Before we continue with our regularly-scheduled blog post, let's wish GDB friend Grant a very Happy Birthday! And as per usual, Sue B. has provided a vintage photo from somebody's birthday (some kid named Brett). At first I thought the rosy-cheeked boy to the right might be the honoree, but now I don't think so. What a party, cupcakes AND a sheet cake. After that, cake for dessert? Don't forget orange and grape sodas for additional sugar (doctors recommend sugar, it gives people energy). Check out those G.I. Joe cups, an unopened pack of those would probably fetch a tidy sum today.
Now let's look at some randos. First up is this very pretty shot looking into Tomorrowland from the Plaza, a rain shower had obviously passed through, making the paths glossy and wet, just like in a noir movie. "Forget it Jake, it's Tomorrowland". The focus is a tiny bit soft, but it's still such a lovely image, this is one of my favorites among my more recent scans.
Next is this 1967 (I think) photo of ol' #4, the Ernest S. Marsh. It looks suitably beautiful on this sunny day as it sits at Main Street Station. The passengers are mostly lost in the shadows, but it looks like a full compliment of guests, ready to take the Grand Circle Tour. My younger brother often called the Disneyland Railroad "the dinosaur ride", which tells you something. To our right, the Kalamazoo Handcar sits, waiting for a silent film star to take it for a spin. In the distance - Denny's!
Happy Birthday, Grant-! I hope you drink plenty of Acme Orange Soda - I mean, it is the 'acme' of orange sodas, after all - the ne plus ultra-!
ReplyDeleteAnd speaking of birthday boys, how come 'Brett' isn't wearing his glitter-adorned construction paper hat-? I guess when one is only four years old, the candles occupy a rather compact area on your cake. (I presume Mom wanted to insure Brett could blow out all four of 'em in one attempt).
The image from Tomorrowland is a bit 'dreamy', with its overcast sky and glistening asphalt. I see the area in front of the 'cutout' for the ice cream cart appears to be dry-?, perhaps indicating the cart was 86'd when it was raining-?
Thanks, Major.
Happy September birthday, Grant! I'm thinking it must've been strange for a kid to have a birthday on, or very near, the first day of the school year.
ReplyDeleteI dunno, Major, I think the rosy-cheeked boy IS Brett. He's wearing a camo sweatshirt, which would tie in nicely with the G.I. Joe theme; besides being seated in the place of honor (in front of the cake). I wanna know why his cheeks are so rosy! Not sure what that decoration is on the left side of the cake. It looks like the upper half of a cowboy; wearing a cowboy hat. (Why isn't it a military guy, like G.I. Joe?). I don't know what the thing is above the cowboy's hat. I guess those are G.I. Joe napkins behind the stack of cups? The brand of soda/pop is "ACME"??? There's a Wile E. Coyote joke in there somewhere. I'm guessing this is the early seventies.
Thank you, Sue, for continuing our GDB birthday tradition.
I agree, this IS a nice pic of Tomorrowland. Something about the lighting really makes it special! I don't see any Skyway buckets, but we can see the Skyway ride sign and the colorful sculpture next to it. Also, part of the Skyway station. I thought that was a Sweeper on the left. But he's pushing a cart, not a broom. Maybe he picks up the horse stuff when they make the loop at the Hub.
Beautiful train! I like the striped canvas roof. Bu will be pleased to see that the conductor has his vest buttoned up. Yes, if I squint, I can see Buster Keaton or Snidely Whiplash pumping the Handcar. Or maybe Dudley Do-Right... Or Nell... Or Dudley's horse, Horse.
Thanks again, Sue. And thank you, Major for the nice Friday Leftuggies.
Happy Birthday, Grant! I think Camo Kid might have just blown out the candles on that cake. And I'm thinking those items behind the cups might have been goodie bags, containing party favors for the guests.
ReplyDelete"Forget it Jake, it's Tomorrowland".
The Tomorrowland Space Girl? She's my daughter. She's my sister. My daughter. My sister. My......
Thanks, Major!
Happy birthday Grant!
ReplyDeleteGreat to see the Ernest S. Marsh pulling the Holliday Blue, with the rare "air ringer" attached to its bell! It's not sitting at the station (yet) but is gliding past the handcar before coming to a stop on the bridge over the entrance tunnel.
Happy birthday, Grant!
ReplyDeleteBased on the G.I. Joe logo on the cups, that birthday photo is from the mid-‘80s. The kid on the end on the right has already dumped their cupcake on the table.
