OK-zles™

OK-zles™ are Snoozles™ - but they aren't as bad. But you figured that out already! Today's examples aren't too dark, or blurry, they're mostly just kind of boring.

See what I mean? The Submarine Lagoon should be exciting. "Liquid Space", they used to call it! But the lone sub is far away, and it's named after a roller-skate. (Yes, yes, I know). We see no cars on the Autopia freeway, no Monorail on the beam, and no Peoplemover on its track. I want my money back.

From the same batch comes this photo of the Mighty Matterhorn, but it looks so gray. Can a mountain be "brutalist"? It is disappointing that no Skyway gondolas can be seen (where the heck were all the vehicles that day?), but at least we can glimpse a single bobsled up to the left.

 

I Love Three Parades

I have a small batch of scans featuring various parades, and thought it might be fun to share some of  them today.

This first one is from the 1950s (I believe), from Long Beach, California. A bathing beauty waves to an appreciative crowd, from a float pushed by a sailor (or two?). I wonder what occasion merited a parade? In the background we can see a restaurant called the "Dinner House"....

I found an old matchbook cover on eBay, which helped with an address. 701 E. Ocean Boulevard.

The area is unrecognizable today!

Next is a scan from April, 1963, from a parade in Indio, California. Two children appear to have been dubbed King and Queen for the day. If they hit you with their scepters, there's not a darn thing you can do about it.

And finally, here's another parade that I believe was in the 1950s. The float says "Hillsborough County", which is in the Tampa area of Florida. It looks like it was a beautiful day; patriotic bunting might mean the 4th of July, Memorial Day, or... well, it could be anything. 

Nice Disneyland, March 28, 1972

Here's a pair of pretty Disneyland photos from March 28, 1972. With a specific date available, it's always fun to consult "Jason's Disneyland Almanac"; that was a Tuesday, and the park was open from 8:00AM until midnight. The temperature got up to a pleasant 74º, though it got down to a chilly 46º in the wee hours. There are no attendance estimates, unfortunately. 

So, I wonder if the photographer's eye was drawn to that huge bouquet of Mickey balloons? Red was clearly the most popular color. But I'll go against the trend and get an olive-green balloon. I'm only just now noticing that a mother and little girl (and maybe that boy) are posing with the balloons! Above the west tunnel, the CK Holliday sits as the train loads up with a new batch of passengers for another Grand Circle Tour of the park.

Speaking of olive green, here's a nice photo of the green Monorail as it pulled into the station in Tomorrowland. We're aboard the Peoplemover, heading toward a tunnel, where I believe we will be able to see inside the lobby of Adventure Thru Inner Space, with the Mighty Microscope and an endless line of Atomobiles.

Some Castle Thingy, December, 1962

I know, I know, another photo of the Castle?! That's just how it goes on a Disneyland photo blog. There will be more. But at least this one is pretty, with the colors popping in the afternoon sun. The blue sky helps; the slide is date-stamped "December, 1962" but there's no sign of Christmas decor, so it might have been a month or so earlier. Still, folks are dressed for cooler weather.

"Geppetto's Work Shop"? Where the heck was that? I even looked at a vintage map to see if such a place was listed. Nope! The stonework hints at being part of the Castle. This was decades before there was a Pinocchion dark ride. I'm baffled! But I know you guys will know.

 

A Frontierland Pair, 1960s

Here's a couple of nice Frontierland pix taken on a gray day in the 1960s.

It looks like the Mark Twain was moored over at Tom Sawyer Island for some reason - I can only guess why. If it was being fixed up, you'd think it would be in Fowler's Harbor - perhaps the Columbia was already there. BUT then you'd think that they'd be running the steamboat. to have at least one of the big boats on the river. If this was the "off season", I suppose guests had to take a chance that many attractions might be down for maintenance. 

Nearby, the world's loneliest popcorn vendor thinks about adventures he could be having. "I could be riding a camel in Egypt, or frolicking in Trevi Fountain!". Well you're not! What's wrong with selling delicious salty snacks to people? I'm kind of surprised at the subdued colors of his costume, where are the red and white stripes that stimulate the appetite? 

The Fabulous Jungle Cruise, July 1972

You all know the Jungle Cruise! Maybe a little too well, like me. Which is why I am sharing three photos today rather than the standard two - Jungle Cruise photos tend to be very "samey", although these are bright and clear and colorful at least. 

The Sacred Indian Elephant Bathing Pool was added to the attraction in 1972. Indian elephants love to swim! And who can blame them? The Bathing Pool looks like the place to be on a hot tropical day. This scene couldn't help but impress, with at least a dozen pachyderms splashing and spraying.

