It's time for some delicious LEFTUGGIES!™
This first one is date-stamped "June 1970", and is interesting because it shows one of Bob Gurr's lesser-known designs. Of course he was responsible for the familiar Omnibuses, but he designed another one, with three levels, just to see if it could be done. According to an issue of "Disney News", it was humorously referred to by Cast Members as the "Tromnibus" - the view from the top must have been something! I wish we could ask Bob why the Tromnibus was retired after such a short time, but I'm very happy to have this rare photo of it.
Next we have a photo from August, 1970, featuring a scene from the Mine Train Through Nature's Wonderland. We've all seen this tableau plenty of times, viewed as a train crossed a trestle bridge; those four bears are living the life! Fishing, scratching, burping... three of my favorite things to do. Why, I have half a mind to jump out of the train and join them. But I don't want to get all pruny. As a famous and insanely wealthy blogger, I have an image to uphold.
Good job, Major! I always love these posts.
ReplyDeleteI think the Tromnibus was always tipping over in the Santa Ana winds!
Thanks, Major! And happy you-know-what!
Major-
ReplyDeleteI can't remember the last time I thought about the Tickle Room. I was always told it was one of Walt's favorites in the Park. It's too bad Walt didn't live long enough to see how it inspired Tyco Toys to develop the Tickle Me Elmo Doll.
Thanks, Major.
Good job! You had me going for a minute.
ReplyDeleteMy guess for retiring the "Tromnibus" after only a short run, is that guests in the upper level suffered from nosebleeds. That, and (as Tokyo! noted) the Tromnibus had a nasty tendency to tip over. Even more so than the double-decker Stagecoach, which also had a very short run.
ReplyDeleteIf you've heard it once, you've heard it a thousand times, "Gorillas don't fish". Yet, here is the proof! Which has me doubting the other common saying, "Gorillas don't blog". Interesting how the Imagineers made the gorilla so much more life-like than the scraggly-looking bears.
Thank you for these, Major. It's been a while since the last time we saw pics like this. And they are especially welcome at a time when the world is going crazy.
I'm not afraid to admit that for 30 seconds, I was had.
ReplyDeleteHa ha, that AI is crazy.
ReplyDeleteHappy foolery fest
MS
The short-lived Tromnibus, cousin to the 3-decker Keel Boat, and all subject to center-of-gravity issues.
ReplyDeleteThat Gorilla is definitely Not Blogging, but he looks happy. Fits right in with those bears.
Great stuff today, Major! Very apropos.
JG
:oD Major, your pics are going to spread all over the internet, today, plus I know we’ll see the 2nd one in nature magazines—along with the happy bathing baby elephant from JC.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Major. Don’t be anybody’s fool, today.
AI images have ruined April Fool's day for us :-) A triple decker bus and a gorilla cavorting with bears seem like something that would show up in official Disney concept art generated by AI.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your efforts to keep AFD alive.
TokyoMagic!, “Good job”? What do you mean? I’ll take the compliment, though! Happy Wednesday? Just don’t call it “hump day”, this is a family blog.
ReplyDeleteNanook, oh you don’t have to tell me about Tickle Me Elmo dolls, I have 40 of them.
Budblade, not sure what you mean? I just scanned two slides.
JB, they put gold bars at the bottom of the Tromnibus for ballast. It was a good idea when you think about it. All I see is four bears in that second photo. Sure, one of them is sort of funny looking, but we all have our flaws.
Steve DeGaetano, do you mean that you were fooled by a Nigerian prince? Don't give them money!
MS, I’ve never knowingly used AI ever (Google searches don’t count, unless they do).
Lou and Sue, I see my stuff all over the Internet anyway, so nothing will change!
Dean Finder, all I can say is that this might be the end of an era…