I'm always happy to be able to share more Frontierland scans, generously contributed by the Mysterious Benefactor! These are undated, but I'm guessing that they could be from the 1980s (?). I wonder if any of the Cast Members seen here will be familiar to some of the Junior Gorillas?
This first one looks like it could be in a souvenir guidebook; a CM interacts with a pair of adorable kids as smiling parents look on. "Hey kid, I like strained carrots too!". I'm assuming that the little girl is wearing the CM's hat?
Would you buy a used car from these two? Of course not, they aren't selling cars, they're herding guests on (and off) of the rafts! They are holding cudgels, but they're hidden. "Mike" looks like he's guilty of something, though. Maybe he has a still on Tom Sawer Island.
"Oh Robin, Robin, run away with me to Par-ee! We'll stroll on the Bois de Boulogne, visit the Mona Lisa at the Louvre, and drink absinthe at a sidewalk cafe on the Left Bank". "You sure talk pretty, mister, but I like it here in the U. S. of A!". Heart broken.
Not many people know that, on the old Frontier, the gifting of hats was commonplace. "Now you are responsible for me for the rest of my life". "Wait, what? I don't even like this hat! Plus I'm two years old!". "Too late!". Happened all the time.
It actually does get chilly at Disneyland occasionally, as can be observed here - a scarf and a comfy plaid coat (from the Pendleton store?) help to protect this woman from the harsh elements. That raft is absolutely packed with guests who want to explore Tom Sawyer Island!
A Cavalry officer drops some hot gossip on that kid. "See that guy over there? He once ate so much popcorn that he barfed". "Gee, really, mister?". "I said it, didn't I??".
THANK YOU, Mysterious Benefactor!
Major-
ReplyDeleteIt's always a special treat to see CM's interacting with guests.
Thanks to the M B for sharing these.
Yep, it looks like the little girl is wearing the CM's hat... he has that 'hat hair' line on his head where the hat usually sits. What a cute photo!
ReplyDeleteThere's definitely something going on here with these two guys. Or maybe they're just mugging for the camera to make everybody think they're up to something.
I bet Robin was picked for Raft duty because of her bright red hair. It makes her look fun and adventurous, and a little mischievous.
Nice photo of the CM placing his hat on the kid. That must be a common piece of shtick; placing their hat on little kids.
I'm guessing the gal in the plaid coat is a ticket taker CM? On the Raft, we can see track star Steve Prefontaine (the blond with the mustache), although he died in '75, I think, so maybe not. And next to 'Pre', there's Adric, one of Dr. Who's companions (in the Tom Baker years). It looks like he's sticking his finger down his throat to induce projectile vomiting.
Last pic: Another Adric! Actually, this kid looks more like Adric than the guy on the raft. Maybe Cavalry Guy is doing the old "pull my finger" joke.
These are fun pictures! Thank you, MB and Major.
JB, yes the lady in the second to last pic is taking tickets. It looks like she was caught just seconds after tearing a coupon in half, and is still holding the two pieces. Next, she would be throwing the two pieces into that opening in the box in front of her.
ReplyDeleteI noticed some of the hats are ragged around the brim, and others are not. What gives?
That must be a common piece of shtick; placing their hat on little kids.
JB, I bet that was just for the publicity photos. I can't imagine management encouraging cast members to do that on a regular daily basis. Kids have lice!
Thanks Major and MB!
There's a raft of happiness going on here. Haha! Thanks MB. I always enjoy the composition and clarity of your photos. And the subsequent nostalgia.
ReplyDeleteThanks Major.
Zach
I remember most of these people as they were from "my time" and given the forensics of the photos, I can probably guess what years...generally with the name tags, or in the case of "coat employee": the taking of tickets. In pic one, I first thought it was Imagineer Tom Morris...but remembered he worked on the East side. The name tag is a Mickey tag...so it could be really from any time period, as if we weren't in a promotional year, it would revert back to Mickey. Pic #2 they are wearing 30th anniversary name tags: so from 1985. I remember both of these guys from the West side. Robin has a Mickey tag, so probably she is not from 1985...but maybe she had the wrong one on: which was naughty. "Fringe hat" guy has a 1986 "The best has yet to come" name tag...at least I think it was '86 as after the 30th year "car giveaway" they kept the "guest grabber extraordinaire" going (real name: guest giver extraordinare") for another year, and attached a promotion to it. Note that this was in the Eisner days to reinvigorate the cash flow. I think the next promotional year was "looks like we started something"....I'm sure someone has these all written down so correct me if I'm wrong. That is a great coat "coat lady" is wearing, but looks like the guys don't get anything at all: as he's only wearing the TSI shirt...but perhaps this was staged as she is wearing the official Disneyland scarf too...and she's standing in the sun. Clearly, this was in the time of tickets, and she is wearing the Mickey tag, so if I were to gander a guess it's 1981....which possibly puts the other "Mickey tag" photos in the same year....if this photo shoot was on the same day...possibly. This may account for fringe hat vs no fringe hat. The coat may have been for a winter promo shot...but shot in spring time "come to Disneyland in Fall and Winter and wear a coat...the rides are still open!"...possibly. Security guy I most definitely remember, and this same photo shoot included another photo that was published...but with a little girl I think...and on Tom Sawyer Island. I specifically remember this costume because it was very detailed and specific to Tom Sawyer Island. It also goes to show the "one finger point" was not a naughty thing, and we all did it...the two finger thing was not a Walt thing...however when we went through protocol training from the White House (another story) we were taught that certain countries...and I forget which ones...you could not point...not with one finger, OR two fingers...you simply could only gesture with your hands...and the basic rule was...just don't do ANYTHING with your hands and keep them to your sides. Generally when Secret Service is around you should avoid any kind of arm/finger anything. If I remember correctly, this security guard was married to a beautiful blonde in West side merchandising. On a side note, it looks like they ran out of Tom Sawyer Island maps, or for the photo they took them out..to avoid a big white blob in the photo. Possibly. In the distance you see the "D" ticket sign: so I will give this a 1981 date as well. I'm all for a "Disneyland Rewind" night...with Ticket Books and Big bands playing...dancing at Coke Terrace...and no one needing a phone to conduct their visit. I'm not sure of the commercial viability, but I'd make the trip for it. Thanks Major, and the clean cut employees and MB!!
