Make Mine Music featured the work of an all-star group of noted Disney animators and Imagineers. Six of Walt Disney’s famed “Nine Old Men” served as animators on the project: Eric Larson, Ward Kimball, Ollie Johnston, Les Clark, Milt Kahl, and John Lounsbery. Walt’s “Nine Old Men” was a moniker given to his core group of animators in the early days of Disney animation who contributed to many classic Disney animated films.
Mary Blair and John Hench provided “Art Supervision” for the project. Blair was most famous for her work on the classic Magic Kingdom dark ride “it’s a small world.” Hench was known as Disney’s “Renaissance Man” and would work on such films as Peter Pan (1953) and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954) before transitioning to work on the Disney parks. Disney’s “Gentle Giant” Claude Coats, who made substantial contributions to both Pirates of the Caribbean and the Haunted Mansion, worked on “Background” for Make Mine Music. Ub Iwerks, one of Walt Disney’s best friends and the man who provided the initial animation for both Oswald the Rabbit and Mickey Mouse, handled “Process Effects” for the film.
Make Mine Music was divided into ten segments that each featured colorful animation set to charming musical scores: “The Martins and the Coys,” “Blue Bayou,” “All the Cats Join In,” “Without You,” “Casey at the Bat,” “Two Silhouettes,” “Peter and the Wolf,” “After You’ve Gone,” “Johnnie Fedora and Alice Bluebonnet,” and “The Whale Who Wanted to Sing at the Met.”
The Make Mine Music rendition of Casey’s saga is energetic and frantic, thanks to the narration of zany comedian Jerry Colonna. Colonna was perhaps best known as Bob Hope’s sidekick from radio programs and films from the 1940s and 1950s, and was also the voice of the March Hare in Disney’s 1951 animated film Alice in Wonderland.
The initial segment of “Casey at the Bat” does not include specific lines from Thayer’s poem. Disney decided to provide more backstory about the Mudville Nine, Casey, and the game being played. In the film, the crowd is dressed in Victorian attire, and the stadium is awash in red, white, and blue colors, both of which would have fit well on Main Street, U.S.A.
The music for “Casey at the Bat” adds to the mood and theme of the film, and makes clear that Casey is a hero to all in Mudville:
They travel for miles and they stand in the aisles
and just to see Casey
The ladies don’t understand baseball a bit
They don’t know a strike from a foul or a hit
But when they see Casey that game has got it
Casey the pride of them all
Following the initial segment, Colonna’s narration moves to the Thayer poem. However, the Disney film is not a word-for-word recitation of the poem, and includes numerous other funny lines of dialogue. The Disney humor is exemplified in the description of Mudville’s first batter in the bottom of the ninth inning, Cooney:
The coach was really worried when Cooney went to bat
but all he had to offer was 300 pounds of fat
Ah, but Cooney was determined
He tried to do his worst
He kept his batting average all right
and as usual...died at first
The characters depicted in the film are humorous and exaggerated. Casey himself is barrel-chested, with a large torso and muscular arms and shoulders, with flowing red hair atop his massive head. Flynn and Blake, the Mudville duo who make it on base before Casey, are hilariously animated. Flynn’s streaming mustache gets tangled with his bat, while “No-Hit” Jimmy Blake speeds around the bases with one foot literally on fire.
The film, just like the poem, features Casey coming to the plate with two men on base, and two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning. The Disney version emphasizes the arrogance of Casey and his interest in women, rather than baseball:
Oh, Casey’s the guy with his eye on the ball
[Whistles]
But mostly the ladies
Casey’s the guy who’s the idol of all
[Whistles]
But mostly the ladies
Casey is mighty and manly
Casey’s a dangerous gent
Egad, when he goes to bat hang on to your hat
He’s batting a thousand percent…with the ladies
As in Thayer’s poem, mighty Casey also strikes out in the animated film. The segment ends with poor Casey being drenched by a thunderstorm, and crying as he takes numerous swings at a baseball, failing to make contact each time.
