River Views, 1960s
Happy Birthday to GDB friend Dean Finder!
I love Frontierland's Rivers of America, no matter how many photos I've seen of that feature. It's so convincing as a BIG RIVER, smack-dab in the middle of Anaheim. Today's photos are undated, but probably from the very early 1960s, or perhaps even the late 1950s (it's so frustrating to not know for sure).
Here we are, standing on shore, looking across to Ton Sawyer Island, with one of the rafts loading up with guests who are ready to come back to the mainland. They're all a little sweatier, and maybe even a little more tired, but it was well worth it. The masts of the Columbia can just be seen above the treetops, so we know that this is from at least 1958.
Next is this image showing the little bandstand that jutted out into the River; the Strawhatters are performing for seated guests. I believe that the bandstand was removed in 1962 during the many big changes to Frontierland, including the closure of the Plantation House, the very earliest work on the Haunted Mansion, additions to the Indian Village, and the closure of the Mineral Hall.
21 comments:
Major-
"... guests who are ready to come back to the mainland. They're all a little sweatier, and maybe even a little more tired..."
Hey - don't forget - also with tummies full of pickles from the canteen at Fort Wilderness-!
Thanks, Major.
I guess that's Tom and Huck's treehouse just to the right of the Columbia's mast? Sure looks high up from this angle! And there's a single AED floating close to the raft. Even though it's pretty far away, I can tell it's angry; it wants to EXPLODE!! REALLY BAD!!! But it's waiting for just the right moment.
Would the petrified tree be near where we are?
Wow, I didn't realize that the bandstand and other things you mentioned were removed this early in the Park's history. Was the photographer aiming at the bandstand or that decorative pedestal/lightpost in the center of the photo? Or maybe the hole in the tree trunk to the right? I guess he wanted to get as much in-frame as he could. There's a nice play of light and shadow going on here. Very restful.
Happy birthday, Dean! And thanks, Major.
Very nice to see a young but vegetatively mature Tom Sawyer Island. Those are a lot of red buckets on that raft...seems like rafts were a place to partake in a good toke of tobacco. Or perhaps they were full of water: just in case the gigantic mass of water around the raft was not enough. I wonder what other modes of transportation were thought about when Tom Sawyer Island was being developed: perhaps it was RAFTS ONLY: DO NOT CHANGE THIS DIRECTIVE (WD). Could be... it seems the more practical source of getting a lot of people over there at one time. I've heard of tunnels being speculated upon: which I wouldn't mind: seems guests would be melting down in an attraction of spelunking your way under the river. I was a brave young man and went spelunking decades ago. I remember being in caves no bigger than my body...and disappearing into walls...I CANNOT even fathom the thought of doing that today. I am having a panic attack just writing about it. Moving on to the delightful bandstand: an epic romantic structure with so many great architectural elements: I'm wondering if this landed in someones backyard, like the Main St. bandstand wound up at Rogers Gardens. It seems that the New Orleans Style bandstand would be so much more coveted. The guest seating is simple, yet thoughtful. The Main St. Bandstand has made it's way into the logo of Rogers Gardens: and it also has it's long history of movement. My little village has it's own bandstand: with it's simple summer concerts: I'm not sure if these "Pollyanna" style buildings make it into modern day housing developments: perhaps. Thanks Major for the morning music.
HAPPY GREAT BIG BEAUTIFUL BIRTHDAY Deanfinder!!
Bu : it’s my understanding that “plantation house” bandstand was used to make the bandstand for The French Market.
What’s interesting about the ROGERS GARDENS Disneyland Main Street bandstand is that the “gardens” had other locations at south coast plaza and Santa Ana Main Place ( both gone) but replica DL bandstands were built for both satellite locations and both looked more like the original Main Street bandstand than the historic real
One standing in Newport Beach ….
I wonder what became of the two ROGERS GARDENS bandstand duplicates??
Happy Birthday, Deanfinder! Have a good one today!
Nice ROA pic. The original Old Mill was the best. Thanks, Major.
SO… I guess we celebrated Dean Finder’s birthday already. Back on February 29th. Which means that Dean is one of those rare people who has TWO birthdays! It’s really quite a thing, and scientists are still trying to explain it. It has something to do with the Higgs Boson. Happy second birthday, DF!
Nanook, it’s funny, I like pickles, but never crave a pickle when I’m at Disneyland. I guess I’m just a Hollywood phony!
JB, yes, that is Tom and Huck’s treehouse, but it barely looks like it is in a tree here. It could just be atop the hill. Don’t worry, I am going to contact my attorney IMMEDIATELY. That AED might be a young one that has not become completely explosive yet, we’d need a closer look, but on the other hand, that’s too risky. I can’t say what the photographer was aiming at in photo #2, but I’m assuming it was the bandstand. They were being “arty”?
