The Queen Mary, Long Beach

Ahoy, salty dogs! Today we be visitin' the most fearsome ship that ever sailed the Atlantic Ocean - The Queen Mary. You can do a search on this blog for info about the QM. Or visit your local liberry!

There she is, looking mighty fine. And as big as she is, today's cruise ships make her look like she needs to eat more steak. For instance, in the Queen's heyday, her weight was around 81,000 gross tons. The modern-day "Allure of the Seas" weighs in at over a quarter of a million tons!


Here is an artistic view of a smokestack, (also called "funnels" because they were used to pour sugar into bottles). As I said in an earlier post, the original funnels had to be replaced when it was discovered that the only thing holding the rusted metal together was many layers of paint. Notice the two great horns, also known as "tooty things".


Can somebody explain to me why ships like these usually had a large mast? Was it for radio communications?


I want to pull every one of those levers, and yell, "Ice berg, dead ahead!" into the speaking tube. And meet Kate Winslet, maybe. I'm sure she reads this blog.


Is this still something you can see on the QM? I remember looking down into the large enclosed pool that contained the giant bronze screw. Yes, I said it.


I have more photos from the Queen Mary, like it or not!

Jungle Cruise, May 1965

Howsabout some scenes from the fabulous Jungle Cruise?

There's the "lost safari", so I guess we found 'em. That rhinoceros has chased them up that tree, and when they finally grow weary, he will gobble them up. Because that's what rhinos do.


You'll just have to take my word for it when I tell you that there is a group of headhunters behind that foliage. Headhunters are cool! So are shrunken heads, which are the perfect accessory for any season. They never go out of style!


Schweitzer Falls! I've always wondered if that "back side of water" gag was written by Wally Boag; it is funny and corny, which seems to be his trademark. Does anybody know?

More Last Frontier, Las Vegas - 1955

This is a sort of follow-up to this post from a few weeks ago; you remember! The Last Frontier Hotel and Casino. It was the most huggable casino ever.

This guy is admiring a car that was probably made around the time he was born. Maybe he owned one just like it when he was a teenager, when he took Betty Lou to the nickelodeon. Notice that the buildings show some Chinese influence, adding a touch of historical accuracy to the olde-timey Western town.


It's hard to believe that there was a time when old steam locomotives were valued only as scrap, unless you needed an eye-catching display for some reason. This old girl probably hauled ore and tailings around the old west back in the 1800's. Now she has a dummy in her cab!


To the left you can see the livery stable, and even some horses; at one time folks could take a ride out into the desert, away from the glitz of The Strip. General Store was one of the Civil War's most famous officers, and here is a museum devoted just to him. Inspiring!

Are you sick of the Last Frontier yet? I have more if you want to see it!

Anything Goes Saturday - The Matterhorn

We all love the Matterhorn, with its thrilling bobsled ride, and the memories of the Skyway passing through it. But hey! there is another Matterhorn! Who knew! It's located in the Pennine Alps between Italy and Switzerland. This one doesn't have any crazy rides, but I guess I like it anyway. Here are a couple of photos circa 1955, in glorious Kodachrome.

Isn't that totally boss? I believe that this photo was taken from the nearby Gornergrat, which affords visitors a spectacular view of its neighbor, when the weather cooperates (it was completely clouded over when I went years ago). If there was ever a mountain that needed to be climbed, it would be the Matterhorn! It was finally summited in 1865, but over the next 130 years, 500 other climbers lost their lives, so it is no cakewalk.

As for that semi-ruined building, it might be what is now a hotel - the "Kulmhotel Gornergrat". It's hard for me to say, but I'll bet somebody out there knows.

Another nice photo, with plenty of tourists relaxing at an outdoor cafe. A railway (the "Gornergratbahn") carries folks up, and they can hike down if they choose. That's what I did, it's not terribly strenuous, and man is it beautiful!


I zoomed in on the crowd, mostly because I like the woman near the middle who is enjoying the warmth of the sun. Don't you wish you were sitting at one of those tables with your cappucino and a croissant?

Tomorrowland, April 29 1956

I hope today's photos make you as happy as they make me! Of all of the "lands", the pre-1959 Tomorrowland fascinates me the most. So much of Tomorrowland's history is poory documented, leaving us only with intriguing titles like "The World Beneath Us", "Space Station X-1", and the "Color Gallery" (though one or two photos have sprung up to whet my appetite even more).

This first picture was taken from the entrance to Tomorrowland; swivel your head to the left and there was Circarama, the pre-cursor to "Circlevision 360". The first film shown in this format was "A Tour of the West", and as far as I know, no copy is known to exist. Hopefully it will be discovered in one of Disney's vaults someday! Imagine seeing the American west in glorious color, circa 1955!


Without taking a step, we look to our right, and can see the façade of Monsanto's "Hall of Chemistry". Another attraction I'd give my prehensile tail to see! Even if it was just full of beakers of colored water and bubbling dry ice, I would be a happy fella. Throw in some blinky lights, and I'd be grinning for a week. The Hall of Chemistry would survive until September 1966!

New York World's Fair Assortment

It's time for another visit to the Fair!

This must have been quite a sight for weary New Yorkers on their daily commutes - the gleaming World's Fair buildings, in all their strange futuristic shapes. Imagine it at night, too! And even though the Fair was only there for about 18 months (with a 6 month winter hiatus), people probably got used to the view and didn't even notice it any more. It's human nature!

