Thursday, February 18, 2010

Tomorrowland, April 1970

Tomorrowland was the place I loved the most when I went to Disneyland as a tadpole... all the color and movement, and the futuristic (but never cold) architecture all added up to a vibrant place. The lady in the floppy hat is saying, "Again with the pictures?", but our photographer was really trying to get a picture of super-fit mom to the right. Notice the jump-suited future girl in the background... is that an Autopia costume? Or maybe for the Rocket Jets? Whatever it is, I'm going back in time to marry her.


It's double exposure time! This is a neat look at the Rocket Jets, Peoplemover, and even the Douglas "Flight to the Moon" facade. To the right is what I originally thought was reflections (from inside the Monorail or something). But if you look really closely, you can see the exterior leafy track of the "Alice in Wonderland" attraction.

11 comments:

Chiana_Chat said...

Nah, no Alice leaves, lay off the smoke, caterpillar. ;)

Tomorrowland in the '70s was nicely in the groove. Now it's um... not very clear on its concept. And how many years does it take 'em to fix, re-conceive or replace the PeopleMover?

You know what the current Tomorrowland could use? Something new in the spirit of the flight circle. Those "interactive edutainment" type things, like in the former Carousel / America Sings building, seem too "Disney does children's museum" to me.

Chiana_Chat said...

ps, idn't that kids for ya, in the top one: sister is pickin' her nose and brother Shall Not See that.

Rich T. said...

It took me a moment to spot the leaves...then they popped out like a magic eye poster image. Man, you've got good eyes!

Super-fit mom looks like she just ate a lemon. Tomorrowland used to be so great and energetic. And it can be, again! There's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow...There's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow...I'm gonna keep saying it until it happens!

Connie Moreno said...

Damn, I sure do miss the PeopleMover and the Carousel of Progress. Waaaaaaaa!

Nancy said...

oh yeah. The New Tomorrowland was definitely the best! WDW was a lot like this when it opened, super sleek and very space age.

there is my favorite ticket booth and a pretty nice look at the Tomorrowland Terrace Stage..YAY!

two great pictures today thanks! :)

Unknown said...

a quick side note from the Disney Insider..

This Day In Disney History

February 18, 1960 - The VIII Olympic Winter Games begin in Squaw Valley . The opening and closing ceremonies are orchestrated by Walt Disney.

i dont remember ever knowing this before...pretty cool!!

CoxPilot said...

The people mover and astro jets were right in the old spot of the flight circle. Tomorrowland had the same basic layout of the old, but new stuff. I really liked it back then.

These days it looks like something out of Dark Crystal, but just missing the mark. They should forget about "tomorrow" and just go full-on NASA, etc.

Nancy said...

CoxPilot, you have the right idea! ;D i would sooo love that...

MIKE COZART said...

That castmember in the background is a PEOPLEMOVER costume. The Rocket Jets costume was the same pattern, but in a redish orange with cream/white trim......with white boots!!!

Major Pepperidge said...

Thank you for the info, Mike!

Anonymous said...

Even NASA has gone "Dark Crystal" these days. No joy there. I vote to restore "my" Tomorrowland, circa 1973.

I always look closely at these pictures because I hope someday to spot my family and I in the background of someone else's picture.

Every day I get a little glimpse of the past, thank you Major!

JG