Sunday, December 03, 2017

Town Square and the C.K. Holliday, October 1970

I'm still slogging through that batch of dark and dreary slides from 1970 - although at least the first of today's examples is not too bad!

See what I mean? I think I even see some of Henry Fonda's favorite, cerulean blue (these being GAF color film). Town Square looks great, as usual - and was a beautiful day to be in the park. As much as I love the more mature trees, they are definitely starting to block the view of the castle, even from the elevated vantage point of Main Street Station. 


If you shine a flashlight at your monitor, you might be able to tell that this is a photo of the C.K. Holliday. Man, those shadows just went inky black! But I can never get enough photos of the Disneyland locomotives, especially the two that were built at the studio. Notice the parking lot tram in the distance!


9 comments:

Nanook said...

Major-

It is frightening just how awful the color from GAF film could look. But no matter - even their dreadful palette can't interrupt the loveliness that was Disneyland, ca. 1970.

I do believe, however, in the first image, the person seated on the bench, at the far-left, with the blonde hair - and what appears to be a rather wide, 1970's-era headband, can also be seen in the second image right there in the front seat of the C.K. Holliday. Coincidence-? Doppelgänger-?

Thanks, Major.

Melissa said...

“Man, those shadows just went inky black!”

Well, don't worry; Dark Shadows gets cancelled in 1971.

The Town Square picture is postcardworthy! And look at Richard Anderson AKA Oscar Goldman in the gold pullover at bottom left! Check it's a group of Men In Black resting up on the benches behind the Clydesdale before heading off to monitor alien activity in Tomorrowland.

And I totally agree about the trees. During the twentieth century they really helped with the forced perspective, making the human-built structures look their proper size. Nowadays, they could use some judicious pruning.

Anonymous said...

You know, there's something about the contrast of these vintage pictures that really make the yellows, oranges, and green really pop. It's the type of contrast that you'd come to expect from such vintage photos, and while HD digital photos will always be appreciated, nothing will replace the feel of film photography.

Major Pepperidge said...

Nanook, wow, talk about eagle eyes! Based solely on the headband, I think it IS the same person in both images. My theory is that it is a coincidence.

Melissa, “Dark Shadows” what a weird piece of television history! As a kid I watched some of it (being monster crazy), but I think I didn’t get the soap opera aspects of what was going on. I wanted more monster fights. And that does look like Richard Anderson! Maybe he would meet headband girl and marry her.

The Disney Dudebro, while digital photography is something of a miracle, and is definitely convenient, I agree with you - photographs on film tend to have a different feel. In the case of these GAF images, the warmer colors really do pop, which somehow makes them seem even MORE 1970’s!

K. Martinez said...

I like the first pic for its colors. Thanks, Major.

What I really want to know is what is mentioned more on GDB? Henry Fonda's cerulean blue or The Happiest Millionaire?

Dark Shadows was a favorite. Me and my childhood buddy watched that show everyday in the summer. That along with Gilligan's Island and Gomer Pyle, USMC. And Jim Nabors died the other day. Bummer!

Agree with both Disney Dudebro and Major on the quality of film vs. digital photography.

TokyoMagic! said...

The wonderful blue and yellow 1960's parking lot tram is photobombing that second pic!

Steve DeGaetano said...

The photo of the C.K. Holliday may be dark, but it seems to show a neat detail: The right side of the bell bracket (the "cradle") has a little mechanism attached to it called an "air ringer" (the bracket for which stayed in place for many years, and indeed may still be there). The air ringer did exactly what it sounds like--it was a small air cylinder that rang the bell pneumatically when a button in the cab was pressed. The cadence, unfortunately, was a monotonous "ding ding ding ding," unlike a hand-rung bell, which has generally a more pleasing, less regular cadence, like "ding DING, ding DING, ding DING, ding DING." I'm glad it was removed.

Anonymous said...

Boy does this take me back to my days on Main Street. And, no, they weren't dark, but very bright! KS

Anonymous said...

Major, these photos are worth the effort, in spite of, or because of, their odd coloration.

The Castle looks miles away in the first photo.

Thank you Steve DeGaetano, always interesting details to point out on the trains, much appreciated.

I guess I'm out of the loop since "cerulean blue" has no association with Henry or any other Fonda to me, and I never saw the "Happiest Millionaire". Maybe someone will explain the blue joke to me someday.

Thank you, Major. A lot of fun today.

JG