The Themed Attraction Podcast

Kevin Sherbrooke is an AIA Licensed architect and show set designer who lives at the intersection of creative, blue sky concepts and the rigid structure of architectural design. Kevin’s background gives him a unique perspective on the ins and outs of an industry on the move. You can see his work in familiar environments and attractions at Epcot, Animal Kingdom, and Islands of Adventure. And Kevin has worked together on projects with some of the industry’s current heads of state like Scott Trowbridge and Mark Woodbury. Connect with Kevin Sherbrooke on LinkedIn. Show hosts: Mel McGowan & Freddy Martin Show design & production: Barry R. Hill Theme music composed by Rob Watson, closing music by the Lost Dogs. Give us a shoutout on iTunes; we love the attention, and browse www.themedattraction.com for even more on the attractions industry. Thanks for listening!

Our guest this episode is Senior Project Director for Miziker Entertainment, Sean Chung. Sean is part of a new generation of brilliant creatives making waves in themed entertainment these days. Sean has an amazing story that runs parallel to the story of modern China’s own transformation into the world’s fastest growing theme park and tourism market. Sean's resume includes the design of a half-mile-long night-time parade that is a direct genetic descendant to the Main Street Electrical Parade - Journey of Lights Parade at Chimelong Ocean Kingdom which was honored with a TEA Thea Award in 2018. Show hosts: Mel McGowan & Freddy Martin Show design & production: Barry R. Hill Theme music composed by Rob Watson, closing music by the Lost Dogs. Give us a shoutout on iTunes; we love the attention, and browse www.themedattraction.com for even more on the attractions industry. Thanks for listening!

Our guest is Creative Director and project consultant, Chris Lange. Chris began his career in a scenic fabrication workshop in Germany before being tapped to design and implement an impressive string of major tourist attractions worldwide. Chris has been Creative Director for Merlin Entertainments, Mack Solutions, and the Genting Group. He’s led projects in California, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, and served as Senior Art Director for India’s first theme park project, Adlab’s Imagica. Most recently he headed up the resort development for Europa-Park’s new water park, Rulantica. Our guest this episode is Chris Lange. Show hosts: Mel McGowan & Freddy Martin Show design & production: Barry R. Hill Theme music composed by Rob Watson, closing music by the Lost Dogs. Give us a shoutout on iTunes; we love the attention, and browse www.themedattraction.com for even more on the attractions industry. Thanks for listening!

We’re taking a different route through the design jungle today as we interview a friend of the show, author Lou Prosperi. Lou isn’t our typical guest, but you'll soon see why we asked him to join us. Lou develops curriculum for a large enterprise software company during the day. But his secret super power is studying the work of theme park designers and breaking down the principles that guide great spatial design. Lou’s books, collectively titled “The Imagineering Toolbox," explore core themed entertainment design concepts like kinetics, forced perspective, and storytelling through environmental cues. Our guest this episode is Lou Prosperi. Show hosts: Mel McGowan & Freddy Martin Show design & production: Barry R. Hill Theme music composed by Rob Watson, closing music by the Lost Dogs. Give us a shoutout on iTunes; we love the attention, and browse www.themedattraction.com for even more on the attractions industry. Thanks for listening!

To commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Haunted Mansion at Disneyland, we tracked down former Creative Director for Walt Disney Imagineering, Tom Morris. Tom knows a little something about building theme parks and attractions. So who better to dig up the archaeology of Disneyland’s eeriest e-ticket attraction. We explore the rumors, true and preposterous, of the attraction's origins, as well as some of the unsung heroes of Disneyland's early design and construction. Our guest for today is Tom Morris. Show (g)host for today is Freddy Martin Show design & production: Barry R. Hill Theme music composed by Rob Watson, closing music by the Lost Dogs. Give us a shoutout on iTunes; we love the attention, and browse www.themedattraction.com or even more on the attractions industry. Thanks for listening!

Howdy! This episode features show designer, writer, and music director for themed attractions from sea to shining sea, Mr. Rick Bastrup. Rick made his mark in regional theme parks and family fun centers for the past 30+ years. His time in the industry allowed him opportunities to work with legends like Ira West and Technifex who pretty much built every non-Disney park in America. You can still see his work in Six Flags parks, Great America, and Knott's Berry Farm. Our guest this episode is Rick Bastrup. Theme music composed by Rob Watson, closing music by the Lost Dogs. Show hosts: Mel McGowan& Freddy Martin Show design & production: Barry R. Hill Give us a shoutout on iTunes; we love the attention, and browse www.themedattraction.comfor even more on the attractions industry. Thanks for listening!

