How many of you remember "Dinosaurs"? That quirky sitcom that aired on ABC from April of 1991 through July of 1994?
Copyright 2006 Walt Disney Home Entertainment
These days, this Walt Disney Television production (Which was produced in association with Michael Jacobs Productions & Jim Henson Productions) is mostly thought of as a "Simpsons" wannabe. A TV series that Disney quickly rushed into production, with the hope that the Mouse would then wind up with its very own Bart Simpson.
Truth be told, Jim Henson's original concept for "Dinosaurs" actually predated Matt Groening's idea for "The Simpsons" by more than a decade. As far back as the 1970s, Jim had talked about wanting to do a "Honeymooners" -esque sitcom which starred dinosaurs. Where the short-sighted behaviors of these enormous reptiles could then be used as a comical means to comment on today's society.
Given that it was Henson's original concept that provided the creative spark for "Dinosaurs" … Well, that explains why the very first episode of this ABC sitcom started off by showing this very special title card.
Copyright 2006 Walt Disney Home Entertainment
But Jim did lots more than just provide the initial creative spark for "Dinosaurs." By that I mean: It was Henson himself who (right before he died in May of 1990) asked designer Kirk Thatcher to put together some sketches of what the characters for this sitcom might look like.
Kirk Thatcher with the original concept painting for Baby Sinclair
Copyright 2006 Walt Disney Home Entertainment
And it was Jim who hired all of those talented technicians who worked at the Creature Shop. Who built the first set of animatronics-filled suits that were used in the production of this program.
Puppeteer Allan Trautman working the rig for a
stripped-down version of Fran Sinclair
Copyright 2006 Walt Disney Home Entertainment
And given the huge ratings that "Dinosaurs" got when it initially debuted on ABC back on April 26, 1991 … Well, Disney thought that it had a smash hit on its hands. Which is why the company moved quickly to try & capitalize on the Sinclair clan.
Copyright 2006 Walt Disney Home Entertainment
"And how exactly did Disney do that?," you ask. Well, how many of you remember WDW's 20th anniversary celebration. In particular the "Surprise Celebration" parade that ran through the Magic Kingdom each day as part of that event?
Below, you'll see a picture of the Roger Rabbit falloon. Which was the lead float of the "Surprise Celebration" parade. Now if you look closely at the front of the float, you'll see a family of four seated on a bench just below the Roger Rabbit rubberhead.
Photo by Jeff Lange
"What are those WDW guests doing there?," you query. Well, those lucky folks were the "Surprise Family of the Day." The family that was selected out of the thousands of people who visited the Magic Kingdom that day to be the honorary grand marshalls of the "Surprise Celebration" parade.
Now how many of you remember that — from September of 1991 through August of 1992 — Disney-MGM Studios had its very own "Surprise Celebration" parade? Which started off with a brightly colored camera platform cruising up Hollywood Boulevard …
Photo by Jeff Lange
… Which was then followed by a quartet of majorettes …
Photo by Jeff Lange
… as well as Disney-MGM's own marching band.
Photo by Jeff Lange
"But who did studio staffers select to be Disney-MGM's 'Surprise Family of the Day' ?," you ask. Well … Would you believe that it was the Earl Sinclair family.
Photo by Jeff Lange
Yep, high up there on the second floor of this centerpiece float, it's (L to R) Baby Sinclair, daughter Charlene, father Earl, mother Fran and son Robbie. Grandmother Ethyl (who's not included in this particular photo) rode on the first floor of the float.
Photo by Jeff Lange
Once the centerpiece float got into position in front of the Chinese Theater, the Disney-MGM band would launch into a rockin' rendition of Was (Not Was) 's 1987 hit, "Walk the Dinosaur."
Photo by Jeff Lange
Of course, the reason that a lot of the men who saw "Dinosaurs Live" look back fondly on this particular Disney-MGM street show was that moment when all the demure majorettes suddenly shed their band uniforms. Revealing the very short cave-woman outfits that they were wearing underneath.
Mind you, Disney's original long-range plan for the "Dinosaurs" characters was that these ABC sitcom stars would have a very big presence at the studio theme park. Making daily appearances at Disney-MGM. Doing meet-n-greets with their fans.
Copyright 1991 Walt Disney Productions
But that was before "Dinosaurs" ratings began to fade. Though the critics praised this ABC sitcom for its often-biting satire, its audience slowly drifted away. And given how much it cost the company to produce this Emmy-award-winning program, Disney finally opted to pull the plug after 65 episodes of the show had been produced.
Disney-MGM's "Dinosaurs Live" street show may have gone the way of the really-for-real dinosaurs. But thankfully, we can still enjoy the brilliance of Jim Henson's comic vision by watching the recently released "Dinosaurs: The Complete First and Second Season DVD set".
Copyright 2006 Walt Disney Home Entertainment
And speaking of recently released DVDS …
In addition to being JHM's official photographer & archvist, Jeff Lange also produces a best-selling series of Disney theme park DVDs. His most recent title is a three disc set that commemorates Walt Disney World's 20th anniversary celebration. For further information on this DVD as well as all of the other titles in Jeff's catalog, please follow this link.