Frontierland '79 (And More)
Let's all wish GDB friend Mark Raymond a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Here's a cake for you, courtesy of one of our fellow Junior Gorillas.
Today I have more photos from the Mysterious Benefactor - all from Frontierland, as usual. These are dated "May, 1979", so mark your journals accordingly.
The doors to the Golden Horseshoe are closed, but guests are anxiously waiting their turn to be entertained by the rootin' tootinest show in the West. Was "Hamilton" rootin' OR tootin'? I don't think so! That's why nobody went to see it. Wally Boag might have been performing in Florida at this point, but I believe that Fulton Burley and Betty Taylor were still there.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad was not quite finished as of May (it opened on September 2, 1979), but I'm sure guests could not wait to experience this new thrill ride, and the newest addition to Disneyland's mountain range. The guard is explaining how he built the entire ride by himself.
"Yeah, some guys wanted to help out, but I wanted it done right, ya know? For da kids!". The guest is suitably impressed.
And finally, here's a pretty view of the entrance to Frontierland. We'll cross over a bridge and beneath that sign, and once we're inside the land, we'll find that we have a western twang to our speech. Even small children will catch themselves saying "Dad gummit!".
Thanks so much, Mysterious Benefactor!
EXTRA! EXTRA! Ken Martinez shared a photo of himself during a 1979 visit to Disneyland (the same year as today's MB photos), wearing what he is pretty sure is the same blue hoodie as seen in the two "Big Thunder" photos. Ken said... It's just too close that it's either me or a doppelganger. The hands and hairstyle and body build are definitely mine and I did talk to a security guy at length about BTMRR at that time in that spot.
SO AMAZING! Thank you so much to Ken for sharing this picture. I've met him in person, so you are probably jealous that I know such a big star. ;-)
34 comments:
Major-
Well, as long as you're offering both birthday cake and cigarettes - sign me up. And toss in those 'Crest birthday candles' - "as seen in LIFE Magazine", how can one resist-??!!
Happy birthday, Mark
Happy Birthday, Mark. You might not comment as often as some, but when you do we all learn something we didn't know before.
Wow. Lucky kids. They get beer to wash down that cake, and Pall Malls to light up afterward! What else could any kid wish for?! It really is weird to see cans of beer, cigarettes, and that ashtray full of butts and fragrant ashes prominently displayed right next to the cake. I'm surprised they didn't use cigarette butts for the candles, too. You can imagine what that house smells like... and what that cake tastes like.
Yeah, "Hamilton" coulda been a hit if'n they just threw in some balloon animals, and spit some fake teeth (lima beans) out of their mouths. Woulda, coulda, shoulda.
I'm wondering why the photos with the guard were taken. There must have been some need for them; to illustrate some concept or other. But I can't imagine what it could be. If I remember correctly, the Mysterious Benefactor didn't take these photos, he just has them in his possession, right? So I guess we'll never know why they were taken.
In the last pic, the guy on the right just got pecked by one of the killer swans. He's fortunate he got away with just a scratch on his noggin. As we all know, many others weren't so lucky.
Thanks to the MB and Major for today's photos.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Mark!!!!!
Good thing the Crest Candles didn’t get mixed up with the ciggies!!
Growing up my mom and grandmother both smoked - I used to beg my mom to buy the Virginia Slims (long lites) they came in colors like pink ….light blue and green!! They were also like twice the length of a regular cigarette . I thought my mom would look soo 70’s elegant with a green 10 inch cigarette hanging out of her mouth! My mom quit smoking forever instantly the day my grandmother was diagnosed with Emphysema.
I remember well those barricades blocking the access to Big Thunder entry when the walls came down. I remembered visits and hearing and seeing the trains of big thunder being tested and me being so frustrated being unable to ride the new attraction. I remember in school hearing friends who rode Big Thunder before me …. I was sooo jealous …. And anxious . I had been following the development of big thunder since I was 5 years old!! And the wait was unbearable. I was sad Natures Wonderland was gone - but I was so enamored with Big Thunder it didn’t bother me.
