.: StrangeBlog :.

From the White House, Barack Obama’s recording session for the NEW Hall of Presidents at Walt Disney World.  His apparent lack of knowledge regarding audio animatronics indicates that Dude needs to get his butt to a Disney theme park, STAT!

I’ve uploaded some of my New York photos to my gallery, including more from Corona Park!

Find it all here.

I’m a huge, huge, huge 1964-65 New York World’s Fair fan. And on May 23, I finally got to visit the Mecca of NYWF fandom – CORONA PARK at Flushing Meadows in Queens! My good-natured friend Dasha accompanied me. In fact, she assisted me greatly by taking a few photos.

Here are a few pics of the Unisphere, the fair’s official symbol and the embodiment of the fair’s aim:  Peace through [global] understanding.

“It will remain as a permanent reminder of man’s aspirations for peace through understanding, and a symbol of his achievements in an expanding universe. Unisphere is truly the miracle in the meadow.”

~ US Steel Ad

This 900,000 pound stainless steel structure was designed by Gilmore Clark and engineered/constructed by United States Steel’s American Bridge Division.

Kali, the Unisphere, and the New York State Pavilion towers. Photographed by Dasha.

Classic shot of the Unisphere with USTA-Arthur Ashe Stadium in the background. The tennis stadium sits where the Federal Building (aka the United States Pavilion) sat during the fair (and until 1976, when it was finally removed). Photo by Kali Pappas.

The Unisphere and the New York State Pavilion observation towers. By Kali Pappas.

NYS Pavilion observation towers, viewed through the "roof" of the Tent of Tomorrow. By Kali Pappas.

More NYS Pavilion observation deck action. By Kali Pappas.

You can learn more about the Unisphere, the NYS Pavilion, and the rest of the fair at NYWF64.com, an excellent resource for NYWF enthusiasts.

Okay kids.

Awhile ago I bought an old, rare-ish LP of Hawaiian string exotica arranged by famed Disney composer (and traditional jazz trombonist and tubaist) George Bruns. This is the guy who wrote the tune part of “Pirates Life for Me” (X Atencio wrote the lyrics). The album’s called “Moonlight Time in Old Hawaii,” and it includes several tracks from the later Adventureland Veranda restaurant area loop at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom (I know of two different loops playing in that location; this material is from the second incarnation). The title track – “Moonlight Time in Old Hawaii,” one of three tracks on the album that are original Bruns compositions – was actually featured in the International Gardens area loop at the 1964-65 World’s Fair’s Ford Pavilion (You can buy a copy of the “Walt Disney at the World’s Fair” CD set, which includes the fair version of the piece, here).

I’m not sure if the “Moonlight Time” track actually made the Adventureland Veranda, but if you remember hearing it playing in situ, please tell me. So far, I’ve IDed a grand total of three songs from the album as AV area loop definites. If you know more, TELL ME. If you have even crappy snippets of live audio from your vaycay videos, pleeeease let me know!

I’ve bolded the three tracks that I know were used. Side one, tracks 2 and 3 apparently ran in order in the AV loop.

Side One:

1. South Sea Island Magic
2. Hawaiian Paradise (the tailend of this track shows up at the beginning of http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkYXoCgXqwA)
3. Moonlight and Shadows (it’s the track that comprises the bulk of this clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkYXoCgXqwA)
4. To You, Sweetheart, Aloha
5. Paradise Isle
6. Song of Old Hawaii

Side Two:

1. Blue Hawaii (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZEBkZUb0uw – the piece in the video is obviously Blue Hawaii, even if it doesn’t match the album version…but it seems to)
2. Moonlight Time in Old Hawaii (seems identical to the Ford Pavilion/International Gardens version released on the WF box set…no clue if the track was ever part of the AV loop)
3. Sweet Leilani
4. Aloha Nui Hawaii
5. My Tane
6. Ka Pua (The Flower)

Anyway, you can download my full album rip as a torrent via Mousebits.com, here.  For individual tracks, see this torrent.

Have fun!

Moonlight Time in Old Hawaii - Front

Moonlight Time in Old Hawaii - Back

Moonlight Time in Old Hawaii - Rippy!