Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Tomorrowland, March 1961

It's vintage Tomorrowland time! Starting with this photo of the Clock of the World. You can't tell what time it is from this side, but you can see the electrical cord trailing out of the base. The dazed balloon seller wears a hard hat to protect himself from meteorites; the balloons are the black-eared variety that looked like they had Mouseketeer ears. How many attraction posters do you recognize?


And now for the obligatory Skyway view, looking down on the odd little stage (like the bow of a fishing boat) where the Yachtsmen are performing. Seems like I usually see them in all their dress whites, but they look like they are at a dinner party here. I'm going to say that they are singing "Lemon Tree".

13 comments:

The Viewliner Limited said...

The world clock. What an icon. As you know Major... my favorite of all the Tomorrowland things to see and do. Great pic!

Vintage Disneyland Tickets said...

Love that extension cord! Interesting to see the yachtsmen in black coats... Great people watching pics, thanks!

Katella Gate said...

You know, that little band stand does look like the bow of a boat. I take great comfort that this was generations before Jim Cameron's famous "bow flight" scene from the Titanic movie, and the Yachtsmen will not end their act by shouting "I'm king of the world".

Thufer said...

Gosh; what a breath taking view of the entertainment to be seen and heard. That picture from the Skyway is striking.

Nancy said...

nicest pic of the Clock that i can recall, the colors are so bright!! nice seeing all the lovely posters, one of my favorite things at the Park

I like this view of the stage, not one we have seen very often. this incarnation of the rockets always makes me realize how simple the park really was back in the day. and i like it!

thanks for a wonderful pair in my favorite Tomorrowland :)

JG said...

Beautiful scan, Major. The skyway shot is so clear, I can't even see the air.

In SoCal, that's a big deal, you should never trust air you can't see.

JG

walterworld said...

Visible in the Skyway pic middle top just above the Grand Canyon Diorama building is the top of the Sands Motel sign on Harbor Blvd.

A few years back I stayed at the Park Inn which replaced the Sands and is next door to the McDonald's. In the desk I found some stationary with a sticker in the left hand corner with 'Park Inn' and the address. I pealed off the sticker and... it read 'Sands Motel' in the original script shown on the former sign. An unexpected find...

But I digress. Thanks for another great post Major!

SundayNight said...

Nice Clock of the World photo. We don’t often get to see it from this angle looking out towards the hub. Never noticed the cord before but a quick examination of other photos shows it quite plain.

I always liked that little nautical themed stage - so compact and stylish. Only problem is there is nowhere to sit so the people probably didn’t want to hang around for too long.

Orange Co Native said...

In the second picture. What is that green building in the background behind the rockets. It looks like a motel or something.

Does anyone know what that build was?

Major Pepperidge said...

Thanks Viewliiner, I love the clock too! Although I thought that the Viewliner was your favorite?!? ;-)

VDT, you know we are Disneyland geeks when we enjoy seeing an electrical cord.

Katella, I almost made a Titanic reference, but remembered that I didn't like the movie!

Thufer, Nancy and JG, THANKS as always for your nice comments! REALLY!

Walterworld, I couldn't tell what that thing was, although I noticed it. I thought it might be for a restaurant, so I appreciate the info.

SundayNight, I'll have to go back and look at some other old photos, I honestly don't recall every noticing the cord before. But of course it had to be there!

OC Native, that green building is the administration building, and home to cast member locker rooms, as well as the Grand Canyon Diorama. I seem to recall CoxPilot saying that you could hear the "chirp" of the baby triceratops from the changing rooms!

CoxPilot said...

The green build you mentioned is the employee locker rooms (upstairs), and the wardrobe department (downstairs), and included some security and admin offices. The backside of the building was the Grand Canyon Diorama.

If you will look real close, you can see a portion of a dark green car just below the windows. That is my 1954 XK-120 Jag roadster. I would bring it in to deliver "supplies" from the main plant about ounce a week.

CoxPilot said...

ps: The Yachtsmen wore dark blue coats.

Heidi Ann said...

I was so excited when I found a little vintage souvenir plate recently at a thrift store that shows the Clock of The World at the Tomorrowland entrance. Neat photos, as always!