Judging by many of the comments that have been posted on various Disneyland discussion boards around the Web, “Pirates of the Caribbean” fans are obviously looking forward to lining up along the red carpet on May 19th. Just so that they can then catch a glimpse of Johnny Depp & Co. as they stroll up Main Street U.S.A. to attend the world premiere of “At World’s End.”
Photo by Roger Colton
Of course, to hear people talk about what a cool concept this is, you’d think that it was the Mouse that had originally thought up the idea of holding the world premiere of a new movie inside of a theme park. When — truth be told — it was actually Walter Knott who first brought this Tinseltown tradition to Orange County.
This happened back on June 19, 1971. On a night when many of California’s movers and shakers (Including then-governor Ronald Reagan) made a special trip out to Buena Park. Not just because these folk wanted to attend the world premiere of the Duke‘s latest horse opera, “Big Jake.” But also because they could then be on hand for the official dedication of Knott’s Berry Farm‘s new $5,000,000 addition, the John Wayne Theatre.
Copyright 2007 Knott’s Berry Farm
And why did Walter & his wife, Cordelia, single the Duke out for this sort of honor? Well, it wasn’t just because Wayne had been a regular customer at Mrs. Knotts Chicken Dinner Restaurant.
No, John & Walter were actually old friends. Which was why — back in July of 1969, when the Knott family needed a little extra star power in order to persuade reporters to drive all the way out to Buena Park in order to attend the grand opening of Knott’s Berry Farm’s new $3,000,000 thrill ride — Wayne and his son, Ethan made a special trip to the park that day.
Walter Knott, John & Ethan Wayne (L to R)
Copyright 2007 Knott’s Berry Farm
Just so they could be the first folks to zoom down the flume at the Timber Mountain Log Ride.
Ethan and John Wayne (L to R)
Copyright 2007 Knott’s Berry Farm
That picture of John & Ethan splashing down in that log was then grabbed by the wire services and printed in newspapers around the world. And as a direct result of all that free publicity (As well as the public’s enthusiasm for the world’s first log flume attraction), Knott’s Berry Farm had a record summer, attendance-wise.
And Walter wasn’t the sort to forget such a gracious gesture. Which is why, two years later, when Mr. Knotts rolled out the next expansion of his theme park (Which included a then-state-of-the-art indoor theatre to serve as the centerpiece of Knott’s Berry Farm’s new Gypsy Camp area) …
Copyright 2007 Knott’s Berry Farm
… he decided to repay his pal’s generosity by naming this new $5,000,000 performance venue the John Wayne Theatre.
Again, with an eye toward gaining a little extra publicity for his theme park (As well as raise some money for some deserving Orange County charities), Walter offered to hold a world premiere fundraising gala for the Duke’s latest motion picture, “Big Jake,” at Knott’s new theatre. John quickly sparked to this idea, and then went about persuading some of his old cohorts & co-stars — like Glen Campbell from “True Grit” …
John Wayne and Glen Campbell (L to R)
Copyright 2007 Knott’s Berry Farm
… as well as Richard Boone — …
John Wayne and Richard Boone (L to R)
Copyright 2007 Knott’s Berry Farm
… to come out to Knott’s Berry Farm that night and take part in the festivities. Wayne even persuaded various studio heads to donate props & costumes from some of his older pictures to the park. Which were then used to create a special display area that was located just off of the theater’s lobby.
Costume & prop display in the John Wayne Room
Copyright 2007 Knott’s Berry Farm
And the night of June 19, 1971 … It was really something special. Not just because it was Walter & Cordelia Knott’s 60th wedding anniversary. But also because many Hollywood power players had made the trip out to Buena Park to pay tribute to the Duke. With one of the highlights of the evening being the telegram from then-President Richard Nixon that Reagan read aloud. Where “Dick” ( That’s honestly how Nixon signed the telegram that he sent to Walter, Cordelia & John. “Dick”) first praised the Knott family for all that they’d done for Orange County, and then went on salute Wayne on his 40th anniversary in show business.
Gov. Ronald Reagan, Walter & Cordelia Knotts and John Wayne
Copyright 2007 Knott’s Berry Farm
Now, you’d think that — given that Walter Knott had just spent all of this money to create the John Wayne Theatre, even commissioning a larger-than-life statue of the Duke to stand over the entrance to this auditorium …
Copyright 2007 Knott’s Berry Farm
… — that this monument to his friend would then stand the test of time. But that wasn’t actually the case.
You see, just 4 years later, the Knotts family completely re-themed this side of the theme park. And since the Duke really didn’t fit into an area that now celebrated the Roaring 20s, the name of this facility was changed from the John Wayne to the Good Times Theatre.
Well, as they say, fame is fleeting. And as for the Good Times Theatre … Over the past 30 years, it’s undergone a number of name changes. Most recently, this Knott’s Berry Farm performance venue has been known as the Charles M. Schulz Theatre. Which was named in honor of the creator of the “Peanuts” comic strip.
And as for the Duke … Even though he’s been gone since June of 1979, John Wayne’s legend continues to grow ever larger every year. As around the globe, new generations of film fans are regularly rediscovering his impressive body of work.
And if you’re a fan of the Duke … Well, you may want to check out the 2007 Newport Beach Film Festival later this month. Which will be honoring the 100th anniversary of John Wayne’s birth by presenting “Ten Decades of ‘The Duke’ : The Official John Wayne Centennial Celebration.”
Produced in collaboration with the Wayne family as well as the Newport Beach Conference and Visitors Bureau, this seven day long event (Which will be held April 21 – 28) will be highlighted by special screenings of some of John’s most memorable motion pictures. These films include “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance,” “The Quiet Man,” “Sands of Iwo Jima,” “The Searchers,” and “Stagecoach.”
For further information on these “Ten Decades of ‘The Duke’ ” (I.E. Times, dates, ticket prices, etc.), follow this link.