Bu, the red buckets were for tobakky juice. Guests loved to “chew” back then, men AND women. And it was understood that a red bucket was for the goo. One of the least favorite jobs was emptying them. NO, they couldn’t just spit into the river, that would be rude! I am almost positive that I have read about other proposed river craft - but now I can’t remember what they were. Maybe a sparkly blue bass boat? I’ve always loved that a raft is required to get to Tom Sawyer Island, it is definitely part of the adventure. I wonder if there was ever any discussion of some other way to get over there? Though I can’t image what that would be. Catapult? A tunnel would be cool but expensive. I’ve been in a few caves in my day, one time I got stuck and could only get through by taking my wallet out of my back pocket. For real! That might have been my last time in a cave, and regret nothing.
Mike Cozart, oh interesting, I never knew that the riverfront bandstand was repurposed for the French Market! Fascinating. Everyone seems to have a bandstand but me, I feel so empty inside.
K. Martinez, well I sure feel like a dummy wishing Dean Finder a happy birthday for a second time, but that’s the kind of thing you can expect on GDB!
HOW MUCH CASH was in that wallet, Major?!
Major-
"I’ve always loved that a raft is required to get to Tom Sawyer Island, it is definitely part of the adventure. I wonder if there was ever any discussion of some other way to get over there?"
The "E" Ticket didn't mention any other choices for transportation to the island but... it did mention the following: "It's a fact that in the early days on the Rivers of America (before the June 1958 advent of the Sailing Ship Columbia), the versatile Tom Sawyer Island Rafts would sometimes carry passengers all the way around the island when the Mark Twain was being refurbished". That sounds 'intriguing' - unless of course, the raft was at capacity carrying 45 guests shoulder-to-shoulder...
Happy Birthday Dean Finder! Lucky to have two celebrations, as long as you don’t get twice as old.
Maybe there are some dates around the times the raft landing was changed over to the southerly side of the island, which is where I remember it? I’m guessing these might be early 60’s, although the trees grow so fast.
Major, I don’t have a bandstand either, but we can both enjoy the pictures. I am oddly happy that the French Market Bandstand is made of this old original one. I also hope it survives the current orgy of destruction being perpetrated on NOS. Used to love dinner on the French Market patio with the jazz playing, best place in the Park. Maybe some shadow of that will return.
Thank you for these photos today.
JG
Deanfinder; double birthdays …. Sounds like a 2010 Disneyland marketing stunt! I’m afraid that’s going in your FILE.
Major; I was at Disneyland yesterday - and I saw some people in Adventureland eating giant dill pickles - I thought the sane thing as you. I love dill pickels but have never had the desire to eat one at Disneyland … not from the Canteen … the Market House … or Adventureland. They also seem messy and just TOO MUCH pickle for one. Same with the popular GIANT TURKEY LEG …. I did have one once … it was messy and I was embarrassed eating it - I felt like a cartoon caveman …. Also (to me) they had an odd fake smell and a weird red color to them … which makes them look uncooked . YUCK!
Happy Unbirthday, Dean! ;-)
(Hey! It's MY unbirthday, too! Anybody else?)
Wow, two birthdays in a year. I agree with Mike - it seems very much like a Disney event, where a birthday or anniversary is routinely 18-24 months long. For this one, my wish is to not be stuck in any caves. I've had too many confined space close calls to ever want to be in a place where I can't move my arms freely.
I've seen small bandstand / gazebos built in housing developments and office parks, but they mostly wind up being used as designated smoking areas these days.
I’m not sure about smaller watercraft ever planed for THE RIVERS OF AMERICA …… early on there was plans for a second Riverbost to join The Mark Twain ….as Harper Goff duplicated the Golden Horseshoe stage from the film. CALAMITY JANE , the packet of drawings for the mark Twain include the plans of the film prop COTTON BLOSSOM from “Showboat” so there has been speculation the second steamboat would have looked like a “showboat” . When Walt was seriously deciding to add a second “big boat” before the COLUMBIA was selected , Walt and his imagineers were looking at America’s first steamboat : The North River Steamboat or North River, colloquially known as the Clermont. The Clermont in reality was a very beautiful looking craft … also painted white with gold and some green trimmings it featured oilcloth awnings to protect deck cargo and promenading passengers. However unlike the real historic ship , the Clermont in early films has mistakenly been depicted as a clunky boxy barge with a smokestack in the center. This is how I think Walt envisioned it — a ramshackle looking vessel … and when proposed to be a part of the unbuilt RIVERTOWN section of Frontierland ( where Fowler’s harbor ended up) I think Walt wanted something more elegant looking - despite the real Clermont ( Fulton’s Folly) actually was. Another note the Disneyland version of the Clermont was to be called the ROBERT FULTON .
Had Discovery Bay been completed there was plans for a third “big boat “ based on a 1855-1860 Sidewheeler Frigate - the kind that made voyages around the Horn and into San Francisco during the Gold Rush. The Disneyland ship , ported in Discovery Bay is sometimes called THE EUERKA and sometimes THE JOHN SUTTER.
