Miscellaneous Amusements
It's time for some MISCELLANEOUS AMUSEMENTS! The very best kind of non-specific amusements in the world.
First up is this fun photo of three boys at the wheels of some cool miniature cars (location unknown). No bumping! Now this picture is interesting all on its own, but my spidey senses were tingling. Something looked familiar... and then I remembered!
In the wonderful (and now very expensive) book "Disneyland: The Nickel Tour", this photo of a potential car for the park's Autopia was published. With the "bullet nose" (just like on a 1950 Studebaker), it sure looks like the same type of vehicle as the three in the previous image. The story goes that a German firm hoped to land a sweet deal with Walt Disney, but the cars were heavy and noisy, and just not what Walt wanted. Time to get Bob Gurr on the horn!
While doing some more research, I found this photo from Pacific Ocean Park (undated); as you can see, there are the original "Ocean Highway" vehicles to the right (see Nanook in one of those HERE), while the more bulbous German vehicles are running parallel to them. Maybe they decided that they needed more cars at some point and it was cheaper to just buy them, rather than having more of the original sort manufactured?
Next up, another undated and unlabeled photo of a merry-go-round at a small carnival or fair; the guy with the dark glasses must be the ride operator, he's seen it all. Is he reaching for his pack of cigarettes? I want to say that this photo is from New York, but I have absolutely no evidence to support that claim, so I admit that it could be anywhere.
24 comments:
Major-
I have to agree with you that the last image sure feels as if it is at [or near] Coney Island - but I can't verify it, either.
Thanks, Major.
Let's see, broom: to keep the track free of pebbles and the occasional dead bird, check. Gas can: to keep the cars running, check. OK, so... what is the milk pitcher for? I guess you never know when a stray cow will wander onto the track and is in desperate need of milking.
There's a shooting gallery in the background; I bet that cost extra, à la Disneyland. I'm more interested in that rollercoaster. It looks pretty tame, from what we can see.
In the "Nickel Tour" photo, those German execs must have been pretty sure of themselves about Walt buying their cars; they already have it branded "Disneyland". The cars do look almost the same. In the first photo there's a couple of teardrop decors on the front. In the B&W photo the teardrop looks like an old-style bottle opener.
In the POP photo, that looks like Wally and the Beav in the first car! If so, it must be from the first season of the series, since the Cleaver boys are pretty small here.
In the merry-go-round photo, the lady closest to us is riding side-saddle; very proper of her. Judging from cigarette guy's striped pants, I would say this photo is from the early '70s.
Another great travelogue, Major. Thanks.
Technically because the last photo shows horses and a bench / chariot combination it would make this a CAROUSEL and not a MERRY GO ROUND ( which is all animals) .
Grab your cigarettes and let’s go for a ride on the Carousel of Sadness!!
Not only do the cars in that "Nickel Tour" pic have "Disneyland" on them, as JB mentioned, but it looks like Mickey Mouse is on them, as well. Just above that round nose cone "thingy", there is an inverted triangle, with what appears to be the Walt Disney Productions logo:
https://d23.com/app/uploads/2015/07/walt-disney-productions-1180x600-1180x600.jpg
I think that "cigarette guy" could be the father of that little girl in front of him. She has a really sour look on her face, because he won't share his smokes with her.
Great pics and sleuthing today, Major!
I just noticed in that last pic, that there is a row of much smaller horses, in front of that bench seat. I wonder if those were "static"? We can't see the tops of their poles, like we can with some of the larger horses.
I think the inverted triangles are that company's logo, since they seem to be on the cars in the first picture as well. The coaster in the background seems to be a toboggan, or twirling tub type since I don't see rails, only a flat surface for them to ride on. On workman is guarding the jump ramp, since they had a bad incident on it earlier in the day.
I must say that I like the two tone paint job on these better than the one color, which makes them look even more clunky.
Cigarette Guy is a secret agent. I'm sure of it.
Stu, I hadn't noticed the triangles on the other cars! But the cars with "Disneyland" painted on them do appear to have the "Mickey in profile, holding a paintbrush" logo, within the inverted triangle, while the other cars seem to have a different design. I can see Mickey's ears, nose, arm, shoes and tail! Or am I completely imagining it?
Excellent sleuthing Major, those proto-Mercedes look great, but not for “Our Autopia”!
Cigarette Guy is waiting to check his “dead drop” under the carousel bench, before bursting into song. He can only stay on earth for a day so he has to hurry.
