Why is Indiana Jones at DL? What's the connection?

[bumbershoot]

Some conversations we've had at home prompted this question, and then a question about if Indy 4 will be shown at WDW on the WDW forums solidified it.

Where is the connection that allowed the Indiana Jones ride to be put in at Disneyland?

Hubby was sure that Spielberg had a connection with Disney, and kept talking about Star Tours. Some serious imdb'ing showed that SS didn't have any credits for Star Wars until later, so it seems that it's George Lucas being the writer that was possibly allowing for the agreements allowing Star Tours and Indiana Jones?

More imdb showed that Dream Works had a Disney connection in Katzenberg former job, but was that something that allowed Indy to become a ride (and show at WDW)?

Another confusing thing was the conversation we were part of after our DVC presentation; we went to get DS from their kidcare area, and Shrek was playing. I commented on Shrek playing at a Disney site, and they, for a moment, thought Shrek was Disney...then they said "well Dreamworks is related, right?" and we sort of went along with that for awhile, but now I can't really find proof that that's a solid reason for it to have a presence in the DVC kidcare. (weirds me out enough to see the Shrek at Build a Bear)

OK I feel like I should be asking this on micechat, b/c they usually get into this sort of discussion, but frankly they scare me.

So does anyone know all the connections that allowed Indy (and heck, Star Tours?) to be at Disney parks? (isn't there also an Indy-type ride in Tokyo?)


Thanks!

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

George Lucas has been colllaborating with Disney for years now, which is why we saw Captain EO (years ago), and why we now get to ride Star Tours & Indiana Jones.

Don't know about Shrek, though. Katzenberg, who is part of Dreamworks, used to work for Disney, until a falling out w/M. Eisner. So, interesting that Shrek plays there.

 

[bradk]

yes, it's Lucas (if you check indianajones.com, you'll see it's a LucasFilm property), not Spielberg.

Spielberg actually had a rapport with Universal (Jurassic Park, ET, the War of the Worlds set, et al). in fact, NBC (which acquired Universal) was at one time in negotiations with DreamWorks to acquire it as well. Spielberg is credited as being a creative consultant to Universal Studios Orlando.

the only real connection between DreamWorks and Disney is the aforementioned co-founder, Jeffrey Katzenberg who was brought on board by Eisner and basically brought about Disney's animation rebirth with The Little Mermaid et al. I believe David Geffen is credited is credited for coaxing a disgruntled Katzenberg to leave Disney and create Dreamworks SKG (Spielberg, Katzenberg, Geffen)

 

[jencav5]

George Lucas said that if anyone were to do Star Wars right, it would be Disney. My DS did a biography on George Lucas and we read that.

 

[bumbershoot]

I think that maybe after our conversation in September with the kid care people, that they might have had to purge some movies. They had quite a few nonDisney movies, even though their policy was to ONLY have Disney movies.

So it's all George, eh? Nice! He must have had a gooooood contract.

I missed that whole Captain Eo thing, so I don't even think about that. Thanks for reminding me!

 

[bumbershoot]

yes, it's Lucas (if you check indianajones.com, you'll see it's a LucasFilm property), not Spielberg.

I was trying to tell hubby that after googling "disney indiana jones" and getting lucasfilms as an "answer", but he kept denying that lucasfilms had anything to do with anything. Whatta goof.

 

[DoomBugger]

Georgy boy. Funny as the Indy films were released by Paramount Pictures and 20th Century Fox released the Star Wars films and they did Star Tours so the mouse-Lucas groundwork had been laid.

I think typically Disney would not do this but they felt that working with George Lucas would be an exception.

 

[bradk]

there is a dark period in imagineering time one can point to which begs to question why Disney had to go to outside sources to inspire attractions.

 

[bumbershoot]

there is a dark period in imagineering time one can point to which begs to question why Disney had to go to outside sources to inspire attractions.

