Walt Disney World Independence Day Spectacular

Monstanto Presents was a short lived TV variety show in the spring/summer of 1776. They produced one episode set in the Disney parks tying in with the bicentennial celebration. At the time, the Walt Disney Company had a huge celebration of American history in both of their parks. It was the first time both parks shared the same parade. This TV special uses footage shot in both Disneyland and Walt Disney World. Monsanto also had a long relationship with Disneyland having sponsored several attractions in Tomorrowland including the House of the Future. Comedian Red Skelton was chosen to host this TV variety special. Today he may be obscure but he had been a popular entertainment figure for decades on par with Bob Hope and Lucille Ball. In this TV special, which he co-wrote, he plays many of his popular characters such as Freddie the Freeloader, Sheriff Deadeye, Grandpa, and others. He also does his routine explaining the Pledge of Allegiance. Skelton was particularly known for doing this in numerous appearances of his acts. We also get several songs from the Disney parks performers. This is a great time capsule of what the parks were like during the bicentennial. Footage note: Due to the age of this broadcast, and it only aired once, and the unusual run time of this footage, this may not be the complete broadcast. It's all the footage that can be located online. If more surfaces this video will be updated. Original air date April 3, 1976 Posted for historical purposes. This channel is not affiliated with the Walt Disney Company.

In 1988, the Walt Disney World Independence Day Spectacular joined its sister Easter and Christmas parade broadcasts. Like its siblings, the Independence Day Spectacular was a 2 hour advertisement on everything Disney. Unlike those other parades, this broadcast celebrated America. The date this parade aired varied from year to year and even by network. This first Independence Day Parade broadcast aired on July 3 on ABC. It was the shortest lived parade broadcast, only running 6 years. The final parade aired in 1992. In this parade at the end of President Ronald Reagan's two terms, you'll see something you never see today; the Walt Disney characters dressed in patriotic attire. The broadcast contains several song performances by popular stars of the time as well. Unlike the other parades, the Independence Day Parade didn't have a regular host. For its inaugural year Mark Summers and Tempestt Bledsoe host this debut parade. At the time, Mark Summers was the host of Nickelodeon's game show Double Dare and Tempestt Bledsoe was starring on the Bill Cosby Show spin off A Different World. Willard Scott hosted the man on the street segments around the park. He had been the long time weather man on NBC's Today Show and a regular host for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Original air date July 3, 1988 Posted for historical purposes. This channel is not affiliated with the Walt Disney Company.

This is the 1989 Walt Disney World Independence Day Spectacular hosted by Willard Scott and Gretchen Carlson (the current Miss America of the time.) This is the second time the parade aired and the first on Fox networks. Disney already had a Christmas and Easter broadcast but unlike those other parades, this broadcast celebrated America. The date this parade aired varied from year to year and even by network. This second Independence Day Parade broadcast aired on July 3 on Fox stations and varied by market. It was the shortest lived parade broadcast, only running 6 years. The final parade aired in 1992. The broadcast contains several song performances by popular stars of the time as well including New Kids on the Block and the Temptations. Unlike the other parades, the Independence Day Parade didn't have a regular host, but usually concluded with Sandi Patty singing the Star-Spangled Banner during the fireworks display for the finale. Original air date varied Posted for historical purposes. This channel is not affiliated with the Walt Disney Company.

