Randos
Thomas Edison once said, "I love me some randos". He had a way with words, you have to admit! Let us honor Tom with some examples of his favorite kind of pictures.
This first one is from November 1963, with a view of a tiny slice of Tomorrowland. There's the TWA Moonliner - but by this point, Kirk Douglas had purchased it, because that's what those Hollywood types do. That's why I don't let them stay in my boarding house! I run a proper establishment. A bit of the Flying Saucers attraction can be seen, and beyond that, some of the backstage buildings that served as various offices. The Dominguez ranch house was the original Administration Building (that's the one right next to the rocket, I believe). But there's that other structure, does anyone have a clue about its purpose?
Here's a weird one. It's from a slide dated "October 1977", and we see a fine portrait of... er... some guy with a beard. .Julius McWhiskers? You don't find many pictures of Julius. My friend thinks this fellow might have been from ZZ Top's original lineup, and he usually knows what he's talking about.
11 comments:
Interesting photo taken from an interesting angle. We don't often see the Moonliner from this angle. Speaking of which, where are we? The Skyway station? The CoP building isn't there yet. Looking at the photo more closely, we're too high up to be on the Skyway station, aren't we?
Kirk Douglas wasted his money buying (or sponsoring) the Moonliner since it would be removed in four years.
So, is this portrait of ZZ Abe in the 'lobby' of the "Great Moments with..." theater? I'm gonna go out on a limb and say "yes". Either that, or the Space Mountain queue.
Truly, a pair of Randos today, Major. Thanks.
That last one is a pic of the audio-animatronic Walt Disney, which will very soon be singing and dancing it's way across the stage of the Opera House.
The rocket renaming was part of a South Tomorrowland effort to tie together various Douglas projects starting with 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. That's as far as they got before the neighborhood was rezoned for heavy futurization in 1967.
The other backstage structure was Kirk Douglas' Disneyland apartment.
That last one is from an employee handbook on how to tell countefeit currency from the real thing. This particular illustration was used to identify fake $3 bills.
I like seeing these older photos of the original backstage areas! Some of those trees back there, as well as M/M Dominguez's house were demolished for the Grand Canyon: such is life in the Magic Kingdom. From my memory, a few of those trees look familiar and could very well be there flanking Harbor Blvd... The other buildings: the one on the far right is the backside of the Opera House/original mill: you can see the "soundstage like" door there: open on the right: they probably built it like that to get large set pieces out...or in...the other house next to Ron's is (I speculate) another pre-Disneyland house/ building. Ron had said that the old Ad Bldg was two houses put together: it would be interesting to see close ups of this conglomeration, or even better yet: interior views! There has to be some archival photos somewhere: I'm not sure Disney did many things without taking photos. Even Ron himself had said that there are photos of him with a sledgehammer taking part in the demolition for publicity purposes. The Dominquez house: built in 1925 by M/M Dominquez: both his mom and dad were from ranching families: his dad's family from the Bernardo Yorba dynasty, and his Mom's family (the Knowlton's) owned the piece of land which is now Adventureland/New Orleans Square. They first farmed walnuts then switched to oranges (mind you, in 1910). It is said (by Ron) that some other family trees from the property were saved and put into the Jungle Cruise. The Dominquez Palm is actually a misnomer: as it probably should be called the Knowlton Palm: as it was given to his mothers family in 1896. Anaheim was originally (in the 19th century) all about grapes: which I'm sure, like everything else in CA grew like weeds: until a fungal disease wiped them all out: ergo: welcome "Orange" County. Two Germans brought their grapes from Northern California and intended to make wine: which they ultimately did by the millions of gallons. There is still a presence of German population in Anaheim from the original settlers/ranchers. I'm wondering if there are any Anaheim wine bottles out there: probably: and probably buried too: somewhere...I'd like an Anaheim wine bottle to go with my Anaheim orange tree please. There's your history lesson for today, thanks Major!
A Moonliner named Douglas, and a palm tree named Knowlton. Sweet. Thanks, as always, for the background info, Bu. Always interesting.
I bet Mike will know the facts about the Abe picture. He probably owns it now, too.
Thanks, Major.
That explains why the Moonliner had a hole in its chin.
Grand view of the backstage area. Thanks Bu for the backstage back story.
Also perfectly framed power lines, which, oddly, I miss. I wonder if those affected the price paid for the Park land since they were a significant constraint on development?
That bearded guy is going to do a dance number with robot Walt in the new show. Striped jacket and straw boater…
Thanks Major!
JG
Some friends of mine own the victorian farm house that once stood about where the Jungle Cruise hippo pool is today …. The farm owners daughters KATE and ELLA are how the street KATELLA in Anaheim was named. The house is completely restored but was relocated to the Anaheim Colony area many years ago.
Another interesting fact : the first family to settle in the Anaheim Colony originally operated one of San Diego’s 5 Butterfield Overland Stagecoach stations before setting Anaheim.
