Todd Martens
@toddmartens.bsky.social
Columnist for LA Times | I cover video games, immersive entertainment & theme parks. | I take a lot bad pics of Disneyland | I also like cats
Pinned
Todd Martens
@toddmartens.bsky.social
· Jan 22
Science can explain a broken heart. Could science help heal mine?
Science shows that heartbreak doesn't just hurt emotionally. It can affect our brains and immune systems. I asked researchers if science could also mend my broken heart.
www.latimes.com
Science can explain a broken heart. Can science help cure one? This is a deeply personal story that I spent the better part of the last year living and reporting. Please read if you’re able to.
Do you enjoy theme parks? Watch this documentary, which does an excellent job of portraying the artistry behind these spaces. Full disclosure, I’m in it, but I couldn’t be more thrilled with what the team accomplished and I thank them for interviewing me.
November 19, 2025 at 5:40 AM
Do you enjoy theme parks? Watch this documentary, which does an excellent job of portraying the artistry behind these spaces. Full disclosure, I’m in it, but I couldn’t be more thrilled with what the team accomplished and I thank them for interviewing me.
I was lucky enough to get to interview Jay Stein a year ago. He was as fiery as I had hoped. Here’s a story about how he changed all theme parks forever.
www.latimes.com/entertainmen...
www.latimes.com/entertainmen...
How the Universal Studios tram tour defined the modern theme park
The most important theme park ride ever created? It may just be the Universal Studios tram tour, which dates to the silent film era. Once primarily a behind-the-scenes tour, the trek has evolved to de...
www.latimes.com
November 9, 2025 at 7:06 AM
I was lucky enough to get to interview Jay Stein a year ago. He was as fiery as I had hoped. Here’s a story about how he changed all theme parks forever.
www.latimes.com/entertainmen...
www.latimes.com/entertainmen...
Dinner theater, reimagined. “Family Meal” is a pricey but special show. Immersive theater for those weaned on the likes of Anthony Bourdain’s “Kitchen Confidential,” “The Bear” and other high-energy, behind-the-scene looks at the restaurant business.
www.latimes.com/lifestyle/st...
www.latimes.com/lifestyle/st...
This 'The Bear'-esque dining experience puts you in the center of the kitchen chaos
At Speakeasy Society's 'Family Meal,' curse words are thrown, recipes are slandered and it all makes for fun, irresistible drama.
www.latimes.com
October 9, 2025 at 12:22 PM
Dinner theater, reimagined. “Family Meal” is a pricey but special show. Immersive theater for those weaned on the likes of Anthony Bourdain’s “Kitchen Confidential,” “The Bear” and other high-energy, behind-the-scene looks at the restaurant business.
www.latimes.com/lifestyle/st...
www.latimes.com/lifestyle/st...
Amanda Shires’ ‘Nobody’s Girl’ is one of the year’s most honest explorations of heartbreak
www.latimes.com/entertainmen...
www.latimes.com/entertainmen...
Amanda Shires' 'Nobody's Girl' is one of the year's most honest explorations of heartbreak
'Nobody's Girl' is the album as personal quest — for healing, for understanding and for being heard.
www.latimes.com
September 29, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Amanda Shires’ ‘Nobody’s Girl’ is one of the year’s most honest explorations of heartbreak
www.latimes.com/entertainmen...
www.latimes.com/entertainmen...
The creator of "The Jejune Institute," a crucial modern immersive text, is back with a new experience in "The Cortege." It's an exploration of grief and community via the ancient art of the procession. But is it immersive? Designer Jeff Hull is conflicted
www.latimes.com/travel/story...
www.latimes.com/travel/story...
The most exciting immersive show in L.A. right now is a funeral
“The Cortège," running this September at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center, revives an ancient art — the procession — turning it into a communal release of grief.
www.latimes.com
September 11, 2025 at 4:14 PM
The creator of "The Jejune Institute," a crucial modern immersive text, is back with a new experience in "The Cortege." It's an exploration of grief and community via the ancient art of the procession. But is it immersive? Designer Jeff Hull is conflicted
www.latimes.com/travel/story...
www.latimes.com/travel/story...
“You can make every month horrific.”
Universal Horror Unleashed, a Halloween-style haunt opening this month in Las Vegas, is betting big that audiences are craving year-round frights.
