Thursday, June 21, 2012

Bill Elliott and His Date Niters, July 17 1968

Here are two fun images (taken on the 13th anniversary of Disneyland's opening) featuring Bill Elliott and his Date Niters! They're playing on the wonderful Tomorrowland stage, which spent much of the day lowered into the ground, with just some spires and plants showing.


Thanks to this great post on Daveland's blog, we know that the pretty blonde singer was named Terri. You can learn a whole lot more about Bill Elliott and his years at Disneyland if you read the Daveland entry!


14 comments:

Nancy said...

gorgeous!!! what a nice surprise on a hot Thursday morning!

Katella Gate said...

When I was young, this "pop-up" stage was absolutely the most impressive thing in Tomorrowland. It was perfectly disguised as a planter, and permitted performers to make instant entrances and exits on cue without having to cross a public space.

The Viewliner Limited said...

I remember this like it was yesterday or was it the day before yesterday. Whatever! Saw Bill Elliott and Terri a few times. They were great. Disneyland and music after dark was the best. Great pics Major!

TokyoMagic! said...

Tomorrowland 1967, "A World On The Move".... even it's buildings (Carousel Theater and Coke Terrace Bandstand) were in motion!

Snow White Archive said...

A planter by day, a bopping Tomorrowland stage by night. Would have loved to see this in action. Can almost hear the music right now.

...But It Wasn't Always That Way! said...

I'm with TokyoMagic! The World On the Move needs to move back!

Great shots!

Major Pepperidge said...

Nancy, it's not that hot in SoCal today, but don't worry, we'll be roasting soon enough!

Katella, wouldn't you like to be "on board" the stage as it went back down into the underground area?

Viewliner, I wish I had personal memories of bands playing at this bandstand...

Connie, !!!

TokyoMagic!, you're right... and it's just one more thing that no longer moves.

Snow White Sanctum, I wonder if there is any footage of the stage rising or sinking. Such a cool idea!

BIWATW!, you should always go with TokyoMagic!

SundayNight said...

I’m so used to seeing Bill Elliot at the Carnation Plaza in Disneyland After Dark that it was a real treat to see him and his group at the Tomorrowland stage. Wonderful surprises today Major! Ever since I was a kid I’ve wondered what the underground portion looks like and wondered what it was like to perform on that kind of stage.

Katella Gate said...

Major: If I'm not mistaken, Disney did a special about a musical group that performs on this stage and the camera rides up with the performers as they arrive at ground level... I think it may be the Osmond Brothers for the Haunted Mansion show. How far am I off on this?

Major Pepperidge said...

SundayNight, a friend of mine was also surprised when he saw these photos in Tomorrowland!

Katella, I have no idea, although that Osmond episode is probably available to watch on YouTube. Not sure I have the patience to sit through it though!!

Tom said...

That episode is called "Disneyland Showtime" and indeed, Donny and Jay Osmond ride on the bandstand (along with the Kids of the Kingdom) as it descends into the depths, with Kurt Russel shouting at them from above. Great stuff.

Anonymous said...

The stage still moves. We watched the Jedi Academy show last Fall and the stage movement up and down is made part of the program, Darth Vader and Darth Maul disappear into the depths while their Storm Trooper minions escape through the audience into a side door behind the soda fountain.

The Jedi Academy show is so cute. Little kids are given lightsaber lessons by the young Jedi and then the evil Darths show up with their stormtrooper escort. Each kid gets to fence with one or the other of the Darths. When all have had their turn, the Jedi's declare the bad guys vanquished and they disappear into the depths amid a cloud of fog and sound effects.

Those little kids will remember facing down Darth Vader all their lives. What a great Disneyland memory. As far as we could see, there was no additional costs to participate, just waiting.

Tears ran down my face as I remembered my children at that age with their fascination with Star Wars, much like mine when the movies were new. Say what we like about Lucas, and I'm no fan of his, he has created a multi-generational phenomenon that creates a bond between children and parents unlike anything else since Twain.

JG

Anonymous said...

Ha, I have a short soundtrack of one of these performances on my Disneyland Musical History album. Rockin' out now.

JG

Melissa said...

The stage'll come up - Tomorrow!