It's time for some CLASSIC FANTASYLAND, brought to you by Pall Mall Cigarettes. "Wherever Particular People Congregate" (now that's a slogan!). When I think of Disneyland, I think of a flavorful Pall Mall. Doctor recommended, too. It's July, 1958. The kids are out of school, and we have to do something with the little devils. And they don't let kids into the OTB for some reason.
This first picture is fascinating because it was taken before they replaced Sleeping Beauty Castle with that iconic giant head in the likeness of Bob Iger. Walk into his open mouth - if you dare. Man, his hair is always so perfect! Hey, real gold fillings?! Classy. Some people preferred the castle, but I don't even want to know those folks. Don't they know that Disneyland is never finished?? As is often the case, children are not plentiful - there might be one or two youngsters, but it's mostly grown adults.
Next, the Mad Tea Party ride; two CMs are hosing out the teacups, because... well, never mind. That stiff breeze (look at the sails on the Pirate Ship) will dry them out in no time. Check out the Pepperidge Palm! Some say it still lives, on a private estate in Palm Springs.
Major-
ReplyDeleteNice sleuthing on Capt. Guy-! Clearly he has Miss. yellow dress in a trance. And now, so am I.
Thanks, Major.
That doesn’t surprise me we don’t see too many children . For years Disneyland used to boast adult guests out numbered child guests 7 to 1!! Rarely did children get to go to Disneyland during a school week on a none holiday …. But today judging from all the strollers and children at the park - even on a school night I suspect those stats are very different today.
ReplyDeleteSEND FOR THE ROYAL CHILD CATCHER!!!
- Baron Von Bomburst , Vulgaria .
"Pall Mall. Now with asbestos filter tips!"
ReplyDelete"And they don't let kids into the OTB for some reason". Because they'd lose all their allowance money!
Major, there are always a few fuddy-duddy purists who get upset when things are changed. Hmm, You're right, there aren't many kids here. BUT, it looks like a two year old took this photo! See how low to the ground the camera was? I'm using my imagination again to see The Dent... and it sorta works! The "Alice" ride must've opened recently, judging by the sign on the banners. I think the couple on the right, looking at the camera, was part of the photographer's group. Of course, the Swans got her just after this photo was taken.
Those CMs, aka NASA guys, can hose out those Teacups 'til the cows come home, but they'll still have the pungent aroma of regurgitated hotdogs and churros. This is a nice colorful picture.
I also noticed the wooden-legged pirate guy up on the deck. But I couldn't remember his name. In this close-up, we can see a blue-shirt guy walking past the Teacups holding his hand up to his face. He just got a whiff of the regurgitated hotdogs and churros.
Thanks for the trip to Classic Fantasyland, Major.
"Pall Mall......less irritating to your "T" zone!"
ReplyDeleteIn addition to perfect hair and real gold fillings, the current Castle replacement also has materia alba, halitosis, and a yellow-streaked backside.
Yellow Dress Girl is just supporting the reasons why today, we have railings along the bridge of the Castle, at the bow of the Mark Twain, down the sides of Alice's "leaf," and around the slumping/freezing RoboWalt.
Thanks for serving up some "Classic Fantasyland," Major!
Is the end of the queue for the new Alice ride?
ReplyDeleteMS
The Dent is still around 5 or 6 years away. If it was there in 1958, the summer sun directly overhead would have raked its contours, leaving it exposed, naked to the eye.
ReplyDeleteWe not only see Cap'n Pegleg, but his parrot as well, caged to the right on the aft deck. Was this a real parrot, like the one which greeted riders on P.O.P.'s Mystery Island Banana Train? Naked Dents, Aft Decks, Banana Trains, names of early '80s rock groups.
Thanks Major and a happy first day of autumn to you.
The lady in the couple posing in front of the Castle is 50s stylin' in her blue capris, off the shoulder boat neck top and white cats eye sunglasses.
ReplyDeleteRight about that time period I "lost it" on the Tea Cups (and never rode 'em again). The CMs didn't have to hose out my cup though. Fortunately I made it to the bushes in time. Of course the gardeners probably weren't to happy.
Back when I was about 10, I was just as interested in 18th century sailing ships as trains. Being able to go to Disneyland and see not only the Columbia, but a full-size Spanish galleon or pirate ship like this, fully rigged and detailed, was simply amazing!
ReplyDeleteGiant Iger head with voracious maw? I like it! It's where Pixar, Marvel, LucasFilm and 20th Century Studios passed through.
