Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

'It's a Small World' Disney Artist Dies
local6 ^ | January 4, 2008

Posted on 01/05/2008 1:04:09 PM PST by stainlessbanner

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Joyce Carlson, a Disney artist who helped create the idyllic universe of singing children at "It's a Small World" rides across the globe, died at home at the age of 84.

Carlson died on Wednesday after long suffering from cancer, The Walt Disney Co. said on Friday.

In a 56-year career with Disney, Carlson went from delivering paints and brushes to animators to inking films herself, but it was her work on "It's a Small World" that is witnessed by millions of visitors each year.

Carlson was among the creators of a miniature prototype of "It's a Small World" for the 1964 World's Fair in New York and subsequently helped bring the attraction to each of its permanent locations: Florida, California, Toyko, Paris and Hong Kong.

Born in Racine, Wis., on March 16, 1923, Carlson moved with her family to southern California in 1938. Within six months of joining Walt Disney Studios, she was working on "Cinderella," "Peter Pan" and other animated features over 16 years.

She retired in 2000 and was given a window in her honor on Main Street at Walt Disney World in Florida. It reads, "Dolls by Miss Joyce, Dollmaker for the World."

Carlson is survived by a sister, Veryl Jones, of Tampa, and several nieces and nephews.


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: carlson; disney; obituary; smallworld; worldsfair

1 posted on 01/05/2008 1:04:11 PM PST by stainlessbanner
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: stainlessbanner

If she also came up with that awful song I will have to make an exception to the rule of not speaking ill.


2 posted on 01/05/2008 1:06:38 PM PST by wideminded
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: wideminded

No, the song isn’t her fault. It was written by the Sherman brothers who composed a lot of the Disney film music.


3 posted on 01/05/2008 1:10:07 PM PST by irishjuggler
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: stainlessbanner

The last time I heard that song was at the 1964 Worlds Fair in Flushing N.Y.


4 posted on 01/05/2008 1:13:45 PM PST by Wiggins
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: stainlessbanner

NOOOOOOOO now I have the song stuck in my head again.


5 posted on 01/05/2008 1:15:08 PM PST by Domandred (Eagles soar, but unfortunately weasels never get sucked into jet engines)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: y'all
Disneyland designing It's a Small World to fit fatter folks [FR]
6 posted on 01/05/2008 1:16:51 PM PST by stainlessbanner
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: stainlessbanner

Take away the song and the way it’s designed so you can tell which dolls are from which country is rather interesting.

That said, we did use the ride as punishment for my 12 year old cousin. We made him take his 3 year old sister on it several times after he was misbehaving.


7 posted on 01/05/2008 1:17:43 PM PST by Hoodlum91 (I support global warming.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: wideminded
uh-OH! Ear-worm!

If the Democrats were in power we wouldn't HAVE ear-worms.

8 posted on 01/05/2008 1:23:22 PM PST by Mad Dawg (Oh Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: wideminded
True story. As a young lad, I worked for an Ad agency that did TV spots for DLand. Because they couldn't shut the rides down for shooting, I once had to ride that ride about 12 times in a row to get shots for a Christmas commercial.

And people today wonder why I'm insane.

9 posted on 01/05/2008 1:29:03 PM PST by LexBaird (Behold, thou hast drinken of the Aide of Kool, and are lost unto Men.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: stainlessbanner

It was only as of 2 yrs ago that the Magic Kingdom ride closed its doors for updating the ride. The kids faces you used to see on the wall towards the left where the boats exit from had been in taken in the 1960s...those “kids” were in their 50s by now and the park needed to update the paint and other dolls around the ride.

The interesting fact I learned from someone who manages at MK was that on average they pull about 500k in change from the water and give it to charity. There is a vacuum that sucks up a lot of it...but that there are parts that have never been sucked up before so there are original coins in there from the last 25 + yrs.


10 posted on 01/05/2008 1:37:28 PM PST by My Favorite Headache (No One Gets To Their Heaven Without A Fight)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: stainlessbanner

It’s a Dull Ride, After All.


