I don't know about you, but on September 7th, I'm already decorating for Christmas. It's only 3.6 months away! (I have to confess that I never took off my ugly Christmas sweater). So this seemed like a good time to share some Christmas Snoozles™. Both are rare night shots from 1976; while I admire the sheer audacity of somebody trying to capture the sparkle and glow of Main Street at night, the results were only partially successful. It's clear that the photographer set his (I'm pretty sure it was a guy) camera on a handy trashcan, set the timer and shutter speed, and hoped for the best. We're looking from the Plaza southward, there's the Christmas tree, and Main Street Station, if only he'd place the camera farther forward on the trashcan so that there wasn't so much reflecty metal.
This next one is only marginally better, there's still the reflections taking up 1/3 of the image. But we're a bit closer to Main Street proper, and we can glean a few more details, such as the INA Carefree Corner to the left, and the Coca Cola Refreshment Corner to our right.
Major-
ReplyDeleteAudacity, indeed... but I do like the blurry, yet Xmas'y effects that can be discerned.
And you're already planning for Christmas-??!! Wow, aren't you Johnny on the spot. I'm just now dusting-off my Halloween decorations.
Thanks, Major.
These may be blurry, but they are still wonderful…..an uncrowded holiday evening in Disneyland!
ReplyDeleteTokyoMagic’s PTSD is going to surface when he sees that second image, I’m afraid.
Speaking of images…there’s an alien in that second shot—walking on the sidewalk on the left. See him?
Thanks, Major.
This first pic has a definite dreamy look and feel to it. The soft focus (aka, blur) and the silhouettes elicit sort of an out of body experience. I can hear "When You Wish Upon A Star" playing through far-off speakers, with lots of reverb. I'll pretend the shiny trashcan is actually a slow-moving river flowing through the Park. How's that for taking lemons and making lemonade!
ReplyDeleteThe 2nd photo must've been a fairly short exposure; there are no see-through 'ghost' people. Looks like everyone is headed for the exit. The shiny 'river' from the first pic has turned into a pond here. We're not too far from the Castle, so I'll pretend the pond is part of the Moat. Keep an eye out for AEDs and Killer Swans!
Nanook,"I'm just now dusting-off my Halloween decorations." I already bought a couple bags of Halloween candy... it's mostly gone already.
Sue, is the alien the one with the green face?
Yes, they're a bit Snoozley, but not much. More 'quietly moody'. Thanks, Major.
No, JB, it’s the ‘person’ walking on the sidewalk [next to another person], under the INA Carefree Corner sign, with the lit-up face on the back of his head. That not normal. :op
ReplyDeleteSue, ha, ha! Fortunately, I never had PTSD about seeing that "fork" in the streetcar tracks. When I'm in the park, I can never walk across it without thinking back to that dress rehearsal, but the memory doesn't stress me out. It is a humorous story, and I even told it to a conference room full of people, during a "group interview" for a job. They asked us to recall the most humorous thing that had ever happened on a job.
ReplyDeleteSo if this is December of 1976, that must be the very same Christmas tree and decorations that we see in the background of Sandy Duncan's TV special, "Christmas in Disneyland." That's the one where Main Street was frozen over with ice, so that Mickey and Minnie could skate on it.
Thanks, Major! And a very merry Christmas, to ya!
These are the most picturesque trash can photos ever posted.
ReplyDeleteCheers to our unknown photographer for thinking of this workaround. I used to have a tiny folding tripod for just these kinds of situations, but I rarely used it.
I guess this means I should take down my Easter bunnies and Fourth of July bunting then?
Thanks for the holiday post Major!
JG
Nanook, I celebrated Halloween last month, just so I can lord it over everyone!
ReplyDeleteLou and Sue, er… why would that second image trigger TokyoMagic’s PTSD? And I don’t see the alien!
