Before you do one thing, including taking a breath, let's be sure to wish Nanook a very happy birthday! Sue B. has done her Sue B. thing and provided some scans of vintage birthday pix just for fun. These black and white snapshots are undated, but could be from the late 1950s or early 1960s, I think. This must be the birthday boy, posing in front of a large cake, and a table ready for lots of other kids. Those wizard hats mean that there will be lots of magical spells cast, which is a scary thought. Notice the poster with the donkey, who is ready to have a tail pinned to him!
Whew, not a single yucky girl to be seen! You know they'd just want to talk about dolls and dresses. Boys can talk about cowboys and burping. And isn't that better, ultimately? The photo was taken before the bottles of beer were served (ice-cold from a nearby fridge), that's when the party really got going. Thank you, Sue B. for sharing these scans!
Randos! Like the proverbial box of chocolates, you never know what you're going to get. But it's usually interesting.
Today's first scan is from May, 1973, and it's a very nice shot from the final scene in the Carousel of Progress. It's the 21st Century! Nobody's wearing a silver lamé, so you're just going to have to take my word for it. Father has grown old and gray, but mother is still quite the tomater! Progress City glows on the horizon outside the window - I told Walt he should call it "Sparkletown", but he didn't listen. Just four months after this photo was taken, the Carousel of Progress closed, though it reopened in Florida in 1975.
Next, something completely different. We've been hurtled back to the 1950s by a Time Wedgie. Luckily, we're still in Disneyland, so there's no problemo! The Red Wagon Inn beckons with its elegant Victorian (?) architecture and its quality cuisine. I have two vintage menus from this place, so I can tell you that you had some pretty nice options. Prime rib; grilled halibut; veal cutlet; pork chops; sirloin steak; spaghetti with meat sauce; and more! The park looks as neat and clean as can be, there are plenty of benches for those who need to rest, and beds full of flowers provide a touch of color and beauty.
Major-
ReplyDeleteOnce again, Sue has outdone herself in my honor. (I'm still trying to decipher what the designs are on the party favors...) It's nice to see some of the invitees 'dressed to the nines' [for boys, that is] and also packing heat.
Thanks to Sue and The Major. I'll check back later to see more commentary.
A fellow June birthday boy! Happy cumpleaños (completion of years), Nanook! I'm trying to figure out why your cake has a canopy on it? I'm not sure those are candles under the canopy; they might be hard-candy sticks. And this might be a "candy cake", with various types of candy stuck to the cake, as decorations. (Still don't know what the canopy is though.)
ReplyDeleteMajor says those are "wizard hats", but I say they're dunce caps... OK, probably not. But they might not be wizard hats either; just plain ol' 'party hats'. And why do they have a hole on top, instead of coming to a point? I think those are paper cups with the double-grip handles.
Thank you, Sue. Now go talk about dolls and dresses so us boys can do a lot of burping. :-D
And now, our feature presentation:
Funny how the 21st century looks a lot like the 1960s. Dad looks a bit like Dick Cavett, while Mom looks a bit like Maureen O'Hara.
Besides color and beauty, those flowers (pretty sure they're petunias) would also provide a nice clove-like scent wafting through the air. I'm not sure what that design is on Red Hat guy... Boxcars? Trolleys? The gal on the left is wearing honest-to-goodness shorts! (Or cut-offs), not pedal pushers or capri pants.
Enjoy your day, Nanook. Sue, thanks again. And Major, let's have a burping contest!
Happy Great Big Beautiful Birthday to NANOOK!!
ReplyDeleteRemember…. The final act of the Carousel of Progress is not the future , but “the possible present”…At least in all the attraction’s publicity and press info. Even the attraction poster reads : “ From The Good Old Days , To The Possible Present”
… “ Everything you see here in Progress City is possible TODAY …. In ANY CITY!!”
