Daily Archives: July 9, 2017

Fifty years ago, Disneyland opened Pirates of the Caribbean, an attraction that one of the companys former top creative executives still describes as the greatest ride in Disneyland history.

On the 15-minute water-led excursion, guests first wind through skull- and treasure-laden caverns before going back in time to an era when those pirate skeletons were joyful looters.

A morality tale in reverse, then the celebrated pirates life ends inevitably in death and desiccation. Or maybe not after all these years, the ride remains open to interpretation even among the most dedicated of Disney philes.

I've tried to analyze what is happening in that ride, says Tony Baxter, a former senior executive at Walt Disney Imagineering and now a creative consultant for the division. Is it a book report of some movie? I think it's more metaphorical to falling asleep and having this incredible dream-like experience.

From the time it opened, Pirates has been one of the parks best-known and most popular attractions; it is also one of its most elastic. Though never transformed for any holiday, the ride has survived numerous tweaks through the decades. At Disneyland, scenes have been altered over the years to heighten association to Capt. Jack Sparrow of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies and to downplay the aggressive lust of the seafaring rogues; an upcoming change involving the bridal auction was recently announced.

Todd Martens

If you regularly go to Disneyland three times a month, are you crazy? I talked to Imagineers, analysts and psychologists to find out.

If you regularly go to Disneyland three times a month, are you crazy? I talked to Imagineers, analysts and psychologists to find out. (Todd Martens)

At other Disney parks, the ride has been adjusted in even more essential ways: At Disneyland Paris, Pirates unfolds in a more chronological fashion; at Shanghai Disneyland, it is much more closely aligned with the films.

Even so, the Pirates of the Caribbean tale continues to remain somewhat elusive, perhaps symbolic of the cryptic nature of Imagineering, Disneys highly secretive arm devoted to theme park experiences.

Beginning July 14, however, some of those secrets will be laid bare. At the D23 Expo, Disneys biennial three-day fan fest, Pirates will dominate the Anaheim Convention Center with a museum-like exhibit and a Friday afternoon talk by Imagineers such as Baxter and Orlando Ferrante, the latter of whom worked on the Disneyland original, that will take the audience through the 50-year history of the attraction.

Los Angeles Times Archive/UCLA

Walt Disney check out some of the heads for Pirates in 1966. It was the last ride he oversaw.

Walt Disney check out some of the heads for Pirates in 1966. It was the last ride he oversaw. (Los Angeles Times Archive/UCLA)

Its a swashbuckling celebration that will also offer a spoon full of sugar; Disney, like its Caribbean ride, is adapting to todays cultural climate. The parks are currently in the midst of a period of growth. Star Wars-inspired lands are coming to Disneyland and Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla., with the latter also receiving a Toy Story-themed area. Around the globe, Disney parks are increasing their Marvel presence, and Hong Kong Disneyland is destined to receive an injection of Frozen.

RELATED: Disneyland's Pirates of the Caribbean: 50 years of change

Such widespread change has provoked as much anxiety as excitement can Disney parks maintain the Disney magic with all those Avengers on the loose? As a classic that has been forced to keep up with the times and deal with big-screen fame, Pirates offers hope that the parks can be modern while still feeding the magic of nostalgia. Because, Imagineering luminaries say, one central tenet continues to connect all the disparate properties: storytelling.

If you go back, the amusement business didn't tell stories, former Imagineering chief Marty Sklar says of theme parks before Disneyland.

They were just thrill rides. Walt [Disney] changed that by creating stories. That's the basis of everything that Imagineering does. When I talk to Imagineers, I always say I'm jealous because they have so many new technologies, but you have to have a good story or else you're wasting your time.

While Disney doesnt release attendance forecasts, more than 65,000 die-hards typically come to D23 looking for an early look at the companys future and insights into its past. This years biggest draw will no doubt be the pavilion dedicated to Disney parks, which will reveal for the first time the model of the in-development Star Wars-inspired lands.

Talks throughout the weekend will also probe the depths of Imagineering. One will focus on Disneys legacy of female Imagineers, while another will look at the Imagineers who have been deemed Disney Legends, including Baxter, Sklar and this years honoree, Wayne Jackson.

Emily Mae Czachor

Pirates of the Caribbean has always kept up with the times.

