This magical story took place in the parks in the 50s, and few know it. Here the details.
In the history of the creation of Disneylandone of the most famous theme parks in the world, there is another lesser-known story that dates back to long before the doors opened in 1955. The incredible story includes a couple who had a very close connection with the park.
In 1935, Owen and Dolly Pope, a couple that dedicated themselves to performing horse shows in California, began their tour of the region. Already in the 1950s, his skills caught the attention of Harper Goff, a prominent Disney artist, who recommended Walt Disney to see them perform.
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At the time, the entertainment company was going through difficult times: it was facing a financial crisis which led him to consider new business opportunities. This included the idea of theme parks. After witnessing the Pope’s show, Disney was not only impressed but also saw the possibility of integrating their acts into the future park. And so this great story begins.
The story of the couple who lived at Disneyland for 15 years and no one knew about it
In 1951, The couple moved to the Disney studios in Burbank, where they were the only residents, apart from the military who occupied the studios during World War II. At first, they stopped in a trailer inside the studios while Owen built stables. One day, they decided to choose a house inside the park.
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The property was located where the Big Thunder Ranch area, one of the wings of the park focused on the ‘Wild West’ theme. They started living there just three days before the park opened.
That It was his home until his retirement in 1975.even supervising the construction of areas in the new park Walt Disney World in Florida. After their move, the house was abandoned and became part of the little-known stories of the park.
However, instead of demolishing it, Disney moved it to a public access area near the park, where it is now displayed as part of Disneyland history, remembering the unique contribution of the Pope couple to the magic of the place. Thus, the house they occupied became a iconic part of the landscape.
Source: Ambito
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
