![]() ![]() There was the sound design, which included spectral noises that seemed to come from all sides and directly behind us. It seemed odd that he was clad in a tuxedo with tails- had not all the publicity shown him in sorcerer’s robes? But when he climbed the stairs and shot a blaze of sparks from his fingertips, we knew that in this show, Mickey would be magical.Įven after thirty years, there are elements of that premiere night I recall vividly. ![]() I vividly recall the roar that went up the very first time that Mickey “magically” appeared in a blaze of light and smoke on the still fresh new stage. After a series of announcements stating that Fantasmic! was about to begin and that there were no more viewing areas available, a now-familiar high-pitched tone was heard. This is the exact pose and costume for Sorcerer Mickey used in the widely disseminated “hero image” for Fantasmic! publicity.īut now, rehearsals were over, the press premiere was behind us, and the river was thronged with guests packed into the newly denuded New Orleans Square waterfront. This image was used to illustrate the rehearsal process, but sharp-eyed readers will note that this is actually a photo shoot. The first few pages of the booklet gave a brief history of the development of Fantasmic!, as well as images of its construction. Today, the park no longer even produces an annual souvenir booklet, let alone semi-permanent keepsakes for specific attractions and special events. In the past there had been booklets for the Sleeping Beauty Castle dioramas, it’s a small world, and Pirates of the Caribbean. ![]() Measuring 8.5 X 8.5 inches, this 24-page booklet (with a fold-out front cover) was offered only during the first year, and rather quickly vanished from store shelves as Fantasmic! would later be incorporated into the standard souvenir booklet for the entire park. For the first time in many years, Disneyland had prepared and sold a special souvenir booklet devoted to a single attraction. I do, however, have another visual record of Fantasmic’s debut. My camera had been stolen on a trip to New York City, and so I do not have any of my own photos from that memorable night. In those days the internet was still just a glimmer ( officially launched on the World Wide Web in 1996), so fans were still getting information through news reports, fan newsletters, and tip-offs from cast members.Īs noted in last month’s column, I was missing something crucial that evening. On Friday, May 15, I made a point of getting into Disneyland and over to New Orleans Square as early as possible. This month I will be describing my reaction, the public reaction, and the long-term impact it had on Disneyland. Last month, I described the events leading up to the May 15 public debut of Fantasmic!, the new nighttime spectacle that had everyone guessing about what, exactly, it would be. ![]()
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