@ JB-
"Looking at the photo more closely, we're too high up to be on the Skyway station, aren't we?" Exactly. At that time it was most-likely shot from a Skyway bucket having just departed from the Tomorrowland station.
Thanks, Major.
The historical Abraham Lincoln artifacts on display in the preshow of Great Moments With Mr. Lincoln have changed over the years - a few have been items on loan ..some exact reproductions and a few were items collected by Walt Disney when developing the attraction. The main core of the historical display was to show the material imagineers used to create ( at the time) was one of the most accurate representations of President Lincoln. The first time Disneyland guests REALLY complained and caused an uproar to a Disneyland attraction was in 1973 - when THE WALT DISNEY STORY completely replaced the Lincoln show - at the time a 1970’s version of LIBERTY SQUARE was under development to include THE HALL OF PRESIDENTS ( as Walt always intended for Disneyland) but Walt Disney productions got a big amount of complaints and “anti-patriotic” criticism and returned the Abraham Lincoln to be a featured part of The Walt Disney Story - albeit slightly scaled back until Hall of Presidents was ready.
It’s interesting that the wall display mentioning Walt’s dream of the Hall of Presidents remained in the pre-show until about 2004. It was replaced with a display about Walt’s private horseless carriage.
Another time guests revolted about Lincoln’s planned removal was in the 1990’s when Eisner announced the muppet take over of Disneyland … MUPPET VISION in the opera house on Main St. a parade “muppet All Star Motorcade” …. Disneyland castle all “miss piggy pink” … floral portrait of Kermit the frog to replace the Mickey Mouse floral Mickey … And if THAT isn’t enough to make you nauseous: a muppet “Mount Rushmore “ on the side of The Matterhorn …
JB, definitely a Skyway view, the Skyway station would be to the left of the RTTM. Kirk Douglas was so rich, he had TWO Moonliners, one for display, one for daily use. “Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln”?? Never heard of it!
TokyoMagic!, I hope they have the animatronic Walt sing a song with a voice just like the late great Jim Neighbors.
Chuck, I’ve always been disappointed that they never built the Spartacus attraction. “We can’t afford that many sandals!!”. I’m glad to see Kirk Douglas’ apartment, he had a fridge full of ice-cold Yoo-hoo.
Bu, I knew that the Dominguez house was long-gone, but I guess I’d forgotten that it was razed for the addition of the Grand Canyon diorama. It’s too bad they couldn’t move it, but of course back then it didn’t have the significance that it has for some of us today. Yes, the Opera House was the original lumber mill, imagine expecting opera and hearing table saws. Ron Dominguez had a long and successful career at Disneyland, but I can’t help thinking that it must have been very strange to see the site of the orchard where his family lived, now turned into this crazy place! And being asked to take a sledge hammer to the home almost seems cruel. Look at you with all of your Dominguez family knowledge, was that part of your Tour Guide requirements? I knew some people who hoped to find orange crate labels from the Dominguez orchard, but I doubt any such thing ever existed. I’d love to be proven wrong, though! I thought that the Knowlton Palm and the Dominguez Palm were two different plants. But I’m sure I am incorrect. Thank you for all of the Anaheim history!
Lou and Sue, I would like to know who painted that portrait of Abe, if it was a well-known Imagineer like Sam McKim (though it doesn’t look like his style) or someone else we’ve heard of.
JG, I didn’t even know a rocket could have a chin! The things you learn on GDB. It’s true, those power lines show up in so many vintage photos (mostly from the Skyway) that they have almost become old pals. Just don’t accept a high-voltage hug. Could Julius McWhiskers and Walt do a rap battle?
Mike Cozart, I have a friend who has told me about the “Ella palm”, yet another known palm tree on the Disneyland property. I’m glad that that victorian farm house was restored and is in a safe spot, kind of amazing that it wasn’t just torn down. Imagine stage coaches in Orange County!
Nanook, or a Skyway gondola was heading from Fantasyland to Tomorrowland!
Mike Cozart, years ago I posted scans of a flyer from Lincoln Savings in Van Nuys, and it mentions a display of authentic Lincoln artifacts, which sounds fascinating. I drive past the building where that Lincoln Savings was fairly regularly, it’s a bummer that there’s nothing of interest there anymore. I remember liking The Walt Disney Story as a kid, and probably wasn’t really aware of the history of the attraction back then; I probably thought that the Walt Disney portion had always been there and that I’d just forgotten about it. I remember my dad would get teary-eyed when listening to Abe’s speech. I feel guilty, my last few visits to the park I’ve sat on comfy and quiet benches just next to the entrance to the Lincoln Theater; it’s a great place to cool off and rest one’s feet. I really should have gone in and sat through the show, since I haven’t watched it in years. I’m fond of the Muppets, but I don’t love them the way so many others do, so I hated the thought of adding Kermit to pretty much anything at Disneyland.
Maybe that Lincoln memorabilia was auctioned off by the feds when they seized the bank and sent Keating to jail.
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