Last Year's New 50' Christmas Tree

Zephon · July 06, 2008, 10:52:43 PM

I was browsing thru some old topics and found one on Christmas '07 that hadn't been posted in since last fall. You all were talking about your expectations for the new Christmas Tree at the Gazebo. Seeing sdcforever's Christmas picture under his name made me think to ask what you all ended up thinking about the tree, now that it's been thru one season.

The new LED lighting was a big improvement, IMO, and the sections were smaller, allowing for more intricate programming. Did you like the music? Did you like the way they programmed the lights to the music? Did you think the lights synced up to the music well?

I have a special interest in hearing your opinions, which I will tell you later, along with some of my own impressions.

shavethewhales · July 07, 2008, 11:21:56 AM

Overall, I really liked it. To nitpick, I would say that I was kinda dissapointment with how plain the new tree is now. It's more of a big green cone with lights than a tree, and there are no decorations on it whereas the old tree had those hollowed out places with the angels and a bunch of massive ornaments.

It's really intended to be a light show now though, and it does excel there. I think the addition of the surrounding trees in the area really accentuates it more than I thought it would.

sdcforever · July 07, 2008, 12:22:09 PM

I really liked the tree a lot. I do miss the huge ornaments, like the angels. It was incredible the intricate programming patterns they used with the tree, and those combined with the surrounding trees kept me in awe during the light show. I liked the music selections, especially using "The Polar Express". As long as they keep David Foster's rendition of "Carol of the Bells" I'll always be happy with the music!

Old Guy · July 07, 2008, 02:40:57 PM

I just watched a video of the tree, and from what I could see It is an impressive display. I however have issues about whether It, the parade, or any of the more modern elements are realy what SDC is for me. When the twelve days of Christmas began, It was strolling carolers, a little show behind the church, trees and orniments in all the shops that had somthing to do with that shop, and yes, all the lights which are admitidly anacronistic, but the didn't call so much attention to themselves. You got the fealing that this was the little mountain town with an old fashoned Christmas celibration. The first year the old tree went up I was so disillusioned. Its more Mall of America than SDC and as technologicly incredable and as well done as the display is, It's anything but quaint. Maybe I'm just too stuck in the past. Come on, look at my picture!

History Buff · July 07, 2008, 08:13:27 PM

I loved the first years of Christmas at the park. We were so excited they were finally open for the holiday. A snow machine allowed people to even sled down a short hill. There were living Raggedy Ann and Andy characters and wood soldiers who even did a show on Main. It was weird when Boys 2 Men did a TV special out there one year (Believe it or not!). You're right about the quaint atmosphere - it was so leisurely - but, Old Guy, if you'll remember, there was a light show on Lake Silver, with lighted figures. There really wasn't room for a very big audience to stand for the show, though. I also remember they trucked Bob Hope out in some kind of vehicle (probably a golf cart) to flip the switch one year. One of the highlights, for once, was the Ozark Marketplace. All the junk, last-minute-see-if-we-can-squeeze-ya-for-one-more-souvenir stuff was removed and replaced with themed Christmas trees.

However, I think there is room for both. The new tree is terrific, and I love finally having the surrounding area synced with it. It was as if you had to spin in place to see it all - truly immersive. It truly paints the whole front area in a whole new, well, light. I don't miss the angels and ornaments at all - I always thought having break in the tree was kind of strange. I wondered years ago why they never involved the whole area in the show like they did last year, and my daughter was absolutely in awe, which made it all the more worth our while. Now, if they ever light the sky with lasers, I'd say they've gone too far.

sdcforever · July 08, 2008, 08:41:52 AM

Quote from: History Buff on July 07, 2008, 08:13:27 PM
I loved the first years of Christmas at the park. We were so excited they were finally open for the holiday. A snow machine allowed people to even sled down a short hill. There were living Raggedy Ann and Andy characters and wood soldiers who even did a show on Main. It was weird when Boys 2 Men did a TV special out there one year (Believe it or not!).