Walt Disney World’s Rivers of America almost included THE LADY WASHINGTON … the companion to the Columbia . And Tokyo Disneyland’s “Mark Twain” was first going to be called THE RIVER EMPRESS.
Lou and Sue, I always have at least $1,000 in twenties.
Nanook, wow, it would be cool if they did “special occasion” raft trips around the island today!
JG, according to the old souvenir maps of Tom Sawyer Island, there were at least three different landings. I don’t know if they were used interchangeably depending on what else was going on at the park, but assume that construction and other things would determine which landing was used. I agree with you, I hope the French Market (Tiana’s whatever) still has the bandstand, I admit that I have not looked at detailed photos.
Mike Cozart, wow, I actually did not know that Disneyland still sold giant dill pickles. Hey, if people want them, who am I to criticize? I remember seeing big pickles at the Ventura County Fair, and those things were gigantic. I’d be “pickled out” after about four bites. The turkey legs are such a crazy thing at Disneyland, but again, if people love them, I’m glad they are there for them. They really are VERY red, WHY??
JB, it’s my unbirthday too. What are the odds??
Dean Finder, yeah, I think I’ve become more uncomfortable in confined spaces than I used to be. And the thought of actually being trapped in a cave is pretty terrifying! Ever watch video of those nutjobs that have to squeeze through tiny passagewaysS? UGH!
Happy Birthday Dean Finder! I think I missed your previous birthday as well. I work with some people who also have multiple birthdays, grandmothers, etc etc.....Aries or Pieces...hmm...it's a toss up....I do better with Pieces, for some odd reason: but either one is good! Happy Birthday! I do love a good giant pickle: time to get some cucumbers going for the Summer Season: and turkey legs only belong at such things as Renaissance Festivals...gnawing on bones, or watching one do it...red or not..."no". I'm glad that pickles have been brought up again today, and also "Tiana's Whatever". and....I will leave it there...
And a later Happy Birthday message to you Dean. I'm always late to a party. Maybe a party in the bandstand at Roger's Gardens would be appropriate now that it is connected to the restaurant. And speaking of Roger's, I remember when it once was located on Baker St. in Costa Mesa before their 'crazy' move to a CdM location out in the middle of nowhere. Not so crazy anymore. I don't recall them having a Bandstand in CM back then. If you want to know for sure the locations of the rafts and whether they plied the entire length of the River with guests, I'll inquire with the expert, and Disney legend, Tom Nabbe. KS
By far the best look ever at the riverside bandstand, and doesn’t it look lovely! 1962, so that’s how I missed out on this sight. So nice to know it is the same one in French Market; so it remain to this day and will continue to even as so much changes around it, again.
Mike those steamboat details sound like inspiration for decisions made in EuroDisneyland, who went ahead with a second one and named her Molly Brown (the only one afloat now). Didn’t Goff use his saloon from the film for the Golden Horseshoe too?
MS
A few years ago, the regular island dock for the Tom Sawyer Island raft was being rebuilt, and if you went to Tom Sawyer Island, the raft, went up towards hungry bear, and then disembarked on a landing across from the restaurant. It was interesting to go that far at the river on one of the Rafts.
@ Dean Finder-
Remember... one thing about getting old: You only have to do it once-! Words to live by.
HAPPY BIRTHDEAN!
Happy late birthday (to go along with my late comment), Dean!
When I was in junior high and early high school in the Dayton area, my Boy Scout troop used to do a big, annual spelunking trip to the Sloan Valley Cave System in southern Kentucky (and occasionally Wolf River Cave in northern Tennessee, a short walk from the grave of WW I hero Sergeant Alvin York). We’d split out by age and skill groups, and the older guys would end up doing more challenging trips. That’s where I learned how to rappel, and it’s an interesting experience rappelling down a 30-foot chimney that opens up into a 40-foot dome, then watching the rope disappear into the ceiling and knowing you have a seven-mile hike underground with nothing but the clothes on your back and the stuff in your pack to get out of the cave. I used to love crawling around into the tight spots, and even though I have always had a touch of claustrophobia in certain situations (lying on my back in a tight space where I can see out but my movement is restricted terrifies me; just writing that is raising my heart rate and causing anxiety) it never bothered me on those trips.
About six years ago, I went spelunking again as a Scout leader with my current troop and had a hard time climbing out of the entrance chimney on the way out. I don’t have the upper body strength I once had, and the tight fit and a slight wrong move had me stuck for what seemed like 20 minutes but was probably less than 10. The young husband and wife team of guides who had stationed themselves at the top and bottom of the chimney stayed super calm and were instrumental in talking me through the event and getting me out under my own power. The other guide, a guy in his late 50s who had gone into the cave with three successive groups of Scouts that day was so exhausted that he couldn’t climb out. It really did take them a half hour to get him out.
I believe that will be my last “wild cave” experience. Happy to wander into a brightly-lit, level-floor, elevator-serviced “show cave” if the price is right, though. And I’d like to wander around the caves on Tom Sawyer Island just one more time.
Oh, and today’s photos were nice, too.
:-)
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