SFD 357: Sent with an X

Set sail for New Orleans Square in this episode of Sent from Disneyland as we explore two postcards connected to one of Disneyland's most beloved attractions: Pirates of the Caribbean. The first postcard, mailed in 1970, captures a panoramic view of New Orleans Square with the Pirates entrance, Royal Street storefronts, and the charming details that made the land feel like a living piece of old New Orleans. A note from a family vacationing across Southern California provides a glimpse into a classic road trip that included Disneyland, Knott's Berry Farm, Universal Studios, SeaWorld, the San Diego Zoo, and the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Inspired by a recent reading of X Atencio: The Legacy of an Artist, Imagineer and Disney Legend, the history segment takes a deep dive into the remarkable contributions of Disney Legend X Atencio. From writing and storyboarding Pirates of the Caribbean to creating the auction scene, helping shape the attraction's narrative structure, and co-writing "Yo Ho (A Pirate's Life for Me)" with George Bruns, X left an unforgettable mark on Disneyland history. Along the way, we revisit Walt Disney's famous advice about treating the attraction like a cocktail party—allowing guests to discover something new with every voyage. The second postcard, featuring Br'er Bear and Br'er Fox greeting guests in New Orleans Square in 1976, leads to another fascinating chapter of Pirates history: the creation of "No Dough Productions." This informal group of Disney employees and Imagineers provided voices for attractions, helping bring Pirates of the Caribbean to life while keeping production costs under control. We explore X Atencio's own voice contributions, including the iconic talking skull that welcomes guests into the attraction. To close the show, an incoming postcard arrives from London featuring a classic red Royal Mail post box near St. Paul's Cathedral. The beautiful artwork, international postage, and reflections on weather, postcards, and summer correspondence provide the perfect ending to an episode devoted to storytelling through both attractions and the mail. From Royal Street and pirate shanties to talking skulls and London post boxes, this episode celebrates the creativity, artistry, and history that continue to make Pirates of the Caribbean one of Disneyland's enduring treasures. Below are some of the regulars on Art Throw Down, Follow all of them on Instagram anyway for great art and postcards in your Instagram feed: Hipstadufus, luluvision, jlynch9923, greenmosspaper, georgemailsart, state_of_the_funyun, RussRomano2021