SNOOZLES™
It's time for another selection of vintage photos that get a "C" grade from the International Consortium of Slide-Grading Fellas and Ladies, or ICSGF&L. And they were in a good mood that day, too! Both of these images were taken in 1956.
First up, we see the Tahitian Lanai from the Jungle Cruise dock. So far so good, but... it ain't so clear. It ain't! The sun seems to already be in the western-ish part of the sky, and yet there is not a single diner. What the hey?? It's always kind of fun to be able to see some of the ornament from the Plaza Pavillion, which shared the same building - something I'm sure I first learned from "Disneyland: The First Quarter Century".
Next, another somewhat fuzzy slide, taken from the hurricane deck of the Mark Twain. I like the lady's flannel shirt (or coat?), it would look good today. Beware the giant slug, just entering the picture from the right!
16 comments:
ZZZZ...whaaaa... ain't that the Texas Deck?
Thanks for the Snoozles Major.....ZZZZZ
Major-
Yes, it's the Mark Twain - featuring the original [what appear to be] S11 incandescent lamps w/Medium base, prior to the park-wide change-over to S6 incandescent lamps w/Candelabra base - requiring socket adapters. And now it's all LED's.
Thanks, Major.
Though that first shot is a little blurry, it’s clearly the perfect spot to eat. Wish I was there, now!
Happy St. Patty’s Day!
My, "ICSGF&L" just rolls right off the tongue, doesn't it? So melodious!
The Plaza Pavillion bits look like someone plopped down a 4-poster bed frame up there, minus the canopy. Seems strange to see "civilization" (in the form of the Tahitian Lanai) from the Jungle Cruise ride. It sort of breaks the spell of pretending to be in the dangerous wild river jungles of the world.
The lady has a bit of a Katharine Hepburn look about her. Not so much in her face, but in her hairstyle and plaid coat. Looks like Kate just came in from her garden and is about to make us some of her delicious brownies. I'm thinking the giant slug is the photographer.
Happy St. Snoozle's day! Thanks, Major.
JB, I see that Katherine Hepburn thing that you see, as far as her hair and choice of clothing. I also see a bit of a Martha Rae thing going on in the face. And she must also soak her dentures in Polident, since she has such white teeth....even in between!
Yes, definitely 1956. If it were 1957, we’d be seeing red.
(Not to be confused with “seeing Red.” That won’t happen until 1967.)
Happy St. Patty's day! Hope everyone is wearing their green, or if you liked to be pinched: pink! The perfect color for a emerging Spring day! I am 4% Irish: or so says my DNA...which explains a lot and I will leave it there. Ireland is a magical place, and I encourage everyone to visit: green and lush with friendly people and fields of flowers and sheep. And that is my message from the Tourist Board of Ireland. These Snoozles(tm) are once again: Epic. The umbrellas in Adventureland kind of defy the sense of theming: I love these fringy umbrellas and have a few of my own: but they seem a bit out of place. I'm sure that they just took them from the "front of the house"....and there ya go. I miss the Tahitian Terrace: that was where the fancy people went to dinner in Disneyland. I'm not sure we ever made it that long into the night. It was fun later in life: so I did get to experience it- gratefully. The Mark Twain light fixtures are so brassy and shiny: it kind of threw me for a loop: I don't think I've ever examined those this closely. Also: the mullions of the windows: with the railing underneath: not sure I've noticed those details either. The "Mark Twain" sign is also especially shiny and new looking. I don't think Kate's jacket/shirt is flannel: but our resident Appearance Coordinator and Fashion expert Mellissa will know. The material looks a wee shiny. Story about "Plaid" Plaid is not plaid. Plaid is "Tartan". A Plaid is a Throw: like a pashmina of sorts. Plaids are a misnomer as plaids were usually tartan by design. The Tour Guides are not "in plaid". They are wearing costumes with a tartan pattern. Since language is in a constant state of evolution: tartan may be plaid and plaid may be tartan now. Throws can be a plaid, but they may not be tartan. A Tartan Plaid is probably the most correct was to describe a tartan throw that you would buy at Burberry, etc. which is woven in a tartan pattern. Now we all know. If I've told this story before: excuse me. I repeat myself a lot. Enjoy your soda bread, beef and cabbage today! Thanks Major. Don't confuse Tartan and Tartine: those are two different things.
