebrate an occasion for three years. “Movie history” (i.e. hiistory as it has been presented via Hollywood) seems perfectly acceptable for a Disney parade, especially since the park itself was largely based on a Hollywood frontier, or jungle trip, etc. I have a set of the jumbo postcards with the actual parade scenes, I really need to get out my binders of cards and start scanning some of the better examples.
Sue, :-)
AMERICA ON PARADE ran at both parks 2 performances a day ( weather permitting) from June 1975 through September 1976. That’s two summer seasons …. And the bicentennial was only for 1976 … so that’s a long run for a pageant / parade of that scale.
In 1976 Disney win a special award for its bicentennial themed ROSE PARADE float entry called “SING OUT AMERICA” ( ironically the first working name for the attraction AMERICA SINGS ) Don Dorsy ( Main Street electrical parade fame) , Bob Jani and Jack wagoner produced it. It featured giant Victorian bird cages with birds and parrots sings a sped up medley of patriotic American songs. Rose parade viewers and judges LOVED it!
I had a friend who was totally mesmerized by this parade: someone that had never been to a Disney Park, and happenstance upon a "big head" photo via the "new" internet (this was quite some time ago.) He didn't even know where it was from, but of course I absolutely knew, and supplied many other photos. I was never too "into" this parade, I am more the "Fantasy on Parade" kind of guy. I like real people, dancers, musicians, horses....something a bit more organic. American on Parade was certainly very grand with it's large scale: everything. It was very well executed and probably this was the last of the "great parades" created in Disneyland. I'm not sure if the downscaled "Small World Cavalcade" circa 1980 something compares to even one float. Money got tight, and parades aren't cheap. They do stick in peoples minds though....and for the "non parade people": It allows tens of thousands of people to go somewhere else other than lines for E ticket attractions. They get something and we get something....win win!! Thanks Major.
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