Rating: 
Summary: Treat for Disneyland Fans
Review: Leonard Maltin opens each of the segments with commentary about what you will see. The first show is the grand-opening of Disneyland in 1955 as seen on live television. Art Linkletter hosts with Bob Cummings and Ronald Reagan as co-hosts. This is an exciting glimpse of the first day and fun to see the live action misques. Frank Sinatra with young son driving the autopia car followed by Sammy Davis Jr, Fess Parker and Buddy Ebsen do a song and dance number, Art Linkletter's family, and other notables make this an instant trip down memory lane. (The Atomic Energy Pavillion was especially enlightening)There is even the old logo for the ABC network. The only bad part of this special is the sometimes poor quality of the Black & White film. The Ten Anniversary segment is in color and provides a real treat as you see the concept art and models for Pirates of the Carribbean, Haunted Mansion, etc. If you look closely, you'll see differences between the models and the rides today. Walt Disney hosts and you see The Shah of Iran, Marc Davis, other imagineers, and the 10th Anniversary hostess. The flavor of this period is evident in the clothes and attitudes expressed, plus the comments about the rides. The Disneyland After Dark special is in sharper color and is highlighted by performances by Louis Armstrong, Annette Funicello, Bobby R., and the elem. school-aged Osmond brothers.
Walt Disney has a few fun scenes signing autographs and introducing various performers. I was amused to see a caption below the fire-walkers show which stated "not to do this at home." It was also a treat to see the faces of the audiences enjoying the shows. When finished watching both DVD's in this package, I was pleased and hoping for more releases similar to this one.
Rating: 
Summary: A step in the right direction.
Review: It's nice that this collection of vintage Disneyland television programs has been made available and you get pretty much what is described above. However, a MAJOR DISSAPOINTMENT is that two segments have been edited from the Tiki Room portion of "Disneylands 10th Anniversary"--"Let's All Sing Like the Birdies" and the Hawaiian War Chant numbers have but cut without explanation. I assume this has to do with licensing, but I can't imagine why Disney couldn't have gotten around that somehow. It is a real shame because those segments really showcased all the little animated tiki statues and carvings, and it was a real kick to see the audience whistling along to the song. They could have at least included that footage with an alternate audio track as supplemental material. Another dissapointment is the documentary that is tacked on to the 2nd disk. It seems slapped together of mostly recycled footage already appearing on the disk, isn't terribly insightful, and the clips are edited so tightly that you barely have a chance to take in an image before it dissappears. If you can get past these, though, Disneyland fans will not be dissapointed. A NICE UNSUNG FEATURE is the photo gallery, which is several pages of DISNEYLAND ATTRACTION POSTERS. Unfortunately not all are included, (notably missing is StoryBook Land and the Golden Horseshoe Revue, etc.) but what is there is a nice sampling of attractions posters both old and new. Hopefully this disk is just the beginning and we can look forward to a "Disneyland Volume II" (a package including "Disneyland Goes to the World's Fair", "From Pirates of the Caribbean to Tomorrowland", and "Disneyland Showtime" would be a real treat). Kudos to Leonard Maltin for initiating this project.
Rating:
Summary: Take a look back at a very different, very wonderful time...
Review: Of the four "Walt Disney Treasures" DVDs released to date, this one is my favorite. I was born in 1969, so all of these shows aired long before I was born, yet somehow they even manage to make *me* feel nostalgic for 1954-64! Why? I can't really explain. All I know is that life seemed much simpler then...and Disney's optimisim is infectious. Maybe its that this DVD evokes the seemingly care free innocence of my own childhood even though its from a different time period. What I wouldn't give for a time machine... Each episode is wonderful to watch. Make sure to go through them in chronological order. Naturally, the image quality suffers some on the live broadcast episode on the opening of the park, but the other episodes look fantastic. Great care was obviously taken in preparing these for disc. Leonard Maltin's introductions are quite good and very informative. He comes across as a very likeable guy who is obviously passionate about the subject matter and very fond of what he is doing. My only criticism (which is not enough to remove one of the five stars I've given it) is that the supplemental material is slightly lacking. The gallery images are quite interesting and are well worth going through, but you don't learn much in "The Magic Kingdom and the Magic of Television" featurette that you haven't already learned watching Maltin's introductions and the episodes themselves. Still, who can complain? This package is worth its weight in in gold to me. Disney Enterprises must be congratulated for going into their vaults to release something like this. The old animation material is all fine, and I loved the Davy Crockett set, but if I could only keep one, it would be this one. May it be more of many interesting and obscure live action material that Disney brings out of its vaults to share with the public. I love this DVD.
