The Old Mill
Considering that Disneyland is now nearly 67 years old, it's not surprising that even a feature like the Old Mill on Tom Sawyer Island has undergone change. But it's nice to look back and see what things used to be like.
Some enterprising person has taken advantage of a gushing spring at the peak of the island, and built a waterway to the south end where it can be used to power a wheel to make the grindstone turn. Ingenious! And by golly, the mill looks darn good too, surrounded by lush trees and practically swallowed by vines. Thomas Kinkade would love this place, imagine it at sunset with a warm light emanating from within. Now that's art!
Why take one photo when you can take two? The photographer noticed the Mark Twain scootin' around the riverbed, and realized that this would make a pretty swell picture. I wonder if the island was closed to visitors at this time? One of the rafts is moored to the left, and there are no signs of people (granted, it would be hard to see them among all that greenery). Maybe all the humans have become mushroom people!
20 comments:
Major-
"Thomas Kinkade would love this place, imagine it at sunset with a warm light emanating from within. Now that's art!" I hate to argue... but me thinks the Old Mill as seen here isn't deserving of Thomas Kinkade's schmaltz. Kinkade's brand as the "Painter of light"® is more worthy of the 'Fantasmic version' of the island. That's more his speed.
We love you, Old Mill, just as you are.
Thanks, Major.
The first pic is a keeper, and I did! I wonder what that pink and white thing is at the bottom of the photo? I suppose it could be a flower in bloom but I don't recognize the shape. It looks more feathery than flowery. Maybe it's the top of a lady's hat?
The second pic is also nice but not as much as the first, IMO. The angle of the Old Mill isn't as photogenic here.
You know what else is missing from these photos besides people?... DUCKS! Where are they? I have a theory: All the ducks climbed ashore, en masse, and headed into the Island, chasing all the people into Injun Joe's Cave. I won't describe the carnage that took place; let's just say it wasn't postcard worthy. By the time the CMs realized what was happening, it was too late. They closed the Island, blocked off the entrance and exit to the cave, and set off a Neutron Bomb inside. This solved the duck problem without ruining the interior of the cave. After some 'cleaning' the Island was re-opened and everyone lived happily ever after.... except the ducks... and their victims. A sad day at the Happiest Place On Earth.
Mushroom People... wasn't that a Japanese monster movie? I think I remember watching it once upon a time.
Thanks for the beautiful (but sad) photos, Major.
- Joe de Bergerac (Unlike his brother Cyrano, who has a huge nose, Joe has a really big........ pair of ears. Ferengi-sized ears. He hides in the bushes behind his brother, also hidden, and supplies him with words of love, which Cyrano then relays to Christian to woo the fair Roxane. So complicated!
Nanook: funny comment reg art and Thomas Kincaid..back in the 70’s and early 80’s one of our Woolworth stores that was fairly large had “art” section : framed art prints - I think printed on cardboard - featured all kinds of art for the American family home ... while my mom sat on a stool looking at giant pattern books over at the fabric department , my sister and I would first browse the toy section then head to the framed art section and view the offerings like we were in an art gallery. Anyway a series of these framed prints were sepia toned photographs and one was the Frontierland Old Mill!!! It wasn’t marked Disneyland is any way , but it was definitely Disneyland’s Old Mill!! Over the years I have seen music boxes with images of the old mill , decorative wood plaques , puzzles , paint - by - numbers kit, a napkin holder , and even a “painting” with recessed mini Christmas - like lights in the windows , lanterns and lamppost of the old mill in a light up sofa painting at a local furniture store from years ago. I kinda wished I had purchased many of these unlicensed art pieces and things featuring Disneyland’s Old Mill!!
Mike, I think we had discussed this before, but I remember seeing a color photo of the TSI mill for sale, at a Lucky's grocery store. It was in a "rustic" wood frame, and there was no mention of Disneyland or "Walt Disney Productions" anywhere on it.
Glad to be back! Art for art's sake! The mill was not a money producing entity. It wasn't an "A" attraction, it did not sell popcorn or plush...or flour created by the mill. It added to the overall experience and immersive atmosphere of "Disneyland U.S.A." Although I've seen some "nods" or detail work in current iterations of the "Disneyland Resort", I challenge anyone to bring to the table something simple and authentic that has no immediate monetary gratification, but does cause us Gorillas to pause and appreciate them...and if these things were still alive...would cause us to return to spend $$$. A hidden Mickey is not an Old Mill. As I contemplated a trip to the Disneyland Resort last week, I also contemplated my possible resentments to unsavory changes, and decided that it would be best to spend a day working. I did drive by 500 S. Buena Vista, and gave my co-worker a glimpse into 1920's Hollywood on the other side of the hill...with breakfast at the Beachwood Cafe, and a tour of my old haunts- most of which may not "exist" but have not been torn down- like my old 1927 Apartment building in Whitley Heights, the soundstage that I Love Lucy was first filmed in, the Mayfair Market featured in the Brady Bunch episode where Jackie Coogan tries to sue the Brady's...A Gelson's market that used to be a Disney Studio... Nothing terribly glamourous, but historic nonetheless. I think I made the right choice.
