615. Disneyland: The Modern American Utopia

The Rest Is History

Goalhanger

History

4.6 • 18.6K Ratings

🗓️ 6 November 2025

⏱️ 84 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Why is Disneyland one of the most influential architectural creations of the 21st century? How did the Second World War impact Disney? And, how is Disneyland inextricably intertwined with the history of America? Join Dominic and Tom as they discuss the magical world of Disneyland, along with the fascinating history of Theme Parks, and the insight they provide into the historical contexts they were born of. ____ Start generating your own greener electricity for less, with £500 off Solar. Visit https://www.hivehome.com/history for more information. T&Cs apply**Output and savings varies by season, electricity usage and system size. Paid-for surplus requires an eligible SEG tariff. Offer for new customers only. Ends 17th November. ____ Join The Rest Is History Club: Unlock the full experience of the show – with exclusive bonus episodes, ad-free listening, early access to every series and live show tickets, a members-only newsletter, discounted books from the show, and access to our private Discord chatroom. Sign up directly at therestishistory.com For more Goalhanger Podcasts, head to www.goalhanger.com _______ Twitter: @TheRestHistory @holland_tom @dcsandbrook Social Producer: Harry Baldwin Assistant Producer: Aaliyah Akude Producer: Tabby Syrett Senior Producer: Theo Young-Smith Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Thank you for listening to The Rest is History.
0:02.1	For weekly bonus episodes, add free listening, early access to series and membership of our much-loved chat community, go to the rest is history.com and join the club.
0:13.5	That is the rest is history.
0:16.3	Today on The Rest is History, we are visiting Disneyland and we are exploring the backstory of theme parks
0:24.8	because Dominant, you love a theme park, don't you?
0:27.4	So I actually do because I'm an adrenaline junkies, you know Tom, so I really enjoy doing this
0:31.3	episode.
0:31.7	And actually, the deeper we went into it, the more fascinating it is.
0:34.8	So you know the first roller coasters?
0:37.2	Zaris, Russia, the age of Catherine the Great,
0:39.5	surfs building great hills of ice
0:41.2	and aristocrats going to boggaining down them.
0:43.8	And then you get into the 19th century,
0:45.5	you have gravity switchback railroads,
0:48.9	people travelling on these kind of mad railways
0:51.5	against a painted background.
0:53.7	But there's other predecessors to Disneyland,
0:55.6	aren't there? So I know you love a Vauxhall Pleasure Garden. Well, yes, because it's nice to know
1:00.1	that ultimately the origins of Disneyland lay in South London, where I live. That was a revelation
1:06.0	for me. Yeah. Fountains, fireworks, houses made of glass, all that kind of thing.
1:11.4	So that's all great.
1:12.1	And then we end by talking about Disneyland itself.
	...

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