Those signs on the Frontierland entry gates “ FLAGS OF THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR” and “THE LOG FORT” had been up for decades and they’ve changed a few times …. But the content has always remained the same. Recently after a long absence new versions have returned . The font is different and the kerning ( the spacing of the lettering) is too close - a common mistake of a untrained or inexperienced sign maker ….. but at lest they have returned. The Log first script remains the same …… the Flags of the Revolutionary war have been altered … I had to compare it to older photos to figure out what was different …. But all mention of the historic “DON’T TRED ON ME” Colonial flag has been deleted ……… Interesting. It’s meaning is current again today. I see that flag flying on many boats and yachts in Newport Beach , Dana Pointe Harbor and Point Loma ….and sometimes from car and truck windows.
I think the guard is saying, "Hey...slip me ten bucks, and I'll arrange it so you can ride on one of the test trains."
A very happy birthday to you, Mark!!!
Thank you, MB and Major!
Happy birthday, Mark!
Note the cord connecting the security host’s ear with his belt. This acts much like a chain on a wallet; sometimes people want you to do more than just lend an ear.
The flowery and mature-treed Frontierland entrance of 1978 is a real contrast to the bare ground and fake stumps on 1955. It’s beautiful and I prefer it that way, but I think the original appearance was closer to the “hard facts.” If you are trying to defend a stockade, you don’t want trees blocking your field of fire.
JB, I think I finally understand the origin of the term “feeling peckish.”
Mike, thanks for the additional info on the Frontierland flags. As much as I hate seeing history erased or ignored, I understand the Gadsden Flag’s departure as part of the Walt Disney Company’s efforts to stay apolitical. They probably got complaints at City Hall. Recent events have underscored why corporate political neutrality is generally a good practice.
[slowly and carefully backs away from GDB’s third rail]
Thanks again, Major and MB!
Where do I start with that birthday photo...wow...it says quite a bit..."Raffia Ware" bowls, Blue Willow paper plates (fancy), it's not so much the cigarettes and the lighter and the ashtray, it's the proximity to the very highly girly and swirly cake along with the pillar (probably scented) candle with the "ring-o-plastic" daisys...it's almost like this photo was taken today as an editorial art piece of 1960's living...it is quite the work of art, and it is a forever keeper. Roy was 27? Some of those candles are from last time at the rodeo. The paper doily also adds a bit of lovely, and also they have put something underneath the cake to show it a bit better at an angle. Beer can and a slight grin from the kiddie winkie, oversized white T shirt becoming a V neck...I could probably go on. Box of ice cream in checkerboard (I LOVED checkerboard ice cream you could slice!) Cigarette is unfiltered. Those gave the biggest bang for your buck, but you always got a mouth full of tobacco! I will have to give my Disneyland comments separately to preserve my comments and I proceed...
Happy Birthday Mark. Hope you spent a cooler birthday than the ones we are having in Tucson.
That first pic looks familiar, but ours had Dad's Lucky Strikes and our course, the Zippo lighter. I smoked for a long time because Dad did and quit a bit too late. Dealing with the consequences now.
Great pics of the guard and interloper. It's always cool to see up close people photos from back then. Love the entrance to Frontierland. That fellow in plaid hopes he'll find an old fashioned cure for head lice somewhere in the park. I think Upjohn was already gone by then on Main Street, so maybe some old fashioned western liniment might help.
Thanks Major and Thanks MB!
Hipy-papy Birthu-hapiday Mark, (as Owl in Winnie-the-Pooh would write to Piglet), Many Happy Returns of the Day to you.
That’s quite a cake scene there. Mom would have loved the pillar candle with the plastic flowers, which looks straight out of the Main Street Candle Shop. I was lucky, no one at home smoked habitually and I only took a cigar once or twice a year, and always outdoors. I quit even that over 30 years back. The FIL smoked a lot and Mrs. G would not allow it.
Major, right now I would rather see the Golden Horseshoe Review once than Hamilton three times. I was lucky to see Wally Boag once.
The guard is in an expansive mood for sure, wondering what that conversation was about. Odd to see that uniform too. Chuck he chained up that ear after the other one got away…
One log-cabin model trash can at the Entrance, what a classic view to top off. Thanks Major!