** please note: wall mounted urinals for ladies are no longer available in Progress City. Please ask your dealer for suggestions on the availability of other options. ( don’t stand in the way of progress)
I like the floral prints and their faux rattan frames, in the vintage birthday pics. They match a few of the rattan chairs around the table.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE the Carousel of Progress scene. It's weird that sometimes the father looked older in this scene, but most of the time he looked the same as in the other scenes. I never thought that the family was supposed to be aging. I always felt like we were just seeing the same family, living in four different time periods. After all, the first scene is "just before the turn of the century." Let's say the parents were in their 20s in that scene, well by the 1960s, they'd be in their 80s. And in the World's Fair and DL versions of the attraction, the kids never got older either. It's only when they moved it to WDW and messed up the continuity, where the kids are older in the last scene. And the little girl goes missing altogether, after the very first scene, because they got rid of her in the 2nd and 3rd acts. I swear, even back then, they didn't know what they were doing! I guess once Walt was gone, they all just "lost their way!" And that is how I really feel! :-)
A very happy birthday to you, Nanook! Thanks for the vintage b-day pics, Sue! And thanks for the pic of my favorite scene from my favorite DL attraction, Major! Now I want to know who has that A.A. of the Siamese cat (on the sofa, to the right of "Mother"). They didn't reuse that one in the WDW version, either.
Happy birthday Nanook! And thanks for the swell birthday pictures Sue!
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday Sue!!!
ReplyDeleteHere's a rando fact to go with your rados; my one and only kid trip to Disneyland was one month after this pic was taken! I said it was random, not interesting.
I'll take the halibut stuffed into the prime rib, please! Why? Just for the halibut!
I'll show myself out...
^ Stu, you don’t have to show yourself out, but you are at the wrong party. My birthday was last month. :oD
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Nanook! I wish you a wonderful day filled with everything that makes you happy! You can even celebrate more on TokyoMagic’s blog—I see he just added a fun celebration post.
Oops! Happy birthday Nanook!
DeleteI no read good.
LOL. Stu, I just now read your comment that you just added to yesterday’s post.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Nanook! Hope the weather in the north is awesome! I often think of Nanook with the film "Unzipped" where Isaac Mizrahi is inspired by Nanook of the North meets Mary Tyler Moore: with people like Naomi Campbell swaddled in big fur coats. Circa 1994: a happy watch if you have a few moments. Speaking of Stephen King: these vintage randos always kind of creep me out....a bit. The stylized botanicals, with bamboo accents and chairs kind of hint to me that this may be in Florida (?) The Victorian chandelier doesn't really fit this tableaux, nor does the arched entry...so I am fully confused. Each kid (NO GIRLS!!!) seems to display strong personalities: If I had the time, I'd go through each one. Dunce caps with stretchy strings on BACK of head. I always had mine under my chin because the cone would fall off other wise unless you wear it like a unicorn. The cake is a marvelous carousel. Mummy must have taken a lot of time to construct that one...and she gets an A+! I loved everything in the scene in the Carousel of Progress! The Aladdin-ish decor nods...the incredible sofa: only for sitting...not lounging! The soda fountain in the bar...because that is the future! I am surprised it wasn't an aluminum tree...but maybe that was too over the top. All the General Electric gifts are wonderful...where are those now? I don't know why they just didn't keep this scene and add another one....it could have gone where the escalators were that went to Progressland: which I LOVED....in my kid eyes it was "the show was great...but it's not over yet! There is MORE! And then you exit on the balcony of the theatre....with it's dramatic views and slow ramp down to Tomorrowland. "Perfect". The Red Wagon is also perfect: probably when it was table service and not "buffeteria"...and now..."food stations" They did have table service on one side during Summers: which was nice...and when the Blue Bayou was in rehab: The Plaza Inn was where you took your VIP tours...and it had table service and an updated menu. Benches and Petunias: very perfect. Although as a purist, I do prefer the "Yellow" Plaza Inn....but the pink isn't too bad actually, and perhaps these beds of pink and white petunias foreshadowed things to come. Happy Birthday Nanook and thanks Sue and Major!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday, Nanook, wishing you many happy returns of the day!
ReplyDeleteSue, thank you for the topical pictures, is that grasscloth wall covering we see there? Great for concealing pinholes from errant donkey tails or Pygmy blowgun darts!
