Mark VI Autopia
Many months ago, GDB early birds might have seen today's blog post when I accidentally had two articles publish on the same day. I saw the error at around 4:30 in the morning, and decided to move it way in the future. For those of you who already viewed it - it's nice to see you!
I happened to have two Leftuggies™ that feature Mark VI Autopia vehicles, and my psychic said that I should post them today. I always do what she recommends! The tarot cards do not lie.
No wonder this girl is smiling, that Mark VI car in coral red is a pretty sweet ride. This slide is undated, but the Mark VIs were in service from 1964 to 1968. This vehicle purred like a kitten - because it is actually powered by 10 kittens under the hood. I would explain how it works, but it is very technical. It looks like the other color choices were blue, turquoise, yellow, and cream. I'm sure that the cast member should not be leaning against that pylon (Bu? We need an official ruling), I hope he enjoys prison.
This next nice view is from August, 1965; who knows, maybe that is the same exact car as the one in the previous picture. The dreaded guide rail had been added in 1964 when the Mark VI cars were introduced. I suppose it was necessary, kids had a tendency to crush the feet and shins of CMs, and would not obey polite rules of the road; on the other hand, they should have been more quick to jump out of the way!
19 comments:
Is the leaning CM taking a picture, or is he getting ready to pick his nose? I can't tell if the smiling girl is just getting underway or just returning from her drive through Disneyland.
The CM on the left edge of the second pic is astounded and flummoxed because somehow that red car split into two articulated cars at some point in its journey! Not only that, it also spontaneously generated another driver (or two)! The other NASA guy, standing next to the divided car is just discombobulated.
Thanks for the vintage Autopia pics, Major.
Major-
I approve of little Susie's barrette properly in-place to maintain her hair-do while she plies the highways of the Autopia freeway.
Thanks, Major.
I bet DW is extra-familiar with the “rules of the road”—when it comes to whether or not a CM can lean. I don’t ever remember seeing him lean while on this job. He wasn’t lazy.
Major, you must wake up and dread looking at GDB early in the morning. You never know if something got discombobulated. Don’t worry, we’ll point it out. :o)
Thanks, Major. We’re glad you’re still blogging.
Well this is confusing. I seem to have traveled backward (or forward?) in time and commented on todays photos already! ;-) And I didn't even know I HAD a time machine!
Since my 'previous' comment was(is?) so clever, funny, and insightful; I can just sit back and relax instead of racking my brain trying to come up with another one!
Thanks (again), Major.
By 1965 those MARK VI AUTOPIA cars were well “broken-in”. The cars were still real
Cream puffs…. Each has original factory air. ( in the tires)
Many of the DISNEYLANDER’s / cast member behaviors we are familiar with today ( although greatly degraded in the last 20 years) became clad or developed during the creation of Walt Disney World. Today at Disneyland I see dozens of violations from castmembers that were completely verboten in my day.
The little girl in the first pic looks like she could be Pamela Ferdin's cherubic-faced sister!
Nice Fantasyland Autopia pics, Major! Thanks!
The little girl looks happy, probably just setting out. After several minutes of exhaust smoke and being cut off by other drivers, she will be ready for a Space Mist Punch at the Tomorrowland Terrace.
The little boy in photo 2 is unhappy that Mom insists on driving. I’m guessing she didn’t realize how safe this ride really was.
Both pics notable for lack of fire extinguishers and trash cans, odd for Autopia. Now that I think about, i don’t recall seeing any litter in the Back Country. Did sweepers venture out there?
Sue, good news from Melissa! Thanks for sharing that!
Thanks Major, don’t worry about little glitches, stuff happens and we love GDB anyway!
JG
I think the red cars in the two pics are the same one because they have the same license plate. I'm liking the yellow one behind the young lady. It reminds me of a Chevy color in the sixties, Goldwood Yellow or some such name. I remember swerving all over the place before the center guide rail. TRE! But I still enjoy the experience even today.
My sister had 100 barrettes back in the day! Stepping on one in the dark was a precursor to a Lego.
Gliches! We don't have gliches! We don't need no stinking gliches!
Thanks, Major
Zach
"This vehicle purred like a kitten - because it is actually powered by 10 kittens under the hood." Unfortunately, the kittens had to be let go once they got too big to fit under the hood. And thus, the origin story of the feral Disneyland population.
