How to Help the Victims of Sandy Hook Elementary

After the Tragedy at Sandy Hook I've been trying to find something I can do to tell help the victims heal. The PTA came up with this solution. Help make some snowflakes. It's as easy as making a paper snowflake like when you were a kid, write a message on it and put in an envelope and mail it. You can create any kind of snowflake, knitted, paper, glitter, or cardboard. Send your love to CT.
- Like our children, no two snowflakes are alike. We invite you to create snowflakes to decorate Sandy Hook School’s new home. Be creative! All colors and designs are welcome. You can mail your snowflakes to Connecticut PTSA, 60 Connolly Parkway, Building 12, Suite 103, Hamden, CT 06514, by January 12, 2013.

Do your part in one act of kindness.

Robie Lester, Paul Frees, Ron Howard and the Haunted Mansion Mystery

Last night I was watching, "Santa Clause is Comin' to Town," the 1970 animated classic. You can't beat the clay animated movies around this time of year. As I was listening to the movie I couldn't help but notice that the voices sounded familiar.

Paul Frees in the movie is the voice of Burgermeister Meisterburger. I know him from many attractions and movies he did for Disney.

Frees voiced Disney's Professor Ludwig Von Drake in eighteen episodes of the Disney anthology television series. Frees also provided voices for numerous characters at Disney parks, including the unseen "Ghost Host" in the Haunted Mansion attraction at Disneyland and Walt Disney World, and several audio-animatronic pirates, including the Auctioneer, in the Pirates of the Caribbean ride.  Frees also provided narration for the Tomorrowland attraction Adventure Thru Inner Space (1967–1985). In addition, he provided the voice of Captain Nemo for Disney World's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea: Submarine Voyage in Orlando Florida doing a good impression of actor James Mason.

Mrs. Claus' voice had me stummed. Where could I have heard that voice? Then is dawned on me. The Story of the Haunted Mansion CD. Mrs. Claus was voiced by Robie Lester, who played Karen on the Disney CD. This CD was produced to advertise and hype up the new Haunted Mansion attraction before it open in 1969.

Disneyland Records released The Story and Song From The Haunted Mansion as a record album in 1969. It featured the story of two teenagers, Mike (Ron Howard) and Karen (Robie Lester), who get trapped inside the Haunted Mansion, with Thurl Ravenscroft as the Narrator, Pete Reneday as the Ghost Host, and Eleanor Audley as Madame Leota. Some of the effects and ideas that were planned but never permanently made it to the attraction are mentioned here: the Raven speaks in the Stretching Room, and the Hatbox Ghost is mentioned during the Attic scene.

Not to many people know that Ron Howard record this album for Disney.  I feel this is a must have CD for any Disney fan. The soundtrack is very interesting and humorous. It sounds like it was recorded in someone's garage. It's pure awesomeness! The Raven talks like a cranky old woman. Robie Lester's performance is priceless. Of course Opie is a great actor on this CD.

My First Trip to Disneyland

    Twelve years ago I took my first trip to Disneyland. It had been a long dream of mine to see Walt’s park. My family and I would go to Disney World every year, but Disneyland is where I always wanted to go. As  a child I would watch the Disneyland program on the Disney Channel and read the book, The Magic of Disneyland and Walt Disney World by Valerie Childs, in the hopes that one day I could see the park in person. I finally got my chance in Januray 2000. My father decided to take me as a graduation gift.

    Everyone would tell me Disneyland in small why would you want to go there. It’s only the Magic Kingdom. Disney World has so much more. Well I realized it’s not quantity it’s quality that makes Disneyland so special. There is a certain charm in the park that can not be replicated in any other park. Everything is done with such love and care that you don’t see anywhere else.
    From the minute you walk into the park you feel like you in Walt’s house. I was hopping up and down with excitement waiting for the main gates to open. I got chills up my spine when I first entered the park. I could feel the magic. Walking the same streets Walt walked was a dream come true for me. It was as if I could feel him with me. I thought, I have finally made it after all those year of wishing on stars and watching it on TV in Bblack and white I’m finally here. When I got up Main Street to see Sleeping Beauty’s castle I cried.
    My father and I had a blast. Eating as many gumbo bread bowls and Churros we could get our hands on. We must have eaten at least 6 bread bowl. I think I even had Gumbo for Breakfast.
    Even though Disneyland was only the Magic Kingdom at the time I couldn’t get enough of it. It was a three day trip and I felt it wasn’t enough time to do everything. We stayed at California Pier Hotel which is now Paradise Pier Hotel and overlooked the construction of the California Adventure park. I would get up at 4:00 in morning from excitement, plus I was still on New York time. I would watch the sun come up over the mountains and the park. My father and I would be the only ones in the lobby at 5:00 a.m. looking for breakfast. The Californians looked at us like we were nuts. but I was ready to start the day.
    We did all the rides, and met all the characters. We were surprised to see that some rides were better in Disneyland then Disney World. For example Pirates is awesome with three drops and more scenes than Florida plus the beautiful Blue Bayou Restaurant. You can’t find a restaurant like the Blue Bayou anywhere else. The atmosphere, music and food can’t be beat.
    In January I’m told it rains a lot. Being from New York we didn’t mind some rain. The best part is no one goes to the park when it rains. We had the whole park to ourselves.
    At the beginning of Main Street in the rain I saw this big red thing that had ears. As I walked closer I realized it was Mickey in a red poncho. It was the cutest thing I had ever seen. No one was around him, so I got my picture with him. In Disney World I would have waited an hour for one picture.

    The Indiana Jones ride was also awesome. We had never experienced anything like that ride before. I have never heard my father laugh so hard before going on that ride.
    I love the fact that some of the rides are the same way Walt left them. Like the Tike Room. I Love those birds. It’s like traveling back in time to when the Disneyland program aired. It made me feel closer to Walt to see the rides the way he left them. Everything was just the way I saw them in my picture book.
    After all these year of dreaming I was finally a few feet away from the castle. At the time the walk through was closed. We had no idea because we got to see. The door was open. My father is a steam fitter and is always dressed in his work clothes, even on the weekends and vacations. We walked into the castle and the music was playing and the dolls were dancing. There were Disney employees working inside and they thought my father was working there too and he just happened to bring his daughter to work that day. It wasn’t until we went to the emporium to buy some merch for the family that we realized it was closed. An employee was telling a guest it was closed and she didn’t know when it would open. My father and I realized it was his work clothes that got us in to see it. We laughed so hard. That is our great Disneyland story.
    My father and I would go to City Hall everyday and beg to get a peak into Walt apartment. I had traveled so far and didn’t know if I would ever make it back. I was always turned away. As I left City Hall I looked up at Walt’s Apartment crying that I couldn’t see it. In the window I saw a lamp flicker as if someone was in front of it. I would like to think it was Walt.
    That trip was so magical to me. It brought me and my father so much closer that we shared that experience together. My father was thriller to see everything in person after watching Walt in the 50’s as a child. We had great food, great times, and of course... Faith, Trust and Pixie Dust. When you wish upon star your dreams really do come true.