Snoozers
I have two less-than-good scans for you on this Snoozer Sunday™ (both from July 1964). Aren't you excited?
Let's start with this view looking across part of Tom Sawyer Island toward the new and improved Indian Dance Circle - now with stadium-style seating, and in SENSURROUND! I am assuming that our photographer was standing on the top-most deck of the Mark Twain (the Hurricane Deck? Who has time to look this stuff up?). He was also wearing a long curly wig, but that's another story. Notice the Passenger Train just beyond the Dance Circle.
Speaking of Tom Sawyer Island, here's a look at one of the waterfalls that issued from the top of the hill - I believe that there were three different waterfalls. While it's not the most interesting photo in the world, you have to admit that it is something different.
27 comments:
In addition to the SENSURROUND, I wonder if Dance Circle guests had to use 3D glasses?
1) Those feather decorations on the poles always remind me of daisy-style whirligigs. Is that the Disneyland Hotel, looking all milky, behind the trees?
2) This is actually a nice picture of one of the waterfalls. Look at all that churning whitewater! Does Disney do waterfalls like this anymore? Seems like all their water features (those that remain) are reduced to trickles. I'm surprised someone used one of their precious few film frames on the waterfall. Well OK, in 1964 there wasn't as much to photograph in the Park, but still.
Both of these photos are clear and in focus with decent color. So I'm sorry, Major, these do not qualify as Snoozers. Try again next week. ;-p
That's the TEXAS Deck Major! Great Snoozer Post. I hope at least one or two of those rivers still flow...
In that first pic, it's kind of odd that there is a row of trees in the foreground, and then water beyond that. Could this have been taken from one of the gun turrets of Fort Wilderness? Or from Castle Rock?
Like JB, I'm curious if the waterfalls on Tom Sawyer Island look like that anymore. I want to go play in this one!
Thanks Major, for a not-so-snoozy Snoozer Sunday™!
JB - yes, that's the Disneyland Hotel beyond the Indian Village.
Tha waterfall must've provided great ambient sound for the area along with the other two waterfalls. I wonder if they exist anymore.
These pics are anything but snoozers. Because of these images I'm completely awake and alert.
Thanks, Major.
SENSURROUND arrived in theaters the same year as Space Mountain in 1977 with 'Rollercoaster'! A great flick, and a nice late role for Richard Widmark (Special Agent Hoyt)
Or is it the Hotel Disneyland??
I always love the snoozers...thanks, Major.
Sue
Walterworld, I love Richard Widmark! Great actor... “I wouldn’t give you the skin off of a grape.”
Sue
walterworld, I remember first experiencing SENSURROUND in theaters with "Earthquake" back in 1974, then "Midway" in 1976 and finally Rollercoaster in 1977. I couldn't get enough of movies featuring the gimmick.
Sue, I agree about Richard Widmark. What a great debut as Tommy Udo in "Kiss of Death". He was a solid actor and one of my favorites as well. "Pick Up on South Street" was another favorite starring Widmark.
Boy, if you consider these snoozers, you must be scraping the top of the barrel.
I think TM!’s correct - I believe the first photo was taken from one of the Fort Wilderness blockhouses. If you look in the lower left corner of the frame, you can see the framing of the firing slit. I loved those permanently-mounted guns that fired air blasts. Pew! Pew! Pew!
Hotl Disneyland...where the elite meet. I saw a clip of an internal DL Hotel TV promotion with Bonita Wrather talking about the restaurants of the Disneyland Hotel. Lunch was always referred to as "Luncheon" with her continental Hollywood dialect. It was hilarious as she was using a hand held mike...which she swirled around a lot, and her voice drifted away, or drifted towards you depending on where the mike was. I can hear the water rushing down that waterfall. I don't think these exist at all anymore. I thought they were great back then, and I still think they are great. Another one of those missing elements that doesn't involve pre-planning, plush, or pennies. (I had to use a P word.) SENSURROUND. There was press during the release of Earthquake that involved putting nets underneath crystal chandeliers in theatres to prevent them from falling. Now that I write this, I think ..."crystal chandeliers in movie theaters?" Haven't seen one since I lived in LA. I wasn't allowed to see Earthquake in a theatre, so missed the SENSURROUND experience. There were so many strange and odd things in that movie that it is deserving of it's own post AND it's own blog. I'll start with Ava Gardner playing Lorne Greens daughter. Totally beliveable! What a wonderfully weird movie. I'll leave it there. Thanks for the morning musings Major!
I’m in general agreement that photo 1 is taken from a fort blockhouse, either that or the Skyway Through Frontierland.
I don’t recall the dance circle sunshade at all. Of course, I barely recall the dance circle either. This corner just was not high on our list of spots, although we never missed TSI. Good to see the Hotel here.
My first Sensurround film was Midway, which Dad wanted to see. Unusual for him to want to see a movie, Star Wars was the only other one I recall him being interested in.
The three streams bursting from the roots of a tree is an ancient “mythologic symbol” that is repeated in any cultures across the world. These were operating on my last visit to the island, but that was 2017. Couldn’t get over there on the last jaunt. This concludes my Ted Talk, which is hit or myth.