This is the 1990 Walt Disney World Independence Day Spectacular and what a spectacular it is! Unlike previous Independence Day broadcasts, this one has no host. This is the third time the parade aired and the second on Fox networks. Disney already had a Christmas and Easter broadcast but unlike those other parades, this broadcast celebrated America. Interestingly, this is the first time the parade format was dropped from this broadcast in favor of a more performance-oriented show. This broadcast contains several song performances by popular stars of the time as well including New Kids on the Block, Glydis Knight, and Jermain Jackson. There's also park shows including the Disney Afternoon, Dick Tracy, and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The latter two both having come fresh off of live recent action film releases. Samuel E. Wright performs his two songs from The Little Mermaid, the Disney characters recite the Preamble to the United States Constitution, and Regis & Kathy Lee put on a show about America and patriotism. You will not believe today's Walt Disney Company used to be like this. The date this program aired varied from year to year and even by network. This third Independence Day Parade broadcast aired on July 4 on Fox stations. It was the shortest-lived parade broadcast, only running 6 years. The final Independence Day show aired in 1992. Unlike the other parades, the Independence Day Parade didn't have a regular host, but usually concluded with Sandi Patty singing the Star-Spangled Banner during the fireworks display for the finale. Original air date July 4, 1990 Posted for historical purposes. This channel is not affiliated with the Walt Disney Company.

This is the 1991 Walt Disney World Independence Day Spectacular! Unlike the previous Independence Day broadcast, this one returns to having co-hosts. This is the fourth time the parade aired and the first on CBS networks. Disney already had a Christmas and Easter broadcast but unlike those other parades, this broadcast celebrated America. Interestingly, after dropping the parade format to a performance oriented show in 1990, the parade format is restored. Robert Guillaume and Connie Sellecca co-host this broadcast. Sellecca was a known actress of the time while Guillaume was a popular sitcom star. He would go on to be Rafiki in The Lion King. This broadcast includes performances by Tevin Campbell, Sheena Easton, Barbara Mandrell, the Kentucky Headhunters, and others. Comedian Steven Banks has a segment on great moments in American history and we get an Independence greeting from then sitting President George Bush the first. There are also segments called Points of Light focusing on average Americans keeping freedom alive by making a difference in their communities. Points of Light was a program initiated by the Bush Administration. Tim Allen also makes an appearance pre-Home Improvement. Original Airdate July 4, 1991 Posted for historical purposes. This channel is not affiliated with the Walt Disney Company.

This is the 1992 Walt Disney World Independence Day Spectacular! This is the fifth time the parade aired and the second on CBS networks. Disney already had a Christmas and Easter broadcast but unlike those other parades, this broadcast celebrated America. After a return to a parade format in 1991, this 1992 broadcast became concert related again much like 1990. Sitcom star and actor John Ritter hosts this broadcast. This broadcast includes performances by Kris Kros, Celine Dion, Billy Ray Cyrus, Los Lobos, Martina McBride, Shanice, and more. The Points of Light segment returns. Points of Light was a program initiated by the Bush Administration. John Ritter takes us through different Disney related segments. This is the final time the Walt Disney Company broadcast an Independence Day Spectacular. 1993 is often cited as the year the company began moving away from traditional American culture into PC culture. Original Airdate July 4, 1992 Posted for historical purposes. Walt Disney's voice is recreated with AI. This channel is not affiliated with the Walt Disney Company.

This is the 1993 Walt Disney Imagineering Quarterly Report for the fourth quarter of that year. In it they discuss the unbuilt Disney Theme Park Disney's America, adding Bill Clinton to the Hall of Presidents, constructing the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, designing the Nautilus for Euro Disney and, more. This is when PC culture started to overtake the company. You can hear how some of the imagineers discuss the leftist talking points of the time about "equality," "diversity," "ethnicity," "alliances," and "issues oriented." The unbuilt Disney's America Theme Park and the revision of the Hall of Presidents is all about this. Disney's America was a proposed theme park that was going to be built near Washington, D.C. that told the revised history of America that was taking root in the country of the time. At Walt Disney World, The Hall of Presidents show and The American Adventure at EPCOT Center were both revised to reflect this new narrative. At Disneyland, Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln was also revised. The "experts" Disney teamed up with on these projects, are why Song of the South's 1996 theatrical release and later VHS/DVD releases were cancelled. This is an important obscure chapter in Walt Disney history. Release date 4th Quarter 1993 Posted for historical purposes. This channel is not affiliated with the Walt Disney Company.