This episode features Mike Schwalm, Creative Director at Storyland Studios. Mike was previously a Creative Designer for Walt Disney Imagineering working with James Cameron and Joe Rohde’s team to bring the immersive “Pandora - The World of Avatar” to life at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. He also worked on concept development for the Indiana Jones themed bar in Disney Springs, the Happily Ever After nighttime spectacular, and PortAventura’s Ferrari Land. He’s designed interactive exhibits for both Avengers and Transformers properties and so much more. Our guest for today is Mike Schwalm. Show hosts: Mel McGowan & Freddy Martin Show design & production: Barry R. Hill Theme music composed by Rob Watson, closing music by the Lost Dogs. Give us a shoutout on iTunes; we love the attention, and browse www.themedattraction.com for even more on the attractions industry. Thanks for listening!

Come along as Mel and Freddy dig into conversation with Mark Eades, one of the Disney Imagineers who helped bring Epcot to life back in the 80s. He cut his teeth in Disney animation and film and was called up to Imagineering by Marty Sklar to manage the production of Epcot’s film-based attractions. His attraction credits include CircleVision - American Journeys, Star Tours, and Muppet-Vision 3D. Mark later went on to become the Theme Park correspondent for the Orange County register covering stories from all of Southern California’s world-class attractions. Our guest today is Mark Eades. Theme music composed by Rob Watson, closing music by the Lost Dogs. Show hosts: Mel McGowan & Freddy Martin Show design & production: Barry R. Hill Give us a shoutout on iTunes; we love the attention, and browse www.themedattraction.com for even more on the attractions industry. Thanks for listening!

In this episode, Mel and Freddy head up to the beautiful San Bernardino Mountains where we meet the new owners of SkyPark at Santa’s Village. Santa’s Village was a small regional storybook park built in 1955 and became a go-to destination for families looking for mountain-top fun. The park closed in 1998 and would have been lost to Kitsch history if it wasn’t for the vision and passion of Bill and Michelle Johnson. Their love of outdoor and extreme sports combined with the park’s family appeal to reopen it in 2016 as Sky Park at Santa’s Village. We sat down with Bill and Michelle to hear how they took hold of the opportunity of a lifetime, to resurrect a theme park. Show hosts: Mel McGowan & Freddy Martin Show design & production: Barry R. Hill Theme music composed by Rob Watson, closing music by the Lost Dogs. Follow us on Instagram @themedattraction & Twitter @themedattractn. Give us a shoutout on iTunes; we love the attention, and browse www.themedattraction.com for even more on the attractions industr

In part 2 of their interview with Imagineer Tony Baxter, Mel and Freddy get into the nitty-gritty of the development of Splash Mountain with Michael Eisner, the extended story of California Adventure, and the pros and cons of attractions built around intellectual properties. “Mr. E-Ticket” doesn’t disappoint. Listen after the final credits for a hidden track where Tony daydreams about how he might have developed the Star Wars expansion at Disneyland. This is the second of two episodes with Tony Baxter whose work includes Big Thunder Mountain, Journey Into Imagination, Star Tours, Splash Mountain, and The Indiana Jones Adventure. Listen to Part 1 of the interview HERE Our guest for today is Tony Baxter. Show hosts: Mel McGowan & Freddy Martin Show design & production: Barry R. Hill Theme music composed by Rob Watson, closing music by the Lost Dogs. Give us a shoutout on iTunes; we love the attention, and browse www.themedattraction.com for even more on the attractions industry. Thanks for listening!

The IAAPA Attractions Expo is the premier conference and trade show for members of the themed entertainment and experience industry. Peers from around the world gather to connect and see the latest in technology and innovations on display. At the […] The post TA Podcast E9: IAAPA 2018 appeared first on Themed Attraction.

