

General Electric's

Act I Theater

. . . . He follows his dream with mind and heart.
And when it becomes a reality, it's a dream come true for you and me.

So, there's a great big beautiful tomorrow
shining at the end of every day.
There's a great big beautiful tomorrow,
just a dream away! .

Miniature model of the full Act I Stage constructed by WED Enterprises. A life-sized mock-up was also constructed.

SOURCE (All model photos): © *The Walt Disney Company* presented courtesy of Bradd Schiffman Collection

SOURCE (All color shots): © *The Walt Disney Company* presented courtesy of Eric Paddon

[The scene opens on an 1890's home. Scrimmed curtains on either side of the set conceal side theaters that rotate to display various secondary scenes through the act. When the lights are full on stage the scrim appears to be painted backdrop and nothing can be seen behind it. Robins are seen and heard chirping outside the open window on a bright Spring morning. Our host (we'll call him "Father") sits in a chair with pipe and paper in hand and addresses the audience. As he speaks of his modern conveniences, lighting effects or automatic movement of doors and drawers draw attention to the object of discussion.]

Contrast the concept model with the actual scene
Concept of Father in Chair

Actual Father in Chair

Father:

Well, the robins are back. That's a sure sign of Spring. What year is it? Oh, just before the turn of the century. And, believe me, things couldn't be any better than they are today. Yes sir, we've got all the latest things: gas lamps, telephones and the latest design in cast-iron stoves. That reservoir keeps five gallons of water hot all day on just three buckets of coal. Sure beats choppin' wood!

And isn't our new icebox a beauty? Holds 50 pounds of ice. Milk doesn't sour as quick as it used to. Our dog, Rover here, keeps the water in the drip pan from overflowing.

Audio-Animatronic Dog, "Rover"

You know, it wasn't too long ago we had to carry water from a well. But thanks to progress we've got a pump right here in the kitchen. Of course we keep a bucket of water handy to prime it with. Yes sir, we've got everything to make life easier.

Mother? I was reading about a fellow named Tom Edison who's workin' on an idea for snap-on electric lights.

Mother:

[Lights come up in scrimmed side theater at stage-left to reveal Mother and daughter hard at work doing the laundry.] Humph. I'll believe that when I see it!

Father:

[Chuckling] That's my wife Sarah.

Mother:

But with my new wash-day marvel it takes only five hours to do the wash. Imagine!

Amazing similarity between concept model and actual
Concept of Wash-day Marvel

Actual Wash-day Marvel Scene

Father:

That's right folks. Now Mother has time for recreations, like uh...

Mother:

[Interrupting] Like canning and polishing the stove?

Father:

[Chuckling] OK Mother. You just iron the wrinkles out of my shirts.

Mother:

[Sighing as lights fade on stage-left scene.] Yes, dear.

Father:

But no one can improve on nature for dryin' clothes. [Lightening flashes outside the window and thunder crashes. Sound of rain pouring down in a sudden, brief shower.] Oh well, the cistern was low on rain water anyway.

[Rover growls at someone in the audience.] Rover! Mind your manners!

[Lights come up in scrimmed side theater at stage-right to reveal son using a new vacuumer.] You know, Spring Cleaning is a lot easier than it used to be. Our new air suction vacuum cleaner operates on one-boy power. Sure an improvement over the old carpet beater. [Lights fade on stage-right scene.]

"One-boy power" concept and actual
Concept of "One-Boy-Power"

Actual "One-Boy-Power"

[Lights come up in the scrimmed side theater at stage-left to reveal Grandmother listening to a gramophone with a pet parrot on a nearby perch. On the gramophone a tenor sings a tinny "There's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow" in "gay nineties" style.]

Father:

Folks, we don't have an opera house in our town, but we've got the next best thing: a talking-machine.

Compare concept to actual in Grandmother/Parrot scene
Grandma and Gramophone Concept

Actual Grandmother & Gramophone Scene

Parrot:

Aawk! She keeps that thing going all day long. Aawk! That tenor's driving me nuts! Progress! Aawk! [Lights fade on stage-left scene.]

Father:

[Chuckling as lights come up on stage-right scene of a teen-age girl primping at a dressing table.] You know, the young folks have their own idea about entertainment. For instance, Jane, our teen-age daughter, is gettin' ready to go to a "Trolley Party" on one of those new, electric street cars. She says Hay Rides are old-fashioned.

Daughter primps in the Concept/Actual comparison
Daughter Primping at Mirror Scene

Actual Primping Scene

Daughter:

[Gasps as she realizes she has an audience watching.]

Father:

Don't be upset daughter. They're friends.

Daughter:

Oh! [...as lights fade on stage-right scene.]

SOURCE: © *The Walt Disney Company*

Father:

[Chuckling] It's hard to imagine how life could be any easier. But there's a new company -- General Electric they call it -- who are trying to bring the same power that runs the trolleys into folk's homes. I don't know, but if those fellows work that out, one thing is certain...

.There's a great big beautiful tomorrow
shining at the end of every day.
There's a great big beautiful tomorrow,
and tomorrow's just a dream away.

Man has a dream and that's the start . . . .

Click to rotate to the Act II Theater

So, there's a great big beautiful tomorrow shining at the end of every day. There's a great big beautiful tomorrow, just a dream away! .

So, there's a great big beautiful tomorrow
shining at the end of every day.
There's a great big beautiful tomorrow,
just a dream away! .