When I started this, I never expected this kind of response. Everyone has been amazing helping to unravel grandpa’s story and being such supportive friends. I’m lucky to have you guys. There have been lots of things flying back and forth on the blog and with Twitter, so, while I want to respond to everyone, it’s probably best if I just point everyone here. Here’s what we know:
Grandpa sold his work to Disney and worked with them on some kind of Special Projects Team. That team was up to something at the ’64 World’s Fair. More than just building mechanical presidents and magical skyways, anyway. Along with building the attractions, they were, apparently, building lots of other stuff we (the general public) were never meant to see. Christina and Kalani figured out the secret conference code and heard a fifty-year-old recording that gave us more questions than answers. If you call (213) 438-9463 and enter the month and day for the date you call (like today would be 0712), you can hear it yourself. Buuut… What was the World’s Fair Special Projects Team really up to? How did Grandpa fit into all of this? What’s the deal with the secret patents that they didn’t want released?
Thanks to James (@baseballmickey) and Nick, who did a little email detective work prodding Mr. Lott, we know that Michael Lott at Lott Family Construction worked on some super-secret stuff that was shown to VIPs during the fair. Here’s the memo to prove it:
Thanks to James and Nick’s detective work, we have this memo from Mr. Lott.
Kimberly discovered that if you adjust the levels and contrast on the memo, you can make out some of the redacted materials.
Thanks to Kimberly, Michael, and James (on Twitter) we think the redactions are (in order): “The City, Florida Project, The City, _________ Signal Flag, Auto Apparatus, and Mark 0 Project.
Amber and Kalani were one of the groups that went to the Tam O’Shanter and posted photos of the markings on the table where Walt Disney and his Imagineers used to eat. They found dinosaurs, more codes, and noticed this T/U symbol that’s cropped up on both the table and on a poster celebrating Imagineers at the Tam, by someone named Wallace. Kira also went to the Tam and discovered the soufflé was chocolaty molten deliciousness (so craving some right now).
Poster found at the Tam O’Shanter – the small text at the bottom says it was made by a fellow named ‘Wallace’ of disneycartography.com
While poking around on Wallace’s site, disneycartography.com, Stephen noticed some strange details on some of the posters. Who is this Wallace who made the poster at the Tam? What’s his connection to all this? We don’t know.
Yet.
I’ll say it again. You are awesome.
That first link should be:
http://disneycartography.com/wp-content/themes/wallace/images/slide-2.jpg
So glad so many people following your story have been so helpful! Can’t wait to learn more as you have more time to dig into some of the things in the apartment
My plans for the weekend are pretty slow right now- maybe I’ll take a page from your book and start researching my own family!
Yay, Jaclyn! I love to hear that.
YOU are awesome! Thank you so much for providing this great recap of the week’s events & finds. I look forward to continuing following our blog & posts and hope to provide any help myself in the future.
Thanks, Banks!
Thanks for the recap Amelia, its been a whirlwind few days! Did you get to see 20k Leagues Under the Sea yesterday? Sometime you should check out Captain Nemo’s organ at the Haunted Mansion in Disneyland! This adventure you are on reminds us all that family is so important in little every day ways and big life changing ways, and to never think you know everything about the people closest to you! Thanks for letting us share!
One of my life goals now is to go to Disneyland, so I’ll put that on my list of things to do there.
And you’re so right about the importance of family, and never thinking you know everything about anyone.
Great recap Amelia! And great work by everyone who researched and shared their discoveries and theories! I love being a part of this adventure with you all! This is a lot of fun!
Agreed, James. Great work by everyone!
Could that be Operation Signal Flag?
What exactly do you mean, Joey?
Great recap. A few of us have been keeping track of all your work and the ongoing developments here: http://www.insidethemagic.net/inside-the-optimist-solving-disneys-alternate-reality-game-what-we-know/
I invite everyone to chime in and help keep the game log going while we all try to figure out what it means, little by little…
Thanks Ricky! That is linear and complete and my brain and also my free time appreciate it.
