So much stuff is already out there about Walt Disney’s original Magic Kingdom, that I always hesitate. But this is one that I honestly don’t remember. Maybe because it didn’t last long as a “futuristic” feature at the entrance to Tomorrowland. (But most likely because I was one of those crazed kids rushing pell mell into Disneyland’s exciting and brightly-imagined “World of Tomorrow.”)
The Disneyland World Clock was a gigantic chronometer designed to tell the time anywhere on Earth in all 24 time zones.The Sun and the Moon rotated about indicating the passage of day and night. It was considered a space-agey and striking piece of art. As a Disneyland landmark from the opening day in 1955 until 1966, it was clearly a popular photo spot.
Ah, but times changed quickly. A World Clock designed in the 1950’s no longer looked modern by the mid-60’s. Clunky and stylized, it had outlived its place in Walt’s “living blueprint of the future.” By 1967, it was gone.
So out with the old, in with the new. Tomorrowland continues to reinvent itself through the decades. What happened to Disneyland’s World Clock? Seems that no one knows … or is telling. (Hey, if you do know, do tell!)
Want to know more about Disneyland history? Here’s a recommendation for a super fun and informative source, called Yesterland. Perfect for those who would rather chill at home than visit the park during these overheated dog days of summer.