The Concession Stand

Thursday, November 5, 2015

Universal Studios Goes to Disneyland

Many studios wanted to film inside Disneyland but other than official Disney productions, nobody was allowed to film inside Walt Disney's Magic Kingdom. That changed in 1962 when Universal Studios was permitted to film inside the park, approved by Walt Disney himself. Starring Tony Curtis and Suzanne Pleshette, the film featured 20 minutes of vintage Disneyland in vivid color. 



While the movie takes many liberties (Tony Curtis is shown looking down Main Street from the monorail platform, a total impossibility) it is a glorious look at Disneyland in the time of Walt Disney and remains a marvelous treat for any Disneyland fan. Movie aficionados will find a lighthearted early sixties comedy featuring one of Suzanne Pleshette's first roles. It is believed that this film put Ms. Pleshette on Walt Disney's radar, leading him to cast her in various Disney films throughout the 1960's.



Considering that Universal Studios had stolen Walt Disney's original character Oswald out from under him in 1928, it is amazing to see that Mr. Disney apparently held no grudge against the studio. The film remains a colorful time capsule of Disneyland Park's early years.