Throwback Thursday - The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights

The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights was a grand Christmas lights display which enjoyed a 20-year run in Disney's Hollywood Studios. It debuted in 1995 and closed at the end of the 2015 Christmas season on January 6, 2016.

Jennings Osborne was a businessman from Little Rock, Arkansas. He began decorating his home in 1986 at the request of his daughter, Breezy. Each year, the display grew until, in 1993, the display had over three million lights. Disputes with neighbors led the state Supreme Court to shut down the display. The case brought national attention and offers by several cities to host the display. Eventually, Osborne accepted the offer made by Disney to bring the display to the Orlando resort. It was set up on Residential Street in Disney's Hollywood Studios (at the time, Disney-MGM Studios) and was an immediate success.

Throughout it's 20-year run, the display underwent several changes. Originally, they used only the original lights from the Osborne estate. However, subsequent transformations saw the display grow to a size of over five million lights. The display was made up of over 10 miles of rope lighting connected by another 30 miles of extension cords. The extension cords and lights were held together using two million ties. It took 20,000 man-hours to install the display each holiday season, starting in September. The lights were turned on at dusk each night, starting in mid-November and running into the first week of January, and required 800,000 watts of electricity.

Throughout the years, Imagineers would
include "hidden objects for people to find. This included Hidden Mickeys, a cat and various Disney characters. By 2007, over 40 Hidden Mickeys could be found in the display. Constructions needs required the display to be moved in 2004. It was moved to New York Street (now known as Streets of America) and an artificial snow effect was added. 
A 2006 upgrade saw the installation of 1500 dimmer relay circuits which were choreographed to music. It was then that display also got it's current name.

2011 saw the display's biggest overhaul when all the lights were swapped out for LED lights including ropelights. All choreographed sequences were redone. Whenever a choreographed song was played the lights "dance" to the music. After each performance, the lights remained steady for about seven minutes before "dancing" again to another selection; other holiday selections play during the intermissions, along with recorded "live" segments from a fictional radio station (with Arnie and Anne) and visits from Disney characters. The dancing segments cycled roughly every 40–60 minutes.

On September 11, 2015, Disney announced it would be the final year of the display. Construction needs for the Toy Story and Star Wars land would require the closure of Streets of America. The final songs the lights danced to were "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" and "Mickey Mouse Club Alma Mater".

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