Author

Mark Eades

Where else but at Wondercon would you find Pokey and Gumby together with Sleeping Beauty and Maleficent.

Wonderful Weirdness of Wondercon 2014

by Mark Eades April 20, 2014

Nightwing and Deathstroke are threatening Batgirl, while Superman tries to protect her, while a child and father watch the “action” out in front of the Anaheim Convention Center at Wondercon 2014.

Wondercon 2014 brought out some wonderful weirdness in its Cosplay as seen in this link, but it also brought out some wonderful weirdness in some of the concepts seen on the exhibition floor at the Anaheim Convention Center.

Really? Zombie bunnies?

The first are Zombie Bunnies. I got my first hint of the dangers of bunny rabbits when I saw Monty Python and the Holy Grail in 1975.

Now with the world being threatened, at least according to some successful television shows, to be overrun by zombies, it was only a matter of time before other creatures would become part of the walking dead world.

In fact, there is a whole kingdom of Zombie Bunnies, and they have their own Facebook page. We really have gone down a rabbit hole haven’t we Alice?

Of course it makes me wonder how Elmer Fudd would fare in this world? Would there then be zombie coyotes and more? Would the Roadrunner become a zombie too?

The thoughts stagger my cartoonish mind.

The character on John Merritt’s head is Tentacle Kitty.

In that vein, weird crossbreeding is the next item in “Tentacle Kitty,” a cross between an octopus and a cat.

Now how this happened I do not know. We all know how cats are terrified of the water; perhaps it was some poor cat’s chance encounter with an octopus leading to this.

Or maybe it was an effort by the society of Octopi to overcome the fear engendered by SciFi and horror filmmakers. Everyone knows cats are cute, insidiously so, whereas octopi do not seem to get the same kind of loving oohs and ahs from humans.

So maybe it was a plot to create a crossbred creature by the octopi to gain the loving trust of humans.

I do have to wonder, though, what kind of purring sound a Tentacle Kitty would make – would it sound like tiny bubbles wafting through water?

Would Tentacle Kitty like the water and can it swim?

I also found some wonderful authors at Wondercon 2014; learn more about them by clicking here.

Here is where you can find my overall take on Wondercon 2014.

April 20, 2014 1 comment

Cartoons Comic Books Comic-Con Cosplay Wondercon

Wonders of Wondercon 2014

by Mark Eades April 20, 2014

One of the fun things about attending Wondercon, besides seeing all folks dressed up to Cosplay as their favorite characters, is seeing some of the fun ideas that artists and writers have developed.

What’s more, because there is more space for the artists and small press, there are more of them, something I very much welcome.

Chris Ayers, creator of “The Daily Zoo.”

One of the first I saw is a gentleman I first met at San Diego’s Comic-Con a few years ago, Chris Ayers. He was at Wondercon with several of his books, including his first entitled, “The Daily Zoo.”

The story is a series of cartoons that Chris drew a year after being diagnosed with Leukemia. One year after being diagnosed, Ayers realized he needed to do something to keep from getting too depressed, so he started drawing, making a commitment to himself to draw a cartoon animal a day.

Subtitled, “Keeping the Doctor at Bay With a Drawing a Day,” the book contains all the cartoons he drew from that year and are a reflection of what he was going through, and was published in 2008. Ayers has been in remission for many years now, but continues to celebrate every day by drawing constantly.

He has published several more books, including succeeding years of “The Daily Zoo.” I recommend his books; they are filled with images of joy, as a terrific escape for anyone suffering from long-term illness.

The indomitable Jeff Tucker, Creative Director of Entertainment at Knott’s Berry Farm, and in his spare time, an author. He has written three books so far, starting with “The Sixth Key: From the Secret Files of The Magic Castle.”

Another terrific author at Wondercon 2014 was Jeff Tucker. By day, Jeff is a Creative Director for Entertainment at Knott’s Berry Farm, where he works on coming up with new scary things for its annual Halloween Haunt and more. In his off hours, when not being a loving husband and father to his children, Jeff writes.

He’s written three books now, part of a six-book series he tells me, the first of which was “The Sixth Key: From the Secret Files of the Magic Castle.” Now I’ve been teasing Jeff since the publication of that first book in 2012 about wanting to know where the other five keys are located. All he will say is read the rest of the novels when they come out.

