Sunday, May 01, 2011

Special Guest Sunday!

There's more special guest goodness today, courtesy of Patrick McGilligan!

Let's start with this wonderful photo of Patrick's dad, Jack, as he fearlessly navigates the Motor Boat Cruise (circa 1960)! I wonder if he is wearing a souvenir fedora? I wish the Motor Boats were still there; another example of a ride that was removed without anything ever replacing it.


Now, from 1956, it's Jack McGilligan again, this time standing next to the Clock of the World. You can tell from his gaze that he is looking into the future! Can the clock be right? It appears to read "8:22" (I think), and yet it looks like it is mid-day. The thing needs more uranium.


And finally, a photo (also circa 1960) from the Skyway (there has to be at least one from the Skyway!). The Matterhorn looks pretty ominous here, dark and foreboding - as if Dracula spent time there. We find ourselves inexorably drawn towards the mountain of doom, almost as if being pulled by a steel cable!


Many thanks to Patrick for sharing these great photos! He also sent three non-Disneyland slides that are fun, and I'll be posting those soon.

17 comments:

  1. D ticket5:34 AM

    The shadow and light cast on the clock itself would suggest an early hour. Afternoon pictures of the world clock always show a strong shadow of the minute ball. It could be 8 26 AM.

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  2. I thought it may have been early morning but the Park did not open early in the early years. How many times did I use the word early?

    Great pics. "as if Dracula spent time there"...CRACKED me up!

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  3. The first shot of the 'motor boat cruise' is a treasure. Very nice and full of details to indulge in. Dock details along with cast member costuming is just a pleasure to see. There is some signage but may not be able to discern. Just an awesome capture of a 'gone', moment in time.

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  4. In 1956, on days which the Park was opened, it always opened at 10 AM.

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  5. D ticket, Connie and I were on the same wavelength, and Progressland confirmed that the park didn't open at 8:30-ish back in 1956. To me, Jack's shadow looks pretty small, as if the sun is practically (but not quite) straight overhead. Or am I crazy??

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  6. SundayNight10:52 AM

    That Motorboat pic is a classic. That guy is having a blast. Wonder what kind of track system they used under the water?

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  7. Anonymous3:45 PM

    Sure looks to me like the clock says 12:11. Or possibly 2:11. Could the 8 be GMT?

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  8. D ticket4:14 PM

    http://www.yesterland.com/worldclock.html

    Yesterland has a shot from the same angle, at 2:30 PM.


    The ball is below the hour, and the numbers in the ball's window show the minutes. The ball is located on PST for California. So, 8:26 AM.

    http://davelandweb.com/tomorrowland/cotw.html

    Davesland has a page of photos for comparison.

    I still think it's very early in the morning, I won't believe that the clock has stopped, not in Walt's park. The park is obviously in full swing though. It looks more like late morning.

    The Motorboat Cruise was on a track, the steering wheel and gas pedal didn't do anything. Just a pleasant cruise through landscaped gardens.

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  9. Orange Co Native4:34 PM

    i was there when the clock picture was taken. I remember that guy. I jotted it down on a piece of paper back then in case this argument came up. I knew it might one day and here it is 2011. It finally came. My piece of paper says (in my handwriting mind you) that it was 8:37 and 27 seconds on the button when the shutter on the camera was released. So there you have it. Our pictures were taken between 8:39 am and 8:45 and 11 seconds in case anyone is interested.

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  10. Anonymous5:47 PM

    As Chicago says "does anybody really know what time it is/does anybody really care/if so I can't imagine why".

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  11. bloefeld7:51 PM

    I just really love how happy my dad is in the motorboat
    pic!

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  12. olddisneylandfan9:06 PM

    I could be mistaken, but I remember that the gas pedals in the Motorboats did work. The engine revved a bit and you'd move forward. I wouldn't call it "accelerating," but it at least gave the illusion that you were sort of the captain of your own ship...

    Can I get a witness here?

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  13. I'm guessing that the motor boats had the same kind of track used by the Jungle Cruise boats (not that I know too much about that!). I think olddisneylandfan might be right about some sort of minor reaction when the gas petal was pushed, but can't say for sure... it's been too long!

    OC Native, I believe you!

    Anon: that's my favorite song by Chicago!

    Bloefeld, that IS a great photo! I wish I had a picture of my dad at Disneyland.

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  14. dfan0710:51 PM

    Major, there was a groove in the bottom of the river which made contact with something on the bottom of the boats. Think Autopia, except inside out. It was visible in 2006 when the river was drained.

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  15. Thanks, dfan07! I've probably seen photos of the drained river, but somehow I thought I recalled a "track" of some kind. I trust your memory more than mine!

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  16. Here to confirm the throttle rumor. I remember two things clearly, the steering didnt work at all, even less than autopia, and the throttle did, a little, at least it made the engine noise change.

    I have a photo almost like that one of my Dad, in his real motorboat, in our lake. Same pose, same grin.

    thanks for sharing these great photos.

    JG

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  17. Anonymous2:44 PM

    http://micechat.com/forums/disneyland-resort/2580-obligatory-photos-drained-motor-boat-cruise.html

    From 2006:

    Here to confirm the track rumour, photo number 6, you can see the tracks in the drained area.

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