Mom may have to be driving in the second picture. I can remember riding the Turnpike at Cedar Point (their Arrow-designed, "modern" sports car ride) as a little kid and not being able to reach the pedals. My mom had to drive for me.
Make that "And thus, the origin story of the feral Disneyland b>cat population."
The "feral Disneyland population" live at Disneyland of the Damned.
Oh, good grief. "...feral Disneyland cat population."
@ Zach-
"It reminds me of a Chevy color in the sixties, Goldwood Yellow or some such name."
YES-! Goldwood Yellow it is. (Not to be confused with another Chevrolet yellow back in the 1960's: Crocus Yellow.
JB, if that CM is as talented as I think he is, he could be taking a picture AND picking his nose. The sky’s the limit! That other CM does look flummoxed, but he also might just be particular about his hair, like The Fonz. Or me!
Nanook, I’ll bet Susie’s mom put that barrette there in the morning, and it will stay there until bedtime!
Lou and Sue, I hope we’ll hear from DW and he can clue us in about the one in the photo. I don’t like making mistakes, but I also have a pretty lax attitude about it all!
JB, you do have a time machine, it just looks like an easy chair. That explains all the blinky lights and buttons!
Mike Cozart, the “factory air” comment sounds like a Wally Boag joke! I did not know that a lot of the behavior of Disneyland employees came from the experiences at WDW. By then, there had been 15 years of Disneyland craziness!
TokyoMagic!, who in the world is Pamela Ferdin?? If only there was a way to look her up.
JG, kids really do love the experience of driving, I still remember my nephew (who was about eight years old) saying that the “little cars” were his favorite thing at the end of the day. I think that sometimes the adults are driving because, in my experience, the pedal on the Autopia cars can take a lot of leg “oomph”. Or else I’m just weak. Folks must have littered at least a little bit, but they were probably concentrating on driving more than anything.
zach, you are just like Columbo! Only with no trench coat. Or at least I assume you aren’t wearing a trench coat. “Goldwood Yellow”, I love the names that the car companies came up with. Nanook knows them all! I don’t really remember the Autopia without the center rail, so for me it’s always been the same. I’m sure my sister had barrettes, but I don’t remember stepping on any.
Chuck, the whole kitten/cat things is a dirty little secret at Disneyland. At least they are given cushy jobs and free food and medical care after their Autopia duties are over. And yes, I think that many kids would not be able to reach the pedals!
Chuck, I think I’ve seen some of the feral Disneyland population, they are scary.
Chuck, I’m glad I never make a mistake, it must be so embarrassing.
Nanook, whoa, Zach knew of what he was speaking! Way to go!
To my understanding feral cats and neighborhood cats have been a thing at Disneyland since day one! It’s believed the cars nosy nature and a need to investigate brought them into Disneyland during construction. There’s a famous story about Walt Disney , John Hench and Emile Currie inspecting the inside of Sleeping Beauty castle to determine the feasibility of adding a walk-thru tour. The inside of the castle was taken over by a group of feral cats …….. and their fleas . The the three men had to escape as hundreds of thirsty fleas began to feed on them . When they men came out into the sunlight Emile Currie’s famous white suit was COVERED in fleas! Emile Currie was in charge of decorating at the studios and later WED enterprise . He also personally did the interior design of Walt’s Hollywood home and Palm Springs home. Many of the items seen in Disney parks today came from Emile’s private collection that were then duplicated for use in the parks … like the main street USA horse-hitching posts ( the original having come from a 1870’s Mansion in New York that was selling off its architectural details before being demolished. And of course he was the one who bought the Hollywood lamposts base from a nearby shop keeper after it had been knocked over in a car accident- it was used as the flagpole base at Disneyland’s Town Square. The lighting fixtures in the haunted mansion foyer were also from Emile’s “stash”
Sue (& all...)- Since it is 45+ years since I was an Autopia CM, my memory of the rules & regulations is not as clear as it used to be. That being said, I'm sure that supervision would frown upon leaning against the pylons...;-)
-DW
Pylons…
^ :o)
PYLONS!!!!
JG
TokyoMagic!, who in the world is Pamela Ferdin?? If only there was a way to look her up
Major, I think you are kidding, but just in case you aren't.....Pamela Ferdin was a child actress in a gazillion TV shows, back in the 60s and 70s. She also played Paul Lynde's youngest daughter on the one and only season of his TV show, and she also took over the job of voicing "Lucy" on the Peanuts cartoons.
Post a Comment