He’s since published the second in the series, “The Lost Station: From the Secret Files of Engine 17.” He also has the third novel in the series coming out this year. Now Jeff won’t tell me anything more, nor will he tell me what I might see in “Trapped” at the Haunt or other devious plans he has for the Haunt, such as who will be hung at the annual tradition of “The Hanging.”

But I can tell you Jeff has the right spirit of fun, mystery and mischievousness that I like.

You can click here to read more at Inside the Magic of my overall take on Wondercon 2014.

If you like looking at this year’s Cosplay, check out the photos I took at Outside the Magic.

April 20, 2014 2 comments

These three girls sang an impromptu performance of "Let It Go" from the Walt Disney Animation film "Frozen" at Disneyland's Coke Corner with the Ragtime Pianist.

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Impromptu “Let it Go” at Disneyland’s Coke Corner

by Mark Eades April 16, 2014

These three girls sang an impromptu performance of “Let It Go” from the Walt Disney Animation film “Frozen” at Disneyland’s Coke Corner with the Ragtime Pianist.

I was meeting a friend at Disneyland today, when I heard the familiar refrain of “Let it Go” coming from Coke Corner.

I wandered over in time to hear three teenage girls singing the song with the ragtime pianist.

So I got out my camera and started shooting.

Enjoy.

April 16, 2014 0 comment

Sleeping Beauty Castle on a clear spring day with the Matterhorn in the distance.

anniversaries Disney Disneyland Imagineer theme parks

Lifelong bonds formed working at Disneyland

by Mark Eades April 14, 2014

What is it about Disneyland that for those who worked there, they form lifelong bonds?

Sleeping Beauty Castle on a clear spring day with the Matterhorn in the distance.

Is it from the pixie dust they throw on you at orientation when you start working as a Cast Member at the “Happiest Place on Earth?” Is it the camaraderie from working side by side with others, all of whom are smiling most of the time? Or is it Walt Disney’s spirit of optimism, still handed down to succeeding generations by Cast Members nearly 60 years after the park first opened in 1955?

Goofy has some fun with some younger guests at Disneyland near City Hall.

Those bonds were recognized by two key Disneyland Cast Members, Van Arsdale France (who founded the Disney University) and Disneyland Executive Dick Nunis. They saw the need to help Cast Members stay connected after they left the park. This led them to form the Disneyland Alumni Club in 1983.

The Club has both a mission and a motto. Its motto is: Always part of the magic! Its mission: To preserve, honor and perpetuate the values, traditions and outlook upon which Disneyland was created.

Keeping Disneyland clean is a member of the Custodial crew, also known as “jannies.”

As the Club gears up for its own celebration of Disneyland’s 60^th birthday next year, the Club’s Board of Directors felt it was time to make some changes, just like Walt Disney said Disneyland would change, the Club saw a need to change how it operates; to become more of a special organization to which all Cast Members can belong to and participate.

One of the things the Club wants to do is explore those special bonds between Cast members, and to take a look back at some of the fun things they remember from working at the park.

Disneyland cast member Jim guides a horse on Disneyland’s Horse Trolley line on Main Street U.S.A.

One example is how many of us found our life mates while working at the park and are still together with them. Yet another is how new succeeding generations of Cast Members are working at the park their parents worked.

A Disneyland cast member working on the Matterhorn Bobsleds, keeps a watchful eye on park guests exiting their bobsleds after a ride down the mountain.

To help collect those special memories, the club is going to create a forum to tell those stories and others like: How did they end up working at Disneyland? What different roles did everyone have in their careers there? Another is how that spirit led many to work together in charities, some formed by Cast Members themselves.

The board knows that many current and former Cast Members are also Disneyland fans, and frequently visit the park. But it should be noted that, unlike some Disneyland fan websites, this is not about bashing the park. It is meant to show the fun side of working there, and how it affected later careers in a positive way.

Alyssa, a cast member working on the Main Street U.S.A. Horse Trolley line, prepares to guide her horse down the street from the hub.

