Surveying the Gen X landscape and the origins of geek
More good stuff from byyourcommand.net: Disney employees dressed up in The Black Hole sentry and humanoid costumes for the premiere gala at the Century Plaza Hotel, now the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel, in Los Angeles. See more photos at the link.
Special thanks to Stingray for the heads up.
Gorgeous cutaway views courtesy of ByYourCommand.net. Zoom in to inspect the incredible detail. Our good friend Mikey Walters, who’s been studying Japanese for years, says that “Most of the descriptions are in katakana, a special Japanese alphabet used for `loan words,’ which means they are English in this case.” Here are some random translations:
Maximilian: Image Processor, Drill, Sub-computer, Memory, Main Computer, Rocket Engine (that’s interesting), Rocket Blaster, Block Condenser, Compressor, Motor, Computer Interface, Main Stabilizer, Sub-stabilizer, Balance Sensor
Vincent: Magnetic Head Protector, Computer, Image Processor, Drill Arm, System Indicator, Laser Gun, Graphic Display, Main Manipulator Computer Interface, Battery, Sensor
Cygnus: Transporter Terminal, Transporter Tube, Docking Port, Laser Dome, Main Engine, Charging Room, Shuttle Ship, Shuttle Ship Docking Port, Main Computer Tower, Control Center
This isn’t the whole program, obviously, but it’s the most unique section by far.
Thanks again, Mikey!
Meco (Domenico Monardo) launched the space disco era with Star Wars and other Galactic Funk (1977), which went platinum. He followed with several disco-ized soundtrack albums, including Encounters of Every Kind (1977), Superman and other Galactic Heroes (1978), and Christmas in the Stars: Star Wars Christmas Album (1980).
Music from Star Trek and The Black Hole (1980) didn’t go over well. The movies bombed at the box office, and the original, now classic soundtracks (by Jerry Goldsmith and John Barry, respectively), resisted the transition to upbeat funk. Meco knew it, and faked most of The Black Hole. The main theme is the only track that clearly resembles Barry’s score.
You can listen to Meco’s “Star Trek Medley” here. The entire Black Hole suite is below.
The album art is by Shusei Nagaoka, who did many memorable sci-fi-themed covers throughout the ’70s, including Out of the Blue (ELO) and Raise! (Earth, Wind & Fire).
A German group called Nostromo, following a very curious disco version of the Alien theme in 1979, released a 7″ called The Black Hole in 1980. It’s much more faithful to the original, although I like Meco’s misdirected space-funk a little bit more.
A closer look at all the Black Hole figures I talked about many internet ages ago—here. Old Bob, S.T.A.R., and Humanoid figures were released in Italy only.
The highest price point I could find on a carded figure is $2.43 (Reinhardt). The lowest is $.91 (Durant). I also found one marked down to $.97 (Holland).
UPDATE (12/19/15): Adding a Harry Booth marked down to $.88. That’s what happens to traitors!
From Michael at Progress City, U.S.A., who got it from a presentation by Disney Imagineer Dave Fisher in 2010:
Expecting the movie to become a big hit, WED [Walt Disney Imagineering] designed this ride-through shooting gallery based on the robots from the film. When The Black Hole flopped, the idea was adapted for another upcoming sci-fi film, TRON. When that didn’t become a hit either, the concept lay dormant until it was revived as Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin.
I guess WED didn’t have any art to refer to, because the robots don’t look anything like the robots in the movie. It doesn’t matter. I’ll still be twice as upset every time I get on the crappy Buzz Lightyear ride that my wife always beats me at. Tron did get a piece of a ride that I loved, the PeopleMover, in 1982. The PeopleMover closed in 1995 and was eventually replaced by the short-lived Rocket Rods.
Check out Michael’s full post for many more ride concepts, including a Uranium mine attraction, with visitors using Geiger counters to locate the radioactive stuff.
(All images vie Progress City, U.S.A.)
I didn’t think I’d win it with my paltry bid, but I sure as hell didn’t expect the son of a bitch to go for over $100. I was going to wear the thing. Now it’s “appreciating” in a special collector’s bag somewhere. What a waste.
Photo: Gary Fong/San Francisco Chronicle, 1979
Varsity Theatre, Athens, Ohio, 1979. (Photo: Larry Gassan)
From Amazing Spider-Man #203, 1980. Note the Black Hole marquee in the background.
King Frat (second photo) is an Animal House hack job: frat boys stage farting contests, light farts on fire, pull down their pants and fart at girls through car windows, and similar antics involving farts (and erections). The fact that it’s sharing a marquee with Star Trek does not say much for the perception and reception of Star Trek.
(Images via the SF Chronicle, Larry Gassan/Flickr, and The Marvel Project)
2 Warps to Neptune 