The belief is that guests today are craving a darker sort of fairy tale.
www.latimes.com/travel/story...
Universal Horror Unleashed, a Halloween-style haunt opening this month in Las Vegas, is betting big that audiences are craving year-round frights.
The belief is that guests today are craving a darker sort of fairy tale.
www.latimes.com/travel/story...
Every day is Halloween. Why theme parks are going big on year-round horror experiences
The opening of Universal Horror Unleashed in Las Vegas signals that culture has now fully embraced the darker side of fairy tales.
www.latimes.com
August 5, 2025 at 12:58 PM
“You can make every month horrific.”
Universal Horror Unleashed, a Halloween-style haunt opening this month in Las Vegas, is betting big that audiences are craving year-round frights.
The belief is that guests today are craving a darker sort of fairy tale.
www.latimes.com/travel/story...
Universal Horror Unleashed, a Halloween-style haunt opening this month in Las Vegas, is betting big that audiences are craving year-round frights.
The belief is that guests today are craving a darker sort of fairy tale.
www.latimes.com/travel/story...
Laguna Beach’s Museum of Make Believe, a 1,000-square-foot love letter to fairy tales, is a fantastical, mystical wonderland, where fables of lost love, ghostly pets and irresistible avarice are told via miniature installations and ornate, storybook art.
www.latimes.com/travel/story...
www.latimes.com/travel/story...
Dapper puppets in a fantasy forest? Step inside this SoCal spot filled with handmade wonder
Laguna Beach's Museum of Make Believe celebrates timeless life lessons with storybook art and melancholic fairy tales.
www.latimes.com
July 29, 2025 at 10:28 AM
Laguna Beach’s Museum of Make Believe, a 1,000-square-foot love letter to fairy tales, is a fantastical, mystical wonderland, where fables of lost love, ghostly pets and irresistible avarice are told via miniature installations and ornate, storybook art.
www.latimes.com/travel/story...
www.latimes.com/travel/story...
Reposted by Todd Martens
My colleague @toddmartens.bsky.social looks back on 70 years at "the happiest place on Earth," Disneyland
www.latimes.com/travel/story...
www.latimes.com/travel/story...
What was the greatest Disneyland era? We look back on 70 years at the happiest place on Earth
A decade-by-decade retrospective that highlights the SoCal landmark's greatest creations, fascinating pivots and noteworthy blunders.
www.latimes.com
July 17, 2025 at 3:35 PM
My colleague @toddmartens.bsky.social looks back on 70 years at "the happiest place on Earth," Disneyland
www.latimes.com/travel/story...
www.latimes.com/travel/story...
The Nintendo Switch 2 is a refinement rather than a reinvention. Is that enough?
www.latimes.com/entertainmen...
www.latimes.com/entertainmen...
The Nintendo Switch 2 is a refinement rather than a reinvention. Is that enough?
The pricey Nintendo Switch 2 is a worthy successor to the original Switch. Expect it to be the vessel for Nintendo's play-focused storytelling for the next decade.
www.latimes.com
June 10, 2025 at 10:53 PM
The Nintendo Switch 2 is a refinement rather than a reinvention. Is that enough?
www.latimes.com/entertainmen...
www.latimes.com/entertainmen...
‘He’s ours.’ Walt Disney’s granddaughter takes a stand against Disneyland’s ‘robotic grandpa.’
www.latimes.com/lifestyle/st...
www.latimes.com/lifestyle/st...
Walt Disney will live again as a robot. His granddaughter says he never wanted this
As part of Disneyland's 70th anniversary, the company will introduce an animatronic of Walt Disney. But his granddaughter Joanna Miller believes the figure will do more harm than good.
www.latimes.com
June 3, 2025 at 3:11 PM
‘He’s ours.’ Walt Disney’s granddaughter takes a stand against Disneyland’s ‘robotic grandpa.’
www.latimes.com/lifestyle/st...
www.latimes.com/lifestyle/st...
Reposted by Todd Martens
"“When you’re not evaluating it against some kind of standard,” says Blackley, “you can be a kid again.” A fun article about @seamus.bsky.social and @a-sure-thing.bsky.social's attempts to grow cacao and make chocolate in LA, by @toddmartens.bsky.social.
May 22, 2025 at 9:35 AM
"“When you’re not evaluating it against some kind of standard,” says Blackley, “you can be a kid again.” A fun article about @seamus.bsky.social and @a-sure-thing.bsky.social's attempts to grow cacao and make chocolate in LA, by @toddmartens.bsky.social.