From the "moon roof" of the Eastman Kodak pavilion (see it here) comes this view looking sort of south and west; to our left you can see the square top of the "House of Japan". The Austrian pavilion has the 3 laminated-spruce a-frame supports that actually suspended the building 15 feet off the ground! Just to the right of the 7-up tower, you can see a golden, spiked ball. What is that?


It's the "Solar Fountain"! The fountain, situated in a 120-foot diameter pool, consists of a golden bubble with sparkling glass inserts. A vertical column, 40-feet high, supports a 6-foot diameter golden sunburst waterfall.


Now, if you go back to photo #2 and imagine looking just slightly to your left, you get a good look at the "Sermons From Science" building (with the huge Unisphere looming in the background). This would be the third time that a Sermons From Science pavilion had been at a World's Fair (it was also at the 1939 NYWF, and the 1962 Expo). A California pastor came up with the idea of using scientific demonstrations as a way of communicating Biblical concepts to younger audiences. Presentations included "Eyes That See In Darkness", "A Cry That Shatters Glass", and "A Flashlight That Talks".

It's A Small World, June 1968

Here are four more photos from somebody who really loved "It's a Small World"!

When you are one of the Three Little Pigs, you are used to adoration and stardom. It just comes with the territory. Which piggy is this? The "Piper Pig"? Or the "Fiddler Pig"? Either way, that young girl is thrilled! Meanwhile, check out the guy who has completely unbuttoned his shirt. Thank goodness for t-shirts! I'll bet he wishes he had a cold can of Pabst Blue Ribbon.


The Big Bad Wolf has mellowed since 1933. Now he loves kids, especially when they are fricasseed. The older of the two boys notices that the wolf is covered in the same shag carpeting that can be found in his front hallway.


I hope that Apple sponsors "It's a Small World" and that the façade is changed to a smooth, glossy white rectangle!


Did you know that topiaries contain NO tapioca?

Souvenir Dungeon - Kibbles and Bits

Here are some oddball Disneyland souvenirs that you might enjoy taking a look at! They don't have to be ultra rare to be fun.

Hey looky, it's a li'l plastic Mark Twain in a li'l plastic bottle! It's resting on a blue marshmallow blob. This cheesy item is probably from the late 1960's or the 1970's; it was cheap, and I really like it! (The glued-on end of the bottle says "Walt Disney Productions" on it, in case you were wondering).


Months ago I posted photos of some metal "tip trays" featuring Main Street vehicles. Here's another one that I just got, with the lovable and infrugable Omnibus.


I love pinback buttons, and I love postcards, and this souvenir combines them both. This giant button (about 6 inches across) has a lenticular postcard (those are the kind that have a 3-D effect when you wiggle them) affixed to it. There were 3 other lenticular cards in this set, so I can only assume that there were 3 other buttons too.


Here's the back of the thing, for those of you who are curious...

Special Guest Monday! Knott's Berry Farm (part two)

Here are the last four vintage Knott's photos from GDB reader Bill Youmans! See part one HERE.

There's Bill (age 9) and his sister Barb (age 5) frolicking among the tombstones on Boot Hill. The headstone that Bill is looking at reads, "Joe McGee - Died April 1 1865 - Rest In Peace Until I Come - Your Widow Anna". I can't tell if that's supposed to be kind of beautiful, or really creepy!


What a great photo of the train! There's the ticket depot to its right. The new Calico Mine Train ride would be sort of behind us.


Dino the Donkey (that's what I call him, anyway) gets more lovin' from Bill and Barb (that's their mom Marian in the white dress). In the foreground you can see a bit of the arastra, which was a thingamabob originally used to crush gold ore.


And finally, Barb has just finished a slice of boysenberry pie! Mmmm-mmm. I'm jealous! I almost want to drive all the way to Knott's just for that.


I'd like to send a big THANK YOU to Bill Youmans for sharing his family photos from Knott's Berry Farm!

Universal Studios

I recently acquired a group of slides from Universal Studios (California), from March, 1985. 1985? Why that was just yesterday, wasn't it? Seems like it, anyway. About half of the slides were a bit on the blurry side, but I decided to share them anyway. Hopefully they won't drive you too crazy.

Part of the famous tram tour takes you past the peaceful town of Amity, where there has been a series of gruesome shark attacks. (I believe that Amity used to be this nameless tropical harbor). See that snack - um, I mean person, sitting in that boat?

Well, he's just been violently yanked into the water, boat and all! A plume of bright pink/red water used to shoot up right afterwards. I used to go to Universal's "City Walk" (think Downtown Disney) fairly regularly, and from the parking garage way up on the hill I could look down onto this scene and watch the little boat repeatedly sink and re-set itself as trams came by. I could also hear the recorded screams of the fisherman!


Oh my gosh, it's a Blurry White Shark! They are much more dangerous than a Great White. I was at Universal just last year with my niece and nephew, and it was hilarious to see the looks on their faces when this mechanical shark lurched towards our tram.


And, just because I am trying to use up the blurry photos, here's a shot of the famous house from Alfred Hitchcock's "Psycho". It always surprises me how little it looks when you are there. Notice the light on some scaffolding... I believe that "Psycho 3" would have been shooting right around March 1985 (the movie came out in July, 1986).


Stay tuned for more from Universal Studios!