Carousel of Progress: There Goes Schwartz In His Hupmobile

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

It's interesting to me that something as simple as a single line can have so much context behind it. It adds so much depth to the parks and attractions when details, even subtle ones exist to flesh out the park/land/attraction that you're experiencing. I understand that you made the point that this was an addition for the 1994 update, but I still feel that Imagineers under Eisner were still very much dedicated to detail and quality in the parks. I'm comparing that to something like Avengers Campus, where you have a map showing the former Stark compound, or the pipes leaking fluid contaminated with gamma radiation, resulting in a tree with a bloated shape. The details are there, but they're superficial and lack depth. I just ate for the first time yesterday at The Liberty Tree Tavern and was seated in the Ben Franklin room. The cast member who delivered our food shared a few basic facts with us, but it was the theming of the room and restaurant that really blew me away. It was details as simple as historical paintings and maps that really reveal a lot of context behind the ideas and themes of each dining room. That's a level of dedication and quality long lost and while I'm glad it exists, it also reveals a decline of what Disney once was.

[@Nimeariel]

I agree! So much today is seemingly missing that attention to obscure detail, those "inside jokes" or "in-the-know" references. I wonder if it's due to a lack of imagineers who ARE actually "in-the-know" to even include such details or if it's just simply lack of budget or care. I LOVE obscure facts and it takes the depth of these things even deeper. It makes things so much neater when there is a wealth of trivia behind it. It's a shame that the detail is there, but not to as great a level as it once was.

[@lwilton]

@@Nimeariel Thought experiment: new Imagineers are going to be in their 20s or 30s. So they were born between 1990 and 2000. How much of 1950s America have these people really personally experienced? How much do they really know from experience about what life was like in the first half of the 20th century, or in 1778? If you were 40 years old in 1950 you grew up in the era when people in the city still used or at least saw horses. If you were born in 1950 you may have seen some, but darn few. But your parents could tell you what it was like from personal experience, and you could watch Our Gang on TV and see horses used in cities in streets just like the one you lived on. Things just hadn't changed that much since 1900, except for electricity and better motor cars. Now, that land is unrecognizable.

[@Nimeariel]

@@lwilton This is true that most imagineers today are going to be on the younger side and therefore have no first hand experience with anything beyond the 1990s (except for, as you said, the small few born in the mid- late 80s who experienced barely anything of that decade being that they were so young). It is great that Disney has maintained a lot of those "historical" features of the lands that are left for discovery by avid fact-seekers and trivia gurus (for example, the brown "path" in Frontierland that I am sure most people are left wondering about, but for the few who know, think it's an AMAZING little "secret"). I only wish that new imagineers would indeed incorporate little nods to THEIR history and THEIR cultural experiences within the things they create. Although, perhaps they have and I'm just that oblivious because I don't actively seek out pop-culture things anymore (since most of it seems to be wrapped up in the [boring] "reality" lives of others and things of no importance like cats who play piano or dogs that ride bikes). But if they updated Carousel of Progress, again, I'd be curious to see what scenes they would add (if they could add scenes instead of re-make them) and what they'd be about. That last scene of the "future" is almost SO scarily accurate that it very well could be a depiction of today's technology and no one would ever think it was about the future. They almost do need a Carousel Part 2 nowadays, or maybe one or two more scenes....

[@christalbot210]