With that in mind, we invite all current and former Disneyland Cast Members to send us their fun, positive stories. Those stories can be sent via email to: info@disneylandalumni.org, or via snail mail to: Disneyland Alumni Club, P.O. Box 17280, Anaheim, CA 92817. You can also email the author, Mark Eades, at: markaeades@aol.com – please put “Disneyland Alumni Club” in the subject line if emailing the author.

There will be also be more information upcoming about the Club’s monthly meetings and events coming up, as well as details on the Club’s own celebration of Disneyland’s 60^th birthday, to be held on August 1, 2015 at the Disneyland Hotel. Look for weekly stories and more as things come in in the weeks and months to come.

Want to read articles about some other Disneyland Alumni? Click on the links below.

John Waite Loves Theme Parks

Caretaker of Walt Disney’s Family Film Legacy

A Real Disneyland Character

Important legal notice if emailing stories or photos:

This release and disclaimer applies to You if You submit stories, or agree to be interviewed for a story, to the Disneyland Alumni Club, Inc. (“Club”) or to Mark Eades for use on the club’s web site or elsewhere, such as Mark Eades’ web site.

In consideration of Your submitting stories, or being interviewed for a story, for use on the Club web site or elsewhere, You agree to release, covenant to indemnify and hold harmless; the Club or any persons authoring or publishing such stories from all liability of any kind whatsoever, and from any and all loss or damage or any claim or demand resulting from any activity of any kind by the Club or any persons authoring such stories for use on the Club web site or elsewhere, whether caused by negligence or otherwise. You assume all liability in connection with Your submission of any stories, including stories created following an interview with You, upon submitting Your stories or participating in an interview.

The Club will make reasonable efforts to review the stories, including stories that result from an interview, with You prior to publication so that You may comment upon them or suggest changes.

You also agree that you have the right to any photos or articles submitted to the Club, and grant the Club and its representatives, including Mark Eades, an indefinite release to use them.

April 14, 2014 0 comment

I knew boysenberries grew big, but not this large.

Knott's Berry Farm multimedia theme parks

Everything is boysenberry purple at Knott’s

by Mark Eades April 13, 2014

Knott’s Berry Farm was calling it Berry Bloom as it held a Boysenberry Festival.

Knott’s Berry Farm celebrates everything berry much during its Boysenberry Festival.

As part of the festival, there were special boysenberry flavored foods including chicken wings coated with a boysenberry sauce, turkey legs with a boysenberry sauce, fried boysenberry ice cream and more.

Souvenirs were also boysenberry themed.

The park also recreated Walter and Cordelia Knott’s original boysenberry stand, and had boysenberry vine seedlings for sale.

There was also a wine tasting held in the Wilderness Dance Hall.

For the record I tried six of the wines. I also tried the chicken wings, the waffles with fruit, the fruit and cheese plate, the turkey leg with boysenberry sauce, the chocolate covered bacon, and for dessert I had two slices of boysenberry pie, a boysenberry tart, a boysenberry cupcake and washed it all down with water and a hot tea.

Click here to see all the shades of purplish boysenberry.

April 13, 2014 0 comment

Mike Rusiewcki is ready to take the Encanada Pacific #2 out on the main line.

Disney Railroads steam locomotives trains

Riding the Encanada Pacific Railroad

by Mark Eades March 23, 2014

The right side of the Encanada Pacific #2. This real steam locomotive is a 1/8 scale (1.5-inch scale) reproduction of a three cylinder, four trucks Class D Shay Locomotive and is owned by Richard T. Jerome.

One of the fun things I’ve gotten to do over the past few years is enjoy many of the full size and scale model steam-powered railroads around Southern California – some in public settings, and some privately owned.

The left side of the Encanada Pacific #2. The real steam locomotive is a 1/8 scale (1.5-inch scale) reproduction of a three cylinder, four trucks Class D Shay Locomotive.

Saturday, March 22, 2014, I was invited to visit the Encanada Pacific Railroad where they steamed up the 1/8 scale (1-1/2 inch scale) Class D Shay Locomotive.

Richard T. Jerome (the steam engine’s owner) and Mike Rusiewski (right) get ready to put the Encanada Pacific #2 on the main line at Jerome’s home.

Richard T. Jerome, 79, owns the railroad, which runs on 1,200 feet of 7-1/2 inch gauge track (which was built 7-5/8 wide for a smoother ride) laid on the property at his house. His neighbor Mike Rusiewski, 50, serves as engineer.

