It's Disney, Again...
Who knew Disney was this haunted?
This post is inspired by
! Thank you Soph 💕The Tragic Tale of Deborah Gail Stone
In the summer of 1974, a tragic accident occurred at Disneyland, casting a shadow over the happiest place on Earth. The story of Deborah Gail Stone is both haunting and heartbreaking.
Deborah Gail Stone was an 18-year-old hostess working at the newly opened America Sings attraction in Disneyland's Tomorrowland. The attraction featured rotating stages that allowed the audience to move from one scene to another without leaving their seats. Deborah's job was to greet guests as they entered and exited the show.
On the evening of July 8, 1974, a tragic accident happened. As the rotating stages moved, Deborah was caught between a stationary wall and a moving stage. The space was narrow, and the powerful machinery left no room for escape. Despite attempts to rescue her, the young hostess was crushed to death. The accident was horrific and left guests and staff in shock.
On July 10, 1974, The Los Angeles Times reported that "she died at 11:00 p.m., during a 45-second interval when the audience had left her theater and it was moving into position to start a new cycle.
Daniel Robison, 33, a member of the Air Force from Castle Air Force Base near Merced, was sitting with his family in the front row of an adjoining theater.
He told investigators he looked to his right, saw what he thought was a child being pulled between the platform and wall and heard a scream.
When the platform stopped, he said, he notified operators.
The Times also published that Stone was "the first employee to be killed in an accident in Disneyland during its 19-year history." However, at the time, the newspaper said that four visitors had died in the park "in other accidents."
The Attraction
America Sings was a musical revue show that featured animatronic characters singing American folk songs. The show was housed in a circular theater that rotated around six fixed stages. The audience would remain seated as the theater rotated, moving from one scene to the next.
The design of the attraction was innovative but also had its risks. The rotating theater created a narrow space between the moving and stationary walls, which proved to be dangerous.
The Aftermath
The immediate aftermath of the accident was filled with sorrow and disbelief. Disneyland officials quickly shut down the attraction and conducted a thorough investigation. It was determined that a lack of proper safety measures and warning systems contributed to the tragic incident.
As a result, Disneyland made significant changes to ensure such an accident would never happen again. They installed safety lights and alarms to warn employees when the stages were about to move. Additionally, more rigorous safety protocols and training were implemented for all staff members.
Remembering Deborah
Deborah Gail Stone was a bright and promising young woman, loved by her family and friends. Her tragic death was a stark reminder of the importance of workplace safety. To honor her memory, Disneyland took steps to ensure the safety of its attractions, preventing similar accidents from occurring in the future.
The story of Deborah Gail Stone had a lasting impact on Disneyland and the wider amusement park industry.
Izel…
Tragic loss. We were there days after it happened. Better safety measures were implemented on every ride and attraction. There much less crowds overall. I am sure that my parents knew of the tragedy, but I was unaware. Until today. 🥹
So sad. That poor lady. We had a horrendous tragedy here in England a few years back at Alton Towers involving a steel rollercoaster called The Smiler - a loaded train crashed into a test train. The two people sitting at the front (a young couple in their late teens) lived thankfully, but there were amputations. Last I heard, they got married - hopefully they're living their best lives as best they can. 💚