I sure miss the CoP show, and now Mike has explained how the 21st century looks like the 1970’s. Now with leisure to study this picture, the apartment decor looks rather Arabian Nights Meets the Jetsons. Notice the wood screen panels, columns and arches, and the exuberant finials on the bar stools. I never noticed till now the soda fountain dispensers in the wet bar. These future folks know how to live!
The Plaza Inn is always lovely, whether Victorian or Edwardian, I don’t care. The last time I saw this facade it was crowded with SUV strollers.
Thanks Major!
JG
Will there be cake?
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday, Nanook! Thanks for the party, Sue!
I've been missing CoP for 50 years now. But whose counting?
Thanks Major- Zach
Thanks all for the birthday wishes.
ReplyDelete@ MIKE-
"... wall mounted urinals for ladies are no longer available in Progress City".
The only ads of urinals for m'lady I ever saw were for 'floor-mounted' models - and [what I suspect was that very model] ending up in 'the mens room' at a couple of locations at UCLA. (I wonder if they're still there-?)
Nanook, I hope you have a party that is even more crazy than the one in today’s birthday pix (if that’s even possible)!
ReplyDeleteJB, don’t all your cakes have canopies? Mine usually have a deck and a hot tub (full of gravy) too, but maybe that’s not the usual thing. I was trying to be kind re: “wizard hats”. I do think it’s funny that they made “Father” age so noticeably throughout the years, but “Mother” stayed the same, except for her fashions. With her auburn hair, I can see a resemblance to Maureen O’Hara. Do petunias really have a clove-like scent? I have no idea. Boxcars is a good guess for the man’s shirt. And short shorts on the woman? They go halfway down to her knees!
Mike Cozart, I suppose the “possible present” is a real thing, but here we are, 50 years later…! I know that Walt’s dream of a “community of tomorrow” was imperfect, but it still looks pretty sweet compared to what we have.
TokyoMagic!, that scene in the Carousel of Progress was always my favorite. Looking at the ceiling, there are lights that are not on, I can’t remember if they are ever used or if they were placed there just to look more realistic. I admit that I never really thought deeply about the CoP family and how they aged or didn’t age, but Father definitely looks like a grandpa in that last scene, while his wife looks like she’s ready to go to the Studio 54! She’ll be doing the Hustle with Truman Capote and Liza Minelli. Whoa, I’ve never noticed the Siamese cat before!
Steve DeGaetano, Stu29573, Lou and Sue, I never know what to do when comments are directed at somebody else (in this case, Nanook), so I’ll just say “thanks”!
Bu, I have never heard of the film “Unzipped”, it seems odd that they might reference a silent (if famous) movie. I wonder if the randos would creep you out less if they were in color? The black and white adds an antique quality to them that can be automatically “ghosty”. Since my family moved a lot in my younger days, I remember that our houses were often a jumble of “new” and “old”, since my mom did a lot of thrifting, and our Navy-family budget was limited. An antique chair next to a formica table, and that sort of thing. Whenever I see a fancy cake in photos like these, I assume that Mom got the idea in one of those “lady’s magazines”, McCall’s or Good Housekeeping, or maybe Sunset. I was one of those people who was pretty upset that we lost our Carousel of Progress (to Florida!) and got “America Sings” which I never really liked. It seemed like trading an ice cream cone for a piece of stale bread. I’m sure the Red Wagon Inn was a full-service restaurant, in fact I don’t know if it became a buffeteria until it turned into the Plaza Inn.
JG, I can’t tell if that’s grasscloth on the walls or if it is some sort of wood paneling. It looks a little shiny which is why I think it might not be grasscloth. But you never know! I guess I’m not seeing the “Arabian Nights” influence in that CoP photo, though the swoopey ceiling edge makes me think of a flying carpet! I’d never really noticed the wet bar until this photo, Father and Mother loved to entertain. “What’ll ya have?”. I wish there was a better way to deal with hundreds of strollers, but smarter people than I have tried to figure it out.
zach, have you seen the CoP in Florida? I’ve listened to audio, and I don’t care for the song that replaced “There’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow”. Plus I miss Rex Allen’s voice!