@Poseidon Entertainment I suspect that a lot of those hidden details are Walt's influence. Like any good story teller, he knows details of an area or a character's background that is never shown in the story, but necessary to properly portray the area/character. As a result, there will be times when a line in the script or a set piece on the "stage" won't exactly make sense because we don't know this background (this video being a good example of one such tidbit, though in this case, the background is historical instead of fictional). @Nimeariel I figure a lot of the Imagineers in the 60's, 70's, and even 80's and 90's were around when Walt was and influenced by his way of storytelling. I also don't think these hidden details were ever supposed to be told to the general public. They might be mentioned in a tour of the place (i.e. a backlot tour or private investor tour), or at a party they attend, but most people wouldn't know. However, the public has since gotten a taste for "hidden details" (our enjoyment of this video is a good example). As a result, storytellers are often putting in Easter eggs for people to find (though in these cases, the tidbit can't be _that_ obscure if people are to figure them out). @"I wilton" My dad was born in early '28, so he would have been alive during the Hupmobile's existence (admittedly, in its downfall). He was also alive in '94 and we've seen the _Carousel of Progress_ since then. He never mentioned the reference. While this maybe due to him not actually knowing about it, it could also be he knew the reference and simply didn't think about the fact that I wouldn't know and therefore tell me about it. How many 80's references would we get and not think of explaining to people born in this century?

[@neitherdreaming]

"They were seen as leaving behind their reputation of affordability...for a flashier consumer base." ...sounds like today's Disney parks. $$$

[@blockedblock5203]

Except for ever having a reputation of affordability.

[@lwilton]

Well, Eisner in the 1980s bought into the then-current Harvard Business School mantra that a company that doesn't make 25% increase in profits each year is failing. And he pulled that off for his tenure, raising process 25% every year until he was canned. The newer management is still raising process 25% a year.

[@lwilton]

@@blockedblock5203 I spent $6.35 for an "E" ticket book with 15 tickets in the mid 1970s. That was the top-of-the-line ticket book. It was about the cost of three Denny's meals back then. It wasn't cheap, but it sure wasn't out of the question for an ordinary family. My first Disneyland annual pass with no blackout dates and parking included was $135. It was the same price the next year, then went up to $145 in the third year. It's what, now? About $2200 for that same pass?

[@boy_of_the_cones]

Fun fact: Schwartz was one of Jean Shepherd's friends, which is why his name was included in the show

[@UmmYeahOk]

Schwarz was also one of Ralphie’s friends in A Christmas Story.

[@Narrowgaugefilms]

-and if I remember right: the real Schwartz was in the Army Air Corps during WWII and was killed in action. The real Flick stayed in Indiana and opened up a bar called "Flick's Tap" which is still open.

[@Narrowgaugefilms]

I’ll award the brass figlagee with bronze oak leaf palm to the first person who can tell me the name of the midwestern city that recently installed a new flagpole with Flick effigy attached at the tongue!

[@UmmYeahOk]

@@Narrowgaugefilms Hammond Indiana

[@Narrowgaugefilms]

Most Correct! If the brass figlagee with bronze oak leaf palm was a real thing you would most certainly deserve it! I have cause to be in the neighborhood a couple of times a year. Next time I will seek it out, by George!

[@AveryTalksAboutStuff]

These old cars always make me think of Mr. Toad 😂

[@JasonRBeing]

Mr. Schwartz's Wild Ride...to the drug store soda fountain and meet the boys for a cold sarsaparilla.

[@JavaCake]

@@JasonRBeing We’re drinking root beer now, same kind of thing, different name.

[@JorgeRafaelNogueras]

That's very interesting (as usual), Rob! And, as a side note that will probably interest very few people, in the international auxiliary language Esperanto, the verb "hupi" means "to honk (the horn of a car)". I never once thought of its origin, but I'm pretty sure after watching your video that it comes from that old brand of cars! :-)

[@Tarex_]

Not even going as far as Esperanto, "Hupe" is the German word for Horn the car horn (Daimler, Benz, etc..) and hupmobil would be a honking car, as an adjective, so he really loves his horn would be a german pun on the hupmobil, don't know when Esperanto became relevant during the script update, but probably someone with a german background wrote it

[@JorgeRafaelNogueras]

@@Tarex_ Ah, thanks for the extra details! :-) Esperanto was being developed in the 1880's, and it was published in 1887-but I'm not sure when the word "hupi" started being used. Its creator, L. L. Zamenhof, did indeed speak German; however, it's also possible some other early Esperantist might have coined the word. It's so interesting how one can learn totally random factoids when watching a video from a totally unrelated interest! :-)

[@Tarex_]

@@JorgeRafaelNogueras i was looking if anyone had already mentioned the Hupe pun, saw your comment and thought oh, really interesting! So i made it a 2 languages/factoids in one, in case someone else stumbles upon the comments, but I'm sure the german word has existed since horse carriages started, but no specific fact there xD

[@joepalmer300]

Another excellent video! Love your research, delivery and, sometimes, subtle humor. Thank you for continuing to share your love of Disney and all things connected.

