Four From Fantasyland, October 1981
Today I have a swell selection of classic Fantasyland photos, courtesy of Lou Perry and our friend Sue B.! These are from 1981... 40 years ago.
Is that a smile I see on old Skully's face? He's glad to see us. I love later photos of this feature, when the plants had really matured and look so appropriately lush and tropical. Once again it looks like the tallest waterfall (to the right of Skully) isn't working, I wonder if they knew that this feature was going to be torn out all too soon, so it wasn't worth repairing the pump?
Look at that amazing Pirate Ship! In my mind it's the most piratey of all pirate ships. Arrrrr! You know, for a bunch of unshaven, smelly, vicious criminals, they sure knew how to make their ship look pretty. I've seen photos where the words "Captain Hook's" were painted on the bow, but I prefer the elaborate painted scrollwork.
Monstro is looking a little bit sleepy here. He just ate another boatload of guests, and that inevitably makes him groggy. Notice the small pile of wooden 2 X 4's by his mouth., and what appears to be some kind of construction machine to the extreme right of the photo.
At this point, color had been added to the façade of "It's a Small World", but only some tasteful blues in the middle, so it wasn't too egregious. I know that some people liked the tutti-frutti, colorful pastel look that came next, but it was another case of "too much" in my opinion.
THANKS to Lou and Sue for these beautiful photos!
26 comments:
Major-
Skull Rock... Halloween - what a pair. Those "2x4's" are actually Monstro-sized dental floss - that's why his teeth are always so 'sparkly'-!
Thanks, Major.
What a nice set of Fantasyland pics! I really prefer the look of the Small World mall/corridor being wide open. It has always looked junked up and cluttered to me, after all of the towers were added for Light Magic, in 1997.
I wonder what day in October, these were taken. I was there on a Saturday, in October of 1981, to audition for "Fantasy On Parade."
Thank you, Lou, Sue and Major!
Wow, again such clear and crisp images! How does Lou do it?
It's a little known fact that humans have a much higher content of tryptophan in their bodies. So I'm not surprised that Monstro gets kinda groggy after swallowing boatload after boatload of guests all day. But he sleeps like a baby. Nanook is almost right: The boards are to prop open Monstro's mouth while the construction crew takes care of an impacted wisdom tooth.
Thanks to Lou Perry and Sue B (Lou and Sue and Boo!) and Major too.
- Just Buried
JB, ha, ha! In dentistry, that's called a "bite block." And here I thought those boards were a crude version of orthodontics! ;-)
- Tokyo Macabre!
People eat tuna. Monstro eats people. It’s the circle of fish.
If I was in charge of the area music, I’d make it sound like Skull Rock was always gargling.
People also eat turkey, which accounts for the high levels of tryptophan.
I like the scrollwork on the tuna boat, but those blanked-out cabin windows look odd to me. It hurts the illusion. This, ladies and gentlemen, was the beginning of ruining everything!
Maybe it's self-explanatory, but the canal is drained. I wonder if they kept Casey Jr. open. They also have no reason to keep Tom Sawyer Island closed when working on the river, in my opinion. ;-)
Major, it was a search for pictures of the Pirate Ship and Skull Rock that led me eventually to GDB, so these fine pictures are of more than passing interest to me. The Skull smiles, and I smile back.
I guess there’s nothing more I can add to praise for this brilliant little themed area, but these pictures do capture the detail and elan of the old design. The “headway effect” is turned off, maybe because the sails are furled, and the cabin door is shut, but there are diners in the grotto enjoying the tuna sandwiches, tuna tarts, tuna milkshakes, tuna Wellington, and tuna Suzette dispensed from that tiny galley. I wish I could go back one last time.
Monstro may be getting a root “canal”. I don’t blame him for dozing, it’s natural after eating all day. His digestion isn’t good, you see, all those boats pass through with no ill effects. Here endeth the analogy, or is it a metaphor? What’s a meta phor anyway?
While the classic white and gold IASW facade is always best, blue was always a minor accent of the facade in the signage, and it’s a nice neutral non-neutral. But, it’s a slippery slope that led to Spumoni in the end.
Thanks, Lou, Sue, and Major. I needed this today.
