Latest news with #familyentertainment
Sky News
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Sky News
Wrestling star Hulk Hogan has died
Hulk Hogan, the legendary WWE wrestler and actor has died aged 71, Sky's US partner NBC News understands. It was reported earlier that emergency vehicles were seen outside his home in Clearwater, Florida. Hogan's charisma and theatrics in the ring are credited with helping to transform professional wrestling into a family entertainment sport. Please refresh the page for the latest version.
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘I managed to get tickets for the big show in Manchester this weekend'
This is the moment we've all dreamed of. If you were in Manchester this weekend you surely felt the anticipation. Bars and restaurants are packed, the Metrolink was rammed, everyone is wearing the merch, young and old all scrambling to get their hands on a ticket. And that's because a very special group have reunited to put on a legendary set of shows that will be talked about for generations. Finally, they've placed their differences aside and are putting on a united front to showcase what they do best and give the people who have adored them for years what they want. There's been no media in the build up. No public 'falling out' to generate hype. This is a show where the group's raw talent simply speaks for itself. I am, of course, talking about Paw Patrol Live: The Great Pirate Adventure, at Manchester's AO Arena. There is a local Burnage act also performing this weekend - but staff around Victoria Station manage to juggle their fans en route to Bury alongside a minor army of parents and kids queueing for the AO Arena brilliantly. It's all very well organised and the atmosphere is quite celebratory and joyous from both parties. The show brings together the key cast of the beloved programme, led by Ryder, to go on a heroic mission to find hidden pirate treasure. And within moments of them marching onto the stage, there is cheering, screaming, furious mopping by staff over spilt drinks from an accident that happened the second the lights went down, and smatterings of tears too from slightly overwhelmed kids. It's a lot. As someone said to us before the show: "this is Oasis for kids". Once the mayhem all settles down though it's a really fun show: panto-on-speed, some very catchy songs and lots of very happy children in the crowd. The biggest cheers are reserved for when the pups come out on their vehicles - we love a vehicle - and the live production manages to have a flavour of the high-octane action scenes that characterise the Nickelodeon TV show which are obviously not easy to reproduce on stage. Many parents upon reaching the interval decide they're going to need a beer to get through this - even if it is almost £10 for a pint - but our three-year-old is utterly mesmerised throughout, so entranced that even his beloved Fruit Shoot doesn't interest him. At times some of the audience-participation segments don't really quite work for an arena the size of the AO, however the cast are really giving it 110%. It's a sugar-rush of an afternoon, lasting just over an hour-and-a-half plus a 20-minute break in the middle, and a great treat for kids over the summer. PAW Patrol Live! is on a roll – and coming to cities all across the UK this summer. Tickets are available now from
Fast Company
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Fast Company
Disneyland reshaped the Experience Economy. But 70 years ago, it had a literal meltdown on opening day
It's almost impossible to imagine an entertainment landscape without Disney. Since the 1928 release of Steamboat Willie, starring Mickey Mouse and voiced by creator Walt Disney, the company has been at the forefront of family-friendly entertainment. One of the many accomplishments by Walt Disney was the 1955 opening of his flagship amusement park, Disneyland, a place where families could spend magical time together. Today (Thursday, July 17, 2025) marks the 70th anniversary of the beginnings of the happiest place on earth. Let's take a look at the numbers then and now and examine business lessons hard-earned from the disastrous opening day. When was Disneyland's actual opening day? Officially, Disneyland celebrates July 17 as its opening date. Technically this was an invitation-only gala with around 15,000 people expected (sources vary on the exact number) to attend. Many at home watched the festivities because it was broadcast by ABC, the network that helped finance the park. The following day, July 18, the park was open to the general public for the first time. People began lining up at 2 a.m. According to a New York Times headline, 15,000 people managed to queue up before the 10 a.m. opening. It only took 10 weeks for a million visitors to experience the park. Just five years after opening, the park boasted 5 million visitors a year. How many lands were in Disneyland then and now? Disneyland cost $17 million to create. 