Two From 1973
I have a whole new appreciation for photos of Disneyland in the 1970's. After years of pretending that decade never happened, I now enjoy the terrible clothing, bad hair, and ugly cars.
Here's our groovy family, posing in the parking lot near the Disneyland Hotel's Monorail station (bubble dome!). It's an unusual angle; not a nice angle, but unusual. I'm guessing we've got three kids, mom, and grandma. Grandma is saying a bad word (guess which one!), mother is comforting younger son, and big brother sports a magnificent helmet of hair. Sis gives us a peace sign, which is mighty neighborly of her.
Now we've got the floral portrait of Mickey Mouse; grandma and mother are wearing the same clothes, but big brother now has a red shirt. Hasn't he ever watched Star Trek?? I think grandma is saying another bad word.
14 comments:
Major-
Bubble dome - bubble hair. You see, it just makes good sense. (Gotta love those bell bottoms).
Thanks, Major.
I dunno, I think Gramma is just saying, “SHut up and take the picture!” She wanted to get going, but Dad was taking too long behind the camera lecturing Bobby and Sissy about keeping their tongues in their heads and not making silly faces or doing John Travolta impressions or V for victory signs (what do you mean, it means something else now?) and just getting one nice picture for the church directory.
The color on these is great, which is perfect for such a colorfully-dressed family. I wonder why Big Brother changed his shirt. And I wonder whether they came in the station wagon or that sweet orange and white VW bus.
The Pinto Wagon next to the bus or the '72 or '73 Old Custom Cruiser in the background?
There's a Hidden Mickey in Big Brother's shirt in the first photo.
The women in the same clothing in both photos is throwing me off. Were these taken the same day, or different days? They were both taken in the afternoon. Did they stay in the Hotel, then walk across the street or take the Monorail? If they took the Monorail, why walk all the way to the entrance for the Floral Mickey shot? Maybe they lost their luggage? Or got a fantastic deal on a pile of identical outfits? This will bother me all day. Or at least until I have something else to do. Which is right now.
Make that "Old Custom Cruiser."
Good grief! "Olds Custom Cruiser." Serves me right for not wearing my glasses...
Sticking out your tongue and flippin' the peace sign. Sounds about right for '73.
Nanook, I think I had a pretty swell helmet of hair myself back in those days!
Melissa, you poor innocent kid… I’m telling ya, Grandma could curse with enough skill to make a sailor blush. John Travolta impressions, it’s funny ‘cause it’s true! “Welcome Back Kotter” was such a big deal for kids of a certain age. “What?” “Where?”. Why, with writing like that, no wonder it was a smash! I hope that family drove in the VW bus.
Chuck, ah, the Ford Pinto… we actually owned one of those death traps. It was a lovely bronze color. I thought I’d solved the mystery of the boy with two different shirts (I’m pretty sure they did go to the park for more than one day), but the fact that Mom and Grandma are wearing the same clothes throws the whole thing off. In one photo (coming up), the mother (with that glorious beehive) is wearing a red sweater vest and holding a white coat. I suppose it is possible they were staying at the Disneyland Hotel and junior took the time to change his shirt. There were plenty of girls waiting to be impressed!
Chuck, the beauty is that it is an old custom cruiser AND an Olds Custom Cruiser.
DrGoat, I still do both of those things in every photo.
That print on that woman's blouse looks like the facade of Art Corner.
I bet my Sweathogs paper doll set would be a collector's item now.
My theory is that one of those pictures is from much later in the day than the other, and BigBro spilled his lunch all over the shirt in which he started the day. Or one of the little kids upchucked on him on the teacups.
My theory, based on the late afternoon shadows, is that the second pic was taken first, just as the family was leaving the park to go back to their hotel room (via the hotel tram that would pick up guests just outside the park exit). In the first photo, they have now been to their room, where helmet-head changed his shirt and he, grandma and sis all got their jackets (which they are holding) in preparation for a possible cool evening in the park.
Little brother's T-shirt has a happy face on it. You can't get much more "seventies" than that!
@ TM!-
I think you nailed it. Although Grandma changed from her daytime 'sensible shoes' into a pair of open-toed beauties. (The hussy-!)
I remember my Mom dressing like these ladies, minus the beehive hair...
These photos (and the cars!!) are cracking me up.
I don't miss the 70's one bit, except for the parts inside Disneyland.
Thanks Major!
JG
Ah yes, the days before the Dodge Caravan. When a large family stuffed themselves into the Station Wagon or a full sized van (the van was our family option with 6 of us). I want to know about that slick Camaro behind the Pinto Wagon.
Oh my god, you guys have me laughing so hard, I almost slid off my office chair!
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