JG
"Welcome to the Gol-den-hor-shoe...sure glad you dropped innnn....we'll chase all your cares away, hey sailor give my friends a good ta-ble...." That last line I'm sure is not correct, but that is how my brain is hearing it. It's amazing that I can still remember this show 40 years later, when they fired everyone and did the "new" show, I never saw it...so no memories there...Keep on drinking that Pepsi Cola it's good for what ails ya. I remember being at the Inn Between when Betty Taylor would come in...she did this kind of "movie star" "stop and check the room" before walking into the line. In between shows she would have this polyester casual kind of pant suit she wore in pastel colors...but still in full make up/wig/etc. I never saw Betty Taylors real head. She, Wally and Fulton Burley I think parked back stage..."show business royalty". Security Guard/Big Thunder....I do not recognize this guy. In Outdoor Vending you basically saw everyone...especially the security team and the sweepers because they were always amongst you. They all checked in as they were our "link" as we were flying solo out there without phone or anything else. There is something up with that hat he is wearing...It's like it has the rain poncho on it or something. Those guys had a special "hat cozy" for when it rained...but this one is kind of transparent. Looking at Pendleton I said to myself...awww...I miss Pendleton. Well...how can I miss it when I haven't been to the park in 1000 years...(well, perhaps not 1000...but at least 20 or so...). Pendleton had a lovely "wooly" aroma inside...so cozy, and lovely merchandising. It was such a pretty well done store, and somewhat of a respite from the shooting gallery across the way. That daisy bush is huge. That is quite a specimen. I'm jealous. I like the transition of the nubbly Plaza sidewalk, to the wood, to the red slurry... very purposeful. Nothing was by accident. Thanks for the photos and the cigarettes this morning!
Nanook, I only hope those Crest candles impart a spearmint flavor to the chocolate cake. BLECH!
JB, yes, I kind of wonder if Mark will even check in today! But… his birthday is on my list, so here we go. Seeing that ashtray brought back a lot of memories of my grandma and grandpa’s house. I loved them so much, but man, they smoked like crazy, and there were ashtrays and lighters everywhere. Almost all of their wooden furniture had burn marks from where someone had left a lit cigarette and forgotten about it. And yes, the smell, especially after grandma had “the girls” over for bridge, was enough to make you want to open all the doors and windows for an hour. Remember, the photos from the Mysterious Benefactor are from official photographers for publicity purposes, so they probably just shot images of everything, because you just never know.
Mike Cozart, I didn’t know that Virginia Slims were different colors. Unfortunately they still smelled like cigarettes! I think it’s kind of cool that the construction walls came down, but guests could really see what was going on with those low barriers. It was a way of building anticipation! At least for the local regulars. I was excited for “Big Thunder”, but at the time I don’t know if I was aware that they’d had to rip out Nature’s Wonderland to build it. I’m glad to hear that they’ve finally returned versions of those entry gate signs, it took them a long time! And yes, the “Don’t Tread on Me” flag seems to have been appropriated by some folks who are not so great. Sadly.
TokyoMagic!, imagine riding Big Thunder next to a bunch of sand bags. It might make one think about the bad decisions one has made!
Chuck, I wondered about that cord, and now I know the true purpose, so thank you for that. I want big mature trees blocking my view of invaders because I can’t stand the sight of blood. I also wear a blindfold whenever possible. And like you, I appreciate the park’s attempt to (mostly) stay apolitical, no need to get involved in some of the ugliness that has sprung up in the last decade or so.
Bu, are the Raffia Ware bowls the colored plastic ones? If so, I like them. It’s funny, I don’t remember any of my friend’s parents smoking, though my dad did when I was young. At some point he mostly quit, though he did smoke cigars sometimes. I was always mad at my uncle because we wanted my dad to quit smoking entirely, but my uncle always sent him cigars for his birthday. Knock it off! Let’s just say it didn’t do my dad’s health any favors. That cake looks professionally-made, unless mom was a real whiz at decorating. My mom mostly made our cakes, though once I did get a Baskin Robbins ice cream cake with Charlie Brown and Snoopy sugar decorations. I loved it.