Pirates of the Caribbean has always kept up with the times. (Emily Mae Czachor)

There also will be a spotlight on Pirates of the Caribbean, which even in its middle age is serving as a microcosm for Disneys need to adapt to generational shifts. Those who are resistant to change will no doubt have strong opinions about the recent announcement that the bridal auction scene in Pirates will be modified at Disneyland, Walt Disney World and Disneyland Paris; by the end of next year, looted trinkets, not women, will be on the block.

Those fans who object can console themselves with the knowledge that the red-headed woman, who currently seems to approach her precarious position with a bit of a femme fatale attitude, will be staying.

Originally conceived by animator-turned-Imagineer Marc Davis, the Redhead, as shes known, has become a fan favorite.

If you look at her in that scene, she's the center of attention, says Kathy Mangum, a senior vice president with Imagineering. She's certainly the anti-victim. If you look at the other women next to her who are tied up, they're very much the victim, but you can tell she's used to being the center of attention and she seems to be enjoying it.

Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times

The bridal auction scene on Pirates is set for an update.

The bridal auction scene on Pirates is set for an update. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)

Soon, the Redhead will take on a role of even greater importance, transitioning from a prisoner to fearsome pirate, part of the crew forcing town residents to surrender their wares.

While the scene preserves the auction, which was part of the rides March 1967 opening, it also gives Pirates of the Caribbean something the attraction has long lacked a strong central female character while doing away with a set piece that relegates women to property.

Mangum says that Imagineering has been pondering changes to the scene for a while, but was slow to act in part because Pirates is the last ride overseen by Walt Disney himself.

After consulting with diversity groups, including Imagineerings in-house WIN the Womens Inclusion Network Imagineering decided to adapt the ride for a generation weaned on strong female Disney characters such as Merida, Elsa, Moana and Judy Hopps.

Last November, for the first time, we had a woman who was a viable candidate for the president of this country, Mangum says. I hate to say times are changing, but there's an advancement in pop culture and society, and the timing felt right. We didn't link it to any one initiative, but as we talked about it, we couldn't think of a really valid reason for keeping it as it is.

Does she expect a backlash? Because it was Walt's last attraction, Mangum says, some fans are not going to want any kind of change. We understand that. I understand that. But it's the same reason we added Jack Sparrow. You have to think ahead to other generations who won't have the tie-back to Walt.

And yet even Walt had some doubts about the scene. In an interview in a 1999 issue of the E-Ticket, a now-defunct Disney parks fanzine, Claude Coats, an Imagineer instrumental in the creation of Pirates of the Caribbean, recalled Walts reaction upon seeing a near-completed version of the auction scene.

He came in one time and even said, This will be all right, wont it? He was just a little doubtful of auctioning off the girls. Was that quite Disney or not?

Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times

A scene from Pirates of the Caribbean at Disneyland.

A scene from Pirates of the Caribbean at Disneyland. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)

Yet the ride, originally planned as a walk-through with wax figures, has endured, says Sklar, not because it emphasizes the harrowing acts but because it focuses on farce. I think it was approached from the standpoint of the humor, Sklar says.

Disneys love affair with pirates extends far beyond the ride and film franchise. Walt Disneys first known foray into pirating was the 1927 short Alice Foils the Pirates, the 42nd of his 56 Alice Comedies, films that featured animated backgrounds with a live action young girl.

While Alice Foils the Pirates is considered a lost film, D23s pirate exhibit will feature art from some never-made pirate-themed cartoons, including one that would have starred Donald Duck, as well as artifacts from the ride and the Pirates of the Caribbean films.

And looking at Disneylands Pirates of the Caribbean, as well as its surrounding New Orleans Square, may even give some hints about Disneys future. Today, be it the Avatar-inspired Pandora at Walt Disney World or Cars Land in Anaheim, or the Star Wars lands in development, theme parks are moving toward bigger, more fully immersive worlds based on a single theme.

New Orleans Square is often considered the template for such an approach, so much so that some fans have constructed a narrative that ties Pirates of the Caribbean with the Haunted Mansion. One doesnt exist, however, says a spokesman for Imagineering.

Before you get to Pirates, Baxter says, you've been immersed in a world that is complete. Even the Mark Twain sailing by New Orleans is part of that story.

To those nervous about a park overrun by Stormtroopers and superheroes, Baxter offers the reassurance that Pirates will remain a cornerstone. It has so many yardsticks by which everything is measured that I think it will stay in position as our primary wonder for a long time.