As a whole, “Casey at the Bat” is charming and funny, featuring blissful music and hilarious narration. Make Mine Music premiered in April of 1946 in New York. The “Casey at the Bat” segment was re-released as a standalone short in 1954.
“Casey Bats Again”
Disney released a sequel to “Casey at the Bat” on June 18, 1954, called “Casey Bats Again.” This humorous short story recounts the dream of Casey (who is now married) to have a son to follow in his athletic footsteps. Instead, poor Casey “strikes out” again by having a total of nine daughters.
Fortunately for Casey, his girls are tomboys and athletically gifted. Since there are nine daughters, Casey has just enough to field a full baseball team. In fact, Casey’s team makes it all the way to the championship game, and once again the fate of Mudville comes down to the bottom of the ninth inning. Although Casey dresses like a girl in an attempt to finally make the game-winning hit, he strikes out again. Luckily for Casey, one of his daughters is standing behind him and does in fact make the game-winning hit, sparing Casey from yet another baseball failure.
The depiction of Casey in “Casey Bats Again” is very different from the original Disney iteration. Rather than narcissistic and arrogant, Casey is portrayed in a much more sympathetic manner, with viewers undoubtedly pulling for Casey during his last time at bat. Although his daughter is the true hero of the game, “Casey Bats Again” gives Casey some much-needed redemption in Mudville.
Storytelling Elements
Despite its small in size, Casey’s Corner is filled with thematic details that pay homage to the game of baseball, Thayer’s 1888 poem, and the Disney versions of Casey depicted in Make Mine Music and “Casey Bats Again.” The theme is carried out through the use of vibrant colors and numerous vintage props.
Restaurant Façade and Exterior
Casey’s Corner sits at the north end of Main Street’s west side, facing the central hub with the majestic Cinderella Castle in the background. The restaurant is housed in a grand three-story Victorian structure, featuring charming yellow wood siding and white columns, window frames, and cornices creating an elegant, yet welcoming façade.
The exterior signage for Casey’s Corner consists of a large “C” that sits atop the first-story roofline of the restaurant, with “Casey’s Corner” inscribed thereon. The sign includes an inscription of “1888.” This not only connects with the time period represented in Main Street, U.S.A., but it is also the year that Thayer released Casey at the Bat. The sign also depicts a vintage baseball player with a mustache swinging at a baseball, although the figure bears no resemblance to the Disney animated versions of Casey.
Flanking the front entranceway you will find two life-size baseball figures. Although the figures appear to be made of wood, they are in reality composed of fiberglass. They are reminiscent of the cigar-store Indians that were used to advertise tobacco shops at a time when many customers could not read.
Many guests assume that these figures are of Casey himself, but the players represented are slender in build and have no resemblance to the hulking Casey depicted in either Make Mine Music or “Casey Bats Again.” In addition, one of the players is a pitcher, not a batter. Both players wear baseball caps with the letter “C” and uniforms with blue stripes and “Casey’s Corner” written across their chests. Unfortunately, the uniforms do not include any references to Mudville.
An outdoor piano player adds to the theme of both Main Street, U.S.A. generally and Casey’s Corner specifically. These talented pianist
s play a mixture of period ragtime favorites and classic Disney songs.
Restaurant Interior
The interior portion of Casey’s Corner includes numerous vintage baseball relics and props. In order to further convey the old-time baseball theme, cast members dress in vintage turn-of-the-last-century baseball uniforms, including umpire-themed aprons, and the ordering area is designed to look like a concession stand much like guests would see at a local ballpark.
Hanging above the center of the ordering area, you will see a large menu sign labeled “CASEY’S CORNER”that invites guests to “TRY OUR Famous Hot Dogs” and “HOT FRESH FRIES.” On the right hand corner of the sign, you will see the opposing pitcher from the “Casey at the Bat” segment of Make Mine Music (sideburns and all), having just thrown a pitch. On the opposite side of the sign, barrel-chested Casey is ready to swing his mighty bat, which swings back and forth on the sign. The baseball in front of Casey also spins. Although we know how this story ends, Casey has not yet swung his bat and the Mudville disaster is not yet complete. As such, Casey appears to smile without a care in the world.
