Knott's Assortment
Let's reverse the polarity of our tachyon fields and fling ourselves through a rift in the fabric of space and time so that we can visit Knott's Berry Farm from the 50's and 60's. It's easy!
Here we are on School Road, which is still unpaved at this point. Good old fashioned dirt and gravel did the job juuust fine. Except maybe when it rained. Barely visible at the end of the road, down near the Calico Saloon, is one of the railroad trains.
One of the many things to love about Knott's is that it has a brothel: Goldie's! One of Goldie's "girls" dangles a well-shaped leg out a side window in an effort to entice Gramps. I think it's working! The leg gave a gentle kick every once in a while. Walter Knott was a patriotic and pious man, but he could see the humor in having a place like Goldie's in his Ghost Town; which makes him awesome.
These last two pictures are of the lovely pond, one of the oldest features at Knott's (now gone, of course - loveliness does not fill the coffers). Lined with reeds and rushes, water lillies and weeping willows (and Pampas grass), the peaceful pond is easy on the eyes and calms the frazzled soul.
By 1956, an Indian canoe was parked in the middle of the pond. How he got to it without ruining his moccasins is a dark and bloody mystery. Other vintage photos show the canoe with its occupant sitting silently - maybe he's in there, but just laying down for a nap.
One of the many things to love about Knott's is that it has a brothel: Goldie's! One of Goldie's "girls" dangles a well-shaped leg out a side window in an effort to entice Gramps. I think it's working! The leg gave a gentle kick every once in a while. Walter Knott was a patriotic and pious man, but he could see the humor in having a place like Goldie's in his Ghost Town; which makes him awesome.
These last two pictures are of the lovely pond, one of the oldest features at Knott's (now gone, of course - loveliness does not fill the coffers). Lined with reeds and rushes, water lillies and weeping willows (and Pampas grass), the peaceful pond is easy on the eyes and calms the frazzled soul.
By 1956, an Indian canoe was parked in the middle of the pond. How he got to it without ruining his moccasins is a dark and bloody mystery. Other vintage photos show the canoe with its occupant sitting silently - maybe he's in there, but just laying down for a nap.
6 comments:
Wow, I can smell the eucalyptus in that first photo! The last two pictures are stunning, too bad THAT Knott's is long gone...
The top picture makes the town look like it is in the middle of nowhere.
And speaking of the top picture, I was totally surprised when I saw it. If someone had shown me the picture without any context, Knott's wouldn't have been my first guess.
I am trying to figure it out, but are those trees on some sort of a hill? or are they just bunch closely together?
I remember how scandalized my mother was over Goldie's leg. Shocking!
Why is there never room in the world now for a quiet vista? Everything has to be "buzzy". I loved those lagoons.
Maybe that canoe belongs to the Deerslayer?
JG
Love those lagoon photos. Reminds me of all the great times I had on Jungle Island.
Geez, how many times can I say wow??? WOW!
Brings back great memories. I went to school at Walter Knott school and the church my family belonged to was in the building fundraising process so Mr. Knott allowed our congregation to have our regular church services every Sunday in the chapel near the pond in Knott's Berry Farm. My sister attended Sunday School in the train cars and my class was in the Bird Cage Theatre. Summer Bible School in the Wagon Train camp and Children's Christmas program in the ampi theatre/rodeo arena -- real animals compliments of Mr. Knott. We went to Knott's Berry Farm every Subday for two years! Haven't been back in more than 45 years.
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