Indeed, St. Partricks Day, which is, I am told, a bigger event in the US than Ireland. My well-traveled son endorses Bu’s commentary on Ireland. Mrs. G is of Irish descent and planning on the required menu today. Wish we could have all of you over for a meal.
The site of the future Tropical Hideaway is ideal for a dining area. I never experienced that location until the latest remodel, but it is an outstanding place for a meal. Something fine about eating by the water watching the river traffic, even green crocodile infested waters are attractive when accompanied with Dole Whip.
I have always loved the abrupt transition from Main Street to Jungle Street on this building where Victorian fretwork slams up against the thatch. Possibly the most visual of all the imagineering contrasts in the Park.
Looking at the MT, I wonder how much of the original fabric remains after 60+ years of renovation and restoration. All the woodwork seems like it may have been replaced twice over. Do the steam engines run on French Fry grease like the DLRR now?
JG
walterworld, I KNEW I should have looked that up!!
Nanook, little did that woman know that someday, a photo of her would be of interest because of the lightbulbs behind her!
Lou and Sue, Happy St. Patty’s Day to you, I hope you are wearing something green.
JB, the ICSGF&L is one of the most prestigious organization in the U.S., and tough to join as well. You pretty much have to be related to Taylor Swift. Hey, they should put a 4-poster bed on top of the Plaza Pavillion, and charge $125 to let people take a nap there! JB, you are a genius. Should we work in an upcharge for a Zinger? The lady on the Texas deck (D’OH) mentioned that “…the calla lilies are in bloom again”, which is something a Hepburn would have said!
TokyoMagic!, I hope Martha Ray made a fortune doing those Polident commercials. As a kid I thought it was cool that some people glued their teeth in!
Chuck, at least we’re not peeing red.
Bu, I remember being actually worried that I would forget to wear something green in grade school and that kids would pinch me on St. Patty’s Day. Then there were always the kids who wore something green, but it was so hidden that they’d reveal it at the last second and laugh. LAUGH! Kids are weird. I only visit places with snakes, and Saint Patrick got rid of all of the snakes. I think. How about if he’d lowered our taxes, am I right? (Still practicing my jokes for future Academy Awards ceremonies). We never made it to the Tahitian Terrace, one of many regrets. I love these early pictures, where you can see the newness of everything, I imagine the smell of fresh paint and newly-cut lumber. Gosh, Hatty Hepburn’s jacket does not look shiny at all to me. What does “shiny” mean again? I could have sworn that YOU have referred to Tour Guides as “plaids”? I didn’t make up that name! I was too busy watching cartoons. I think it’s safe to say that “plaid” and “tartan” mean the same thing to the general public, and that’s assuming they know what “tartan” is.
JG, you forgot the most important Irish treat, the Shamrock Shake, magically delivered by Uncle O’Grimacy. Getting that authentic flavor just right is not easy. As for the meal, I could be there in about six hours, so keep a chair warm for me. I recently had a very pleasant lunch at the Tropical Hideaway - it was a busy day, but we still managed to get a table right by the water, and watched the boats come and go. There was an AA parrot right near us that would pipe up now and then. John Hench liked the use of tunnels as transitions between things, but I guess a tunnel was impractical. I would have used a muddy ditch! I think much, if not all, of the Mark Twain’s superstructure has been replaced over the last almost-70 years. I wouldn’t be surprised if a lot of the “wood” is now fiberglass or molded plastic. Once it’s coated with paint, nobody would know the difference.
I had the exact same reaction to the the terrace table umbrellas…. Just regular “ off-the-shelf” of course when these pictures were taken this restaurant was called ADVENTURELAND PAVILION…. And it served nothing exotic except for spaghetti and meatballs, spring chicken , fried shrimp. Themed FOOD wasn’t a thing ( yet) even when the location became The Tahitian Terrace, exotic food was slow to catch on … a few things with a pineapple slice … and the debut of the Disneyland MONTE CRISTO SANDWICH…. Served here long before New Orleans Square.