DrGoat, I wonder when Lucky Strikes were no longer produced? I have a few of their old tobacco tins, and love the “bullseye” graphic. Like a lot of kids, I tried smoking (before high school!!), and hated it from the start. My brother got hooked though, and still smokes, sadly. He coughs constantly. No good. I’ll bet that security guard enjoyed talking to enthusiastic guests, it gave him something to do besides stand there being lonely! For head lice I like to use a combination of moth balls and bacon grease.
JG, I thought maybe you’d bumped your head, but now I see you are writing in “Pooh-speak”. And now that we are on the subject, I have actually played “Pooh sticks” when standing on a bridge. I don’t want to brag, but I was thinking of going pro. I didn’t like it when my dad smoked cigars, but for a while he toyed with a pipe, and I did like the way pipe tobacco smelled. Why do they only use that kind of tobacco for pipes? In any case, it’s still bad for you. I watched “Hamilton” on Disney+ and liked it, I’m sure seeing it live was a much more visceral experience. But I would have loved to have seen Wally Boag and company, of course!
Bu, I didn’t know that they fired all of the original Golden Horseshoe cast… I guess I just assumed that they were all getting up there in years and had decided to quit while they were still good. Naive I guess. I love that Betty Taylor, Fulton Burley, et al, were treated like stars! It must have been nice to have a regular gig, so that you could have a home and a family and not have to travel the country, living out of a trunk. I know exactly what you mean by that “wooly aroma”, there was a coat closet at my grandma’s, and she love wool, so everything smelled that way. That daisy bush had been probably growing there for nearly 25 years at that point, and was given the best care by the Disneyland gardneners. Plenty of water, sunshine, and popcorn.
@ Bu-
There's always this...
Hello everybody, we're mighty-glad to meet you
Here at the Golden Horseshoe.
Hello everybody, we're mighty-glad to greet you
Here at the Golden Horseshoe.
If you are a stranger, just say "Howdy stranger"
We will soon be friends that way
The welcome mat is out today
At the Golden Horseshoe Cafe.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Mark! Have a great one.
I think THAT'S ME in the two photos with the back of the guy talking to the security guy at BTMRR. It's my hairstyle, my hands, my posture and even hooded jacket I used to wear back then and glasses. Even the cigarette stub in my hand is like I used to do when I didn't want to litter the grounds of Disneyland. I remember around this time talking to a security guard at length about the coming attraction known as Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.
Unless M.B. knows the person personally as someone else, I really seriously think that's me. At least the back of me.
Thanks M.B. and Major.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MRaymond!
I hope you’re having a terrific day.
Ken, THAT’S DEFINITELY NOT me...so you have my vote that’s YOU! ;o)
—Sue
THE OFFICER IS BRUCE CRABTREE AND HE IS ON DUTY THAT WAS CALLED FIRE WATCH.
This is so cool - a Junior Gorilla sighting in the wild! I knew it would happen someday.
And what’s even more rare is that we know the names of BOTH of the people in this picture - Bruce Crabtree and J. Nartubez. Awesome!
One time in the mid 1990’s Betty Taylor came in to the Gallery - she was with her husband who I cannot recall his name but was WDW’s DIAMOND HORSESHOE actor equivalent to Wally Boag in the early 70’s …. I recognized him right away from Disney News and that famous DL & WDW ENTERTAINMENT marketing guidebook. He was older but still wore those early 70’s heavy rimmed eyeglasses. All the Gallery castmembers were excited to see Betty …… and she told us some great stories …. One however was how both Golden / Diamond Horseshoe casts were all let go ….. the stars …. The dancers …. The musicians. Both casts were on hiatus / vacation and Betty got a phone call from one of the can-can dancer girls and she was crying and so upset Betty could barely understand her …. She thought something had happened to the girl’s mother at first . When she explained they had all been let go Betty thought that meant all the DANCERS … and the girl on the phone had to explain “no Betty we were ALL fired!!” Betty said she was furious much later because management took forever to notify the main cast ….. knowing well that by letting the musicians and dancers know first the news would get to the stars breaking the ice for the current management. I’ve had the “honor” of hearing Disney Legends Betty Taylor, Marc Davis , Jack Wagoner , Cicely Rigdon , Fred Joeger and Bill Justice use choice four letter words when talking about sone of their final days with Disney……or their interactions with the company later on.