Mike Rusiewski pushes the Encanada Pacific #2 onto the main line at Richard T. Jerome’s (right) home.

I was invited to the event by Mike, who had befriended me on Facebook – due to our common interests in railroads, Disney and Bourbon.

Mike Rusiewski greases and oils the gears of the Encanada Pacific #2 for steaming on the main line. The real steam locomotive is a 1/8 scale (1.5-inch scale) reproduction of a three cylinder, four trucks Class D Shay Locomotive.

I arrived around 1 p.m. and we went down to Richard’s train shed, where Mike and Richard proceeded to get the #2 engine ready for steaming.

The controls for the 1/8 scale (1.5-inch scale) reproduction of a three cylinder Class D Shay Locomotive. This is the Encanada Pacific’s #2 and is a live steam locomotive.

First they put a full propane tank into the compartment into the boxcar that sits right behind the tender. Then they rolled it partially out of the shed to fill the tender and boiler with filtered water.

Next, Mike put oil in all the gearboxes and went through his checklist. Then the pair hooked up an air hose from a compressor – needed due to the lack of steam pressure in the cold engine – and lit up the boiler.

Mike Rusiewski readies the Encanada Pacific #2 for steaming on the main line. The real steam locomotive is a 1/8 scale (1.5-inch scale) reproduction of a three cylinder, four trucks Class D Shay Locomotive and runs on 7-1/2 inch gauge track built 7-5/8 inches for a smoother ride.

It took about 20 minutes for the engine to get up to its operating pressure of approximately 120 PSI.

Richard T. Jerome rides as Mike Rusiewski sits in the engineer’s seat of the Encanada Pacific #2 at Jerome’s home. The live steam train runs on 1,200 feet of 7-1/2 inch gauge track, built to 7-5/8 inches for a smoother ride.

Then it was time to walk the and inspect if for any damage or debris on the rails, and to make sure all the track switches were set correctly for the day’s run.

It was time for the first ride of the day. I hopped on board the passenger car coupled to the rear and we were off.

The ride was very smooth, I could tell that even with the clickety-clack of the wheels on the rails, that Mike and Richard did a good job laying the track a few years ago, and that the trucks (wheels) on the rolling stock were in great shape.

The Encanada Pacific #2 has a full head of steam, as Engineer Mike Rusiewski checks the water levels in the boiler of the 1/8 scale (1.5-inch scale) reproduction of a Class D Shay locomotive.

After two laps around, Mike found that a valve was not allowing water to be piped through from the tender to the boiler. So they backed the engine off the main line and rolled out the diesel Santa Fe engine to keeps guests at the day’s birthday party for Richard’s granddaughter satisfied with train rides.

Riders enjoy a ride on the Santa Fe Diesel Electric locomotive on the Encanada Pacific Main Line.

Meanwhile, Mike and Richard set to work repairing the valve – which essentially has a small square washer in it that lets the water flow through from the tender.

Valve repaired, Mike topped off the water, lit off the boiler, and found that everything was working fine.

Off the #2 went to take kids and adults on rides around the track.

There were enough people at the party that they kept both trains running for a couple hours.

Full steam ahead. Mike Rusiewski works the controls of the Encanada Pacific #2 as he takes passengers for a ride on the 1,200 feet of 7-1/2 inch gauge track, built to 7-5/8 inches for a smoother ride, at the home of Richard T. Jerome.

Finally, with water and train riders running low, the Shay was taken off line to power down. They turned off the boiler then blew out the steam through the engine to clean out any scale. Then they drained the water and blew air through the boiler and lines to clear out any remaining water. After making sure everything was safe, the engine was put away for the day.

Passengers are all aboard for a trip on the main line of the Encanada Pacific Railroad behind the #2 a 1/8 scale (1.5-inch scale) live steam reproduction of a Class D Shay Locomotive with Mike Rusiewski at the controls.

Mike and I adjourned to his house where he shared some very nice and rare Bourbons with me. A really cool way to spend a Saturday afternoon, thanks Mike and Richard!

About the Encanada Pacific Railroad engine #2

The model is a reproduction of a three-cylinder, four-truck Class D Shay Locomotive. Ephraim Shay (1839-1916) invented the Shay Locomotives as a better way to transport logs to sawmills.

