Last Two From July, 1970
I noticed that I only had two remaining scans from a batch dated "July, 1970"... they're not that exciting, but they belong together, like pasketti and meatballs. (Now I'm hungry);
This is a pretty nice view from a Skyway gondola, heading backwards toward the Fantasyland Chalet. There was no roaring yeti inside the Matterhorn at this point, it was just a big somewhat unthemed space. Still, I wish I remembered it more clearly - like many things from my childhood, I never thought anything would change, and so I didn't appreciate them until they were gone. There are no bobsleds visible, which is a bummer, but we shall carry on. The Rocket Jets are in the distance, as is the Grand Hotel.
If you're going to have a slide showing the façade of It's a Small World, it is a plus to have the mechanical clock in action. The toy soldiers are playing their drums, while a parade of dolls in costumes from around the world march past. I loved this feature when I was a child - and I still do.
7 comments:
Maybe it’s just my wild imagination, but do I spy a bobsled in that right, uppermost mountain opening?
Beautiful IASW shot…thank you, Major.
In the first pic, if that blouse had horizontal stripes (instead of vertical), it would look like the American flag was riding in that turquoise Skyway gondola!
Thanks, Major!
@ Sue-
"... but do I spy a bobsled in that right, uppermost mountain opening?"
I was thinking the same thing; but pretty difficult to tell with certainty.
Major-
Let's show a little love for one of the spires from the Mr. Toad show building roof.
Thanks, Major.
Major, how do you know this was taken from a Skyway gondola? It could've been taken from a flying crow with a camera strapped to the top of its head! Or maybe one of the Screechy's grasping the camera in its talons! But it's your blog, so I guess I'll just have to go with your (utterly baseless) theory of a Skyway gondola. :-D
(As Tokyo! noted) The two guests in gondola #25 are dressed like the American flag: One, blue with 'stars', the other with red and white stripes. I don't think that was a coincidence, given that these were taken in July. Maybe they were taken on July 4th! Interesting that the rockwork on the right, where the waterfall comes out, is a different color. It looks nice that way but I wonder if it was done on purpose?
Wow, this 'small world' scan is especially nice and clear! Was it taken with one of the larger film formats? I'm keepin' it! There wasn't anything like this facade at the 1964 NYWF, was there? Disneyland guests definitely got a better experience with this immense facade and clock. It's half the show!
Sue and Nanook, There definitely looks like there's something in that opening on the right. A horizontal stripe and a couple of highlights... OK, after adjusting the contrast, etc., it sure seems to be a Bobsled, a red one. And I think I see people riding in it. Of course, I also thought that the pic was taken from a crow, so take that into consideration. :-p
Really nice photos, Major.
These are a great start to the week, Major!
The inside of the 1970 Matterhorn was themed (slightly) as ice caves with the interior steel frame covered but not-too-convincing concrete “ice” and “rocks”, vaguely greenish-white and not well lighted. The best view was from the skyway since the bobsleds moved too fast after the lift hill. The initial advertising of the attraction before opening touted these ice caves as another feature of the ride experience, which was a reach in my opinion. I still miss it though.
I choose to believe that is the hindquarters of a bobsled barely visible in that cave. Either that, or the bustle of a ‘57 Ford. The bobsled is more likely.
That’s a fine picture of IASW, I can imagine Rolly putting down his pencils with satisfaction after finishing that sketch. The clock and figurines is yet another genius design from a group that regularly produced genius designs. We will never see their like again.
Thanks Major, saving the best for last!
JG
Lou and Sue, I want to believe that there is a bobsled up there, but, unless I’m not looking in the right place, I don’t see one.
TokyoMagic!, ha, she looks like the Star Spangled Banner hanging at the Smithsonian!
Nanook, I will never acknowledge the Mr. Toad spires! They think they’re so great. They need to learn a little something called “humility”.
JB, I mean, there IS a crow problem at Disneyland, so your point is valid. One time I took a short video of the hundreds of crows that gathered on top of the Disneyland Hotel. Locals call it “crow o’clock”. I agree, the patriotic gals had to have planned out their outfits - I like it. They aren’t dressed alike, but still go together. Nope, these were standard 35mm slides, but you can really tell when a guest had a nicer camera with a better lens. I just scanned a bunch of slides, they are all so soft that I almost tossed the whole batch. But then I decided to keep half (or so), even though they definitely have issues. I am away from home so I couldn’t use Photoshop to look in the shadows better, if you say there is a bobsled in there, I believe you!
JG, well I sure did not know that there were “ice caves” inside the Matterhorn at the early-ish date of 1970. Although now that I think of it, a 1959 banner mentions “ice caverns”, I believe. I never knew what they meant. I won’t be able to check that photo for the bobsled until later tonight, or possibly until Wednesday night, depending on how my schedule goes. And by Wednesday I will forget! While I believe that today’s Imagineers are capable of some neat stuff, there’s always the old budget issues. “Why pay for a mechanical clock that most people won’t even see?”.
Major-
"... a 1959 banner mentions “ice caverns...”"
And a 'certain' famous attraction poster... Race Thru Alpine Passes and Ice Caverns In - MATTERHORN BOBSLEDS. Ah-hem-!
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