Nanook, I like the way “stranger” rhymes with “stranger”! ;-)
K. Martinez, WOW! That’s so cool! What an amazing coincidence! I am blown away. If only the photographer had gotten just a little bit more of your face, not because I don’t believe you, but because it would be so great for you to have such a photo. NEAT!
Sue, truly incredible.
Anonymous, thank you! Great info. I’ll have to make sure the MB knows this info.
Chuck, a rare “in the wild” sighting of J. Nartubez. It’s like seeing Elvis (which I do, often)!
Mike Cozart, it is almost impossible to imagine firing the cast of the Golden Horseshoe. TRUE legends (before the “Disney Legend” was a thing). I wonder if the shows were getting light crowds? From my understanding it was a popular show all along. All those talented performers, just dumped unceremoniously. BUT… it’s not the first time I’ve heard of such things from Disney. The company that is all about “magic”, “wishes”, and “dreams”. And mass firings. I’ve told this before, but I knew a man who was a major collector of all things Disneyland Railroad. And then the park laid off some DLRR employees who were mere weeks or months away from retirement. The park got rid of them so that they would not have to pay the pensions that the employees had been expecting for decades. The sheer heartlessness and cruelty is incredible. I admit that it changed the way I looked at the Disney company from then on. The man that I mentioned (the collector) sold off all of his stuff and moved on to baseball memorabilia.
Chuck, "[slowly and carefully backs away from GDB’s third rail]". I was wondering how close to that third rail you were going to go. Turns out, you just nibbled around the edges (there's that 'peckish' thing again) like we all do from time to time, here. I've been tempted, a couple of times, to grab that rail and let the sparks fly. But then sanity wins out.
Bu, I thought the writing on the cake said "Ray", not "Roy". WHICH IS IT?!!! We gotta know! The world hangs in the balance!
I enjoyed your Betty Taylor story. Funny (strange, not 'haha') that you never saw her without her wig and makeup.
Major, I guess I was lucky as a kid. None of my relatives smoked, nor any of my childhood friends' parents did either. Kind of amazing, actually, given how widespread smoking was then.
There's that third rail again. You get a little closer to it than we do, but it's your blog. ;-)
And yeah, I would guess that the cake came from a local supermarket bakery.
Like you, I tried a cigarette as a kid (maybe 8 years old) and hated, HATED it! That was enough for me.
Ken, wow! So cool if it really is you! [looking up at the ceiling for big balloon drop!] Until it can be verified, the sighting will have to come with an asterisk though. Exciting, nevertheless!
Major: I have to believe the Golden Horseshoe mass firing must have had to do with the amount of pay the actors were getting or a pension thing too. I think this because the replacement show Golden Horseshoe Jamboree used MORE dancers than the original show … but I recall the full orchestra being boiled down to 2 or 3 musicians. I know there was a piano , drum , banjo , trumpet … but I recall in the later show sone of the musicians played multiple instruments when needed. Also the 3 main performers were kinda brought down to Lilly and Sam …. And Sam’s part was no bigger than the dancers parts. Sad now there is no show at all to that scale. Between the two versions my favorite number was BELLY UP TO THE BAR .
BTW : that security guard looks like Doug from THE NEW ZOO REVUE ….. of “Doug and Emmy Jo “ who I recently found out were married the week before that show started . And the voice of Charley Owl was done by Pete Renoudet ( Henry the bear , 3rd officer Collins from mission to mars and Captain NEMO to WDW 20k) Henrietta Hippo was performed by former Mouseketeer Sharon Baird. See how I tied NEW ZOO REVUE to Disney?
Major : I may know your former Disneyland Railroad collector….I’ve know a few collectors Disney and non who became so irritated with something the company did or the way a manufacturer handled the production or release of something they quit all together.