JB, your mention of “When You Wish Upon a Star” reminds me, you used to hear that song when you walked through the castle archway, but not the last time I was at the park. It made me a little sad not to hear it. I also thought that the shiny trashcan surface looked a bit like water reflections! The famous Main Street river. It must have been quite a trick to take even a “just OK” night photo in 1976, but all things considered, these turned out decently. I need to stay away from Halloween candy this year!
Lou and Sue, oh, I was looking in the wrong place. I think I see him!
TokyoMagic!, I’m glad that you don’t wake up in a cold sweat, screaming from your parade mishap! I hope you got the job for that group interview - I’ve never even heard of a group interview for a job!! Knowing that Sandy Duncan might have been nearby recently is thrilling, sort of like visiting Walt’s Apartment and seeing his grilled cheese sandwich press.
JG, I’m amazed how often our comments overlap! I’ll bet this photographer looked through his viewfinder but didn’t think that so much of the image would be taken up by the trashcan. I have a tripod too, but the idea of lugging that thing around Disneyland all day is no bueno. Leave your Easter and 4th of July decorations up, you’ll be glad you did!
ReplyDeleteI think they put little rubbery strips in the tracks in "pain points" now before the parades...Sandy Duncan and Disneyland go along just as well as EJ Peaker and the Osmonds. EJ: Still around...and still in Encino. Christmas at Disneyland was really quite magical...despite the enormous crowds (at least it was cool). I miss a real tree, and although "I get it"...I don't really get it. As a self proclaimed tree hugger and long standing member of the Arbor Foundation...I still think it would be plausible to get one tree...just like Rock Center...plant 100 more trees...use the leftovers for mulch, and lumber....I think it's all the fireproofing and chems...but they could find a way to combat that as well. I find the artificial tree they put up not only looks artificial, it looks plastic and cheap....sorry Park decorators. Get your OWN mold...make your own tree, that doesn't look like a pencil sharpener shaped it and be original. It's possible. Back in "Ye olden days" basically Christmas didn't start at Disneyland until after Thanksgiving...which was nice....I think Halloween went up there a month ago....so Christmas isn't that far away. I DID see my first Christmas commercial last week...for buying artificial trees and "getting your order in early". I agree that you should do it now: as things sell out: Just like shopping for outdoor furniture in February...if you wait until Spring...nothing is left: or it's all backordered until way after Summer. Take heed: I used to be in that business. I also commissioned faux olive trees....which nobody could tell the difference between the real ones and the artificial ones. They weren't cheap. I think we paid about 50K each, which included the assembly: which was very intricate because each tree was individual to not be so "cookie cutter". We took molds from our existing 100+ year old olive tree trunks and limbs. Christmas at Disneyland at night is even more special, even for an old cynic like myself. I'll agree that that's an alien in pic #2...holding a dagger behind it's back...sneaking up to the fur coat lady: whose holding some kind of witches broom or something. Speaking of olive trees they also look very magical with their twinkling lights and interesting branch structures. They pruned these trees so specifically and expertly. Fantasy on Parade was my favorite parade, and bring back the Silly Reindeer and Glock Girls! Thanks Major for the Christmas "ping"....it will be here before you know it!
ReplyDeleteChristmas in early September??? Major...are we in Costco? No, these shots match my memories of the time. And in fact it was the last Christmas as a CM for me...though I stayed aboard on the ROP program into 1978. A real tree indeed...and like BU, a far superior option. But I was told that fire regulations were going to make them prohibitive in the future. So this is a scene that was seen...by me... in real life and time. Looks like it was close to closing with all the folks walking down Main Street. KS
ReplyDeleteHey, KS. Didn't you say, a while back, that you lived in (or near) Sisters, OR? There has been a large wildfire in that area for the last few weeks.... You doin' OK?
ReplyDeleteMajor, your response reminds me of the description of the grocery store in Cannery Row where the decorations for all the holidays were left up on display year-round. Mack and the boys bought some Easter decor for Doc's birthday party, IIRC. Makes sense now with the 90 day lead time between holidays.
ReplyDeleteI've been meaning to get some better LED Christmas lights for my shrubs and by the time I think to get them, everything is cleaned out.
JG