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Vintage Walt Disney World: What Does Disney History Have in Common with the Summer Games?

Nate Rasmussen

by , Librarian, Walt Disney Archives

Have you caught it yet? Sports fever is sweeping the world, and we’re only a week into the 2012 London games. With every game, the host city introduces the world to their very own mascot, and London is no different. Have you caught a glimpse of Wenlock and Mandeville? (I think there’s something oddly familiar about them…)

For the 1984 summer games in Los Angeles, Disney Legend and publicity artist Bob Moore created Sam the Eagle, the mascot for the games.
Sam the Eagle, the Mascot for the 1984 Los Angeles Games, Created by Disney Legend Bob Moore

Introduced after the end of the 1980 games in Moscow, Sam the Eagle was extremely popular and appeared on merchandise like PVC figures, plush animals, plates, pins, trophies, mugs, key chains, statuettes, stickers, t-shirts and even Frisbees.
Sam the Eagle, the Mascot for the 1984 Los Angeles Games, Created by Disney Legend Bob Moore

I think Sam the Eagle and Sam Eagle should get together to produce an even more amazing “salute to all nations but mostly America” over at Muppet*Vision 3-D. It would be one very spirited collaboration.

Read more about how Disney Parks are getting in the spirit of the summer games in the posts below:

Comments

  • Now that’s a mascot!

  • “I think Sam the Eagle and Sam Eagle should get together to produce an even more amazing “salute to all nations but mostly America” over at Muppet*Vision 3-D. It would be one very spirited collaboration.”

    SO FUNNY ! Great post thanks!!

    xo
    tiffany t

  • Well, both of Disney’s “Sam Eagle/Eagle Sam” characters do look quite identical to each other. Maybe they’re twins. 😀

  • This is clearly the same Sam Eagle that hosted Disneyland’s long-gone America Sings attraction.

    • It’s not, I promise. That’s actually Eagle Sam. (The Walt Disney Archives verified this fact for me!)

  • Is he related to muppet Sam the Eagle? LOL

  • I grew up in L.A., and was a child during the LA Games. Loved Same the Eagle, my favorite Olympic mascot ever. I had no idea there was a Disney connection to his creation. I agree with your Sam/Sam collaboration, but what would Statler and Waldorf have to say about that?

    • Oh, I’m sure they’d throw in their two cents, and it’d be sarcastic – that’s for sure.

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