Rating:
Summary: A Time Capsule for Disneyland and TV alike!
Review: This set not only shows the history of Disneyland but it also shows a unique history of television making in the 50s and 60s. Not to mention the musical talents of the time. Its amazing what one man started. From the happiest place on earth to the incredible buiseness side of Disney that goes unseen. Walt was a genious and this set shows that. I love watching walt sign all those autographs! Its hilarious to see the stuff that people wanted signed. I also love how his signature started with a huge W and by the end of the show it was a straight line. I am now 25 years old and I grew up in Southern California. I went to Disneyland a ton of times as a child and an adult. I grew up watching all these shows on Re Run. I dont think I respected them then as I do now. At that point I watched just to see the park but now I can watch as a more critical viewer. I admire the things this man did to push his product. I cant wait for the Disney Treasures - Walt Disney, the legend! I hope there will be one!
Rating:
Summary: A GREAT SET BUT NOT UNCUT
Review: I WAS REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS DVD SET. AND IT`S GREAT AND ENTERTAINING. HOWEVER I WAS DISAPOINTED TO SEE THAT THE TENTH ANNIVERSARY SHOW IS NOT UNCUT,THE TIKI ROOM SEQUENCE HAS BEEN EDITED, WHY? I DON`T KNOW, BUT I STILL LIKE THE BOX SET. IT DOES HAS SOME GREAT STUFF!! AND I WOULD LOVE TO SEE MORE SETS OF THE SAME. BUT IT SEEMS IF YOUR PROMISED SOMETHING IN THE AD(UNCUT& UNCENSORED) YOU SHOULD DELIVER. BUT THESE RAVINGS ARE MINOR BUY IT ANYWAY IT`S CHEAPER THAN TIME TRAVEL!!!!
Rating:
Summary: Walt and his Greatast Achievements
Review: Disneyland U.S.A! Mickey Mouse in Living Color! Davy Crockett:The Complete Televised Series! and of course Silly Symponies! Walt Disney created many great television and cartoon shorts. Now, they come out with a collection that is sure to entertain and educate. I think I should give a brief overview of the series first. This is a collection of limited in number DVDs with only 150,000 of each. But you may get them now and be one of the few who get them. The series include still galleries, featurettes, cartoons, T.V. shows, and Tintroductions by respected film critic Leonard Maltin. Here is an overview of each of the four two disc DVD sets. Silly Symphonies: Oh boy! What a collection. I bet that you have seen most of you only a few of all of these 41 shows. My favorites are "Three Little Pigs", "The Old Mill", and "Three Little Wolves." But of all of these, I have only seen three Silly Symphonie on this set. Extras include a still gallery, The Song of the Silly Symponies featurette with Richard Sherman and Leonard Maltin, Silly Symphonie Merchandise Featurette with Dave Smith and Leonard Maltin, and Introductions by Leonard Maltin. Next show is Davy Crockett. These five telivision shows are the most popular in the set. Along with all five, there are also The Davy Crockett Craze featurette with Leonard Maltin, Still Gallery, Davy Crockett Merchandise featurette with Leonard Maltin, Easter egg: The Ballad of Davy Crockett, and finally introductions by Leonard Maltin. Next set is Disneyland U.S.A., featuring 5 T.V. Shows with Operations Disneyland, Dateline Disneyland, Disneyland After Dark, Disneyland Tenth Anniversary Show, and the Disneyland Story. Other features are still gallery and introductions by Leonard Maltin. The fourth and final set is the Mickey Mouse. It features 26 Mickey shorts with a bonus easter egg name Mickey's Birthday cartoon and a still gallery. As well as introductions by Leonard Maltin.
In all these sets, they come with lithographs and you get them in a special tin. Get you copies today before they are all sold out. Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: A Trip Back in Time
Review: I grew up watching The Wonderful World of Disney and the specials that he presented on Disneyland still live in my memory. For me, Disneyland will always be the most special place on earth because of the effect these Disney specials had on me as a child. This DVD will bring back the magic of your childhood as you sat in front of the TV dreaming of your trip to Disneyland. I never got to go to Disneyland as a child. A trip from the east coast to California was way beyond my parent's means. But Disneyland is no less magical to me as an adult. And this DVD, and the memories it rekindles, help me relive that magic. It will help you go back to that time of innocence and wonder like nothing else. Highly recommended. Time travel is possible.