I knew someone with an astounding 1955 Mickey Mouse collection ….. and they got so irate about reproductions Disney started doing they sold EVERY piece off and never looked back. I don’t think I could do something so drastic.
Mike, IF you ever do, I’ll give you $100 for your PeopleMover. :oD
Ken, now that I look at today’s photos, I don’t think that’s you. The person in that photo would never fit in that robot costume. ;o)
—Sue
@ Ken-
Mazel tov-! (Now... who's going to be next-?)
JB, I thought the cake said “Ray” too, but who knows. My dad said he started smoking when he was in the Navy, it was just what everybody did. It would eventually be what killed him.
Mike Cozart, I know that a lot of performers (such as the ones at the Tahitian Terrace) were let go because of the high cost (whatever that means) of paying for all of those people. I know it’s pointless to wonder, but… what would Walt have thought about that? He frequently wanted something at the park, no matter what the cost, just because he loved it and thought that it enriched the whole experience. It seems like such a blow to Frontierland to not have that big revue. People liked “Billy Hill and his Hillbillies”, and even THEY got let go (luckily they are still at Knott’s as far as I know).
Mike Cozart, wow, “The New Zoo Revue”, that’s a blast from the past. I didn’t really watch it, since I was way too sophisticated and brilliant by that point (ha ha), but I was aware of it. I definitely remember Henrietta Hippo. I’ll bet you DO know the same DLRR collector, though I don’t want to mention names here. A 1955 Mickey Mouse collection, that’s so specific! Now I’m the one wondering if I know who that is?
Sue, I will give him $101!
Nanook, oh let it be me….!
WOW, Ken in the Wild.
I think this must be the first documented appearance, and how cool is that.
I love GDB.
JG
Ken, that’s incredible you actually have a photo from then—from the front, and that you located it! Great photo—thanks for sharing it!
Thanks, Major!
—Sue
"The New Zoo Revue...coming right of you...with 3 delightful animals...who have fun with what they do..." I can remember that. I was at an airport today and the guy asked me where I was going...I knew it was Florida...but took me a second or two to figure our WHERE in Florida... I loved the New Zoo Revue, but as a kid I was wondering where the "Old Zoo Revue" was, or is...or why the New Zoo was new. I was odd. The security guard does kind of give a mustacheless Doug vibe. Emmy Jo was the real life wife. "With Doug and Emmy JO...every day's a different shoooowwwww". (the things we remember.) I do recall Sharon was in one of those costumes...she did a lot of the Kroft shows too. She was (is?) a wee one. The likelyhood of seeing yourself as a GUEST on this website is quite abnormal...right? What are the odds? The employees I can understand...there were literally 1000's of photos taken of me..(and I've NEVER seen a guest taken shot of me)...(other than Lou's photo of 1984 Popcorn wagon that I think was '82, but the jury is out.) When you are a balloon seller you might as well be a big head character. Same amount of attention and photos. I only have a few of me holding balloons that was shot by/for publicity and one for a Hallmark Card- never a guest. The weirder thing is about the BTRR photo...is what is a random guest taking photos of a random dude with a random Security Guard...that is the 100000 dollar question. In any case, I think the odds of this happening are quite slim, and I'm glad to witness it! Firings: well...it's business and there ya go. That's what we were told. "It's show business and that's how it works". (Directly out of managements mouth) On a strictly humanitarian level...PEOPLE...COME ON...people lost their livelihoods...AND...you capitalized on their talent for literally decades...so come on now...These people had dressing rooms with their names painted by the sign shop on them. They did HOW MANY SHOWS PER WEEK? PER YEAR? It's almost actor abuse. I never heard the entire story, but was talking to Dick Hardwick that week who was the Wally Boag replacement, and unfortunately don't remember a single word-other than hearing the news was a shock to all- especially since it was touted and VERY publicized as the longest running theatrical production in show business history. I'm not sure about the pension angle. 30 years after I ended my employment with Walt Disney Productions and Associated Companies...I discovered I had a rather sizable pension. I had no idea. It's an interesting story for another time. Thanks again for the photos, Happy Birthdays and keep the one in a million stories coming.
