Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
We've got more Big Thunder Mountain Railroad pix for you today, courtesy of the Mysterious Benefactor.
This one could be on the cover of "Disney News" or "Vacationland", or even "Cat Fancier". Which reminds me, have you ever tried cat kibble? It's pretty good. When you run out of Chex Mix, try kibble. You'll thank me later.
No vehicle was ever meant to go around such curves at such an angle, it is an affront to Nature. Notice how the wind and lizards have carved what look like steps into the desert sandstone - these are also an affront to Nature!
Whoa, I'm getting queasy just looking at this picture. Can I borrow your hat? I promise I'll give it right back. Meanwhile, the person in front of the man with the plaid shirt is holding a microphone, asking his opinion about spicy food. It was the original "Hot Ones"!
I don't ever remember noticing the landscaping around Big Thunder looking so lush and green, but here's photographic proof. The desert rains are infrequent, but when they do happen, the local plants go bananas! That one guy is not keeping his arms inside the vehicle at all times.
Here's a nice place to relax, listen to the birdsongs, and gather my thoughts. It's so peaceful!
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GAAAAAA!
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Many thanks to the Mysterious Benefactor.
16 comments:
Major-
It certainly is a beautiful attraction, there's no denying it - as these images clearly attest.
"... the person in front of the man with the plaid shirt is holding a microphone..."
And the man in front of him is holding a camera-!
"That one guy is not keeping his arms inside the vehicle at all times".
Actually, he's signaling for a left turn. Remember... "safety first"-!
Thanks to the Mysterious Benefactor and The Major.
JB says (munching on cat kibble), all of these pics are really nice. The photographer 'pulled the trigger' at just the right time. And the variable depth of field provides an interesting mix of blur and crisp focus.
I'm not sure what Microphone Guy is doing with the mic. Is he just recording the ride sounds? Maybe the mic as attached to a video recorder.
Nanook, isn't one supposed to signal a turn with the left arm?
Nice representative photos of Big Thunder. Thanks to our Mysterious Benefactor and Major P.
"This one could be on the cover of "Disney News" or "Vacationland", or even "Cat Fancier"."
Major, a shot taken just seconds before, or seconds after that first pic actually was used for the cover of the Winter 1979 issue of Disney News magazine. I scanned the cover some years back, but haven't used it on my blog yet. I'm going to go post it now and then I'll leave the link so you can make the comparison between the two images.
Thank you, Major and M.B.!
After comparing the two shots myself, I see that the image on the cover of Disney News was taken just seconds after that first pic:
Winter 1979 Issue of Disney News magazine
The first picture / Disney News cover bracket shot was taken during the Disneyland employee preview days … all those guests riding are Disneyland cast members! The photo was included in several variants of the Big Thunder Presskits as well as Disneyland 25 Presskits .
Visceral. Can just about hear the whistles, clicks and clangs - feel the wind in hair; arms raised, pulled in Just in time to miss the trestle, leaning into the goat trick with a slight centrifugal spin...onto the helix round and round again.
Good times.
With the help of some Imagineers of the time, I got to ride this first thing the morning it officially opened...so within days of these pics! Bonus fun for me.
Thanks MB and Major
MS
These are terrific, Major and MB! Thank you!
BTRR is easily my favorite of the Disney coasters, but I am sorry I had to lose the Mine Train and Rainbow Caverns to gain it.
Those motion shots are perfect. Thanks Tokyo and Mike for the inside scoop.
JG
Nanook, that one photo (and maybe some of the others) must have been taken for some sort of press event. I’m sure Disney wouldn’t allow that equipment on the ride ordinarily! “”Signaling for a left turn”… hmmmm….
JB, try putting some garlic salt on the kibble. So savory! That’s quite a microphone, like one that Frank Sinatra would sing into. Of course that could be 1979 technology, where a “mini-cam” was the size of a dishwasher. Does anybody use arm signals in a car? I sometimes see cyclists use them, but that’s about it.
TokyoMagic!, aha! I knew it! How do I turn my brilliance into cold hard cash? I’m sure I have that issue of Disney News at my mom’s house, though I have not looked at my copies in years.
