“It seems cruel, cruel, to give us such a vision; to let us dream and drift through heaven for six months, and then to take it out of our lives.” Eric Larson about Chicago World’s Fair
What a wonderful read on a rainy Saturday afternoon. I love how you think. Time think. Incredible history! My favorite. What amazing accomplishments and progress you made in the field of performance and magic, with a big peek into how things are ran in the theme parks! Of course, you completely sent me back to 1969, at eight years old, where my mom would dress my little brother and I in Christmas clothes and we would attend our "first" backlot Disney Christmas Party for employees! In other world moments, we walked up to every character lined up on a walkway, giving us Christmas treats and into a building where we were treated to the future of Disneyland. I remember, to this day, seeing a lady's floating head in a glass bubble talking to us as this would be the "future" Haunted House, and then walking through what was (back then) flashing neon lights, created in arches, as if we were spinning, for the future ride Space Mountain which wouldn't happen until the late 70's. Little did my dad know he'd head up that project for the first one in Florida that opened in 1975, ours opening in 1977. You brought me back to the magic in so many ways. I enjoy all your stories and pictures and can't imagine what it must have been like. Or what it must have been like at the big world fairs, and other amusement parks in history, dragging around all those clothes they wore!! You step outside of yourself and say, "we did that! I did that! they did that in history! Incredible Charlotte. Thank you. This is what life is about. Gratitude. oxox
Wonderful, I especially enjoyed the thought of the people in their horse drawn buggies visiting these parks. And as always, I enjoyed both your word magic and your stage magic. Thank you, Charlotte, for sharing stories from your extraordinary career!
What a powerful Magic is a Word! Immersing ourselves in memories of another, we are time travelling with them, on journeys to places we have never seen and never been - and yet, they transport us to the places in their heart.
That pole suspension illusion looked cool, also loved the history lesson on theme parks I was honestly very ignorant of those facts. I'm amazed, I suppose you Americans have always been fascinated by them (not judging, I actually kind of understand why).
This makes me even more excited once I'm abroad to maybe save up money to go to a theme park that's overseas. Your article is honestly one of the best I've read in some time Charlotte!
I remember living in San Diego, and going to Disneyland about once a month—usually on a Sunday, after going to THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW, staying up late on Saturday, and having Sunday brunch when it was $5 or $10 for all you can eat. We'd either drive or take the train to Anaheim, and spend the day at Disneyland, then come home Sunday night and go to bed early, to go to work on Monday....
It was a magical time, being balanced between being a grown-up (ROCKY HORROR) and a kid (Disneyland!).
THE WORLD'S COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION by Norman Bolotin & Christine Laing is the perfect source for information regarding Chicago's "White City". Imagine being exposed for the first time to Tesla's light bulbs, Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show, and Little Egypt.
My granddad's life spanned horse and buggies to a man on the moon. I still have a carbide headlamp from one of his buggies on a shelf downstairs.
It's amazing how long we, humanity, were limited to shank's mare or horseback and how short a time, following those many eras, it took us to get up in the air and even in space. Yes the fairs were awe inspiring and it's not a stretch to consider that such inspired much we take for granted today.
Thanks for sharing the historical perspective. Going further back in time, what do you think of Tivoli Gardens, which is still going strong in Copenhagen?
I lived in central Florida during the 90s and remember when Universal Studios started first opened and started doing Fright Nights and generally making the nightime more adult-like (along with Disney's Pleasure Island, and of course, the long-standing Church Street Station)! Great memories.
(I find it both hilarious & sad (we need an English word for that! "tragicomic" doesn't seem to fit 🤔) that you would get occasional talkin'-to's by zealots back then.)
Charolotte, I really appreciate how you weaved the way-past with the past in this article. It was so enjoyable seeing your performance in the video -and I would LOVE to see your "Adventures of Conan" if you ever digitize it!
Very interesting article. Had absolutely no idea theme parks went back to the late 1800's. I would encourage everyone to watch the video. Thank you for that Charlotte.
