Main Street, April 1974
Today's pictures are from a small lot dated April 1974, but they were clearly taken before that. Let's just say December 1963, OK?
The holiday crowds have descended upon Town Square, and they are hungry for brains. I guess it does get chilly occasionally in SoCal, everybody is bundled up to a certain degree. The Christmas tree towers over everything, so tall that you can bungee-jump off of it. Notice the spotlights on top of some of the buildings along Main Street, probably used to light the nighttime parades.
The Castle and the crowds. Hey, maybe I'm wrong about it being December... that clock appears to say that it is almost 7 o'clock. In December it's dark by 6 (if not earlier). But if it's really April, why are the Christmas decorations still up? Hmmm....
Finally, as the sun sinks lower and lower, let's take a look at the Fire House. Walt had been gone for about 7 years at this point, but I think he would have been happy to know that his park was thriving.
The Castle and the crowds. Hey, maybe I'm wrong about it being December... that clock appears to say that it is almost 7 o'clock. In December it's dark by 6 (if not earlier). But if it's really April, why are the Christmas decorations still up? Hmmm....Finally, as the sun sinks lower and lower, let's take a look at the Fire House. Walt had been gone for about 7 years at this point, but I think he would have been happy to know that his park was thriving.
13 comments:
Bottom right of top photo - Preview corner! Yes, indeed.
It's gotta be the 70's...I looked at all the clothes and yes, that was my era, alright. It could be that they were filming a Christmas commercial??? It's a stretch, I know, but a mystery, indeed!
I have noticed that there are now huge retractable lighting masts in the corner buildings (and elsewhere)on Main St. to illuminate the parades. These may also have speakers for the soundtracks.
Invisible when down, and I never see them extending, but they are up in the late afternoon. I wonder what the second and "third" floors of some of those buildings are really like.
Disney seems to spend tremendous sums on these parades and shows, not just for costumes and floats/vehicles, but physical plant as well. Are the shows and parades really that big a draw for visitors, do people really go to the Park just to see Main Street Electrical Parade or Fantasmic?
To me, these things were always just a distraction at worst, and at best an opportunity for a shorter line at the Matterhorn. But, I'm definitely weird, so there's that.
Nice pics. Thank you Major.
JG
Thufer, thanks for the "heads up" for the Preview corner! I would have never noticed it.
Connie, I thought that too, and I also remember some Christmas TV specials (Mickey & Minnie skating on Main Street).
JG, I would think that those "masts" must be for the nighttime parades? I have to admit that I personally don't care for the parades which, you are right, must cost a fortune. The only exception was the Main Street Electrical Parade. Otherwise they are just something to be avoided or endured. But others seem to love them, so what do I know!
Yep, those lights on top of the buildings were to light up the Christmas parade at night. This was before they installled the ones that could lay down and be out of site during the day.
Major, could this have been the one year that we did not go off of daylight savings? There was one year back in the seventies (1973 or 1974, I believe) that we stayed on the daylight savings schedule for a whole year because of the "energy crisis." That would explain it not being dark at 7 p.m.
(sp.) out of "sight"!
TokyoMagic!, ya got me there, I really don't know. It's a good theory though!
In December it seems to me that it is really pretty dark by 5:30, daylight savings or no. Or am I wrong?
Major,
This pictures were taken in the 1970's. Look at the hair length and style of clothing. I lived about 15 minutes from Disneyland throughout my childhood and until I was 28 years of age. The sun goes down at about 5pm beginning sometime in October. So for the sun to be down or almost down in December at 5:30pm is perfectly normal. The sun is only up until 8pm during the summer months.
These pictures. My mistake.
The first pic was taken in December. Maybe the other two pics were taken on a trip in March. Stamping dates on slides is done when the film is developed. The person took some pics in December and didn't finish the roll. Maybe had relatives come to town. Went to Disneyland again in March or April. Finished the roll. Roll of slide film is developed in April and is stamped with April date. Back then Disneyland was cheap to get in. Not like it is today. Some families went more than once a year.
Major, I decided to look it up. Looks like my theory was correct. This is from nationalatlas.gov:
Following the 1973 Arab Oil Embargo, Congress put most of the nation on extended Daylight Saving Time for two years in hopes of saving additional energy. This experiment worked, but Congress did not continue the experiment in 1975 because of opposition -- mostly from the farming states.
In 1974, Daylight Saving Time lasted ten months and lasted for eight months in 1975, rather than the normal six months (then, May to October).
cool pix....i want a white poncho, too
the castle looks taller to me....maybe its just the trees hiding the short sides....
no matter when it is, i wanna be there!!
My 2 cents: The only other parade that was spectacular was the Lion King parade...the others? Blah.
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