Rating:
Summary: Looks to be a great package
Review: If you are planning on buying this you probably want to know what's on it. Despite the title "Disneyland USA" it doesn't include the short feature "Disneyland USA but has 4 great TV shows on Disneyland. The first is "The Disneyland Story"(B&W) This premiere episode of the "Disneyland" television series features Walt giving a brief tour of the studio and discussing the format of the series. Also included: a brief look at Mickey's career and clips from various Disney films. This was released 10/27/54 and is 49 minutes long. The second feature is "Dateline Disneyland"(B&W) hosted by Art Linkletter, Bob Cummings and Ronald Reagan; the live opening of Disneyland includes the opening ceremonies and a visit to all park's "lands." Highlights of the coverage include visits with Fess Parker, Buddy Ebsen, Danny Thomas, the Mouseketeers and Governor Knight of California. This was released 7/17/55 and is 1 hour 30 minutes. The third feature is "Disneyland After Dark"(Color) Walt Disney hosts this look at live entertainment in the different sections of Disneyland at night. In Tomorrowland Annette and Bobby sing. In Advertureland a fire dance is performed. On the Mark Twain steamboat Louis Armstrong plays jazz. At the Plaza Gardens the Osmond Brothers make their network television premiere. This was broadcast 4/15/62 and is 1 hour long. The final episode is "Disneyland Tenth Anniversary"(Color) Walt Disney hosts behind-the-scenes look at some new exhibits and talks with exhibit designers as they create new features for Disneyland's tenth anniversary. The second part of the show features production numbers performed in the park; a parade down Main Street. Clips from initial park construction are shown. This was broadcast 1/3/65 and is 52 minutes long. This looks to be a great collection and also has a featurette with Leonard Maltin and a few other extras. This is all packaged in a tin case and comes with a lithograph. For any Disneyland fan this is a must!
Rating:
Summary: Disneyland USA: One to Really Look Forward To!
Review: Walt Disney Treaures Review 4 of 11
Sorry, no easter eggs on this set. (hidden DVD features) Disneyland USA, the fourth and final volume of wave 1, is probaly the most important. Here, as with all the others, the DVD is enclosed in a numbered tin, along with a lithograph of the poster for Autopia, and a program booklet with a list of features and a letter from Leonard Maltin, the host of the series. On disc 1, we trace the early years of Disneyland with two complete episodes from the original TV show. Each have an intro by Maltin The Disneyland Story: The very first episode of the Disneyland Television series, which give clips of whats to come in each section of the Disneyland television series anthology. There is a sneak peek of Disneyland, a peek at the new Davy Crockett series, and a tribute to Mickey featuring two entire cartoons. Dateline Disneyland: Join your hosts Art Linkletter, Ronald Reagan, and Bob Cummings as they cover live, the inagural day at Disneyland, with the late Reagan covering the dedication. This is the most important of the set, and is a treat for Disneyland film buffs and fans alike. On disc two, there are two more shows in full color, with intros by Maltin. Disneyland After Dark: Here, we get to meet amazing stars from the sixties, journey through Disneyland after dark, and meet a couple of the famous "Mouseketeers," including Annete Funicello. Disneyland 10th Anniversary: This piece has two parts. One showing new attractions at Disneyland, mainly the then in progress Pirates of the Carribean, Haunted Manision and Its a Small World. Then the history of the park, during construction, new attractions and a lot of other juicy stuff. Finally there are the bonus features. The Magic Kingdom and the Magic of Television: This documentary gives a short history of the park and the Disneyland TV Show with Leonard Maltin Gallery: A gallery of photographs and posters, as well as merchandise. The smallest of the four in wave 1, Disneyland USA could have a little more material. However, that is a small price to pay for the historical broadcasts in this wonderful set. I'll write the reviews for Wave 2 tomorrow. See you then. List of Reviews of Walt Disney Treasures: Silly Symphonies
Mickey Mouse in Living Color
Davy Crockett
Disneyland USA
Mickey Mouse in Black and White
The Complete Goofy
Behind the Scenes at Walt Disney Studios
Mickey Mouse in Living Color Volume 2
The Chronological Donlad Volume 1
On Front Lines
Tomorrowland All with the complete list of features, including Easter Eggs! (hidden DVD features)
Rating:
Summary: For Whom Ever LOVES Disneyland
Review: This is a good DVD overall. I enjoyed the t.v shows. I would have, however, like to have seen more of "the making" of the rides and maybe even some more current Disneyland on this.
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