The last time I ever ate at the Tahitian Terrace was the very day Splash Mountain had its grand opening …. And I kid you you not : the SPLASH line started at Frontierland entry Stocade! It was such a Disneyland mis step to have closed the Tahitian Terrace …. Right as retro Tiki was swelling in popularity in California …. And replaced it with Aladdin’s Oasis … such a disaster … guests hated paying an entrance fee and the set menu featured food most people didn’t care for …. And guests felt very rushed eating to the show …. As it wasn’t paced out like the SPIRIT OF ALOHA or the HOOP DEE DOO REVUE at Walt Disney World.
"My, 'ICSGF&L' just rolls right off the tongue, doesn't it? So melodious!"
I pronounce it "Ixgefell," although I suppose with the ampersand it should be "Ixgefandle."
Major, I remember begging my Mom to let me get a Shamrock Shake when I was eight. She finally said yes, and I took one sip and threw the rest away. It was disgusting.
The Magic Kingdom had more room for gradual transitions, but has less of Disneyland's coziness as a result.
These pictures may be a bit fuzzy, but they match our fuzzy memories so it all works out.
Mike Cozart, it’s funny about the restaurant serving nothing exotic, since a very early brochure made it sound like the plans were to at least serve “Cantonese” cuisine, along with drinks made with exotic berries are fruits. Maybe that was one of those “back burner” things. I’ve still never had a Monte Cristo sandwich; a friend of mine warned that “You’ll be sorry!”, and I’ve taken that to heart. I was dubious of the Tropical Hideaway, but my one experience there was very pleasant, so it sounds like a step up from Aladdin’s Oasis.
Melissa, I swear when I was a kid, Shamrock Shakes were just vanilla shakes with green food coloring. I haven’t had one since then, but I guess they are now mint flavored? Somehow the idea of a mint shake with burgers and fries is not very inspiring.
Melissa, wasn't Ixgefandle one of the elves in Lord of the Rings? Or maybe one of the wizards.
So strange to think that, back in the early '50s, something as common as spaghetti was considered exotic.
Major, the animatronic bird at the Tropical Hideaway is Rosita, mentioned in the Birdmobile part of the Tiki Room. A nice bit of continuity.
The lady on the MT looks a bit like Sigourney Weaver in a historical role.
JB: it’s not that spaghetti and meatballs were exotic in the 1950’s : it’s that the Adventureland Pavilion didn’t serve ANYTHING exotic.
In the Eat Like Walt book … it explains that into the the 1980’s Disneyland and Walt Disney World guests didn’t want unusual foods … they wanted hamburgers and hotdogs …. And basic restaurant fare …. Even the Mexican food at casa de Fritos was about as close to Mexican food as vanilla ice cream is to bourbon … there’s the story how in the 70’s crepes were all the rage so in Walt Disney world a crêperie opened on Main Street and all the table service restaurants served them : guests stayed far away. It wasn’t till the opening of EPCOT CENTER that exotic foods were offered … it was rare to find such a wide array of international food offerings in one place then … today even the smallest town offers a wide selection of ethnic foods. Now a common thing.
Major ; I can’t image never having been to Disneyland as many times as you and never had a famed Disneyland Monte Cristo sandwich . It’s rich but something to try. It’s based of a similar sandwich served at the original Del Monico’s in New York in the 1870’s. Disney made a few alterations … but it’s basically the same thing. I hade a large collection of FORD TIMES magazines my grandparents had saved … almost every issue had a section of great American restaurants and receipes for their most popular menu item or what made the restaurant famous . One day my sister and I went thru each issue and searched the internet for the restaurants featured … from 1967 to 1994 …. Out of all of them … only three ( technically 4) were still in existence and operating :
Tavern in the Green New York … The Blue Bayou and Tahitian Terrace -Disneyland … and the Tonga Room at WDW … ( TONGA TOAST!!) but the restaurant name had changed … the location was the same .
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