The Wonderful World of Disney - Welcome To The World with Lucie Arnaz - The Grand Opening of Space Mountain (1975)

Space Mountain was an attraction Walt Disney started in the 1960's that the technology couldn't build until after his death. When it finally opened in 1975 at Walt Disney World, this broadcast TV special was created. TV specials centering around the latest attractions at Disneyland were a staple when Walt was alive and this tradition continued well into the 21st century. Sometimes the broadcasts aired as stand alone TV specials, other times, like this one, they aired as an episode of Walt's TV show. These broadcasts now serve as time capsules into the past to see what the parks were like in the past.

This TV special is hosted by Lucie Arnaz. She was the daughter of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. Both she and her brother Desi Arnaz Jr were regular figures in 1970's TV projects. Others in the special include Tommy Tune, Lyle Waggoner, and The Rhodes Kids. Tune was a well-known Broadway star and stage actor at the time. Waggoner was a regular on the Carol Burnett Show. The Rhodes Kids were a popular family group of performers that appeared in many venues in the 1970's.

The majority of this broadcast follows the variety show format but the highlight it the dedication of Space Mountain. Among the dignitaries present included several real NASA astronauts. The pageantry of the festivities include some elements purged from history including the balloon releases that both Disneyland and Walt Disney World used to do.

Original airdate March 23, 1975

Posted for historical purposes. This channel is not affiliated with the Walt Disney Company.