Monday, March 14, 2011

Get the Point?!

This will be the most exciting post yet! See how the exclamation point lends that statement credibility? While combing through photos recently I noticed that the current "it's a small world" marquee doesn't quite reflect the attraction's name:

The exclamation point addition is not, however, a new addition to the signage, as I have a photo from 1998 that also includes it:

The exclamation point is not and has never been a part of the official nomenclature. The attraction's page on Disneyland.com uses the correct language. The original marquee contains what is still widely regarded as the correct form of the attraction's name (although not by Dave Smith; check Disney A-Z for the entry on It's a Small World):

I'm not much of a fan of exclamation points in attraction or entertainment events and have long felt that it's been overdone in the past, oh, twenty years (beginning with Disney Afternoon Live!). But then I started looking through my photos and realized that Walt wasn't shy about using exclamation points to drum up business for some classic attractions, like the Surrey Ride!...

...the Haunted Mansion!...

...and, of course, Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room!:

After finding these historical examples, I am more accepting of modern uses. How about you?

10 comments:

Major Pepperidge said...

I have to admit that the exclamation points looks pretty stupid. How can I have never noticed the example on the Haunted Mansion sign?? And the Surrey Ride sign... weird. Meanwhile, I have a bad habit of using exclamations when I really shouldn't, so I guess I can't point fingers.

Jason Schultz said...

Major...You might want to take a closer look at these signs the next time you are in the Park.

Major Pepperidge said...

Well, I guess I've been "got"....!

Major Pepperidge said...

BTW, April fool's day isn't for another couple of weeks. (!!!)

Jason Schultz said...

Major, I don't know this April Fool's of which you speak. And I'm sure you would never do anything like that to your readers.

TokyoMagic! said...

I've never noticed the exclamation points on the Small World signs (I'm assuming that those were undoctored pics) Funny....I've been wanting to do a post about the usage of exclamation points in the parades, shows and attractions at the Tokyo Disney parks. It seems to be used even more over there. It's on my list of "future posts", so I'll get around to it eventually!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Vintage Disneyland Tickets said...

All I have to add to this conversation is:

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

gregr said...

That's so weird: Haunted Mansion! Is the ! still there?

Jason Schultz said...

Greg: You might want to look closely at these photos. :)

World Dani Lopez said...

Good joob