JG
Thanks for the reminder that this was FORTY years ago...wow...I saw this all as a working adult...seems like yesterday and about 100 years ago at the same time. Skull rock...come on people...that could have been saved...you don't need that blocked-out-window pirate ship with the wound from ripping the mermaid off the front to give it context. I'm not sure you can say "termites" either. Perhaps when everyone gets their marbles back, and ceases to ruin everything, Skull Rock will be back! Peter Pan has such great potential to be a REALLY spectacular "fly through" ride...not with computer animation and simulators, but an actual fly through like it is now. We can dream. I have no recollection of that blue addition to It's a Small World. I would have had words...perhaps someone else did so it was painted/gilded back (?) I do recall the big expanse of space in front of the attraction. The tail end of the Outdoor Vending train canopy is on the far right. That was a great location to work at as you had a few other vendors there to play with, did not have to deal with the traumas of dry ice, or shlepping your wagon across the park. Remember...Bear Country is very very far from Tomorrowland (home of ODV)...that was a long trek through thousands of people, and a heavy cart full of frozen things...in heels by the way...those boots had two inches on them! The train was a coveted spot, and I rarely was assigned there. Looking at all of that open space I can see why the suits would want to fill it with plush, a Videopolis or other novelties. I thought at the time that during the holidays they should have done a little Christmas village like the ones in Germany...it would certainly have made some logical sense with the New Fantasyland and the international theme of It's a Small World. I'm not sure what's going on with Monstro, his 2x4's or whatever equipment is there. That was a very "bad show" totally verboten thing back then. And they had to put a plastic Monstro in there why? I doubt Casey Jr. was running if Storybook land was drained. More "bad show" and just make the re-habs concurrent. But who knows since there seems to be throwing a lot of caution to the winds with 2x4's blowing across the land...
Skull rock! So delightfully creepy and Halloween appropriate… Tuna burgers in everyone’s trick or treat bags, yay!
Celeste
The Skull Rock image is a beauty. Disney should do an "If Only..." parade. If only they kept Skull Rock. If only they kept the PeopleMover. If only they kept The Skyway, Swiss Family Treehouse and Mike Fink Keelboats and so on and so on.
All wonderful photos by Lou. Thanks Lou, Sue and Major too!
Andrew, absolutely! They could tell folks to just walk across the dry riverbed to Tom Sawyer Island. Saves on paying cast members too! ;-)
TokyoMagic! I agree. The "Light Magic" towers have junked up Small World Plaza. The IASW façade used to look more regal before they junked up the area. Now it feels lost in the shuffle of competing visual junk.
For all those that bemoan the Spumoni IASW façade, it has returned to its classic gold & white color scheme.
Am going to eat lunch with my dad, in just a few minutes, and I’ll share all your comments with him. Thank you for your kind words and fun comments.
TM! I’ll try to get an exact date for you...I’ll look through my dad’s notes when I get back home.
Gotta run...see you later...
Lou and Sue and Boo!
Hi Junior Gorillas, sorry about my silence after yesterday morning, it was just a busy day. You know how it goes.
Nanook, I’ve heard that Monstro uses Aqua Fresh for that extra-fresh feeling. I’m glad he flosses so that he won’t suffer from gum disease.
TokyoMagic!, what’s wrong with clutter? I love clutter! I especially love clutter that is painted garish colors and has sparkles. Like you, I hate those Light Magic towers, and wish they’d take those dumb things down. It will never happen though. Sue B. might be able to tell you the exact day that these were taken, let’s ask her!
JB, Lou uses magic spells to get such good results. He has to wear a pointy sorcerer’s hat to make them work, but nobody looks twice when you do that at Disneyland. Monstro does get groggy, but he LIKES being groggy. Think about it, he never has to operate heavy machinery, so he can just doze off now and then.
TokyoMagic!, my dentist just gives me a chunk of wood to hold my mouth open, just like Monstro. Maybe Monstro and I have the same dentist?
Melissa, I must have missed the educational film about the Circle of Fish. My mom wrote me a note saying that I was too delicate to be exposed to such info. Gargling is good, but how about the sounds of barfing?
Chuck, Tryptophan would be an excellent Star Trek name. I didn’t even notice the blanked out windows on the Pirate Ship, what’s the deal with that?
