Sunday, March 27, 2016

A Pair from 1957

I'm using this lazy Sunday as an excuse to post a few "meh" slides - but they are from 1957, so they're not a complete waste of time. 

In ye olden days, guests could visit Fort Wilderness on Tom Sawyer Island. Andrew Jackson's regimental headquarters was there, and Davy Crockett (or at least a facsimile) could be seen, along with his pal Georgie Russell. You could climb the stairs to look out over the crude log walls, sneak out the "secret" escape, and generally explore and relax. It's all gone now, replaced with a structure that appears to be made of wood, but does not really fit in with the environment. Maybe we'll get a revamped fort after all of this Star Wars Land stuff is done?! Hope springs eternal. 

This family is looking pretty weary; Mom is at least attempting a smile. The youngest has found a cigarette butt that still had a few puffs left. 


Over in the Rivers of the World, a crocodile suns himself in the green water. His tail points at the ruins of a temple that contained a golden idol and gleaming jewels. I'm sure he'll let you pass if you ask nicely.


8 comments:

Nanook said...

Major-

In that first shot, the expressions on the boys would seem more at home from images taken during The Great Depression, rather than at "The Happiest Place On Earth..." Perhaps they're embarrassed being photographed with their jeans "proudly" displaying amply rolled-up cuffs. Clearly the youngest brother has the right idea - toking-up when he can. 'Cause you never know how long that trip through the "secret escape tunnel to the river" might be.

Thanks, Major.

Unknown said...

Ooh boy, the "Secret Escape Tunnel to the River"! I just hope whoever's following us doesn't read English! I bet the cast members loved guests "playing" that triangle all day...

I remember only finding out about that secret tunnel in the 1980s sometime. I guess it might have been a pretty good secret after all.

TokyoMagic! said...

I remember that escape tunnel. I also remember going back to the park and discovering that the door to the tunnel had a lock on it, and the opening in the rocks down by the river had been sealed up. Does anyone know why they got rid of that tunnel?

K. Martinez said...

The expressions on those boys faces is priceless. Quite refreshing for Disneyland. I like the Fort Wilderness signs. Always appreciate sign documentation. And what happened to all the cool crocs that used to populate the Jungle Cruise? Thanks, Major.

Nanook, Yes, the youngest brother definitely has the right idea. And he was probably well practiced at it a dozen years later.

Pegleg Pete said...

I seem to recall going through that tunnel this century (ie. around 2002) or am I just imagining that? And what is wrong with that family? Why aren't they smiling? Don't they realize that life is never going to get any better than being on Tom Sawyer's Island in its early days? It's all disappointment from here on in...

Dean Finder said...

The fort and the "secret" escape tunnel still exist on Tom Sawyer Island at Walt Disney World. Maybe you saw ran through it there?

Chuck said...

I had heard that the escape tunnel was repurposed as changing rooms for Fantasmic!, but I have no idea if that was accurate or not. I do remember Disneyland's escape tunnel being gone by my return as an APH in '93.

DrGoat said...

My friend bonked his head running through the secret
tunnel back in the 60s. Had a pretty nice lump for
the rest of the day.