The Bezark Company

We're ringing in 2021 with a nostalgic Staff Pick from Project Coordinator, Esty- "When I was a kid, we went on numerous field trips to the Museum of Science, Boston. Every exhibit had tactile displays that made the whole building feel like a playground! I can still picture how lively the space felt with all the excitement from the museum's young visitors. My fondest memory is the night my 6th grade class slept over at the museum. My friends and I snuck out of our room and r...oamed the dark, empty, eerie halls untilthe Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton started to move. We realized that the exhibits were coming to life! Just kidding, we got caught and got in a lot of trouble. But, it was definitely worth it! The museum sparked my interest in math and science - something that became incredibly valuable to me later on - and helped me experience first-hand the value of combining interactivity with education." See more

On this day in themed entertainment history: the Chimelong Safari Park celebrates its grand opening in Guangzhou, China, 1997. Presently the largest wildlife park in all of Asia, the safari park was born from owner Mr. Su Zhigang's unparalleled passion for animal attractions. Chimelong Safari Park features a unquie combination of experiences: half of the park’s 148 acres is a drive-thru safari trail that guests experience from their own cars. The other half is a hillside anim...al park featuring lush landscaping and dozens of walk-thru animal exhibits and attractions. Top it all off with a dramatic three-leg treetop gondola ride, and you have one of China’s most beautiful and memorable destinations. The Safari Park is perhaps most famous for being the home and birthplace of the world's first and (to this day-) only known panda triplets, Mengmeng, Shuaishuai, and Kuku. Every 29th of July, the trio celebrate their birthday with a special "panda cake" made from bamboo shoots, apples, carrots, and grapes. #themeparkhistory #chimelongsafaripark

To our lovely friends and colleagues What a year it’s been. There’s no adequate way to say how much we’ve missed hanging out with all of you this year. Zoom, Skype, Google Meet they’re doing a great job of keeping us connected, and working, and even socializing. But let’s not kid ourselves it’s not the same as hanging out together, visiting a theme park for (ahem) benchmarking, or gathering for our annual Secret Bowling Night at IAAPA. But nothing lasts forever, and the ...end of this endless isolation is already in sight. Here’s hoping that by this time next year we’ll all be roasting chestnuts on an open fire together. In the meantime we’ll see you in the zooms. Love and health, everyone.

Congratulations to our friend and colleague Steve Tatham on his venture into the great unknown! Steve is an amazing team leader and creative shepherd, and we plan to partner with him on upcoming fun. Go get 'em, brother Steve.

'Tis the season to curl up next to the fireplace and reminisce about holidays past. For this week's STAFF PICK, Senior Coordinator Julia Zayas-Melendez shares a special memory of the Chicago Christkindlmarket. "Every Christmas season, a concrete plaza downtown is transformed for the holidays into a German street market. Braving an open-air market in sub-zero temperatures became an important annual tradition for Chicagoans. When I lived there, every year we’d head downtown for... an afternoon and shop for unique German trinkets in quaint, brightly lit stalls; listen to the costumed carolers sing; and collect (another) boot-shaped mug to sip hot chocolate, cider, or mulled wine. Afterward, we’d all rush to the train to warm up on our way home. This year, the shopping will be virtual, and last year’s mug will have to hold the (homemade) mulled wine, but the memory of finally getting the feeling back in your toes on the train ride home will linger... even while we’re safely bundled up with the heat on." See more

For this week's STAFF PICK, Senior Producer Diana O'Rourke has another one to add to the post-pandemic-must-visit list. "The Hollywood Bowl is not just a concert destination, but a right of passage as an Angeleno. This iconic destination has been hosting incredible talent since 1922. From Paul McCartney to The Sound of Music sing-a-long to immersive projection shows, I’ve spent many a warm LA evening sipping wine and sharing snacks with friends as we watch the sun set and the... lights come up on the infamous arched band shell. This year, for the first time since I moved to Los Angeles, I did not go to the Bowl this summer (thanks, pandemic!), but I’m looking forward to the day when we can head back there to dance in the aisles and make new friends with our fellow concert-goers (and borrow their wine opener - because I swear I packed one, but)" #hollywoodbowl

Prepare for your daily dose of whimsy with Lead Creative Director, Baz, and the Fairy Tale Forest at Hong Kong Disneyland. "I like flashbang wows and sophisticated gizmos as much as the next guy, but sometimes a well done "take a breath" experience really hits the spot. Fairy Tale Forest is an adorable little garden walk with nice topiaries, ready made selfie frames, and a nice, chill alternative to the manic pace of a Disney Park. But the real magic here is in the dioramas. Classic scenes from Disney films are recreated in perfect miniature. Bonus? Some have little manual, mechanical activations that animate the scene, such as a tiny handcrank that makes the figurines spin around. I spent about an hour there, on the coldest day in Hong Kong in a half century, so I think it qualifies as STAFF PICK worthy."

