Walt Disney's America The Beautiful (1958-1984)

To say Walt Disney loved America is an understatement. You can view his patriotism all through his films and theme park attractions. One of the most obscure of these projects today is the Circarama 360 film America the Beautiful.

Circarama 360 was a process involving 11 cameras that put the audience in the center of a film. The film shot would be projected by 11 projectors upon 11 screens creating the world's first immersive film experience where the audience was literally surrounded by the film at every angle as if there were really there. The process was invented by legendary special effects genius and Mickey Mouse's co-creator Ub Iwerks. Walt's matte painter Peter Ellenshaw was also the technical supervisor on the filming end of it.

When Disneyland opened in 1955 one of its opening day attractions was the first Circarama 360 film titled Tour of the West which took audience through the American frontier in a 12 minute film. It was always a popular attraction because no one had ever seen an experience like this before.

For the 1958 Brussels World's Fair the first version of the follow up Circarama 360 film America the Beautiful premiered. It was a film that took audiences across America's landscape through history. This version was narrated by Dick Wesson who narrated on Walt's TV show and some of his film trailers. The music was by Buddy Baker who was one of Walt Disney's most prolific project composers. It remained a popular attraction at the World's Fair until its closure.

America the Beautiful was a project Walt Disney was especially proud of because it celebrated the rich heritage of America demonstrating his deep felt patriotism. The film was moved to Disneyland in 1960. This process would be later adopted by Walt for the attractions he'd develop for the 1964-65 New York World's Fair when they moved to Disneyland after the fair closed.

The film was updated in 1967 and again in 1975 for America's Bicentennial. Actor Paul Frees narrated this updated version. The film continued to play in the parks until 1984 where it was replaced by the Circarama 360 film American Journeys. That film ran in the parks until 1996.

In 1980 America the Beautiful was adapted and released as an educational film and that version aired on the Disney Channel multiple times from 1984 to 2001. The film has not been seen officially since then.

We present here that version of the film for your viewing pleasure. It would be wonderful if the Walt Disney Company would release all of the Circarama films for our enjoyment.

Original release date 1958-1984

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