The engines used pistons mounted on the side of the boiler that connected to the wheels via gears – as such delivering more tractive power. This allowed them to haul heavier loads in tight quarters.

They were popular in the mountains and on narrow-gauge lines in states like Colorado. Many of the Shay Locomotives were manufactured by Lima Locomotive Works of Lima, Ohio.

Read about other Disney connections and trains at the Orange Empire Railway Museum here.

Maybe Tom’s Farms and its train is more your speed.

March 23, 2014 1 comment

This steam locomotive replica chugs around Tom's Farms in Corona, California.

Railroads steam locomotives theme parks trains Uncategorized

Tom’s Farms is a great place for the little ones in Corona

by Mark Eades March 17, 2014

This steam locomotive replica chugs around Tom’s Farms in Corona, California. Photo by Mark Eades

I had never visited Tom’s Farms in Corona before, but when I found out it had a train with a replica steam locomotive it was time to stop by.

I did it on the same day I paid a visit to the Orange Empire Railway Museum. I stopped by in the morning and had breakfast.

The breakfast was fresh, I had French Toast. After breakfast, I walked around the 10-acre facility and checked it out.

This large rooster is at Tom’s Farms. Photo by Mark Eades

Sure enough they had a small train. It looks like a smaller steam-powered locomotive, but it is just a replica. Rides are $2. The train goes through a covered “Amish-style” covered bridge, then takes a loop on the other side of the dry stream bed and returns. There are a few full-scale animal statues that can be seen on the ride on the other side.

There is a large cement pond in the main area, with a fountain, plenty of outdoor seating and lots of shade trees.

Some of the other attractions at the small entertainment center include a merry-go-round, a tractor ride for small children, a shooting gallery, and a place where kids can pan for objects – but not gold.

A grizzled prospector sits on a bench near the Merry-Go-Round at Tom’s Farms. Photo by Mark Eades

Besides the one restaurant, which serves country style breakfast and burgers for lunch, there is a Mexican restaurant, an ice cream and popcorn shop, an order your own pizza food stand, and a candy store.

None of the restaurants have waiter service. You order and take the food to the table. Some alcoholic beverages are served in the pizza food stand.

Other shops include a wine and cheese store, a home furnishings store, and a farmer’s market.

It’s a nice stop over for those with kids, and is also a great place for groups to meet and have breakfast before setting off for the desert and points beyond. I met my friend there, and we traveled together to the Railway museum.

Don’t go expecting Disneyland or even Knott’s Berry Farm, though the food is a lot cheaper. But for small kids, it’s a great place to stop off, particularly if the drive out from the OC or LA has all ready started driving them or their parents a little nuts.

One of the things for kids and parents to do is the shootin’ gallery at Tom’s Farms, a family entertainment zone with restaurants, shops and a few rides and attractions. Photo by Mark Eades

Tom’s Farms is located just west the I-15 freeway, south of the 91. You exit Temescal Canyon Road and it’s right there.

Read about a privately owned live steam scale model railroad here.

March 17, 2014 1 comment

Recognize this Red Car? You might have seen it in "Who Framed Roger Rabbit." It is on display at the Orange Empire Railway Museum in Perris, CA.

Disney Disney California Adventure Disneyland Imagineer Railroads steam locomotives trains Uncategorized

The Railroad Zone: Disney Train Connections in the Desert

by Mark Eades March 16, 2014

This Pacific Electric Red Car #717 is operational at the Orange Empire Railway Museum in Perris, CA. It has appeared in many movies including “Who Framed Roger Rabbit?” Photo by Mark Eades

Do you recognize this Pacific Electric Red Car? If you’re a Disney fan you should. It was used in the movie “Who Framed Roger Rabbit?”

It also still runs many weekends at the Orange Empire Railway Museum in Perris, California.

That same Red Car and many others are housed at the outdoor museum, and were the inspiration for the Red Cars seen at Disney California Adventure.

The museum was started by a group of men concerned that the Red Cars were disappearing in the fifties. The group began as the Electric Railway Historical Association of Southern California and immediately went to work collecting what they could of the old system that used to serve much of Los Angeles and Orange Counties.

