Friday, July 20, 2012

The Clock of the World, 1956

Oh boy, vintage Tomorrowland! I never get weary of looking at it. Here's a sweet view of the Clock of the World (I think it says it is 3:53), America Motors' "Circarama", and the TWA Rocket to the Moon.  So nice!


Here's another view; in both photos the guests are wearing sweaters and coats, so let's just say this is winter, in spite of the bright sun and vivid blue sky. Go watch Circarama's "A Tour of the West", where it's nice and warm inside! 

As far as I'm aware, "A Tour of the West" is a lost film, though it could still be sitting in a film storage vault somewhere. I'd love to see it!


10 comments:

Time Spectator said...

Beautiful skies in beautiful colour. I have always held a fascination for that Clock, being so symbolic of the optimistic broadening of the horizons much of the west saw at the time. I too would love to see that film today if it exists.

The Viewliner Limited said...

My World Clock... how great are these pics? There are no finer! What memories. Thanks Major.

Debbie V. said...

I remember living in SoCal and getting one of those beautiful ly windy and cold days - air from the mountains. Maybe this was on of those days.
I have to admit that one of the things I miss a lot here in the Heartland is the Santa Ana winds - those were so I'm going to say it "sensual" in that it changed the air in a way you could feel and smell the CA desert.

Anonymous said...

I agree with Debbie. The winter days with the Santa Anas were great to work. But they could be either cool or we'd hit 90 or so....for an hour maybe two in the afternoon at least...and then rapidly cool off in the evening. The Park seemed to sparkle then. Miss those times.

We get similar winds here in Portland, mostly in the fall. When they come I always think of those days in SoCal.

Melissa said...

The Clock of the World always looks like a bartender's jigger to me. Must be telling me it's time for a drink.

TokyoMagic! said...

Hey, Melissa hit the nail on the head! I never noticed that before, but it does look like the hourglass-shaped jiggers. Especially since one end is longer than the other.

K. Martinez said...

Seeing the sign Cir"CAR"ama and then the flags behind it reminds me of an old auto dealership.

Alonzo P Hawk said...

I thought it looked like a milk shake mixer with one of Marlin and Dory's ocean mines attached to the top.

Major Pepperidge said...

Time Spectator, that's classic Kodachrome for you! I really wish that "Tour of the West" film would appear. Imagine seeing those locations as they looked 57 years ago.

Viewliner; they are pretty nice! I have one or two other great ones coming too, including a night shot.

Debbie V., it's funny to me to hear you say good things about the Santa Ana winds, which I have always regarded as a pain in the a**! Your impressions are much more poetic and positive, which is nice.

Anon, I DO like the way the winds sweep the smog away. But I also associated brush fires with them. Maybe I'm a "the glass is half empty" guy?!

Melissa and TokyoMagic!, is it possible that one of those cocktail jiggers actually wound up being the inspiration for the final shape of the Clock? It certainly is unlike any other clock I've ever seen.

K. Martinez, you are so right, and the funny thing is that the flags served the same purpose - to add a bit of color and movement for as little money as possible!

Alonzo, mmmmm, milk shakes! I don't know where you are, but it is almost 100 degrees where I am today.

Nancy said...

Was there any plaque or something there to explain how to read this clock?

Such a Tomorrowland icon should still be there!! Its so sci-fi looking and it should make some cool spaceship sounds or something...

I love it!