- The Walt Disney Story featuring
- "Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln"
In 1973 the Main Street Opera House became home of a new exhibit. Replacing "Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln" was "The Walt Disney Story". It was a showcase of the creative legacy of Walt Disney, founder of Disneyland.
But people protested the removal of "Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln". So on June 12th 1975 the opera house became home of "The Walt Disney Story featuring Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln". Now visitors can browse through the exhibits showcased in the lobby before entering the main theater to see a life sized Lincoln figure deliver a speech.
"Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln" premiered in 1964 as part of the New York World's Fair. One of four projects Disney had produced for the fair. In the 1950's Walt wanted to use his newest technology, Audio-Animatronics, to create a life like figure of one of the most influential people in his life Abraham Lincoln. But the task proved to be ambitious and anxious to premiere his new technology, Walt put Mr. Lincoln on hold to create another Audio Animatronic show for Disneyland. In 1963 "The Enchanted Tiki Room" premiered in Adventureland. It was the first extensive use of Audio Animatronics.
The 1964 World's Fair gave Walt the opportunity to complete the Mr. Lincoln. So along with 3 other shows "Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln" opened sponsored by the state of Illinois. Walt was so impatient to get Mr. Lincoln out to Disneyland that instead of waiting until Lincoln finished his two-year run at the fair, Walt had a second Lincoln figure built exclusively for Disneyland.
On July 17th, 1965 "Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln" premiered in the Main Street Opera House. Guest were seated in the opera house and treated to a presentation that concluded with the Lincoln figure standing from his chair and delivering a speech. The speech delivered by the Audio Animatronic figure was actually composed of several speeches the President made. Including an elegy given by the president.
The combined attraction as it exists today also includes "The Walt Disney Story". In the lobby to the Main Street Opera House guest can see replicas of Walt Disney's offices from the Burbank Studios. The working office was used by Walt and his staff for creative meetings. And Walt used the formal office personally. Some of the artifacts in the Formal Office have a special meaning. The Birdcage that sits in the office was part of the inspiration for the Enchanted Tiki Room.
Other parts of "The Walt Disney Story" feature the creation of Walt's various nature films and "True Life Adventures" and also segments about the construction of Disneyland.
