After careful analysis, I have determined that today's slide scans DO qualify as Snoozles™. But just barely! This first one is from August, 1962; we see a salty sea dog up in the rigging of the Columbia. He's whistling the Old Spice jingle, as was traditional in the 18th century. Based on this fellow's expression, he's spied a sea cow, but he's been at sea for so long that he thinks it's a beautiful mermaid.
Next, it's July 1963, and we have this partially-obstructed view of the Submarine Lagoon. Why the photographer didn't lean forward so that the gondola safety bars were out of frame, I'll never know. I guess the brain edited them out. Still, if you just look within the upper "window", it's a nice look at the yellow Monorail, the last of the Mark IIs (introduced in 1961).
Well. I'm not sure if that's a tail sticking out the back of the sailor's pants... orrrr.... maybe this is the ship's latrine. (sorry). Good luck with that sea cow, sailor boy. OK, so it's not a bad photo: Blue sky, sunlit ship's rigging, a nice semi-silhouette. Plus an extra point to the photographer for rotating the camera to 'portrait' orientation.
ReplyDeleteI like the 2nd pic. It has a wonderful "you are there" look to it with the gondola bars in front of us. Yes, it's a little over-exposed with washed out colors. But still, a nice photo. I think we can see a couple of those benches with awnings over there on the right.
Major, I think your assessment of these pictures as Semi-Snoozles was a good call. They could go either way. Thanks.
I'm confused by that first image! What are those structures (& wall?) in the lower right corner of the pic? Was this taken back when the Columbia used to sail up and down the streets of Anaheim? ;-)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the weekly dose of Snoozles, Major!
Okay, I figured it out. We are seeing the very top of Aunt Jemima's Pancake House, and the two angled rooftops beyond that are the two blockhouses at the entrance to Frontierland!
ReplyDeleteAunt Jemima's Pancake House - Riverbelle Terrace
Well, I think maybe just one of the rooftops is one of the blockhouses.......the "rust-colored" one closest to the Columbia's mast
ReplyDeleteMy link doesn't appear to be working, so here it is again. Now Sue is going to tell me that I have reached my "comment limit." ;-)
ReplyDeleteAunt Jemima's Pancake House Riverbelle Terrace
Somehow I don't see today's employees climbing and balancing on ropes...but it would be nice to see, and I'm sure the guys would want to. I know I would. Seems that guests are missing out of these "swabbies". (?). climbing and yelling to each other, probably a bit more exciting than "ring around the island"...just my .02. I actually like the jail like quality of the bucket view. I would love to see the buckets come back...so very peaceful up there. What a shame that it's gone. Nice to see a yellow Monorail, and I haven't noticed the more nautical look of the rails around the Monorail platform: very jaunty. The speed ramps are also wonderful to see: even if no one is on them. What a great view. Somehow I feel the subs days are numbered, and I'm smelling another Frozen Land here next to the Matterhorn...same with Autopia as they are required to go electric by next year. The fumes are kind of part of the experience, but I was never a fan of the noise and exhaust...but I do enjoy the originality of it, and it a very much a fan favorite....I'd like to see a flying car Tomorrowland Autopia...on a stick or something...like a hydrofoil...with "bubble noises" like the Jetsons. That's all a BIG piece of very expensive land there...and the bean counters are swarming....thanks Major and happy 5th of July: (a great play by Landford Wilson, that I had the pleasure of being in a very long time ago.)
ReplyDeleteOur CM swabbie is in a very nautical costume, I’m going to guess (hope) that’s the end of his sash flapping in the breeze. After the cruise down Main Street, he will demonstrate knot-tying and harpooning. The sea-cows have retreated into the ice cream parlor. TM, I agree with your second guess, those are the roofs of the Riverbelle Terrace behind.
ReplyDeletePhoto 2 is definitely you-are-there, taken when the skyway was used to transport prisoners to the Churro Mines. I don’t mind the bars across the picture, as long as we can stop at the Monorail Bar with the headlight in the end. (Thank you Grant and GDB, for confirming my memory a few days back!).
I can see the Tomorrowland Train Station, but there is a spot of bright color in the shrubbery beyond, what can that be? No hotels across the street, just farms. Maybe a farmer out pruning orange trees?
Thank you Major! Puzzles today!
JG
JB, tails were requirement for Columbia CMs, in those early years. It seems strange now, but back then, people just accepted it. Come on, it’s kind of a bad photo! I get the “you are there” thing for the second picture, but I find myself always bugged by the Skyway safety bars that cross right through key parts of the image.
ReplyDeleteTokyoMagic!, I assume those are Frontierland structures of some kind?
TokyoMagic!, that blue lettering is impressive! ;-)
TokyoMagic!, I admit that I don’t really know what a “blockhouse” is. Do blockheads live there?
TokyoMagic!, I think you are right, the rooftops match!
Bu, I think when I rode the Columbia the last time, one of the cast members did stand on something on deck that put him above the guests, but he did not climb the rigging. Maybe it’s a liability thing? I’d like the sailors to yell at each other in a manner that only sailors can. I learned all sorts of interesting words and phrases from my Navy dad! I’d love to see the Skyway come back as well, my guess is that it would be tremendously popular. The Speed Ramps were so fast that guests could not be captured on film. It’s like trying to take a picture of a bullet. I agree with you, I think the Sub’s days are numbered. As I’ve said before, I’ll almost miss that beautiful body of water in Tomorrowland more than I’ll miss the current version of the ride (which I like, but don’t love). The Subs use SO much real estate, and I worry that they’ll replace it with something lame.
JG, I think that the sailor has a hankie! It’s good for blowing your nose, or for hailing a mermaid/sea cow. I would like to learn knot-tying, my old roommate used to practice tying knots with a piece of clothesline while we watched TV. I wonder if he remembers how to tie any of them? I’d love to work in the Churro Mines, but all that dough and sugar would be murder on my figure. And long-time churro miners often suffer from “cinnamon psychosis”. So sad. At first I thought that the “spot of bright color” could be a Peoplemover vehicle, but - no such luck in 1963.
I think you are right Major : the Speedramps were fairly swift moving and the majority of the cameras of the day needed more prep to take action shots. So those Goodyear T. Hee animated pods remain very rare photo subjects - despite how popular they were with guests.
ReplyDeleteToday cast & crew would be prevented from really climbing the Columbia’s rigging ….and most of them probably shouldn’t as I’d think they lack the dexterity and nimbleness to do so.,
HAPPY 250 years and one day everyone!!