I’m glad it’s helpful. I have to recap for myself just to keep up with all of you!
I think Walt would be very proud to see the spirit of teamwork and cooperation that everyone here has shown.He was an optimist and believed people could achieve great things when we work together, and I think everything we’re doing here just goes to prove him right.And it’s great to see that even almost 50 years later, the work he started still makes a difference in the world.
Well said!
From what little I know about Mr. Disney, I think you’re right. And the fact that you think this makes me so very happy.
Amelia, have you tried contacting Wallace?
By the way, I’ll be at Disneyland this weekend, is there anything there that you think needs investigating?
Haven’t yet, but I’m thinking about it. I have visited his site, though, and I love his work.
Honestly, there’s nothing I can think of.
Yes, love love is work too! Great stuff!
…I mean *I love his work too!
This is just. Honestly. This is the coolest thing ever.
I’m with you on that, Kevin. I was not expecting this.
I asked Wallace on twitter
“@TheDCLBlog: @DCartography any chance of sharing some of your maps? #TheOptimist”
He replied with the following….
“@DCartography: @TheDCLBlog I’m busy working on my next piece. I think you’ll like it.”
https://twitter.com/dcartography/status/355454374409015297
Could be interesting… Florida Project?
I SO can’t wait to find out. He is so talented.
This is why youre the film maker! You’ve got it set up all choeasive and timeline like, easy to follow. It sounds like there is a bigger mystery at work though. How did Wallace get such accurate information for his drawings? It seems like Walt and Co. were being VERY secretive and secure, how did Wallace get that info? The plot thickens! If only we could add old time radio sound effects to these comments! I am so impressed with the calibur of brains you have following your Blog Amelia. Seems like together we can crack just anout anything! I think we all know who contributed the most useful information and pictures… What? Chocolate is an important investigative tool!
I’ve been wondering about Wallace too. I’ve been reading his tweets, and I’m trying to see the best way to approach him. The direct one doesn’t really seem to work.
I totally agree about the brainpower of everyone working together here. I agree chocolate should be in the tool belts of all investigators (along with coffee milk for me). And I think everyone agrees that you rock, Kira.
My mom used to make coffee milk when I was little! I was just talking to my friend Danny about how no one drinks coffee milk anymore and we need to bring it back. Glad to see you waging the coffee milk battle with us!
What in the world is coffee milk
Coffee milk is practically the official beverage of RI. Growing up there it was as normal as chocolate milk and I didn’t find out it was weird until college. http://www.quahog.org/factsfolklore/index.php?id=56
In just one week I’ve learned so much about Walt Disney’s history and early Disneyland attractions. All these Disney fans bringing all these tidbits of information is amazing. Amelia you’re awesomesauce for giving us an opportunity to come together, to share these ideas and hopefully learn something new. Like weaving a tapestry.
Me too! Thanks to everyone, I understand more and more Grandpa’s appreciation for all things Disney. I wouldn’t know what I know or have come this far without you.
About*
Came across some pictures and descriptions of the GE Exhibit which looks pretty interesting. I don’t know if it will end up being useful but Kalani suggested I share the link with all of you: http://www.worldsfairphotos.com/nywf64/general-electric.htm We’re glad to be of any help we can in tracking down information you might need. Useful or not all this history is very fascinating, I have always loved all things Disney!
Wow those are amazing pictures. I love everything about Disney and the history.
Thanks, Amber! SO fascinating.
Here’s another link with even more pictures that walks you through the whole flow of the Progressland pavilion.
http://epcotexplorer.tumblr.com/post/27984569088/pictures-of-progressland-the-artistry-of
I am a little confused about the Tam. Next time I am in LA, I am going to take a trip there! Never knew about the Disney connection.
D.Z., I went to the Tam, maybe I can offer some insight until you’re able to head up there yourself. What are you confused about?
The guys at Unfiction have you covered. We will all do what we can to help, and have been helping for many years. Trust in us we have your back.
