Sunday Snoozers

I'll tell ya what, today's "snoozers" really are pretty lame. But you can't say that I didn't warn you. 

From October 1967 comes this sleep-inducing image of Casey Junior - or rather, just the top half of Casey Junior, chugging away on its (his?) journey through Story Book Land. But all we really see is that "hedge art" on the hillside. It's pretty nice as hedge art goes! I'm going to do my own version, only it will say MAJOR PEPPERIDGE IS AWESOME. The world needs to know.

Next, from June of 1970 comes this way-too-dark photo of a ceremonial Indian burial on Tom Sawyer Island. It's pretty spooky like this, I suppose, and that circle of nine bison skulls isn't helping any. What's wrong with colorful throw pillows? That's what my mom would have used. To be honest, I appreciate that they resisted the urge to make this a humorous scene, and kept it respectful.

Scenes From Frontierland, July 1964

I have two photos for you today that are are in BABUSHKAVISION! Possibly the most stunning advancement in photo technology in our lifetimes. Thanks to various prisms and an algorithm found at an ancient burial site, a babushka was added to the head of any person. Several cameras for the various Moon landings had this feature, though it is hard to find examples.

SO... it's summertime, 1964. A man and his best girl headed over to Frontierland to see what's what. "I hear that the 'people' are actually robots that are so real that you can't tell the difference. Hey, there's Yul Brynner!". While strolling through the Indian Village, they noticed a bison, apparently kept as a pet. His name was "Waldo", and he'd perform capers for cigarettes or small change. This woman looks a little uneasy, but this is probably her first time around a bison.

Our heroin is relaxing with a cold drink, thankful that she is secure inside the log walls of Fort Wilderness on Tom Sawyer Island. Where the Windigo can't get to them. They can't fly, can they? CAN THEY? In front of her is a well - not a wishing well, but a plain old dumb well. Please don't drop your spare change in it, we drink that stuff! How many other wells have you seen that have a water bubbler built into the edge? Only a few dozen at the most, I'll bet.

Wisconsin Dells Almost

My roots are in the midwest (Chicago, to be exact), and I have family in Minnesota and Wisconsin to this day; while my dad was alive we spent part of every summer heading back to that area for fishing, or to see my grandparents when they were still around. I loved it! 

That being said, today's photos involve a Wisconsin natural wonder/tourist attraction called the Wisconsin Dells. How do I describe the Dells? By letting Wikipedia do it! The Dells of the Wisconsin River, also called the Wisconsin Dells (from French dalles, or narrows), is a 5-mile gorge on the Wisconsin River in south-central Wisconsin, USA. It is noted for its scenic beauty, in particular for its unique Cambrian sandstone rock formations and tributary canyons.

Below is a 1958 photo featuring lots of cool old cars parked at the curb while tourists line up to buy tickets for a boat trip on the Wisconsin River. Note the Native American (facing away from us) in full headdress, ready for a photo op!

This next photo is from 1954, and shows another scene approaching the boats that would take guests on a cruise through this beautiful natural area. Sounds very pleasant! My Great Aunt invited lots of extended family (including me) to visit the Dells for several days, back when she turned 80. But I couldn't go, due to work. I've regretted it ever since.

Notice the AAA sign shaped like a canoe, and the row of extra Indian headdresses, and a genuine canvas teepee. More from Wikipedia: The cultural history of the area stretches back several thousand years, from early Paleo-Indian people to the more recent Native American peoples, such as Ho-Chunk, Sac, and Menominee, who left behind effigy and burial mounds, camps and village sites, garden beds, and rock art. 

Here's a photo, scrounged from the internet. Maybe I need to go see The Dells next summer!

Frontierland, August 1979

Today's first photo is more interesting than it might appear to be at first glance. It shows the famous "Burning Settler's Cabin" on Tom Sawyer Island; but this is 1979, smack-dab in the middle of one of the energy crises that the U.S. experienced. The natural gas flames were turned off, and fire effects similar to those used inside "Pirates of the Caribbean" were used.

Here's a closer view; The poor settler is still there! Those flames really do look like some orange light bulbs (reflected on some fluttering plastic?). Some smoke effects help a little bit...

... but it sure looks wimpy when compared to this 1962 photo!

Here ya got yer typical photo of the Friendly Indian Village; those trees feel much more on top of everything, it's kind of odd!