The numerous “exit” and “enter” signs for the various cash register lines are in the shape of baseballs. A wooden barrel labeled “Mudville,” a basket of baseballs, an old wooden Coca-Cola crate, and a Mudville banner all sit atop a shelf that hangs above one of the condiment stations.
The seating area for Casey’s Corner is to the direct right of the ordering area, and includes numerous vintage baseball props such as bats, balls, jerseys, and caps hanging from the walls and sitting atop shelves. Many of these props are authentic antiques.
Felt banners for the home team of “Mudville” hang from the ceiling, as do vintage banners for other teams. A large scoreboard for “Republic Field” recounts the score of “MUDVILLE” 2, “VISITORS” 4. Republic Field is most likely a nod to the full name of Thayer’s poem: “Casey at the Bat: A Ballad of the Republic Sung in the Year 1888.”
Below the scoreboard are vintage baseball photos. One of the most fun secrets in Casey’s Corner is what appears to be, at first glance, another vintage photo of a baseball team. However, if you look closely, you will see that the picture includes some not-so-vintage clothing, and some women who are poorly disguised as men (fake mustaches and all). This photo depicts the Imagineers who worked on the Casey’s Corner project when the restaurant underwent a refurbishment in 1995.
A large banner hanging above the doorway leading back into the ordering area reads “BALL GAME TODAY.” Vintage American flags hang below the sign.
Vintage newspapers and baseball game advertisements are displayed throughout the restaurant. One such ad reads:
BASE-BALL
AT
SHERIDAN ST.
SUNDAY
AUG. 18
SPORTING CLUB
OF
CHICOPEE
VS.
FALCON A.C.
Game Called 3 p.m.
An advertisement displayed in the dining area promotes “LONG DISTANCE BASEBALL” and includes many magical secrets rarely noticed by guests:
The game is scheduled to take place on “June 15, 1915,” which ties in with the overall time period of Main Street, U.S.A. generally and Casey’s Corner specifically.
This is certainly an interesting game, as it is “THE MARRIED VS. THE SINGLES.”
Uniforms play a large part in this game: “The Married Men will appear for the first time in their new uniforms, silk hose and pajamas, while the Single Men will wear spike shoes and straw hats.”
The game is expected to be extremely competitive, as “A temporary hospital will be erected on the grounds.”
Admission is twenty-five cents for adults and ten cents for children.
A newspaper labeled “SPORTING RECORDS,” “FOOD FOR FANS” is also displayed in the indoor dining area, with the headline: “WHO WILL MANAGE THE PIRATES IN 1916?” The paper is dated “TUESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1915.”
Numerous references to Coca-Cola are included in the restaurant, including vintage signs, trading cards, jugs, pennants, stained-glass windows, and chandeliers. This connection dates back to the opening day of the Magic Kingdom when Coke officially sponsored the restaurant that preceded Casey’s Corner.
Real History
The building that houses Casey’s Corner opened with the Magic Kingdom on October 1, 1971. At that time, it was known as the Coca-Cola Refreshment Corner. During a refurbishment of the west side of Main Street, U.S.A., the restaurant was re-themed to Casey’s Corner, which opened to guests on May 27, 1995.
Casey’s Corner underwent a significant refurbishment in 2014 to address the restaurant’s lack of seating. Before that refurbishment, Casey’s included some old-fashioned stadium bleachers that were used as seating and a movie screen that played a loop of vintage Disney animated sports clips. These storytelling elements contributed to the theme of Casey’s being an actual ballpark. Unfortunately, both of these elements were removed in 2014 in order to make room for more table seating.
PART TWO
Liberty Square
chapter four
Liberty Square
My fellow citizens, no event could have filled me with greater anxiety than that notification on the 14th day of April 1789, that you had selected me to lead our nation. But it was with the confidence of my fellow citizens that I took an oath, 35 simple words that have been repeated by every American president throughout history. As long as that oath is taken, and solemnly fulfilled, the American dream will endure.