ReplyDeleteI think Tomorrowland needs an exhibit called "Adventure Thru Walt Disney's Lungs" sponsored by British American Tobacco Company (Pall Mall). Very educational.
Thanks, Major.
If Disney ever does implement the Giant Iger Head, it should be arranged to exit you into Avatar World to remain metaphorically correct.
ReplyDeleteA fine picture of SBC, with the little sheet metal flags pretending to wave in the wind, and a crowd of normal people passing by. We see the subjects of our photo, or perhaps someone else’s photo, looking stylish.
The JPL graduate CM is taking care of a Protein Spill by sprinkling it with pixie dust. Our son worked in a environmental camp for several years, and every week a new batch of 6th graders, and sure as clockwork, every week someone would be ill from homesickness, overeating or some similar issue. Guess who had the duty.
Great story Grant! This is what Disney Dreams are made of!
Terrific details on the Pirate Ship too. Belle is waiting to speak with Captain Guy. With all those ropes and sails etc, I’m sure it could be sailed straight to Neverland, with just a bit of pixie dust and a fair wind.
Thanks Major!
JG
Nanook, pirates are known for their abilities to dazzle people with gold doubloons!
ReplyDeleteMike Cozart, wow, 7 to 1, I’d never heard that. I do think there are more kids at the park today, but I still think that adults outnumber kids by a fair amount! The Royal Child Catcher used to scare me.
JB, asbestos filters provide the pep that people need! Interesting point about the low angle of photo #1, it seriously looks like the camera was no more than two feet off the ground. Who would give their camera to a sticky kid?? Not me! Yes, the Alice ride was brand new, kind of neat to think of that. I can’t decide were Disneyland’s NASA guys “ex-NASA”, or were they going to be hired by NASA in a year or two? Perhaps they liked the relatively low-pressure job of working the teacups. I know Disneyland CMs have a code for barfs, but it wouldn’t take me very many cleanups before I would decide to go back to NASA.
TokyoMagic!, this is a family blog, and I don’t want any discussion of “T” zones! Good point re: the yellow-streaked backside, as if my opinion of Bob couldn’t get any lower. I know why railings are needed, but I miss the days when people could be reckless!
MS, boy oh boy, that would be SOME long line for “Alice”!! And that ride loads pretty slowly. However, anything is possible.
Stefano, I thought that we found photos with the dent from the very earliest years? But I admit that I’ve forgotten the timeline. Good eye on Paco the Parrot! Yes, he was a real parrot, we’ve seen occasional photos of him both in and out of his cage. Given that parrots can live a long time, maybe Paco is still around! Happy first day of Autumn to you too.
Grant, I love that lady’s 50s look! I’m sorry you can’t ride the Teacups anymore - I’m fortunate to not suffer from motion sickness, but I know it can be real torture for those who DO.
Steve DeGaetano, I think I was fascinated by the complex rigging, masts, and sails of old sailing ships, and of course I’d read stories of voyages on the sea, very romantic! I have the feeling that Walt felt the same way as you and me.
K. Martinez, “We can’t understand it, nobody wants to walk through Bob Iger’s head!”. I’ll just take the side way around. Would the Adventure Thru Walt Disney’s Lungs be a walk-through, or an Omni-mover ride??
JG, as often happens, our comments overlapped. I can’t tell you how unexcited I am for our Avatar Land (or whatever it’s called), I just don’t have any love for those movies, even though they are technically impressive. The fact that there are two or three more Avatar movies coming? Shrug, not interested. However, maybe the ride will blow me away, I did not expect to be as impressed with “Rise of the Resistance” as I was. I just feel like Avatar is yet another step to make Disneyland feel less “Disney”. Ugh, I’m one of those people who will get nauseous when I see or hear others upchucking, maybe you get used to it?
ReplyDeleteRegarding today's discussion of the castle, if you find a 1955 photo of the castle that's taken in the right light AND at the correct angle, AND taken with a high-quality camera, you can see what we affectionately call "The Dent." Unfortunately, more than 99.99% of the early photos of the castle don't meet this criteria. Other smaller dents appear, too, from different angles, on other turret 'roofs.' Mike had suggested these dents may have happened in the "casting process." In case anyone wants to re-visit that 3/17/25 GDB post, HERE IT IS.
ReplyDeleteIf anyone finds more early images of The Dent, please share them with this blog. This is a fun topic to research.
Thanks, Major.