Ah, well, I'm not going to complain; they are two of my fave attractions.


Hey Brad, have you seen the new pricing for photopass? Possibly just DLR's photopass (that's what an email to a Dis'er said), but a big change all the same! (79.95 ordering online after the fact)

 

[old lady]

Lucas likes Disney and that's why it is there and Star tours.

 

[bumbershoot]

I'm wishing DH had let me "win" our conversation. I had it right (george), but he's the sci fi nut and just refused to agree to such a simple solution!

Instead I've been scouring the internet.

Oh well, I've learned all sorts of stuff about Spielberg. Boy oh boy did he have a generous prenup with Amy Irving!

I also have a HUGE urge to hook up our laser disc player (what can I say, my first stepdad was ahead of his time, and then my mom had so many movies she had to replace the player when it died, and then when that was broken when second stepdad shipped it to me when I inherited all the movies, I found an old Pioneer to replace that one! I have many many laser disc movies...) and watch Close Encounters, Star Wars (the original original original, which impresses DH and his buddies to NO end), and whatever else I have of that era.

Teehee, it's my thread, I can hijack it at will! bwa ha ha ha.


Thank you all for answering what felt like a complicated question.

 

[DoomBugger]

I'm wishing DH had let me "win" our conversation. I had it right (george), but he's the sci fi nut and just refused to agree to such a simple solution!

Instead I've been scouring the internet.

Oh well, I've learned all sorts of stuff about Spielberg. Boy oh boy did he have a generous prenup with Amy Irving!

I also have a HUGE urge to hook up our laser disc player (what can I say, my first stepdad was ahead of his time, and then my mom had so many movies she had to replace the player when it died, and then when that was broken when second stepdad shipped it to me when I inherited all the movies, I found an old Pioneer to replace that one! I have many many laser disc movies...) and watch Close Encounters, Star Wars (the original original original, which impresses DH and his buddies to NO end), and whatever else I have of that era.

Teehee, it's my thread, I can hijack it at will! bwa ha ha ha.


Thank you all for answering what felt like a complicated question.

I was a big supporter of laser discs in the 90s and even into the early 2000s I was still finding cool new and used copies of all kinds of great films. I still play with my old school Pioneer laser disc, it is a great format! Believe it or not, in Japan they still make them! I still enjoy popping in classics like 'Lawrence of Arabia" on four disc-laser... epic!

I'm hoping that George and his ILM cohorts are secretly finishing up work on a new second-generation DL Star Tours film based on the prequels... Podracing anyone?

 

[bumbershoot]

Oh, if they do podracing I hope it's toned down a bit. That would very likely make me sick, and I like ST b/c it doesn't do that to me.

LD...the player that died on its way across the country was a Marantz that cost my mom the earth. When I contacted a local LD guy, and when I scoured the internet for info, I found out that the Marantzes were just cruddy. While the Pioneers were amazing. I was so annoyed at stepdad, b/c he was doing nothing with the insurance claim against the moving company (I watched the moving guy drop the box containing the LD player and the turntable), then one day we walked into a used CD store, looked up, and there was this beautiful player for 25 or 50 bucks. After that, I was told that it was obviously the Diety's Will that we found a replacement player, and he never did do anything with the insurance claim. (one wonders, WHY buy the insurance, if that is your philosophy, but one does not ask such questions of the stepfather, LOL)

It's a great player, and it's just cool to see Star Wars in an edit that you just can't find...not VHS and not messed with, woohoo!

 

[tink2dw]

My Dh laments the demise of beta tapes and the players. He has 2 drawers of Beta tapes he is saving for when ~*)))BETA Returns((((*~ in its triumphant come back!

 

[JenM]

I'm wishing DH had let me "win" our conversation. I had it right (george), but he's the sci fi nut and just refused to agree to such a simple solution!