—George Washington audio-animatronic in the Hall of Presidents
Main Street, U.S.A. exudes classic Americana at every turn, but the award for the most “patriotic” land in all of Walt Disney World unquestionably goes to Liberty Square. Although it is nestled within the geographic confines of the smallest land in the Magic Kingdom, Liberty Square creates perhaps the most thematically dense area in the park by effectively combining true United States history with classic Disney storytelling. The result is a nostalgic land that harkens back to an idealized version of Colonial America, where the hope of a new nation simmers with the optimism of independence. More so than any other area of the Magic Kingdom, Liberty Square is the place where American history comes to life.
Unlike Main Street, U.S.A., Fantasyland, Adventureland, Frontierland, and Tomorrowland, all of which are replicated in other Disney parks, Liberty Square is completely unique to the Magic Kingdom. The decision to include Liberty Square in the plans for Walt Disney World continued Walt Disney’s own love for the United States and his desire to convey that sentiment to guests in Disney’s original park, Disneyland:
Walt Disney dearly loved America and her colorful history. He long held the belief that we, as Americans, should recognize the extraordinary influence of historical events on our present-day lives. In his strong desire to help Americans become more aware of the significance of their nation and its heritage, he included many aspects of its history and culture within Disneyland.
[The Imagineers, Walt Disney Imagineering: A Behind the Dreams Look at Making the Magic Real (1996), p. 62.]
Liberty Square is the home of two of the most well-known attractions in all of Disney World: the Haunted Mansion and the Hall of Presidents. Although Hall of Presidents is no longer the headliner attraction that it once was, Haunted Mansion remains one of the most popular attractions in the Magic Kingdom. Because of this, many guests race down the quaint colonial walkways of Liberty Square to experience the mansion before continuing their journeys to Fantasyland, Frontierland, and elsewhere. The unfortunate result is that most guests are unaware of the numerous storytelling details that decorate the windows, fill the shops, and literally flow down the streets of Liberty Square, and all of which support the overarching backstory of a new nation on the verge of independence.
Backstory
The Disney company provided hints about the theming and backstory of Liberty Square long before the Magic Kingdom opened in 1971. The 1967
Annual Report for Walt Disney Productions included a model of the Hall of Presidents with a caption that read:
LIBERTY STREET: Model makers prepare scale layout of Colonial America “land” planned for Florida theme park. It will feature the Hall of Presidents Show.
An early marketing booklet for Disney World called the “Preview Edition: Walt Disney World ‘The Vacation Kingdom of the World’,” declared that Liberty Square would “portray our nation at the time of its founding. Along cobblestone streets, shops and stores will re-create the way of life in colonial America.”
Unlike the other five lands in the Magic Kingdom, Imagineers did not settle for broad, overarching thematic statements regarding the backstory of Liberty Square. Instead, they crafted a specific backstory for Liberty Square that is openly displayed to the public. As you approach Liberty Square from the central hub, you will encounter a small brick courtyard that leads to a small wooden bridge. At the entrance to that bridge, to the left and right of the walkway, you will see two large brick columns, each of which is decorated with a vintage lantern. A plaque that hangs on the column to the right of the walkway provides this backstory:
Liberty Square
Past this gateway stirs a new nation waiting to be born. Thirteen separate colonies have banded together to declare their independence from the bonds of tyranny. It is a time when silversmiths put away their tools and march to the drums of a revolution, a time when gentlemen planters leave their farms to become generals, a time when tradesman leave the safety of home to become heroes.
Welcome to Liberty Square!
Although short, this backstory clearly identifies the geographic setting and time period represented in Liberty Square. You are travelling through the original thirteen colonies during the time of the American Revolution. The revolution is not yet complete, and so Liberty Square is set during a time of war…albeit portrayed through the rose-colored glasses of Disney. The backstory of Liberty Square is supported by numerous storytelling elements found throughout the land.
The Backstories and Magical Secrets of Walt Disney World Page 7