You must be talking about Kenny Rogers' Christmas Special from 1992, "Keep Christmas With You". It featured footage of Kenny Rogers, Trisha Yearwood, Boyz II Men, and Garth Brooks. Kenny Rogers hand-picked five kids from across the country and gave them a Christmas they'd never forget. It featured previously recorded footage of the country stars interacting with the kids, while being broadcast live from the Grand Palace! It also showed previously recorded footage of Kenny and the kids on a special outing at Silver Dollar City! The Lord has blessed us with YouTube, and I have found a video of Boyz II Men and Kenny Rogers performing "The First Noel" at SDC in front of a Christmas tree on the square! Here's a link, and enjoy!
http://youtube.com/watch?v=jvFnpHCyNQY

History Buff · July 08, 2008, 11:43:20 AM

Exactly. That's what it was - you're right.

Swoosh · July 10, 2008, 08:17:06 PM

I think the difference was night and day

2007 Tree of Lights
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CuWBDDEsaOg

2006 Tree of Lights
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5IpzSWaiPM&feature=related

sdcforever · July 10, 2008, 10:15:56 PM

^The second link is the same as the first link, but I found the 2006 Tree of Lights on the menu. You're right, though. The difference is night and day between the two trees.

Zephon · July 11, 2008, 09:51:52 PM

Thanks for your replies.

I agree that the new tree is much more brilliant than the old one, because of the LED lights, and the fact that it is divided up into smaller sections. By that I mean, with the old tree, of course there were 8 sides, with 5 different colors of mini-lights on each side, and when you turned on any single color, that whole side from top to bottom lit up. Now, there are still 5 colors on each side, but there are 27 separate sections (9 levels of 3) of colors that can be lit individually on each side. This allows for much more versatility in patterns of movement.

And because of this simple fact, the tree appears to be doing alot. But, overall, I'm disappointed in the programming of the lights to the music. Yes, there are a lot of cool patterns revolving around the tree, but generally, those patterns have no relationship to the song itself. At best, on some songs the patterns do manage to change on the beat of the music. Other than that, it's just a bunch of different patterns moving around while the music plays. You could just about play any song you wanted with those patterns and it would fit just as well. It's like something you might see at Disney. I wish they had been able to personalize the lighting program to the song it's being played with.

If you recall the old tree, the lights flashed along with the melodies of the songs. The lights moved with the intensity of the music, and danced with the melody. Either the tree colors went with the melody while the rows of candles kept the beat, or sometimes it was the other way around. The angel trumpeters lit up with horn passages in the music. Etc. Etc. I know that a lot of time, a lot of care, and a lot of thought was put in to making the light movement reflect the melody and mood of the particular song that it was programmed to.

So, while being excited about the new makeup of the tree, I was disappointed in what they ended up with in terms of programming. Does that make sense to anyone, and if you have seen both trees perform, do you see what I mean?

Swoosh · July 11, 2008, 10:46:52 PM

In defense of the park, they had to retrofit the old tree with the new lights because they had troubles finding anyone who could make one as big as they originally intended. That caused a delay in overall time table that they were working with so be thankful it turned out as well as it did.

They must be doing SOMETHING right though as it was showcased on GMA.

Zephon · July 11, 2008, 11:58:32 PM

Actually, they couldn't find a company that would make the larger tree for what they were willing to pay for it. That's when they decided just to redo the old one. Further, the new tree was set up and demo'd in August. I worked on it to help get it set up. The programmer had the "Carol of the Bells" song already programmed because that's what they demo'd the tree with. He therefore had better than two months to complete the programming on the other five songs. More than enough time to come up with something that would have fit the songs better. You see, he had visualization software of the tree such that he didn't need the actual tree to do the programming.

You know, I'm not saying that the tree wasn't acceptable and pleasing to the general public. It obviously was. I'm just saying that, as someone with experience in the field, and really knowing and understanding what a wonderful piece of equipment they had to work with, I was disappointed and I tried to explain why. It basically comes down to what you're willing to settle for.

sdcforever · July 12, 2008, 09:45:19 AM

^I was awed by the new tree, but I did notice what you're pointing out, Zephon. It seemed that the music and the lights didn't always match up perfectly. However, I felt they did a great job with "Carol of the Bells". Now I know why, since that was the first song programmed!

I think I, like everyone else, was just overwhelmed by the entire light show on the square, and that diminished any feelings of the new tree not being as intricately programmed as the old one.

Zephon · July 12, 2008, 06:43:22 PM

I hear ya.