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
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.
