Kids of the Kingdom, August 1970
Hey, look! It's the Kids of the Kingdom! Purveyors of Positivity. It's August of 1970, and those crazy Kids are performing on a stage in Tomorrowland that would eventually be a part of the Space Mountain queue. And there is not a seat available. Standing Room Only! Looking at the famous 1968 record album, I see that there are TWO Burt Bacharach ("What the World Needs Now", "Say a Little Prayer", "This Guy's In Love With You" - to name but a few) medleys; one on Side A, one on Side B; a song from Peter, Paul, and Mary ("I Dig Rock and Roll Music"), a song from "Thoroughly Modern Millie", and even "The Bare Necessities".
Over a year ago I received an email from one of the former Kids, Linda Piesik, whose name I got wrong in my blog posts (it was hard to decipher the handwriting on the photo), she is visible in pictures HERE and HERE. Linda said... I was having such a great time. I too remember going to Carnation Plaza and watching Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald, Duke and so many more! I couldn’t believe I was just walking across the Park at the end of the day and seeing that kind of talent!
And the rides later at night! Awesome! Especially the Matterhorn and Big Thunder!
I’ve often tried to explain how easy Disneyland was back in the day. My grandchildren can’t even fathom.
I left the park after our 71 season came to an end. I wanted to move on and see what else I could do. I’m happy to say I made a semi successful career as a singer. Traveled the world first class and in a road band. So from one end to another.
My stage name was Leda Grace. I recorded an album on Polydor Records. You can find me on You Tube.
Thank you for writing in, Linda, it was great to hear from you!
10 comments:
I don't remember seeing this version of the Tomorrowland stage, with two orchestra pits. I hope the "Kids" were always able to steer clear those pits, unlike Kelsey Grammer at the Hyperion Theater. I love my Kids of the Kingdom LP. I got it at that comic book shop (The Comic Castle) up the street from Disneyland, which I mention from time to time.
Thank you, Linda and Major!
I'm guessing the first pic was taken from the PeopleMover just before it entered The Character Shop.
I think I would've liked to hear this concert except, I'm sure I would have taken advantage of the crowds being concenrated in one spot, and gone on rides instead. Same as for parades.
Does anybody know what is written on that oval sign on the left? All I can make out is "Mission Control Center". Must be for Flight To The Moon?
Thanks to former "Kid", Linda, and to Major too. Come to think of it, we're all former kids!
H70BD DL! Sing out KOTK.
MS
This is neat to see. Happy that Linda had a good career and discovered her mentions on GDB. I mean no disrespect when I say that JB and I would be in line at the Matterhorn, not watching the concert though. I do wish I had the good sense to go hear Count Basie.
Thanks Major and Linda!
JG
JB,
I believe the oval Flight to the Moon sign says "See the McDonnell Douglas MISSION CONTROL CENTER An Audio-Animatronic Show".
Wonderful pics! Always loved "The Character Shop" signage. It was damaged in later years (broken fiberglass). I don't think they bothered to fix it when soon it was replaced by "The Star Trader".
Glad to hear Linda had a post-Disney career.
TokyoMagic!, yes, I was surprised by the “orchestra pits”, in that first photo it looks pretty dangerous! That doesn’t leave a lot of room for boogie-ing. Poor Kelsey Grammar, I didn’t know that he fell into an orchestra pit. I’d imagine he was injured. Cool that you got a copy of that album at your favorite comic shop!
JB, yes I am sure that the first photo was taken from the Peoplemover. Like you, I know I would have taken the opportunity to hit some rides with (theoretically) shorter lines, but I’m glad the guests have turned out to watch them. I think Daveland has a clear photo of that oval sign, I’m not sure if the ride had switched over from “Flight to the Moon” to “Mission to Mars” yet. Maybe it had!
MS, as usual, I have forgotten to acknowledge this special day!
JG, I think it’s funny that I joked (twice) about Linda writing into GDB. And then she did! I assume somebody saw those blog posts and told her about them. If we had that time machine, I would definitely watch so many of those classic Big Bands at the Plaza Gardens or the Tomorrowland Stage!
This is K. Martinez. I was on another computer.
I am also a "Kid of the Kingdom"...with a different type of performance, but a performance nonetheless, and although I liked to listen to the kids, I also was taking advantage of rides while they were performing. Ditto with parades. The last Kids of the Kingdom show I saw was "Show Biz Is". I still like that show: and all those "Kids" shows tend to be easy to find on the internet. There's that "special" palm tree...but its BEHIND the stage. How very curious and odd. I miss the Character Shop and Rolly Crump architecture...however I only have very faint memories of this venue. That's a pretty full house, and it must have been great to perform with that much human energy around. A Summer day for sure. Lot's of white shirts in the audience. At first I thought people were holding big fluffy wads of cotton candy. Looks like "Magic Hour" with the shadows and light confirming that it's almost time for the twinkle lights and tiki torches to go on. So nice that Linda has found GDB, and I'm sure she appears in thousands of photos. The entertainment people were kind of separate from the likes of the "regular" cast members....doing soooo many shows every day 5 days a week I'm sure was exhausting. Even doing one show takes a lot out of you. Since "Disneyland is your land", I wish everyone a very happy birthday today. As JB said, we are ALL kids of the kingdom, and happily our family home still stands..albeit with some redecorating... I honestly can't believe that it's been 70 years, when I have full recollections of the 20th anniversary, and of course the 25th, when I officially became another one of the "kids". Thanks to Walt, Major and Linda.
K. Martinez (now that I know it is you!), thank you for doing the research and figuring out what that sign said. At least I was right about it still being “Flight to the Moon”! I miss the old signs, but I guess that’s just a factor of my age.
Bu, somehow I would have thought that you’d be more of a “watch the show” kind of person! But I get it, shorter lines are always a plus. I didn’t know that the Kids did different shows over the years; I guess I just assumed that they song uplifting songs, sometimes retiring one tune and bringing in a newer one. Good eye on the Senagalese Palm Tree, I admit that one wouldn’t expect to see if there, but Tomorrowland expands out just past this area. I agree about seeing a show with a full house; conversely, I’ve seen shows with only a smattering of disinterested guests, and always feel bad for the performers. I don’t know if it’s a time-of-day thing or what. Live theater sounds exhausting no matter where it’s being done, you hear about Broadway shows that do seven or eight shows a week, I’m sure that would get old in a hurry. Like you, I remember Disneyland’s 25th pretty vividly, how can it now be another 50 years on??
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