Disney’s First Show: How It Paved the Way for Disneyland
Disney+ offers subscribers a chance to explore over a century of entertainment created by the Walt Disney Company, founded by Walt Disney and his brother Roy Disney. Among its vast library are classic animated shorts and Disney’s pioneering feature film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. This week marks the 71st anniversary of the debut of the Disneyland television series on ABC, titled “The Disneyland Story.” This show not only introduced the concept of a theme park to a national audience but also played a crucial role in funding the creation of Disneyland itself.
Walt Disney’s vision for Disneyland emerged during a time when television was rapidly gaining popularity across the United States. Following World War II, many households acquired television sets, which was a positive development for advertisers but posed a challenge for the film industry. Major movie studios largely dismissed television as a threat, opting instead to invest in new film technologies like wide-screen formats and 3D. Conversely, Walt Disney recognized television as a potential ally and marketing tool for his upcoming projects, especially his ambitious theme park.
In search of funding, Walt Disney approached the larger networks, NBC and CBS, proposing a weekly Disney television series. While both networks were intrigued by the Disney brand, they ultimately declined to invest in Disneyland, a concept that remained unproven and difficult to grasp for many at the time. This prompted Disney to turn to ABC, a fledgling network eager to boost its fortunes. In exchange for producing the show, ABC agreed to invest in Disneyland, providing the necessary capital to make the park a reality.
The first episode of the Disneyland series served as both an introduction to the theme park and an advertisement for it. Viewers learned about Disneyland’s planned layout, which included themed areas such as Fantasyland, Frontierland, Adventureland, and Tomorrowland. Each episode mirrored these divisions, showcasing various Disney content associated with the respective lands. For instance, Fantasyland featured animated shorts and edited versions of animated films, while episodes dedicated to Frontierland highlighted the popular Davy Crockett series, which included the iconic song, “Ballad of Davy Crockett.” Adventureland episodes showcased the Oscar-winning True Life Adventure documentary series, and Tomorrowland episodes focused on America’s space exploration efforts.
The television series significantly bolstered public interest in Disneyland, which opened in 1955. The accompanying broadcast, “Dateline: Disneyland,” became one of the most-watched television specials of its time. The visibility and excitement generated by the show were instrumental in attracting millions of visitors to the park, transforming Walt’s vision into a successful reality.
The Disneyland television series has evolved over the decades, becoming one of the longest-running shows in television history. In 1958, it was renamed Walt Disney Presents, and in 1961, it transitioned to NBC, adopting the title Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color as it began broadcasting in color. The show continued to evolve, eventually becoming The Wonderful World of Disney in 1991, with Michael Eisner taking over as host, marking the first change in that role since Walt Disney himself.
While many of the original episodes remain largely inaccessible, some historical segments, such as “The Pre-Opening Report From Disneyland,” are available on Disney+. For those interested in the legacy of the Disney brand and its impact on popular culture, exploring these episodes offers a compelling glimpse into the origins of Disneyland. As interest in this pivotal moment in entertainment history continues, it may encourage Disney to make more episodes available for future generations to enjoy.