Cicadas, cider, and state fairs- these are the signs of summer turning to fall. As the leaves begin to change color, enjoy this fresh STAFF PICK from Associate Creative Director, Lacy Campbell. "My hands-down, favorite end-of-summer activity is the Washington State Fair. Not surprisingly, the fair was cancelled this year, but hopefully it’ll be back in full force next fall. It’s the perfect antidote to my normal routine of big-box consumerism and mass media: a collectio...n of things that are both completely ordinary and absolutely wonderful. I don’t know how to preface this, but every year, I am shocked by how beautiful dairy cows can be. The gorgeous, geometrical displays made completely out of local produce? Dream job. And on a personal note, if you have never attended a live mutton-busting, please give yourself that gift." #statefairfun #washingtonstatefair

Everyone remembers their first roller coaster, their first dark ride, their first bite of cotton candy. In this new series, we revisit some of the Bezark team's notable "firsts;" the sights, sounds, tastes, and sometimes smells that continue to inspire them to this day. Besweet: a memory of Shanna Collins' first taste of Disneyland’s Cream Cheese Pretzel. If I’d known before tasting the cream cheese pretzels at Disneyland how addictive they would be, I might not have trie...d them. I might have tried to avoid the Pretzel Cart near Tomorrowland altogether but I didn’t. I had no clue, and so I chomped into one a few years back on the urging of a friend who who wanted me to understand his love/hate relationship with these gooey, sweet pretzels. I hadn’t understood. I had laughed. I had scoffed. There was no way a lowly pretzel could compete with other offerings at the park - ice cream sundaes; turkey legs; heck, even dill pickles. I was wrong. For me, the cream cheese pretzel is possibly the most delicious, saliva-inducing treat at Disneyland. I now look forward to it every time I go and sometimes, if I’m feeling particularly peckish, I’ll even grab two in a day. I fully admit I’m hooked. #disneyland #snacktime #themeparks

Tis the season for spicing pumpkins and rousing ghouls. We're ushering in October with a spoOOOooky STAFF PICK from Senior Creative Producer, Nathan. "Nightmare Mansion is a family-owned icon in Virginia Beach. Visiting the 30 year-old haunt was eye-opening for me. I’m fascinated with the layout and how it maximizes: scenic, scares and animatronics, while minimizing operations, creating an experience that feels much larger than it actually is. When I had the chance to speak w...ith the owners, they shared their wisdom of opening early and adjusting to your audience - something I try to strive for during the creative process. It’s almost as if this attraction is a living, breathing building that continually assesses its audience & the industry as it matures. It may not have million dollar effects or projection mapped media, but it knows what it is, who it needs to be and where it needs to go. I was taken by its simplicity and honesty. I think it’s this approach that made the experience so memorable for me." #spookyseason #haunt

On this day in theme park history: the Magic Kingdom and EPCOT parks celebrate their grand openings in Walt Disney World, Orlando, in 1971 and 1982 respectively. Many of our team members have fond memories of the openings - either because they were there or because they avidly watched recordings of the TV specials from home. Do you remember where you were when these amazing parks opened? #themeparks #disney #onthisdayinhistory

If you're looking for a serene, leisurely drive, look elsewhere. For this week's STAFF PICK, Brian Smith, one of our Creative Directors, shines the spotlight on an old classic - Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, the only Disney attraction where you DIE AND GO TO HELL. Of all the classic dark rides at Disneyland, this was my favorite as a kid and still delights the rebellious youth inside me. Climb aboard a Victorian era motorcar, grab the wheel (which controls nothing), and off you go, careening in the opposite direction of whatever would be most appropriate. I love that it doesn’t need to rely on a hot new IP to tell its story, but instead celebrates the deceptively simple art and traditions of the dark ride form, telling a wildly kinetic story that endures as a pure expression of disorderly fun! #themeparks #disney #motormania #classic

Happy Friday! Next time you find yourself cruising down the California coast, take a quick detour to one of Project Coordinator Esty Bharier's favorite roadside wonders. "The Mystery Spot is a tourist attraction near Santa Cruz, CA built around a gravitational anomaly where the laws of physics and gravity are questioned. As you go deeper into the 'magic circle,' perception becomes distorted and the gravitational tilt gets more prominent. While some may think that these misper...ceptions of height and questionable object orientation are optical illusions, a close friend of mine - who happens to be a tour guide - has confirmed they are 'definitely all real.' The explanation for this anomaly is highly debated. Some theories include a spacecraft being buried underground, a magma vortex, or a hole in the ozone layer. Personally, I think it’s either dielectric bio-cosmic radiation leaking from the Earth’s core, or it’s magnets. But for now it will remain a mysteryspot." #roadsideattractions

