As America Appreciation Month continues, here's Part Two of our permanent online exhibition of the exquisite art created for the American Adventure.
Here you'll experience over 40 paintings and pictures used in the astounding show. In all cases, these priceless works of art have been painstakingly restored over the process of the last several years and well over 100 hours of preservation efforts.
Board this "tiny ship" to begin your American ART Adventure!
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Perhaps the most impressive of Imagineering's talents was the ability to succinctly distill historical locations down to their essence in an idealized state. In the past, this was done with great success to the Old West, various exotic colonies in Africa and Asia, the French Quarter of New Orleans, and (in the case of World Showcase) entire countries were depicted in less than 3 acre lots.
However, with the Disney•MGM Studio Tour, Imagineering probably had its greatest challenge — not because of the subject matter but because it was depicting its own heritage. Hollywood Designers designing a tribute to the Golden Age of Hollywood could have been overwhelmed by the wealth of places to recreate or reference with a limited budget and space. Nevertheless, they did just that and the following is a mostly chronological journey from the Studios' Future World origins to the apex of its own Golden Age.
★ = Restored and/or Color-Corrected by yours truly + = Enhanced by AI
Inside Entertainment Pavilion by Joe Rohde, 1984 ★+
Nestled between Journey into Imagination & The Land, the "Inside Entertainment" pavilion was to contain an E-Ticket omnimover called "Great Moments at the Movies", and interactive attraction showcasing Television production and a tribute to Walt Disney Animation. With the advent of Michael Eisner, this concept quickly outgrew its Epcot site to become a separate Studio Tour just one year later.
About the painting: Its cloud mural façade is inspired by Joe's recollections of a similar backdrop at the 20th Century Fox Ranch.
Hollywood Boulevard by Collin Campbell, 1985 ★
Studio Overview by Collin Campbell, 1986
Keystone Clothiers by Collin Campbell, 1986 ★
Studio Tour Promotional by Collin Campbell, 1987
Soundstage & Brown Derby Colorboard by Katie Polk Olson, 1987
"Pooh's Hollywood Corner" by Tom Gilleon, 1987
Min and Bill’s Dockside Diner Colorboard by Katie Polk Olson, 1987
Superstar Television Exterior by Collin Campbell, 1987 ★
Superstar Television Theater by Collin Campbell, 1987 ★
Studio Overview at Sunset by Tom Gilleon, 1988
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As The Dino Institute is threatened with extinction, let us pay tribute to its magnificent murals and production art pieces.
After entering the impressive edifice, we walk past the foyer of dioramas and informative displays and into the rotunda seemingly constructed inside of a striated dig site and dominated by the fossilized remains of a Carnotaurus.
Encircling this once ferocious carnivore are four breathtakingly beautiful frescos depicting the last day of the dinosaurs and the dawn of the mammalian era.
Life in the Cretaceous - North America by Paul Torrigino
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Thank you so much for your support and for becoming a member of E82's Legacy Lounge.
Decades before construction, Walt Disney and his Imagineers knew that, whatever form it would take, EPCOT, in all its vastness, could not exist without the technological and financial assistance of “American Free Enterprise”. Without the intrepid leaders of AT&T, GM, Kodak, GE, MetLife, and several others, EPCOT Center simply would not exist.
In gratitude for their support, each pavilion’s design included a luxurious VIP Lounge for their sponsors' employees. These lounges included special amenities, fascinating architecture, backdoor attraction access, and often spectacular views of the park their company helped to create.
E82 is unique among Locals platform creators, so here's an overview of all VIP Lounge offerings.
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In VIDEOS, view Supporter Only exclusives like the full-length versions of Raw Wednesdays.
In PODCASTS, hear rare selections and restorations from the JLH Audio Archives — often years before the public. And some are forever exclusive to the Legacy Lounge.
In PDFs, find rare documents and scanned ephemera from the Florida Project's foundations and beyond.
In ARTICLES, discover top E82 supporter perks: exclusive Concept Art exhibits, behind-the-scenes glimpses into upcoming projects, and premiere access to latest Music releases weeks to months before the public, with superior CD-quality downloads not streamed on the main site.
While there is already much to see, showcasing The Epcot Legacy is always in a state of becoming, and with your support, E82 will continue to entertain, inform, and inspire for generations to come.
See You in the Future, — Joshua
Global Neighorhood by Albert Yu 1992
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