Walt Disney Story: Uptown Theater in Marceline

We went to Missouri to attend a wedding, visit the hometown of Mark Twain in Hannibal and check the haunted house of my brother-in-law but, end up visiting the boyhood hometown of Walt Disney in Marceline. This town is the second largest city of Linn County in Missouri. This town also provided an inspiration for the film Lady and the Tramp and one of the city's major events is September's Toon Fest which well-known artists are invited.

The building above is Uptown Theatre in Main Street USA in Marceline.

"Opened June 30, 1930. In 1956, Walt and Roy Disney held the Midwest premiere of their feature film " The Great Locomotive Chase" in this theater. They personally greeted each child at the door. Walt and Roy took the stage before the movie started and the children of Marceline sang the Mickey Mouse song. Because the Disney program was not broadcast in Marceline the children learned this song especially for this occasion. The movie ran from 1:30 PM in the afternoon up to 1:30 a.m the next morning, so everyone who wanted too, could see the movie. In 1998 the Walt Disney Company held another premiere " The Spirit of Mickey" at this theater. 18,000 enthusiastic Disney fans came to Marceline for the premiere. A special appearance of Mickey."

This is a small movie theater.

"To tell the truth, more things of importance happened to me in marceline than have happened since - or are likely to in the future." - Walt Disney

Photo of Walt Disney inside.
 

Marceline is a small town and if you love city life, this is not your place. They have no WalMart, Bestbuy, Lowe's or shopping mall. There's nothing like that in here but, this town is full of charm and history.

If you love Rural Life Living, Marceline may work out for you. There are wide farm lands, Amish village nearby, mom and pop cafe where everybody knows everybody.

In the eyes of Walt Disney, this town is beyond imagination infact, this place inspired him to create the beautiful Main Street USA in Disneyworld and Disneyland. I bet you have seen the Uptown Theater, Emporium and City Hall in Disney right? He imagined those from this town in fact, if you visit Marceline, you will certainly recognized the architecture.

This is the front of the theater. Check out the signage on the window :-)

Inside the movie theater ...

Marceline is a nice town to check out and trace back the boyhood life of Walt Disney. The family lived here only for 4 years but gives a tremendous impact of Walt Disney's life. Few blocks away from this street is the Walt Disney museum where interesting Disney family memorabilias are on display. If you visit Marceline, you will also get the chance to see the house of Disney family and the Walt Disney barn which is the happiest place of Walt Disney. Take note, the "happiest place on earth" is Disneyland and the "most magical place on earth" is Magic Kingdom and both properties are own by Walt Disney. You know what's amazing? Walt Disney's happiest place is the barn and nearby it is his Happy Tree. Wanna see the photos? Check out my latest post. Thanks for stopping by. See you all next time.

Walt Disney's The Main Street USA in Magic Kingdom and in Marceline

Standing at the Main Street USA in Disney World's Magic Kingdom. This was taken almost 4 years ago and this place is one of the busiest areas in Magic Kingdom especially when there's a scheduled fireworks.

Have you been to Disneyland or Disneyworld? You probably visited the Main Street, U.S.A right? Here's another photo of Disney World's Main Street USA at night.

The Cinderella castle stands at the end of the Main Street USA.

Did you know that Main Street, U.S.A. is patterned from a Midwest town? Walt Disney created Main Street USA inspired from his boyhood town Marceline in Missouri.

The decor in the Main Street USA in Magic Kingdom is in the early-20th century small-town America, inspired by Walt Disney's childhood town (photo below). Main Street USA has a City Hall where Guest Relations lobby is and cast members provide information and assistance. A working barber shop, the Emporium which carries a wide variety of Disney souvenirs, Tony’s Town Square Restaurant and The Plaza Restaurant, Casey's Corner, the Main Street Confectionary and more. I took the  photos below when hubby and I visited the hometown of Walt Disney.

This is Main Street USA in Marceline Missouri and I was in great awe that Walt Disney loves this place. Iconic Disney marks such as the Mickey Mouse is on the glass window, the clock, the train, the emporium,  the movie theatre and more.

This is the Main Street USA in Marceline. The photo below is the real buildings of uptown theatre and emporium where Disney got the inspiration.

A classic Main Street, U.S.A. attraction in Disney is the Walt Disney World Railroad which transports guest throughout the park. In Marceline, this is the train on display whom Disney got the inspiration.

If you have been to Disneyland or Disneyworld, you have seen Walt Disney's reminiscent of the Victorian period of America with the train station, town square, movie theater, city hall, firehouse complete with a steam-powered pump engine, emporium, shops, arcades, double-decker bus, horse-drawn streetcar, jitneys and other bits of memorabilia. That's how he remembered Marceline when he was a child.

Now, this is the original Uptown Theatre when Walt and Roy Disney held the Midwest Premiere of their feature film " The Great Locomotive Chase" and they personally greet each child at the door. Want to see more of Walt Disney's boyhood town? Check out next time. Thanks for stopping by.

Marceline Missouri: Walt Disney's Boyhood Town

We are supposed to visit Hannibal, Missouri which is the boyhood town of Mark Twain. We ran out of time and I was so disappointed. While looking for a German Restaurant in the area, my sister-in-law pointed the clock and the street sign which says Main Street USA. I asked why there are Disney signs in this town? Then, I was told and just knew that Marceline, Missouri is the boyhood town of Walt Disney. This town has influenced him a lot in fact; I saw his barn and his Dreaming Tree. The picture below is the Main Street USA in Marceline Missouri, the inspiration of Main Street USA in Magic Kingdom. Amazing! This road trip is very interesting. I am glad we came here in Marceline.