Jack Plotnick satirizes classic Disney show from Disney’s Wonderful World of Color

Jack Plotnick satirizes classic Disney show from Disney’s Wonderful World of Color

When most Hollywood studios thought television was the enemy of the movie theatre, Walt Disney thought otherwise. His foray into television in 1950 was a way to promote his upcoming films, as well as raise money for his new venture, Disneyland. Once again, Walt was right and TV proved very successful for him. Once Disneyland opened he used his weekly show to promote his theme park as well.

On 3 January 1965, Walt aired “Disneyland 10th Anniversary” on “Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color.” The show began with Walt showing viewers and Disneyland ambassador Julie Reihm plans for upcoming attractions, including it’s a Small World, Pirates of the Caribbean, and the Haunted Mansion. In Disneyland, the Disney characters celebrate Disneyland’s decennial, with a show in front of the Sleeping Beauty Castle and a parade put on by a local high school band and cheerleaders. Next, Walt Disney describes a brief history of the construction of the park, followed by a tour of some of the attractions at the time, including Matterhorn Bobsleds, Jungle Cruise, the Flying Saucers, the Mine Train Through Nature’s Wonderland and the Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room. The climax of the episode is a Dixieland band on the Mark Twain Riverboat, and some other boats on the Rivers of America put on an interesting water show.

This particular show is well familiar with Disney fans as it can be see on YouTube, as well as on two separate DVD releases, one in 2001 on “Walt Disney Treasures: Disneyland, USA” and again in 2006 on “Walt Disney Treasures: Your Host, Walt Disney.”

One of those Disney fans who recently discovered this show is actor, comedian, writer, and director Jack Plotnick. “When the pandemic hit I would often find myself watching YouTube videos in bed at night, trying to get my mind off the sadness we were all experiencing,” said Plotnick in a recent interview. “So of course my interests turned back to what made me so happy as a kid, and I sought out videos about the Disney Parks, rides, restaurants, whatever!”

Jack Plotnick/Courtesy of Jack Plotnick

“Some of my happiest childhood memories are from my family’s visits to Walt Disney World,” said Plotnick. “The first time we went I was young enough to be that annoying kid that needs all of the character’s autographs! My grandma had retired in Florida, so we went to the park whenever we’d visit her. And when park tickets weren’t in our budget, we would pretend we went there by enjoying the free things like the Contemporary Hotel arcade room [The Fiesta Fun Center] and Lake Buena Vista Shopping Center. In fourth grade, my parents got me a book called ‘The Art of Walt Disney‘ and that’s what began my fascination with Imagineers!”

One thing viewers will notice when watching this video now is what was acceptable 55 years ago is now outdated. “When I came upon this particular episode of ‘Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color’ I couldn’t help but notice some of the … how do I say it … uncomfortably-dated attitudes,” said Plotnick.

That got Plotnick thinking what was really happening in those encounters? What might each of these people be thinking at that time? So he decided to make his own version. Plotnick has created four “new short stories” focusing on different scenes from the original show: it’s a small world, the Plaza Restaurant, The Haunted Mansion, and Pirates of the Caribbean. Plotnick inserts himself into each of these scenes as Mary Blair, Blaine Gibson, John Hench, and other Disney Cast Members. In each of these vignettes, seemingly ordinary interactions quickly spirals out of control.

Disney made a small world ride” video/Jack Plotnick/YouTube

In “Disney made a small world ride” video, Walt escorts Julie over to Mary Blair as she is working on the facade of the it’s a Small World attraction. Channeling a perfect Mary Blair, Plotnick gives new insight as to what Blair might have been thinking during their encounter. The camera pans across the room eventually focusing on two women – one of whom is working on a doll for the attraction. Plotnick, playing both these women, imagines a hilarious conversation focusing on the infamous its a Small World song written by the Sherman Brothers.

“Mary’s character really came right from what I was getting from her behavior in the interview,” said Plotnick. “There was just something very laid back, and low energy about her. And it tickled me to think that she might’ve designed the very trippy ‘it’s a Small World’ ride exterior while bombed off her ass.”

L: Mary Blair/screenshot/R: Jack Plotnick as Mary Blair

Plotnick nails Blair’s outfit. He said that because he shot these during quarantine, he was dreading searching for matching clothes at the thrift stores. “I told myself I would go to a single store, and whatever I could find would be what I’d wear,” stated Plotnick. “The wonderful thing was I found everything I needed for the ‘it’s a Small World’ video at that one store! When I was up at the register, I peered into the display case, and there it was – the EXACT necklace that Mary Blair had been wearing! And it was literally the only necklace they had on display. Maybe that was just a bit of the Disney Magic™ working in my favor!”

