Wednesday, April 22, 2020

Random Pix

I have four random snapshots, courtesy of Irene, Bruce, and James (aka "The Dream Team"). 

Let's start with this look at the mural as seen from the queue of "Mr. Toad's Wild Ride" (possibly from 1995). There's Toad standing on the back of his horse friend Cecil; Standing in front of Cecil is Moley, Ratty, and MacBadger, while the evil bartender "Mr. Winky" (!) twirls his mustache. To the right you can see Toad driving his car straight into the flames of hell. As a kid I loved these Fantasyland murals... and I still do.


Next there are two snapshots showing the façade of "It's a Small World" from the days when it was painted in candy colors. Pinks, lilacs, pale oranges, yellows, and the occasional bit of blue; there are still people who prefer this color scheme to the more classic white and gold, which just goes to show you something something. This angle lets us see the track that the little clockwork children travel on during their once-every-fifteen-minutes march.


Man that sure is colorful. Admittedly there are tons of Mary Blair concept pieces that show IASW in saturated colors. The story goes that she ultimately thought that white was the most "joyful" color, but I can't help wondering if the fact that white didn't fade and need constant repainting might have had something to do with it as well?


I initially thought that this might be a photo of one of the old castle dioramas, with Sleeping Beauty's three fairies hovering overhead, but it's hard to ignore the two Dickensian St. Nicholas figures, as well as other Christmas decor and presents. Perhaps this was in the "Tinker Bell Toy Shop"? I like the backdrop, which appears to be a copy of an Eyvind Earle background painting from "Sleeping Beauty".


Thanks to the Dream Team for today's photos!

21 comments:

"Lou and Sue" said...

I LOVE the first 3 pictures and saved them on my computer. This colorful "It's a Small World" façade looks like candy and I love it, but am glad this version was only temporary. If anyone recalls the WDW birthday cake castle in 1996 - I felt the same way about that (loved it because it was different - but glad it was temporary).

Great shot of Mr. Toad's mural. Boy, does that bring back good memories.

That last picture got mixed in with The Dream Team's pictures, Major. Don't you remember you already showed us that picture last Christmas - that was how your decorated your bathroom for the holidays.

Thank you, Irene and The Dream Team, and Major!

TokyoMagic! said...

Now I'm really curious about that last pic. Is that the ceiling inside the old Merlin's Magic Shop/Christmas Chalet/Villain Shop?

These are all great shots!

Thank you Major, Irene and her Dream Team! (Irene, I hope you are doing well!!!)

Nanook said...

Major-
Why not re-channel the 'plaid' color scheme from yesterday's post, and place it on IaSW-??!! Kooky-!!

One can argue something other than the original IaSW colors is a better way to go - but clearly not what we see here. These colors don't cut it, as far as I'm concerned.

That Eyvind Earle mural was part of the old Arts & Crafts Shop (later the Clock Shop & Glass Blowers, among other things), located just inside the entrance to the Sleeping Beauty Castle - on the west side. Uncertain what that space houses now, but it's been a Xmas shop at one time or another. That mural has come and gone over the years, and was uncovered either in the late 1980's, or early 1990's. (What's its disposition today-? Does it even exist anymore-??) It is [was-?] really a beauty to look at and study.

Thanks to the Dream Team, and The Major.

TokyoMagic! said...

Nanook, today that space is called the "Enchanted Chamber." It's a one-stop shop, for all of your princess needs! I do remember when that was a Christmas Shop in the nineties and I also remember when it was the Arribas Brothers Glass Blowers shop.

Here's an old post from ten years ago, but the last time I was in the shop (a few years ago), it hadn't changed too much.

https://meettheworldinprogressland.blogspot.com/2010/06/1970s-aurora-returns-to-fantasyland.html

Nanook said...

@ TM!-

Hmmmm... 'Enchanted Chamber' - it either sounds like yet another princess "opportunity" for Disney - or - a euphemistic name for a James Bond villain's death cell-!

Andrew said...

Wow, I've never thought about how the parade figures go back into the clock with that little side door! Now we need a picture of them when they're stored inside... in the darkness - behind the scenes!

Once I do finally get to Disneyland, Mr. Toad is the no. 1 attraction I'm looking forward to. Thanks Irene, Bruce, and James.

Pegleg Pete said...

Great photos today – thanks Major and Dream Team. I'm unfamiliar with that mural in the last pic, but as I've always been a fan of the Eyvind Earle artwork for Sleeping Beauty, I heartily approve! As for the Toad mural, the horse's name is not Cecil, but rather Cyril – Cyril Proudbottom, in fact. Thanks again, Major and Dream Team!

stu29573 said...

Great pics today! Thank you Dream Team! And I'm glad that Cyril's brother and stand-in, Cecil, is finally getting his due! ;-)

JC Shannon said...

Don't hate me, but I kinda like the colorful version of IASW. Love the mural as well. Thanks Major.

