GALA WILL HONOR RECIPIENTS SEPTEMBER 22 IN LOS
ANGELES
(BURBANK, CALIFORNIA)—After reviewing more than
150 projects throughout the world, the Themed Entertainment
Association announces the 2001 winners of the prestigious Thea
Award for excellence and outstanding achievement in themed
entertainment.
“This is the
equivalent of the Oscars for our industry,” said Keith James,
president of the Themed Entertainment Association. “Billions of dollars are
spent each year by guests at theme parks, museums, zoos and other
attractions, yet the people who create this great entertainment are
often not recognized.”
The Thea Awards were
established in 1994.
Past winners include attractions ranging from the NIKETOWN
themed-retail stores to The
Amazing Adventures of Spider Man at Universal Studio
Florida’s Islands of Adventure theme park.
Themed entertainment is
the combination of disciplines required to create theme parks,
entertainment attractions, science centers, aquariums, zoos,
museums, live shows, corporate brand lands, exhibits, family
entertainment centers, huge event spectaculars and themed
restaurants and retail stores.
There are five categories
of Thea Awards this year: Award for Outstanding
Achievement, Award for Outstanding Achievement on a Limited Budget,
the Thea Lifetime Achievement Award, the Thea Classic Award, and
the Thea Award for Outstanding Achievement in Breakthrough
Innovation. All of the
attractions, events, and technologies recognized by Thea are
called, simply, "outstanding achievements." This allows the awards to be
presented to all truly outstanding projects without pitting one
attraction against another of a similar style.
Professionals in themed
entertainment include the writers, producers, designers, artists,
architects, technicians, engineers, directors, choreographers,
educators, operators and economists who invent, create and produce
these attractions.
The black-tie Awards
Ceremony will be held the evening of Saturday, September 22, 2001,
at the Alex Theater in Glendale, California, to celebrate and honor
the following recipients:
LIFETIME
ACHIEVEMENT
Tony Baxter
Walt Disney
Imagineering
Tony Baxter grew up in
Orange County near Disneyland, and from an early age dreamed of
designing rides and attractions for Walt Disney. Thirty-five years ago, he started
his “career” as an ice cream scooper at
Disneyland’s Plaza Gardens…but the dream lived
on. On his own time,
he developed a model of an attraction for Disneyland and used it as
his calling card to apply for a job at Walt Disney
Imagineering. Tony got
the job, and the model became Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, now
a mainstay of four Disney parks around the world.
Now Senior Vice President
of Creative Development at WDI, Tony’s credits include
concept design and show director for such attractions as: Splash Mountain, Star Tours (with George Lucas and
Tom Fitzgerald), Indiana
Jones, Epcot’s original Journey Into Imagination,
Disneyland’s Toon
Town, New
Tomorrowland, New
Autopia, and
Tarzan’s Treehouse.
Disneyland Paris was “his
project.” The
designers of each “land” reported to Tony, who was
responsible for the park’s layout and design. Tony also was responsible (with
Eddie Sotto) for the concept of the Disneyland Hotel at the
park’s entrance.
THEA CLASSIC
AWARD
Silver Dollar City
Folk Craft Village, Branson, Missouri
For 41 years, Silver Dollar City has been a
world leader in establishing, exemplifying and perpetuating the
core values of all themed entertainment: traditional family values,
sincere friendliness, making visitors feel they are unique and
special, and providing safe, exciting fun in a highly themed
setting. Silver Dollar City is also
dedicated to preserving the crafts of the past for tomorrow’s
generation.
Paid tours of Marvel Cave
began in the late 1880’s. In 1950, the Herschend family moved
to the Ozarks form Chicago, and began operating the cave. With the
desire to entertain guests waiting on cave tours, along with
fulfilling the dream of the late Hugo Herschend (Jack &
Peter’s dad), mom Mary, along with sons Jack and Peter
Herschend opened Silver Dollar City on May 1, 1960 as a
re-creation of an Ozarks town of the
1880’s.
AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT -
ATTRACTION
Millennium Village
EPCOT
Center
Walt
Disney World, Florida
Millennium Village was the
cultural centerpiece of Walt Disney World’s 15-month
Millennium Celebration, which ended January 1, 2001. The 65,000 square-foot pavilion
along Epcot’s World Showcase Lagoon brought together more
than two dozen nations to share stories of peace, progress, hope
and triumph as the world entered a new millennium. Millennium Village was a true
global village. It
focused on breaking down barriers between nations, replacing
negative stereotypes with positive ones and encouraging the
multi-sensory overlap between cultures to create a harmonious world
community.
Millennium Village brought
together international students and young people from around the
world who acted as ambassadors for their country, hosting each
exhibit, telling their stories and sharing their country’s
history and gifts with the world.
AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT -
ATTRACTION
Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for Buccaneer Gold
DisneyQuest
Downtown Disney
Lake Buena Vista,
Florida
Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for
Buccaneer Gold provides DisneyQuest guests a new twist on a
classic Disney story.
Crews of up to four guests (one captain steering, three cannoneers
firing cannons) board a ship and “sail” into a 3-D
world that features plundered towns, fortress islands and erupting
volcanoes. The crew
works together on the five-minute, action-packed voyage, sinking
opposing ships and capturing their treasure.
The first real
convergence of movies and interactivity, Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for
Buccaneer Gold is a team-oriented experience. It thrusts them into the
ultra-realistic interactive pirate adventure by using cutting-edge
sight, sound and motion technologies.
AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING
ACHIEVEMENT - EVENT SPECTACULAR
Sydney 2000 Olympics—Opening Ceremony
Sydney, Australia
At sunset on Friday
September 15, 2000, approximately 100,000 spectators and over
12,000 performers celebrated the opening of the 27th
Olympiad in Sydney, Australia. Four billion television viewers
joined them worldwide.
The Sydney Olympic
Opening Ceremony represents the pinnacle of global live event
production. It was the
most complex, the most global and the most viewed event in human
history.
Planned and designed to
represent the host city’s culture, social values and creative
aspirations, the production used 13,700 performers in three acts
and sixteen scenes representing both the newest and the oldest of
Australia’s societies. From the oldest Aboriginal
population (dating back 60,000 years) through the wave of
immigration that continues to this day, the production celebrated
the diverse, multi-cultural society that is Australia. From a lone rider on a chestnut
stallion to 900 indigenous citizens (creating the most haunting
segment of the opening ceremony) to fire-breathing performers
recreating a bushfire, the audience was treated to a visual
tapestry of the continent.
And who can forget Nikki
Webster floating above the stadium as if in an undersea
odyssey?
AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT- VISITOR
CENTER
The Great Platte River Road
Archway Monument
Interstate 80
Kearney, Nebraska
The only historical
attraction over an interstate highway, this monument/museum
commemorates America’s movement Westward on the pioneer
trails. Visitors get
the sense that they are joining up with the wagon train, then they
experience the hardships of the trail. Along the way they experience a
pony express rider, a passing stagecoach, a telegraph operator, the
pounding of the golden spike and a 50’s style tourist
camp. They can also
stop at a drive in movie or ride a 60’s Cadillac to a typical
truck stop. After
President Clinton dedicated the monument, organizers had to ask him
to give back their collection of antique cookware.
AWARD FOR
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT- ATTRACTION
Nickelodeon Flying Super
Saturator
Paramount’s Carowinds
Park
North Carolina
Nickelodeon Flying Super
Saturator, an inverted interactive water ride, is the first
attraction featuring the experience of a suspended
“swing” coaster with the ultimate water-play
experience. The
inverted coaster includes spray stations, geysers, water cannons
and water curtains throughout the 1,087-foot track. Guests in the line operate 22
spray stations to soak the riders as they soar overhead. The riders are not
defenseless. Each
controls 4 gallons of water. By simply pulling the lever, a
guest can unleash a flash flood on the “sitting ducks”
below.
AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING
ACHIEVEMENT- ATTRACTION
Men in Black—Alien Attack
Universal Studios Florida
Orlando, Florida
Hardy bands of specially trained
guest-trainees take up arms to save the earth from intergalactic
terrorists in this, the world’s first life-size, ride-through
video game. Men in Black Alien Attack
combines several innovative attraction technologies, including the
newest generation of “roving motion platform” housed in
a 70,000 square-foot building camouflaged as a retro-modern-style
plaza reminiscent of the 1964 New York World’s Fair. It is the largest dark ride
ever built. The ride
immerses guests in the adventure, careening wildly through the
streets in government-issue vehicles and encourages them to destroy
hordes of aliens in order to earn their stripes as MIB. The ride culminates in the
“belly of the beast,” where the largest animatronic
ever built devours the vehicle. The trainees must shoot their way
out of the slimy intestinal cavity, and split-second decisions are
crucial as each team determines its fate—a hero’s
welcome or a loser’s farewell!
AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING
ACHIEVEMENT- MARINE PARK
Discovery Cove
Sea
World
Orlando, Florida
Discovery Cove, the newest
Anheuser-Busch Adventure Park,” brings people and animals
together in the tradition of true interaction
entertainment.”
The experience starts
with an extraordinary opportunity to swim and play with Bottlenose
dolphins. In addition,
the guest may snorkel through a colorful reef with exotic fish,
swim safely by sharks and barracuda, wade with large rays, feed
hundreds of tropical birds, float down a river through waterfalls
and lush landscaping, and relax on white sand beaches. No lines, no crowds, admission is
by reservations only!
AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING
ACHIEVEMENT- INTERACTIVE SOUND & LIGHT
SHOW
Lights of Liberty Show
Independence National Historical
Park
Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania
The world’s first,
and only, ambulatory sound and light show, this attraction allows
the audience to walk in the footsteps of American patriots over
five city blocks to experience the dramatic story and events
leading up to the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Wearing headsets synched to
five-story-high 70mm film projections on the historic buildings
where events took place 225 years ago, the audience participates in
a riot at Benjamin Franklin’s house, eavesdrops on the First
Continental Congress and is caught in the center of a battle
between Colonials and Red Coats.
Voices of the patriots
are portrayed by the likes of Walter Cronkite, Whoopi Goldberg,
Charlton Heston and Claire Bloom, supported by an original musical
score performed by the famous Philadelphia Orchestra.
The dramatic historical
story recreates the drama, vigor, and passion of the birth of a
nation and is narrated through the eyes of James Forten, a
legendary free black man, portrayed by Ossie Davis. In effect, the audience is
there, reliving history as it happened and where it
happened. The show is
also a technical achievement combining 24 large format projectors,
lighting, and special effects all synchronized to the
wearer’s 3D sound headset. All of the equipment is concealed
within this World Historical Site’s structures.
AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT -
VISITOR CENTER
HollandRama
Arnhem, Holland
A huge variety of theater
configurations have evolved throughout the centuries of show
biz. HollandRama combines a bit of
everything into yet another advance in the art of giving seated
theater guests a more engrossing way to tell a tale.
First HollandRama mixes sets, scents and
temperature changes with light, sound, film and video. Then, by adding a very clever
theater motion, the guests are “flown” through space
into various sets and scenes interspersed with screen
projections. 200
guests enter an enclosed, flat-floor, domed theater space to find
that the floor tips up into a stadium-like arena while the seats
remain level. While
enclosed in a large stage building, the theater rotates and moves
laterally and vertically in and out of physical scenes, which are
revealed as the projection screen dome opens and closes as a segue
between scenes.
HollandRama demonstrates a very
clever and effective way to tell stories by virtually taking the
audience to an infinite variety of story locations, each in a
different environment.
At the heart of
HollandRama is a large, elegantly designed mechanical device
that carries the guests, almost in the palm of its hand, in such a
smooth action that intrusive motions never disturb the story
experience.
AWARD FOR
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT - THEME PARK
Kid City/La Ciudad De Los Ni
ños
Mexico City, Mexico
Kid City is an indoor
children’s park unlike any other in the world. Its 60,000 square-feet offers
some 42 pavilions reflecting various aspects of a simulated urban
life (grocery store, fire station, hospital, restaurant, public
transportation, doctor’s office, courtroom, theater, gas
station and auto repair, amusement park, etc.). The entire park is
interactive. In these
centers of activity, the kids spend paper money that is provided at
an entry which looks an airline ticket counter. When funds run out, the visitor
must work for money as a waitress, clerk, orderly, ticket taker,
etc. in order to get more money to continue participating.
The pavilions are close
together, and capacity is self-governing. If one place is busy, the visitor
quickly moves to an alternative activity. Capacity utilization is unusually
even throughout the year. The park achieved a visitation of
780,000 in its first year.
The enthusiastic
involvement of the children in these urban roles is intense and
active. It is
education come alive and a breakthrough success in this specialized
field. Sponsorship is
extensive with more than 50 national and international corporate
participants.
AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT - THEMED
RETAIL
Desert Passage
Aladdin Resort & Casino
Las Vegas, Nevada
Desert Passage is a 500,000
square-foot retail, entertainment and dining destination within the
new Aladdin Resort.
Designed to take the shopping traveler on a journey through the
exotic spice routes of Morocco, it utilizes the highest
specifications of detail and authenticity.
The guiding principal is
to enable travelers not only to observe, but to hear, taste, touch
and even smell the experience. Here you find the Fragrance
Market, full of rich aromas, a desert fortress and its treasure
house and a majestic lost city. The dramatic Sultan’s
Palace towers over the courtyard below, its golden dome glistening
in the sunlight.
Guests also find the bustling Merchants harbor front with the hull
of a 155” steam ship moored at port. Above, the blue sky fills with
clouds, and a rain storm cools the summer heat.
The only thing missing
here are the dust storms, but all you have to do is step outside
the mall to experience those.
AWARD FOR
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT – CORPORATE
LAND
Volkswagen Autostadt
Volkswagen Group
Wolfsburg, Germany
Volkswagen has invested
850 million Marks in a world automobile forum on a 25 hectare site
at its headquarters that impressively documents the company’s
experience and qualifications as a modern open service
provider.
