Monday, January 01, 2007

Fantasyland and Tomorrowland, July, 1962

HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYBODY!

Here are two more images, rescued and restored from a lot that was terribly discolored and damaged. I hope that you find them worth the effort! First up is a nice aerial view of the Alice in Wonderland attraction. We've seen similar photos before, but I never get tired of 'em. It's easy for me to imagine riding the Skyway, and looking down on all of the cool stuff below!


And here is another interesting view of the Astro Jets. I'm not sure if this was taken from the Skyway, or the Monorail platform...in any case it is an unusual angle. Does anybody know what that building is with the white peaked roof (to the left of the castle)? I've also never been entirely clear about the building behind the Astro Jets (with the crazy, colorful facade) is...again, any help from the experts would be appreciated.

You can also see a bit of the Wenmac Flight Circle. This is the name that I've seen in print, but I've also seen it referred to as the "Thimble Drome Flight Circle", and in a Fall 1965 issue of "Backstage Disneyland", it is called the "Cox Flight Circle". Perhaps the various names were due to changes in sponsorship?

4 comments:

Merlinsguy said...

Nice shot. I dont' know what the white building is, but it reminded me of Holidayland. Just outside Adventureland, Holidayland was a shortlived corporate outdoor meeting ground. All the employees were shocked because...IT SERVED BEER!

DisneyDutchman said...

Great comparison shot with your post of October 18 "Backstage, Fantasyland". The Oct 18 pic is taken from almost the same spot before they built Alice in Wonderland, look at the 2 big doors for alignment.Great Pic!! The peaked roof in the second photo of Tomorrowland is actually the center circular building of the north side exhibition buildings (America the Beautiful etc..) at the time of the photo it would have housed the Art of Animation. The building with the crazy facade is the last building in the same complex. It housed the Art Corner and Richfield's "The World Beneath Us" exhibit although I'm not sure if either of these were still there in July 1962. DD

Chris Merritt said...

Wow - that Alice shot is amazing! Thanks for everything over the past year...

Anonymous said...

The flight circle was first occupied by a local orange county model club. Then (1956-1957) by Wen-Mac. Then (Sept 1957) L.M.Cox Mfg took over. Their trade name was Thimble Drome (or T.D.). Thus; the Thimble Drome Flight Circle by Cox. If you look close at photos of the Astro Jets, you can see a gold thimble, and some red letters surrounding it. Thats T.D. Older pics will show the big Wen-Mac wind sock with their name. The circle ops stop in Sept '65, but the circle was used for a Jet Pack flying belt demos until tomorrowland was rebuilt in 1966.