Here are three Magic Kingdom RANDOS for you! Starting with this photo from November 1973. If you wanted, you could have your poor kid sit still while an artist drew her portrait in pastels. The look on her face speaks volumes. I wonder how long a typical drawing took? It seems to have been a popular feature, but it's possible that, over time, guests passed it by.
Next is a beautiful photo, dated "November, 1978"; the sun has just set, and the sky is all pinks and violets. The Tomorrowland entrance pylons/fountains look striking at this time of day - the castle moat reflects them in a wiggly way. Which is the best way to do anything, you must admit.
And finally, an undated and unusual night photo showing the Tomorrowland entrance looking straight in from the Plaza. I love seeing the Star Jets Saturn V rocket spotlit as if it was on a launchpad at Cape Kennedy.
Major-
ReplyDeleteThe original entrance to Tomorrowland was so striking and elegant. (As for that gal having her likeness preserved 'for the ages' - her expression exudes the very personification of happiness-! Webster's take note...)
Thanks, Major.
Poor kid. I think she's blinking "S-O-S" with her eyes. She's probably thinking of all the wonderful, magical things she could be seeing and doing if she wasn't stuck in this chair. The artist doen't seem to mind her less-than- joyful expression.
ReplyDeleteAh, that magical twilight time of day when it's getting darker and the lights are all coming on. It never fails to produce a deep-felt mood change in everything... for the better.
The lighted pylons remind me of the flashlights with colored cones attached that movie theater employees use when checking the auditorium... They also remind me of candy corn.
A nice Saturday visit to WDW. Thanks, Major.
The WDW TOMORROWLAND Sunset image would have to be from 1973-1983. The Plaza Swan Boat landing is visible (1973)…. And the entry pylons and shields do not yet have their tile mural pattern yet (1983). The Tomorrowland nite time shot is 1975-1983 …. Possibly 1974 since the Star Jets and WEDWAY were testing by then even though they did not have their grand opening till 1975. If I could read the Circle Vision and Spaceport signs I could pin point the year even closer . It’s odd that SPACE MOUNTAIN isn’t even slightly visible in the nite shot …. At least even its bright glow.
ReplyDeleteFrom the look on the face of "portrait girl," I'm wondering if her parents had told her that they would be back in an hour or so, after they finish riding Space Mountain a couple times.
ReplyDeleteThose two shots of the Tomorrowland entrance are beautiful. The fact that they demolished that entrance is another case of THEY RUIN EVERYTHING! Once again, I'm okay with change, as long as what replaces something is at least as good, if not better than what was there before. Unfortunately, Disney management doesn't feel the same way. They love to replace perfection with crapola.
When visiting the Magic Kingdom back in 1978 I remember the Tomorrowland entrance still has its wonderful water elements intact and working. It was really beautiful. Then when I returned in 1983 to see EPCOT Center, I also returned the Magic Kingdom. Seeing the Tomorrowland entrance again, I saw that it had its water elements removed and changed/painted to look like Tokyo Disneyland's Tomorrowland entrance. I was very disappointed.
ReplyDeleteI was also disappointed to discover the water fountains in Adventureland's Caribbean Plaza had been filled with dirt and flowers later on. These are wonderful photos of when the Magic Kingdom was at it's best. Thanks, Major.
Ah, the Magic Kingdom when it was at its best. You still had the early attractions, but they had been augmented with POTC, Space Mountain, the COP, and all the “upstairs” Tomorrowland attractions. The fountains all worked per the original design parameters, there were two steamboats, the Adventureland Veranda was open, and the Teacups had sprouted a roof to protect it from Florida rain and sunshine. The only thing missing was the Western River Expedition, and that would never be. I’d love to see this place in person again.
ReplyDeleteThe second photo sent me down a rabbit hole. I had forgotten about the restaurant to the north of the entrance to Tomorrowland, looking out over the Plaza canal and Castle moat. This was the (confusingly-named for us Disneyland people) Plaza Pavilion. The Tomorrowland Terrace was the restaurant to the south of the entrance. They combined the two into the Tomorrowland Terrace Noodle Station in 1994, which eventually became just the Tomorrowland Terrace. I think the northern seating area is now mostly used for an upcharge fireworks viewing area (not sure if it comes with a Zinger).
The last image is pretty impressive for a handheld night photo of the era. It’s got just a hint of softness, with the only visible motion blur in the water to either side of the entrance.
Thanks, Major, for a great excuse to put off changing the oil in my car for another hour!
Argh. I must have accidentally overwritten my commentary on the first photo.
ReplyDeleteNote the mom in the floral blouse peering around the corner of the easel to check the progress on her daughter’s picture. “Can you hurry it up? We have reservations at King Stefan’s in 10 minutes!”
You can see from the little bit that’s visible of the portrait of the girl doing the Jeremiah Denton impersonation that these were rendered in a realistic style, unlike the rapid caricatures we are used to seeing at theme parks and carnivals today. I wonder if these were a popular thing before the caricatures came along? My grandmother had a yellowed charcoal profile portrait of my mom hanging in her living room, but I don’t recall the story behind it and now I can’t ask either of them about it. :-(
There - I’ve managed to stall another 10 minutes…