Disney/MGM Studios Theme Park Grand Opening Gala (1989)

The Disney/MGM Studios began as a proposed pavilion for EPCOT Center. It was expanded into a park that would be a working movie studio to avoid paying Hollywood union rates. Originally film and TV productions would be made there, the originally being Ernest Saves Christmas, as well as animated features. The animation studio was originally intended for commercial work but eventually expanded into helping to complete the animated features before producing their own such as Mulan and Lilo & Stitch.

The MGM name and Leo the Lion logo was licensed by Disney from Sony to add prestige to the brand of the park. When the license ran out 20 years later, the park was re-dubbed the Disney Hollywood Studios. By then the working studio aspect had petered out and it became just a theme park about movies. The Great Movie Ride had been the park’s signature attraction and intended for the EPCOT pavilion. The rights to the MGM scenes and characters was negotiated with Ted Turner, who owned the MGM library at the time. Other scenes and characters came from Paramount Pictures (Eisner’s old stomping ground) 20th Century Fox, and others. Although, unaffected by the name license running out, the Great Movie Ride was demolished in 2017.

The Disney/MGM Studios opened on May 1, 1989. The night before this special aired. It was a 2 hour affair full of reminiscing stars from the golden age and current celebrities. John Ritter tied it all together but there were other segments hosted by other celebrities such as Harry Anderson, Dick van Dyke, and the Pointer Sisters. Here’s a glimpse at what the park was like at the beginning and it no longer exists as founded. This special only aired once on NBC.

Original air date April 30, 1989
Posted for historical purposes. This channel is not affiliated with the Walt Disney Company.