Special Guest Knott's Photos!
GDB friend Mark Raymond was kind enough to share two wonderful photos of his folks at Knott's Berry Farm, including this fun image of his father and mother from the famous Pitchur Gallery. They look like they should have had their own TV show! "Leave it to Mark". They make a very cute couple, and are so happy, it's impossible to look at this and not feel some joy in your heart.
Next is this photo of Mark's mother, sitting on the lap of Handsome Brady himself (that sly dog!). Poor old Whisky Bill is all alone. Maybe he needs to buy some Irish Spring. I was wondering when these were taken (possibly the early '60s?)... Mark said, Unfortunately, no dates but the second picture has my mom's handwriting on the back. It says "My eyes are up here, cowboy." Mark's mom sounds like a fun gal!
Thanks so much to Mark Raymond for sharing these delightful family photos!
15 comments:
Mark Raymond - Thank you for sharing these photos. Your parents look like movie stars - great-looking, and beautiful smiles! And I bet they were a LOT of fun, too!
Thank you, too, Major!
Major-
Mark's mom sounds as if she's 'in charge'. Good for her. That reminds me of Matinee, and the line Cathy Moriarty says to Jesse White: "My eyes are up here-!"
Thanks Mark, for sharing these fun images of your folks.
Oh, these are both really great photos! And I love Mark's mom's comment, on the back of the second one!
Thank you so much for sharing these with us, Mark! And thanks for posting them, Major!
This looks like it was such a fun visit. Thanks for sharing, Mark!
Lou and Sue, there’s something about photos like the first one; even though we can only see the heads of Mark’s folks, you get a sense of who they are and what they were like that is remarkable. The power of photography!
Nanook, that makes me think of a Jim Gaffigan joke where a woman is looking at his fat gut. “My eyes are up here!”.
TokyoMagic!, I had the feeling you would especially like these!
Chuck, this kind of personal record of somebody’s day at Knott’s is right up my alley; a moment in time that is preserved for us to enjoy some 50 or 60 years later.
Hi All, Thank you for all the great comments. My mom was a special person. I can only guess as to when these were taken but I'm guessing the late 50s or early 60s.
As for my moms personality and sense of humor, she was a very bubbly person and always had a smile on her face. I wish I could say more about her personality but she sadly passed from cancer in the early 70's. I was around 12, so my memory is a bit fuzzy. My dad remarried several years later and he would choke up when talking about her. Later, when I was in my 30's my dad gave me these photos and we were able to really sit down and talk about her.
He said she a very quick wit and was always in charge, truly a "modern" woman. She commanded a room with charm and grace. Her sense of humor was bright but she wasn't afraid to get dark, depending on the people in ear shot. Here's a thought that crossed my mind while typing this, I remember on the day she came home, after a double mastectomy, that she stated that we would no longer refer to the TV as the Boob Tube, and that we now eat only chicken thighs, not breasts (all said with a very sly smile). My grandmother was offended, my grandfather launched his coffee while laughing so hard (my grandfather also had a warped sense of humor).
I have never seen a photo of my mom where she wasn't smiling and that's the way I remember her. You've seen my mom before, she was being towered over by the Tomorrowland Spaceman (and she was 5'8") with a huge smile.
Great photos today. It’s fun to speculate and make up histories about the people in the pictures, but it’s extra-special to know who they are. Thank you Mark for sharing these and the stories about your mom. And thanks Major for a dose of Knott’s this week.
Mark, you obviously inherited your mom's fun personality (which explains why you enjoy GDB) - We're glad you did!
MRaymond, I can’t imagine what it must have been like to lose your mother to cancer at the age of 12 - obviously it would have been incredibly devastating and difficult. She sounds like the kind of person that other people would be drawn to; some people just have that sort of personality because they’re smart and fun to be around. And I definitely appreciate weird humor, though I generally try to keep those impulses in check here on GDB. Generally! I’ve known other people who have had cancer, and they often make jokes about it that others would never dare, but I’m sure it is a way to cope with something so scary. Thank you again for sharing these pictures, and for sharing your personal memories of your wonderful mom.
Kathy!, I agree, I always especially like to see photos from readers, even if we don’t necessarily get a big back story; they just seem “deeper” if you know what I mean.
Lou and Sue, there will be more from Mark coming up - though it will be months from now. Still… something to look forward to!
Mark, thank you very much for sharing these pictures and memories of your Mother. It's good to hear the stories of our fellow Junior Gorillas, and good that you have these mementos to remember her by. I'm sorry you lost her so young.
Major, thank you for the post.
JG
I'm late today, had to go up to Dudleyville (the mecca of Pinal County, population 900+) to take photos of some old backflow preventers and a baseball field we are going to improve.
Mark, great pics of two happy people. Your Mom sounds like she was a lovely person. Glad you and your Dad had some time to reminisce about your Mom.
Thank you for sharing those thoughts with us. My Mom and Dad passed away twenty years ago and within 4 months of each other. My sister and I still share stories and memories with friends and each other.
Thanks Major and Mark.
Just a few last minute thoughts on today's pics. While at work my mind would fill with memories of my mom, Knott's and Disneyland, (so I didn't get much done today). Mom and my grandfather truly did love the parks and Walt Disney's view of the world. She took us to every new film and re-release in the 60s. Later in my teens, my grandfather would take me to Disneyland on my birthday and we would have a blast. I could tell you some stories, but I'm sure we all have some good ones. Thanks, again, everyone.
These are so awesome! It's good to know that Mark's mother was indeed as fun as she looks here. Thank you for sharing your photos and memories, Mark, and thanks to the Major for making it possible.
Mark, please DO keep sharing your stories!
JG, I am all for everybody to share personal stories like Mark’s! I think we can all relate on some level, and it makes the experience so much richer for all of us.
DrGoat, “Dudleyville”, sounds like my kind of “ville”! Backflow preventers, those things are popular with the kids. ;-) I talk to my mom about my dad sometimes, but it sometimes ends in tears (for either one of us), so we don’t do it as often as we should. My grandma and grandpa passed away within months of each other after over 60 years of marriage, it felt like they were so connected that it had to be that way.
MRaymond, I’m sure today’s post evoked lots of memories of your mom. My grandfather on my mom’s side loved to go to Disneyland, I really think it was his idea many times. And he was always game to ride the Matterhorn or other rides that my mom or grandma were not interested in. Later, my dad took us for Navy Nights. I wish I could have continued to go with my grandpa, but he died in the early ‘80s, while my three other grandparents lived for another 20 years.
Melissa, Mark’s mom has such a great smile, totally natural and joyous. I always look like the sun is hurting my eyes, ha ha.
Lou and Sue, like I said to JG, I’d love it if we got more personal stories from everybody!
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