Wednesday, March 27, 2024

Up In Da Treehouse, March 1963

The original Swiss Family Treehouse was a wonderful mini-adventure for kids of all ages. Was there a height limit? I honestly have no idea. "You must be as tall as this lemur to experience this attraction".  It's kind of nice that we have a revamped Adventureland Treehouse (debuting on November 10th of last year), I hope it makes guests happy and brings peace to the world. 

Today's post features a nice shot taken up in the breezy branches of the SFT, while the Robinsons were out in the wild making "jungle pancakes". They are made with mashed-up grubs from a sago palm. Dad holds his two sons, who wear souvenir beanies. Notice the red leaves and blossoms in the tree, those apparently did not last long (the photos are from less than a year after the Treehouse opened). 


Next is a view looking down on the Rivers of the World, including some mysterious ruins of a lost civilization (I told them to buy a map, but you know how some people are), as well as some crocodiles that are looking for a hand out. 


15 comments:

Nanook said...

Major-
Another sighting of my favorite pair of sweaters... encasing two cute lads - don't attempt to make fun of my syntax-! (If only they had zippers instead of buttons - it would be sheer heaven).

Thanks, Major.

JB said...

More of the Sweaterboys! (Melissa's terminology.) I guess Mom is taking the picture. Or maybe this is Uncle Bill holding the boys, and Dad is taking the photo.
Is this the first time we've seen the tree blossoms? I always wondered what they look like... and they look like this! This is a nice photo of Dad and his kids; they're happy and having a good time at Disneyland.

Seems odd to see three crocs side-by-side. Maybe they're part of a chorus line... the Crockettes!

I'm glad to see the Tree blossoms. Thanks, Major.

K. Martinez said...

I'll take the Adventureland Treehouse (inspired by Swiss Family Robinson) any day over Tarzan's Treehouse. At least it has animatronics instead of those life size static figures from Tarzan.

The second shot reminds me of a National Geographic photo from the August 1963 issue. I remember when there was the "Jungle Lookout" from which the photo could've taken. It was "Jungle Lookout" no more after Indiana Jones came to Adventureland.

K. Martinez said...

Forgot to say thanks. Thanks, Major!

JG said...

Yes, that’s the Nat Geo view reproduced. I’ve wondered if that view was purposefully designed since the SFT came along later? Somebody noticed it during construction and refined it into a vantage? It feels almost accidental to me. Major, believe me, I feel for you advising people to take maps and follow directions, some folks are just bent on being lost.

I don’t remember blossoms, but sure do recall the red leaves. I’m glad to see Tarzan evicted and the rightful owners return. I believe the lilting strains of the Swisskapolka are heard once more as well. I hope they brought back the “Mind Thy Head” sign too.

Little known fact, James Bond ran across these crocodiles as stepping stones in that one movie. No, not that movie, the other one, yeah that one.

I do like that pic of the sweater boys, good time for that family.

Thanks Major!

JG

PS Major, re yesterdays topic, the show was “Some Like It Hot”, modern take on the old movie, funny but not hilarious imho.

Melissa said...

Oh, my goodness, the light in thee shots is something really special! That first shout could be an Impressionist painting. I love that the Sweaterboys got different-colored hats in the same style.

Major Pepperidge said...

Nanook, I kind of forget, but this might be the last we see of those be-sweatered boys. This is the only photo that isn’t too dark, and I think it’s from Mom’s camera. I wish she’d taken them ALL.

JB, hey, I had an Uncle Bill! Two if you count Great Uncles. No, we’ve seen the tree blossoms many times before, but they are somehow easy to ignore, in spite of being red. The crocs are guarding the treasure in the temple, so there is some magical stuff going on there!

K. Martinez, I know that most people are very happy with the Adventureland Treehouse, but I have complaints. I don’t want to “yuck” other people’s “yums” though. There are things about it that I like, to be clear. Other things are a bit too fanciful, but maybe that’s a dumb point of view when one is at Disneyland. I haven’t looked at my 1963 National Geographic for a long time, and didn’t remember that it had a view from the Treehouse!

K. Martinez, you’re welcome!

JB, interesting thought about the Jungle Cruise scene being designed to be enjoyed from up in the Treehouse! It’s very possible. But, as you said, it could be totally accidental too. I’ve always wondered why the reddish leaves of the tree were changed to boring old green, but I assume that the red faded quickly. You don’t want a faded tree! Hmmm, which Bond movie was that, anyway? “Live and Let Die” maybe? That was the first James Bond movie I ever saw, and I loved it. Wow, I had no idea that “Some Like It Hot” was made into a Broadway musical. The last time I was in NYC, a “Rocky” musical was there.

Major Pepperidge said...

Melissa, as I said to Nanook, that first pic of the day is the only one in the whole batch of slides that is not WAY too dark. Mom was a better photographer than dad! Different colored hats prevent fighting and crying. I should know.

Nanook said...

@ Melissa-
"I love that the Sweaterboys got different-colored hats in the same style".

No kidding. I presume the hats also match the opposing color shirts on the lads: red with the pink shirt; blue with the sky blue shirt. Thanks Moms, everywhere-!

ALSO... it appears the lads may be wearing Disneyland flasher buttons-! (Did they appear in other shots of the boys-?)

Anonymous said...

Major, I meant the views were sequenced the other way around. The SFT was built after the JC, and maybe the view of the lost city was discovered while building the tree.

JG

Major Pepperidge said...

Nanook, good eye on the flasher buttons, I don't recall seeing them in any of the other photos of the boys!

Anonymous said...

Yes, the film was the first Roger Moore, Live and Let Die, the stunt was done by a RM double who invented it on the spot, not part of the original script and the alligators bit him, requiring stitches.

Jg

Melissa said...

Live and Let Die is one of my favorite Bond movies. It's not afraid to be weird. Jane Seymour is enchanting, and Yaphet Kotto is one of those villains who's menacing all on his own, even without his superweapons.

walterworld said...

I think that '63 Gee-O-Graphic resonated much with those of us in the right age bracket.

Thanks again Major!

walterworld said...

I also agree with Melissa about Yaphet Kotto in Live and Let Die, he was the perfect host at The Filet of Soul, then did his thing at the U.N., and then ripped off his face to confront Bond. The boat chase doesn't hurt the movie either. Saw that one in a double feature with 'Man With The Golden Gun' in '74 I think.