Andrew, ah, I also didn’t notice the empty canal. I guess I’m not very observant (something I am well aware of). You make a good point about keeping Tom Sawyer Island open when the river is drained, but how would people get over there? Just walk?
JG, I remember the day when I used to avidly search the Internet for good photos of Disneyland, vintage or even brand new. I used to haunt the various websites and save copies of every jpeg of the construction of the “New New Tomorrowland” (boo) or such things. At some point a few years ago I went through them and culled them, but it was a fun time. Tuna milkshakes are good, but what about tuna chewing gum? “Henry, have you been eating cat food?”. “Not this time, honey”. I’m glad you liked today’s photos!
Bu, I know, the last few decades seem to have flown by. I have ticket stubs to concerts that I saw in the early 1980s that seem like just a few years ago. I honestly wonder how hard they worked to save Skull Rock, if they worked at it AT ALL. They didn’t realize how much it added to the area, even if it wasn’t anything that directly added to their coffers (which might have been key to its demise). The blue addition to IASW was there for a few years, but it wasn’t long before the pastel explosion (good name for a band!) happened. “Traumas of dry ice”, ha ha. I have at least one photo taken from the Pirate Ship, and you can see some poor soul pushing a cart with what appears to be multiple tubs of ice cream. I guess I wouldn’t fault the Disney company for wanting to sell more stuff, I just wish it was stuff that I actually wanted to buy. I’ve gone several visits looking for ONE great item, and coming home empty-handed. I’m sure you are right about Casey Jr. being closed as well, empty canals wouldn’t look very nice.
Celeste, oh my gosh, Skull Rock would be the PERFECT place to do a spooky character meet and greet! Such a lost opportunity.
K. Martinez, ha ha, why not just call it the “They Ruin Everything” parade? All of the guests would walk away with their eyes streaming tears. I guess they could make a temporary suspension bridge to Tom Sawyer Island, but we know that will never happen. Those Light Magic towers are doubly annoying because the parade for which they were built was such a dud. And yes, I remember the time when IASW was returned to its classic colors, SO GREAT.
Lou and Sue, aw, so glad you are going to see Lou. I’d sure love it if we saw a young TokyoMagic! in the background of one of your dad’s photos.
Nice crisp Lou pics are perfect for a cloudy So Cal morning.
Sue, for sure add my name to the Thanks-Lou-Crew!
Grant... which tomb am I buried in?
"Gargling is good, but how about the sounds of barfing?"
True story: I once got yelled at in the emergency room for vomiting too loudly. "There are CHILDREN here!"
When the riverbed is dry enough to walk over to TSI, they can temporarily re-theme it to Mosesland.
These comments are great!
Stupid work! I missed getting in on the fun today!
Gonna try again tomorrow!
Replikant 423733
Tokyo Macabre! I just had a few minutes to do some research, and have a long answer to your short question as to when these pictures were taken:
My dad's diary states:
10/25/81 to 10/31/81 AIPE Conference Reno
10/31/81 California
(Note: He had an appt. on 11/3/81 - back at home)
Since today's slides are marked (by my dad) October 1981, I have to assume they were taken ON 10/31/81. He has another box of slides dated November 1981, so I am assuming those are from November 1, 1981, as he didn't go back to Disneyland, again, in November. He did, however, return with my mom December 4-7, 1981. Am hoping he took pictures of you (TM!) in the parade!!
Disneyland didn't decorate for Halloween in the early years, but maybe some of you can confirm that they did not(?) decorate in 1981 - as there are NO Halloween decorations in these scans.
Sorry for such a loooong answer, but I know that some of you Jr. Gorillas like details...lots of details.
- Lou and Sue and Boo!
P.S. My dad enjoyed today's GDB and comments! Thank you, all!
I like both long answers and hearing what Lou's up to!
Thank you, Melissa!
I have a few free minutes now and am re-reading GDB and laughing - everyone’s comments are great!
Stu, you can always comment late in the day...I think most of us check back in. I ALWAYS watch the past several days of GDB, as people continue to add more.
When I look at the vast expanse in front of IASW, it reminds me of going across the Disneyland parking lot. Flat ‘empty’ land with a wonderful destination awaiting.
- Lou and Sue and Boo!
