Main Street at Night, August 1965
Disneyland is extra bitchin' at night, even a crazy person knows that. Back in 1965, it wasn't so easy to take good night photos, but an anonymous photographer took a few that I will be sharing with you, and we can all pretend we are there after the sun has set.
Summer evenings are always bustling at the park, and folks are certainly enjoying the mild (probably not cool) temperatures after the heat of the day. Maybe the fireworks just ended and a lot of people are on their way home - but not before one last look in the stores. It's hard to see, but there is a sign on the lamp post to the right with the distinctive shape of the Opera House; it must be announcing the debut of "Great Moments With Mr. Lincoln", which opened only weeks before. Meanwhile the show was still running at the New York World's Fair! 
It looks like Mr. Lincoln is has gone to bed (and is dreaming of electric sheep)...
... after all, it is nearly 12:30 in the morning!
5 comments:
Wow! Pretty pretty. I can feel the warm night. :)
Top one's a bit blurry yet it does have a nice sense of depth doesn't it?
The people are hitting the streets! As we've seen, in early years people were conspicuously apt to stick to the sidewalks. But here they are mobbing the street as well; so, was it that people were doing it more by 1965, that it was just crowded, or did folks tend to be more relaxed about that at night?
People looking btw, I note the guy on the right (the one not made of wood) could look exactly the same today fashion wise and not stand out.
2nd shot, the seal and bunting and lamps etc about the Opera House sign feel exactly "right." Left though, is that light from the rooms (?) above Wonderland Music and is it not the blueish light of a TV on in a room?
While we're at mysteries, was it often opened to 12:30am back then or was this a special occasion?
Oh well, time to head out to the Fairlane and drive to our Motor Inn. When we get there, there will be no TV as there are no cable or "Informercials" and the few stations signed off the air... kids... Bobby, leave Susie alone. :)
I just got home from the park and it looked almost just like this upon leaving....except for the giant penny on the Opera House/Lincoln sign.
....oh, and the Wonderland Music sign and the ghosts/television playing upstairs.
Goodnight, Chiana!
Always the saddest part of any day in the park; that long walk out! But man; what a wonderful day it was.
This is my FAVORITE, FAVORITE, FAVORITE, FAVORITE, time of day/night at Disneyland. Did I mention I love Main Street at night???
Post a Comment