There’s something about that Tomorrowland photo. The future, Mr. Pepperidge - the future.
Thanks, Major (and Sue)!
Happy birthday Grant. Enjoy a Cakapolooza party. ... and sugar hazey day.
ReplyDeleteMS
Happy Birthday, Grant! And A very merry unbirthday to the rest of you.
ReplyDeleteDo you see the black speck in the green part of the Adventure Thru Inner Space "giant eye". "It's a flaw in the iris."
Thanks, Major.
Happy Birthday Grant! Many happy returns of the day! Looks like you are all set, with an cupcake, orange soda in a GI Joe cup, and more cake for afters. Hope you enjoy!
ReplyDeleteMajor, your Tomorrowland pic is no later than early 1957, going by the plain green trash can at right. Just a fine picture. I never noticed before that the flag poles seem to spread out in a “Y” pattern beyond the initial allee’’. Always something new to notice.
Looking at No. 4, I can hear the bell clanging and the announcer’s voice …”Disneyland Limited… …Grand Circle Tour…”. One of the best sounds anywhere.
Thank You!
JG
Nanook, if it’s Acme, it has to be good! Brett doesn’t want that paper hat to mess up his careful hairdo, and I don’t blame him. Ha, good eye on the dry spot where the ice cream cart used to be, I can just imagine the vendor scrambling to get backstage!
ReplyDeleteJB, my mom just told me that she didn’t like her birthday because she knew that school was going to start soon, so maybe Brett felt the same way! The rosy-cheeked kid is sitting to the side of the cake, it “reads” from our angle. Seems odd to me that the actual birthday boy would be placed off to the side. But who knows! Let’s not fight about it! ;-) I admit that I have never heard of Acme soda before, but I have an acquaintance who collects old soda cans, and there are scores of brands I’ve never heard of. I really love that Tomorrowland pic, it’s just so darn pretty. And ya gotta like any good photo of the Disneyland locomotives.
TokyoMagic!, “Here, kid, have a cupcake while you blow the candles out on the big cake!”. I refuse to believe it! I also refuse to believe that we landed on the Moon!
Steve DeGaetano, I’ll take your word for the rare air ringer, since we can’t even really see the bell… I assume that the air ringer mechanism is what you are looking at?
Chuck, mid-80s sounds about right. What in the world is that shape on the big cake, to the left of the lettering? I can’t figure it out!
MS, now that I am eating healthy (in theory), part of me would love a big slice of cake with lots of buttercream frosting!
K. Martinez, we have a bunch of “Chinatown” fans here (which is awesome)!
JG, I think that the flags surrounded the Clock of the World, so from the air it made more of a “keyhole” shape. I love those old train sounds more than just about anything else at Disneyland!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Grant! Hope your day is filled with GI Joes, cupcakes and cammo...just like little Brett here. Cupcake papers go into the trash...not on table. Brett's rosy cheeks indicate that he may have had a few nips prior to cupcakes.....in those days: kind of makes sense: calm down those kids by any means possible! The wallpaper trim is confounding me. I think this a style at one point in time. Such a frilly area, with the lace curtains and delicate floral design on the walls...juxtaposed with the alpha male GI Joe party. I'm stymied by the decorations on the cake...what is that? GI Joe with a floral head dress? Could be. The Tomorrowland of the past looking very very colorful. Possible the most colorful I've ever seen, and a very good shot. The entry way is quite narrow compared to the 1967 entrance which was so open...but I suppose it is in line with the entries to Adventureland, Frontierland and the Castle. The balloons of plenty almost look staged. The Dinosaur Ride looks great...and Denny's looks even better. I'm sure Denny's suits insisted that sign be super high "WE NEED THE PEOPLE IN DISNEYLAND TO SEE THE SIGN"....and I suppose Chao's was the same. I don't have any recollections going to Denny's in "post bender" mode...but it makes sense that I wouldn't have any memories. That big tree behind the train is still there...as is his brother on the other side. They are really amazing specimens, and I hope they last through the next 70 years. Thanks Major and again, happy B-day to Grant!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Grant and Brett. Grant is sure to have more than 4 candles. Brett has rosie cheeks because this is his 5th attempt to blow out the candles but now his Mom bunched them together in the corner. Acme soda(!) she's gonna blow!
ReplyDeleteI think these are better than Leftuggies.
So, thank you, Major, Brett and Sue
Zach
Yep, Major, the air ringer is that black vertical thingy directly above the middle brass handrail stanchion on the engine.
ReplyDelete