Flags abound at Disneyland. Over the years flags have flown all over the park, all kinds of flags. Prominent among them all is the Stars and Stripes. The U.S. flag flies over the Main Street Train Station and also over Disneyland’s City Hall. Walt reserved a special place of honor at the center of Town Square for Disneyland’s main flagpole. Beginning on opening day, the Town Square flagpole has been the site of uncounted flag ceremonies. It may, therefore, be surprising to discover that that a bandstand was originally planned for the spot. A bandstand at the center of the Town Square? What could be more appropriate? Through the years the Disneyland Band has performed daily concerts at Town Square. A bandstand could only enhance the band concerts. So, what happened to the bandstand? How is it that it was replaced by the flag pole?
During construction, workers built a magnificent bandstand and placed it on the exact spot where the flagpole now stands. When Walt stood on the steps of the Railroad Station, the bandstand blocked the view of Main Street and Sleeping Beauty Castle. As much as Walt wanted a bandstand, he recognized the greater importance of an unobstructed view. He had planned Sleeping Beauty Castle as a “weenie.” To work, a “weenie” must be visible. For those unfamiliar with this term in “Disneyspeak,” we had better define the term. In this special Disneyland vocabulary, the word means a visual prompt that attracts people from one location to another. Walt explained it as follows:
What you need is a weenie, which says to people 'come this way.' People won't go down a long corridor unless there's something promising at the end. You have to have something the beckons them to 'walk this way.'
Walt planned Sleeping Beauty Castle as a visual magnet to draw guest along Main Street to the Plaza. If guests could not see the Castle, they would not hurry to the Plaza to start their adventures at Disneyland. Yes, the bandstand had to go. It was moved away. What to put in its place? An imagineer (Disneyspeak for a Park planner) passed an automobile accident on Wilshire Boulevard. A car had knocked down a lamppost with a decorative base. Disney purchased the base for five dollars, a paltry sum, even in 1954. It was installed at Town Square as the base of a flagpole. During the opening day ceremony for Disneyland, Walt read a specially written dedication for the Park. Then the Governor of California, Goodwin Knight dedicated the flag. His speech appeared to please Disney, but then what do you say to the Governor. Today, Knight’s words ring a little jingoistic.
And as we dedicate the flag now we do it with the knowledge that we are the fortunate ones to be Americans and that we extend to everyone everywhere the great ideals of Americanism, brotherhood, and peace on earth goodwill towards all men.
Service men from all four military services then raised the flag over the Square. Today, Goodwin Knight’s words are almost forgotten. However, Disney’s words of dedication for Disneyland are recorded on a plaque at the base of the flagpole:
To all who come to this happy place... Welcome.
Here age relives fond memories of the past... and here youth may savor
the challenge and promise of the future.
Disneyland is dedicated to the ideals, the dreams, and the hard facts
that have created America... with the hope that it will be a source of joy and inspiration to all the world.
that have created America... with the hope that it will be a source of joy and inspiration to all the world.
Disney honored the nation by placing a flagpole prominently at Town Square. He honored the nation daily with flag ceremonies. It was appropriate then that the nation honored Walt at Town Square’s flagpole. Late in the morning of December 15th in 1966, somber cast members (Disneyspeak for employees) lowered the flag to half staff. Walt Disney had died earlier that morning. Cast members and guests joined in mourning the man who created Disneyland.
Since opening day fifty-five years ago, there have been daily flag ceremonies at the flagpole. Not to raise the flag. The United States flag is raised each day well before the Park opens. However, each afternoon the flag is lowered with appropriate honors. The Disneyland Band often plays. Guest bands sometime provide the patriotic music. Bandstand or no bandstand, the bands are as much a part of Town Square as the flag pole itself with the five dollar ornamental lamppost base. It was important to Walt that the nation be appropriately honored. Disneyland is indeed “dedicated to the ideals, the dreams, and the hard facts that have created America.”
Ceremony lowering the Flag with a Disneyland High School All-Star Band.
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