Tomorrowland Entrance, January 1966
Vintage Tomorrowland, it's the bee's knees, it's the cat's pajamas, it's the weasel's hat! In other words, I like it. I guess I could have just said that in the first place.
It's January, 1966 (or so the date-stamp says), and the Land of Tomorrow looks pretty swell as seen from the Plaza. What a beautiful Winter day it was, with brilliant sunshine and a blue sky, with only a few scattered clouds. Almost everyone is wearing a coat, or at least a sweater, so there must have been a bite in the air. With the New Tomorrowland coming in less than seven months, you'd think that we'd already see construction walls, or some evidence of the enormous project that will be underway so soon.
Here's a second shot, clouds have moved in (or maybe they moved out in the first picture), it's probably going to rain and ruin my new curly perm. Pay no attention to that boy in the foreground. Or that other boy with the black coat. Let's make a deal, don't pay attention to any boys. We can see somebody standing in front of the Clock of the World, trying to figure out what time it is. Melvin Douglas's rocket looks swell, the Hall of Chemistry beckons (chemistry = explosions), and we could hang a left and check out America the Beautiful.
10 comments:
Major-
I assume we're seeing the same CM in both images hiding in and among the guests. In the 1st image [and barely in the 2nd] we can spot a white platform evidently for a follow spot [covered in plastic]; and as the color filters are attached externally to the front, that would be a Strong Trouper. (Is this a hold-out for use in a Xmas parade-?)
The young gentleman down front in the 2nd image is evidently rehearsing for a bit part in Bewitched.
Thanks, Major.
Funny, how we can't see the Moonliner from this angle, slightly to the right of where most of these photos looking into Tomorrowland are taken. Is it behind one of those green Pipecleaner Trees? And hey, there's a TV camera (or is it a follow spot?) [Edit: Nanook says it's a follow spot] draped in plastic sheeting on the left. Just below that are a couple of men in uniform. The uniforms look a little to ornate to be military. Maybe the guys are Disneyland Band members? The lady in the white coat, sitting on the bench, looks like she's getting ready to jump up, rush over to the right, and slap a teenager upside the head for stepping on some flowers.
Ok, now that you said so, I can't NOT look at the boys! They're both smoking cigars, so any minute now they'll turn into donkeys. I suppose those things are root beer flavored hard candy sticks from the Candy Palace? The kid in front looks like he's blowing snot out his nose; to each his own. The tall guy in the dark blue jacket has a patch on his shirt. Is that the Castle in the middle of the patch? It doesn't look like a CM tag to me.
Nice, bright, and clear photos today, Major. Good for people watching too. Thanks.
Nanook, I agree that the spotlight and platform must be for the Xmas Parade. If these slides were date stamped "January 1966," then it's quite possible that the photos were taken in December. Also, the Christmas parade would run on into January, until the end of what the schools used to call "Christmas Vacation." I think today, they run the Xmas parade and keep the decorations up even longer than that.
I suppose those things are root beer flavored hard candy sticks
JB, they might even be horehound candy sticks. They very well could be root beer flavored, but I just wanted to use the word, "horehound." (Knott's Berry Farm sells horehound candy in the Ghost Town's General Store.)
I hate to disagree with you, Major, but I think New Tomorrowland wasn't due for another 19 months, in July of 1967.
Look at how those benches are just stuck out int the walkway at an odd angle. And even with all that bench seating, there's still a guy sitting on the ground.
I have searched all of those state flags and still can't find the one from the State of Confusion.
JB, I think you are right - those kids are in band uniforms.
Thanks, Major!
As cool as this entry was, the 1967 version was definitely the bee's knees. I miss them both.
The folks sitting down in the first photo look like people from my hometown, you would see them in the front row at church, at the grocery store, teaching in the school. Just old, grumpy, salt-of-the-earth folks.
Thanks Major!
JG
What a beautiful, brisk day in January (December?)! I can't help but notice the unusual placement of benches in the first photo. One seems to be right in the middle of the walkway, turned perpendicular to the street. Could it be that they get moved into place for the parade? That lady in the white sweater looks like she is trying to hold onto three spots on that bench! Or maybe she's trying to soak up some Winter rays. Either way, these people might be getting ready to watch the parade. Thanks Major!
Omnispace, a parade makes sense. That guy isn’t sitting on the ground, he’s sitting on the curb.
Chalk one up on today's eye exam test. January 1966...nearly 60 years ago. Where does the time go?
In that first shot, I see a tall CM in a blue jacket. And there are two benches perpendicular to the Plaza, and it appears to be holiday season. So, looks to me like the CM will be doing parade crowd control. The benches are configured to keep an isle way cleared for the passage of guests and personnel to cross the street during intervals in the Parade. I originally thought the two white hatted fellows are Security but also am wondering if they are Navy enlisted instead. It's a toss-up.
The second photo shows a jacketed CM in white and my immediate thought is that he's a sweeper. KS
Nanook, even after reading your comment, I am not sure which person you mean. And a Christmas parade is a good guess, who knows, it might have even been filmed for TV! Doesn’t the “nose kid” know that you can just wiggle the nose without the use of digits?
JB, yeah, the angle is a bit off for seeing the Moonliner, I’m sure it is behind one of those trees. I meant to mention those guys in the uniforms; I’m not sure if they are from the Disneyland Band or not, somehow the outfits look a bit different, but I don’t know why else they would be there. I think that lady should slap every teenager, you know they’re always up to something! I admit that I have no idea what that one kid is gnawing on, maybe it IS a root beer flavored hard ccandy stick. I agree, foreground kid looks like he’s doing the “farmer’s blow”. And AHA, thank you, now I see the guy Nanook was talking about. He must be a sweeper, with a cardigan for chilly weather.
TokyoMagic!, yes, for sure, if these are dated fro January, they were surely taken days or weeks earlier. Funny how there’s not any obvious evidence of Christmas, unlike today. I remember horehound candy from when I lived in Pennsylvania. I’ve never had it though, because of the name! I was going to suggest an alternate name for it, but it is too rude, so I will keep it to myself.
Chuck, wait, how does time work again?? Why IS that guy sitting on the ground? “That bench is too good for me”. I think I’m in the State of Confusion.
JG, I’m like you, as much as I love the 1967 New Tomorrowland entrance, I have a lot of fondness for this version that I only know from photos (even though I probably did see it like this when I was little). I’ll bet the folks on the bench are happy to be resting their feet, I hope they are happier than they look.
Omnispace, ha, everybody noticed the benches! I’m guessing (as you suggested) that this was done before a parade, which would also explain the presence of those band guys. The lady with the white sweater is “man-spreading”! Somebody should tell her. I’ve actually looked for an empty bench in Town Square on a busy day and seen one person manage to take up an entire bench by themselves.
Chuck, according to Einstein, the curb is technically part of the ground. Haven’t you read his 3,000 page paper??
KS, oops, I was commenting when you commented. Parade crowd control? Where is that guy’s electric cattle prod?? People need persuasion. WITH EXTREME PREJUDICE, as somebody once said. I think the guys with the uniforms are Good Humor men! DW will verify for us. And I agree, the guy walking toward us is a sweeper.
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