Autostadt consists of two glass
towers presenting 800 shiny new cars that are picked up by the
buyer. Guests linger
to enjoy the Marken-Pavilions (brand pavilions), Kunden Center
(Customer Centre), Konzern Forum for cinemas, and ZeitHaus in which
visitors are invited to embark on a journey of discovery to the
many-faceted world of the automobile. There are also four areas for
children, retail area and six restaurants, one of which features 60
different kinds of bottled water!
At Autostadt, a vast amount of
automotive information is presented in a most entertaining manner,
providing an exchange of new ideas between Volkswagen and it
brand-loyal customers.
It is a bug lovers heaven.
AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING
ACHIEVEMENT- LIMITED BUDGET
ACHIEVEMENT
Exploration In The New Millennium
John F. Kennedy Space
Center
Exploration In The New Millennium
at the John F. Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is a highly
engaging and original attraction that conveys the story of
NASA’s future within the context of mankind’s eternal
quest for new exploration and discovery. Here, travel beyond Earth is made
both personal and visceral for visitors of all ages.
The guest experience
integrates multimedia, murals, large models, sets, exhibits,
lighting and hands-on presentations that immerse visitors in the
future of space exploration. The permanent attraction is
housed in a 12,000 square-foot building that was completely
renovated for the project.
AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT -
LIMITED BUDGET ACHIEVEMENT
L’Oxygenarium
Parc Ast
érix, France
L’Oxygenarium is a fictional
reconstruction of an old French Luna Park ride from the nineteenth
century that claimed to offer its visitors the uplifting experience
of breathing fresh mountain air without all the fuss of having to
climb the mountain.
Surrounded by brightly colored machinery that transport
newly-arrived Mont Blanc air to the top of the ride, visitors
ascend the 16m-high conveyor in carnival-colored round rafts.
At the top, a blast of
this rarified atmosphere is pumped across the visitor’s
faces, sending them descending and spinning in random
directions. Guests
leave feeling somewhat dizzy – no doubt a result of the
absolute purity of the air they just inhaled!
AWARD FOR
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT - BREAKTHROUGH
INNOVATION
Stealth Roller Coaster
Paramount’s Great America
San Jose, California
Roller coaster technology
has evolved as a “can you top this?” progression of
ever-more-daring configurations. Evolving from the first corkscrew
design of the 1970’s up through present inversion features,
the basic guest riding positions have thus far been embodied either
as seated or standing arrangements. The Stealth design by Vekoma
incorporates the first major change to the guest riding
position. After
entering the coaster vehicle in a seated position, the riders are
then reclined back into a horizontal placement. The coaster travels backward with
the guests lying on their backs. As the coaster track rolls the
vehicles 180 degrees, the riders find themselves flying headfirst
as if they were “Superman.” While the track course consists
of conventional turns, rolls and inversions, the guest riding
experience is totally new and novel. It is unlike any coaster ever
conceived.
AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT -
BREAKTHROUGH INNOVATION
Fastpass
Disney Parks
The enjoyment of a visit
to a crowded theme park is lessened by the ever-present necessity
of waiting in long lines in order to experience a very popular
attraction. This
situation has grown more prevalent over recent years. Both guests and park operators
are adversely affected. A guest will have less chance to
enjoy additional attractions, while the operator will have less
guest flow through food and merchandise locations.
Ideally, a guest and an
operator would plan a day visit with perfect time efficiency. Many attempts have been
made over the years to provide this kind of planning, but they have
been simple and piecemeal in practice. The multitude of factors involved
in such time planning is huge. Until Fastpass, they have not been
approached as a total park-wide flexible solution.
Fastpass took on the challenge of
a totally comprehensive approach to this well-known theme park
problem, and Disney is delivering outstanding results for its
efforts. Fastpass encompasses an almost
infinite variety of detailed solutions, that can be fine-tuned
virtually on the fly as situations change during the day. Fastpass will benefit everyone in
the future as designers, operators and guests become familiar with
what is fast becoming a whole new way of providing an enjoyable
Theme Park visit.
Surely all parks will be inspired by the success of Fastpass to find their own
line-wait solutions.
WHAT IS THE
TEA?
The Themed Entertainment Association
is an international alliance of the world's most experienced
professionals in the location-based entertainment industry
today. Its members and
their companies have played key roles in the development and/or
production of the most successful theme parks, entertainment
centers, museums and themed hotels, restaurants and retail on the
planet. The TEA
currently represents over 550 member companies employing more than
10,000 individuals within the themed entertainment community. TEA
member companies are located in over 35 states in the U.S. and in
16 countries around the world.
The TEA member companies represent
thousands of individuals and billions of dollars in annual
investments. Among the
TEA’s biggest supporters are major Hollywood studios with
interests in location-based entertainment, including The Walt
Disney Company, Universal Studios and Twentieth Century
Fox.
For further information contact
Jim Presnal at (818) 843-8497.
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