Wednesday, May 09, 2018

More Parade Pix, April 1976

It's time for the second batch of some oddball photos from what I now know (thanks to you smart folks) was the special 1976 Easter parade and not "America on Parade". I posted these in the order in which they were taken (relying on the numbers stamped on each slide).

Thanks to cartoons (such as "The Dover Boys"), I assume that olde-timey people constantly rode from one place to another on penny-farthing bicycles (and whatever you call that tricycle thing the lady is riding). They look kind of fun!


I wonder if the bikes are genuine antiques, or modern reproductions? I'm not sure how the gal to our left is going to get back on her bike... it would be hard enough, even without a long dress. 

For the fellas reading GDB, there's our scantily-clad miss, to the right!


Aha! There is a sign on the side of that flivver that says "Easter Parade". And let's not ignore the fact that it is covered in springtime blossoms.


I guess that's the new iteration of the "Firehouse Five" (even though there's six of them)? Those old-timers couldn't do it forever. I'm glad to see them aboard the motorized fire truck.


In the 1970's, women were fighting for their rights, but they weren't the first to do so. These suffragettes wanted to vote! What's next, ladies driving cars??


It is fairly astounding that women weren't allowed to vote in the U.S. until the 19th Amendment was passed in 1920.


For some reason I particularly remember seeing Tigger at the park when I was a kid. Maybe because he was bright orange! He is trying his darndest to walk (not bounce) along the parade route.


Lilac Lady has Mr. Smee on her arm, while Green Gal is accompanied by J. Worthington Foulfellow. The seated CM to our right is enjoying the parade as much as the guests!


The third (and final) installment of Easter Parade photos is coming soon.

16 comments:

Nanook said...

Major-

'Scantily-clad' - yes 'em. It's funny, the three gals around her are sporting entirely-different outfits, including a mighty-fine pair of bell bottoms.

Thanks, Major.

Patrick Devlin said...

Oh man, I'm tickled that the babe showed back up again. It's going to take more than a few minutes to sift through these pics to suss out all fo the details, but I'm willing...

TokyoMagic! said...

♪♫♪♫ Well done, Sister Suffragettes! ♫♪♫♪

Why is Wile E. Coyote riding in that car in the third pic? I hope Warner Bros. sued Disney over unauthorized use of their character!

And that looks like Eddie "The Big Ragoo" Mekka riding the green bike in the first pic.

Anonymous said...

Actually, the Firehouse Five is missing one! They were the Firehouse Five Plus Two. I have a Firehouse Five Plus Two album (Crashes a Party 1960) That is signed by Ward Kimball to George Pal (director of When Worlds Collide, etc). I got it from Mr. Pal's estate for a ridiculously low price a few years ago! Ward was friends with George and shared his interest in space, UFOs and such...

JC Shannon said...

Great crowd shots, I was thinking... Most of those kids watching are now in their 40s! I really like the penney farthing bicycle photos. Major, it IS hard to believe that less than a century ago women could not vote. @TokyoMagic! Thanks alot, now I have that song stuck in my head, good thing it's a great one. "Our daughters daughters will adore us..." and they do. Thank you Major.

Stefano said...

Disneyland always provided wholesome family entertainment, but on warm days also drew 40,000 to 60,000 often scantily dressed people pressed in close contact. The humid result on the imagination wasn't quite Woodstock, but neither was it Mickey Mouse.

Major Pepperidge said...

Nanook, it was only a special few who would dare to walk around dressed like that woman!

Patrick Devlin, please get back to me with a full report.

TokyoMagic!, I thought it looked like Wile E. Coyote as well. There was a Christmas Parade (from a series of Instamatics) that I posted years ago that had a large Magilla Gorilla doll, so it’s not unprecedented. Who is Eddie “The Big Ragoo” Mekka? Is he from “Laverne and Shirley”? Or “I Love Lucy”? Or “The Happiest Millionaire”?

Stuart Powley, I don’t have any idea if the band was ever just called “The Firehouse Five” although I always liked the “Plus Two” part. Wow, so cool that you have that album signed by Ward to George Pal! I loved “The Time Machine” and “War of the Worlds” whenever they showed up on TV.

Jonathan, it is always a little odd to look at old slides and think about how much time has passed since they were taken. I just scanned some non-Disneyland slides from around 1950, and realized that even the 10 year old kids in the picture are grandparents now.

Stefano, I can’t say I have personally seen anybody showing quite as much skin as that one young lady during my visits to the park, but have seen plenty of pretty gals there!

Steve DeGaetano said...

While I worked my way through college as a bicycle mechanic (and for several years thereafter), I cannot tell from the photos if the penny farthings and other conveyances are original. It's possible.

Anonymous said...

These are terrific Major. Taken right in the center of my peak visiting years and worth every moment of examination for the clothes (or lack of them) alone.

@Stuart Powley, it would be great to rip that album to digital. I'd love to hear that, and the autograph (!) wow, what a great story.

Fascinating stuff. Thank you.

JG

JC Shannon said...

@TokyoMagic! I think green bike guy looks like John Lennon.

TokyoMagic! said...

J.C. Shannon, John Lennon....really? Hmmmmmmmm. Now I want to hear a Beatles cover of "Sister Suffragette."

Major, yes, that actor/character was from "Laverne & Shirley." I guess you knew it had to be from one of those three. Although, in your "Ella" post a few days ago, I quoted a Lily Tomlin line from the movie, Nine To Five.

Melissa said...

Pennyfarthing bikes always make me think of The Prisoner. I am not a number; I am a free man! Be seeing you!

Chuck said...

Thanks for the earworm, Melissa. Seriously - I love that theme. I used the opening and closing themes at work as my computer startup and shutdown sounds for a while until the irony dawned on me.

Major Pepperidge said...

Steve DeGaetano, I would be willing to bet that those bicycles are genuine antiques. It seems like it would be cheaper to buy them than to create new ones.

JG, I’m glad you like these, though I feel like they are kind of “meh”. Sometimes the discussion helps to salvage what would otherwise be a pretty mundane post.

Jonathan, I can kind of see John on that face. Was this during his “lost weekend” period? Where is May Pang?

TokyoMagic!, it would be weird to hear the Beatles singing a Disney tune! That guy’s crazy Italian name could only come from “Laverne and Shirley”.

Melissa, I haven’t seen that show since I was a tiny child. The opening credits were enough to scare me.

Chuck, time to look on YouTube for the them to “The Prisoner”. I wonder if it will ring any bells for me?

Melissa said...

Door doot doo,
Doot doot doo,
Doot doot doooo doo!

Chuck said...

Those lyrics should have won an Emmy.