Vintage Kids

Hey! It's Nanook's birthday! Yes, Sue B. reminded me. And she also sent a series of scans from a vintage birthday party - date unknown, but probably from the Renaissance. 

Whoa, that's some cake! Yellow frosting reminds me of desert sands, while various cowboys shoot it out, some on horseback. It's like a John Ford movie! The plates are "Flintstones" themed, but who's complaining? Everyone has their very own balloon to inflate later.

I'll never forget going to a neighbor's birthday party, when I was a kid, and watching the boy spray saliva all over the cake when he blew out the candles. I passed on the cake, much to the mother's astonishment.

Oh boy, I see some party favors! Sadly I can't tell what they are. Birthday Boy has a nice stack of presents,  I'm sure that the red beribboned box contains a ball peen hammer. 1,001 uses! On the washing machine, a sweet toy race car.

"Here, Marky, open this!". She knows that he really wants that ball peen hammer, but he'll just have to wait. But it's OK, he's about to discover that he has a subscription to GQ magazine!

Happy Birthday, Nanook, and thank you, Sue!

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Kids! They are omnipresent, and omnivorous (just sayin'). Hand a kid a rock? He'll try to eat it. It's hilarious! I picked out two vintage photos of some vintage kids, just for the halibut. 

First up is this three year-old (?) proudly holding his toy tractor, which must be new because I don't see the usual paint scratches and dings, and the tires are still glossy. Don't play with it, kid, in 70 years it will be worth, I dunno, $100? Why have fun now when you can have money later? My uncle Harold (in Minnesota) had a very old toy tractor in his basement (on a shelf next to the Hammond electric organ), and he generously gave it to me long ago. Of course I still have it. Uncle Harold and Aunt Florence were such good people, I remember them fondly.

This photo is from the 1960s, but 30 years earlier these kids would have been in Our Gang comedies. I'll call them Clarence, Violet, and Barnaby. They're giving that groovy "soapbox car" (there's probably a more appropriate name) a helping hand, maybe they lived on a slight hill so that gravity did the work. The car is made from pegboard, wagon wheels, scraps of lumber, and a length of clothesline for steering. I had hoped we might be able to see the year on the California license plate, but no such luck. 

Slide Restoration

I wasn't sure what I should share on this Friday post; I have lots of scans to choose from, but not a lot of those are worthy of a Friday (when I at least try to share slightly better stuff)! So I decided to pick a pair of restored images, since those turned out pretty well.

We've seen plenty of photos of the old Burning Settler's Cabin on Tom Sawyer Island, one of those features that demonstrate the "hard facts" of life on the Frontier. As you can see, this slide (and all of the other slides in this batch) is very faded - they are dreaded Anscochrome slides, and are awful! What a shock to learn that they were eventually acquired by GAF (also horrible).

Say! That's much better! Thanks to the miracle of Photoshop; all of our woes are gone, and what's left is happiness and a pleasant vanilla aroma. I wonder if the natural gas that fueled the fire had an additive to make it more visible in daylight? Probably not. That poor settler had worked so hard, but he ran with scissors, and this is what happened.

Next is this washed-out view from the passageway through Sleeping Beauty Castle. As if it was the smoggiest day ever.

Much better! I guess the little family in front of us just arrived, even though the sun was setting? "We'll allow 2 hours at Disneyland, I have to be home for the big game between the Denver Monkeys and the Rhode Island Tardigrades". He'll be rooting for the Fighting Moss Piglets. The transition from the dark tunnel into the spaciousness, color, and light of Fantasyland is an old architecture trick ("compression and release"), used by old architects.

Two From August 1970

Here's a pair of scans from the summer of 1970 - August, to be precise. Kids are already seeing "back to school" commercials on TV, and it's a huge bummer. Vacation just flew by! It must have been a hot August, the Disneyland Band needed to find a shady spot to perform, though the bandleader has to suffer. Fame isn't easy. A lady in the distance is capturing the whole thing on her movie camera. No sound, but she will play "Stars and Stripes Forever" on the kazoo when projecting the film for friends. Judging by the crowds back by the Bank of America, there was probably a character (or two) there, but I can't see them.

Next is this late (LATE) afternoon photo looking northward on Main Street. Most everything is in shadow except for the upper parts of the buildings on the right, but even those will be beyond the reach of the sun soon. I love the nostalgic feel of this one!

A Pair From August, 1980

Here's a pair of scans from August, 1980. It's amazing to consider that  1980 is considered "long, long ago" to some people. And... they are right! Let's begin with this shot of City Hall, gleaming in the morning sunshine. There is a family in which each member is wearing a red shirt (or even red shorts in two instances), they are the happiest family in the world. When they were far apart, they'd communicate by cawing like crows. It's normal! A chipmunk is casually walking to the left - or maybe he's posing for a photo. The popcorn vendor has a few customers, they couldn't even get past Town Square without a snack.

Next, a woman is happy to be posing with one of the Three Li'l Pigs. He's a sailor, so he must be the Piper Pig. Where do you think that brick wall is located? I'm thrown by the hedge to the left. Piper Pig sure has an interesting hat, I think all Americans should wear hats like that at all times. Big red bow tie is optional.

 

Main Street, 1950s

I have a pair of nice 1950s scans for you from Town Square/Main Street USA. Starting with this group of adults who may have just walked through one of the tunnels beneath the train tracks; that gentleman is making sure his camera is ready to go., but the ladies look a bit bewildered. Should the gang walk up the steps and ride the train? Tempting, but so is Main Street. "Dorothy, I want to go to the Wurlitzer store!". In the upper right corner of the image, a fellow stands at the curb - at first I wondered if he was a cast member. But I think he was just an odd duck!

Next is this nice look up Main Street, with a surprising number of people heading towards the castle even though it was the afternoon (based on the indistinct shadows). Why did they all show up so late? Many ladies are still in their poofy skirts, which makes me guess that this is from 1956 (since we can see the Skyway cable in the distance)... by 1957 there was a noticeable shift from dresses to pants for women. This has been "Pants Talk 2026", thanks for coming!

Snow White Grotto, July 1972

Grottos. There's the famous Blue Grotto on the island of Capri. There are the Yungang Grottos in Shanxi. And the Grotta dello Smeraldo on the Amalfi Coast. But those all stink! It's the Snow White Grotto you want! With its sculptures of Snow White and her pals, the Sieben Zwerge. Not to mention some woodland chums who will use their butts to help clean a dusty cottage.

One of the things I am impressed by is that the characters are all "on model", truly looking like they did in the 1937 movie; so often you'll see things like this that are just a bit "off". But the Italian sculptor did it right, each Dwarf is spot-on. 

For decades there was a story going around (promoted by Disney) that the sculptures were a gift from a particular sculptor (named Leonida Parma); he just sent them, out of the blue! I can't remember the author (possibly Todd James Pierce?) who located an actual order slip for the sculptures (presumably in the Archives). Another Disneyland legend debunked!

A Celebration, and More!

If you were hoping to see some Sunday Snoozles™, I regret to inform you that the blog will be Snoozle-less today. Instead, we will celebrate the college graduation of long-time GDB friend ANDREW! I believe Andrew came to us when he was a mere 14 years old (correct me if I'm wrong), but now he's all grown up, and ready to take on anything. He's a very smart and thoughtful young man, and I know he's going to exceed an anything he wants to do.

Sue B. kindly provided some photos that her dad (Lou Perry) took at the Magic Kingdom in Florida back on May 10, 1985 (long before Andrew was born) - Lou just happened to be at the park during the celebration for high school graduates, and a magnificent mirror-ball Mickey wearing a mortarboard was placed right in the middle of the Plaza (where the "Partners" statue now stands, I believe). It's like a piece of art, maybe by Jeff Koons.

Here's a closer look. I'm guessing that the three balls that made up Mickey's head rotated, and that lights played off of the mirrors at night. It probably looked pretty cool! Andrew told Sue: I graduated with a double major in history and economics from the University of Pittsburgh, and I have a job as a seasonal park ranger at the county parks through November, we'll see what comes after that. I guess maybe I should have majored in history and economics rather than my double major of Klingon and Puppetry, but it's too late now. CONGRATULATIONS, Andrew! 

In addition to those first two photos, Sue included more Magic Kingdom images. Let's look at some of those, shall we?

I like this first shot, with the magnificent Main Street Station framed by magnolia leaves.  It would have been swell in 3D.

Lou took a lot of photos of Cinderella Castle, but I think this is one of the nicer of those. Florida often has the best clouds! 

I assume that the next two are from the Plaza area, near the Castle, but you guys will let me know if I'm wrong. Lou must have been impressed with the roses in many colors, and you have to admit that it is very pretty. Just looking at this small sliver of the Magic Kingdom, which is famously huge, you get a sense of the amount of work that must go into keeping the park's foliage neat and tidy.

Here's the last one for today, but there are more from this batch, to be shared in the future. A topiary giraffe with rules over the Plaza with a leafy fist. YES, giraffes have fists, don't worry about it.