Definitely a New York-ish vibe, but to me, anything East of San Bernardino is practically New York.
JG
I always get irrationally annoyed when I see people riding a carousel horse sidesaddle, because I got yelled at by a carny for trying it at an impressionable age. You don't forget those things!
@ JB-
Those boys are definitely not Tony Dow and Jerry Mathers.
@ TM! & Stu29573-
I have to agree with TM! on this one, although it's possible that's not the WDP logo, it IS different from the 'badges' as seen at both the 'mystery' amusement park and POP. Unlike the [possible] WDP badge, both of the other badges have a slightly rounded top. And just to add more confusion to the mix, there's another image of this German-designed vehicle included in The "E" Ticket article, with Mickey and Donald seated in it. That image has the original badge with the rounded top.
Those cars were made by brothers Frank and Thomas Ihle, using the company name of GEBR: IHLE (the brothers with the name IHLE). I presume two of the gents in that image are the brothers.
Spent more time this morning then I care to admit trying to figure out which amusement park the first photo came from but came up short. But thank to Nanook’s comment above, I did find a nice website about the Gebr Ihle cars. Note the “GI” for “Gebr Ihle” on the license plate in the photo.
Nanook, the buildings in the background reminded me of Queens, NY, and I am not familiar at all with the Coney Island area, but hey, we agree!
JB, I can’t believe you didn’t realize that the milk pitcher is full of whipped cream! It’s not just Autopia cars that rely on that dairy product. I sure wish I knew where that first picture was taken, but there are no helpful clues (unless Andrew has a brainstorm). I’m so glad that Walt did not go with those German cars, the actual Autopia cars were so sleek and sporty, I would have been happy to have a scaled-up version to drive daily. The German cars? Not so much. They have a “1940s” look to them. I don’t think that’s Wally and the Beav, but they could be their next door neighbors (Mongo and The Bonk). I noticed the side-saddle lady, she really does look proper and classy.
Mike Cozart, well OK!
TokyoMagic!, I think you’re right, that does look like the classic “Mickey logo” on the hood. They really pulled out all the stops! I love the thought of those guys being so confident, and then Walt takes one look, coughs, shakes his head, says “Dammit” (for no apparent reason), eats some chili, and then says, “No, fellas, these just aren’t going to work”. Cigarette guy doesn’t look like a parent to me, but you can’t always tell.
TokyoMagic!, are those smaller horses attached to the yellow seats? It’s hard to tell.
Stu, maybe it’s just due to TokyoMagic’s suggestion, but I do seem to see the Mickey logo. I wonder if it was hand-painted? I’m not familiar with “twirling tub type” coasters, it sounds kind of wild! I hope there wasn’t a bad incident, that’s never good for any amusement park. As for the one-color paint job of the POP German cars… you know that it had to be much easier and cheaper to paint the cars one color. If you look at that linked Nanook photo, you can see that they repainted the Ocean Highway cars, and just painted over the headlights!
TokyoMagic!, I agree with you, and am willing to bet $50 of your money on it!
JG, yes, the Bob Gurr Autopia cars (all of the iterations) are MUCH better than those clunky, heavy cars. It probably cost Walt a lot more money to have his cars custom-made, but he knew it mattered. Cigarette Guy and I both love to burst into song at a moment’s notice, the people staring at me enjoy it. I can tell.
Melissa, getting yelled at by a carnie is one of life’s foundational moments. “If I didn’t have a hangover, I’d report you to security!”.
Nanook, I wish I had a clearer example of the photo of the German fellows, but I had to rely on a scan of a halftone image in a book. I’m still voting for the WDP logo. If I recall correctly, the Autopia issue of “The E-Ticket” was one of the later issues, now I want to take a look! Of course I always welcome any reason to reread those wonderful magazines. Also, I assumed that the man at the wheel was Mikhail Gorbachev.
Chuck, oh nice, thanks for the link to that site! I haven’t had time to peruse it in detail, but it looks great.
Nanook & Major, yes I know they aren't the real Cleavers, I was just being my usual absurd self... but they do have a passing resemblance. (Well, 'Wally' does, anyway.)
The name of the park is hiding in plain sight in the first shot (kind of)! You can see the name "Sterling's Rocky Glen Park" on the side of the "Love in the Dark" ride behind the coaster.
The coaster is the Comet Jr. which reportedly operated from 1955 to 1958.
Great images! The Disneyland logo on that car is really neat.
