Backstage Magic - Day 2

So after a night of tossing and turning -- which DOES make our vacation longer hour-wise -- today we got up bright and early and we were actually up so early we were almost late. We met everybody and went across to the Disney's Soda Fountain and Studio Store which is attached to the El Capitan Theater where we saw Nightmare Before Christmas 3D last night. On the way we stopped at the Kodak Theater where we got a short history of that building and when they said okay now pretend you are a movie star in a big dress going down the stairs Tom did and everybody thought he was hysterical which we already knew so we went to the Soda Fountain and had Mickey waffles and sausage and bagels and orange juice and melons (on which I passed) and running all over the store to find unique merchandise of which there was not much -- we started our tour of El Capitan. They took us to look at the balcony and they talked a little about the history of the theater and the Disney remodel which took 3-4 years. When they removed an asbestos ceiling which they installed in the 1930s they found the beautiful hand carved moldings which are there now. The theater is beautiful. Then we went down and had a concert by the guy who plays the Mighty Wuritzer Organ and he was way, way talented. Then we went behind the screen and saw the theater stage. Tom was particularly fascinated by the technical aspects of the show including the new knowledge that they use a silver screen screen for 3D projections and a white screen for regular projections. Then we went next door to the old Masonic Temple to see the set and backstage part of the Jimmy Kimmel show. It used to be Jimmy Kimmel Live until someone let loose with a bunch of profanity and now it is no longer live. Tom and I got to meet Uncle Frank and once he found out that we actually WATCH the show he was very warm and funny -- he used to be Frank Sinatra's personal security -- and they were talking about how the building was haunted -- I am still not sure if this was for Halloween or not -- anyway we got a picture taken with Uncle Frank with me sitting in Jimmy Kimmel's chair and Tom and it was really fun. Then we were off to the Jim Henson Studios which used to be the Charlie Chaplin Studios -- and also the A&M Studios (Carpenters) and now apparently it is THE recording studio of choice and although there was apparently some recording person there we never found out exactly who it was. Since I know no one recent I probably would not have known them anyway. But the best part was the we got to have some time in the Character Factory (I think that's the name) where a puppeteer showed us how they do the puppetry and the history of puppetry. Tom got to put a Muppet like puppet on and show how on TV it is really backwards not mirror but backward. The guy said so and Tom agreed so if you really want to know or Tom wants to contribute to the blog he can. So after that we had lunch which had a ton of garlic and I'll probably smell for a week. After that the puppeteer came out again with Sweetheart a muppet and he was really funny and we all got to take more pics. I have a really cute one of Tom which I will publish when I figure out how. After that we went out to Griffith Park and saw Walt's Barn and rode on a small train which is apparently where Walt Disney hung out when he was at lunch from his studio. Tom and I found the train really uncomfortable but if you love trains the history of trains and Disney is fascinating. One story which I found amusing was that Disney wanted to have some telegraph noises in the station (which you can hear in New Orleans Station) and when the telegrapher put in some stuff and they asked him what it said he said oh some stuff and when they told him that Walt's wife Lilly was a telegrapher by trade he said oh wait and changed it so nobody knows what he put in but it was something he didn't want Lilly to translate. So after that we came back to the hotel and then went back to the Soda Fountain to have a peppermint sundae with hot fudge and marshmallow cream and oh my goodness it was delicious. Tom had a classic sundae with vanilla and hot fudge and almonds but he wasn't as enthusiastic about it as I was. Then we came back to the hotel, Tom worked and I read a book, then we went to dinner with lobster smashed potatoes which were oh my goodness good and then here we are for the day. Tomorrow we have Imagineering and the Disney Studios and then we are moving to the Grand Californian Hotel and Disneyland so we have to have our luggage ready at 7 AM and no that is not a typo. All I have to say is that this vacation ROCKS. If you love Disney. So until tomorrow -- adieu.