Where's that little dinosaur?

Where's that little dinosaur?
Ryan P. Wilson

Most fans of Disney’s Hollywood Studios are well aware of the rather large dinosaur selling her wares along the shores of Echo Lake. Gertie the Dinosaur, and her Ice Cream of Extinction, portrays two key elements in the world of Hollywood. While she was not the first cartoon character, Gertie’s appearance in 1914 brought true character to individually crafted cartoon figures. Her inclusion in Echo Lake is an effort to showcase the architectural style known as California Crazy, which gave objects a larger than life appearance in order to attract possible customers, and was a significant structural design in the 1930s. Disney’s Hollywood Studios, however, is not the only location in which Gertie the Dinosaur can be found.

Across Walt Disney World, inside Dinoland of Disney’s Animal Kingdom, is a rather rundown collection of buildings that comprise the dormitory for The Dino Institute. These barracks also happen to be known as the eating establishment, Restaurantosaurus. In one of the large dining halls there is a bulletin announcing this week’s double feature which is a part of the Dinosaur Film Series. The headliners this week are Journey to the Center of the Earth and Baby: Story of a Lost Legend (the actual title of this film is Baby: Secret of the Lost Legend), but the addition the classic short Gertie the Dinosaur to the bill makes this double feature a must see!

If Gertie has put you in the mood for films feature dinosaurs and large lizards, by all means check out the films included in the entire Dinosaur Film Series. Not only are will they make every dinosaur fan cheer, they are also all classic Saturday matinee fare! They are Gertie the Dinosaur (1914), Baby: Story of a Lost Legend [correct title - Baby: Secret of the Lost Legend] (1985), Journey to the Center of the Earth (1959), The Beast from 10,000 Fathoms (1953), Caveman (1981), Fantasia (1940), Gorgo (1961), King Kong (1933, 1976, or 2005), The Lost World (1925 or 1960), One Million Years B.C. (1966), Son of Kong (1933), They’re Back [correct title - We’re Back] (1993), Unknown Island (1948), and The Valley of Gwangi (1969).