Africa in Epcot
MeMowse1
I was watching a special about Epcot that I taped off of the Disney channel
a few weeks ago. It was taped sometime around the opening of Epcot (1982).
The host interviewed Alex Haley (author of "Roots") about an Africa pavillion
that would be added within the year. Does anybody know what happened to these
plans? Thanks!
Lori
VonPluto
Lack of funding. A brief description of the planned pavillion follows:
Equatorial Africa (at Village Traders & refreshment Outpost between Germany &
China)
(Groundbraking was planned for 1985)
Show #1 Heartbeat of Africa
Pre Show - History of the Drum
African Village
Show #2 Africa Rediscovered (showhost Alex Haley)
(Source - “Walt Disneys EPCOT Center, Creating the New World of Tomorrow”
1982)
HTH,
Frank
Gesso19
HSH Monaco
>
Yep Morrocco is a nation in Africa :)
PamK
scrapped due to lack of support (funding) from the
government involved. The area where this showcase was to be
now holds a refreshment stand (which was "fancified" a few
years back).
Africa isn't unrepresented -- the Morrocco showcase is
lovely.
Pam
MeMowse1 wrote:
>
> Hello all!
> I was watching a special about Epcot that I taped off of the Disney channel
> a few weeks ago. It was taped sometime around the opening of Epcot (1982).
> The host interviewed Alex Haley (author of "Roots") about an Africa pavillion
> that would be added within the year. Does anybody know what happened to these
> plans? Thanks!
>
> Lori
--
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Pam Koskovich ko...@ix.netcom.com
TDC Ray, etc.
"It is bad to suppress laughter. It goes back
down and spreads to your hips."
- unknown
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Paragon
>
> As I understand it, the "Equatorial Africa" showcase was
> scrapped due to lack of support (funding) from the
> government involved. The area where this showcase was to be
> now holds a refreshment stand (which was "fancified" a few
> years back).
>
> Africa isn't unrepresented -- the Morrocco showcase is
> lovely.
>
> Pam
There is also a merchandise shop that sells African and Aussie (no, I
*don't* know why) items, and also has its own entertainment: a couple or
three African drum players...
Paragon
TDC Merchant, Defender of All Things Merchandise, Keeper of Boxcutters
Ross Plesset
Walt Disney's EPCOT (Harry N. Abrams, Inc., text by Richard R. Beard):
There is an ever-expanding number of pavilions to be incorporated into
the World Showcase complex, sme already in the planning stages.
Farthest along in concept is the African Nations pavilion, unique among
World Showcase projects in that it is not devoted to any single country,
but to all those of Africa that lie, roughly, across the equatorial
belt.
the pavilion will offer a crehensive view of the "dark continent."
architectural motif ihouse, in which visitors will overlook a jngle
water hole in a simulated nighttime environment. The illusion of the
jungle will be heightened by a remarkably authentic diorama of trees,
vines, boulders, and rushing water; even the scents of the forest will
be re-created. s actual objects, sounds and smells are blended
skillfully with a rear-projected film of animals visiting the waterhole
to convince visitors that they are actually in the heart of Africa.
One of the pavilion's shows is called "The Heartbeat of Africa." In the
pre-show area, dedica]d to the history of the drum, an African narrator
and actal istruments vividly demonstrate its significance to the African
culture.
The show itself will trace the history of Equatorial Africa--its past,
present and future--through the eyes of a traditional griot, or
storyteller. The filmed presentation will not only be an engaging
entertainment but but also a learning experience. The show will
culminate with an outdoor jazz concertfilmed in a modern African city,
the excitement building up as superimposed laser images begin to emanate
from the intstruments themselves [sounds to me like a Bob Rodgers
project. Anyone see Wheels of Change at the Chicago Science museum?],
producing abstract visual interpretations of the music that was created
by slaves in America torn from their native Africa. The laser show
eventually takes over the finale, forming shapes and patterns uniquelly
African.
In the Heritage area, an African village, that is an amalgram of the
various countries regions will give the visitors a broad and general
experience of the daily life of the African. Authentically traditional
performers, in a live demonstration, will present their cultural
heritage as the area's entertainment. a mseum is planned to house a
permanent exhibit of fine African art, with additional sculptures by and
paintings loaned by various African countries.
A second show, "Africa Rediscovered," will be a key attraction of the
pavilion. Apre-shhow area, dominated by a large relief map of the
continent, will graphically and entertainingly limn the geography of
Africa, its flora and fauna, climate, and other information of interest.
The show, on film, will be hosted by Alex Haley of Roots, who has acted
as adviser to the pavilion. The film tells the story of the various
kingdoms and civilizations of Equatorial Africa, a thrilling account of
which the Western world is largely ignorant.
After the show, on the way out of the pavilion, the visitors will view a
montage, in the style of the provocative "Family of Man" exhibit, of
thousands of extraordinary photographs of African people.
In a kiosk outside the exhibit, books and pamphlets will be available
for purchase by those who wish to pursue the study of the history,
traditions, and people of the vast and fascinating continent.
### ### ####
The book's description is accompanied by very interesting conceptual art
of the water hole and other preliminary art.
I should ad that an elaborate African pavilion was planned for the
never-realized WestCOT theme park in Anaheim, California. Throughout
WestCOT, guests would have stayed in hotels located IN THE park and in
this case the hotels would have resembled Egyptian icons and other
structures representing the continent of Africa. One of the attractions
involved wood sculptures of mythical African creatures that people could
either ride (like in a carousel) or climb. I have this information as it
was planned and will post it ASAP.
STOP CHILD SLAVERY IN AFRICA
Http://www.anti-slavery.org/stop/
SAVE HORIZONS: Http://www.intercot.com/edc/horizons/index.html
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
******NEW!!!!******** GREAT HORIZONS PHOTO GALLERY:
http://www.themeparks.com/wdw/wdwlibrary/horizons01.htm
******* ******* ********* ******* ********
More pix of Horizons:
http://www.geocities.com/TheTropics/Resort/8825/disney/horizons.html
Horizons script & pix: http://pages.prodigy.com/bravo/21stnet.htm
More pix:
Http://www.pansophist.com/ephor7.htm
Still more pix:
Http://www.hom.net/~technoid/horiz.html
Horizons poll: Http://apps2.vantagenet.com/apolls/count.asp?id=895132843
Horizons tribute:
Http://www.disneyinfo.com/rumorboard/messages/966.shtml
Another tribute:
http://falcon.cs.mercer.edu/~ddod/disney/horizons/index.html
Horizons club:
Http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/thehorizonstribute
Horizons rumor:
Http://x7.dejanews.com/getdoc.xp?AN=433923307&CONTEXT=916696946.1634467923&hitnum=26