Todd.Martens@latimes.com

Follow me on Twitter: @toddmartens

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Pirates of the Caribbean anchors a Disneyland on the brink of great ... - Los Angeles Times

Royal Caribbean Blog (blog)

Royal Caribbean Post Round-Up: July 9, 2017 Royal Caribbean Blog (blog) The big story this week was Royal Caribbean will test a new drink policy on a few upcoming Harmony of the Seas cruises where if one adult gets an unlimited alcohol package, all adults in the same stateroom would be required to buy it as well. The pilot ... Morgan Stanley Sells 12924 Shares of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCL)The Cerbat Gem Somewhat Positive Media Coverage Very Likely to Impact Royal Caribbean Cruises (NYSE:RCL) Stock PriceStock Observer Lazard Asset Management LLC Has $19.26 Million Stake in Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCL)BBNS ClickLancashire all 8 news articles »

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Royal Caribbean Post Round-Up: July 9, 2017 - Royal Caribbean Blog (blog)

When the first large numbers of West Indian immigrants began to come to the UK in the 1950s, they brought with them their music, food and traditions.

The city is now home to a huge Caribbean population, with independent restaurants, bakeries and cafes serving traditional Caribbean cuisine across Greater Manchester.

Now, there's no shortage of Caribbean food in Manchester, and according to food writer Riaz Phillips the scene is changing quickly.

"In the 1940s and 1950s people largely tried to recreate dishes from back home with what they could find in England as they had no other choice. Thats why a majority of the early Caribbean food businesses were bakeries because it was easier to recreate patties and hard dough bread than the likes of Curry Goat.

"It has changed a lot, mainly because of the ease with which we can get produce from overseas now.

"Caribbean is more than wood shacks and Bob Marley! ...There are the big names on the high street, the old established names like Dougys, Buzzrocks and Kool Runnings where hopefully people in the family will keep them going for the next generation.

"At the same time theres a lot of new blood like The Drop and The Yard, people from a younger generation who can appeal to a different crowd. These places are doing the most innovative, exciting things with Caribbean food so whatever type of experience people want with Caribbean food there is something for them in Manchester."

Riaz has dedicated much of his life to finding the best places to eat across the UK, dedicating the past few years in particular to documenting the hidden Caribbean cafes, takeaways and restaurants and the stories of the people behind them.

"I'm from London but I actually used to work for Manchester City FC in a past life," Riaz recalls.

"I used to work at the stadium and stay near Piccadilly Station, and on my breaks I'd go wondering trying to find Caribbean food for lunch and dinner.

Speaking about his decision to document all these hidden gems in his new book Belly Full , Riaz explains, "These establishments mean so much to their local communities, not to mention that the families and people behind them are local legends in their own right."

"I feel that African and Caribbean food is often left out of a lot of Food Books and Guides in the UK. Not perhaps on purpose, but sometimes for outsiders its quite daunting to know where to start with the cuisine.

"I thought as someone who grew up around these foods I could at least try to document and promote some of these places especially as I mentioned, some have been around for decades and mean a lot to their local communities but they hardly get any mention anywhere in the broader stories of their cities and regions.

Here are the best Caribbean restaurants, cafes, bakeries and takeaways in Manchester, as documented by Riaz.

Where have we missed? Let us know in the comments section below, or drop us a message at @ CityLifeManc .

Few food establishments in Manchester have to deal with queues forming prior to opening their doors on a rainy weekday morning, but after more than two decades serving up his charismatic take on Caribbean food, scenes at Basil Buzzrock Andersons Buzzrocks restaurant reflect just that.

Snacks like the zesty jerk chicken wrap and Hot Flashes wings doused in his concoction of secret spices are convenient options for those on the go. A quick glance however sees the runaway favourite being the Half n Half, meal, a copious serving of curried goat alongside a winning combination of both of rice & peas and chips.

266A Moston Ln, Manchester M40 9WF / 0161 205 3555

With a name that immediately makes many recall the famous 1990s film of the same name featuring the iconic Jamaican bobsleigh team, few conversations of Caribbean food in Manchester omit Kool Runnings.

For many old timers, the mobile van situated next to the Sharon Pentecostal Church on Chorlton Road holds the most nostalgia where many local residents and workers have congregated at lunch for years.

Growing beyond the van since opening in the 1990s, the multiple shops in Manchester quickly found good standing especially with students for an abundance of indulgences like the jerk burgers, tangy sweet & sour prawns, callaloo stuffed dumplings and a myriad of meat and fish stew selections.

