Today's Jungle Cruise Snoozles are a cut above the usual hippos and elephants - I almost feel guilty relegating them to a Sunday! Almost. This first one is dated "March 1961", and is a charming portrait of some Muppety-looking lions chowing down on a nice juicy zebra (because of my clipped British accent, when I say "zebra", it rhymes with "Debra". Classy, right?). The lion to the left thinks it tastes pretty gross, and would prefer a Double-Double from In-and-Out (with grilled onions). The vultures overhead serenade the lions with their beautiful song. "Gra-a-a-a-a-ak!".
As a kid, and even now, the original gorillas that could be seen bobbing up and down in a threatening manner were my favorites. "Really? You like gorillas, Major? Prove it!". You'll just have to take my word for it. This photo is from May, 1960; I believe that there were two gorillas seen during the Cruise, but there should have been at least 50. As I've mentioned in the past, these fellows were eventually redressed as the Yetis in the Matterhorn. Just thinking about them makes me remember their fierce roars, which sounded like an old guy growling into an empty mayonnaise jar.
Your mention of "Muppety" got me thinking... This pic, and the Muppety aminals (sic) remind me of an early scene from The Dark Crystal. The setting and lighting look similar. I have the Vultures vinyl LP. Actually, I have both of them! "Let's Gra-a-a-a-a-ak!", and "Let's Gra-a-a-a-a-ak! Again!"
ReplyDeleteThis is a pretty good photo of the JC gorilla. Most of the time all you see is a dark blurry head in a dark blurry jungle. The gorilla's pose is not the best, but this is 1960, and things were a little 'experimental' in the early days of the Park. I recognize the "growling into an empty mayonnaise jar" as a real thing that they did, but I can't remember for what...bear growls, maybe?
Thanks for the Jungle Croozles, Major.
That scene in the first photo seems completely new to me. Is this the first time on GDB that we are seeing a pre-1964 version of the "lions eating a zebra" scene? I like that it is so "jungle-y" around them, and also that the vultures are on a higher branch looking down on the scene.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the nice Snoozles™, Major!
The “double vulture” vignette was a popular one with WED - jungle cruise , Snow White’s scary adventures , America Sings , big thunder mountain railroad …. Maybe there’s others ??
ReplyDeleteI think Jimmy McDonald used the glass cylinder of a cyclone lamp to create various animal growls … most often of Bears and Yetis..
Major, your pronunciation is correct, since “zebra” starts with “zed”. Debra will approve.
ReplyDeleteLike others, I do not remember the lions scene, but the gorillas look familiar. I’m glad they got promoted and can now work inside. Being out in the weather all day is hard as one ages.
A burger would be better than raw zebra, but that could be improved with a little salt.
Thanks for these interesting JC pics, Major. I’m going off to growl into my mayonnaise jar.
JG
JB, I remember when The Dark Crystal came out, and there was a film with some of the puppeteers showing how carefully they moved the puppets so that they looked like they were actually walking. But you know what? The puppets still looked like somebody’s arm was bobbing up and down inside them. That is definitely not the worst photo I’ve seen of the JC Gorilla, who I think of as the unofficial mascot of this blog!
ReplyDeleteTokyoMagic!, we’ve seen that tableau of the muppety lions before, but not often. I think that, like the gorilla scene, it was often dark and had to photograph. The vultures are a nice touch! There are turkey vultures aplenty in San Luis Obispo. they often roost in the tall eucalyptus trees near my sister’s house and make weird crashing noises in the dark.
Mike Cozart, I was joking about the mayonnaise jar - I think there’s actual footage of Jimmy McDonald doing his bear growl into the hurricane lantern cover.
JG, ha, I definitely thought of Deb when writing that line! Thanks to my older brother’s fascination with gorillas even as a child, we were always excited to see the scruffy JC gorillas bobbingup and down in their peculiar manner. Remember, the mayonnaise jar has to be empty for a growl to really work!
The only thing 'snoozing' in the jungle was a few of my crews when they were all non English speaking! Yes there were two of the gorillas. Happy Holiday everyone.
ReplyDelete"There are turkey vultures aplenty in San Luis Obispo. they often roost in the tall eucalyptus trees near my sister’s house and make weird crashing noises in the dark."
ReplyDeleteMajor, please explain more. You've piqued my curiosity.
KS, I'm guessing that last comment is from you...
When your boat was full of non-English-speaking guests, was there anything you were 'taught' to do, as the Skipper? Point and pantomime??
Always great to be on the Jungle Cruise, thank you, Major.
Oh I forgot! WED also used the pair of Vultures vignette in “IF YOU HAD VULTURE WINGS” Turkey Vultures are nasty looking creatures …
ReplyDeleteAnonymous, ha ha, I guess the Jungle Cruise loses something when the crew can’t understand all the corny puns!
ReplyDeleteLou and Sue, I’m not sure what those vultures are doing up in the trees, but they often roost in groups, and they sometimes seem to bang around, flap their wings, and make a ruckus. They must be teenagers, no respect for their neighbors! Oh hm, I was wondering who “Anonymous” was, you might be right about it being KS!
Mike Cozart, it is kind of weird about the number of vultures in Disney films and rides. I think my “favorite” is the two that watch the evil hag falling to her death - after which they take flight. TO EAT HER! Pretty gruesome.
There are also vultures in Disneyland's Frontierland Shootin' Exposition!
ReplyDeleteMy mom had lived in her house 50 years, and we had never seen vultures in the neighborhood. Then one day, there were a pair on the telephone pole behind her house. They appeared there semi-regularly for about two weeks, and then we never saw them again. I don't know what was going on in the neighborhood during that specific time. A rotting carcass perhaps?