Carousel of Progress - Now is the Time

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

I saw an old video on YouTube of the Carousel of Progress. I think it was from the early '90s. It wasn't playing "It's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow" but another tune that may be called "Now is the Time".

First, when was this version of the attraction in use?

Second, was the original the "Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow" one?

Third, have there been any other versions besides those two?

Fourth, was the difference between the two just the song? Was the rest of the dialogue, scenes, etc. the same?

I know that's lots of questions but I simply must know. I love this attraction.

 

[solfan68]

I remember growing up on "Now is the Time" during family trips to The World. Find its place in the grand scheme of things, and what GE had to do with changing themes at the font of all knowledge... Wikipedia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carousel_of_Progress

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

Thanks for the link, Solfan! It says that CoP has been updated 6 times over the years. Wow! It has had only the two songs though. Does anyone know what the different updates have been if not the songs?

 

[Robo]

Many long-time CoP fans remember that when the attraction first opened at the then brand-new Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom in Florida, the featured song was "Now Is the Time."

But now, the song is "There's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow."

But many may not know the reason for the change.

Both of the songs used in CoP are by the Sherman Brothers (Richard and Robert) who wrote lots of the great Disney songs in the 60's (It's a Small World, Mary Poppins... just SO many!)

When Walt Disney himself commissioned the music for CoP he wanted to accentuate the story that "progress" means that even though "today seems great, tomorrow is going to be better." The Shermans responded with "There's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow" (the song that you currently hear in the CoP at WDW.)
Walt LOVED it, it was a huge hit at the 1964 World's Fair in NYC and my family and I got to see/hear it at Disneyland after it was finally set-up there after the fair.
WE loved it and rode that carousel over and over.
When CoP was moved to WDW, the Shermans were asked to write a new song (the CoP was sponsored by GE) that stated that "NOW is the Best Time" ostensibly because it meant to "go ahead and buy appliances TODAY," don't wait until "tomorrow" (or you'll never do it.)
As a kid who had grown up with the ORIGINAL SONG, I was a bit disappointed with the NEW one.
So, years later, when I discovered that the CoP had re-opened with the ORIGINAL song back IN, I was SO HAPPY! (I couldn't believe that the present-day Imagineers had taken the time to nearly RESTORE the new CoP to its earlier Walt Disney-supervised glory!)
I can understand that it those of you who were FIRST-initiated to the CoP with the SECOND song, would have nostalgia for THAT one... but Walt himself chose the FIRST one (that's there now) and I LOVE IT!
BTW, the present voice of the host (and the "father" on-stage) is Jean Shepherd, author and narrator for the perennial
favorite "A Christmas Story" (you'll shoot your eye out!)

The original actor Walt chose for this part was Rex Allen, Sr. who also quite ably narrated most of Disney's "animal films" in the 60's, and who was also a prominent "Cowboy Film Star" in the 50's.
Rex Sr.'s voice is currently that of the Grandfather in the final Christmas vignette of the present CoP. (When I first heard that voice I nearly broke down... what a beautiful tribute to the original show!)

A third voice that's prominently featured is "Cousin Orville" ("No privacy a-tall around this place!")
He is voiced by the great Mel Blanc, Sr. (Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Yosemite Sam, Marvin the Martian... all the WB classic voices AND Barney Rubble!)
Mel is also the voice of the Parrot in another of the CoP scene.
These Mel Blanc tracks were actually lifted FROM the original audio used in the first CoP and, again, is an elegant nod to Walt's creation.

Alas, all three of these wonderful "voices" have passed on... but we can still enjoy their inimitable craftwork in the CoP.

Long may it continue to spin us into the future!

 

[slp87]

Thanks for the link, Solfan! It says that CoP has been updated 6 times over the years. Wow! It has had only the two songs though. Does anyone know what the different updates have been if not the songs?

I don't know specifically what the updates were, but I'm sure they were made to the final scene. I also don't remember each of the scenes being associated with a holiday...was that an update?? And finally, I think the dog's name use to be different in every scene.

 

[MickeyNicki]

We went in July 1986 and I have it on Beta tape converted to VCR converted to DVD so the quality is not that great but the sound is awesome ... the song was the Now is the Time song.

The tape also has the old rides and attractions in Epcot and most of MK, and of course me in my Jam shorts, purple high top reeboks and white sunglasses.

 

[glitterkittyy]

We went in July 1986 and I have it on Beta tape converted to VCR converted to DVD so the quality is not that great but the sound is awesome ... the song was the Now is the Time song.

The tape also has the old rides and attractions in Epcot and most of MK, and of course me in my Jam shorts, purple high top reeboks and white sunglasses.

All you need is a Swatch watch, and you were stylin! Gotta love those 80's!