[@MultiverseAsheville]

Oh GREAT. Now even the Carousel of Progress has an extended universe.

[@puppy7505]

My friend is actually restoring one of those right now. I sent him the link.

[@Waltdisneyman]

I remember when u started with Minecraft tours of Disney

[@2whitewizard]

I've seen the car in the museum in Cleveland. It's story and the didactic detailing that international journey is wild. My favorite part is the axel broke and there wasn't a way to get a replacement part so the driver had to spend months learning pottery skills. The driver then replaced the axel with a ceramic version and was able to finish the drive back to America

[@rosskrattermusic]

It’s always fascinating to learn the history behind the history like this. Great job as always!

[@lwilton]

"Into a very specific point int time." Well, into four very specific points in time. Each scene is a season, and is also I believe 20 years after the previous scene in exterior time. So about 1900, 1920, 1940, and 1960 originally before the update.

[@unispeck2853]

These are always so informative and beautifully narrated. Thanks for making my morning here in Japan.

[@328am]

“It was popular in its day, until it wasn’t” 🤣

[@emmaschauer5409]

My husband and I took our family to our first WDW trip this summer. I got to experience The Carousel of Progress for the first time. It is truly wonderful. I really loved it. I kind of wish they would have left the final scene as-is. The updates they did already look dated. But that's just me.

[@VIIArtesLiberales]

Great story told about the Hupmobile.

[@brownsfan3290]

I love the Carousel or Progress.

[@lesgobrandon]

Same

[@bronxbearbud272]

It has been making me cringe since my toddler self first encountered it at the World's Fair in Flushing. Even then it was hopelessly artificial and self aggrandizing. " and it is such a wonderful! Educational tool!" " Mom, this is the kind of educational tool that leaves you stupider than when you went in"

[@michaeltaylor1603]

Right on the $$$ Rob. I'm sure Disney would be handing out $$ for that. There were soooo many auto makers steam & gasoline. St. Louis had Moon Motor Cars (1971 replicas & Six Flags St. Louis) Chaparral Antique Cars at Six Flags Over Texas (1963) Replicas of the auto made in Cleburne, TX. I think of the Music Man 1963. Robert Preston & Buddy Hackett exchange. "I thought you were selling steam automobiles?" "I was, until someone actually invented ONE!" LOL!!! Both of these "classic" autos STILL run @ both parks, built by Arrow Development.

[@madmax2010ok]

Wow...that is the deepest dive into a truly obscure Disney reference. What's next....expose on the company that made the bricks just added to Main St. in Disneyland??

[@Taydar]

That's a good reference in the ride

[@michaelhutchinson9413]

FYI : In the 1932 Indy 500, a race car called the “Hupp Comet” started 4th and finished in 5th place. It was powered by a modified Hupmobile straight eight engine. The driver and owner was Russell Snowberger and he hand built the car himself. By today’s standards that is a superb achievement. This was the only time a Hupmobile engined car ran in the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”

[@JeffFrmJoisey]

Well done Rob!! Always got a chuckle out of that line, I had a book as a kid that had a page about the Hupmobile (Auto Album by Tad Burness).

[@Yellowstonetim]

Another fantastic video: Interesting, entertaining, well written, and perfectly narrated. Your videos are always the highest caliber and the most entertaining. Full of great tidbits of history and Disney as always. Thanks.

[@MichaelPascuaOnline]

I was today years old when I realized it wasn't "Hump mobile"

[@gabirg]

Another great video! Thanks Rob!

[@JB-zm1ex]

Another great video, Rob. Nice job.

[@RiverRev]

Gene Shepherd sure love the name Schwartz. I wonder who HE was?

[@jerseyforhawks]

Always a great epi, thanks!❤

[@adcalli]

Fun fact, that's also why the pro football hall of fame is in Canton, Ohio

[@TheCHRISCaPWN]

Your videos are always good, but this one is particularly fascinating! Kudos.

[@rmannayr2129]

THERE'S A GREAT BIG BEAUTIFUL TOMORROW!!!!!!!!!!!

[@lisabergman1444]

Absolutely fabulous I love your channel!!

[@philliphoward7455]

I could be wrong but I think the great athlete Jim Thorpe played for the Canton Bulldogs.

[@SaturnCanuck]

Would be interesting to see what would have happened if they had stayed with low budget cars

[@aaronmcintyre3998]

Thank you

[@rmannayr2129]

IT WAS POPULAR UNTIL IT WASN'T!

[@Caleb-zt5ht]

I love your content Rob! Excellent research!

[@jeffkelley4055]

Awesome as usual Rob

[@PaulAdler11]

This video is so good ❤️👍

[@pilsudski36]

My father and grandfather averred that Hupmobiles were very good cars.

[@taffysaur]

I love this channel. 💕

[@TitoTimTravels]

It is probably too late... but... since the 4th of July is coming up... Have you ever done a video of how much Disney spends per day & per year on fireworks? (I looked but did not find one). 😎

[@pirateghost3834]

Wait, is the Carousel of Progress family’s last name actually Progress? If so, That’s Awesome!

[@CCClarinet12]

I believe so!

[@brycevo]

Wow. I really did think this was a slang term

[@JasonRBeing]

Same Here!

[@cloudcraft7153]

Hey! I have some sad news about the Minecraft Disney world server. Mcmagic/palace network shut down permanent.

[@UmmYeahOk]

“It’s a great big beautiful tomorrow” unless you’re the Hubmobile Motor Co.

[@michaelgreenslade7260]

A Hupmobile is seen on the 20 dollar bill in front of the treasury building.

[@944play]

$10

[@WilliamSchmidNetwork]

Wow! Who knew that the Hupmobile was responsible for the founding of the NFL?!

[@myutoob2011]

John "Progress"? They have a last name and it's Progress???

[@JTowers97]

Someone watched Peyton's Places

[@MidwaytoMainStreet]

I do not know what that is, but cool if they covered Hupmobiles!

[@JTowers97]

@@MidwaytoMainStreet Insane that you found all this info without watching the episode of Peyton's Places. With your mention of the NFL aspect I was sure you had seen it. I'm incredibly impressed. Awesome work!!

[@jackprather3471]

Yes. Make this thumbnail into a T-shirt and sell it.

[@iigsniper]

Oldsmobile does not exist anymore , went out in 2004. But great video otherwise

[@hivehum]

it existed in 1994, when the script was rewritten

[@944play]

@@hivehum Whose script? 😆

[@Clay3613]

@@hivehum They were 20 years off on VR.

[@jakeryan152]

First and never new this

[@outlanderfrog]

Maybe I'm naive, but I didn't realize they redid the ENTIRE Carousel, I thought they just updated the last scene. That's a little disappointing.

[@lwilton]

Scenically they just updated the last scene. They redid the dialog for the whole ride, but it didn't change all that much of it for the first three scenes. They really didn't have a choice about updating the show. It is in Tomorrowland, so is supposed to be about the world of the future, or at least the present. The original show was for the 1964 NYWF, and the final scene represented present-day 1960s.

[@outlanderfrog]

@@lwilton I'm really only talking about the dialogue. But I suppose they would have to for the last scene to match...

[@joeyblack396]

I hate to be the one bringing this terrible news to you, but Oldsmobile isn’t around anymore. It went out of business in 2004.