Two From 1967
I have two undated slide scans for you today; initially I was going to guess that these were from the late 1960s, or early 1970s. But then I noticed some interesting details in this nice image from the entrance to Tomorrowland!
The Peoplemover is overhead, but there are no passengers on any of the trains, so I assume that they were not in motion. They also lack some of the safety bars added later. At the bottom of the picture, there is a display of various ride sponsors, including Bell, Monsanto, Coca Cola, Goodyear, General Dynamics, General Electric, and General Ennui. Pretty cool! So presumably this photo is from before the official debut of the Peoplemover (July 2, 1967), I guess?
From the same lot comes this neat view from the upper reaches of the Swiss Family Treehouse, looking toward the Haunted Mansion, which would not open for another for another two years or so.
I'm still on a top-secret mission, but I'll be checking in on my two-way wrist radio on a regular basis!
17 comments:
Hmm, I thought General Ennui didn't become a Tomorrowland sponsor 'til 1998? ;-)
I love the metallic walled entrance to Tomorrowland, but it always reminds me of tinfoil turkey-roasting pans. Looks like there was only one trashcan for all of Tomorrowland! I suppose it's mathematically possible that there are other trashcans present that we can't see.
Are we seeing some of those elusive red blossoms on the Robinson's Tree? I think they're just red leaves. Looks like there are some white blossoms as well. This is a nice colorful picture of the Tree.
In MY day, a two-way wrist radio consisted of a pair of tin cans and a length of string. No batteries or plutonium needed! Thanks, Major.
Major: the image of Tomorrowland entry is definitely 1967!! The grand opening podium and sponsorship shields are up! Likely BEFORE the opening … as the we’re probably removed shorty after the grand opening ceremonies. Nice!
Major, I recognized that opening day podium and the sponsor signage right away! You really scored with that slide! Congrats!
Thanks, Major!
Wow - I have never seen a photo of the Tomorrowland ‘67 dedication podium. Nice find, Major.
The second image looks like something out of a souvenir guidebook.i love the interplay of light and shadow here.
JB, I spy with my little eye two trash cans in the first photo, one in the Main Street scheme aligned with the base of the PeopleMover pylon and the other a silvery job behind and to the left of (and partially obscured by) the podium. I guess the first technically isn’t a Tomorrowland trash cans.
That has me wondering - what were the boundaries of the sweepers’ assigned zones?
Thanks, Major. Happy Friday, all!
Imagine how tempting and frustrating it must have been walking around New Tomorrowland with nothing yet open….. we know that there were preview openings to test guest flow and train the cast members … but alas today … the PeopleMover isn’t operating …. Yet.
Major, in addition to the lack of safety bars on the PeopleMover cars, another detail to note is the missing ameboid-shaped fountain bowls on posts (which eventually became planters) in front of the silvery entrance panels.
Mike, that looks like afternoon sun in the first pic. I wonder if the opening ceremony could have already taken place and that's why people are walking around inside Tomorrowland. What little footage of the ceremony that's out there, shows Tomorrowland empty during the ceremony. Wouldn't they have kept people out of Tomorrowland on opening day, until after the official ceremony/ribbon cutting? I see that the multiple "levers" that were on the podium are also missing in Major's photo, so maybe they had been removed at this point, or else they were left in the "down" position after Mickey pulled on them, so we just can't see them. Those seven levers with the big round knobs can be seen pretty well at the 2:30 mark of this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7dq15bPESY&t=2s
Actually, we can see Mickey pulling on the last lever (the middle one) at the 2:52 mark in that same video and by that point, the other levers can't be seen, so they were most likely in a fully "down" position.
It's such a great photo that captures such a special moment/day in DL history. I'm glad you found it, Major! It makes me happy!
CHRIS: awhile back I sent Major an image of a super mega rare Disneyland 1967 main gate flyer announcing that Disneyland’s new Tomorrowland would be opening that day and that it would be open to the rest of Disneyland’s guests at 5:30. I don’t have a way of posting it here but it reads ;
OPEN TODAY
at 5:30 PM
With the tools and technology of today, Disneyland creates an all-new multimillion dollar world of tomorrow. Major features of the new Tomorrowland include three attractions presented free of charge: The Bell System's America the Beautiful in a new circular theatre; a display of electricity's contributions to better living in General Electric's Carou sel of Progress; and, a trip into the world of molecules and atoms in Monsanto's Adventure thru Inner Space.
Plus ..
A futuristic transportation system, the Goodyear PeopleMover, an all-new Rocket Jet adventure and, Coca-Cola's Tomorrowland Terrace; a restaurant of the future where excellent food and the best in entertainment are served daily.
In giant red letter type at the top of the flyer reads “DISNEYLAND’S ALL NEW TOMORROWLAND OPENS TODAY AT 5:30 PM!!”
Mike, so based on that opening time, would Major's pic be before or after 5:30? I'm still guessing from the look of the sunlight, that it would be after that opening time, since it was summertime and the sun would have still been up. In the lower right corner, it looks like people are freely flowing into Tomorrowland, so I imagine all the people in the distance were just "regular" guests that were now being allowed into the area.
Wow, a historic photo of Tomorrowland! I can’t add much in terms of Park history, but I will note that sliver trash can spotted by Chuck is the older design seen in Tomorrowland 1955, with the flipper doors made of silver metal. Later TL67 cans had flipper doors made of formed blue plastic in a futuristic pattern reminiscent of the Turkey Roasting Pans of the Future seen at the entry. Another bit of detail that took a while to implement.