Mel and Freddy take a trip to the San Bernardino Mountains to interview Walt Disney Imagineering’s former Senior Vice President of creative development, Tony Baxter. Known as Mr. E-Ticket, Tony’s work includes Big Thunder Mountain, Journey Into Imagination, Star Tours, Splash Mountain, and The Indiana Jones Adventure. He led the creative teams who redesigned Fantasyland in 1983 and built the first Disney park in Europe, Disneyland Paris. This is the first of two episodes with Tony as we glean from his 30 years of experience in themed attraction design. Our guest for today is Tony Baxter. Show hosts: Mel McGowan & Freddy Martin Show design & production: Barry R. Hill Theme music composed by Rob Watson, closing music by the Lost Dogs. Give us a shoutout on iTunes; we love the attention, and browse www.themedattraction.com for even more on the attractions industry. Thanks for listening!

Ryan Harmon, President and Chief Experience Officer for Zeitgeist Design & Production, takes us on his personal journey from a young Imagineering wanna-be dreamer, to becoming a real Imagineer, to now working all over the world. Contact Ryan at https://zeitgeist-usa.com. Please give us a review on iTunes to help more people find us and browse www.themedattraction.com for even more on the attractions industry. Thanks for listening! Show hosts: Mel McGowan  & Freddy Martin Show design & production: Barry R. Hill Theme music composed by Rob Watson, closing music by the Lost Dogs.

This is a very special episode about a brand new themed attraction (opened 12/8/18) that is sure to do more than immerse or entertain. It could change the world. Our guest is Alissa Whiteley, Director of Poverty Encounter, a walk-through educational exhibit that transports guests to scenes of extreme poverty around the world. Alissa previously directed the Air Force One Discovery Center at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library which received a TEA Thea award in 2009. Poverty Encounter is close to our hearts because Mel and Freddy led creative direction of the project early on and are super excited to see it finally come to life. Visit Poverty Encounter: www.povertyencounter.org. Follow Poverty Encounter: On Instagram @povertyencounter and on Twitter @CHFpoverty. Our guest for today is Alissa Whiteley. Show hosts: Mel McGowan & Freddy Martin Show design & production: Barry R. Hill Theme music composed by Rob Watson, closing music by the Lost Dogs. Give us a shoutout on iTunes; we love the attention, an

Our guests for this episode are the lead creative team for Evermore Park, a brand new theme park (or “experience park” as they call it) just opened outside of Salt Lake City Utah in late 2018. Josh Shipley (Evermore’s Chief Creative […] The post TA Podcast E5: Evermore Park appeared first on Themed Attraction.

Sam parked his beautiful RV outside our studio and spent the hour discussing the heart and soul of theme parks. What makes them special? Why do they keep missing the mark? And what's his latest journey about as he crosses the country? Tune in for an amazing dive into the DNA of park design. Our guest for today is Sam Gennawey. Theme music composed by Rob Watson, closing music by the Lost Dogs. Show hosts: Mel McGowan & Freddy Martin Show design & production: Barry R. Hill Give us a shoutout on iTunes; we love the attention, and browse www.themedattraction.com for even more on the attractions industry. Thanks for listening!

Well, we got to talking so long we had to break it up into two episodes. Make sure you go back and listen to part 1 (episode 2) where we hear Tom share his ideas on design, decisions, and lots of stories from the parks. Our guest for today is Tom Morris. Theme music composed by Rob Watson, closing music by the Lost Dogs. Show hosts: Mel McGowan & Freddy Martin Show design & production: Barry R. Hill Give us a shoutout on iTunes; we love the attention, and browse www.themedattraction.com for even more on the attractions industry. Thanks for listening!

Tom happened to be at the studio one day working with us on a project, so we snagged him for a bit longer to discuss his long, long, long history with Disneyland, Epcot, Paris, Hong Kong, and so on. Learn from The Master himself as he discusses design concepts, decision making, and tells lots of stories from the parks. Our guest for today is Tom Morris. Theme music composed by Rob Watson, closing music by the Lost Dogs. Show hosts: Mel McGowan & Freddy Martin Show design & production: Barry R. Hill Give us a shoutout on iTunes; we love the attention, and browse www.themedattraction.com for even more on the attractions industry. Thanks for listening!

Hop aboard and join us for our inaugural cruise down the best of themed design. We'll be discussing the how-to and why of designing attractions with lots of great stories from your favorite parks and destinations. Keep your hands and feet inside the boat...and watch those crocodiles! Theme music composed by Rob Watson, closing music by the Lost Dogs. Show hosts: Mel McGowan & Freddy Martin Show design & production: Barry R. Hill Give us a shoutout on iTunes; we love the attention, and browse www.themedattraction.com for even more on the attractions industry. Thanks for listening!