Thanks Major!
JG
Some great follow-up comments added to yesterdays comments.
JG
Both these views are completely new to me. Just goes to prove the old adage: When the Major snoozes, nobody loses.
I've always been a fan of Richard Widmark. He was one of those guys who could show up in absolutely anything, and elevate even not-so-great material.
Random factoid: when entering a parking lot at Cedars I didn’t have the $$ to enter. So I backed up thinking no one was behind me..Someone was: Richard Widmark. He was befuddled and pissed even though there wasn’t as much as a non-existent scratch on his bumper. I said, well that’s what bumpers are for, I guess they do their job. He mumbled something incoherent and was totally drama queening out. I deciding at that point not to ask him about his experience on the 1950’s sitcom that should never be mentioned on this blog.
I'm excited for 1964! That's the year I fell in love with the 4'10' girl! She never knew about my crushes on the Storybook Land girls, so keep quiet, please.
Thanks, Major. I never have much to do on most Sundays but snooze.
zach
K. Martinez, you're right about "Pick Up on South Street."
"When the Major snoozes, nobody loses."
Melissa - I love it!
Hahaha, Bu! It took me a minute to realize what you were referring to...an autographed grapefruit! And I love that you backed into Mr. Widmark...he deserved it after pushing that poor old lady down the stairs in her wheelchair.
Am loving all the comments, today...thanks, all.
@ Bu-
You should've tried trading a nice, ripe grapefruit for the cash needed for entry...
I also viewed that clip of Bonita Granville Wrather 'mishandle' her handheld microphone. (Evidently she wasn't the 'trouper' she was purported to be). Or, maybe she pined for her 'glory days' in the cinema when her mellifluous tones were captured via a boom microphone; a gaffer providing the muscle work...
Jennings Lang certainly was associated with a ton of 'clunkers' - Earthquake barely scratching the surface of clunkiness-! No amount of SENSURROUND could save that turkey. (Do I hear Airport 1975, for more Jennings Lang cringe-worthy product-?) Although the 're-teaming' of Gloria Swanson and Nancy Olson for Airport 1975 was a nice touch, indicating just how far the medium had fallen: Sunset Boulevard to Airport 1975... The unintended 'yucks' turned the [so-called] disaster film into a comedy-!
Nanook,
I am a major fan of the 1970's disaster film era. I watched master of disaster Irwin Allen's "The Poseidon Adventure" and The Towering Inferno" multiple times in a theater back when they didn't clear out the movie theaters. Those were the days. Those two disaster films I still enjoy watching today even with their camp elements.
Anyway, 'Earthquake" was definitely a turkey, but it still had its moments. There's Ava Gardner stumbling and slurring about and kicking pillows and Victoria Principal in her pre-Dallas days complete with Afro wig. It plays like a made-for-TV movie with special effects. I find it a guilty pleasure.
As for Airport 1975, don't forget cross-eyed Karen Black at the controls and "I am Woman Here Me Roar" Helen Reddy as a nun singing to Linda Blair who's on a dialysis machine. Talk about a howler. And the Airport franchise sank lower as it flew along.
That sub-genre can be fun as long as one doesn't take it seriously. I actually find the Airport franchise elicits more chuckles from me than the comedy "Airplane!"
You guys are way ahead of me on today's post. I was just admiring how much growth had occurred since 1955. Disney must have used a heck of a lot of fertilizer. No wonder there was a special smell each morning before opening. And here I thought it was the dew mixed with a hint of smog! KS
@ Ken-
Agree with your thoughts on the "Airport" franchise. I saw Airport 1975 at the Cinerama Dome Theatre in Hollywood, and can attest to the constant titters and chuckles coming from the audience throughout the entire film (or is it only deserving of being referred to as a 'movie'-?) Yes, Karen Black, Helen Reddy, and of course Linda Blair (infamous for her performance in The Exorcist) - how could one not be overcome with laughter.
"We call 'em Patroni's-!" It's the film [movie] that just keeps on giving and giving... (Or, was that quote from Airport '77-??)
JB, 3D is for chumps! Sensurround is where it’s at. Yes that’s the Disneyland Hotel. Disney does waterfalls (there is an impressively big one at DCA), but they can be anemic. The new ones on the berm between Galaxy’s Edge and Frontierland are not very impressive.
walterworld, I knew I could look it up, but sometimes I just have to get these blog posts done!
TokyoMagic!, oh interesting, I never thought about the gun turrets on Fort Wilderness. It’s certainly possible. The last time I went around TSI, I did notice one “waterfall” (or is it just a rushing stream?), but did not think to look for any others.
K. Martinez, water features provide so much. The sound (as you pointed out), the movement, the water spray (in some cases), and sometimes just the relaxing sight of a big body of water (the Sub lagoon). They can’t have too many!
walterworld, I knew that Sensurround came along much later, it was just a dumb joke. I saw both “Earthquake” and “Midway” (I thought it was “Tora! Tora! Tora!” but I am mistaken) in theaters that made our teeth loose.
