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What roles were women not allowed to do in the Haunted Mansion in 1975? And why was Imagineer Dorothea Redmond once forced to work alone in a walled-off office?
Welcome, Foolish Mortals, to this special Halloween episode of Distory where we head back to the Haunted Mansion to explore some details, secrets, and history we didn't previously unearth in our 16-episode series on this iconic Disney attraction.
With six unique stories in all, this extended episode includes rare concept art, stories you've likely never heard, and even a premiere of a newly restored 35mm video from the 1970s as we delve deeper into the boundless realm of the supernatural.
We begin our tour with a historic Cast Member manual, learning how the Mansion's protocols differed from what we see today. After checking out some vintage costumes, Kate digs up a mummified head from Yale Gracey that inspired a popular ghost, and Kirk brings us back to the days of record stories, complete with a dramatic reading. Along the way, we explore Dorothea Redmond's influence on the Mansion, take a ride on a Mansion knock-off attraction, and celebrate spooky season with a celebration of rare, long-lost ghost concepts that never saw the light of day.
Many thanks to fellow historian and collaborator Joshua L Harris for permitting us to premiere his latest film restoration of a never-before-released 35mm excerpt of Kurt Russell & The Osmonds touring The Haunted Mansion at Disneyland on The Wonderful World of Disney from 1970 in this episode.
You can find more of Joshua’s Disney history work here:
https://www.epcotlegacy.com/overviewhttps://www.jlhomnimedia.com/
And if you'd like to support his digital preservation work, you can join his Locals community at epcotlegacy.locals.com.
Join us LIVE on YouTube every week! Be notified by subscribing to Kate’s Youtube: @disneycicerone
You can also find us on Instagram, Facebook, and at disneycicerone.com & walruscarp.com
View full video versions of each episode at Disney Cicerone's YouTube channel HERE OR on the Spotify version of our podcast.
Kate's books on Amazon
WalrusCarp T-shirts & Merch
MOWD app
Distory T-shirts and Stickers
Kate’s Substack
What hidden ties to both Disneyland and Epcot are found in the exit of the Tower of Terror?
Drop in with us on this episode of Distory with Kate & Kirk as we check into the Hollywood Tower Hotel to decipher the history, secrets, and stories hidden within its design.
In this episode, we unload from our ride vehicle and step into the photo preview area, examining and explaining many of the details found in the room behind the photo preview area, using Imagineering’s storyboards as our guide.
As we lean in and look closer at the story being told, we explore some historic artifacts from the 1930s and take some side trails to tell stories from a few other Disney parks as well. Kirk gives us a rundown of how switchboards work, Kate finds a Canadian crate she loves, and we both reminisce about a time when technology made us get a little more creative than we are today.
Join us LIVE on YouTube every week! Be notified by subscribing to Kate’s Youtube: @disneycicerone
You can also find us on Instagram, Facebook, and at disneycicerone.com & walruscarp.com
View full video versions of each episode at Disney Cicerone's YouTube channel HERE OR on the Spotify version of our podcast.
Many thanks to Disney historian Joshua at E82 | The Epcot Legacy for contributing resources for this episode!
Kate's books on Amazon
WalrusCarp T-shirts & Merch
MOWD app
Distory T-shirts and Stickers
Kate’s Substack
There are more details in the dark in the Tower of Terror’s drop than you've likely ever noticed before... but once you see them, the ride will never be the same.
Drop in with us on this episode of Distory with Kate & Kirk as we check into the Hollywood Tower Hotel to decipher the history, secrets, and stories hidden within the design. In this episode, we buckle up for the big drop, falling into the fifth dimension by exploring some Imagineering storyboards, concept art, and some bizarre objects in the drop shaft that most people miss.
After we discuss how the epilogue has changed since 1994, we spend some time in the unload hold area, finding some unique connections back to the Twilight Zone series and some of our own nostalgia along the way. We end this episode with some hilarious vintage radio ads, a terrifying chair, and an audio animatronic that almost was.
Join us LIVE on YouTube every week! Be notified by subscribing to Kate’s Youtube: @disneycicerone
You can also find us on Instagram, Facebook, and at disneycicerone.com & walruscarp.com
View full video versions of each episode at Disney Cicerone's YouTube channel HERE OR on the Spotify version of our podcast.
Many thanks to Disney historian Joshua at E82 | The Epcot Legacy for contributing resources for this episode!
Kate's books on Amazon
WalrusCarp T-shirts & Merch
MOWD app
Distory T-shirts and Stickers
There was another Hollywood Hotel designed before the Tower of Terror that inspired most of the corridor and fifth dimension scenes, but hardly anyone has ever seen its concept art... until now.
