SPECTACLES: Bible Disneyland

On the Dead Sea, customers will float in glass-bottom boats and look down upon Sodom and Gomorrah. A dark journey through the thoracic cavity of Jonah's whale will end up in a wild slide down the monster's tongue. Camels will clunk along through Egypt's Valley of the Kings, taking clients to the pyramids. Donkeys will bear the weight of multitudes from Nazareth to Jerusalem.

All that, at least, was the claim of a syndicate of Southern California entrepreneurs who last week announced plans for a Biblical version of Disneyland that should render much coin unto Caesar. Built in the shape of a heart ("symbolic of God's love") and subdivided into six freewheeling reproductions of the Garden of Eden, Rome, Babylon, Israel, Egypt and Ur, the amusement park is scheduled to open Easter Sunday 1961, when tens of thousands can be expected to make the 4O-mile, eight-cylinder pilgrimage from Los Angeles to the site at Cucamonga.

In Rome, the pilgrims will visit the Circus Maximus, where early Christians were fed to hungry lions. Those who hunger for revenge can get it outside the arena at a refreshment stand that sells lionburgers; leftover anger can be worked off at the David and Goliath Slingshot Galleries. But, say the promoters, "above all else, Bible Storyland will be a happy place." One of the gayer rides will take paid customers to heaven —in a gold litter drawn by a team of cherubs. From the air, the "Shrine of Faith Plaza," Ur and the caravan route will be laid out to "form the cross of Jesus Christ."

Bible Storyland represents the vision mainly of Promoter Nat Winecoff, who cut his teeth at Disneyland, now humbly admits: "I guess the Lord just took me by the hand." The idea was originally suggested by a Roman Catholic priest who wanted an adjunct for his parish church, roughly in the $75,000 range. Winecoff outgrew the parish quickly. With private financing from such angels as Comedian Jack Haley and Donald F. Duncan, the parking-meter and Yo-Yo king, the project has now reached the $15 million stage. Promises Angel Haley: "Bible Storyland is not going to offend the sensibilities of any faith."