Disneyland, a 'national treasure,' celebrates 50th birthday

by Hector Mata,DISNEYLAND, (AFP)

Disneyland, the theme park that became an icon of American culture by exporting its mix of fairytale magic and powerful commercialism across the world, celebrated its 50th birthday Sunday.

A half century after it first opened its gates, celebrities including California's movie star Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and "Mary Poppins" star Julie Andrews rededicated the "magic kingdom" in front of its famed Sleeping Beauty Castle.

The stars joined Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck in the relatively low-key ceremony marking the birthday of the park founded by film animation genius Walt Disney, whose daughter Diane Disney Miller was also on hand.

Thousands of people camped out overnight to visit Disneyland on its golden jubilee and were rewarded with a vantage point on "Main Street USA" from which to watch the ceremony and a pair of golden Mickey Mouse ears.

Schwarzenegger, who last year made a cameo appearance in Disney's remake of the film "Around the World in 80 Days," donned a gold suit and a pair of mouse ears to mark the historic anniversary.

Also presiding at the ceremony were Michael Eisner and Robert Iger, the outgoing and incoming chief executives of global entertainment giant Walt Disney Co.

Cartoonist Walt Disney threw open the gates of the world's first theme park in California on July 17, 1955, sowing the seeds of a lucrative new industry that would spread across the world.

Back then it was impossible to imagine that a half century later 515 million people from across the globe would have stepped over the portals of what the Disney entertainment empire dubs the "happiest place on earth."

"Like Hollywood and the timeless movies it's world renowned for, Disneyland is more than a national treasure, it is a treasured experience to be passed from one generation to the next," Eisner said recently.

Over the years, an estimated 78.6 million pairs of Mickey Mouse ears have been sold - enough to adorn every child in the United States - at the park that last year generated 1.9 billion dollars in consumer spending.

The creator of Mickey Mouse stumbled on the risky concept after receiving scores of requests from people wanting to tour his world famous Disney movie studio in Hollywood, but found himself thwarted by logistical concerns and opened a separate parked inspired by Copenhagen's famed Tivoli Gardens.

After a year of construction near the California town of Anaheim, about 50 kilometers (30 miles) southeast of Los Angeles, the park threw open its gates.

Populated by characters from Disney's world, including Mickey Mouse, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, it boasted 16 attractions, including "Main Street USA," an idealised reconstruction of a vintage American town, inspired by Walt Disney's hometown in Missouri.

Fifty years on, Disneyland is the world's oldest and arguably best known theme park, featuring 60 attractions that are spread over a sprawling 35-hectare (86-acre) site.

Disney character Minnie escorts California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in front of the Sleeping Beauty Castle during the 50th anniversary of the opening of Disneyland in Anaheim, California, July 17. AFP

It has bought up surrounding hotels and built others, creating a veritable Disney city at the once isolated site that has now been swallowed up by the creeping spread of the Los Angeles area.

Entrance to the park, which now attracts 13 million people annually, originally cost just one dollar, but a day ticket now sets tourists back 56 dollars.Once a reflection of the movie studio, Disneyland snowballed into a huge business that is an integral part of the Disney empire. The company opened a second park, Disneyworld, in Florida in 1971, added the Epcot Center on the same site in 1982 and opened Disney MGM Studios in 1989 and Disney's Animal Kingdom in 1998.

And in 1983 it opened Disneyland Tokyo in Japan, followed in 1992 by Euro Disney in France, later rechristened Disneyland Paris, while Disneyland Hong Kong is scheduled to open in the Chinese territory in September. Over the years, Disney has also been joined by an army of competitors both in the United States and across the globe as major entertainment groups and studios such as Universal moved to cash in on the lucrative new industry that Walt Disney created.

'Anawaragra' solo exhibition at Lionel Wendt

Rajitha Kamalanath was born at Mirigama. He studied Kandangamuwa Maha Vidyalaya up to Grade 6 then Rajitha was studied in Wickramashila National School under the guidance of Priyantha Palitha and H.M. Jayawardana.

Rajitha has shared his experience with variety of artworks in his childhoods. As well as he studied dramas under the guidance of Palitha Lokupothagama and has awards and certificates for the greatest set designer and the make-up artist in 1996. His paintings are popular not only in Sri Lanka but also in foreign countries too.

After leaving school he studied art under the guidance of Winnie Hettigoda. Then Rajitha joined the antiquities Replica Centre in Bataleeya, Pasyala where he was trained printing and sculpture for two years. When he was studying there he went to see ruin cities such as Polnnaruwa and Anuradhapura and studied at those places. He copied temple wall paintings in temples such as Rideegama and Karagampitiya. His favourite medium is watercolour. In 2003, he held his first solo exhibition named 'Lovable History' at the Alliance Francaise.

His second solo exhibition will be held at Lionel Wendt on August 5, 6 and 7 named 'Anawaragra'. Rajitha creates day-to-day activities of monks by Anawaragra. The Monk is very kind for all of us from birth to death and he always manage to solve our day-to-day problems in life. So he creates paintings reminding the Monk by 'Exhibition of Anawaragra'. he is studying in the University of Aesthetics Studies, University of Kelaniya.

Rajitha is grateful to Thilak N. Gunawardana for his guidance and encouragement.
 

'Punsanda Paaya' mega musical show

'Punsanda Paaya', the well-known mega musical cum variety show will come alive on Sunday August 7 at 6.30 p.m. at the Buddhist Hall, Moratuwa.

The entire galaxy of stars from the Moratuwa Arts Forum (MAF) comprising well-known singers, musicians, dancers, comedians etc. are billed to perform at this show.

The proceeds of this event will be utilised for the MAF project to help the elderly needy artistes of Moratuwa financially, medically and materially. Project Committee: Brian Cooray (Current President MAF), Priya Peiris (Current Secretary MAF), Sarath Gunawardane (Immediate Past President), Nalaka de Soysa (Project Chariman), Lincoln de Silva (Project Treasurer), Tilak Perera (Public Relations/one of the founders of MAF), Somasiri Fernando, Lloyd Fernando, Suranga Fernando, Ivan Fernando, Nihal Nelson.'Punsanda Paaya' musically backed by Saman and the Clan.