Two From January 1964
From all appearances, January 1964 was a fine time to visit Disneyland. Beautiful blue skies, bright Winter sunshine, and no skeeters! Somebody wanted a picture of this gentleman, with his sporty fedora - he looks like he's just come from the golf course! At first I thought there were construction walls in the distance, but realized that I'm just seeing the backs of some poster displays. Gee, now I feel like a silly goose! Let's go see "America the Beautiful" and just watch the parts of the movie that would ordinarily be behind us.
I've seen a lot of photos of Sleeping Beauty Castle, but this one sure is pretty. Christmas decor is evident, so perhaps the pictures are actually from December? Folks are standing on the bridge, apparently enchanted by the flocked trees in the water. Is this heaven?? The swans got the holidays off, they flew north for the winter.
14 comments:
Major-
The SBC looks just about perfect-! There's no need to tweak perfection.
Happy Holidays, Major... maybe it's still too early.
Mr. Fedora is standing on the grass! Tsk, tsk. This is why they had to install border fencing. Of course, now there probably isn't any grass to stand on. So, enjoy it while you can, Mr. Fedora.
There's a small piece of litter on the grass to the left. Even after zooming in, I can't tell what it is.
Indeed, this is a really nice photo of the Castle. (I'm adding it to my Disney Stuff folder.) I think we can thank the foreground trees for making it extra picturesque. That, and the vivid blue sky. The flocked trees add to the beauty, too.
Thanks, Major.
It looks like a path was being worn into the grass, alongside that curb. I bet when pedestrian traffic got heavy on that walkway, people would spread out onto the edge of grass. So rude! And once again, it's kind of sad to think that nobody in that man's family, wanted to hang onto this pic.
In the second pic, is that lone lady waving to someone over on the Castle bridge? Or is she making the universal hand sign for guzzling an alcoholic drink?
Lee Trevino stopped mid-putt to have his picture taken, after dropping the ball right onto the Tomorrowland green. Quite a drive from Town Square to lay up in the Hub, but those pros make it look easy. After draining this short shot, he’s down in three for a birdie.
I’m really liking the Castle picture. Subtle, elegant, a true castle knows that hot pink and gold leaf are not necessary, the mere fact of being a castle is enough.
I think I’ve seen night shots of this decor, weren’t the trees lit up in blue?
The swans have flown west for the winter and are elbowing their way into the Rivers of America. Come to think of it, have we ever seen birds in the Sub Lagoon (other than the AA albatrosses)?
Thanks Major!
JG
JG - The sub lagoon was electrified to provide lighting in the subs. It also kept the birds out of the water.
Nanook, are you sure that just a little pink paint wouldn’t improve things??
JB, as you can see, Mr. Fedora had to stand on the grass to be out of the way of the huge crowds! Yes, I have no doubt that grass is long gone, but it sure looks nice here. I want to roll around on it, except that it will stain my all-white suit. The lighting and color of that second photo really makes it pop, it’s almost POSTCARD WORTHY.
TokyoMagic!, I guess the Imagineers never dreamed that there would be so many guests that they would actually spill off of the paved path. Maybe I would be one of those rude people! That lady is yelling at the people on the bridge. “Waddaya lookin’ at? Mind yer own business ya loonies!”. She’s great.
JG, are you sure it isn’t Chi-Chi Rodriguez? A painting of him is on the cover of the first DEVO album, which pretty much makes him the greatest golfer in history. I guarantee that if the castle was painted orange and turquoise today, many of the Disneyland crazies would “love it” and they would “be SO excited!!!”. I don’t ever recall seeing birds in the Sub Lagoon, maybe there is too much chlorine?
Dean Finder, that really is Imagineering magic!