ReplyDeleteEveryone looks so happy here, especially Robin.
ReplyDeleteGetting a chuckle out of the prefabricated tatters on the shirt sleeves.
We can see Castle Rock in the distance with its flagpole and bandanna intact, best TSI. I had a plaid coat much like that in high school.
And the French Market behind the Cavalry officer, before it was ransacked.
Thanks MB and Major, swell views today!
JG
Nanook, I’m just sad that Bu doesn’t appear in these.
ReplyDeleteJB, that “hat hair” line is a good look and I need to adopt it pronto. I’m sure those other two CMs were probably just not crazy about having their picture taken. Or is it “tooken”? Robin is a real tomater, that’s all I have to say. And yes, I guess the cast members in Frontierland were encouraged to place their hats on the heads of small children, it’s a simple way to engage with kids in a friendly way. Yes, the girl in the coat is holding a torn ticket, she suffered from Ticket Elbow. I’m afraid my knowledge of track and field stars and Doctor Who companions is practically nil. I hope the Cavalry Guy is not doing the “pull my finger” joke, that one was never funny!
TokyoMagic!, maybe the ticket taker didn’t just throw the tickets into the box, maybe she used a cool “over the shoulder” move. Do it with style! That’s how I would do it, anyway. I’m assuming the ragged hats are just a particular look. It would drive me crazy. And speaking of lice (!), whenever I go into a store that has hats for sale, I never want to try them on, because somebody else might have done it too. And they might have bugs!
zach, there is something fun about these pictures on the waterfront, on beautiful days. Thank goodness our river is staying put (hopefully)!
Bu, I wondered if you might know some of these folks! The era seemed to be about right. Maybe KS will know some too, though these pix might be from a bit after his days. The photos were all taken on different days, so that’s why the guys are not wearing cold-weather clothes. It must have been really chilly for that gal to be so bundled up. Knowing California, it would warm up soon enough. I’m assuming that the ragged-edged hats were just a look - maybe something that Huck Finn would wear, since he was so poor (or at least before he got rich and lived with the Widow Douglas). Maybe you’re right about that one photo being taken as a winter promo, I never thought of that. Those were the days when the park could be pleasantly uncrowded. I’ve definitely seen some of these MB photos in publications, so I am not surprised that the security guy from TSI appeared on at least one of those. Maybe the “one finger point” was more for Tour Guides? Did they teach that to other CMs? I’ve never spent much time around the Secret Service, so I haven’t had to worry about my digits.
JG, I always wonder if current-day CMs enjoy their time at the park as much as the people from the 60s, 70s, and 80s did? Somehow I assume that things are not so fun, but I hope I’m wrong. I do miss Castle Rock and think it’s dumb that it was (apparently) considered a risk. I never heard of any injuries, but then again, that sort of thing would not be publicized. Ah, the French Market, who would have ever dreamed that it would go away?
In the first pic, there's someone off to the left wearing a Donald Duck pin. Maybe it's from the 1984 Donald's birthday promotion.
ReplyDeleteJG, I was also chuckling at the "prefabricated tatters". They look like they were cut using a computer-guided, precision, industrial laser.
ReplyDeleteThe TOM SAWYER ISLAND costumes have at various times included intentionally Taterered / frayed hats. The costumes became a standard look in 1973 after the WDW designs - The hat designs have varied a bit over the years depending on the availability from vendors. The strategically placed patches are always in the same quantities and locations. Summer versions feature denim shorts ( sometimes pre-frayed ) winter : denim pants . The standard red shirts were in use since 1973. Blue court - tennis shoes ( VANS) with white laces were the standard costume issue shoe : the same used for the male Enchanted Tiki Room shoe . TOKYO DISNEYLAND never used the shorts - only pants. In the early 2000’s this 1973 designed costume was replaced with new designs created by Creative Costuming in Florida .
ReplyDeleteDean Finder, good eye! I have one of those pins, however, and they were sold for many years, even going back to the 1970s I believe. Still, it’s cool that you saw it!
ReplyDeleteJB, Mr. Lincoln cut those tatters after hours.
Mike Cozart, ha ha, denim shorts, just like they wore in Mark Twain’s time! I know, I know, the cast members don’t need to suffer in the summer sun, but it’s just kind of funny to think about. I’ll bet those shorts can’t be shorter than “just above the knee”. Thank goodness! Vans make sense, good grip on a variety of surfaces - and not that expensive (usually). I recently saw a photo of a female cast member working the souvenir booth right near the west entry tunnel, she was dressed much like other females, with a long dress almost to the ground, but you could see that she is wearing sneakers! Thanks Mike.