Nanook, I’d say that urinals in any bathroom is way down on the list of things to worry about!
Happy Birthday Nanook! Always enjoy your comments, like all junior gorillas. Sue has set up a good start to your day! Gotta run now. KS
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday, Nanook!
ReplyDeleteThe current iteration of the CoP has the daughter in all 4 scenes now. I don't remember seeing the 1975-1993 version so I don't know if she's in that one. I assumed that the idea is that it's similar families in each situation, not a single family that ages through the years. I wonder how long it'll last at WDW - I'm surprised it's still there. It's not like it being the only attraction with Walt's personal input would protect it from the current regime. I just hope when it's removed from WDW, it's restored to the original version and rebuilt at the museum in SF.
Forgot to mention, do you suppose the cake was supposed to be a carousel or a circus tent. It might tie in with the animals on the hats?
ReplyDeleteAlso, that looks like it was quite the fashbulb, judging by the glare on the picture frames in back. I'm surprised they got (almost) all of the kids' eyes open.
HBD Nanook!
ReplyDeleteI was always pretty sure the Plaza Inn was a remodel of Red Wagon, this shot proves clearly that is primarily the same structure. I wonder if the redo was when it got all the glamorous detailing from a former L.A. mansion, or if the original had those architectural salvage pieces.
Hope it’s been a grand day Nanook.
MS
By the way : the carousel of progress family is represented throughout Epcot Center HORIZONS “windows to the future” scenes … many of the AA figures are the same molds and were intentionally designed to be the “next generation” of the Carousel of Progress family.
ReplyDeleteIn fact in the unbuilt 1984 CENTURY OF PROGRESS attraction planed for Disneyland’s unbuilt new Tomorrowland ( shelved when Eisner came to power) the carousel of progress attraction had guests leave the theater and go three the future of the family in the desert , undersea and space station communities. GE wasn’t interested in sponsorship but the EDISON ELECTRIC was ( they sponsored the WEDWAY in Florida) …. What might have been …
Thanks again for all the birthday wishes.
ReplyDeleteThe current iteration of the CoP has the daughter in all 4 scenes now.
ReplyDeleteDeanFinder, the teenage daughter does appear in all 4 scenes, but I was referring to the youngest daughter. In the World's Fair and Disneyland versions, all three children appeared in the first three scenes, and were absent from the fourth scene because they were supposed to be "picking up Grandma and Grandpa at our new jet airport." But in the 1975 and current WDW versions, the youngest daughter disappears after being seen helping the mom with the laundry in the first scene. You only see the little boy and the teenage daughter in the second and third scenes. And then in the fourth scene, there is a teenage boy and girl. Who are they? Both the youngest daughter and the teenage daughter were brunette in the other scenes, but this teenage daughter is blond. And if the older boy is supposed to be the little boy we saw earlier, he is suddenly a teenager now, when nobody else has appeared to age. And just who is that little girl who now only appears in the first scene? A neighbor kid? Hired help? An indentured servant? A ghost? They really messed up the continuity, but I guess nobody notices. I picked up on it the first time I saw the WDW version.
I don’t care for the song that replaced “There’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow”. Plus I miss Rex Allen’s voice!
Major, in 1994, they did bring back the original song. The problem with it is, the father is voiced by Jean Shepard, who is NOT a singer. He sounds horrible when he's singing the song. Rex Allen was a singer. They should have found someone else who was a singer, to voice the father in the current version. Oh, well.....once again, I seem to be the only one bothered by these things. I am glad that the attraction still exists and I do hope that if they ever decide to get rid of it, it would be saved and RESTORED to either the Fair or Disneyland version, and installed at the Walt Disney Family Museum (as DeanFinder suggested) or sent to the Smithsonian. I wonder if they could make room for it.....even if they didn't recreate the rotating theater. The audience could walk from scene to scene, as they were supposed to when the attraction was planned for Edison Square.
Sue, thank you for the shout out about my newest post! :-)