Too much happiness can be oppressive. Disneyland's 70th launches today, and by the end of its new “World of Color Happiness!,” I found myself wanting to scream at "Inside Out's" Joy: Just leave me alone and let me be down.
www.latimes.com/travel/story....
www.latimes.com/travel/story....
Disneyland's new water show: 'Inside Out's' 'Be happy' message irks, while the Muppets charm
"World of Color Happiness!" is one of the many entertainment offerings at Disneyland's 70th Celebration, an event that's planned to last through summer 2026.
https://www.latimes.com/travel/story/2025-05-15/disneyland-70th-world-of-color-inside-out-muppets#:~:text=“World%20of%20Color%20Happiness!”%20is%20one%20of%20the%20many,some%20other%20emotions%2C%20including%20Sadness
May 17, 2025 at 12:55 AM
Too much happiness can be oppressive. Disneyland's 70th launches today, and by the end of its new “World of Color Happiness!,” I found myself wanting to scream at "Inside Out's" Joy: Just leave me alone and let me be down.
www.latimes.com/travel/story....
www.latimes.com/travel/story....
It ‘keeps Walt alive in the medium he pioneered’: Imagineers defend new Walt Disney robot
www.latimes.com/travel/story...
www.latimes.com/travel/story...
It 'keeps Walt alive in the medium he pioneered': Imagineers defend new Walt Disney robot
A lifelike robotic Walt Disney will soon be unveiled at Disneyland. But the animatronic has raised ethical questions on whether such creations are exploitative.
www.latimes.com
May 2, 2025 at 5:44 PM
It ‘keeps Walt alive in the medium he pioneered’: Imagineers defend new Walt Disney robot
www.latimes.com/travel/story...
www.latimes.com/travel/story...
My dream of working in animation was dashed at an early age — 8, to be exact — when I failed at drawing a Mickey Mouse in this WDW animation class. But I appreciate that I ambitiously signed it
April 28, 2025 at 3:30 AM
My dream of working in animation was dashed at an early age — 8, to be exact — when I failed at drawing a Mickey Mouse in this WDW animation class. But I appreciate that I ambitiously signed it
Loved seeing a Beholder at Uni’s Fan Fest Nights. My father was a TSR exec and I had a lot of nostalgic feels here. Unfortunately the ambitious event is a mixed bag of experiences. Uni wants to elevate the haunt maze to theater, but did not fully commit to it. Hope to see it improve in the future.
April 27, 2025 at 6:20 AM
Loved seeing a Beholder at Uni’s Fan Fest Nights. My father was a TSR exec and I had a lot of nostalgic feels here. Unfortunately the ambitious event is a mixed bag of experiences. Uni wants to elevate the haunt maze to theater, but did not fully commit to it. Hope to see it improve in the future.
As someone who loves a good Disney monorail, it's always a joy to catch up with Bob Gurr. We touched on the new Walt animatronic ("There will be quite a reaction"), the cultural temperature (Trump is a "bully") and more.
www.latimes.com/travel/story...
www.latimes.com/travel/story...
He worked with Walt Disney to shape Disneyland. Now at 93, boy, does he have stories
Bob Gurr, the designer of the monorail, the Matterhorn Bobsleds, the Haunted Mansion "doom buggies" and more, isn't slowing down.
www.latimes.com
April 25, 2025 at 12:59 PM
As someone who loves a good Disney monorail, it's always a joy to catch up with Bob Gurr. We touched on the new Walt animatronic ("There will be quite a reaction"), the cultural temperature (Trump is a "bully") and more.
www.latimes.com/travel/story...
www.latimes.com/travel/story...
Reposted by Todd Martens
“Yes, this pay phone works. Some day, these will be gone, like you, me, and everyone else,” read stickers on working L.A. pay phones. An art project called the invites callers to leave goodbye messages. People are calling. www.latimes.com/travel/story... @toddmartens.bsky.social
These pay phones around L.A. let you say goodbye to someone 'before it's too late'
An art project called the Goodbye Line prompts passersby to make a collect call and say goodbye — to a loved one, a pet or maybe a part of themselves. People are dialing.
www.latimes.com
April 13, 2025 at 3:02 AM
“Yes, this pay phone works. Some day, these will be gone, like you, me, and everyone else,” read stickers on working L.A. pay phones. An art project called the invites callers to leave goodbye messages. People are calling. www.latimes.com/travel/story... @toddmartens.bsky.social
Reposted by Todd Martens
I lovely write up of Epic Universe. I got to work on it for a wee bit of time at Thinkwell in 2018/19 & we were all blown away by what had already been designed. Kudos to all of my colleagues at Universal Creative & the vendor companies who brought it to life. I’m so excited to see it in person!
