Ya gotta love the Columbia. YA GOTTA. It just looks so great. Imagine how somebody from 1958 (the year the Columbia debuted) must have felt seeing this in an amusement park. On that beautiful river! It's an impressive feat, one that I think we're so used to now that we don't really appreciate it. Anyway, there it is, in the summer of 1970. It was a mere 12 years old in these photos. I like it when there are sails, even if they aren't fully unfurled, it just adds to the authenticity. Meanwhile, I'm staying away from that group of teenagers.
I wonder if the Mark Twain was closed for maintenance? The sailing ship is about as full as it can get. I'm noticing that the lanterns that are sometimes seen hanging from the ends of the yards (which were always freshly-mown) are missing, which is a shame. I've never known if they were lit at night, but assume so - it must have looked amazing.
Major-
ReplyDelete"Meanwhile, I'm staying away from that group of teenagers".
I don't know, Major... those are about the squarest-looking teenagers I've ever seen from 1970-! (As for the Columbia - it is never square - just perfect).
Thanks, Major.
Wow, the Columbia is jam-packed! The guests are 'sardined'. That's the opposite of being 'spaghettified' in a black hole.
ReplyDeleteMajor, you're wise to stay clear of those teens (nevermind what Nanook is saying ;-)). Not one is wearing a tie! Or sporting a clean-cut crew-cut! The girls' hemlines are waaaay up there! And one of guys is even wearing a [gasp!] beret! When teens congregate like that, you know they are up to no good.... Swan food, says I.
Really nice picture. I like how the sun is barely highlighting the upper sails.
Oooh! This one is fantastic! Look at the detail in the draped sails. And the shadowy areas look great. I believe I will keep this one. So majestic!
Better than usual photos today, Major. Thanks.
Look closer, Major: The lanterns are there, in both pictures!
ReplyDeleteThe last time I was in the park, the Twain (as his close friends call him) was down, which meant an uncrowded ride on the Columbia! We went below decks and checked out the mini-museum too. It was all fun and games until that cannon went off, I tell you what!
ReplyDeleteDon't worry, thst group of teens isn't in a gang. I can tell because they aren't wearing matching jackets and snapping their fingers in perfect unison. No signs of impromptu dance numbers either...
Landscape So lush, beautiful full bodied riggings. Nice kids, mild crowds. Who could ask for more?
ReplyDeleteMS
I love the Columbia, especially on sail, it’s a bargain.
ReplyDeleteSeriously though, imagine ironing those things.
She can’t hold one more guest in that first photo. “Gunnels awash”, as the old timers say… ( some nautical lingo there).
Thanks Major!
JG
Nanook, that’s how they fool you! They look “square”, and then the switchblades come out. I seen it with my own eyes!
ReplyDeleteJB, I imagine cast members jamming guests aboard the Columbia, sort of like guys who push people into the trains in Japan. Once I saw a teenager chewing gum (loudly), but I was too afraid to say anything because he might have laughed at me. As for berets, those are some weird hats. I’m sorry, French people. I can’t decide if this is a good thing or a bad thing, but I just scanned a lot of old slides of the Columbia.
Steve DeGaetano, oh yeah! Just four (I think), on the lower yards (I hope I’m using “yards” correctly). Though I thought that they originally had more lanterns, even on the higher yards?
Stu29573, the one time I rode the Columbia (because the Twain was down), the below-decks museum wasn’t open, so I have still never seen that. Riding the Columbia was nice for a change, but I prefer the Mark Twain for my river voyages. You make a good point about the finger snapping, though it’s possible that now they all twerk in unison.
MS, 1970 might not have been a good era for many things, but it was a good era for Disneyland!
Steve DeGaetano, doing a very quick search for pictures of the Columbia, I guess I was mistaken about lanterns being up on the higher yardarms!
ReplyDeleteYes, Major, you're using "yards" correctly! They were only on the fore yard, main yard and mizzen yard. And in each picture, you can make them our (three visible in each picture).
ReplyDeleteso sad and silly that the WDW river has been desecrated
ReplyDelete