![]() ![]() What's interesting is that I think Movieland's sign was constructed two years before the Stardust. Following up on some info I came across, I'd say that the animation was very similar to the original Stardust sign in Las Vegas. ![]() It would be fantastic if that video on the sign turned up. I almost preferred the early days when it has a more Classical and glamorous character. In a way it was really cool to see for instance the new Superman set, but it also made for a very labyrinthine layout that wore you out by the end of one's visit. They just kept on adding to the building to create more exhibit space. That place seemed to be different every time we went there. The morphing Chamber of Horrors is very indicative of Movieland. I'm sure it was cheaper than the accommodations in Anaheim, and having Knott's right down the street was very appealing with its restaurants and casual shopping. I don't know why my parents settled on it. At night it was in Mid-Century glory with tropical plantings in crushed white quartz and dramatic Malibu lighting. TM, The Aztec might have been pushed up against both a busy thoroughfare and a bowling alley parking lot, but for this kid it was pure heaven: Color TV, A/C, swimming pool with two slides, neat cylindrical ice cubes, and cool attractions close by. Thanks for visiting my blog and commenting! I've heard that something halted the construction on it, but haven't heard specifically what that was. The butterfly pavilion has just been left in a "partially built" state, for years now. I can't believe I wrote this post 5 years ago, and to this day, nothing has opened on the old property. When I do a search on YouTube, nothing is coming up. I saw some old footage of the lights on the sign "in motion," not too long ago.but now, I can't remember where I saw that. It was beautiful and definitely rivaled some of Las Vegas' old signs. I'm not sure when those specific scenes were removed, but I think that space later became the "Chamber of Horrors." I remember at the time it was new, they had scenes from "Halloween," "Altered States," and "Alien." I think they added it in 1981 or '82. When it was new, they promoted it as "The Black Box." There were different rooms that you entered where they closed the door, and then there were special effects and animated figures. You are right about that special horror movie section that was built in the former Palace of Living Art space. Omnispace, that's neat that you got to stay at the Aztec Motel, which was one of those mid-century motels along Beach Blvd. Would be nice if they saved the entire sign but I read it was in very poor shape, and about the size of a city bus. It looks like they plucked the letters and diamonds off of it but I wonder if anyone thought to salvage the animation mechanism. I suppose that's lost now that the sign has been dismantled. I think the Wax Museum letters would light up in sequence, but wish I could better recall the exact sequence of animation. Even the diamonds at the end of the sign were animated.and all the while it rotated! I'm sure it rivaled the best signs in Las Vegas at the time. The animation had multiple modes that built from quiet blue outlines of just the letters all the way to a magnificent crescendo of twinkling diamonds and letter infills. That huge Movieland sign - it was absolutely fantastic! I would go out on an upper balcony of the Aztec and stare at it, mesmerized. Didn't they have a Frankenstein actor walking about? I'm guessing it was in the former space of the Palace of Living Art, but it was accessed from the rear where the mid-tour village shops were. I also don't remember the Monster Photo Gallery but much later I do recall an entire section of the wax museum that that was devoted to horror movies. My parents actually took us trick-or-treating in the neighborhood just east of there off Azalea. ![]() Our annual family visits were already winding down by 1979, but about 10 years earlier we were actually in Buena Park for Halloween, staying at the Best Western Aztec Motel across the street. Interesting that it was still a vacant lot at that time. TM, a bit belated but I'm glad I found this post.
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