Thursday, March 17, 2011

Train Und Twain, 1957

Let's start with this early photo of a Mine Train returning home after a thrilling trip through the Rainbow Desert. No "Nature's Wonderland" yet folks - you'll have to wait three years. To the left, we can buy dry goods - plain ones and fancy ones. Nothing but fancy will do for me. "Proprietor, give me the fanciest, driest goods you have."


To our right, the Mineral Hall, sponsored by the Black Light Corporation of America. I like glowy things, and it's free, so I will definitely be going in there. If you stay in there long enough, you'll get a San Tropez tan, too.


I really just threw this photo into the mix because... what the heck else was I going to do with it?

10 comments:

Pilsner Panther said...

Oh, this is a nice shot! I think that the Mark Twain is one of the most beautiful things that Walt and his Imagineers ever built. I only wish I'd been there when Louis Armstrong, Kid Ory, The Firehouse Five Plus Two, and so many other jazz greats played on the deck.

Unknown said...

The Mark Twain (like the Liberty Belle in WDW) is so beautiful I love it... and I love it more for all its history.

That mine train pic is FAB!!

Connie Moreno said...

"...you'll get a San Tropez tan, too."

OMG, I am laughing so hard, I almost slid off the sofa. You crack me up.

These pics are really great and I have to say that reading Pilsner's comments, rang a very distant bell in the dusty attic that is my mind. I REMEMBER hearing live music on the Mark Twain. My parents made me go on the ship so that they could listen to the music. I remember that I wanted to stay ashore but they would not allow it so I sat on a bench on one of the upper decks sulking (you can picture it, right?) and totally disliking the music. I remember my parents smiling and having a good time while they made me suffer, LOL. Wow...I hadn't thought of that in YEARS! Thanks, Pilsner!

Katella Gate said...

Today's post was too too Twain.

You'll notice she's flying the Disneyland pennant we were discussing a few months ago.

Black Light Hall... I remember it well because Black Light was one gizmo I could never talk my folks into buying for me.

Nancy said...

wonder if there are photos out there somewhere of what was in Mineral Hall? sounds like a pretty cool place to see

as for the Mark Twain, oh so stately, and the Liberty Belle at WDW (which is my "home" park here on the East Coast) is a ride i never pass by wthout taking at least one ride.

the coolest thing at Disneyland is how you get to race the canoes, which we dont get to do ;)

Pilsner Panther said...

The best thing about the internet is that you can find just about anything you want. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kg7cVSEfqPw

(If the link doesn't work, you can copy and paste it into your browser).

Katella Gate said...

@Nancy: Don't feel like you missed out on too much... As I recall, it was a series of cases with minerals and objects that were alternately shown in normal light, and then black light. The Disneyfication levels were pretty low. My main interest was because I realized this is how the dark rides got their unworldly vivid colors.

@Plisner: Thanks for posting that Louis Armstrong clip, it was a nice way for me to end the day. Talk about "a civilization gone with the wind...". Something like that is never going to happen again.

Pilsner Panther said...

@Katella Gate: Don't get me started on the subject of a vanished civilization... But if the Major will allow me a little self-plug, there's lots more classic jazz (including Louis) at Pilsner's Picks, which is strictly a free, non-profit cultural resource, and always will be.

Major Pepperidge said...

Pilsner Panther, I won't allow it! ;-)

Oh alright, I will. That Louis Armstrong clip is awesome (I think it's on one of those "treasures" DVDs?)!

Vaughn said...

The Black Light exhibit is one of the things I miss about current modern Disneyland. Those small museum type exhibits around the park where, because your guard was down and you weren't expecting it, you could accidentally learn something. It seem today that those spaces are considered only for what can be sold there to increase revenue.