MRaymond said...

I remember seeing a video where Walt is saying that the iasw could be lit up in colors during the evening so it was painted white. My memory is foggy on this but I seem to remember a model of the facade in the background.

zach said...

We read Wind in the Willows in 4th grade and I have been fascinated with it ever since. Toad has always been a favorite.

Come to think of it, all the murals around the park are amazing. I wish I had been more attentive in the past.

Sue said 'different but temporary'. I now realize that's how I feel about overlays in the Park. Bring'em on.

Thanks Major,and the Dream Team. Take care, Irene.

Dz

MIKE COZART said...

The Eyvind Earle shop mural was a vintage Hand painted interior piece and in the late 90’s it was removed by art collections and saved by WDI. It’s been awhile, but I seem to recall that while it was at WDI being cleaned and documented it was discovered to have been actually painted by Collin Campbell to look like Eyvind Earle’s style. The sleeping beauty figures used throughout the shop were actually re-used from a 70’s or 80’s Emporium window display for a Sleeping Beauty film re-issue. The animals and dancing Briar Rose figures still animated and were behind a glass “window” and remained in the shop until the 2000’s - long after the shop had become several other shops included a short lived villains shop ( different than the Merlin’s Magic Shop Villains Shop Location)

I love that 1983 TOAD-LOAD mural - a brilliant way to include a homage to the original 1950’s loading mural. While I totally appreciate them now, the original Fantasyland dark-ride murals had a very creepy-spooky style to them that made me nervous or hesitant to want to ride them when I was little.

Major Pepperidge said...

Lou and Sue, you can only save these pictures to your computer with the express written permission of Major League Baseball! I do recall the birthday cake castle, I’m afraid I’m one of those people who disliked it. At first when I read your comment I thought, “HAVE I shown this picture before?”. It wouldn’t be the first time I’ve done that.

TokyoMagic!, yes, with those heavy beams I thought that this must be one of those castle shops, but I sure don’t know which one.

Nanook, I’ve changed my mind and I want multicolored polka dots, sort of like a Wonder Bread package. Early concepts for IASW included many colors, and I’m sure that’s one of the reasons they decided to give it a real go. Thanks for the info about the Arts & Crafts Shop, I don’t even remember hearing that name before. How did you know that?! Is the Eyvind Earle mural something that he actually painted back in 1955? I know he was involved in early Disneyland color ideas.

TokyoMagic!, all of my princess needs, eh? There’s a store I can skip entirely then! Ditto a Christmas shop, I still remember going to a store in Ports o’ Call that had Christmas decor 365 days a year, and wondering how it stayed in business.

Nanook, somehow they managed to not use the words “dreams” or “magical”, or even “imagination”, so that’s something.

Andrew, I would love a photo of the little IASW figures in the dark storage area! I hope Mr. Toad is still in Disneyland when you get there.

Pegleg Pete, I remember when I was a kid my mom got an antiques magazine that had lots of art gallery ads, and one gallery specialized in Eyvind Earle art. So each month I would cut out that page and save it in an envelope. So much Eyvind Earle! As for “Cecil”… oops!

stu29573, Cyril was out sick, and Cecil was happy to stand in for him.

Jonathan, we hate you! JUST KIDDING. People like what they like, it doesn’t cost me a penny for you to like the colorful version.

MRaymond, yes, if it’s the same video, Mary Blair holds a small bank of colored lights up to the façade as an example.

dzacher, I actually don’t think I’ve ever read The Wind In The Willows. There are no robots or spaceships in it, as far as I understand. I think that at the time we didn’t know that IASW would ever be returned to its original white and gold, so now we can look back and be fond of the “temporary” change.

Mike Cozart, aha, you answered my query to Nanook. I wonder if the mural was painted on canvas which was then mounted to the walls? Otherwise it would be some trick to remove and store actual walls. I’m glad to hear that it was saved and restored. Collin Campbell did a good job, from what I can see he matched EE’s style exactly. When I was a kid, lots of things scared me, but being a “monster kid”, I think I liked that the dark rides were a little scary! Then when it was over and I had survived, it felt like more of a triumph. I’ve always wished that the Haunted Mansion leaned a little more toward “scary”, but understand that it’s Disneyland, and they have to make it family appropriate.

Irene said...

Whenever I tune into a day of photos that says Irene, Bruce and James it gives me a little start - oh, that's me! LOL

I am doing fine everyone. I am having six rounds of chemo and should be finished the very end of May and then will start on oral medication. My cancer markers are going down and my tumors are shrinking according to my latest CT Scan. My bone scan showed no change but the doctor says that is not unusual because bones take much longer to heal. So all in all I am doing well all things considered. I'm also staying in except to go to my medical appointments. If I still had a pass to Disneyland I sure would be missing it now. What I am missing because I do have a pass there is Knott's Berry Farm. Very concerned as to how these amusement parks are going to reopen! Can't be too soon for me.