January was a good time to visit the Park immediately after the Christmas season, the only downside being that the operating hours were shorter so the nighttime magic was limited. Remember that the Park was closed on Mondays and Tuesdays which is when the decorations would come down. January 1 could have been mid week meaning that the latter part of the week was slower and the decorations still in place. The simplicity of the castle reminds me that we didn't live in the luxury that is around us today. Though we didn't know it at the time. We were living the good middle-class post-war life. And so it continued through the 70s and into the mid 80s at which point the world opened for business and goods flowed into the country at a pace I had never experienced or realized. That is until one day in Costco when it hit me. Now folks fill their garages with stuff and leave the cars outside. LOL KS
The castle looks lovely and very subtle...in it's paint scheme and decor. Those swags of garland even look real. I always loved the white trees in the moat. I do remember seeing them that way, or perhaps it was just in photos (?) Over-done decor becomes more about the decor and less about what they spent millions of dollars on...the buildings...I don't get it, but today's peoples love it. I don't love it. It's "general distraction" to me. I also prefer less "glitz" and more "natural elements"...especially in a victorian scene where there really wasn't too much glitz given the space and time of the turn of the century. Simple green wreaths and garland. Magnolia leaves perhaps. Natural holly/cedar....winterberries, etc. Many houses in my neck of the woods decorate with fresh fruit, that is there for when the birds and the squirrels get hungry. Guy with hat: OFF THE GRASS! There...I've said it. You couldn't take that photo on the pavement? Although I appreciate the freedom and look of unencumbered grassy areas, it shouldn't be stepped on. The "special" quad at my college was REVERED....and if you even THOUGHT about stepping on it...it would be bad. The tourists were pummeled by the security force with loud shouting 'ala The Queen's (now King's) guard. Being that the quad is from 1431...I can see how you would get testy. We smoked our ciggies and drank our shandy out on the "Other Quad" from the 18th C. ...so rather new. I get super crazy over lawns, so this Hat Jabroni standing on it is giving me some major PTSD. At least his hands aren't in his pockets- which I guess is OK for guests, but it still makes me crazy...even when I do it myself. Perhaps...just everything makes me crazy :) Thanks Major for some crazy-making this morning!
Supposedly the story goes that Walt had his landscape designers wait before putting up permanent pathways and boundaries in the park. They watched to see the guests patterns and see where they made additional walkways and then eventually made those permanent when they put up defined walkways and railings, etc. whether this is actually true or not, we may never know.
The castle pic is a beauty. Great color.
Thanks, Major.
Very classy castle, with classy-looking people, too. Besides the elegant Christmas decorations, they added some yellow and purple pansies between the walkway and the water. All very pleasing to the eye.
"The sub lagoon was electrified..."
Dean, I hope that isn't why the mermaids disappeared.
Thanks, Major.
Sue: the Submarine lagoon features a very low current of electricity charged within the water … it helps slow/prevent algae growth. It is harmless to people in the water … but maintenance divers say you can feel a gentle “tingle” when in the water .
That’s interesting, Mike - I didn’t know that. Thanks!
—Sue
KS, I would have definitely been disappointed to have to leave the park at 8:00 (or earlier?), but in those days one could probably do everything multiple times, especially in the off season. I’m not sure I’d classify today’s castle decorations as “luxury” - more like “excess”. Excess can be fun, but part of me yearns for simpler times. I know that’s not realistic for today’s audiences though.
Bu, sometimes I’ll see a vintage photo of a real city Main Street from the 1940s or 1950s, and you’ll see the same sort of Christmas decorations that adorned Main Street. Garlands, wreaths, bells, all the classics. I do understand that Disneyland caters largely to returning locals, and that they need to up the ante to keep those locals dazzled. But… it really starts to feel almost oppressive. To me, anyway - not that Disneyland is concerned about dopes like me! I can’t get too mad at the guy on the grass, though it does seem unnecessary. You could swing a dead cat with ease. I would think that grassy quads at most schools would be there for students to lounge on, but I guess not? Maybe I’m thinking more of Central Park. Don’t go too crazy, Bu!
Mike Cozart, I’ve heard that story about how they might add a pathway if the guests seemed to demand one. It has the ring of truth, but it also might just be a good story - Disneyland history is full of those. Marty Sklar could get creative!
K. Martinez, you are welcome!
Lou and Sue, I often think of people who might have come from some frozen State (let’s say Michigan), only to be dazzled by a January day at Disneyland. “We’re moving here as soon as we can!”. Maybe the lagoon used electric eels for juice?
Mike Cozart, that reminds me of when I swam in a neighbor’s pool when I was a kid. Whenever we swam near the diving board, we felt a weird buzzing/tingle. Turns out the light that was beneath the water (under the diving board) had a short. Crazy!
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