Seeing the Island vacant like this, a perfect chance to grab a cask full of dynamite.
Major, thank you for these. I refuse to acknowledge the giant carbuncle that replaced the Mill.
Welcome back, Bu.
JG
Nanook, Thomas Kinkade’s artistry could turn even the humblest of subjects into a magical and charming location. America’s greatest artist!
JB, I did notice the flower, and just assumed that it really was a flower, but you could be right, it might be an ornament on a souvenir hat. Those darn ducks sure cause a lot of trouble, I had no idea. It’s like a biker gang took over the island! Yes, “Attack of the Mushroom People” is a classic Japanese horror movie, it really freaked me out when I was a kid.
Mike Cozart, wow, very fun (and odd?) that Woolworths was selling sepia photos of the mill! it just goes to show you how authentic it looked, because you’d have to be a Disneyland fan to recognize it out of context. I thought you were going to tell us that you bought at least one of the prints! oh well. I’ll bet those things are as scarce as hen’s teeth now.
TokyoMagic!, I wonder if some enterprising photographer just submitted their photo, knowing that the average person would never suspect that the mill was in Disneyland? “Joe and Joanne Lunchbox will love these!”.
Bu, I’m trying to think of other features at Disneyland that are decorative, thus enriching the theming, but that are not part of a money-producing IP? At the moment I can’t think of any, though there must be some? Skull Rock was always one of my favorite examples of that sort of thing - other than being near the dining area for the Pirate Ship, it didn’t make one cent for the company. But Walt wanted it anyway! I’ve never been as enchanted by hidden Mickeys as some people are, it feels cheap and lazy. Look! Three circles! I was wondering if you actually wound up at the park, and if you had, I was expecting some real choice words! But it sounds like you had a nice time doing other things.
JG, yeah that “new” mill is so huge and ugly. I understand that it serves a purpose, but during the day it looks out of place. Nothing we can do about it.
The play of light on the water is really gorgeous in these shots. Now I’ve got “scootin’ ‘round the riverbed” to the tune of “Just Around the Riverbend” from Pocahontas stuck in my head.
Where are the mud-hens?? LOL KS
They’re in Toledo, KS.
Correction - they’re in Toledo, OH.
Hi all,
Places that don't generate $$$ around the park, but entice people to spend? How about the wishing well by the Snow White Grotto? It seems the $ tossed into the well go to some charity whenever it gets cleaned out. The $ don't go into a Disney pocket, but it is a fixture, much loved by many, of the park.
And the carbuncle that replaced the Old Mill? There's plenty that could be done about that. If JG had 'liberated' a cask of dynamite, I have my book of matches from our long lost Main Street Tobacco Shop. We can make our getaway on one of the Keel Boats.
There's a reason that Grumpy is my favorite dwarf.
Seriously now, that 1st pic is a dandy. The island always has that 'come visit me' look to it.
W
I actually knew the answer to a sports question! But only because Klinger sometimes wore a Toledo Mud Hens jersey on M*A*S*H.
Melissa, years ago I found myself in a hotel room on a Saturday afternoon in the middle of a two-week class for work. With nothing better to do, I flipped on the TV. Channel surfing, I stopped on an episode of M*A*S*H, the one where Klinger is planning to desert. In one scene, he tells B.J. to come visit him in Toledo and he’ll take him to a Mud Hens game.
After the episode, I flipped a few more channels and found myself watching a Mud Hens game live, which is a pretty unusual thing to see when you are sitting in a hotel room in southern Mississippi. The camera cut to a quick, live interview with Jamie Farr and Mike Farrell sitting together in the stands. Jamie Farr was saying “I’ve been trying to get Mike here to a Mud Hens game for decades and I finally managed to pull it off today!” I thought that was a pretty amazing coincidence.
I will neither confirm nor deny this, but I may or may not have a few Mud Hens ball caps in my collection. If I ever had a Mud Hens t-shirt, the only reason I don’t have it anymore would be that I wore it out.
Warren, I like the way you think.
With a little luck and a long enough fuse, we can get away with it, Fantasyland is just over the border.
JG
Chuck, that is a wild series of events!
I never tire of seeing the way it was from this perspective and picture myself rounding the curve with a canoe full of guests in front of me. KS
...while doing all the paddling, right KS?! ;o)
I read a comment on Thomas Kinkade paintings - if those houses are lit by electricity, it's incredibly wasteful. If not, they're literally on fire.
I can never see Kinkade paintings any other way.
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