'The eighth wonder of the world' opened with five themed lands and 35 attractions, as noted by CNBC, spanning 60 guest-accessible acres. A single entrance that led to Main Street USA transported visitors, preparing them for whimsical moments ahead. Fantasy, Adventure, Tomorrow, and Frontier lands contained attractions such as Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, Autopia, Mark Twain Riverboat, and the Jungle Cruise—all of which are still open today. Today, Disneyland's expanded 98 acres are the home of 82 things to do, according to its rides and entertainment map on the official website. Four additional lands have multiplied the magic: New Orleans Square debuted in 1966 Bear Country (now Bayou Country) in 1972 Mickey's Toontown in 1993 Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge in 2019 The whole resort spans 550 acres, including an additional park, Disney's California Adventure, Downtown Disney, an outdoor shopping and dining center, and multiple hotels. How much did it cost to get into Disneyland when it opened? Admission to the park worked differently in 1955. Visitors had to purchase a general ticket, which was $1 for adults and 50 cents for children. Attractions required additional tickets, which ranged in cost from 10 cents to 35 cents. According to a 1955 Associated Press article, if you wanted to do it all in 1955, it would cost $8.70 for an adult and $5.15 for a child. Admission in 2025 depends on the date, how many parks you want to visit, and if you want any additional add ons to skip ahead in the line. A one-day, one-park ticket ranges from $104 to $206 for adults, and $98 to $196 for kids. Children under the age of 3 are free. Purchasing a Lightning Lane Multi Pass adds an additional $32.00 per ticket, per day and does not work on all attractions. And then there are the parking costs. What went wrong on opening day? July 17, 1955, was anything but perfect. The park simply wasn't ready, but Walt Disney decided to open anyway. Workers scrambled until the last possible second to finish what they could. Thousands more people were admitted than planned for because of forged tickets. The hot temperatures caused freshly paved asphalt to melt, as noted by Smithsonian magazine. There were not enough working drinking fountains because of a plumbers' strike. Walt Disney was forced to choose between making them operational or the bathrooms. He went with the toilets. Food ran out. Rides broke down. A small fire broke out near Sleeping Beauty's castle. Too many people rode the Mark Twain River boat, causing it to get stuck in the mud and take on water. Despite all that, Disneyland succeeded. How did Disneyland reshape the amusement park industry? Disneyland was able to overcome its disastrous opening day because of Walt Disney's commitment to his overall vision and willingness to adapt. His secret weapon was his brother Roy O. Disney, whose business acumen led to strategic corporate sponsorships. Before Disneyland, amusement parks were dingy and catered mainly to children. Walt dreamed of a park like no other, one that was clean and was designed for young and old alike. He wanted to bring out the inner child in every visitor. Walt considered Disneyland to be a perpetually blank canvas. 'Disneyland will never be completed. It will continue to grow as long as there is imagination left in the world,' he mused on opening day. 'It is something that will never be finished.' Walt was the creative mind and Roy was the practical one. Roy was instrumental in getting ABC to help fund Walt's dream. Even before opening, the magic of Disneyland came into everyone's homes via television thanks to the broadcast network (which the Walt Disney Company now owns). This genius marketing move created an enormous amount of hype. The live broadcast on opening day, while also far from perfect, generated even more buzz. Beyond ABC, other corporate sponsors supported individual attractions, a tradition still going strong today. Richfield Oil bolstered Autopia until 1970. Honda holds that title these days. Walt Disney's ability to push through difficulties and stay true to his vision, combined with his brother Roy's business skills, created an undeniable empire and changed the direction of the amusement park sector, known today as part of the broader Experience Economy. In 2025, U.S. amusement parks were expected to generate $35.5 billion, according to analysis from IBISWorld. Globally, theme parks attracted 244.6 million visitors in 2023, according to a report from AECOM. Competition between Disney and its rivals is constantly heating up. In the Orlando area, where Disney launched a sprawling theme park industry in the 1970s, it competes for visitors with Comcast's Universal, which recently opened its latest salvo: Epic Universe. Disneyland is proof you that don't have to get it perfect on the first day—you just have to continuously improve. As Disneyland turns 70, its theme park legacy is undeniable. With 12 parks around the world and plans for number 13 recently announced, Walt's gamble certainly paid off.