Drop in with us on this episode of Distory with Kate & Kirk as we check into the Hollywood Tower Hotel to decipher the history, secrets, and stories hidden within the design. In this episode, we buckle up for the beginning of this ride, exploring the Corridor scene before heading into the Fifth Dimension. Along the way, we see an extraordinary amount of rarely-seen storyboards and concept art from Imagineering that help explain the story being told in these scenes. As we move through these two scenes, Kate walks us through the Hollywood Haunted Hotel concept, Kirk educates us about seat belts, and we both explain many of the technical aspects of how the effects are achieved in these scenes. We also discuss a few effects that have changed since 1994, and how the Tower contains some of the most dangerous doors in Walt Disney World, before finding a Hidden Mickey, counting our RPMs and oscillations, and finishing our exploration of the 5th dimension with a celebration of electric fingers.
The Imagineers tucked hidden messages of danger in the Tower of Terror Boiler Room that most guests miss… but we are finding them, one prop at a time.
Drop in with us on this episode of Distory with Kate & Kirk as we check into the Hollywood Tower Hotel to decipher the history, secrets, and stories hidden within the design. In this episode, we head back into the Boiler Room of the Tower of Terror to uncover the story being told by Imagineering in the final queue scene before you load onto the attraction. We begin with a seldom-seen Hidden Mickey and some rare concept art from a previous version of the Tower before moving into the left side of the queue to explore the antiques on display. After waxing nostalgic about steam engines, we explain some old-fashioned fuses, take a tour of the hard-to-see props in the caretaker’s desk area, and find a very dangerous clock. Kate explains some poetry, Kirk makes us some coffee, and we end our episode with a discussion about how the concept art changed for the elevator indicators, and why.
Join us LIVE on YouTube every week! Be notified by subscribing to Kate’s Youtube: @disneycicerone
You can also find us on Instagram, Facebook, and at disneycicerone.com & walruscarp.com
View full video versions of each episode at Disney Cicerone's YouTube channel HERE OR on the Spotify version of our podcast.
Many thanks to Disney historian Joshua at E82 | The Epcot Legacy for contributing resources for this episode!
Kate's books on Amazon
WalrusCarp T-shirts & Merch
MOWD app
Distory T-shirts and Stickers
Kate’s Substack
The Boiler Room of Disney’s Tower of Terror is holding more danger than it appears on the surface… but only if you know where to look.
Drop in with us on this episode of Distory with Kate & Kirk as we check into the Hollywood Tower Hotel to decipher the history, secrets, and stories hidden within the design. In this episode, we head into the Boiler Room of the Tower of Terror to uncover the story being told by Imagineering in this creepy, anticipatory space. We explore all the dials, furnaces, antiques, and warnings you might have missed on your way to load into the elevator of the Tower of Terror in the first half of the Boiler Room. Along the way, Kate gives cultural context of why we find furnaces scary, Kirk gives us a technical rundown of all the equipment we see, and we take the right path to the load area, finding some ominous foreshadowing as we go.
Join us LIVE on YouTube every week! Be notified by subscribing to Kate’s Youtube: @disneycicerone
You can also find us on Instagram, Facebook, and at disneycicerone.com & walruscarp.com
View full video versions of each episode at Disney Cicerone's YouTube channel HERE OR on the Spotify version of our podcast.
Many thanks to Disney historian Joshua at E82 | The Epcot Legacy for contributing resources for this episode!
Kate's books on Amazon
WalrusCarp T-shirts & Merch
MOWD app
Distory T-shirts and Stickers
Kate’s Substack
The props tucked inside the shadowed corners of the Tower of Terror library have an ominous meaning most people miss.
Drop in with us on this episode of Distory with Kate & Kirk as we check into the Hollywood Tower Hotel to decipher the history, secrets, and stories hidden within the design. In this episode, we focus on identifying the artifacts found in the second half of the Foxtrot library pre-show room, exploring the details and artifacts along the way. As we make our way around the room, we discuss the meaning of tapestry patterns, explore Greek pottery, and hypothesize why some props were added based on historical context. Kate accidentally shows some inappropriate instruments, Kirk schools us on birds of the world, and we breathe a collective sigh of relief as we (finally!) step out of the library into the entrance to the Boiler Room.