11 posted on 01/05/2008 1:59:44 PM PST by Beelzebubba ("We do have tough gun laws in Massachusetts; I support them, I won't chip away at them" -Mitt Romney)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Domandred
NOOOOOOOO now I have the song stuck in my head again.

Just hum a few bars of "The Night Chicago Died" to yourself and it will go away.

12 posted on 01/05/2008 2:05:18 PM PST by GreenHornet
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: stainlessbanner

She may be gone, but her legacy lives on.

And on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on ...

It’s a world of laughter, a world of tears; it’s a world of hopes and a world of fears; There’s so much that we share that it’s time we’re aware it’s a small world after all.


13 posted on 01/05/2008 2:06:57 PM PST by ReignOfError
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: stainlessbanner
Carlson was among the creators of a miniature prototype of "It's a Small World" for the 1964 World's Fair in New York

I was there and it was awesome....as is the one in CA.
R.I.P. Miss Joyce, and thank you for the memories.

14 posted on 01/05/2008 2:09:42 PM PST by nicmarlo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: GreenHornet

I have a perfect earworm cure. Problem is, the cure is usually worse than the disease

“Oh, Mickey, you’re so fine, you’re so fine you blow my mind, hey Mickey!”

Good luck getting to sleep tonight. :P


15 posted on 01/05/2008 2:09:55 PM PST by ReignOfError
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: Domandred

Because I’m feeling in a really sadistic mood...

Disney, It’s a small world (lyrics)

it’s a world of laughter, a world or tears
its a world of hopes, its a world of fear
theres so much that we share
that its time we’re aware
its a small world after all

CHORUS:
its a small world after all
its a small world after all
its a small world after all
its a small, small world

There is just one moon and one golden sun
And a smile means friendship to everyone.
Though the mountains divide
And the oceans are wide
It’s a small small world

(chorus)

it’s a world of laughter, a world or tears
its a world of hopes, its a world of fear
theres so much that we share
that its time we’re aware
its a small world after all

CHORUS:
its a small world after all
its a small world after all
its a small world after all
its a small, small world

There is just one moon and one golden sun
And a smile means friendship to everyone.
Though the mountains divide
And the oceans are wide
It’s a small small world


16 posted on 01/05/2008 2:11:03 PM PST by fieldmarshaldj (~~~Jihad Fever -- Catch It !~~~ (Backup tag: "Live Fred or Die"))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: stainlessbanner

Oh, and RIP.


17 posted on 01/05/2008 2:11:50 PM PST by fieldmarshaldj (~~~Jihad Fever -- Catch It !~~~ (Backup tag: "Live Fred or Die"))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: stainlessbanner
My daughter, SIL and two granddaughters got stuck in there for about an hour--the ride broke. They were stuck in...MEXICO!

Yes...the song kept going.

18 posted on 01/05/2008 2:12:34 PM PST by bannie (Jimminy Cricket is hollering, "Beware!!! clintons CHEAT!")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: bannie

When I was 14 my dad wouldn’t let us ride Space Mountain until we rode on It’s a Small World three times. Torture I tell you.


19 posted on 01/05/2008 2:16:41 PM PST by Domandred (Eagles soar, but unfortunately weasels never get sucked into jet engines)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: Domandred

IASW was the first ride we went on at WDW in Florida. I was nearly 15. It was cute for about two seconds.


20 posted on 01/05/2008 2:18:25 PM PST by fieldmarshaldj (~~~Jihad Fever -- Catch It !~~~ (Backup tag: "Live Fred or Die"))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: Domandred
Did you ugys drive him nuts on the ride there? Was that it???


21 posted on 01/05/2008 2:27:16 PM PST by bannie (Jimminy Cricket is hollering, "Beware!!! clintons CHEAT!")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: GreenHornet
NOOOOOOOO now I have the song stuck in my head again.

Just hum a few bars of "The Night Chicago Died" to yourself and it will go away.

Never tried that. I've used the Girl From Ipanema. You can't sing the words or you get another song stuck - just hum it.

