So You Want to Know About the First Electrical Parade

[linklewtt]

the first Electrical Parade was completely different than the one we know today. introduced in the summer of 1972, the first electrical parade involved flat pictures on floats. the pictures lit up, but they would have to be right in front of the guests to fully be enjoyed...not very practical right?

that first parade ran from 1972-1974. the parade was reintroduced in 1977 using new technology as well as 3-dimensional floats (exactly like the ones used today). this version of the parade involved a few floats that are not seen today in DCA's version, including an underwater Pinnochio sequence.

also, the first Character costumes lit up, just like in today's version. however, since that technology was fairly new and still considered an experiment, some problems did occur. one time, while Snow White was dancing with her Dwarves, her battery pack leaked fluid on her regular clothes underneath her costume and she caught fire. CMs quickly got her out of her clothes and put out the fire.

That's the first Electrical Parade and some other Electrical Parade trivia for you!

[RankoAnime]

Very interesting! I miss the Pinocchio float! :icon_cry: They also don't have that long caterpillar in the DCA version either. Now the parade feels so short!

[linklewtt]

ya they have that long centipede that makes the sounds...it's right before or after the Alice in Wonderland float

[krnsngr85]

once upon a time there was an it small world Float, but of course that one became missing for a while. But who knows

[linklewtt]

um are you sure about that krnsngr85? i've never heard of a small world float and the original audio doesn't have any section that would suggest that

[GreenLantern13]

there have been many floats which are not there any more, including a small world float.

[TopCat8]

there have been many floats which are not there any more, including a small world float.
I don't remember a Small World float, but I do remember the Pinnochio float. I doin't remember it being underwater though. I remember them being on Pleasure Island and the were rides and stuff and on the back were four big ol' cigars.

[Space Rangerlvl999]

Poor snow white :(

[RankoAnime]

ya they have that long centipede that makes the sounds...it's right before or after the Alice in Wonderland float

Hmm, I wonder if I just overlooked it or something? I went on August 27th and had my mom take video footage of the parade and I didn't see it on the video.

[TopCat8]

Hmm, I wonder if I just overlooked it or something? I went on August 27th and had my mom take video footage of the parade and I didn't see it on the video.
I was there at the end of July, and it was definitely there. MAybe it just wasn't there the night you saw it.

[DLRgoer]

There is no its a small world float in the Electrical Parade in DCA, and I don't think there was one in the Main Street Electrical Parade way back when.

[krnsngr85]

are you sure about that?, then why is there musical evidence in the gallery?

[Mickey Man]

there was also the snow white float, with 3 dwarves digging in the mine. I remember the pinochio float being at treasure island and not under water.

[krnsngr85]

there was also the snow white float, with 3 dwarves digging in the mine. I remember the pinochio float being at treasure island and not under water.

yup and to prove that you can watch the video in the Gallery, its there under Main Street Electrical parade, Farewell season.

[BDLC]

Tokyo Disneyland had a 'Small World' float in their Electrical Parade, and in the new Dreamlights parade.

[Pinocchio85]

There was a Small World float in the Electrical Parade. I don't know a lot about it like when it was added and removed. I wasn't even born when it was around! The Sounds of Disneyland book that comes with the Musical History CD set confirms it and I found this while reading micechat.com:

http://www.hanthorn.com/disneyland73.htm

There a a couple of pics of the Small World floats in there. :)

[DLRgoer]

yup and to prove that you can watch the video in the Gallery, its there under Main Street Electrical parade, Farewell season.

Yes, I said that there was not a "its a small worls" float in the Disney's California Adventure version. You looked at the Main Street Electrical Parade FAREWELL Season! (The FAREWELL Season was in Disneyland years ago!)

[TimmyII]

There was also a different dragon in the first versions before "Pete's Dragon" entered the picture. It was more of a Chinese Dragon of sorts.

[YellowRainbowFan]

There was also a different dragon in the first versions before "Pete's Dragon" entered the picture. It was more of a Chinese Dragon of sorts.
It was the Sleeping Beauty Dragon and on the original 1973 Picture Disc the music for it was titled, The Angry Dragon". I have a slide of that same dragon used in the orginal parade and boy, does it look scary, lol

[ragrobyn]

I saw the parade in 1973 It was not flat. It was very similar to the parade in DCA. Of course the music is just as fabulous.

[linklewtt]

no, it was flat

[ragrobyn]

I was really surprised to hear that the floats were flat when it made it's debut in 1972. So I went digging into my slide collection ( viva digital!!)
and found some vintage 1977 and 1987 Electrical parade pics. I scanned and uploaded them for anyone who wants to take a peek. The 1987 pics are crappy because my Dad can't use a camera, but the 1977 pics are nifty. All my 1972 and 1973 pics are badly damaged :frown: and are unscannable...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/26132873@N00/sets/72057594094731634/

[barfownz]

Very interesting "Link", I never knew some of that. :)

[alex5534]

once upon a time there was an it small world Float, but of course that one became missing for a while. But who knows
That is at Tokyo Dineyland's one and it was at Paris's one to

[YellowRainbowFan]

I was really surprised to hear that the floats were flat when it made it's debut in 1972. So I went digging into my slide collection ( viva digital!!)
and found some vintage 1977 and 1987 Electrical parade pics. I scanned and uploaded them for anyone who wants to take a peek. The 1987 pics are crappy because my Dad can't use a camera, but the 1977 pics are nifty. All my 1972 and 1973 pics are badly damaged :frown: and are unscannable...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/26132873@N00/sets/72057594094731634/
GREAT photos, Ragrobyn! Speaking of the 1977 MSEP, I have an old Super 8mm sound movie of the parade with the Baroque Hoedown music playing over and over. It featured the units in your photos and units such as Briny Deep from Bedknobs and Broomsticks with fish, sea creatures and a whale with the fish nad form the movie. It included shots of the Small World unit and a unique but short-lived neon finale where they had over 30 Disney characters in neon lights with mirrors and it looks as if they rotated as the float moved down the street. The film ended with fireworks adn yes, this was filmed at Disneyland. The funny thing about this was the opening of them film as it began with the Electric Fanfare with Cinderella Castle and Tinkerbelle fying ala Wonderful World of Disney. Sad to say, my super 8 movie projector is non functioning due to the lamp being burned out. I want to transfer this movie to VHS or DVD but it's quite expensive . Oh, well!

[Kovu]

well tat is why My name is baroque Because of the baroque hoedown wich is the main them for the electrical parade