Compare it to this 1958 photo.

I used to think that this scene from an Indian Burial Ground was on the western shore of the Rivers of America. But thanks to the amazing "Long Forgotten" blog (read all the posts, it's worth it!), I learned that this scene was on the eastern shore of Tom Sawyer Island. Check out HBG2's excellent and extensive post HERE.

A Pair From Frontierland, 1963

Today's photos can be classified as "snoozerific"!

If you happened to be aboard one of the boats on the Rivers of America, you would have seen this tableau of a Native American burial, right next to the Friendly Indian Village. How many dead bodies can be seen in Disneyland today? There were at least two back then - the fellow on the raised platform, and the dead settler. 

Meanwhile, the frontier is looking very lush and green.

It sure seems like the Columbia spent a lot of time in dry dock, and in 1963 it was getting some work done (audio-animatronic barnacles were being scraped off). It looks like they could block Fowler's Harbor with something resembling canal locks. A raft can be seen to the right, at what I believe was "Huck's Landing" on Tom Sawyer Island.

Two From August 1969

Here are two random-ish scans from August, 1969. Perfect for a low-readership Sunday!

We'll start with this photo taken near the shore of the Rivers of America, looking past a flower-filled planter toward the newly-opened Haunted Mansion. I wonder how far back that line went? Did it snake all the way through the tunnels to the Indian Village? It would be worth the wait because the Hatbox Ghost was probably still there. Even though nobody would know his significance for years. There are rumors that he is coming back sometime this year, but part of me wishes that they would let him remain mysterious and legendary. Nobody asked, though.

Well, on that gloomy note, let's look at a dead guy over at this Indian burial site. Those juniper bushes need some attention, they are about to obscure the corpse, and that won't do.

Cascade Peak & Indian Burial, January 1965

I love this first photo of Cascade Peak, dramatically lit as if it hoped to be painted by Albert Bierstadt.    Yes, even a fake mountain has hopes and dreams. If only a little yellow Mine Train had been chugging past the waterfalls - then this picture would have been especially great. Lucky for me, I have some pictures like that. You'll just have to wait, though!

The dark moody atmosphere are this photo suits the subject matter... an Indian burial. You can see the dead guy up there on the little platform. Nearby is a circle of buffalo skulls, which is badass. 

Frontierland Scenes, March 1961

I have three nice photos from Frontierland; they're all a little on the dark side, but still worth a look.

This sign tells the story of the Indian Village (see a slightly better shot of the sign here). Once the Indians of the Pacific Northwest were represented in the village, this sign would have been obsolete. There's another sign in the distance with info about the birch bark lodge nearby, which you can read about here.


Another sign, in the form of a shield, tells the story of the burial ceremony: AFTER DEATH, A BRAVE'S BODY IS WRAPPED, PLACED ON HIGH POLES AND FACED TO THE EAST...

THE TALL POLE IN FRONT REVEALS HIS LIFE STORY...THE SCALPS PROVE HIS COURAGE IN WAR... THE BUFFALO SKULL SHOWS HE WAS A HUNTER... ON THE GROUND BELOW ARE HIS WEAPONS AND TOOLS.


I like this photo of the Friendly Indian Village as night approaches. As you can see, the industrious Indians continue to work until the very last sunlight is gone. The shiniest boy in the world still stands on his upturned canoe, as well. You can see a tiny red light to the right, presumably part of the signal system for the Disneyland RR.

Goofy

Goofy - - "foolish; Harmlessly eccentric" - - yep, that about does 'er! Here's a fun picture of The Goof making people happy in Fantasyland. It almost looks like a publicity photo. But it isn't.


And, just because it was waiting for it's closeup, here's a view from the Mark Twain. It's a mysterious Indian burial! I wish I knew when this was removed from the park. Or is it still there? I've got no recollection of seeing it the last few times I rode the steamboat. There's something about this feature that I like... the dose of reality, a peek at customs that we might consider strange (and maybe a bit scary), and of course the tribute to the old west. Imagine being on a real steamboat 150 years ago, heading through the wilderness, and seeing a sight like this! I'm doing a terrible job of saying what I mean, so hopefully you get it. Anyway, those were the days when you could see at least a couple of dead bodies at Disneyland! Nowadays - - not so many.