Sunday, August 28, 2011

Folks at Disneyland, March 1968

What happens when three 70-something swingers go to Disneyland, stop being polite, and start getting REAL? Not much. But you have to look at the photos anyway.


Gunther, Hildy and Marlene have just spent a saucy evening at the Disneyland Hotel. Just look at the expression on Gunther's face - the cat that ate the canary. He has a movie camera. If only it could talk.


Marlene and Hildy are on their way into Tomorrowland. Aren't we all, in a way?


Gunther, you sly dog! I can practically hear him calmly taunting James Bond. Marlene smokes her Gauloises (French cigarettes) while Hildy recalls last night's escapades. Who is the mystery woman concealing her identity with her souvenir map? Gunther, Hildy and Marlene will know her well by the end of the day!

10 comments:

Chiana_Chat said...

Nice people-perspective shots at a favorite place, lovely color, delightful commentary and

"Marlene and Hildy are on their way into Tomorrowland. Aren't we all, in a way?"

a bit of marvellously pertinent existentialism!

Oh! Wunnerful, wunnerful.

stu29573 said...

LOL! This post is SO wrong! ...and therefore hilarious!

SundayNight said...

That mystery woman is some time traveler taunting us by casually using a map worth hundreds of dollars (today) as a sunshade.

Man do I want one of those Kodak Picture Spot signs in my back yard. Especially this Tomorrowland version with the little antenna motif on the top.

Orange Co Native said...

1968. These nice people are probably one of the last hold outs to get dressed up for Disneyland. The change over to casual dress had already begun by 1960.

By 1962 my dad lost the suit and was down to a necktie and shirt. By 1966 he was wearing just a dress shirt and dress pants.

Today, some people I see around the park are complete slobs. Some not even bothering to shave their face or comb their hair.

Don't get me wrong, I love the day and age we live in today, but along the way we have lost a few good things as well. Personal grooming and good manners are a couple of them. The orange groves too. I know I keep harping on that, but it is a shame they are all gone.

The map the woman is holding to cover her face. Those go for quite a high price on Ebay. Back then, a brand new map only cost about a buck. I have one of those from 1962 and 1966. They are huge on heavy grade paper.

Connie Moreno said...

It took me a while to get past the first paragraph because I was LAUGHING my a$$ off!!!

I think I am going to take part in Dapper Day at Disneyland next month. Let's dress up for the Park!

TokyoMagic! said...

SundayNight beat me to it about the Kodak Picture Spot sign. I don't remember seeing one with the little do-dad/antenna/finial thingy on top. I also like the silhouette of the man with a camera sitting on the edge of the sign.

That pink pebbly concrete is so new and fresh in that second pic and I like the angle that was taken from. Gunther must have been standing under the PeopleMover track....it's casting a shadow down on half of the planter in the foreground. And is there a person standing in the planter where the Walt and Mickey statue are today? Maybe it's a park guest standing on the circular bench that goes around the planter?

Nancy said...

i want to know why Gunther is pretending not to be part of the group on the "group" photo that someone else obviously took for them...

great post today!!

walterworld said...

Climbing those stairs at the Disneyland Hotel Monorail station is a fond memory to me.

Major: Are these shots in order? It appears that they are in line to board the monorail in Tomorrowland in the last shot but getting off at the Disneyland Hotel station in the first pic.

Great post as always!

Major Pepperidge said...

Chiana is channeling Lawrence Welk!

stu29573, I am merely reporting the facts.

SundayNight, I never thought about it, but just think of how many "picture spot" signs there must have been. I'm sure they were all trashed, too. Arg!

OC Native, I have to admit that I would not want to wear a coat and tie, as much as I like seeing other folks dressed that way! At least I never wear shorts and flip-flops to Disneyland.

Connie, are you really going to Dapper Day? Take plenty o' photos.

TM!, I'm guessing that the antennas were unique to Tomorrowland.I don't see anybody standing in the "Partners" location, or am I just looking in the wrong place?

Nancy, Gunther has to play it cool, which means trying to stay "incognito".

walterworld, I have no idea what order these were taken (they are not numbered). So I just invented my own little story. Are you sure they aren't in line for the submarines?

TokyoMagic! said...

Major, the person I see is pretty much centered under the Frontierland stockade entrance.