With the opening of its new Walt Disney show, the Main Street Opera House in Disneyland has received a new historical plaque.
Main Street Opera House Plaque
The plaque is on the outside of the opera house, near the entrance. It’s on a column next to the “Great Moments With Mr. Lincoln” attraction poster.
Like the newly-installed “Cigar Store Indian” plaque down the street, this was placed by the fictional New Century Historical Society. It reads:
Opera House
This regal opera house is ornately decorated, featuring gold-accented architectural details and theatrical masks representing comedy and tragedy. Originally serving as the Main Street sawmill, this building has been a functioning theater ever since.
The building was the first constructed at Disneyland and acted as a sawmill during the rest of the park’s construction. Despite being an original building and designed as a functioning studio, it didn’t house a proper attraction until 1961, when it housed the Forest of No Return sets from “Babes in Toyland.”
Ultimately, the opera house became the permanent home of “Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln,” which debuted at the 1964 New York World’s Fair. The attraction moved to Disneyland in 1965 after the fair ended. The opera house’s lobby houses rotating exhibits — currently dedicated to the history of Disneyland, Walt Disney, and animatronics.
The new exhibits opened on July 17, the 70th anniversary of Disneyland and the same day a new show opened in the opera house. “Walt Disney – A Magical Life” features the first-ever Walt Disney Audio-Animatronic, which performs after a presentation of the “Walt Disney: One Man’s Dream” documentary narrated by Disney CEO Bob Iger. The opera house received a new marquee, signage, and attraction poster.
After its initial run, “Walt Disney – A Magical Life” will play in rotation with “Great Moments With Mr. Lincoln” thanks to a new turntable stage. We don’t know exactly how long the show’s solo run will be but “Great Moments With Mr. Lincoln” may perform if something goes wrong with the Walt Disney show. When it does return, “Great Moments With Mr. Lincoln” will have a new set.
Watch our video of the Walt animatronic below.
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