TokyoMagic!, wow, that’s pretty cool! Thank you for sending the link to your blog!
Mike Cozart, I mean, that shot (and the ones like it) is so dynamic, it makes sense that it would be used on lots of publicity items!
MS, “Big Thunder” is a great ride. Thrilling, but not “insane” like some of the coasters at Magic Mountain. I even know folks who don’t care for roller coasters who like Big Thunder. Nice that you got to ride it early on opening day!
JG, yeah, it’s a bummer that the Mine Train had to go. But… Disneyland’s real estate is so limited. And even with land the size of the island of Manhattan, the Magic Kingdom will tear out beloved features. They’ve overdone it with the hotels!
We're certainly getting our RDA of Wheee! today! My cat has been trying to get fancier, but it isn't working.
1. Is that Mama from Mama's Family in the second row, behind the blond girl?
2. The Vintage Fashion Award goes to the orange Hawaiian shirts. Those two are going to go home and watch Magnum, P.I. later.
3. When he's done asking about spicy food, Mr. Microphone is going to tell a good-lookin' girl in the next train he'll be back to pick her up later.
4. "The security guard who yelled at me was THIS BIG!"
5. "Better one, or..."
6. "Better two..."
Thanks to Major P and the MB for this sedate and relaxing trip through the Old West!
For a few days we had ride testing days prior to DCA opening for disneyland employees .. we had to dress in bright colors and while ride operators received extra training the test guests all Disneyland employees road attractions over and over and over again and we signed waivers, knowing that our images would be used in marketing, postcards, merchandise, guidebook, etc. or whatever was needed.
My first group we rode grizzly River Rapids pretty much consistently we still would have to get out out of the rafts and load back again, but we rode over and over for probably about four hours. Paradise, pure attractions.
Melissa, oh boy, “Mama’s Family”. Another show that was (apparently) popular, and I couldn’t stand it! How could Carol Burnett be responsible for such a horrible program?? Hawaiian shirts - after years, I have decided that “Aloha shirts” do not work on me! “Mr. Microphone”, greatest product ever.
Mike Cozart, interesting that they wanted guests to wear bright colors. And that you had to sign waivers! I’d almost think that by agreeing to be a CM, that you would be OK with possibly appearing in photos or even video (TV). Maybe they were just covering their butts! Did you not get soaked on Grizzly River Rapids? The first time I went to DCA, my friend’s son went on that, and when he exited, he looked like he’d been swimming with his clothes on. Which is why I’ve never experienced that ride!
^ Major, you beat me to it....I was going to ask Mike the same thing about getting soaked -- Did the CM's dry-off in-between rides? Or did they look like drowned rats, in all the pictures?
These are great pictures -- thanks, MB and MP!
Don’t knock cat kibble. I was a starving 8th grader once…
Trying to remember why I didn’t ride Big Thunder on my last trip in 2022. I may have been fighting a feral feline for food.
Thanks again, Major & MB. Happy Veterans Day, everybody!
“Wind and Lizards” would be a great country-rock band name…
I used to carry a packet of dry dog food on backpack trips as emergency rations. This ensures you won’t eat your emergency stash unless you’re really starving.
JG
I remember tasting the dog's dry food when I was little, because it looked like granola. And I guess I figured if the dog liked people food, maybe people would like dog food. Kids and dogs operate on the same logic sometimes, I guess.
The geyser can operate at many different “soak” levels ….. on our test days I don’t think any geyser hit anyone. As an employee you automatically sign filming rights over but on special productions like parade or holiday commercials or things being filmed by other production companies you sign a waiver when you sign up to participate. The finale disneyland parade scene in the original soaring was filmed over main street during our disneyland christmas party . The acceptence of the holiday tickets clear disney for any filming. I appeared in a WDI recruiting video - it was the first day the grizzly peak attraction waterfalls were being tested ….they thru hardhats on us and orange construction vests on and took photos and film too … when the water thundered down and hit the basins …. Tons of construction dust and debris went flying out with the wet overspray and got everyone including the photographers.
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