Anonymous said...

Thanks to the Dream Team for these pictures!

I read the Wind in the Willows as a kid, and was confused by the Mr. Toad ride version because of Winky and Hades etc. since I hadn't seen the Disney film. Only became clear much later after the Disney channel. I had similar issues with Peter Pan and Skull rock. The Disney ride is the bomb, definitely a childhood favorite, and still enjoyable as an elderly adult.

I wasn't a fan of the sherbet version of IASW, but I do have some nostalgia for it since it was like that when we first visited with the kids, it's their first version. I'll have ask my daughter which she prefers. I agree with the Major, loathing for the pastels has softened over time now that the white version has returned. One thing that heightened my disturbance over the sherbet color scheme was the trend in architecture and design in the 80's and 90's for these colors. I didn't like that trend or the designers that created it, so I was predisposed to dislike it for personal professional reasons.

I sure do like the unusual angle of the clock figurines, took me a minute to discover it was taken from the train. What perfect timing.

I vaguely remember that shop in the Castle. Wasn't there one for a while that sold heraldry items? Was it that one? Thanks Mike Cozart, as always for the backstory.

Irene, thanks for the update, glad for the good news. Thanks for sharing these photos!

JG

DrGoat said...

Read Wind in the Willows when I was young and then again a couple of years ago. Wonderful book. Piper at the Gates of Dawn is my favorite chapter.
'Nowhere in Particular'...a great song. I want to go there. Really get a kick out of 'The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad'. Always makes me laugh. Should watch it again.
Glad to hear you are doing well Irene.
Using that Toad mural as wallpaper already.
Thanks Major!

MIKE COZART said...

The “Eyvind Earle” Collin Campbell mural was painted on a very fine canvas wallpaper like material - the same kind the MISSION TO MARS lobby mural and the Lincoln Theater Exit Lobby 5TH FREEDOM mural was painted on. The Sleeping Beauty mural wasn’t actually on the shop’s wall but attached to 1/4” thick Masonite type panel board. It was then inserted into a slight recess between two end columns and above a faux stone wall wainscoating. Over time the mural had been covered with drape cloth, tapestries and other coverings depending on what the shop space was being used for. The mural also had many pin and small nail holes in it where decorating had hung holiday and other festive garlands and ornaments from it over time. Unlike many other park murals that have been lost or destroyed , this one was saved and is safely in storage at WDI art collections ..... and probably will never be seen again.

OH! I almost forgot: when the original was removed a replacement was put in it’s place for a very short time . The replacement was some kinda of photo print on vinyl that had a somewhat blury look to - basically a early digital copy of the original. It to was removed after the shop became either another Christmas shop or princess shop - I can’t recall off hand. I do believe that location has had the most shop changes in Fantasyland.

The Heraldry Shop was located in the opposite shop where the Castle Candy Shoppe was and also was located in the Magic -Villians #1 location.

Chuck said...

A shop for all my princess needs? That takes all the fun out of finding one yourself.

Irene, so glad to hear you're responding well to treatment. Hang in there!

Sunday Night said...

I'd also love to see a picture of the inside of the IASM clock. Today's pic at least shows the character tracks.
Toad is one of the best rides at Disneyland and so nostalgic because it's general craziness has not changed very much over the years.
Irene, thanks for the update. So glad to hear things are turning in a good direction for you!

Dean Finder said...

Hoping for a speedy recovery, Irene

Major Pepperidge said...

Irene, thank you so much for sharing these photos, and thank you for the updates about your health. You’ve been generous enough to email me personally, but I never felt as if it was my place to tell the readers any news directly from you - I guess I should have asked?! Anyway I am so glad that you are getting better!!

JG, I would assume I should be able to download a public domain e-book of The Wind In The Willows, I should look for it (maybe on Project Gutenberg) and read it finally. I also want to read some Washington Irving stories! I have great memories of riding IASW with my young niece, she was so blown away, and of course that helped me see it with new eyes. I’m sure somebody else will have info about the Heraldry Shop, which I do remember going into, and wondering who spent big money on a fake coat of arms!

DrGoat, “Piper At the Gates of Dawn”, that’s by Pink Floyd, silly! I love the old dark ride charm of Mr. Toad, and always will. If only it was twice as long, I’d love it twice as much.

Mike Cozart, thank you for the additional information! I don’t remember the murals in the lobby of Mission to Mars or the Lincoln Theater exit. It’s so amazing to think how these works of art were just considered to be so expendable, unless they manage to last long enough to become respectable. I wonder how much else is in storage at WDI that geeks like me would love to see?! Again, thanks for all the great info.

Chuck, now I only need to go to Tiara Town, so life is good.

Sunday Night, I’m surprised that such a photo hasn’t cropped up online. There are behind the scenes photos from the Haunted Mansion, or from Pirates, but none with the clock. It’s a conspiracy!

Dean Finder, you said it.