Sunday, August 02, 2015

Boring Snapshots! August 1968

I should start calling Sunday posts "Boring Sunday Posts", because that's what they generally have been. And today is no different.

Among a group of snapshots from August 1968 is a group of five photos, all taken around "It's a Small World". I was going to be stingy and break them up into two separate posts, but they're too boring

This one is OK because I like this fellow. He looks like a lovable grandpa. He's having a bit of trouble getting around these days, but that doesn't dampen his spirit of fun.


This topiary elephant was a surprisingly popular photo subject.


See? There he is again! Along with some less-popular planty pals.


Back in the days when every film frame was precious (only 24 or 36, depending on what you bought), it baffles me as to why anyone would want multiple shots of these. How about a picture of the Monorail instead? 


There's that showoff elephant again; what a diva. I'm more about the abstract Brancusi-style topiaries!


11 comments:

Nanook said...

Major-

Again I ask - just where are all the people-??!!

Thanks, Major.

TokyoMagic! said...

I wonder what those four little stage or platform thingys are in that second to last shot? And every time I see the Small World Meadow (same pic), I lament the loss of that valuable piece of land to Videopolis. Even if management felt the park needed such a venue, it's too bad that somebody didn't have the foresight to put it someplace where it wouldn't have blocked future development and the potential to have traffic flow through that area and connect with the land behind Big Thunder (as was planned in the late seventies and early eighties). Personally, I would like to see the Fantasyland Theater torn down and Fantasyland expanded into that area with more dark rides....and a replica of Skull Rock and Captain Hook's pirate ship would be nice too. Hey I can dream, can't I?

Nanook said...

@ TokyoMagic!

You certainly have my vote.

Chuck said...

Note what appears to be a red construction crane in the background. Any idea what that might have been for? I can't make sense of it, even using this 1970 aerial shot for reference: http://www.yesterland.com/images-fantasyland/fldepot_aerial1970.jpg

I love your idea, TokyoMagic!, although I would anticipate Hook's ship and Skull Rock being sacrificed to present-day corporate synergy in favor of a replica of Arendelle Harbor and the North Mountain. Peter who? At least we didn't get a "Frozen" overlay in the latest Matterhorn rehab...or more pirates...or both.

Chuck said...

Sorry - forgot a major data point. The crane is visible in the fourth photo.

Nanook said...

@ Chuck-

Unbeknownst to you, the photographer was using a very special lens, capable of capturing far-away coaster rides. This would be the track from Montezuma's Revenge, all the way over at Knott's Berry Farm. Ain't modern wonders swell-??!!

Major Pepperidge said...

Nanook, they are all in line for the Haunted Mansion, which will open in only a year!

TokyoMagic!, I saw those and was wondering the same thing. I have no idea what they are! And I agree with you that the Fantasyland Theater is a waste of space (in a park that can’t afford to waste space). I have never ever wanted to see anything that was going on back there, even back in its Videopolis heyday. You can dream about a redone pirate ship and skull rock, but you know it’s never going to happen…

Nanook, I hope you are registered.

Chuck, I tried to figure out what was going on with that crane, and nothing really made any sense. Perhaps some backstage construction was going on - a new outbuilding or warehouse, something like that? I hope this “Frozen” thing goes away; I tried to watch the movie for a second time, to give it another chance, and I couldn’t sit through it. And the “Frozen Fever” short *looks* good, but it was a long five minutes to get to the credits.

Nanook, it sounds like the photographer might have had access to Chuck’s space-time continuum retro-spectral thingy!

Melissa said...

Hey, that guy looks just like *my* Grandpa! But my Grandpa never used a cane. So I guess he looks more like my Grandpa when he shows up again in the fifth picture.

Melissa said...

Hey, that guy looks just like *my* Grandpa! But my Grandpa never used a cane. So I guess he looks more like my Grandpa when he shows up again in the fifth picture.

Melissa said...

Hey, that guy looks just like *my* Grandpa! But my Grandpa never used a cane. So I guess he looks more like my Grandpa when he shows up again in the fifth picture.

outsidetheberm said...

That 'construction crane' just might be the mizzen mast on the pirate ship.

And from now on I'm calling topiary creations 'planty pals'! Thanks, Major!