22 posted on 01/05/2008 2:44:48 PM PST by jimfree (Freep and Ye shall find.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: Wiggins
The last time I heard that song was at the 1964 Worlds Fair in Flushing N.Y.

And you can still hum the melody, can't you? What a nasty thing to do, posting this article. I'll be humming that melody in my head for the rest of the day.

23 posted on 01/05/2008 2:49:04 PM PST by ModelBreaker
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Domandred
"NOOOOOOOO now I have the song stuck in my head again."

Here's a cure: "Half Breed" by Cher.

You're welcome.
24 posted on 01/05/2008 2:50:44 PM PST by RightOnTheLeftCoast ([Fred Thompson/Clarence Thomas 2008!])
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: ReignOfError

Its a world of hatred, a world of mistrust
where you can die like a dog just for riding a bus,
and the bombs they explode on the right and the left
its the Muslim world after all...


25 posted on 01/05/2008 2:52:04 PM PST by Yorlik803 ( The Democrats are a stench in the nostrals of honest citizens.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: GreenHornet
"Just hum a few bars of "The Night Chicago Died" to yourself and it will go away."

And to make that song go away, sing MacArthur Park...."Someone left their cake out in the rain ...."

26 posted on 01/05/2008 3:03:30 PM PST by robertpaulsen
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: stainlessbanner

Worse than waterboarding.


27 posted on 01/05/2008 3:05:48 PM PST by Dionysius (Jingoism is no vice.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Domandred

You realize that in Hell, that song is played over and over again.


28 posted on 01/05/2008 3:05:59 PM PST by dfwgator (11+7+15=3 Heismans)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: stainlessbanner
I usually sing Feeeeeeeeeelings... or I've gotta be meeeeeeeeeeee!" to make other stuff go away! I am I said, and We had joy, we had fun, we had seasons in the sun are good ones too!
29 posted on 01/05/2008 3:07:13 PM PST by Revolting cat! (We all need someone we can bleed on...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ModelBreaker

I was sitting here whistling that song and thinking of the Monsanto Display.


30 posted on 01/05/2008 4:08:47 PM PST by Wiggins
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: Revolting cat!
I usually sing Feeeeeeeeeelings... or I've gotta be meeeeeeeeeeee!" to make other stuff go away! I am I said, and We had joy, we had fun, we had seasons in the sun are good ones too!

A few verses of "Billy, Don't be a Hero" usually does it for me.

31 posted on 01/05/2008 4:49:23 PM PST by GreenHornet
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: Wiggins

“The last time I heard that song was at the 1964 Worlds Fair in Flushing N.Y.”

My last contact with it too. It has kept me out of Disney parks for over 4 decades. 3 hours in line to hear that stupid song. I nearly went mad. Or maybe I did.


32 posted on 01/05/2008 4:53:16 PM PST by TexanToTheCore (If it ain't Rugby or Bullriding, it's for girls.........................................)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: dfwgator
You realize that in Hell, that song is played over and over again.

And ASCAP/BMI forced them to buy a license for it. (Their lawyers don't even need the Avis map to get around down there.)

33 posted on 01/05/2008 4:57:09 PM PST by Erasmus (I've never been divorced, if you don't count my relationship with reality.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: Revolting cat!
Try Anthony Newley:

"Whot koiyind of Foooul am Aiooye..."

34 posted on 01/05/2008 4:58:55 PM PST by Erasmus (I've never been divorced, if you don't count my relationship with reality.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: dfwgator

“You realize that in Hell, that song is played over and over again.”

Along with dancing hillarys


35 posted on 02/22/2008 8:19:37 AM PST by Larebil (My name is liberal backwards, since they backwards thinking)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: fieldmarshaldj
"Now is the time, now is the best time, now is the best time of your life!"
The Carousel of Progress

Serioiusly, you want nostalgia? Visit Yesterland at this link...archival history on all the Disney rides and attracitons you remember from childhood...that are no longer there.