An electric streetcar from the Los Angeles Railroad plies the narrow-gauge rails at the Orange Empire Railway Museum in Perris, CA. Photo by Mark Eades

The growing collection was initially housed at Travel Town in Griffith Park, but when the Ventura Freeway was going to claim some of that land, the group purchased the land in Perris and moved it there in 1958.

Named the Orange Empire Railway Museum, it collecting more and more railroad-related items including steam engines, cabooses, diesels, various cars, more Red Cars and other trolleys and more.

This steam locomotive belonged to Ward Kimball, one of Walt Disney’s “nine-old-men.” Ward arranged for the locomotive and its passenger car to be donated to the museum upon his death. The family retained the locomotive for a number of years. The steam engine was originally used on a sugar plantation. It has no actual brakes. Photo by Mark Eades

Among the steam engines at the museum are two related to Disney – they once belonged to Ward Kimball, one of Walt Disney’s nine-old-men of animation.

Ward owned two engines, some passenger cars and other train-related items that used to run on tracks at his home in San Gabriel.

He donated money for a barn named after his railroad at the museum, and designated it to receive his collection.

As you can see in the photos, the Grizzly Flats Railroad equipment still lives. The smaller engine, the Chloe, does not have a brake system, so the museum does not try to operate it.

Grizzly Flats/Nevada Central Railroad #2

This steam engine belonged to Ward Kimball. It was built in 1881 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works. It is a 2-6-0 Mogul type. Brakes were added in 1901. It weighs 44,000 pounds. The tender weighs 20,000 pounds. The Orange Empire Railway Museum is looking for donations to help pay for its restoration. Photo by Mark Eades

The larger engine, the Grizzly Flats/Nevada Railroad #2, however, does and the museum is seeking donations to get it back into running condition with its other operational engines on the rails.

The museum is run by an all-volunteer staff, and members can learn how to do almost anything, including becoming an engineer for a steam locomotive – though that takes years to get certified by the state.

The museum is located at: 2201 South A Street, Perris, CA 92570.

You can find out more about the museum, including when its rolling stock will be operating (usually weekends) on its website, oerm.org.

You can see more photos in a slide show here.

March 16, 2014 2 comments

One train rolls out the cave from the final lift, while another climbs the hill on the second lift on Big Thunder at Disneyland. The theme park was running the attraction for cast members after a long refurbishment that saw most of the track replaced, and new effects installed.

Disney Disney California Adventure Disneyland

Big Thunder and Starbucks at Disneyland

by Mark Eades March 13, 2014

As many of you know, I am now writing about Disneyland and other theme parks for Insidethemagic.net. Here are links to some recent articles.

This first is a link to a story, including video and photos, about the newly refurbished Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.

The second is about the opening of the new Starbucks in Downtown Disney at the Disneyland Resort.

Happy reading, and come back to markeades.com and read some of the other things I write about, like raising five kids.

March 13, 2014 0 comment

Disney Disneyland

Really regular Disneyland visitors?

by Mark Eades March 13, 2014

I was at Disneyland and decided to take a trip around the Rivers of America on the Mark Twain Steamboat.

As usual, I had my camera with me, you never know when there will be a photo opportunity. There was, but not the kind I was looking for.

As we were steaming in front of New Orleans Square, I noticed a blanket down on the walkway, right up against the fence.

Now this was obviously placed by some Disneyland regulars in the perfect front spot for that night’s performance of Fantasmic! Nothing wrong with that, I am sure some of you are saying.

Well I say it is wrong. Why? Because it was not even 1 p.m. Yet, here was this blanket stretched out just like at any Southern California beach, keeping anyone away from being able to have their family pose for a keepsake photograph.

I know there are a lot of Annual Passholders, and some of them act like they own the place and think they can do whatever they want but come on, think of others – especially those visitors who do not visit every day. They want their day to feel special, and not like a day at the beach having to play dodge the beach blanket.

I am also sure this was not the first time for these blanket homesteaders to see Fantasmic!

Folks, the park is there for everyone, not just you.

Disagree if you want, but I think a more realistic time to put a blanket down would be more like an hour before the show. I wouldn’t mind if Disneyland picked up any blankets and sent them to lost and found.

Rant over. Feel free to comment. No swearing.

March 13, 2014 4 comments

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