The Willy Wonka Chocolate Factory Tour "board game" was featured in an October 1988 issue of The Disney Channel Magazine. The Wonka movies (the original from 1971 and the 2005 version) were made by Warner Brothers, but the studios seem to cooperate with each other to promote their films in the best way possible. Willy Wonka has appeared on the Disney Channel for many years. Lately, Warner Brothers and Disney have worked together to promote the Harry Potter films on Disney-owned networks. The Harry Potter marathons on ABC Family are a prime location for promoting the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal's Islands of Adventure in Orlando (this Florida theme park also has Marvel Superhero Island, home to characters recently acquired by Disney through the company's purchase of Marvel Comics).
I got a kick out of Tim Burton's "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" with Willy Wonka (played by Johnny Depp) having a dentist for a father. My childhood dentist looked very much like the original Willy Wonka, Gene Wilder. My dentist was friendly, and at the end of my check-ups, I got to select a toy from a basket shaped like a kangaroo. To me, my dentist was Willy Wonka.
Of course, there is an actual Willy Wonka brand of candy (introduced in 1971) owned by Nestle, selling chocolate and many other candy brands, including those kooky Nerds candies and looney Laffy Taffy.
I was surprised to learn about a dark ride featuring Willy Wonka located at the Alton Towers theme park in Staffordshire, England. This is not based on the movies, but rather the illustrations created by Quentin Blake for Roald Dahl's book, "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory."
The artist for the Disney Channel Magazine's Willy Wonka Chocolate Factory Tour Game is unfortunately not credited. I know it wasn't drawn up by an Oompa-Loompa. Or was it?
I've never seen either of the Willy Wonka movies, but I remember as a kid eating Oompa Loompas which were like extra large M & M's.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of Marvel and Universal IOA, I heard a rumor that Universal is going to have to re-theme their Spiderman attraction because of Disney now owning the rights to the character. Do you know if this rumor is true?
I do believe that Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory is one of those movies that I would hate as an adult if I hadn't watched it as a kid. It is spectacularly traumatizing.
ReplyDeleteTokyoMagic!: Say it ain't so! You've missed out on some disturbing fun.
ReplyDeleteI did not know they made an Oompa Loompa candy! I was always disappointed that the Everlasting Gobstopper sold in stores does not look like the movie candy.
I read some rumors about Universal's Islands of Adventure considering changing out the Spider-Man attraction. I don't know if anything will change. If Universal and Marvel did part ways, it seems like they could change Spider-Man to the Transformers attraction that is going to Universal Studios Hollywood (I think the ride system is the same). They could just re-paint The Hulk roller coaster and the other rides and re-name them, too. I bet Universal doesn't want to just hand a character like Spider-Man over to Disney's Hollywood Studios theme park in Florida, though!
Peyton: The Agustus Gloop scene and the boat ride in the original "Willy Wonka" were frightening to me as a kid. As an adult, I don't mind seeing the brats get what they deserve. Gene Wilder somehow managed to make Willy Wonka endearing and a bit scary.
Hey, I forgot about Gobstoppers.....do they still make those?
ReplyDeleteTokyoMagic!: Yes, they still make Gobstoppers Jawbreakers (and variations, like Chewy Gobstoppers, too)!
ReplyDelete