Disney made a plaza restaurant“/Jack Plotnick/YouTube

Disney made a plaza restaurant” is a story about unrequited love between Harriet Burns and Walt Disney (Burns is portrayed by Plotnick). Drawing inspiration from the Wishing Well scene in “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” Plotnick reimagines this scene. As Burns is working on the small human figures in the Plaza Restaurant model, including one of Walt, she reveals her secret love for him. Unfortunately, Walt does not have the same feelings for her. As Burns is magically transported into the model, she meets a Plaza Restaurant waitress (also played by Plotnick) and sits down to a plate of their famous fried chicken. As Burns comes back to reality, she finds Walt may not have had the same feelings for her, but someone else may.

Disney made a Plaza Restaurant vignette/Jack Plotnick

Matt Krul, host of Imagineer Podcast, said in an interview with one of Burns’s granddaughter she revealed that Harriet formed a bit of a romantic kinship with Blaine after their spouses passed. So, Plotnick was not far off in his version.

It should be noted that Plotnick’s recreation of Burns – from her mannerisms to her clothes are – once again – spot on. Although he may not sound exactly like them, his vocalizations of each of these people faithfully captures their speech patterns.

Before, during, and after the 1960s, women were (and still are in some ways) treated with little respect to the point of harassment. In the original version of the show, Julie is not overtly treated with disrespect however some could interpret the way she is spoken to and dressed up in the traditional Disneyland Ambassador outfit – complete with riding crop – otherwise.

Disney made a haunted ride!“/Jack Plotnick/YouTube

Plotnick explores this and more in “Disney made a haunted ride!” Although bearing a striking resemblance to Blaine Gibson, it is important to note that Plotnick’s portrayal does not represent Gibson’s attitude, but an overall feeling in the U.S. “He just became an amalgamation of the worst general attitudes of men in the 60’s. But it’s of no fault of his. He seems like a perfectly lovely person in the original videos!” said Plotnick.

As Walt describes the concept of The Haunted Mansion to Julie, Plotnick’s Gibson creepily follows her around constantly taking photos of her. Only after Marc Davis and Rolly Crump describe other aspects of the attraction does Gibson take over. At this point Walt introduces Gibson, but here is where things take a bizarre turn that would even make Rolly Crump’s Museum of the Weird look tame.

Disney made a pirate ride!/Jack Plotnick/YouTube

The fourth story, “Disney made a pirate ride!,” (which is actually the first video made) has Plotnick’s Gibson describing the upcoming Pirates of the Caribbean attraction to Julie. Gibson’s description of the attraction is an honest, straightforward telling of what guests were actually going to see. However, guests may have subconsciously known what they were watching, as a story in USA Today correctly surmised, guests were “caught up in the pageantry and fun of the attractions, most of them probably didn’t think twice about what was being depicted.” 

Even now The Walt Disney Company recognizes that some of these past attitudes needed to be addressed. Two years ago, Disney updated the auction scene in Pirates of the Caribbean.

“The whole notion of a ‘Miss Disneyland Tencennial’ struck me as so odd,” said Plotnick. “And Walt’s behavior with her was funny to me. That, coupled with my own confusion as to why they ever made the decision to make the ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ ride so ‘rape-ey’ led me to make my first video. …Plus, it didn’t hurt that I happen to look quite a bit like Blaine!”

Plotnick’s videos are in no way a criticism of Disney or any sort of disrespect towards the company, the parks, Walt himself, or even any of the Imagineers and artists. As Cartoon Brew observed, “The videos are clearly a labor of love – no one puts this much effort into making fun of behind-the-scenes Disney studio life unless they have a deep appreciation for it …”

Jack Plotnick/self

Plotnick said there are definitely more Disney “short stories” in the works. “I love making them, and am thrilled that they are tickling so many people. I especially love, and am honored by, the messages from actual Disney employees and even Imagineers! I have been obsessed with them since childhood, so it’s a dream come true to enter their world in some small way. And it feels nice to honor the people who brought me so much joy as a kid.”

Plotnick’s genius extends beyond his brilliant, hilarious take on this show. Recently he co-wrote and directed the feature film, “Space Station 76,” starring Patrick Wilson, Matt Bomer, and Liv Tyler. It is currently playing on Starz! Plotnick says the film “takes place in the future as we had imagined it in the 1970’s; very much inspired by my love for the Tomorrowland and The Contemporary Hotel of my childhood!” Other shorts from his brilliant, off-beat mind can be found at youtube.com/jackplotnick.

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