36 posted on 02/22/2008 8:29:45 AM PST by 50sDad (Liberals: Never Happy, Never Grateful, Never Right.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: Wiggins
The last time I heard that song was at the 1964 Worlds Fair in Flushing N.Y.

and the song is still stuck in your head, no doubt...

37 posted on 02/22/2008 8:33:35 AM PST by Andonius_99 (There are two sides to every issue. One is right, the other is wrong; but the middle is always evil.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: wideminded
"If she also came up with that awful song I will have to make an exception to the rule of not speaking ill."

Too Funny!

38 posted on 02/22/2008 8:36:41 AM PST by Jakarta ex-pat
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: My Favorite Headache

Apparently, the ride at Disneyland is closed for most of this year.

If the one in Orlando is open, they should give her one last ride through it.

It would be the happiest funeral on earth.

39 posted on 02/22/2008 8:40:29 AM PST by x
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: GreenHornet
There's always the ultimate cure for an earworm:

"Me and you and a dog named Boo..."

[starts drinking heavily]

40 posted on 02/22/2008 8:41:21 AM PST by Jonah Hex ("How'd you get that scar, mister?" "Nicked myself shaving.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: jimfree
I've used the Girl From Ipanema. You can't sing the words or you get another song stuck - just hum it.

I wouldn't mind THAT earworm! I love that song!

41 posted on 02/22/2008 8:51:29 AM PST by SuziQ
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: robertpaulsen
And to make that song go away, sing MacArthur Park...."Someone left their cake out in the rain ...."

That is just WRONG!

42 posted on 02/22/2008 8:52:10 AM PST by SuziQ
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: Hoodlum91
That said, we did use the ride as punishment for my 12 year old cousin. We made him take his 3 year old sister on it several times after he was misbehaving.

LOL! Isn't that against the 8th Amendment?

43 posted on 02/22/2008 8:53:41 AM PST by darkangel82 (If you're not part of the solution, you are part of the problem. (Say no to RINOs))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: wideminded

Yeah. One of my friends was on that ride when it stalled for nearly an hour.

He was never quite the same after that...


44 posted on 02/22/2008 8:57:09 AM PST by null and void (The less you know, the better Hillary looks.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: fieldmarshaldj

DJ, that was not necessary.


45 posted on 02/22/2008 8:57:40 AM PST by darkangel82 (If you're not part of the solution, you are part of the problem. (Say no to RINOs))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: jimfree
Never tried that. I've used the Girl From Ipanema. You can't sing the words or you get another song stuck - just hum it.

Still, there are far worse song to have as earworms than The Girl From Ipanema...

Tall and tan and young and lovely
The girl from Ipanema goes walking
And when she passes, each one she passes goes - ah

When she walks, shes like a samba
That swings so cool and sways so gentle
That when she passes, each one she passes goes - ooh

(ooh) but I watch her so sadly
How can I tell her I love her
Yes I would give my heart gladly
But each day, when she walks to the sea
She looks straight ahead, not at me

Tall, (and) tan, (and) young, (and) lovely
The girl from Ipanema goes walking
And when she passes, I smile - but she doesnt see (doesnt see)
(she just doesnt see, she never sees me,...)

46 posted on 02/22/2008 9:02:20 AM PST by null and void (The less you know, the better Hillary looks.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: fieldmarshaldj
There's a big bus crash o'er in India
A chemical spill in Arabia
Terrorists on parade
And that d@mned acid rain
It's the third world after all...
47 posted on 02/22/2008 9:10:53 AM PST by Ignatz (I am so jealous of these female teacher sex scandals. I didn't even get to bang the erasers!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: null and void
Girl from Ipanema fights for title
48 posted on 02/22/2008 9:15:59 AM PST by null and void (The less you know, the better Hillary looks.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 46 | View Replies]

To: stainlessbanner
It's a Small World" for the 1964 World's Fair in New York

I was there as a child and that song runs in my mind with hearing the words "small world".

Don't speak ill of the dead, don't speak ill of the dead.....

49 posted on 02/22/2008 9:18:48 AM PST by bmwcyle (I am the watchman on the tower sounding the alarm.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson