Happy New Year

Happy 2026! I hope that none of you has an ice bag on your head from drinking too much Yoo-Hoo chocolate-flavored drink last night. If so... you must pay your dues! I didn't really know what to share with you on this special day, so I ultimately just chose two fairly nice randos. 

We will begin with this scan of a slide dated "January 8, 1958". So... not quite a New Year's Day pic, but pretty close. Christmas decor still adorns Main Street Station - I have the feeling that would be removed very soon. In the foreground, a wonderful parking lot tram, which is a tiny bit blurry. Motion blur? The station in the background is clear, as is the man to the right. With guests standing so close to the tram, motion blur doesn't make much sense to me, but I can't really explain the phenomenon otherwise. Still, it's a bright, colorful image.

Next is something kind of unusual; years ago, I bought a photo print from Howard Lowery, an animation gallery in Burbank - he used to have frequent online auctions that I usually lost. If this image had been an original transparency or negative, I have the feeling that the bidding would have been a bit more fervent, but oh well; it wasn't expensive, and now I'm kind of glad to have it. As you can see, Walt Disney himself is to the left with his good friend Mickey Mouse, while many other costumed characters (some from parades) are gathered nearby. At first I thought that the equipment in the foreground was some sort of reflectors, but they don't appear to be reflecting much.  

There is a well-known postcard, and it's obvious that the photo session above was for the purpose of taking the photo below. Which is kind of cool! Are Walt's eyes closed in mid-blink??

I hope this is the beginning of a year of kindness, compassion, and happiness for everybody.