Friday, September 03, 2010

Moonliner & Matterhorn, January 1960

It's so strange to see Disneyland under cloudy gray skies, but that's what you get once in a while. At least it keeps the crowds away (sometimes). A few sprinkles? Even better! Tornados? No problem! In fact, the best time to be at the park is during a plague of locusts. "Peter Pan" is a walk-on.


Here's the rocket to the Moon in 1960, it wouldn't have the "TWA" on it much longer, although actor Kirk Douglas wouldn't put his name on it until 1962. What an ego! The Astro Jets are doin' their thang; the seats to our right look like the kind you might find in a grade-school classroom (see the little built-in tables?), but they were there for patrons of the Yacht Bar, or for freeloaders. If you look carefully you can see the giant golden thimble above the Thimble-drome Flight Circle.


The Matterhorn wasn't even a year old here. Love that waterfall that cascades past so many levels of the bobsled track. Does this 'fall even exist anymore?


16 comments:

Chiana_Chat said...

One thing that (might!) be interesting is to gather photos of the Matterhorn taken over the years showing the same perspective and see how it's changed. I don't remember the area behind the falls looking the way it does here!

We can clearly see however that the Jungle Cruise was no longer the only ride on which one could witness H2o flash its derriere whilst plummeting.

During a plague of Locusts? Hadn't thought of that. Reportedly some of the stroller pushers - even some triple wides - will sometimes divert for Death of Firstborn smites, so it's worth the wait to follow that if one can. Beware the frog invasions, things get slippery.

Looks like they had guests from Leningrad (2nd pic to right... and comrades to the right in the Matterhorn pic too...). Perhaps they brought the weather with them...

;)

TokyoMagic! said...

That waterfall is still there, but the holes are long gone. Also, that stone bridge is now just rockwork.

Vintage Disneyland Tickets said...

Where's the Skyway going thru the Matterhorn!? It almost looks like its not there at all?

Jon said...

The rocket ship was labeled with the logo for Douglas Aircraft, a manufacturer of commercial and military aircraft. McDonnell Aircraft and Douglas merged in the late 60s to become McDonnell Douglas (remember the DC-10 jumbo jet?). Boeing acquired McDonnell Douglas in the late 90s and its name disappeared.

Connie Moreno said...

I took a picture of the Matterhorn from a similar vantage point and also a close-up of the falls but guess what? I can't find the pictures. DUH!!! Oh well....lol

Connie Moreno said...

I found 'em! I found 'em!
http://theenemyisgood.blogspot.com/2010/09/matterhorn-and-cool-merchandise.html

Major Pepperidge said...

Chiana, you should look at Connie's photo (follow the link above), the Matterhorn really does look a lot different now. Is it any surprise that I like it better the old way?

Tim, I can only assume that it is just the angle; the Skyway has to be there somewhere!

Jon, my comment about Kirk Douglas was only a (bad) joke... I really did know about McDonnell Douglas.

Connie, thanks for the pic!

JG said...

I hate losing the stonework bridges, they looked to me like someone purposely built the sled ride onto the mountain.

The way it is now, the rock looks like it built to support the sleds, which it was, of course. Somehow, it looks more fake.

Also compare how the snowline has changed.

Disneyland in the rain is really much less fun.

JG

Katella Gate said...

LOL @ Chiana... Personally, I would wait for the "river of blood" plague. The Mark Twain could churn the water to look like Cherry Soda and smell like abattoir effluvia. What's not to like?

The riders on Matterhorn got to see that same waterfall at least 6 times.. and that's good value for money.

TokyoMagic! said...

There is still one stone bridge on the side of the Matterhorn that faces the Submarine Lagoon, but I've always wondered why they got rid of this one...it's one of those little nagging questions.

Anonymous said...

Major:

Some trivia. The Boeing logo was originally from Douglas. It's the sole survior of the organization...other than the DC series of aircraft still flying or on display. Douglas had an annual evening private party at Disneyland. Fun times!

Chiana_Chat said...

@ Connie and Maj: thanks! I likes me a "then and now" every now and then. I actually like the current waterfall - from the outside that is, don't know about which was better as a rider - but the bridge I liked the old way. :)

@ Katella: lol and a ride on the Columbia down that river would be a fantasy come true for Count Dracula.

Major Pepperidge said...

I am pretty sure that my blog is the ONLY one with comments using phrases like "abattoir effluvia"!!

Major Pepperidge said...

Anonymous, thanks for the info about the Boeing logo... I did a Google image search and found that the Douglas logo was indeed much like the Boeing logo.

Matterhorn1959's "Stuff From the Park" blog had some photo from one of the Douglas functions, you should check 'em out!

The Viewliner Limited said...

WOW !!! Have a great weekend all!

Nancy said...

nice photos. good idea about getting them together from over the years, you could do one of those puzzles from years gone by where you have to circle what is different in one picture from the other. man, we loved doing those back in the day....

does the smaller rocket that is in tomorrowland now sit in the same spot as the original one did?