"By the pricking of my thumbs" Just in time for Halloween, we are thrilled to suggest a chilling Autumn tale for your reading pleasure. The next Bezark & Friends Book Club will take place on Monday, October 19th at 5pm. Our very own Adam Bezark will be leading the discussion on SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES. All are welcome, and we look forward to having you join us! Sign up for the fun here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bezark-friends-book-club-somet

Grab yourself a cowboy hat and a cold sarsaparilla. For this Friday's STAFF PICK, Creative Coordinator Lex Rhodes recommends a visit to Pioneertown, CA - "Pioneertown sits nestled amidst the rocks of the high desert, a short detour from Joshua Tree National Park. It is an old live-in western movie set turned creative-hub and hangout for writers, painters, musicians, bikers, and other wayward souls. "Mane Street" boasts a motel, a gun show, a small western film museum, a ceram...ics barn, a goat soap shop, and unforgettably, Pappy & Harriet's Pioneertown Palace Saloon, where I ate the best nachos of my life. Behind the old west facades, people continue to live, farm, and create art. With no shortage of pioneering spirit, Pioneertown is a paradox - very real in some ways and yet aggressively fake and manicured in others. It's a strange, delightful sliver of idealized history that'll absolutely scramble your sense of time and place." See more

For this week's STAFF PICK, Senior Coordinator Julia recommends Noah's Ark at the Skirball Cultural Center. (No, you don't have to file in in pairs of two.) "The Noah’s Ark exhibit at the Skirball Center is one of the most imaginative tellings of this well-known story. Focusing on the tale from a child’s point of view allows so much art, creativity, and frankly, fun! Kids can encounter animal puppets made of recycled materials, make the rain that brings the flood, or crawl around inside the Ark with all kinds of rescued animals. The Noah’s Ark exhibit really resonated with me as a story of animal conservation and climate change, and the information was given in a much more interesting way than was available when I was a child. It inspired me to crawl around right alongside the kids!"

On this day in theme park history: Big Thunder Mountain Railroad opens at Disneyland in 1979. This beloved family coaster replaced the similar-but-slower Mine Train Thru Nature’s Wonderland ride. The first project creatively led by Disney Imagineering Legend Tony Baxter, Big Thunder retained some elements of the original ride, such as the scaled-down frontier buildings from the little mining town of Rainbow Ridge. The new attraction featured runaway trains, errant explosives, and giant rock spires - inSPIREd (sorry) by the famous hoodoos of Bryce Canyon, Utah. Some fans claim that if you keep your eyes locked on the dynamite-chewing goat as you speed around the bend, you’ll trick your inner ear into feeling an intense swirling sensation. Others say you’ll just see a goat chewing on dynamite.

As you kick up your feet and switch into weekend mode, enjoy this fresh STAFF PICK, compliments of one of our Creative Directors, Devin Flanigan - "An unexpected upside of these last few months has been the huge boom in drive-in movie theaters. I have so many fond childhood memories of summer nights spent under the stars at drive-in movies back in Ohio. Luckily, Southern California has been offering an ever-growing slate of traditional and pop-up drive-in experiences all summ...er. My favorite is the American Cinematheque Road Trip at the Mission Tiki Drive-in Theatre & Swap Meet. Teaming up with Beyond Fest, this fun tiki-festooned theater has been showing terrific double-bills of classic action and horror fare every Thursday, complete with themed trailers and vintage drive-in ads. Enthusiastic cinephiles honk at all the right times, and some even show up in costume or themed vehicles." See more

On this day in theme park history: Henry Dircks, the engineer credited as the primary designer of the famous Pepper's Ghost effect, was born in Liverpool, England, 1806. Some of the Bezark Team's favorite attractions utilize Pepper's Ghost, including The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, the Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough, and perhaps most famously, the Haunted Mansion. Dircks originally dubbed the projection effect the "Dirckensian Phantasmagoria," but much to his annoyance, it became commonly known instead as "Pepper's Ghost" after his colleague, John Henry Pepper. It was Pepper who implemented the first large-scale instance of the concept in a Christmas Eve performance of "The Haunted Man" by Charles Dickens and eventually came to hold all financial rights to the effect. #themeparks #peppersghost #specialeffects #illusions