Square Peg Pinhole: Disney Hall Closes L.A. Pinhole Photo Series

Walt Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles

I'm not adverse to Disney. I'm not a fan of Disney. Disney is Disney, a mega-bajillion dollar corporation that knows how to entertain the hell out of kids (and adults). They're good at what they do. They know the formula for making even the grumpiest of dwarfs smile.

And Disney has provided me with two very happy experiences in recent months. The first was my visit to Disneyworld with my wife and The Girl in the week between Christmas and New Year. The park was crowded and I expected my six-year-old to meltdown at some point. It must be the pixie-dust they put in the water...

there was no meltdown. In fact, The Girl was happy and smiling even as midnight and park closing approached.

We stopped in the middle of a very crowded Main Street, U.S.A. to watch the fireworks (two pyrotechnic displays that night: they usual closing and a special New Year's show). Manufactured snow fell from above, landing on our faces as we watched. The Girl was smiling and so very happy. All I could thinks was "this really is the happiest damn place on earth." Any concern that all this fake magic was created by a mega-bajillion dollar corporation disappeared because it didn't matter. In fact, it was a good thing. Those moments holding hands with J and The Girl really were some of the happiest I've experienced. They're memories I possess and will treasure forever.

I know Disney did not design or build L.A.'s Walt Disney Concert Hall, part of The Los Angeles Music Center (see Peace on Earth), but Lillian Disney gave $50 million in 1987 to start a project as a tribute to Walt Disney's dedication to the arts. In all, Disney folks and corporation gave more than $100 million toward the $270 million project. Taking pinholes of the Frank Gehry designed stainless steel curves was another Disney-inspired moment that will live with me.

Bit of trivia: in 2005 some of the reflective panels were sanded to reduce glare following complaints of skyrocketing air conditioning costs at a neighboring condominium complex. Temperatures on surrounding sidewalks affected by the reflected sunlight reached 140 degrees at times.

I think this if my final L.A. post. Here's a link to the rest of the L.A. series.