Tomorrowland 1960
Here are a couple of nice Tomorrowland views from some slightly oversized transparencies (just under 2" X 2" - is that "127" film?).
In this first instance, the color had faded to a strange orangey pink, which is why it looks weird now. This is the best I could do. Still, it's a great look (from the Monorail platform?) at the Astro Jets, Rocket to the Moon, and Skyway.
And I always enjoy seeing the mermaids in the sub lagoon. Bring them back! Even just for the summer. Nemo won't mind, I promise.
13 comments:
These are nice, Major! You are probably right about the 127 film, which was 46mm wide and could be formatted by camera choice to a 4x4cm size. 127 was certainly available in 1960, and most souvenir slides were offered as 4x4cm because they offered a bigger image while still being usable in your home projector. I'm glad you were able to scan them!
Bill in Denver
Bright for sure. The first picture reminds me that I forgot my sunglasses :-(
Monorail Blue is always a welcome sight. Lots of activity there between the sub, the monorail and autopia. A busy day in Tomorrowland to be sure!
I'd always wondered about the larger size of souvenir slides and what size film was used. I'm guessing the larger size was to make them easier to see in those back-lit display cases. Thanks, Bill!
(And thanks to you, too, Major!)
The first shot is neat because it really shows how (even in 1960) the facades and canopies looked kinda cheap and rushed. It wasn't until the redo of 67' that tomorrowland would look "finished" compared to the rest of the park.
The return of the merms (even for the 60th aniv) would be awesome. But somehow Cal OSHA would make it too much a nightmare to be a reality. Handrails on the reef would spoil the look.
You did a great job. I like the brightness of the first image. The silver skyway bucket above the Astrojets is great. The original Tomorrowland definitely has its own charm and appeal. Thanks, Major.
I can't get enough of that gleaming Rocket to the Moon entrance. It conveys solidity and motion all at once.
Major, these are great. Somehow, pictures of "Old Tomorrowland" don't get old, even though the design was pretty rough by today's standards.
Thanks
JG
Bill in Denver, t27 film is pretty sweet, though it seems like it is always Ektachrome, which means that it almost always turns magenta to some degree. I assume it was quite a bit more expensive than 35mm film, because I have very few slides in that format, relatively speaking. Luckily, they fit right on my flat-bed scanner just like any other slide.
Nancy, I think it looks bright because it's a bit over-exposed! But it was also a nice sunny day.
Chuck, before Pana-Vue, there was a variety of 35mm souvenir slides sold at Disneyland. They really do make an impact when you see them; I finally got rid of all of my Pana-Vues, even in their unopened packages they were completely, vividly magenta.
Alonozo, I sometimes feel like a hypocrite for loving the old Tomorrowland, since a lot of it really was cheap and a little bit cheesy; and then I go and criticize things like Fantasy Faire, which is very detailed. Your comment about handrails on the reef rings too true to be funny - I'll bet it would really happen!
K. Martinez, thanks! As you know, I love the old Tomorrowland (50's, 60's and 70's) SO much. To me it was the place I looked forward to visiting above all others.
Melissa, it's like a Lamborghini - it looks like it is going fast even when it's just sitting there!
JG, obviously I totally agree with you; maybe I don't mind the rough edges because they can be traced back to Walt's park, when the crews were working with all their might to finish everything by opening day. As you know, Tomorrowland was largely unfinished.
I'm getting nerdy with this, but most consumer Ektachrome slide film from that era was usually processed in either E-2 or E-3 Kodak chemistry, both of which were improvements over E-1 (horrible). The first decent Ektachrome process was E-4 (mid 70's), and E-6 is quite stable. Major...E-2 films are notorious for fading to magenta over time.
Bill in Denver
This Tomorrowland was my time, the noise of the Astrojets, the bright sun, the sound of the Autopia cars and the feel of a clean white shirt from wardrobe. If you zoom in on the Flight Circle, you can see three guys (one far across the circle, one closer, one seated behind the work bench). Don Hatcher would always sit himself while the guys cleaned up after a show.
He was the boss.
I loved the unfinished simplness of the time. All of Disneyland had a clean feel, as apposed to the over-designed, every-space filled, multi-colored fantastic who-ha of today. It was a glorious time.
@CoxPilot - Your last paragraph summed it up perfectly for me.
@ Cox Pilot - K. Martinez-
As I keep saying: There's a lot to be said for the "less is more" philosophy; although it seems to be totally lost on just about everyone working in not only the entertainment field, but every other aspect of society today.
Bill in Denver, I do have a few "still OK" Ektachromes, but as a rule they have not held up well at all.
CoxPilot, I guess it makes sense that the boss didn't do any cleanup! There has to be some advantage to seniority. Maybe it's the simplicity of early Tomorrowland that appeals to me? It has a kind of sincerity, somehow.
K. Martinez and Nanook, as a rule I applaud designers going the extra mile, but so often the "extra mile" demonstrates a lack of taste.
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