246. Ken Bruce, Author of Before the Birds Sang Words

Before the Birds Sang Words is a great new book about the Tiki Room.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

When we think of the most influential Disneyland attractions, the first that come to mind are typically Pirates of the Caribbean and The Haunted Mansion. Both are iconic and deserve the attention, but others also should be part of this conversation. A perfect example is Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room, which first opened in 1963. This classic animatronic show remains a core part of Adventureland and the entire park. It also played a key role in the evolution of audio-animatronics. In his excellent new book Before the Birds Sang Words, Ken Bruce takes a deep dive into the Tiki Room.

Photo by Ken Bruce

Ken is my guest on this episode of the Tomorrow Society Podcast to talk about the 16-year journey to bring this book to life. He’s been a lifelong fan of the Tiki Room and realized a book was possible when he stumbled upon a cache of research materials. This moment started Ken on the path towards bringing this book to life. Before diving into this book, Ken describes his background with Disneyland and what interested him about the Tiki Room. He also talks about his work as an animator and connection to Disney films. His career helped give Ken a different perspective on the Tiki Room and its history.

What I enjoyed about Before the Birds Sang Words was the way it showed the evolution of early ideas for the restaurant into the show we love today. Disney gives us the same basic stories about their attractions, and Ken’s work goes far beyond those narratives. He also places the Tiki Room within the larger context of the history of mechanical figures at theme parks and beyond. Its success directly set the stage for the 1964 World’s Fair attractions, Pirates of the Caribbean, and much more and helped change Disneyland for the better. I really enjoyed the chance to chat with Ken about his book and such a cool attraction.