Disney Historian Jim Korkis goes up into his imaginary attic to rummage around his archives and often stumbles across an unusual story about Walt Disney World. Those who have met me know that I take real joy in talking about Walt Disney.
As part of the Summer 1991 promotion for the film, a live Rocketeer lifted off by jet pack and flew out and above the Chinese Theater courtyard during each evening’s presentation of the “Sorcery in the Sky” fireworks show.
Even today, on the left side of the forecourt with the cement handprints and autographs of other actual celebrities, visitors can find the imprints of the boots and “blast marks” of The Rocketeer in cement, reminiscent of a scene planned for the final film.
A location for original props from The Rocketeer that might be missed by guests visiting Disney Hollywood Studios is the Sci-Fi Dine-In Restaurant. If these items are still present and if you ask politely, the servers might let you wander briefly down the aisles that look like the back of theatrical flats that lead into the main dining area.
On the left side, down to the right and near the bottom is the black and gold front cover of the South Seas Club menu-secured under plexiglass. The South Seas Club was the scene of a showdown between the Rocketeer and villain Neville Sinclair and his thugs.
Wandering a little farther down, just before the entrance to the main dining area, high on the left wall is a rocket pack that was used in the actual film. Directly to the right and about waist level and protected by plexiglass is a prop copy of the Los Angeles Examiner newspaper with the headline “Who is the Rocketeer?”
It is amazing to examine these artifacts up close-to see the care and effort that was put into something that might have been glimpsed just briefly in the actual film.
When Disney-MGM Studios opened in 1989, in the Echo Lake park area had the Lakeside News, a newsstand selling comic books and publications like old issues of “Life” magazine and other souvenirs. By 1991, to theme in with The Rocketeer, it became Peevy’s Polar Pipeline, featuring “Frozen Coca-Cola Concoctions” as well as regular soft drinks, water, and snacks.
The interior of the location is filled with welding tanks, gauges and other mechanical items that might have been found in Ambrose “Peevy” Peabody’s workshop in 1938. Peevy was the best friend of Cliff Secord, the Rocketeer. Very prominently displayed on the left side wall is a Rocketeer helmet and below it is a rocket jet pack.
Many versions of the Rocketeer helmet were made for the film because, in those days, before CGI became common, the stunts were performed by live stunt men or through the use of miniature models. The helmet showcased at Peevy’s is obviously a stunt helmet because it is wider and has larger eye lenses.
This helmet was meant to form around a sky-diving helmet and designed to be easy to “break away” in case an emergency arose during the stunt. The helmet is wider than the “hero helmet” (the prop used by the main actor and in close-ups) for that reason and there is a slight splitting along the side seams common among the stunt helmets for the film. The eye lens area is larger to give the stunt person greater visibility.
Moving closer to the posted menus on either side of the location will also reveal the blueprints for the rocket jet pack behind the items listed for sale.
A Rocketeer jetpack was on display area in the “One Man’s Dream” attraction, but has now been removed.
I am sure that several readers may also recall when items like Cliff Secord’s GeeBee flying racer and the Bulldog Diner were once prominent items on the Backlot Tour. I think I’ll go watch the film again and then visit DHS.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Jim Korkis is an internationally respected Disney Historian who has written hundreds of articles about all things Disney for more than three decades. As a former Walt Disney World cast member, his skills and historical knowledge were utilized by Disney Entertainment, Imagineering, Disney Design Group, Yellow Shoes Marketing, Disney Cruise Line, Disney Feature Animation Florida, Disney Institute, WDW Travel Company, Disney Vacation Club and many other departments.
He is the author of three new books, available in both paperback and Kindle versions on Amazon.com:
The Book of Mouse: A Celebration of Walt Disney’s Mickey Mouse
Who’s Afraid of the Song of the South AND
"The REVISED Vault of Walt":
Thanks for the info, Jim, and sorry it took me this long to acknowledge your response, but I wanted to make sure you knew how much it’s appreciated. Of course everybody was taken aback by the unexpected sad news in the Disney family, and given your personal connection to it I’m doubly grateful for your taking the time. Thanks again and try to have a happy holiday. And remember – we don’t always post but we hang on every word. Take care.
Gene, please forgive the delayed response but this week was filled with some unexpected events. Yes, Peevys (which is that frozen drink location near Keystone Clothiers) still exists and still houses ROCKETEER props. Some have been removed but when I checked a few weeks ago, they still had the Stunt helmet and the rocketpack from the movie and the blueprints on the menu (on the far left side facing the place). I believe they still have the triangular Bigelow airfield show pennats from the movie and one of the newspapers but I wasn’t able to see clearly on the far right hand side. Originally it was a newsstand when the park first opened. Glad you enjoyed the article. THE ROCKETEER is one of my all time favorite movies…not just Disney movies. I enjoy watching it over and over. I knew artist Dave Stevens (who passed away from cancer at a tragically young age) who created the character and who resembled Cliff Secord and he was a talented artist and a wonderfully warm human being.
Great column as always, Jim. As many times as I’ve dined in at the Sci-Fi Dine-In Restaurant, I don’t think I’ve ever noticed the ROCKETEER props in the hallway – I’ll have to be more attentive when I’m there next month. And thanks for the head’s up about the prop warehouse on the backlot tour, Luek. But I’m confused regarding the Lakeside News/Peevy’s Polar Pipeline location at DHS. Is this, or was this, the little frozen drink stand around the corner from the Keystone Clothiers exit? Because you used the present tense when describing the interior of the stand, am I to believe this stuff is still around, perhaps with a different name over the door? I remember seeing the jetpack at One Man’s Dream, but I’d like to find these other artifacts if they’re still around. Cool comic book and movie-real popcorn entertainment with a great cast. I still prefer the original Art Deco poster to the one above. As always, thanks for sharing.
Those with a keen eye (and in not too much of a hurry) will now spot the Rocketeer’s jet pack in the prop storage warehouse on the way to the trams for the studio backlot tour.
Love The Rocketeer. To this day the soundtrack is still one of my favorites and is found on my iPod. One of the tracks from the soundtrack was also used at the Innovention Fountains in Epcot. I remember waiting for the fountain show on several occasions just to hear the music.