Fantasyland, June 1970
I recently scanned a bunch of slides from June, 1970. Half have great color, but the other half turned a fairly vivid shade of blue. Try as I might, I never could seem to adjust them to the point where they looked right. If I reduced the cyan, it looked too pink. If I reduced some of that pink, it looked too yellow. And so forth. I finally had to say "good enough" and move on with my life. Oh, they were also very dusty and scratched, I assume they were once stored in a lawn mower's grass catcher.
We've seen plenty of photos of the plaza in front of it's a small world, but this one would have been pretty nice if not for the color issues. The composition is pleasing, with those two men in the dark suits surrounded by other people in lighter, more casual fashions, all headed toward the happiest damn ride in the world. That's right, I said a swear, and I'm not sorry.
Next is a pleasant shot of the Matterhorn and its immediate environs. I managed to mitigate the blue here, but now it looks kind of gray. Tears of shame. While the Matterhorn looks magnificent as always, it's the hubbub down below that is the most fun.
People. Look at 'em all. Each one with a story. Maybe even a ghost story, you never know. At least this zoomed-in view has a bit more color, with those balloons and some groovy fashions.
There's that little ticket/information booth that (I believe) moved around sometimes. Did you know that you could ask them for money, and they weren't allowed to say "no"? That was a good one. I hope some of you noticed the bobsled, visible between the rocks of the Matterhorn... as always, bobsled sightings bring prosperity and good luck. You're welcome!
22 comments:
Major-
"Groovy" fashions, indeed - especially that blue/green [almost] vertical striped 'mini skirt' on the gal next to the gents wearing suits in the first image.
Thanks, Major.
#1- I like that red bowling pin balloon in the foreground. ;-)
To the left of the Man In Black, that's an eye-catchingly short mini-dress (not really a skirt) the young lady is wearing. Nanook mentions her too. Her blue shoes match the blue stripes of her dress. Given the length of her dress (or lack thereof), I bet she didn't sit down once all day.
#2- I think I see a bobsled and rider in that shady area just above the Monorail beam.
Haha, the bowling pin balloons in this photo are deformed; they have two tops instead of one!
There's another mutton-chopped guy in a red shirt walking toward us. At least he's in the right decade this time. You can see him better in the zoomed-in pic.
#3- Is that Rush Limbaugh on the right in the white shirt? The balloon vendor is wearing one of those Tyrolean/Pinocchio costumes that we've seen in other photos.
#4- Ah. Major P. confirms the bobsled sighting. Is that a pink ribbon (or flower) in the rider's hair?
Thanks for the blue-ish/gray-ish photos, Major. Usually they turn magenta, so these are a pleasant change of pace. ;-)
- Jubilant Betrothal
Those men in the suits look too official to be park guests in 1970. I think they are the Disneyland miniskirt police. They are about to approach that young lady and ask her how she was able to get past the Main Gate. One of them has a tape measure in his hand. The other one has a camera, of course, to document the infraction.
There's a ticket booth in that first shot, as well. It's hiding behind the Fantasyland Caricature Stand. I believe that is the ticket booth that is still standing today, and in pretty much the same spot. We can also see souvenir slide strips, hanging on a display carousel in the Small World Souvenir Stand. Part of the ice cream train is also visible, and there's even a postcard display carousel visible, between the two ladies on the far right.
The man on the far right of the second and third shot, is saying, "Look at me! Look at me! I'm pushing a stroller with only one hand! Wheeeee!" Actually, he looks kind of concerned about something. He might actually be thinking, "If I have to push this dang stroller another two feet, I'm leaving it behind....and with the kid still in it!"
Fun pics today, Major. Thank you for your efforts to clean them up and correct them, for our viewing pleasure!
The Men In Black look like they could be Richard Sherman and Marc Davis from behind.
If you look below the two Mark II Skyway buckets, you can see a special guest appearance by the Tomorrowland entrance flagpole.
Thanks for cleaning these up, Major!
Great pics today!
The only insight I have is that the balloon is actually Disney's first attempt at including super heroes in the park. Ladies and gentlemen, may I present...
THE CRIMSON PEANUT!
It's ok, nobody cared then either.
Great photos Major. What a crowd. With a mini skirt too.
JB, I can assure you, girls with mini skirts did sit down occasionally, on the dark rides mostly.
stu, the Crimson Peanut had one vulnerability that pretty much ended his career. There's a poem, Ode to a Crimson Peanut, but I don't remember the words.
Launch me back to that day in the park. Please.
Hope everyone had a good weekend. The days seem to be flying by.
Thanks Major and the crew.
In the first pic I see my favorite ODV cart of all time, the Ice Cream Train. I appreciate you cleaning these up because they look great. Thanks, Major.
The Tomorrowland flagpole is joined by the Main Street Train Station flagpole, seen way in the distance on the right, by those ugly parking lot power lines. Had no idea you could see them from this area; unlike a bobsled sighting this may involve a curse. As late as 1970 balloon vendors were still wearing those humiliating Pinocchio outfits, now thankfully retired.
Swearing now and again is A-O.K. Major, Mr. D was known to have a tongue as salty as the park's popcorn.
Beautiful pictures Major. I will be back later to admire in detail.
Thank you.
