Thursday, April 17, 2014

Knott's Ghost Town

Hey. I love vintage Knott's photos as much as the next guy. Maybe even more. But aye caramba! These dark, gray, murky photos of the Ghost Town, while OK, feel kind of oppressive. Like a layer of volcanic ash has settled over everything. I hate when that happens! Somebody needs to use a light meter (hint: it's not me). 

That guy to the left has a brightly patterned (Hawaiian?) shirt, but it does little to cut through the gloom.  The blacksmith's shop is to our right, when I was a kid there used to be an actual blacksmith in there banging away on white hot iron rods, making horseshoes. Goldie's can be seen, along with the kicking leg in the side window. 


"Mommy, why do we need a flashlight during the day?"
"Well, honey, I think it might be The Rapture. I hope you've been good."
"Uh…..?"

I love the way the two kids are checking out the wooden Indian!


12 comments:

Disney Hipster Andrew said...

Whoa! i actually love these photos. They remind me of a Jandek album cover. Very cool.

Chuck said...

The "Dr Faust Tooth Powder" is my favorite sign in the whole park. Nice to see it surviving the nuclear winter depicted here. Thanks for making my morning!

Melissa said...

Major, your dialog really brightened up a dreary morning; thank you for the shot in the arm I needed!

Now, off to read some of those cool, old-timey signs...

Pegleg Pete said...

Those kids are definitely trying to see if the wooden Indian is secured to the wall. If at the end of the day it's missing, we'll know who to blame!

Raimundo said...

Grazie Major, very atmospheric pictures, like a "realistic" Western film ("McCabe and Mrs Miller", etc).Most folks are wearing red or warm colors; so is the leg at Goldie's; they match that juicy apothecary globe at the store...

MRaymond said...

My dad actually liked Knott's more than Disneyland back in the 60s and 70s. But he has a thing for ghost towns anyway.
He got tired of Knotts when it became a "roller coaster park".
Love the pictures even though they're dark.

K. Martinez said...

Dark, gray and murky works for these images. It sort of puts the ghost in Ghost Town.

@Raimundo - I agree. The first thing I thought of when viewing these images was "McCabe and Mrs. Miller".

Omnispace said...

I certainly liked Knott's with the dirt paths everywhere -- (back before those cee-ment footings for coasters started to sprout up everywhere.) A lot less tidy but a lot of atmosphere!

These tourists are all probably wondering why it it so dark in June. ;) It's supposed to be Sunny California!!

Irene said...

There still is a blacksmith in the shop hammering away at horseshoes! Said howdy to him yesterday :)

Alonzo P Hawk said...

After 41 years in so. cal and now 10 in Phoenix I'll trade you 100 of those dark gray and murky days for a 100 of our blinding sunny days and we'll call it an even swap. I love these (gloom) and all!

Major Pepperidge said...

Disney Hipster Andrew, maybe Instagram has a filter that will make photos look like this?!

Chuck, I wonder if any company still makes tooth powder. I kind of want to try it.

Melissa, I am glad these cheered you up! Is it dreary where you live?

Pegleg Pete, that Indian sculpture is probably in somebody's living room right now.

Raimundo, this reminds me more of "The Godfather", it is so dark and murky. (I just did a quick check to see if those movies used the same cinematographer… they don't).

K. Martinez, I suppose it DOES look extra ghosty.

Omnispace, I can never tell if the roads really are dirt roads, or if it is just pavement that looks more natural. The water puddles make me think it is paved…?

Irene, I'm glad to hear it!

Alonzo, when you move to a place like Phoenix, you have to expect it to be hot! SoCal is bad enough in the summer, I can't imagine what it must be like in Arizona. I guess you never get used to it.

TokyoMagic! said...

Major, you'll be glad to hear that the Indian is still standing in that same spot! It's kind of hard to believe when so many other beloved pieces of Knott's history have been tossed recklessly into the trash.