Gertie The Dino-Star At Disney ’ s Hollywood Studios
BY KAT WOLFE
When guests walk into
a Disney Park , they suspend disbelief as they encounter a world of fantasy and makebelieve . It ’ s all part of the experience and the magic : to let go of reality and accept every incredible and outlandish sight as plausible . Perhaps that is why nobody seems to bat an eye or ask questions as they pass by Gertie , the enormous dinosaur sitting in Echo Lake at Disney ’ s Hollywood Studios .
WHO ’ S THAT GERTIE ? Most attractions and shops in Disney Parks have a backstory . Often , these stories are contrived by Imagineers , but not this one . Gertie ’ s story is rich with history ; she ’ s one of animation ’ s first stars .
It ’ s not news that Walt Disney has served as an inspiration to countless visionaries in a myriad of fields . However , Walt acknowledged that Windsor McCay was a pioneer in animation well before Walt took his crack at it . McCay was indeed a trailblazer in the animation industry .
In 1914 , Gertie the Dinosaur premiered as a 12-minute film where McCay used animation in tandem with a vaudeville stage act . His script and physical stage performance were perfectly synchronized with an animated Gertie featured on a screen behind him . It appeared to viewers that Gertie was interacting with McCay and following all of his directions . She would bow to the audience , wave , take a drink , and do anything McCay asked of her . Audiences were gobsmacked .
The title card ( left ) and a frame featuring Gertie ( right ). SCREENCAPTURES VIA YOUTUBE