Lead Story of Newest Official Disneyland Resort Podcast Guaranteed to Ring in Your Ears Long after It’s Over!

Podcast Salutes 40 Years of “it’s a small world” (with Oscar-Winner Richard M. Sherman) and Previews New Disneyland Exhibit at the Oakland Museum of California (with Disney Legend Marty Sklar)

ANAHEIM, Calif. (May 30, 2006) - - The newest episode of the Official Disneyland Resort Podcast (found at www.disneyland.com/podcast or via the podcast directory on iTunes) salutes two milestones for “The Happiest Place on Earth” – the 40th anniversary of the opening of “it’s a small world” in Fantasyland and the park’s continuing 50th anniversary celebration showcased in an all-new exhibit at the Oakland Museum of California entitled “Behind-the-Magic: 50 Years of Disneyland.” Joining host Michael Geoghegan for this special episode is Academy Award®-winning songwriter Richard M. Sherman and noted Disney Legend and Imagineer Marty Sklar.

One of the most popular Disney attractions of all time, “it’s a small world” is a fun-filled and whimsical salute to the children of the world that has been captivating Disneyland guests from all corners of the globe since it opened on May 28, 1966. To gain insights into the creation of the attraction’s famed title song, Geoghegan speaks with songwriter Richard Sherman, who along with his brother Robert, wrote the attractions unforgettable (literally) theme song (the tune is considered one of the greatest earworms – a song you can’t get out of your head – of all-time). The Sherman brothers are also noted for their song scores to such classic Disney films as “Mary Poppins,” “The Jungle Book,” “The Parent Trap” and “The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh,” among many others.

“The song’s perpetual cheery disposition may be grating on some nerves but there’s no denying it’s a catchy tune,” says Sherman who confides to Geoghegan that his home doorbell also plays the first few bars of the song. “If this were the only song my brother Bob and I ever wrote we would be most grateful songwriters – to have your song play virtually every minute of the day around the world with a message of peace, childhood hope, understanding between peoples and joy – I don’t think it gets any better than that!”

© Walt Disney Company

The “it’s a small world” segment of the podcast is also highlighted by a series of rare archival recordings including Walt Disney’s remarks at the opening of the attraction, the original 1966 “it’s a small world” radio commercial, and an overview of the attraction featuring the familiar voice of Jack Wagner (for over 20 years the official “voice” of Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts). Listeners will also hear a clip of how the song “it’s a small world (after all)” is cleverly intertwined with “Deck the Halls” and “Jingle Bells” when the attraction receives its annual winter make-over into the Disneyland exclusive experience “it’s a small world holiday.”

One of the highlights of the finale summer of the Disneyland 50th Anniversary celebration is now on view (thru August 20) at the Oakland Museum of California in a touring exhibit entitled “Behind-the-Magic: 50 Years of Disneyland.” Geoghegan learns all about this fascinating exhibit from a true Disney Legend, Marty Sklar.

In a Disney career spanning over 50 years, Sklar began in the press and publicity area at Disneyland in 1956. He soon became Walt Disney’s speech writer and eventually through the years achieved the rank of Vice Chairman and Principle Creative Executive of Walt Disney Imagineering. He holds the distinction of being the only executive presently with The Walt Disney Company who has been a part of the grand opening festivities for all 11 Disney Parks around the world since 1955. Today as Executive Vice President and Imagineering Ambassador Sklar shares his remarkable story with Geoghegan and tells of his involvement in the creation of the new traveling exhibit celebrating 50 years of Disneyland.

The Official Disneyland Resort Podcast is a free monthly Internet-based show and is accessible to a global audience at www.disneyland.com/podcast or via a “Disneyland” search on the iTunes Podcast Directory. Listeners can also subscribe through the iTunes Podcast Directory to receive each show automatically each month. Achieving a rating of four-and-a half stars out of a possible perfect five on the directory, The Official Disneyland Resort Podcast is a hit with listeners.

Each episode of The Official Disneyland Resort Podcast features an engaging mix of original programming recorded live throughout the resort, including locations in Disneyland, Disney’s California Adventure Park, the Downtown Disney district and the resort’s three landmark hotels – Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel, Disneyland Hotel and Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel – creating a “you are there” experience.