Unfiction is awesome
representin’! But really though, to everyone whos been saying ARGs are dead, I think this game, along with the flood of others over the past wee just go to show thats not true. I mean just look at how active this game is and how many people are participating. Makes me happy.
Unfiction home base is the best home base.
Busy today, but throwing this out there so you guys can see if you can do something with it:
I was listening to the minutes on the vocal mail system again. The access code changes every day to be the current day, so eventually, over time it would cover every date. So, i don’t think entering any other dates or codes will lead to anything on that number. That being said, what I picked up on this time was that the recording says that to access minutes from future meetings, we will need the new code AND the corresponding conference number. I take that to mean there is a new telephone # to call. But what is the number? Would it be the same area code and exchange and just a new last 4 digits?? Thinking out loud here… what do you all think?
Interesting to see Mark 0 on this confidential memo. Might it have something to do with the Monorail system Disney was working on?
Did you all see the Disney Cartographer’s last message “I’m old enough to have ridden ‘small world’ in New York, not old enough to be an exhibit in Primeval World.”? Also I found a great resource about the minutiae of the ’64 Worlds Fair here: http://www.nywf64.com/ford01.shtml lots of good reading!
Amelia- Thank you for including us, its been fun trying to solve the mystery. I received a new clue this morning- I emailed Mr. Lott specifically asking about the words that had been redacted, asking what he knew about Mark 0, The Florida Project, The city, and the rest- I received the following reply:
“Dear Kimberly,
I don’t know how you heard about that. But best let it go. That’s all I’m going to say about that.
Yours truly,
Michael T. Lott”
Something fishy is going on here- its one thing to respect a confidentiality clause, its another entirely to worry about leaving something alone. Thats the type of thing reporters get told before they discover that the chief of police is being bribed by the mafia in movies. Hmm. . . curiouser and curiouser!
Has anyone watched “Our Friend, the Atom” video yet?
You are quite welcome, Amelia I know that you are busy with school but the D23 Expo is coming on Aug 9-11 in Anahiem, CA. That would be the perfect place to meet people from Disney who might have worked with your father And ask them any question.
Grandfather I mean
Yep, I’m watching right now. Walt says they are planning to build an exhibit at Disneyland in which theynwillmshow atomic energy in action. The conceptual drawing shows that General Dynamics is the sponsor.
The atomic symbol is everywhere…
After Progressland people went upstairs to see Progress City (“the City” and precursor to Epcot) and there was part of it dealing with the use nuclear energy. Check out the link I posted higher up, it gives more detail about the whole GE Exhibit.
Basically learned how atomic energy works. The optimist view of atomic energy is to not use it to destroy, but to use it as a power source, for food and health and to following the original purpose of the discoverers and use it for the good of mankind.
Not sure if this means anything, but I was on Yesterland reading up on some of the old attractions that we’ve been talking about and discovered that in the upper level of The Carousel of Progress there was a detailed model of “Progress City” Walt Disney’s vision of a city of the future, which served as a preview to his Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow (EPCOT). I thought this could perhaps tie the EPCOT hints we’ve been getting back into Disneyland, since so many of our other hints are pointing in that direction, rather than towards Florida. Just a thought!
Btw the model is at WDW and can viewed while riding the Peoplemover.
The model there is actually only a small portion of what was originally on display, much of the features are no longer there.
Here’s a link about the differences between what you see on display now versus the original model: http://www.imagineeringdisney.com/blog/2010/7/22/a-look-at-the-progress-city-model-then-and-now.html
True unfortunately. Recently it was out of sight for a clean up. Wonder if it is a coincidence. Here is a picture (date unknown).
It is indeed back on display, i saw it earlier tonight while I was riding the peoplemover in WDW. And nothing seemed out of sorts or was missing from what is usually on display.
Great recap. Thanks Amelia!
The women in the Imaginers of the Tam is probably Mary Blair, the artist behind the art in A Small World.
Mary and Walt
http://media.designingdisney.com/sites/default/files/images/blair/2.jpg
I suspect 1 of the other two men is Marc Davis. Now rather any of that is revelant, who knows