News.com.au
14-07-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Moorabbin bowling alley saved as General Public reveals plans
Melbourne's longest running bowling alley is set to be reopened in time for Christmas after a more than $10m play that has saved it from developers. The Moorabbin bowling lanes date back to the 1964, and have been operated by popular groups from AMF to Zone. It's now just months away from being reopened under the banner of General Public, who plan to not only reopen it — but make it a bigger draw card for families from as far as Melbourne's Bayside suburbs. Inside East Sunbury's new $80m shopping village Actor Ryan Reynolds, Wrexham help pay Aussie mortgages General Public managing director Harry Kourbeis said while they were still firming up all of their plans, the bowling lanes would definitely be a part of it — but there will be less of them. 'You can expected another bowling offering to come back to what is known as one of the earliest bowling centres in Victoria,' Mr Kourbeis said. 'And we're hoping to open by early December. 'But we will reduce the lanes to 12. We are expecting more of a social interest, than a competitive bowling one, so that will give more room for other activities.' General Public also have venues in Dingley, Frankston, Corio in Geelong and the Queensland city of Ipswich. They typically offer bowling, gaming arcades, pool tables, and golfing simulators. Bowling leagues, as well as kids events are among their regular offerings. They're also planning to give the venue a menu makeover and offer 'good comfort food' made from quality ingredients that suits casual dining – and takes things a step beyond the usual bowling alley fare. Mr Kourbeis said when he had seen the forthcoming sale sign at the property while driving to one of the existing General Public sites in Dingley he 'couldn't stop quickly enough to get the details'. 'I thought it was perfectly located,' he said. The entertainment retail industry veteran also appreciated the site's 1960s character, something he has little intention of changing on the outside — despite bigger plans for inside. The local landmark at 944-954 Nepean Highway was listed for sale in January and sold in March this year for $10.2m. Three months later, Zone Bowling in Moorabbin was closed on June 13 ahead of a new site under that brand being opened at Southland on June 19. JLL's Dominic McGrath worked on the sale and said there had been interest from retailers as well as developers, despite heritage aspects giving some pause to those planning a significant transformation. 'But a lot of retailers and some developers were looking at it,' Mr McGrath said. 'The size gave it a lot of flexibility, so it was a competitive campaign.' He added that with other parties still looking, there was still demand in the $10m range for larger Moorabbin addresses. However, Mr McGrath said it was a good thing for Melbourne that a bowling alley was likely to continue on at the site. 'A lot of people we spoke to knew it straight away, having taken their kids there and having gone there when they were younger,' he said. 'So it's great for the area that it may stay there. People in the bayside area will be pretty rapt to see it continue as a bowling alley.' JLL's Xander Yeo was also involved in the sale and said it was a win for the wider community that the 'Nepean Highway landmark' would continue on as an entertainment spot.
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Toddler Techno' star bringing 2025 tour to Boston - Here's how to buy tickets
Lenny Pearce is a musician who is huge in family entertainment and the pioneer of 'Toddler Techno' and 'Baby Raves.' His 2025 'Toddler Techno' tour will make its way to Australia, New Zealand, the USA, Europe, and Asia. His USA shows will kick off in October, making stops in Las Vegas, San Diego, Phoenix, Nashville, New York, Boston and more. Fans can shop for tickets online at Ticketmaster or using reliable third-party ticket sellers like StubHub, VividSeats and SeatGeek. *New customers who purchase tickets through VividSeats can get $20 off a $200+ ticket order by using the promo code MassLive20 at checkout.* Lenny Pearce's USA 'Toddler Techno Tour - Part 2″ will be at Citizens House of Blues in Boston, MA on Tuesday, November 4. As of Tuesday, July 1 the cheapest tickets to that show are $54 on StubHub, $52 on VividSeats and $56 on SeatGeek. Pearce is an Australian DJ and producer driven by his passion as a father and his strong commitment to his home life, according to his website. He has over 2.5 million followers on social media. He makes songs and videos with infectious rhythms, strong basslines and upbeat tempos that are perfect for children and families. Pearce also takes popular children's songs and nursery rhymes and puts a fresh techno twist on them. Below is a look at some of Pearce's music on his YouTube channel: 'Lenny's influence is set to expand through collaborations with trusted children's brands such as Nickelodeon, Disney, Hasbro, Blippi, Paw Patrol, Warner Brothers, and more, further cementing him as one of the globe's most loved family entertainers,' his website reads. 90s R&B icons announce co-headling tour Reneé Rapp announces 2025 tour, here's how to buy tickets Maroon 5 making comeback with U.S. Arena Tour, new album - Where to buy tickets TikToker Maddox Batson is coming to Boston - Here's how to buy tickets Shawn Mendes 2025 tour coming to Boston, where to buy tickets online Read the original article on MassLive.