Next to the Sharon Pentecostal Church on Chorlton Road, and 5a Wilbraham Rd, Manchester M14 6JS / 0161 225 1621

Now with their new Dougys Uptown in Chorlton, Dougys Caribbean Delicatessen is firmly stamping its legendary mark across the city. With its own in-house bakery the 1 Cheapest in Manchester Patties and cornflake tarts have proved a hit with everyone from young school kids to city veterans.

Always standing out from the rest, owner Denis illustrates: "Everybody does jerk chicken different thats why we call it Dougys Jerk, not authentic jerk. Though some people like it on the jerk pan, we bake ours and use low-fatoils." The ability to wash this down with one of their pomegranate or aloe vera slushies is a further treat only found at Dougys.

180 Great Western St, Manchester M14 4LH and 51 Manchester Rd, Manchester M21 9PW / 0161 882 0193

With a sweet cinnamon aroma wafting out onto Shrewsbury Road from 5am onward every morning, it didnt take the produce of Old Trafford Bakery too long to capture the attention of the local residents when the Bakery opened over half a century ago.

Throughout the day the walls in the shop are lined with fresh spongy hard dough bread that help draw customers eyes to the variety of perhaps lesser known items such as bulla cakes made with molasses, spiced with ginger and nutmeg in addition to coco bread and the Jamaican classic coconut based Toto bread.

126 Shrewsbury St, Stretford, Manchester M16 7NY / 0161 226 7198

The Drops vibrant and bubbly take on Caribbean food proved such a hit when it hit Chorlton in 2015 that it was only a matter of time before demand would have them branch out to other corners of the city (Altincham).

From breakfast all the way through to dinner the restaurant offers a vivid experience. For those looking for a real belly full experience the Hench Drop Box provide a perfect example of the restaurants multicultural fusion of flavours. This rainbow-esque dish includes both curry goat and jerk chicken with a deep purple slaw, soft plantain and a crispy dumpling with the option to substitute in an array of goodies that tickles your fancy.

356 Barlow Moor Rd, Manchester M21 8AZ, and 9 Goose Green, Altrincham, Cheshire WA14 1DW / 0161 286 3317

A community lynchpin of Moss Side, Mc Freshs bakery and supermarket has been more than just a place for food produce for over over three decades.

MC Freshs broadcasted Real taste of Jamaica doesnt just denote the vast array of Jamaican and wider Caribbean dishes on offer but also a Jamaican spin on many of the English classics on offer throughout the day, developed over the years as a way to entice people from all walks of life.

These stem from the full English breakfast to the shops incorporation of a full on traditional Chip Shop complete with jumbo sausages, steak and kidney pies and everything else you might expect in a local Chippie.

138 Claremont Rd, Manchester M14 4RT / 0161 227 9939

Mike and Maureen Hyltons M&Ms Caribbean Spice down the quaint Stamford Road in Stretford has long been a hidden gem for those looking for a island style getaway from their usual dining fare.

With Mikes three decade tenure in the food business catering for the likes of British Royalty and Manchester United the quiet setting shouldnt fool you for the professionally curated feast about to hit your palate. Refined versions of Caribbean classics like the mouth-watering oxtail and ackee & saltfish dishes are a perfect entry for novices of food from the islands.

127 Stamford St, Stretford, Manchester M16 9LT / 0161 226 6067

To the west of Manchesters Alexandra Park, Chicken Runs or as some locals call it Chickens unmissable yellow motif and iconic rainbow logo bring sunshine to those in the know looking for their daily Caribbean food pit-stop.

There is only one real contender for meal choice of first timers to Chicken Run and that is their Chicken Split. Jerk, stewed but most commonly fried chicken served up in between a Festival (sweet cornmeal dumpling) cut in half hence the split. After this its drizzled with house mayo and wrapped up ready to chomped down as quickly as it was made.

6 Yarburgh St, Manchester M16 7FJ / 0161 226 6714

Local Legend Florence Coke, known as Mama Flo hit the news when she was served with a 1 billion tax bill for her business . The real story however should have been her wonderfully homely take on Caribbean food based on a Jamaican upbringing.

With tenderly cooked steak dishes and curry goat and that almost falls off the bone its no wonder word of mouth spread fast about Mama Flos Stockport offering that have proved addictive to many first timers of Caribbean food.

