Walt Disney World RCA 1972 Vintage SPACE VOYAGE Publicity Photo + Press Release. Classic Treasures from the Disney History Vault… From the Worldwide Disneyana Specialists of Saturday’s Toys.. Item: An official RCA Publicity Photo and Press Caption briefly outlining RCA’s commitment to sponsor a new attraction at Walt Disney World in Florida. Also includes a vintage 3-page RCA Press Release for the announcement. Date: October 21, 1972. Description: RCA’s initial WDW sponsorship featured an attraction to be constructed in Tomorrowland. The RCA Communications Center was planned to be an opportunity for guests to observe first-hand all that would provide the communications brain-power for the entire Walt Disney World Resort… Including the Magic Kingdom; all resort transportation; Guest Reservations; Contemporary and Polynesian Resort Hotels; telephone systems; television service, radio and two-way communication, and much more. Unfortunately, when final decisions were required for the Tomorrowland attraction (prior to the October 1971 grand opening), RCA had gotten cold feet in connection with their Tomorrowland attraction sponsorship. By the time that RCA’s President and CEO Robert W. Sarnoff (son of NBC founder David Sarnoff) was brought into the final negotiations… It was too late. RCA was experiencing some of the heaviest corporate losses in American history… And the company was forced to sell off their computer assets to Sperry Rand (a later corporate sponsor of EPCOT). Even so, RCA still followed through in creating WEDCOMM Walter E. Disney Communications Oriented Monitoring and Management System; albeit without a theme park attraction that was perceived to be somewhat lacking in entertainment value. Until 1975 when Walt Disney World’s Space Mountain was ready to launch… And RCA then served as featured sponsor of Space Mountain from 1975 – 1993. Presented here, is RCA’s official press photo, photo caption, and press release about the new RCA “SPACE VOYAGE ATTRACTION” planned for to Walt Disney World. Announced on October 21, 1972, the attraction was initially slated to open in Spring 1974, but evolving changes would delay the project’s debut until January 15, 1975. As there were many changes to the original plans prior to actual construction, the name was also eventually changed to “Space Mountain”.. The photograph displays concept art illustrating the launch area where visitors will board their “space rockets” to carry them on a simulated voyage through outer space. The RCA (Radio Corporation of America) press documents reference their address at 30 Rockefeller Plaza (later known as “30 Rock” / home to “Saturday Night Live”). Measurement: Photo is 8″x10″; with attached press caption at 6″ x 8″ with flap for mounting at reverse of photo. 3-page vintage RCA press release measures 8.5″ x 11″. Condition: Very good; with slight tanning from adhesive used in 1972 to attach the press caption to the reverse of the 8″ x 10″ photograph, as shown. Saturday’s Toys and Collectibles. Was founded in 1994 by Southern California author and media historian, Dave Mason. Having delivered over 16,000 coveted treasures since that time, Saturday’s Toys is pleased to partner with researchers and collectors throughout the globe. Today, online offerings of archival keepsakes are presented in celebration of the times that allow for family, friends and neighbors to join in memorable gatherings that nurture the strong connections that bind a community together. These treasures are affectionately represented by Saturday’s Toys. In that light we present our adopted motto (with a nod to the Sherman Brothers). Oh, let’s go fly a kite! This usually works most effectively when combining flat paper items postcards, newsletters, ephemera, etc. We are now accepting select consignments of interest to our network of domestic and international collectors. We offer a sliding scale of consignment proceeds that are based on the sale price of each item, with each sale earning consignors 50% to 70% of the net sales price.
