The Chinese Theatre
Disney was very proud of their Chinese Theatre. Rather than build a scaled-down copy, this was an exact replica, in full-scale, of the Hollywood icon. Out front there were even hand and footprints in the forecourt. A few pre-dated the May 1 opening, as the production facilities had already been in use for a few months. The first “official” handprint ceremony on opening day honored Disney star Annette Funicello.
Inside the theater guests found the Great Movie Ride. The lobby queue featured a series of cases holding iconic props from such Hollywood classics as “Casablanca” (Sam’s piano), “Mary Poppins” (Mary’s carrousel horse) and “The Wizard of Oz” (the ruby slippers). After a short wait in a preview theater, guests boarded massive ride vehicles and passed under a neon lit marquee for “a spectacular journey into the movies.” The ambitious tone of the attraction was set with the very first scene, a lavish Busby Berkeley set piece from Warner Brother’s “Dames.” Gorgeous chorus girls twirled aboard a spinning fountain, surrounded by a glittering art-deco set. From there, the journey continued through films past and present, culminating in a visit to Oz and a specially made compilation of the greatest moment in film.
Theater of the Stars
There was another theater on Hollywood Boulevard. It was not nearly as prominent as the Chinese, but it was based on another tinseltown landmark, the Hollywood Bowl. The Florida sun was not kind to the open air setting, so unlike the cooler environs of the Hollywood Hills. This venue Initially displayed a lively stage show, “Hollywood! Hollywood!” Disney’s animated stars joined the cast to present the history of film, starting in the silent era and continuing on through a disco-era tribute to Star Wars, featuring a lively Tigger. The Theater of the Stars could be found at the end of Hollywood Boulevard, right between Pacific Electric Pictures and the Brown Derby.
The Brown Derby Restaurant
The Brown Derby at Disney-MGM may not have been familiar to many guests—it wasn’t shaped like a hat. But for those who knew their Hollywood history, this was a good representation of the more upscale Vine Street location. Inside one could even get the Derby’s signature Cobb Salad and grapefruit cake.