The "Trapped Safari" was added in 1964 (along with the next scene, the African Veldt); I have to admit that I like the recent(ish) change that has the guy at the top now moved to the bottom. HE'S going to get the point! 

And there's the Veldt, a popular scene with guests. It seems that everyone took a picture of this one! The animals are all looking on as their friend is eaten by lions, but that doesn't stop the giraffes from working on lunch. "What? I'm hungry!". No class, man, no class.

 

Skyway Stuff, March 1961

I have a pair of Skyway-related pix for you today, beginning with this portrait of a little girl, up in the charming Fantasyland Chalet; the Teacups, Flying Elephants, and a few of the old dark rides can just be seen through the branches of the trees, it's a very pretty scene. Does the girl have suspenders??

Next is a view from a gondola, a pretty nice view too, never mind the safety bars partly blocking the scene. The red Mark I Monorail passes by almost silently - in just a few months, the Mark II trains would debut (in June), and guests could go all the way to the Hotel and back. The park looks pretty empty! We get some nice bobsled action, not surprising from here. Screechy2 is in the upper left, the Alice in Wonderland ride just sneaks into the lower right, and a prominent fire hydrant is right next to that Kodak Picture Spot sign.

1959 Main Street Snoozles™

Today's scans are from 1959, and would be pretty nice views of Main Street USA - except that they are just a bit soft (in other words, blurry). Bummer! But they are still worth a look, in spite of this flaw.

Here's a look toward Main Street Station as seen from around the southernmost edge of the Plaza. Two streetcars are about to pass each other - does anybody know how the drivers of the streetcars coordinate with one another? After all, they must meet up at that "passing siding" (or whatever it's called) at the same time. This gray overcast day probably didn't look quite as gloomy to the eye, perhaps the clouds burned off later in the day.

Next is a view looking northwest looking at the Coca Cola Refreshment Corner, where the half-red, half-white lightbulb brought joy and happiness to millions! Just imagine how happy people would be to see a lightbulb painted THREE colors?! Speaking of lightbulbs, some of them are lit, which makes me wonder if this picture was actually taken much later in the day? I wouldn't think that they'd be on in the morning.

I'm still away from home, but should be home SOON!

Magnetic Hill & Newport, Rhode Island

Here are two fun, random slide scans for you! Starting with this 1969 photo of several cars preparing to experience an incredible gravitational anomaly known as MAGNETIC HILL! There are a number of Magnetic Hills around the world, and I wasn't sure which one was pictured here.

The closest car's purple license plate might be a clue. Illinois! But I could find no Magnetic Hill in the Land of Lincoln.

Luckily, it didn't take too long to discover that it is located in New Brunswick, Canada (waaaay to the east, just north of Maine). The Magnetic Hill is a Canadian gravity hill, a type of optical illusion created by rising and descending terrain. It is located at the northwestern edge of the city of Moncton in the Canadian province of New Brunswick. The general area is at the base of a ridge named "Lutes Mountain", which rises several hundred feet above the surrounding Petitcodiac River valley.

There are many vintage postcards featuring the Magnetic Hill, I included three. It should be enough!

Next is this picturesque view of a street (dated "November 22, 1970"). But which street? Luckily this one had "Thames Street" written on the cardboard mount. After a brief search, which included looking up "Burke's", I discovered that this is Newport, Rhode Island. 

There was an online list of businesses along Thames Street that included a mention of Burke's, which was mighty helpful.

It appears that a block or two or buildings was torn down at some point, resulting in that nice green park to the right. Or perhaps I am mistaken? I don't think so, but perhaps one of you Junior Gorillas will come up with another explanation. 

I'm still away from home, but as always there will be new posts for you every day. I'll talk to you soon!

Two Leftuggies™

I have a swell pair of Leftuggies™ for you today, starting with this pretty photo of Tomorrowland, circa August, 1958. The sky could hardly be bluer! But it was almost certainly very hot. The Clock of the World is known to all of us, but for normies it is completely forgotten. And it's too cool! Notice the little sign in the planter that says "World Time", just in case people had no idea what that giant cocktail shaker was for. Meanwhile, let's go into he Hall of Chemistry, where there will hopefully be bubbling test tubes full of colored water.

This next one is undated, but probably 1970-ish; we're in the Plaza (I guess, there's not a lot to go by), and guests are thrilled to see Pinocchio. It looks like that little boy might be saying something to Pinoke, but what?? I assume that's Dad hovering close by (with a big smile). 

JUST FYI... I will be out of town for the weekend, starting today, visiting some family. It will be the first get-together since my mom passed, which makes me sad, but I know we will have a good time being together.