Bu, as I understand it, today's photos of Ken and the security guard were taken by an official Disney photographer for various publications and what-not, and then handed over to Major by the MB. So, maybe not quite as astronomical as a random guest's photos being snatched up by Major in a 2nd-hand store somewhere in SoCal, but still up there!
Major, I wonder if the MB has any more photos from this session that might show Ken and Bruce Crabtree?
"...other than Lou's photo of 1984 Popcorn wagon that I think was '82, but the jury is out.
Bu, I will double-check, the next time I come across that photo.
As you know, Major and I never make mistakes. ;oP
I sure hope it's really 1982 and you!
Major, $102
Thanks to anonymous for the Fire Watch notice. I can confirm from my experience that when a project is required to have monitored fire alarms (which existed in 1979) and these are shut down due to construction for service cutovers or similar planned interruptions, Uniform Fire Code requires a full time live Fire Watch. That individual is supposed to tour the construction periodically looking for fire hazards since the electronics are not active, and be prepared to give a manual alarm in some fashion approved by the local Fire Marshal ( in this case, probably City of Anaheim). This might be a phone call, tripping a pull station controlled by another alarm zone, or an old fashioned shout at the top of the lungs, etc.
This accounts for the unusual guard costume, he’s not security per se, and not a CM, but an acting agent of the FD. in my experience he may not be an employee of the city, but might be an independent guard from a security firm, acting in capacity as agent of the FD, and paid by Disney.
JG
JG, as far as I can recall, you are right, this is the first appearance of a GDB reader in a random photo!
Sue, hey, I am just putting out pictures, Ken’s context made it great.
Bu, ha ha, you definitely thought about the New Zoo Revue way more than I ever did. Doug? Emmy Jo? Huh? I guess that’s from the NZR. I agree, considering the hundreds of millions of people who have visited Disneyland, the odds of finding a photo of oneself are very low. A cast member would be more likely, but still… a rarity. Remember when John Lassiter put out a call to see if anybody had a photo of him as a Jungle Cruise skipper? He said he knows people took tons of photos of him, but he didn’t have a single image of himself at the microphone. I never did hear if he ever got a photo. I know that the excuse of “It’s just business” is what is always thrown around, but when a company fires somebody just before they become eligible for their pensions, something they’ve worked for and counted on for their retirement, it’s clearly just a big “F-you”. “This way we don’t have to pay you what we promised! And it’s legal! But hey, it’s just business”. I’ll bet those old timer Railroad guys were comforted by that thought.
JB, you are correct, these photos were not taken by a guest, but by a person who was paid to record all sorts of details that might not otherwise be recorded. I don’t believe that there are any more photos from this session. Just hundreds of photos of the Columbia!!
Lou and Sue, I’m glad that you realize that I never make a mistake, it’s nice to have validation.
JG, until now I have never heard of someone on “Fire Watch” duty. I guess it just goes to show you… something. I would imagine that the construction of a roller coaster, especially a themed roller coaster like “Big Thunder”, would have all kinds of potential risks for fire. Who left that can full of oily rags next to the nitro glycerine? Aw shucks, it was me. Since “anonymous” knew the guard’s name, I assumed that he was an actual Disney employee, but perhaps I am mistaken?
Major : I should clarify the collector collected 1950’s Mouseketeer stuff …. ( as opposed to 1970’s or 1990’s Mouseketeer stuff) I said 1955 because that was when the 1950’s Mouseketeer’s debuted. They were not specializing in Mouseketeer stuff only from the year “1955”.
Yeah that security guard photo was taken professionally by Disney — it’s the kinda of image that would appear in training publications like YOUR ROLL IN THE DISNEYLAND SHOW …… LEARNING THE ROPES OF DISNEYLAND ….. THE TRADITIONS OF THE MAGIC KINGDOM …. DISNEYLAND : WORKING OUR WAY….. WE WORK WHILE OTHERS PLAY ….
Major, the guard could well be a Disney employee, I have seen this done also. Owner staff, contractor staff or hired guards, just depends on the circumstances of the project. Some owners don’t have staff to do it so they hire out, but Disney wouldn’t have that problem.
JG
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