Those Happy Places

In this second Minisode, Alice takes Ben, her Fiancee, to Disneyland, and discovers the exploratory potential of the park through fresh eyes. What does Disneyland's map say about the park--and the secret nooks and crannies within? Take a quick listen this week while we prepare another full episode!

Those Happy Places is produced by Alice White and edited by Buddy Duquesne. Our theme music is "Golden Gate" by The California Feetwarmers, featuring Phil Alvin.

Buddy's Twitter: https://twitter.com/buddy_duquesne

Alice's Twitter: https://twitter.com/AliceWhiteTHP

The California Feetwarmers: http://www.californiafeetwarmers.com/

In this first Minisode, Buddy and Kate do some field recording from a very small Theme Park in Sonoma, California. Listen in to hear some history Stanley Frank, the man who built a quarter-scale train set and opened it to the public. Then, stick around for some reactions, and a wrap-up conversation on what a place like this means.

Those Happy Places is produced by Alice White and edited by Buddy Duquesne. Our theme music is "Golden Gate" by The California Feetwarmers, featuring Phil Alvin.

Buddy's Twitter: https://twitter.com/buddy_duquesne

Alice's Twitter: https://twitter.com/AliceWhiteTHP

Kate's Twitter: https://twitter.com/KatePrinceTHP

The California Feetwarmers: http://www.californiafeetwarmers.com/

This week, Alice and Buddy take on the recently re-skinned Twilight Zone Tower of Terror at Disney California Adventure. What does the transition to Guardians of the Galaxy- Mission: Breakout! mean from a storytelling standpoint? What is the intent behind a re-skinned ride? What are the fan responses, and why do they matter?

Special guest Charles Gustine of the ICONography podcast starts us off this week. Check out his website:

https://iconographypodcast.squarespace.com/

Disney's California Adventure, opened in February 2001, immediately faced harsh criticisms from guests. What storytelling mistakes were made in the park's original design? What was the park attempting to do--and how successful was it? 

Listen in as Buddy and Alice take a look at concepts of parody, education, and the simulated in their attempt to understand the early storytelling failures of the park.

In this episode, Alice and Buddy tackle two iconic attractions of Disneyland that function both as transportation for guests, and as myth-making symbols of both America's imagined past and future.

In this episode, Alice White and Buddy Duquesne ask the question fans must always confront when seeing a new attraction based on their favorite properties: does it measure up to the story? Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey gets analyzed, de-constructed, and ultimately reviewed by our hosts. Plus, Twitter shout-outs and our first Call-In Guest!

Fantasyland's darkrides are some of the most simple storytelling devices in theme park history, and yet they're emblematic of Disney and its dedication to using rides to tell stories. In this episode, Alice and Buddy discuss the history of Dark Rides, four specific attractions at Disneyland, and the importance of Intellectual Property usage at Disneyland. Give it a listen!

How does The Haunted Mansion Tell its story, and why? What are its themes, and how does it fit into the surrounding New Orleans Square in terms of storytelling? Find out on this first episode of Those Happy Places!

What is Those Happy Places? In this four-minute trailer, Buddy and Alice explain themselves, their methods, and why they chose to discuss theme park rides on the internet with the same techniques they might apply to literature or film. Give it a listen! Tell your friends!