(I truly do have a cat named Boo!)
Grant, well now I am going to have to open ALL the tombs to see which one you are buried in. It’s gonna take a while.
Melissa, jeez, who in the world told you that you were vomiting too loudly! My brother went through a phase where he could not keep anything down, it was truly alarming. I guess the lesson is: People are stupid.
Stu29573, isn’t it time that you quit your job so that you can spend more time on GDB? Just a suggestion!
Lou and Sue, I appreciate that you went and found Lou’s incredible notes. Sounds like there’s still a little bit of doubt as to the exact day, though October 31 seems likely as well. I wonder if TM could recognize himself in a bulky costume (I forget what he did in the parade to be honest). And yes, I believe that Disneyland did not decorate at all for Halloween back then.
Melissa, ditto!
Lou and Sue, the only thing that surprises me about that huge plaza in front of IASW is that land is at such a premium in Anaheim, but they left that great big open area, which for years was just there for crowds (I guess?). It looks more like a Magic Kingdom thing, although even the Magic Kingdom doesn’t seem to be as generous with its land as I’d expect (like how their “Pirates” is smaller than the California version).
Major, I bet TM! won’t have any problem picking out
his Christmas tree...I know he was able to do so with a picture he had posted, in the past. I’m just hoping the parade took place when my folks were there, because I think we can safely assume my dad snapped pictures of it. Would LOVE to see TM! in one of my dad’s pictures! (Am happy that we probably have Bu in one!)
I’m certain these pics are 10/31/81.
TM! What Saturday were you there?
- Lou and Sue and Boo!
Sue, thank you so much for doing the research, for the date that your father visited the park in October of 1981. I had to do my own research. I've kept all of my Hallmark Datebooks/calendars, going all the way back to 1980. That is the year that I began writing things down on the days when I did something "significant." They have acted as sort of a "diary" for me, over the years. I see that Saturday, October 17th has, "Audition at Disneyland" written on it. So it looks like I was there exactly two weeks before your dad was!
A similar thing happened in February of 1985, when I visited the park just 16 days before your dad. Major posted Lou's "March 8, 1985" pics in two previous posts here, on GDB.
Oh! Now I'm looking at the following weeks of October 1981, and I see that I went to the park's Administration Building on the following Saturday, October 24th, to "turn in new hire papers and forms." And then I went again on Wednesday, October 28th, for cast member Orientation at the "Disneyland University" (also in the Administration building). So I was "on the premises" just three days before your dad!
Major and Sue.....yes, I would most likely be able to pic out which "Christmas Tree" was me, based on the configuration of the trees in the street.
Sue, I forgot that you had also given the dates of December 4-7 1981, for when your mom and dad were at the park. My calendar shows that I was there for a parade rehearsals (backstage) on both Saturday the 5th and Sunday the 6th. So while your parents were inside the park, I was backstage, rehearsing! Then on the evening of Monday, Dec. 7th, I was at the park for a private Christmas party, for cast members only. So it's possible that as the park was closing to the public on Dec. 7th and guests were leaving, I could have been lined up outside the entrance, waiting for the park to reopen for the employee party. So maybe I did cross paths with your parents, on that day!
As for your father having taken pics of the Christmas parade.....I would have absolutely loved that! But unfortunately, back in those days, the Christmas parade did not begin until "Christmas vacation" time for the local schools. So that particular year, the parade only ran from Saturday, December 19th through Sunday, January 3rd.
I was very much there on those dates. Thanks Tokyo Macabre for saving your calendars! I do remember working the days prior to and before the night of the employee Christmas party on the 7th. They did give us the opportunity to work that night too if we wanted...otherwise, management were running the ship. Boo Bu
Tokyo Macabre! and Boo Bu!
HOW COOL to know that my parents and both of you were at Disneyland on the same day! I'm assuming my parents came home late on the 7th, BUT I know we/they ALWAYS took late flights home so that we/they could, at least, spend the morning [and possibly] the afternoon, in the Park.
I'll have to get more of those October, November and December 1981 slides scanned and send to the Major, soon!
Lou & Sue & Boo!
TM! and BB!
I should say that all of you four were together for a FEW days (not just one day) - SUPER COOL!
L&S&B!
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