You can see a perfect example in the vendor proposal “Disneyland” car image that the existing industry didn’t understand what Walt was trying to create ….. and that they were more interested in unloading existing stock than trying to listen to what Walt was looking for.
Somewhere I have a 1969 I.A.A.P convention catalog and the manufacture of that boxy tail finned car in the POP has an ad in there for it … but I cannot locate it at the moment.
In the last picture … judging from the look of the “chariot seat” side I believe the carousel is a Allan Herschell Company ( MERRY-GO-ROUND) one of their 40-foot or 36-foot models …, because of the tiny horses pulling the “chariot” it’s probably a offering by the Allan Hershel “LISK-SAVORY CORPORATION division . They marketed carousels and merry go rounds outside of North America ….the two divisions had been making amusement rides since the 1880’s.
Any of you who remember SANTAS VILLAGE SKY FOREST & SANTA CRUZ locations : the bobsled rollercoster was a ALLAN HERSCHELL product with fake 50’s snow caps and caverns added .
Wow, Andrew swoops in and solves all the mysteries! We need to keep him on retainer, like a high-priced lawyer. Just supply him with Gorilla Points and Zingers!
Thanks, Andrew.
Andrew, you remain our hero. I had a feeling that writing on the wall was the key, but I had no clue as to how to interpret it. Thanks for playing Daniel for the group.
The ride operator in the first picture kind of looks like Oscar Levant. And those boys are totally going to bump as soon as they get past the sign.
I could be wrong, but my first (unpleasant) thought at the Merry-go-round image was immediately Coney Island, because the brick tower in the background looks an awful, and I mean awful, lot like the public housing project foisted upon New Yorkers by the father of a former orange president, who built slums on the lands of the formerly fabulous set of theme parks known as Coney Island.
(Sorry for any political seepage)
MS
JB, I’m afraid absurdity is not allowed on GDB, think of this blog as a PBS news hour.
Andrew, AMAZING! I could see that sign in the distance, but was not able to make heads or tails of it. So funny that I thought you might have “a brainstorm”, and you did it! Fantastic!
Mike Cozart, yes, this is totally an example of vendors not getting what Disneyland would be. They thought “amusement park” and wanted to sell their generic junk. It’s illustrative of just how revolutionary Disneyland was at that time! Thank you for the info about the carrousel, Herschell is definitely one of “those names” that you read when researching carrousels. I sadly never went to any Santa’s Village park, which surprises me, because it seems exactly like something my grandparents would have taken us to - I can only assume that they decided that it was too far away.
JB, yes, Andrew rules!
Chuck, the writing on the wall is always the key!
Melissa, Oscar Levant had a slow summer and wanted to get away from showbiz for a while. He returned to Hollywood, “tanned and well-rested”!
MS, I am not familiar enough with New York to have much of an opinion of locations or architecture, but thought that the buildings reminded me of the ones in the background when viewing photos from the 1964 World’s Fair. But you are the second vote for the Coney Island area!
Last picture looks like Fairyland Park in Queens.
Check out the video below at 0:17. Yo7 can briefly see the carousel with the small horses and yellow benches.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ju7a_l3qCkA&t=23s
The little old lady girl wearing the yellow & white shirt sitting in the chariot bench in the last image looks like Ralph ( the female one) on Green Acres .
The tiny horses are creepy …. Like a mistake that happens with those discount Teleporters …. You know the ones that don’t re-size properly … loose your luggage or leave off a few fingers or toes …. I won’t mention any brand names. I hate the ones that give you that burning sensation as it disassembles your molecules just before transport - sadly so many of them do.
@ MIKE-
"The little old lady girl wearing the yellow & white shirt sitting in the chariot bench in the last image looks like Ralph (the female one) on Green Acres".
She does - 'Ralph Monroe'. That's actress Mary Grace Canfield. She also played Angelica in Pollyanna, and Miss. Foley in Something Wicked This Way Comes.
Anon, WOW, that totally looks right on! “Fairyland Park”, incredible! Not only do you see the carousel at 0:17, but at 0:25, you can clearly see the same building that is in the background of my photo. THANK YOU!
Mike Cozart, “little old lady”… she looks like five year old girl to me! But I totally remember “Ralph” from Green Acres. Greatest Show Ever? I know what you mean about trouble with transporters (hey, was that a Star Trek episode title?) you have to make sure to clean the zapper before you get in one of those things.
Nanook, of course you would know the name of the actress who played “Ralph”!
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