JG
And the Vintage People Fashion Award goes to... the young lady in the stripey A-line minidress in #1. It's probably better that the color is muted, or we'd all go cross-eyed looking at it.
Nanook, that striped pattern brings back so many memories! I think I had a shirt that had a similar print.
JB, the bowling pin balloon was a short-lived souvenir, but your sharp eyes spotted it right away! I’m imagining going to Disneyland and not being able to sit down the entire time. Kind of makes things difficult! See my comment about the bobsled & rider. I know you are joking about the deformed balloons, but how often have we seen mouse-ear balloons where one ear is too small? They should throw those away, nobody wants one of them. By 1970, mutton chops probably weren’t quite as rare as they were in 1959, though that guy looks pretty clean-cut otherwise. I hope that’s not Rush Limbaugh. I would bet on that being a pink flower in the Matterhorn rider’s hair, but it’s too hard to be certain.
TokyoMagic!, any time I see more than one man in a suit in Disneyland photos, I just assume that they are executives of some kind. Why aren’t they in their air-conditioned offices in the Administration Building? Thanks for pointing out the ticket booth, I’m amazed that it is still there, in about the same location. What would it be used for today? Yes, those slides at the souvenir stand are probably those darn Pana-Vue slides, which almost always turned a horrible shade of pink or orange. I’ve never had to push a stroller at Disneyland, but it doesn’t sound like it would be much fun. Unless it was one of those really big ones!
Chuck, oh if only I could ID those men and confirm that Richard Sherman and Marc Davis were in one of my photos! I am excited to see the Tomorrowland flagpole, the most magical flagpole of all. Even more magical than the one on Main Street. Yes, there is a competition.
stu29573, sadly, the Crimson Peanut was phased out because people with peanut allergies could not enjoy his shenanigans. He was replaced by the Crimson Pretzel, who was not as popular.
DrGoat, ha ha, you sound like you know what you are talking about re: mini skirts. Far be it from me to argue with you! Was the Crimson Peanut’s vulnerability that he caused an anephalactic reaction?? 1970 would be a great time to go to Disneyland, just imagine.
K. Martinez, you might have mentioned that the “ice cream train” was your favorite ODV cart, but if so, I’d forgotten! My favorite ODV cart would be the one with the shortest line.
Stefano, ha ha, you’re right, we actually can see the flagpole atop Main Street Station. Kind of amazing. I hope that we are not actually cursed now. Will a shambling mummy come after us in the night? Will we turn into werewolves?? I love a good swear word (hey, my dad was in the Navy), so I’m right there with Mr. D!
JG, (talking into my Mr. Microphone), we’ll be back to pick you up later!
Melissa, I always liked that stripe combination of blues and greens, so I am happy to give the valuable “VPFA” trophy to that woman!
I can’t look at the ice cream train without laughing - thinking of the frozen IASW doll inside. Which reminds me: Bu, please share more of those other IASW stories you said you had!! Did you ever share the sinking boat one? (I can’t remember...old age.)
I hate to burst bubbles, but that cute blue-green striped outfit may be a vest with [matching] short shorts. Very popular then. No problem sitting down. Still very cute!
Thanks, Major.
Lou and Sue, Bu has been AWOL for a while, did he go to Disneyland, I wonder? If so, he should have some good stories about that. And thanks a lot for bursting my bubble! ;-)
Major, you almost got it right about the Crimson Peanut; he, himself was allergic to peanuts! And no matter how fast he ran, flew, or swam (he was a Super Hero after all), he couldn't escape himself. Grief (and hives) overtook him and he went "Home", where he was made into Soylent Tan. A sad and shocking story but it had to be told. SOYLENT TAN IS PEANUTS!!
JB, I was going to avoid that sad part of the tale, but perhaps it's for the best that we all know.
By the way, Soylent Tan is peanut butter...
I just have to comment on the red balloon photo bombing the Matterhorn photo next to the man pushing the stroller with one hand who may or may not be holding the biggest doobie I've ever seen.
Zach
It's a madhouse. A MADHOUSE!
Stu, yeah, peanut butter. That's what I was thinking when I wrote it but I guess I didn't really say that. Oh well.
Melissa, it's always a thrill to see a quote from "Planet of the Soylent Green Apes".
Man, do I miss the Skyway! I really liked the sound of "Harold" screaming out of those giant holes in the Matterhorn.
I'm still working on the time machine...
Kel, what years was that? That would’ve been fun to hear! I missed a huge stretch of years (when I didn’t get to Disneyland).
KEEP WORKING on that time machine!
@Lou and Sue - I didn't start going until the mid-80s but the Abominable Snowman was added in 1978 so that would be the start of his roars heard around the mountain up until the closed Skyway in 1994. You can still hear it now, but it's faint compared to back then.
As for the time machine -- I've got plenty of time to work on it... right? :-D
Thanks for that info, Kel. Last century, my last trip to DL was in the summer of 1976. I returned in May 2001 and was SHOCKED to see how much had changed. Had a wonderful time, but wasn’t prepared for that many changes.
Kel, you have a couple more years to get that time machine done, as my dad turns 93 this month. He’s anxious to see his Viewliner, again (back before “they” ruined Tomorrowland). ;o)
Post a Comment