Charlotte,
What a wonderful read on a rainy Saturday afternoon. I love how you think. Time think. Incredible history! My favorite. What amazing accomplishments and progress you made in the field of performance and magic, with a big peek into how things are ran in the theme parks! Of course, you completely sent me back to 1969, at eight years old, where my mom would dress my little brother and I in Christmas clothes and we would attend our "first" backlot Disney Christmas Party for employees! In other world moments, we walked up to every character lined up on a walkway, giving us Christmas treats and into a building where we were treated to the future of Disneyland. I remember, to this day, seeing a lady's floating head in a glass bubble talking to us as this would be the "future" Haunted House, and then walking through what was (back then) flashing neon lights, created in arches, as if we were spinning, for the future ride Space Mountain which wouldn't happen until the late 70's. Little did my dad know he'd head up that project for the first one in Florida that opened in 1975, ours opening in 1977. You brought me back to the magic in so many ways. I enjoy all your stories and pictures and can't imagine what it must have been like. Or what it must have been like at the big world fairs, and other amusement parks in history, dragging around all those clothes they wore!! You step outside of yourself and say, "we did that! I did that! they did that in history! Incredible Charlotte. Thank you. This is what life is about. Gratitude. oxox
As always, awesome! Thank You
Wonderful, I especially enjoyed the thought of the people in their horse drawn buggies visiting these parks. And as always, I enjoyed both your word magic and your stage magic. Thank you, Charlotte, for sharing stories from your extraordinary career!
What a powerful Magic is a Word! Immersing ourselves in memories of another, we are time travelling with them, on journeys to places we have never seen and never been - and yet, they transport us to the places in their heart.
That pole suspension illusion looked cool, also loved the history lesson on theme parks I was honestly very ignorant of those facts. I'm amazed, I suppose you Americans have always been fascinated by them (not judging, I actually kind of understand why).
This makes me even more excited once I'm abroad to maybe save up money to go to a theme park that's overseas. Your article is honestly one of the best I've read in some time Charlotte!
I remember living in San Diego, and going to Disneyland about once a month—usually on a Sunday, after going to THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW, staying up late on Saturday, and having Sunday brunch when it was $5 or $10 for all you can eat. We'd either drive or take the train to Anaheim, and spend the day at Disneyland, then come home Sunday night and go to bed early, to go to work on Monday....
It was a magical time, being balanced between being a grown-up (ROCKY HORROR) and a kid (Disneyland!).
THE WORLD'S COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION by Norman Bolotin & Christine Laing is the perfect source for information regarding Chicago's "White City". Imagine being exposed for the first time to Tesla's light bulbs, Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show, and Little Egypt.
A little history, a few personal reflections… and magic. Lots of magic ☺️
Another engrossing tale from Charlotte; it is so easy to get lost in the story when she tells it, and this one was fantastic!
Thank you so much for sharing 🥰
I enjoyed hearing about your childhood encounter fo disney and knotts
thank you for sharing your views,memories and insights from your life during that time.
My granddad's life spanned horse and buggies to a man on the moon. I still have a carbide headlamp from one of his buggies on a shelf downstairs.
It's amazing how long we, humanity, were limited to shank's mare or horseback and how short a time, following those many eras, it took us to get up in the air and even in space. Yes the fairs were awe inspiring and it's not a stretch to consider that such inspired much we take for granted today.
Thanks for the reminder, young lady.
What an amazing life you've had, owe inspiring. Kudos to you. Do you still 💃 🕺 dance?
Thanks for sharing the historical perspective. Going further back in time, what do you think of Tivoli Gardens, which is still going strong in Copenhagen?
I lived in central Florida during the 90s and remember when Universal Studios started first opened and started doing Fright Nights and generally making the nightime more adult-like (along with Disney's Pleasure Island, and of course, the long-standing Church Street Station)! Great memories.
(I find it both hilarious & sad (we need an English word for that! "tragicomic" doesn't seem to fit 🤔) that you would get occasional talkin'-to's by zealots back then.)
Charolotte, I really appreciate how you weaved the way-past with the past in this article. It was so enjoyable seeing your performance in the video -and I would LOVE to see your "Adventures of Conan" if you ever digitize it!
Very interesting article. Had absolutely no idea theme parks went back to the late 1800's. I would encourage everyone to watch the video. Thank you for that Charlotte.
I bet it never felt like work really, it sounds like just fan always playing on stage.