Frontierland Scenes, September 1967
Here are a couple of nice Frontierland photos from 1967.
This one was snapped from the Swiss Family Treehouse, and looks down upon the Colombia. It appears to be at the dock that allowed guests to explore the authentic details both on deck and below. I like the billowing 13-star American Flag, one of the varieties that flew from 1777 to 1795 (18 years).
Here's a great image showing one of the old Indian War Canoes as it glides perilously close to Big Thunder Falls. The rocks and waterfalls look beautiful, it sure is a shame that they are now gone. Isn't the canoe heading the wrong direction? I thought that all river craft headed in a clockwise direction, but these guys are going counter-clockwise as far as I can tell.
14 comments:
I think your slides are flopped.
The Columbia shot shows the DL Hotel Marina Tower in the top right, but if you reverse the image, it makes more sense, and then you can make out the train station and Haunted Mansion through the trees.
Which would therefore explain the apparent reversed direction of the Indian War Canoes.
(New Orleans Square is missing though, which would suggest that the slides are a 2-3 years older. Some folks kept the same roll in their camera for years.)
I was also suspicious about the pics being flipped. But after looking at other views of Cascade Peak, all the views show the stacked rock formation on the left side of the waterfall. So it is not flipped.
I am still having trouble with the view of the Columbia. It makes more sense if the picture was taken from Tom & Huck's treehouse.
Definitely Tom Sawyer's treehouse, rather than the Robinson's. That's the Sierra tower in the distance. New Orleans Square is on the left.
Three Sisters Falls at Cascade Peak is correct as well, the canoe is heading to the right of the frame, you can see the guy steering at the back and everyone is facing forward except the guide at the front. The falls are beautiful, it's postcard-perfect.
Boy, I hate it when I make mistakes! Yes, of course that is Tom's Treehouse. Doh.
I was pretty sure I had not flopped the slides, so I'm glad that at least I got that right.
WOW...I am in awe of all of you guys!!!
Hi Major, thanks for the detail about the US colors. Most people don't notice the level of detail to which Disney takes everything, including the proper use and display of periodically correct flags, and especially the US flag.
Can't help with the backward canoe, though.
JG
The Columbia picture is earlier than 1967. New Orleans Square was already built by 1966. I see the bandstand in the background in what was Magnolia Park that was there before New Orleans Square. I would say that this picture is 1960-1963. The building in the background over the trees is the high rise Disneyland Hotel.
Anonymous, I am quite certain of the 1967 date (not so sure about the September part though...). The other slides in this lot show the shiny "New Tomorrowland" (including the Carousel of Progress), as well as loooooong lines outside the Pirates of the Caribbean building. You'll see those one of these days!
I think that this just happened to capture a section of NOS that still looked like the old Frontierland. Are you sure about the bandstand? I see a piece of Frontierland Station (behind some of the foreground leaves)...
The park with the benches behind the flag is the bit between the train station and the Haunted Mansion. The end of NOS is what we're seeing at the far left. 1967 is right.
The fascia with the spiky top is the train station, not the old bandstand.
I'll concur with the pics being correct as they are...this from a former canoe/MT/Columbia operator. And yes, it is tragic that Cascade Peak has not be replaced. The spray was wonderful on hot afternoons.
Major,
On a closer look. Yes you are correct. It looked like the bandstand. I guess they had not moved the old Frontier Land train station to the other side of the tracks where it is today. The picture seems to be right between the Haunted House and the last buildings of New Orleans Square.
If only the tree house branch was not in the way.
If and when they do another refurbishment of ROA, they should build another waterfall like Cascade Peak. The Jungle Cruise waterfall seems to still be in good working order. Hopefully they will build some kind of ride for Frontier Land (and not Fantasy Land ride(s) in that 1-2 acres north of Big Thunder Mountain.
Can't wait to see your Carousel of Progress/New Tomorrowland pics, Major!
it is fascinating to hear everyone discussing this with such keen interst and lots of perhaps in some cases first-hand knowledge about this place we all love so much but many never had a chance to see in person
thanks to everyone for making it such fun to come and enjoy the Major's posts all the more :D
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