2005年NPR美国国家公共电台五月-Disneyland Celebrates 50th Anniversary（在线收听） |
| The happiest place on earth is officially middle-aged. Disneyland has just turned fifty and Disney is marking the occasion with a huge celebration. The southern California icon has inspired a number of spin-offs and imitators. To keep up. Disneyland is trying to reinvent itself, even as it revels in a glorious past. Here is NPR's Mandalit del Barco. Mandalit del Barco: The party began with a new parade down at Disney's miniature Main Street, new fireworks and several new attractions. Comedian Steve Martin who was once a magician at the Magic Kingdom shared the stage with Donald Duck to introduce a film about Disneyland's fifty-year history. Steve Martin: When Disneyland first opened, Tomorrow Land gave us a preview of the amazing futuristic world of 1986. Mandalit del Barco: It all started fifty years ago on what used to be an Anaheim orange grove. Walt Disney built the park in just one year and he opened it to the world, standing before an overcapacity crowd in front of live TV cameras. Walt Disney: ... Welcome to this happy place. Welcome. Mandalit del Barco: Disney dreamed of a place that families could enjoy together. He also dreamed of a place where he could bring life to his already famous animated characters, Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, and Dumbo, and then came the attractions that would soon become American icons. Walt Disney: Open the Fantasyland Castle in the name of the children of the world! Mandalit del Barco: Sylvia Stanton was just nine years old then , and with her cousin Billy got a private tour with Walt Disney himself. Sylvia Stanton: It was like true magic, just stepping into a movie land, a dream, a dream. Mandalit del Barco: In fact, the dream was more of a fiasco. Opening day has become known as "Black Sunday", says Marty Sklar, vice chairman of Walt Disney Imagineering. Marty Sklar: Oh, it's a mad house, you know, because there was supposed to be around 15,000 people actually invited and what happened was someone decided to counterfeit tickets and pretty soon I think the last estimate was something like 30,000 people came and the park wasn't ready for it, you know. Mandalit del Barco: Women wearing high heels had to be rescued as their shoes sank into the freshly poured asphalt. The hot sun made others faint. Some of the rides broke down and a plumbers' strike caused a stir. Mandalit del Barco: Over the years, the wonderful world of Disneyland has had plenty of adventure stories, some fantastic, others just odd. David Koenig: Reality is inevitably and invaded Fantasyland from time to time. Mandalit del Barco: David Koenig is the author of Mouse Tales: A Behind-The-Ears Look at Disneyland. David Koenig: People have died at Disneyland. People have been born at Disneyland. People have publicly and secretly been married at Disneyland. People have been buried at Disneyland. Mandalit del Barco: Koenig recalls when a small tornado blew through Tomorrow Land but there was more chaos when the yippies stormed the park back in 1970s. David Koenig: The yippies were this group of hippie type of political activists who decided to take over Disneyland because Disneyland was a sort of the all-American, you know, establishment. Mandalit del Barco: The plan was to invade Tom Sawyer Island and liberate Minnie Mouse. David Koenig says a few hundred yippies managed to unfold a marijuana flag on the island and chant. David Koenig: You know, Ho Chi Ming is going to win and Vietnam protest and you know, down with the evil American corporations. Mandalit del Barco: Disneyland executives and old-timers say they'd rather forget about Yippie Day. Instead they chuckle over the opening day mishaps and concentrate on Tomorrow Land. As the park begins its next fifty years it is still drawing kids and their families like Alison and Mandy Charves and their dad Richard. The Richards: Happy birthday to you, Disney! Mandalit del Barco: While Disneyland celebrates its past, it faces a huge challenge of keeping up with the times and attracting a new generation of youngsters weaned on video games. With that in mind actor Tim Alan unveils Disneyland's newest interactive attraction Buzz Lights Year, Astro Blasters. Buzz Lightyear: To infinity and beyond! Mandalit del Barco: At Disneyland those are words to live by. Mandalit del Barco, NPR news, Los Angeles. Yeah, baby …… |
| 原文地址：http://www.tingroom.com/lesson/NPR2005/40551.html |