Join us LIVE on YouTube every week! Be notified by subscribing to Kate’s Youtube: @disneycicerone
You can also find us on Instagram, Facebook, and at disneycicerone.com & walruscarp.com
View full video versions of each episode at Disney Cicerone's YouTube channel HERE OR on the Spotify version of our podcast.
Many thanks to Disney historian Joshua at E82 | The Epcot Legacy for contributing resources for this episode!
Kate's books on Amazon
WalrusCarp T-shirts & Merch
MOWD app
Distory T-shirts and Stickers
Kate’s Substack
What unique themes are hidden in the dark corners of the libraries of the Tower of Terror?
Drop in with us on this episode of Distory with Kate & Kirk as we check into the Hollywood Tower Hotel to decipher the history, secrets, and stories hidden within the design. In this episode, we focus on identifying the artifacts found in the first half of the Foxtrot library preshow room, exploring the details and artifacts you may have missed. Along the way, we find some art with hidden meanings, a few unique Twilight Zone references, and some ancient artifacts with a fascinating history. After analyzing the notes, books, and objects on the desk, we discuss some Egyptian artifacts, discover a few prop errors, and go on a convoluted journey with some changing trumpet music. Kate finds ANOTHER connection between Nixon and Disney, Kirk teaches us how to not get burned by candle wax, and we both dance, laugh, and sing our way through this wacky Antiques Roadshow of a Disney preshow inside the Hollywood Tower Hotel.
Join us LIVE on YouTube every week! Be notified by subscribing to Kate’s Youtube: @disneycicerone
You can also find us on Instagram, Facebook, and at disneycicerone.com & walruscarp.com
View full video versions of each episode at Disney Cicerone's YouTube channel HERE OR on the Spotify version of our podcast.
Many thanks to Disney historian Joshua at E82 | The Epcot Legacy for contributing resources for this episode!
Kate's books on Amazon
WalrusCarp T-shirts & Merch
MOWD app
Distory T-shirts and Stickers
Kate’s Substack
Are the antiques in the Tower of Terror just a bunch of old junk, or are they actually telling a story you haven’t noticed before?
Drop in with us on this episode of Distory with Kate & Kirk as we check into the Hollywood Tower Hotel to decipher the history, secrets, and stories hidden within the design. In this episode, we focus on identifying the artifacts found in the second half of the Echo library preshow room, exploring the details and artifacts you may have missed. Along the way, we discover some props that have changed, explore women’s fashion in the 1930s, and discover a unique way of keeping the Hollywood Tower Hotel guests sober. Kate explains a few Twilight Zone connections, Kirk teaches us about Napoleon and some odd golden shoes, and we both ponder the greater meaning behind the props, the story they are telling, and their location within the library.
Join us LIVE on YouTube every week! Be notified by subscribing to Kate’s Youtube: @disneycicerone
You can also find us on Instagram, Facebook, and at disneycicerone.com & walruscarp.com
View full video versions of each episode at Disney Cicerone's YouTube channel HERE OR on the Spotify version of our podcast.
Many thanks to Disney historian Joshua at E82 | The Epcot Legacy for contributing resources for this episode!
Kate's books on Amazon
WalrusCarp T-shirts & Merch
MOWD app
Distory T-shirts and Stickers
Kate’s Substack
How many references to the Twilight Zone can you find in the library of the Hollywood Tower Hotel?
Drop in with us on this episode of Distory with Kate & Kirk as we check into the Hollywood Tower Hotel to decipher the history, secrets, and stories hidden within the design. In this episode, we focus on identifying the artifacts found in one half of the Echo library preshow room, discovering what this space is telling you that you might have missed in the dark. Along the way, we encounter a confusing cannon and bell combination, a fortune-telling mystic seer, clocks that are all telling a story, and Egyptian artifacts that have a creepy Twilight Zone reference. We also take a seat at the desk to try to decipher who was researching plants, and why. As we wrap up this episode, we identify some of the antiques on the upper shelf, Kirk makes some...Victorian?... cowboy coffee, and Kate gives the kids something to do (if they were in ancient India).
Join us LIVE on YouTube most Thursdays at 10:30am Pacific/1:30pm Eastern for more Distory!
Kate’s Youtube: @disneycicerone
You can also find us on Instagram, Facebook, and at disneycicerone.com & walruscarp.com
View full video versions of each episode at Disney Cicerone's YouTube channel HERE OR on the Spotify version of our podcast.
Many thanks to Disney historian Joshua at E82 | The Epcot Legacy for contributing resources for this episode!
Kate's books on Amazon
WalrusCarp T-shirts & Merch
MOWD app
Distory T-shirts and Stickers
Kate’s Substack
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