Sunday, July 26, 2020

Mark Twain Sunday

Hoo-boy, I like today's June 1960 photos of the Mark Twain just fine. JUST FINE! But, you know... *SNORE*. The day was nice and sunny! And we get a slight glimpse at the old Frontierland Station to the right.


Plus there's the Plantation House to our left, its days were numbered by 1960 (though it still had two years to go). I think we can see the poles that supported the big "Holidayland" tent, peeking up above the treeline in front of the Twain. 


Hey, I did it! I wrote some stuff!

15 comments:

"Lou and Sue" said...

At first I was going to say that there isn't another soul walking around the park - everyone's on the boat. But then I realized the photographer isn't on the boat (obviously)...but where is she/he standing?? On a TSI raft?

Thanks, Major, for a relaxing Sunday boat ride!

TokyoMagic! said...

I just now noticed (for the very first time), those windows on the back of the Mark Twain. What's on the other side of those windows? I don't remember ever being on the second deck, and being able to look out through those windows.

Nanook said...

Major-
Undoubtedly, those are the support poles from the Holidayland tent. Or perhaps the tops of the parking lot, 2 masted schooner that's used after hours for cleaning-up the lot.

Thanks, Major.

stu29573 said...

Sploosh, sploosh, sploosh, sploosh, sploosh, sploosh, sploosh DING! DING!

Pull this up on your phone and computer at the same time and you'll have stereo!

"Lou and Sue" said...

Stu, don't forget "Toot-Toot!"

stu29573 said...

Very true!

"Lou and Sue" said...

Stu, aren't you going to re-do your soundtrack, now, and add "Toot-Toot"? I'm anxious to listen to this in stereo!

Major Pepperidge said...

Lou and Sue, it IS kind of shocking to see how few people are on shore - normally you’d expect to see at least some guests. And you make a good point, the photographer must have been on another watercraft - it could have been a raft, or maybe a Keelboat I suppose.

TokyoMagic!, even if I did ever stand on the middle deck, I probably wouldn’t stand to the back - the view can’t be very good. I’d like to think that there is a luxurious private cabin on the other side of those windows. Walt’s other apartment!

Nanook, I forgot about the parking lot schooner! One of the least-remembered features of Disneyland. I am ashamed.

stu29573, you are a true sound effects wizard. When you said “DING! DING!”, I believed it. Stereo is overrated, I prefer “hi-fi” monaural. Maybe because I only have one ear.

Lou and Sue, that’s what soldiers in the Civil War yelled as they charged the enemy. “Don’t forget ‘Toot-Toot!’”. Inspiring.

Melissa said...

These lovely, relaxed pictures are balm for the soul.

Omnispace said...

All those passengers on the "aft" of the Mark Twain are enjoying Stu's sploosh, sploosh, splooshing! -- no second paddle wheel needed for stereo. Major, sorry about that unfortunate Wham-O archery kit accident.

Behind the aft windows is the secret squirrel cage room - a remarkable feat of engineering, and they worked for peanuts.

Amazing how those on the Tom Sawyer survived the wake of the paddle wheeler, and managed to take some excellent you-are-there photos. I'd give these a 9/10 for freshness. It's a beautiful Sunday morning!

Chuck said...

That's the Freight House/Frontierland Restrooms rather than the Frontierland Depot in the background. The depot is out of frame to the left and behind the Chicken Plantation.

TM!, it appears that initially those windows were just on the back bulkhead of the boiler deck, with open space for passengers and possibly a non-alcoholic bar (remember - they served mint juleps aboard the Twain at one time):

1959: https://www.davelandweb.com/marktwain/images/50s/KTPBKYC-12-59-N10R.jpg

1950s: https://www.davelandweb.com/riversofamerica/images/1950sKTPBK_N15R.jpg

It appears that that space was enclosed during the 1960 or 61 refit when they moved the rear staircases aft, although for what dark, nefarious purpose I can't say:

1965: https://www.davelandweb.com/marktwain/images/60s/CTCT_5_65_NXX.jpg

2011: https://www.davelandweb.com/marktwain/images/2000/2012/DSC_2870.jpg

The space in front of the enclosed cabin with the windows became a dedicated area for musicians:

1968: https://www.davelandweb.com/marktwain/images/60s/3D_7_17_68_R_YoungMen.jpg

1969: https://www.davelandweb.com/marktwain/images/DL_11_NO_Band.jpg

2016: https://www.davelandweb.com/marktwain/images/2000/2016/DSC_2243.jpg

And a familiar image from 1962: https://www.davelandweb.com/marktwain/images/60s/DAD_LouisA2_1962.jpg

TokyoMagic! said...

Major, maybe Walt did have a small place back there with a little bed, so he could kick back. Maybe he also had one in the rear of the Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship. I'd like to think so, anyway.

Chuck, thanks for the photo documentation of what happened to those windows and that section of the second deck! So I guess that enclosed space would be pretty small, but maybe there is still room for a cot or a hammock? I was pretty sure those windows were walled off to the public now, but I should have known for sure, because I took this photo in 2012:

https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UKWQK2XDAJs/TzRBAMU25lI/AAAAAAAAIC8/KiBJY_1s-Gc/s1600/Mark%2BTwain%2BMixer%2B%252824%2529.jpg

Major Pepperidge said...

Melissa, nice!

Omnispace, I do love the sound of the Mark Twain’s paddlewheel! And I should have known better than to trust a company named “Wham-O”. It seems so obvious now. Your squirrel comment made me think of Willy Wonka and his squirrel room. I wish I could make squirrels do all the work on this blog, while I get all the glory. And babes. Thanks for the nice comment!

Chuck, really? That’s not the old Frontierland depot?? I gotta do some Googlin’! I am rather amazed to hear that the depot was behind the Chicken Plantation. Thank you for all the information and picture links, you must have spent some serious time doing all that research! I wonder if the whole purpose of moving the staircases was to leave space for musicians?

TokyoMagic!, yes, Walt should have had many more apartments! The famous Matterhorn basketball halfcourt could have made for a swell place to sleep, or to put the grandkids when they were visiting. Thanks for your 2012 photo; the Mark Twain seems so unchanging, but even that icon has had its share of alterations.

JG said...

It seems like there are plenty of pictures of the MT, but who knew there were so many changes over time.

These are particularly excellent since they show sides that are not often seen, as well as the other features of the early Park, like the circus tent poles and the bandstand.

I remember touring my kids through the ship on one visit, so they could see all the parts. The second deck had the enclosed saloon with the bar, and it struck me suddenly how cool it would be to own your riverboat, and your own River, and what a great party you could throw for your friends.

Thank you, Major for taking time to scan these for us, even though you have a thousand other similar photos.

JG

JG said...

@Chuck, thank you for the links, and the photo of Louis Armstrong. How cool is that?

Not only owning your own riverboat and River, but you can invite Louis to come to your party and he does!

I'm tending to agree, maybe the closet behind the band was to store instruments between appearances? I love the impeccably maintained finishes, just beautiful.

I wonder how long it will last before they find a way to add Johnny Depp to the Mark Twain?

JG