Thank you to Lou and Sue! Stay tuned for more from the Magic Kingdom

C-124 Globemaster, San Francisco - September 1960

I just scanned a small batch of slides from September, 1960 - these were taken in San Francisco (at SFO airport, presumably) and feature a bunch of cool military aircraft. Regular folks could see them up close! I'll be sharing more of those over the next few months, but thought I'd select three that showed an enormous aircraft of some kind. BUT WHAT IS IT? I'm sure many of you know it on sight, but I had to do a little bit of research. It's the Douglas C-124 Globemaster II! The Douglas C-124 Globemaster II, nicknamed "Old Shaky", is a retired American heavy-lift cargo aircraft built by the Douglas Aircraft Company in Long Beach, California. The C-124 was the primary heavy-lift transport for United States Air Force (USAF) Military Air Transport Service (MATS) during the 1950s and early 1960s, until the Lockheed C-141 Starlifter entered service. It served in MATS, later Military Airlift Command (MAC), and units of the Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard until retired in 1974.

"READING?? If I wanted to read, I'd go to the liberry!".

Any idea what that twin-tail plane is that is closer to us?? I couldn't ID it.

Just look at the size of that thing! It's huge! Douglas Aircraft developed the C-124 from 1947 to 1949, from a prototype they created from a World War II–design Douglas C-74 Globemaster, and based on lessons learned during the Berlin Airlift. The aircraft was powered by four, large Pratt & Whitney R-4360 Wasp Major piston engines producing 3,800 hp (2,800 kW) each. The C-124's design featured two, large, clamshell doors and a hydraulically actuated ramp in the nose, as well as a cargo elevator under the aft fuselage. The C-124 was capable of carrying 68,500 lb (31,100 kg) of cargo, and the 77 ft (23 m) cargo bay featured two overhead hoists, each capable of lifting 8,000 lb (3,600 kg). As a cargo hauler, it could carry tanks, guns, trucks, and other heavy equipment, while in its passenger-carrying role, it could carry 200 fully equipped troops on its double decks or 127 litter patients and their nurses. It was the only aircraft of its time capable of transporting fully assembled heavy equipment such as tanks and bulldozers.

From what I can gather, the plane in these photos is actually a model C-124 C, featuring more powerful engines, and an APS-42 weather radar fitted in a "thimble"-like structure on the nose. Wingtip-mounted combustion heaters were added to heat the cabin, and enable wing and tail surface deicing.

I have no doubt that some of you will have lots to add (or a bunch of corrections) regarding the Douglas Globemaster II!

Randos

I have a pair of interesting RANDOS for you, both happen to be medium-format ("127" 40mm X 40mm) slides, which is always nice. Both are undated.

First up is this view taken by Dad as the family unloads kids, strollers, and whatever else they need before heading to the nearest tram pickup area (the relative nearness of the Grand Hotel shows that they were quite a ways from the ticket booths). Big brother is plenty old enough to walk, but little sis needs a stroller. I think Mom has a towel over her shoulder, perhaps to drape over the stroller in case sis needs a nap.

From a different photographer comes this photo taken right near the Yacht Bar (out of frame to our left), with all of the usual features in that area, we know them well. A line of guests manages to wait in the shade of the Monorail beamway, and they can pass the time watching the Subs come and go in the beautiful tropical lagoon. A fellow in the distance waves to the photographer; we see you!

More Frontierland Pix

Let's continue our look at six (of many) scans from Disneyland's Frontierland, all related to the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad to some degree. These are, of course, from our friend the Mysterious Benefactor!

First up is this very nice look at the Big Thunder attraction as seen from the river; I don't remember ever seeing the ride from this angle, but then again, I'm usually on the Mark Twain looking toward the dock that we are heading toward, and this view would require looking eastward.

Details! We love details. How about a "kerosene" lantern, for that genuine Old West feel?

The next four pictures focus on some of the Cast Members who worked Big Thunder. Thanks to his "30th  Year" name tag, we know that this one was taken in 1985.

Presumably this is still Paul, he might be checking to see if that little boy is tall enough to experience The Wildest Ride in the Wilderness. Maybe.

Here's Suzanne, she's probably encouraging people to keep their hands, arms, feet, and lets inside the vehicle at all times, and to please pull down on the safety bar.

I'd swear that this is Anthony Michael Hall (from "The Breakfast Club"), but I guess it's just his identical twin. In the next Mysterious Benefactor installment, you'll see other Cast Members blowing bubbles, I guess the photographer thought it would be a fun detail. I hope it was Hubba Bubba bubble gum. Normally I would assume that something as uncouth as bubble-blowing would be considered "un-Disney".

MANY THANKS to the Mysterious Benefactor!