Columbia
The Columbia was a beautiful addition to Frontierland back in 1958, and I'm glad that it is still there (even if it hasn't been operating the last few times I went to Disneyland). Like a Ferrari, the Columbia looks great even when it is standing still.
In this 1960 photo, it is late afternoon as the ship heads towards the friendly Indian Chief. You can see some of his fellow tribesmen up on the distant rise. The Chief is no dummy, sending the message that "We're friendly, but don't mess with us!".
Why-oh-why does this picture have to be blurry? Oh well, it's getting its 15 minutes of fame anyway. For a while, Disney films were chimpanzee (or "monkey") crazy. "Monkeys Go Home", "The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes" (wasn't there a chimp in that one?), "The Monkey's Uncle", and I'm sure there are more (is there a chimp in "Swiss Family Robinson"?). But I never knew that there was a chimp on the loose aboard the Columbia. He's even dressed in appropriate sailor garb (no hat though). Did he have a name? Did he have hopes and dreams and fears? Enquiring minds want to know.
Please submit your best "monkey with scurvy" jokes!
4 comments:
"Proof once again that Casting will hire anyone who can fog a mirror."
Holy flying monkey poo?! I never knew there was chimp aboard the Columbia... although we often felt like one repeating some of those lines everyday. I've got to call all my fellow Frontierland Yacht Club members and ask if they know anything about this. Great find Major. Oh, and the Kurt Russel film was "The Barefoot Executive."
God Bless You Major!
Oh yeah, "The Barefoot Executive"! You are right, Amazon Belle, that's the one I was thinking of.
Great post, major! There was a monkey in Swiss Family Robinson, but it wasn't a chimp. But aboard the Columbia?! What a great bit of DL history you've uncovered!
"Monkey's Go Home" is also a Disney Film with Maurice Chevalier, Dean Jones, and Yvette Mimieux. Just to add to the confusion over whose monkey that is!
Post a Comment