Sue, I’m not sure what the sign atop the Disneyland Hotel said in 1964, but it might very well have been “Hotel Disneyland”.
Sue, I’m trying to think of any movies I have seen with Richard Widmark. I must have seen some, but none come to mind.
K. Martinez, I’ve never seen “Rollercoaster”, and actually forgot that there was a third Sensurround movie. I wish I had some movie service that streamed every pre-1960 movie so that I could get caught up on so many classic films!
Chuck, even now I think they’re pretty snoozy. But I’m glad if other people like them! That’s two votes for the blockhouse, which is where I should live since I have a blockhead.
Bu, I don’t think I’ve ever heard Bonita Wrather’s voice, but now I imagine that she sounded like Katharine Hepburn. Really I do! (Thank goodness for cartoons). Actors love to be looked at, that’s part of the deal I guess. Pressed pennies, what a scam. I once had somebody offer me a large collection of pressed Disneyland pennies, and I would not have even wanted to pay the face value of the unpressed pennies. But I was polite about it! I saw “Earthquake” at a theater in Austin Minnesota, so there was no worry about crystal chandeliers falling on us. I’d forgotten that Ava Gardner played Lorne Green’s daughter - I probably didn’t know who Ava Gardner was at that time.
JG, the shaded amphitheater was an Indian Village addition, most photos don’t show it. As I’ve mentioned before, my family never made it back there, I’m not sure I even knew it existed until I saw it written up in books. I did love seeing those WWII airplanes in “Midway”, with that impressive rumbling Sensurround. And it had Eric Estrada, greatest actor of our times. I enjoyed your Ted Talk, though it could have used more f-bombs.
JG, I’ll have to look! It’s been a busy weekend. Hey, didn’t you go to SLO?
Melissa, now that I’m thinking of it, I probably saw Richard Widmark in a western or two. Not sure I’ve seen any of his tough-guy noir films though.
Bu, “at Cedars”… Cedars Sinai?? I took my brother there once, we got lost because it is such a gigantic parking structure and multi-building hospital. I would probably have not been too pleased about having my car bumped, and hey, if Richard Widmark can’t be grumpy, who can? Thank you for not mentioning you know what.
zach, I’ve certainly seen plenty of lovely young ladies at Storybook Land, but I still have memories of one particular beauty working at “Pirates”.
Lou and Sue, just as long as I don’t snore, everything’s great! I like to boil grapefruit and serve them warm with melted butter.
Nanook, I think there was an art to handling those old microphones, Bonita was probably more of a stage or movie person. But… it would still be amusing to hear the audio fading in and out! I love it when you see somebody holding the microphone to their own mouths when their interviewee is talking, and then holding the mic to the interviewees mouth when they are speaking. Those “Airport” movies are classic turkeys, I remember being excited to see the first one, and being terribly disappointed.
K. Martinez, oh man, I’ll bet I saw “The Poseidon Adventure” four times in the cinema - we went to see it twice, but just like you, we stayed to watch it again. I know I did that with other movies too. “Battle For the Planet of the Apes” (the worst one!), “Big Jake” with John Wayne… and others too. I remember thinking Victoria Principal was incredibly hot in Earthquake, I was 12 she looked amazing. Was she any good? I can’t remember!
KS, all you had to do was use irradiated soil, and boom! Instant giant trees!
K. Martinez got it right. Sensurround was developed for, and first used, in the movie "Earthquake" in 1974. I too, was a Sensurround fiend and saw all the movies that Ken mentions. "Earthquake" made the best use of the sub-bass effect. I remember hearing the ceiling and walls of the theater creaking from the rumbling of the special speakers, and wondering if the theater was going to collapse!... Good times.
Bu, "...the 1950’s sitcom that should never be mentioned on this blog." Oh! I know, I know! "Voldemort, Hawaiian Style", right?! Oh wait, that was in the '60s.
@ JB-
That would be I Married Joan "...America's favorite comedy show. Starring America's Queen of Comedy - Joan Davis" (If they say so themselves, at least). "The adventures of the scatterbrained wife of a respected city judge." Hmmmm - sounds awfully familiar, though - especially as it aired from 1952 - 1955.
Was Joan a redhead? And did her judge husband speak with a Cuban accent?
@ JB-
I do believe she had red hair, but the similarities with Lucille Ball ended with the hair color.
I did watch the show as a kid, and did enjoy what I saw - as did others, judging from many fans - but Ms. Davis' reputation preceded her...
Although she had a career in vaudeville, radio and film, she was often described by those who worked with her as an a**hole. To quote legendary director John Rich (who was the primary director for the 2nd Season of I Married Joan...) "She was a bitch on wheels. An insecure diva. A drinker. One year with her and I couldn’t wait to get away. She had the aspirations of being Lucy but did not have that fundamental talent. She was an absolute nightmare. She was cruel to the crew and every actor - she even demanded that her own untalented daughter, was cast as her f**cking sister, for christsakes…”
Her TV husband was played by the wonderful Jim Backus - who also detested her. (He may have sounded more like Mr. Magoo-!)
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