Settler's Cabin Mystery
I have a slide scan for you, one that almost wound up in the Snoozle™ file, until my spidey senses started tingling. As you can see, this is a not-great view of the burning settler's cabin, from "sometime in the 1950s" (probably no later than 1956, based on the spindly trees). But what is the deal with this strange angle? I've never seen another view like it, looking up the steep embankment toward the cabinaceous conflagration.
I chose a selection of more-typical views from my collection, such as this one from 1957. I initially thought that the previous photo could have been taken from an Indian War Canoe, but it seems as if it would have to have been right up in that little portage at the bottom of the photo. Unlikely, says I. But not impossible.
Here's a shot from January, 1961. Maybe the angle in the first photo is deceiving, and a longer lens could have made the cabin appear closer?
By July 1964, Tom Sawyer Island's foliage was so lush that the cabin was probably only visible from a few specific angles.
Have a cabinaceous day!
13 comments:
Major-
That 1st image was captured using the periscope on the RoA Submarine-!
Thanks, Major.
Hmmm. In the first picture, the angle of the cabin is definitely to the left more than the other photos. So the portage doesn't really line up (as in the 2nd photo). That little inlet would be to the right, out of frame, in the 1st photo.
Also, I can't see those two big boulders at the bottom of the first photo in any of the other pics. So my guess is that the first picture was taken farther to the left, which in later years, the cabin wouldn't be visible due to the growth of the trees and brush.... Or maybe they just relocated the cabin at some point. Or maybe Nanook is correct, and this is a submarine shot.
Mysteries are fun! Thanks, Major.
I was noticing the same thing as JB. The angle is different, when we look at how much of the chimney we can see. I think in that first photo, the inlet is about halfway between the photographer and the cabin, but out of view on the other side of that first mound of grass and brush. The photo could have also been taken from a Keelboat. Or this could be Knott's. ;-)
It's been decades since I've actually explored the island (last trip I only circled on the Mark Twain), but it is a possible a scofflaw guest found a way to invade the off-limits northern reaches on foot? Or a cast member, in the course of maintenance duties, seized the opportunity for an unusual angle?
All good fodder for a Monday...please continue to distract me...I liked the burning cabin and was sad when it left...I get the whole "waste of gas" thing...but isn't everything in Disneyland kind of a "waste of electricity"...when it's all for show? Define "waste". The burning cabin is performance. The dead guy: well: in today's world: maybe not...but I get it...perhaps the whole scenario is "perhaps not"....but I do like to see a roaring fire, and also enjoyed the burning mansion at Universal Studios: also gone forever. But we can have dragons that spew fire...and spew it onto themselves in multiple theme parks.... perhaps fire is just a bad idea overall? Again: worth some fodder and contemplation this fine Monday morning! Thanks Major.
I love the Burning Cabin and miss it terribly. The presence of unfriendly Indians made the Friendly Village across the River that much more inviting. Meanwhile, these photos document the Hard Facts that we can’t figure out where they were taken.
I’m in agreement that the mystery photo might have been taken by someone with access to the Island Backstage. Also, more trees might have been planted in later years to make the forest even more lush.
A worthy mystery Major, thank you!
JG
Nanook, I forgot about the river sub!
JB, I know it doesn’t really line up, but I still can’t explain how anybody got that angle on the cabin. It had to be very early (1956?), because the foliage got so lush so quickly. I don’t believe that they relocated the cabin until the 2000s.
TokyoMagic!, hmmm, maybe it was taken from the river sub at Knott’s Berry Farm??
DBenson, I don’t think there were any other unusual photos in this batch, but that doesn’t mean that a guest didn’t hop a fence. I kind of think the picture was taken from the water, but can’t be sure.
Bu, yeah, I miss the burning cabin. It’s too bad they can’t come up with a convincing simulation of a building on fire that would work even during the day, because I think it was an exciting element. Of course they don’t want to mention unfriendly Indians or even an exploding moonshine still, so I guess it was inevitable that it would go away. I’ve never heard, is the dragon going to be replaced for Fantasmic!?
JG, I agree with you, but I also know that they would get many complaints about the implied violence. Lightsaber violence is OK I guess, because it’s fictional. If that photo was indeed taken by somebody with backstage access, I wish they’d taken more “off limits” pictures!
I agree with Major: I’m not aware of the cabin having been re-located till many decades after its first appearance.
It most likely as Major hypothesized, taken from the waster level… someone from a canoe …. But most probable from a Tom Sawyer Island raft . Many times the rafts would need to go to some of the other infrequent raft landings and there hade been times rafts with guests have been brought around the entire river …. In fact this was happening just a few years ago while construction along the river was taking place.
Maybe it was a from a canoe taking evasive maneuvers to avoid an AED.
^ LOL!
This is obviously taken from the video feed from a AED.
You're welcome.
I'd say the first photo was taken farther left than the second photo. There's that flat grassy area on the left side of the third photo that one could perhaps see from the river. In my experience, those Indian War Canoes could get pretty close to shoreline, just as long as they stayed away from the dangerous rapids.
The Settler's Cabin might have stayed in the same location all those years, but that doesn't mean that Walt couldn't have had it turned so it looked just right. :o)
The Settler's Cabin was always in the same place. It was the island that was moved around it.
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