Tuesday, April 08, 2014

Snapshots, 1976

I have a few small lots of old snapshots that I am scanning to share here on GDB; today's are from 1976. There's nothing super exciting, but I still enjoy them.

The color must be way off in this picture, because the Columbia appears to be a strange "refried bean" hue rather than its typical "burnt sienna" orangey color. Why not just make it a nice sparkly green metal flake and be done with it? (Metal flake colors are my favorites!)


It's the Bicentennial, and none of these people are wearing red, white and blue. What gives? In fact, they look positively drab for the mid-1970's. I like the fact that the end of Tom Sawyer Island is still untainted by the Fantasmic stage.


Here's a pretty nice shot of New Orleans Square. The guy in the white shirt to our right is stunned. "It's so beautiful!". 


12 comments:

Nancy said...

The haziness makes me think of a really hot day, but these lucky (to be at Disneyland!) folks aren't dressed like it is.

My favorite one is the Columbia, which looks to me as tho it has run aground at a quick glance!

I am enjoying those polyester ladies' pantsuits, too....Love the 70s!! :-)

Chuck said...

Based on the heavier dress (we always went in the off season by the mid-70's) and the year, I actually looked for my family in these pictures. I'm pretty sure that's us in the third picture, standing immediately behind the photographer.

I, too, like the pre-Fantasmic view of TSI. I was reading just yesterday that in the early days, they actually ground flour in the mill and had cast members on hand to explain the process, sort of like they did (do?) at Knott's and Cedar Point. Anybody have some personal recollections they'd like to share?

Melissa said...

People were probably sick of hearing about the Bicentennial by the time it actually happened - it seems like the celebrations started in the late 1960's.

There is that petite lady in the jolly red-and-white pantsuit in the second picture, purposefully striding to the left as she eats her popcorn. I wonder if she's an off-season Mrs. Claus, checking to see who goes on the naughty list for acting up in line at the haunted Mansion.

K. Martinez said...

Maybe it's not the picture, but the Columbia that is way off in color. Perhaps she was ill and looking pale that day.

If only they retired Fantasmic!. I yearn for quieter and less crowded nights on the west side of Disneyland.

The color palette used on New Orleans Square sure looked simpler back in those days. Nowadays it has more color going on.



Nice set today. Thanks, Major.

Alonzo P Hawk said...

Cool retro shots, off color and all.

The guy in the last photo (white shirt) is from Disney's little known "Men in White" squad. He's about to break out the little flashy thing and wipe everyone's memory clean of how much money they have spent in the gift shops and restaurants.

Chuck said...

Ken - I hear you. I have very pleasant memories of eating a quiet dinner outdoors in Frontierland, watching the Mark Twain chug by periodically as the "fireflies" twinkled in the trees over our seating area.

Tom said...

I think things were fuzzier and more pallid in the mid-seventies. They probably had to repaint the Columbia to match the fashion.

Pretty sure that's Jeff Lynne with a handbag in that last shot.

Anonymous said...

@Chuck, I think I might vaguely remember something like that milling demonstration, but it's very faint indeed and might be mixed up with memories of other similar places; Columbia State Park for example. I want to say it was true, but I'm old and memory fades.

Also, I can definitely pick out your family in picture three, behind the photographer. You must be the little guy on the far right, with the silly grin.

JG

Major Pepperidge said...

Nancy, don’t forget about that wonderful Southern California smog! You’re right though, if it was hot, you’d think there would be more short sleeves.

Chuck, yes, I think I see you, and your mom in one of her home-made dresses! I’m not sure I’ve ever heard that flour was ground in the mill, but it very well might have happened.

Melissa, I had Bicentennial Fever! We saw the “Freedom Train”, I had commemorative stamps and coins, and plenty of red, white and blue clothing.

K. Martinez, I really do wonder if they have changed the colors of the Columbia over the years. As far as I know, it currently looks pretty much like it did in its early days. And “more color” seems to be a mantra for the folks who control such things at the park.

Alonzo, at first I thought that you said that the man in white was going to break out “the little FLESHY thing”. I gotta stop sniffing glue!

Chuck, what you describe is one of my favorite memories of Frontierland.

Tom, I know hairstyles were fuzzier for sure. And don’t forget when the Columbia was paisley!

JG, now I am not sure if my memory is fooling me or not, but maybe the E-Ticket magazine said something about a flour-grinding demonstration.

Dave said...

Awwwww, The Bicentennial celebrations...... The Freedom Train I begged my Dad to go see (never did even though it was pulled by the iconic SP 4449) but I digress. I was in the seventh grade and one day (being an Orange County kid) we had a field trip, to Disneyland, so we could partake in the "historical" things (like we had to sit through "Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln, ride the Mark Twain etc.) Then we had the rest of the day to peruse other interests.... I seem to recall ditching our chaperons fairly quickly and running off to the good stuff, leftover ticket books in hand. You have to remember that back then every family had that kitchen drawer full of leftover ticket books with the tickets your parents never used, we were loaded for bear.

Connie Moreno said...

Nice trip down memory lane...and why is the Mark Twain docked?

Chuck said...

Connie - Based on the clothing, these were probably taken during the off season and only one of the two ships was operating due to relatively low guest numbers. Either that or they were repairing torpedo damage.