314 Buxton Rd, Stockport SK2 7DD / 0161 223 5183

For those on the more outer reaches of Manchester fear not, whilst new in name, Js Rhythm Caribbean and English Takeaway in Wythenshawes Button Lane still carries the Caribbean torch brightly.

For those not to looking to get too wild, Js Rhythm gives reason to never go to a basic Chicken & Chip shop ever again with their vibrant take on the popular meal serving up BBQ, incredibly grilled Jerk or fried chicken with moreish fries. A real winner however is their Peppered steak. Tender steak swimming in a sweet sauce of herbs and spices, served with salad and choice of rice.

41 Button Ln, Wythenshawe, Manchester M23 0LZ / 0161 998 2356

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Top 10 Caribbean restaurants in Manchester - Manchester Evening News

One of Chinas most wanted fugitives who is holed up on a tiny Caribbean island says he is willing to return to the mainland to face his accusers but onlyas a free man.

Accused of financial crimes involving more than US$100 million, businessman Ren Biao one of the original 100 most wanted under Beijings international manhunt of fugitives dubbed Operation Skynet made his plea from St Kitts and Nevis.

Beijings most wanted: US repatriates one of the leading Sky Net fugitives days before Xi Jinpings visit

Ren, 43, is able to live in the Caribbean hideaway with his wife and 16-year-old son after securing a passport through its controversial Citizenship by Investment Programme in 2013.

In May 2014, he was understood to have been made the subject of an Interpol red notice following a request from Beijing, and in April this year he was on an updated list of 22 top fugitives whose personal details including residential addresses China released to global media.

Ren said his father, aged in his 70s, had been detained by mainland authorities. While this could not be independently confirmed, such a move is known to be a tactic to persuade fugitives to return. St Kitts and Nevis is among the countries with which Beijing has no extradition or mutual legal assistance agreement.

Beijing accused Ren of fleeing China after he abused his position as head of 20 companies to amass more than US$100 million through fraudulently secured bank loans and bogus business deals. He is also accused of milking millions more out of unsuspecting family members and friends.

Beijing has lambasted St Kitts and Nevis, saying that by refusing to act on the Interpol notice and its own repeated requests, the country risked gaining the reputation of being a haven for international fugitives.

[Ren] does not want to be marched off a plane in handcuffs

Chesley Hamilton, Rens lawyer

St Kitts and Nevis is a member of Interpol, but is under no legal obligation to comply with either the Interpol notice or Chinas demands. In a further complication, the 269 sq km nation comprising two islands and a population of just more than 50,000 is one of the few places in the world to have diplomatic relations with Taiwan.

Speaking from St Kitts and Nevis, Rens lawyer, Chesley Hamilton, said his client absolutely refuted the scope and financial dimensions of the accusations and wanted to return to China with the protection, however limited, of his St Kitts and Nevis passport. He said Ren admitted he was involved in some business deals that might have left some people out of pocket, but that he was not guilty as charged.

He does not want to be marched off a plane in handcuffs, Hamilton said of his client.

As Panama Papers scandal deepens, China targets offshore accounts in renewed Skynet crackdown on fugitive corrupt officials

The lawyer added that Ren had returned his Kittian passport because it was missing information about his place of birth.

He is now awaiting his new passport after making an application on behalf of himself and his wife. He is as entitled to a passport as any citizen and entitled to the privileges and protection it affords overseas.

The Chinese embassy in nearby Antigua and Barbuda was understood to have been in touch with Ren over his possible return.

Hamilton said he was trying to verify whether a new Interpol red notice for his client was issued on June 19.

A red notice is a request to locate and provisionally arrest an individual pending extradition. It is issued by Interpol at the request of a member country or an international tribunal based on a valid national arrest warrant. It is not an international arrest warrant.

An Interpol spokesman in Lyon, France, would neither confirm nor deny whether Ren was now or had ever been the subject of a red notice.

China reveals foreign addresses of corruption suspects living in Canada, US and beyond

Both the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Public Security did not respond to the Posts inquiries.

University of Hong Kong professor Fu Hualing, a criminal justice expert, said Rens suggestion that he return to China as a free man could indicate the opening gambit in a negotiating process.

More generally, given the lack of formal extradition treaties and/or mutual legal assistance agreements Beijing has with other countries, it seems to be developing a much more informal case-by-case approach to securing the return of fugitives.

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Chinese fugitive hiding on tiny Caribbean island willing to return to face US$100 million fraud accusations but ... - South China Morning Post