Hey, I'm a sci-fi nut...and any self-respecting sci-fi nut absolutely knows that Indiana Jones is a Lucasfilm property. Make sure you tell him that, along with these:

Indy was named after George Lucas' dog, Indiana. In the 3rd film, there's even a reference that Indy named himself after the family dog (his real name is Henry).

The original movie was Lucas' idea that he proposed to Spieberg after they met up on vacation in Hawaii after the release of the first Star Wars movie. Spieberg said that he really wanted to direct a James Bond film, but George told him he had an even better idea and started pitching what became Raiders of the Lost Ark.

R2-D2 and C-3P0 are among the symbols in the map room in Raiders. The nightclub in the opening scene of Temple of Doom is called "Club Obi-Wan", after Obi-Wan Kenobi.

See? It's totally Lucas. You should re-open the argument and tell him.

 

[DoomBugger]

Other than Walt himself, George Lucas is the only person who could open his own "Lucasland". It could have an adventure "Indiana Jones land" with all kinds of rides and atractions based on the films and then of course the "Star Wars land" with tons of rides, shows and shops. They could even do a hot rod / 50s diner area with rides based on American Graffiti, "Hot Rod land" just to name a few. Plus, George is a multi-billionaire so he has the cash to do it!

I'm not saying he would ever create a NoCal theme park but just that he has the franchises, the production companies (much like Walt did when he first built DL) and he has the money, more than Walt did at the time!

I know, this will never happpen. I'm not saying that at all, just that he is a unique fellow with that unique Waltesque scope that could pull it off if he pleased. I like to imagine a Star Wars land too because that would be insane!

Who would not go to a multi-billion dollar resort complex based on Lucas' ideas and films?

 

[bumbershoot]

Hey, I'm a sci-fi nut...and any self-respecting sci-fi nut absolutely knows that Indiana Jones is a Lucasfilm property. Make sure you tell him that, along with these:

Indy was named after George Lucas' dog, Indiana. In the 3rd film, there's even a reference that Indy named himself after the family dog (his real name is Henry).

The original movie was Lucas' idea that he proposed to Spieberg after they met up on vacation in Hawaii after the release of the first Star Wars movie. Spieberg said that he really wanted to direct a James Bond film, but George told him he had an even better idea and started pitching what became Raiders of the Lost Ark.

R2-D2 and C-3P0 are among the symbols in the map room in Raiders. The nightclub in the opening scene of Temple of Doom is called "Club Obi-Wan", after Obi-Wan Kenobi.

See? It's totally Lucas. You should re-open the argument and tell him.

That sounds like fun. I think maybe I'll wait until he's in a better mood that he was last night (he's having a bit of emotional fallout from his father's death 1.5 years ago, the other day was FIL's birthday, the second since he died. since my mom died 8 years ago and I remember each of her birthdays since I totally understand the emotions, but his BAD mood surprised me, b/c I'm just always crying around that time, not angry).

I also think that his sci fi "cred" is done now (though he still hangs on to the idea of it); he kind of gave up on it after disliking the last of the SW prequels so very much, and that came as a blow to him after seeing the abysmal Dungeons and Dragons (one of our first dates, was with a bunch of his friends, and the people in the theater were nearly crying it was so bad, LOL). I think he's going towards my side of just enjoying the movies, but he does so without focusing on the trivia* nowadays.


*not that I find it triviaL! I love the little bits of info you can get, the tiny details...those enhance things for me...hmm, this might be a reason why I like DLR so much, and why he just enjoys it on a more relaxed level than I do.



DoomBugger, what a great idea that would be... I like that you included American Grafitti in the Land, which has that HF connection as well. When I was younger, I was fairly sure my mom was torturing me by making us watch that movie sometimes (do I have that on laser, too?), but that was when I couldn't see the actors as playing almost my age (at the time I was watching it) characters, all I could see were these olllllllld people, LOL.


If I keep blathering they'll have to open a Disneyland Community Forum as well! Hey wait, that might not be so bad!