General Ennui was formed by a corporate merger of Dull Incorporated and Specific Ennui, creating an industrial conglomerate of boredom. They were anxious to invest in Disneyland to improve their image, but their influence over screenwriters was a net negative for both companies.
I’ll bet the delay in opening the Haunted Mansion was difficulty in getting the plumbers to finish the Hot and Cold Running Chills. Trouble procuring pipe insulation. This is a nice picture, framed by leaves. I think the odd structure in the lower left must be part of the Pirates building. Either that, or part of the Swiss Family Steam Turbine powering the water wheel.
Thanks Major! Remember, today’s code word is IRTNOG!
JG
Chuck asked: “What were the boundaries of the sweepers’ assigned zones?”
As far as Tomorrowland went, back then: The person sweeping Tomorrowland Entrance (which might also include the WEDway area depending on how busy the park was that day) was expected to occasionally wander all the way out to the end of the flowerbeds—but they seldom traveled that far unless the Outdoor Foods girl selling ice cream near the curb was particularly cute/friendly that day.
The person (or persons, depending on how busy the park was) sweeping the Hub was supposed to overlap as far as the flag pole/fountains—but they seldom ventured that far into Tomorrowland. The Tomorrowland foreman usually made it a point to help out in the flowerbeds area as they ambled through and (on busy days) the Tomorrowland relief person helped out in the whole land when they weren’t giving breaks/lunches.
To the north, Alpine Gardens was entirely the province of the person sweeping the Extension (a Fantasyland domain) but fellows working the Matterhorn position would often take pity and periodically make cursory sweep-throughs as they rounded the mountain (over and over and… ).
The Tomorrowland Entrance sweeper was also supposed to periodically saunter south toward the water fountains located near the restrooms connected to (but outside of) the Plaza Inn. The bathrooms, themselves, were handled by guys working restroom shifts (matrons dealt with the women’s restrooms). The men halfheartedly swept as they meandered through the various areas on their travels between restrooms while the matrons were never even issued pans and brooms. (The matron position began to be phased out when female sweepers first started being hired in 1978.)
During big parades (e.g., Main Street Electrical Parade), Custodial would assign extra sweeper(s) or Janitorial busboy(s) to help out in the Tomorrowland entrance flowerbeds/curb/street area (mostly keeping flash cubes and popcorn boxes/spills off the parade route and crossovers).
More than you ever wanted to know about sweeping the Tomorrowland entrance!
There are so few TL trashcans because Disneyland added trash dematerializers as part of New Tomorrowland. They were quietly removed after some unsupervised children stepped into the beam.
Chuck, Ah, I see that silvery trashcan now. Still, it's right next to the green can... I'm sure there aren't any more trashcans in Tomorrowland; two are enough!
Dean, dematerialized children... Yeah, that would probably draw some unwanted attention.
Regarding the lack of safety bars on the PeopleMover : those were added in 1968 while the car bodies were completely re-done in fiberglass. The very first PeopleMover cars were done in ABS plastic with the exterior color added in during the molding process. The ABS used warped and became deformed in the hot California sun. This is also why you’ll notice some slight color changes with the “ turquoise” color car… the color tone was changed slightly in 1968. And again slightly while the cars were repainted during their long 1976 closure - as the Ditzler marine fiberglass boat paint color available from the 1960’s and earlier 70’s was produced so a available - but very similar color was used from 1976-1988. 1968 improvements Also included the replacement of the push-platters underneath … they were made of a waffle patterned plastic that still has traction problem in mild rain or early morning moisture so a thick cross-cross glue impregnated Masonite board was used - it didn’t cause slipping if wet . Also the automatic closing safety door tags and the famous little “the PeopleMover is a WEDWAY transportation system “ stickers were added.
By the way : the PeopleMover could effectively operate during rain however the attraction always was closed during rain for concern that if guests had to be evacuated for any reason, the wet beamways may become slippery and dangerous to employees and guests.
This is a historic photo, and my vote was that it WAS opening day when guests were allowed in. And I SPECULATE...that there may have been "open Tomorrowland early if you can" although the light says it very well could have been even 6pm...or later. Everything is so bright and shiny new: and the PeopleMover could be 101. The gold "D" with blue castle is my favorite logo, and in this style. It's interesting to note that the "rides" were a glimpse into the future, and not meant to be a "laser light show" or "thrill ride" experience. Tastes have changed clearly. Thanks for the video link TM. It was kind of weird that the hostesses were holding hands with the executive sponsors: maybe it was like wrangling 5 year olds: CEO's can be like that. All of the costumes were amazing: and could be as relevant today as in 1967. Details such as the zipper ring on the Monsanto costume I don't think would be attempted today. The "top side of Mansion" is also a familiar view. Being up in the treehouse is still kind of magical, and a perfect viewing point for Fireworks.
Thanks, Anonymous - that's exactly the level of detail I'd hoped for. :-)
"Thanks for the video link TM. It was kind of weird that the hostesses were holding hands with the executive sponsors: maybe it was like wrangling 5 year olds: CEO's can be like that."
Bu, now that you mentioned it -- that 'hand-holding' of the CEO's and hostesses is rather 'creepy' and inappropriate. Strange. Everything else about that film footage is wonderful, though; thank you, TM!
Since Major is away, I'm going to take the liberty to announce that today's post is definitely GDB Gold. :oD
As always, so many wonderful details from the Jr. Gorillas, and film footage, that makes today's posted images come alive. Thank you for the fun trip back to 1967.
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