The walk-around characters of Disneyland are real rock stars, everyone sees them and wants a piece of them. They remember their innocent, early days, before they knew of the double-edged sword of celebrity. Well, boo-hoo! That's what I have to say about it. In fact, that's what I have to say about everything.
There's Goofy, attracting hoards of fans outside the American Egg House (formerly the Hills Bros. Coffee House). Is the man with the pale shirt-and-tie behind him his "handler"? When a guest becomes particularly enthusiastic, he might have to use his electric cattle prod. Don't worry, they hardly feel it through their thick hides! Cattle, I mean; it hurts like heck if you're a hu-man.
Nearby, a grown woman has knocked over three children so that she can have her photo taken with Pluto, one of the most huggable characters. Two boys to the left prefer lampposts anyway - always have, always will. There's a woman to the right...
... somehow she reminds me of Gladys Kravitz from "Bewitched"!
Major-
ReplyDeleteI think the use of cattle prods on unruly guests is TOO GOOD-! Something more deadly seems in order these times.
The expression on the lady 'staring' into Pluto's mouth appears to be one of disgust. Perhaps she's a dental hygienist and feels the need to start cleaning immediately.
The Gladys Kravitz look-alike (well, the 1st Gladys Kravitz, Alice Pearce, who died following Season 2, and was then replaced by Sandra Gould for the duration of the series) looks as sullen as her 'friend'. It doesn't appear The happiest place on earth has made much of an impression on either one of them...
Thanks, Major.
I should note actor George Tobias, who played Abner Kravitz for the entire series, teamed up with Alice Pearce in 1965 to play identical roles [Mr. & Mrs. Fenimore] who happened to be next door neighbors to Doris Day in the film The Glass Bottom Boat, released in 1966.
DeleteGoofy looks like he just partook of some 'magic mushrooms' before going onstage. He's having an out-of-body experience. Or maybe the CM inside the costume is having an in-a-body experience and it's being transferred to the Goof. I think the dark haired lady is using a camcorder. It looks like the little guy meeting Goofy has a white headband. I remember people wearing headbands back then, but.... why? Or maybe it's a strap to hold his glasses on when he rides Space Mountain.
ReplyDeleteHmmm, I'm not seeing Gladys Kravitz in that woman, other than the stern, accusatory expression. She does remind me of another actress I've seen in movies or TV, but I can't place her at the moment. And while we're discussing look-alikes, the woman who knocked over three children reminds me of Khrushchev in disguise. He finally made it into Disneyland!
Nanook, I wonder if that lady (Khrushchev in disguise) can see the CM's face inside Pluto's mouth?
It's always a pleasant surprise to see costumed characters here on GDB. Thanks, Major.
Oh, and boo-hoo! ;-p
Ancient memory of looking into Goofy's open mouth and seeing a guy wearing a black mesh mask (a nylon stocking?) over his head. A bit more disconcerting than the obvious little window in the hats of big face characters.
ReplyDeleteToday saw a clip on Facebook from a guy at Disneyland waiting in a 90 minute line for a "Patriotic Mickey" meet and greet. Somebody who braved traffic, crowds, and expense to be in the park on a holiday weekend is choosing to spend a good chunk of the day for a chance to stand next to a masked, silent performer. It's one thing to wait with a kid (or without a kid) to chat with a pretty princess, but even there I'd check other wait times if the sign said 60 minutes.
Many years ago in the Magic Kingdom, I recall sitting on a bench with a sundae (swell, and no wait at all) when the Seven Dwarfs ambled by, trailed by a giddy mob of mostly adults. It wasn't clear what they thought the dwarfs were going to do that they needed to be part of; my guess was they were headed offstage for a break. Had a mental picture of Disney executives drawing up plans: "We could spend thirty million on a ride here, or hire some more college students to wear costumes ... "
Don't get me wrong, it does my heart good to see little kids excited by Mickey and the gang. But when it's rigorously organized to serve autograph collecting and unfunny Influencers who use them as stooges ... It's late and I'm getting cranky so good night all.
Perhaps she's a dental hygienist and feels the need to start cleaning immediately.
ReplyDeleteNanook......and since Pluto doesn't appear to have any teeth, she might be looking at his bacteria- coated tongue and thinking, "Gee, I wish I had a tongue scraper with me!"
It looks like the little guy meeting Goofy has a white headband. I remember people wearing headbands back then, but.... why?
JB, I know some athletes/tennis players were already wearing headbands (and wrist bands) in the 1970s, but I wonder if it was Olivia Newton-John who accelerated the trend, with her 1981 "Physical" video?
The kid on the far left of the second pic is wearing a "Steamboat Willie" skipper's hat. I remember those being sold at "The Mod Hatter" hat stand for many years. I always liked the embroidered patch of Steamboat Willie and was tempted to buy one, but I never did.
Thanks, Major!
Nanook, I originally thought that a pointy stick was a good idea, but a cattle prod is a GREAT idea. I’ll bet Pluto just ate a spinach salad, and he had green stuff caught in his teeth. Gross! I know about poor Alice Pearce and her cancer. I remember the lady who replaced her, who was not nearly as fun.
ReplyDeleteNanook, I guess the public started to think of George Tobias and Alice Pearce as a real couple? Kind of like William Powell and Myrna Loy.
JB, I happen to know that Goofy tried ayahuasca - I can’t say that this is what he was “on” in today’s photo, but… it could be. Did video camcorders exist in 1981? Seems early, but maybe she was on the cutting edge of tech. I don’t think that woman looks like Gladys Kravitz, it’s just her expression that reminds me of Gladys. “Khrushchev in disguise”, ouch!
DBenson, ha, that *would* be weird to see a face behind a black mesh stocking inside Goofy’s mouth! I know what you mean about people who are willing to wait in long line to meet a character, it seems crazy. You realize it’s just a person in a costume, right?? Years ago, for Halloween, the Magic Kingdom had a bunch of villains around for “photo ops”. I heard that the line to have your photo taken with Maleficent was over three hours long. Can you imagine? And people were happy to wait! I guess if a person was an annual passholder and went to the park every week, the novel experience might be “worth it” (though it would NOT have been for me, ever). At Disneyland, there are lines to greet Mickey and Minnie, but some characters have much shorter lines and it feels more spontaneous and fun. Eat a Snickers bar, you won’t be so cranky!
TokyoMagic!, I used to hear that “a dog’s mouth is cleaner than a human mouth”. Considering what dogs put in their mouths, I found that very hard to believe. I still wear a headband so that I look just like my hero Mark Knopfler. I wish I was his boss so I could yell “KNOPFLER!!!” when he makes a mistake. Good eye on Steamboat Willie, I did not notice that detail.
I have often wondered why this location was so popular as a meet-n-greet? Became so crowded that the restaurant was closed. Is it close to a backstage costuming area? I know the parades end through the gates nearby.
ReplyDeleteI think necktie guy might be a handler, or he’s from Accounting, looking for his red stapler and got trapped in the crowd.
The whole “adult” meet-n-greet phenomenon is a mystery to me, DBenson. I’m with you, a snapshot in passing is one thing, being polite to the entertainer in the suit, but waiting an precious hour or more of your Park allocation for a pic next to a college kid in a rubber suit just won’t track for me. OTOH, if enough guests do it, it makes the POTC line shorter.
Thanks for these ‘80’s pics, Major. Brings back good memories.
JG
JG...At the time the backstage area next to Hills/Egg House was a break area and stands for the characters to remove their heads and relax...or throw water down themselves to cool off. KS
ReplyDeleteKS, thank you! Explains a lot now.
ReplyDeleteJG