Epic Universe is largely a triumph, a park that rivals -- in some ways bests -- those of Disney. It will immediately be the favorite theme park of many.
Yet I do worry: What happened to the theme in our theme parks?
www.latimes.com/travel/story...
Yet I do worry: What happened to the theme in our theme parks?
www.latimes.com/travel/story...
First look: Universal’s Epic Universe gives Disney theme parks a run for their money
Universal's Epic Universe is largely a triumph, and will instantly become the the favorite theme park of many. It should also change the industry.
www.latimes.com
April 10, 2025 at 5:24 PM
I lovely write up of Epic Universe. I got to work on it for a wee bit of time at Thinkwell in 2018/19 & we were all blown away by what had already been designed. Kudos to all of my colleagues at Universal Creative & the vendor companies who brought it to life. I’m so excited to see it in person!
Epic Universe is largely a triumph, a park that rivals -- in some ways bests -- those of Disney. It will immediately be the favorite theme park of many.
Yet I do worry: What happened to the theme in our theme parks?
www.latimes.com/travel/story...
Yet I do worry: What happened to the theme in our theme parks?
www.latimes.com/travel/story...
First look: Universal’s Epic Universe gives Disney theme parks a run for their money
Universal's Epic Universe is largely a triumph, and will instantly become the the favorite theme park of many. It should also change the industry.
www.latimes.com
April 9, 2025 at 9:32 PM
Epic Universe is largely a triumph, a park that rivals -- in some ways bests -- those of Disney. It will immediately be the favorite theme park of many.
Yet I do worry: What happened to the theme in our theme parks?
www.latimes.com/travel/story...
Yet I do worry: What happened to the theme in our theme parks?
www.latimes.com/travel/story...
Say goodbye, before it’s too late. A new L.A. art project asks us to pick a pay phone and make a toll free call to “remember, to pay respects, to turn the page” to a loved one or part of yourself.
People are calling. The Goodbye Line is a snapshot of loneliness in our city.
People are calling. The Goodbye Line is a snapshot of loneliness in our city.
These pay phones around L.A. let you say goodbye to someone 'before it's too late'
An art project called the Goodbye Line prompts passersby to make a collect call and say goodbye — to a loved one, a pet or maybe a part of themselves. People are dialing.
www.latimes.com
April 9, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Say goodbye, before it’s too late. A new L.A. art project asks us to pick a pay phone and make a toll free call to “remember, to pay respects, to turn the page” to a loved one or part of yourself.
People are calling. The Goodbye Line is a snapshot of loneliness in our city.
People are calling. The Goodbye Line is a snapshot of loneliness in our city.
The Nintendo Switch 2: On tariffs, pricing and even some impressions
www.latimes.com/entertainmen...
www.latimes.com/entertainmen...
A charming Nintendo Switch 2 enters the Trump tariff crosshairs
The Nintendo Switch 2 delivers a bigger screen, more processing power and, as a test drive proves, signature Nintendo charms. But how will Trump tariffs affect one of 2025's biggest consumer product r...
www.latimes.com
April 7, 2025 at 1:13 PM
The Nintendo Switch 2: On tariffs, pricing and even some impressions
www.latimes.com/entertainmen...
www.latimes.com/entertainmen...
Quick Epic Universe thought. It’s impressive. There are wow moments in every land. It’s the definitive IP park, which is the direction theme parks are heading. Now, I haven’t felt a real emotional attachment to it (so so so so IP), but people will love it.
April 5, 2025 at 7:26 PM
Quick Epic Universe thought. It’s impressive. There are wow moments in every land. It’s the definitive IP park, which is the direction theme parks are heading. Now, I haven’t felt a real emotional attachment to it (so so so so IP), but people will love it.
It’s new theme park season
April 4, 2025 at 11:42 PM
It’s new theme park season