Universal Studios, May 1979

I have a lot of fondness for the old Universal Studios tour, having first experienced it in the early 70s when Alfred Hitchcock did the TV commercials. I can still hear his distinctive voice saying "Universal Studios too-wa"! 

Today's trio of photos are from May, 1979, and features the Universal Studios Screen Test Airport (at least that's how it's listed on two websites, though it is awkward if you ask me). It was specifically a version of the Screen Test Theatre that used the theme and sets from the 1977 movie Airport '77. Guests could participate as "guest stars" by being filmed in scenes that were edited together with footage from the actual film, making them the stars of their own mini-movie. Here are volunteers, ready to be STARS! An MC is interviewing a kid with a Disneyland beanie.

This particular Screen Test was created as a tie-in to "Airport '77", which was an American air disaster film, the third installment of the Airport film series. The film stars an ensemble cast of veteran actors including Jack Lemmon, James Stewart, Joseph Cotten, Olivia de Havilland, and Brenda Vaccaro as well as the return of George Kennedy from the two previous Airport films. The plot concerns a private Boeing 747 packed with VIPs and priceless art that is hijacked before crashing into the ocean in the Bermuda Triangle, forcing the survivors into a desperate struggle for survival.

Despite mixed critical reviews, Airport '77 was a box-office hit, grossing $91.1 million worldwide. It was nominated for two Academy Awards. (This silly movie was nominated for TWO Oscars??).

This photo is hilarious, clearly all of the passengers were instructed to assume the attitudes of people who'd experienced a disastrous crash (in the movie, the plane lands on the ocean, and then sinks to the sea floor in the BERMUDA TRIANGLE! The most terrifying triangle on urf!!). 

Thanks to movie magic, a flight aboard a 747 could be entirely simulated on a soundstage. The attraction was located in a theater that was once known as Stage 70 and later renamed the Screen Test Theatre. Other "Screen Tests" used the themes of the TV show "Emergency!", and "Star Trek". You can watch quite a few Airport '77 Screen Tests on YouTube, they are just the right combination of cheesy and charming.

Fabulous Randos

I just scanned two dozen slides, and there were some really nice randos mixed in. Here are two for your Friday.

Let's begin with this beautiful October 1972 shot looking toward the entrance to Tomorrowland as seen from the middle of the Plaza (aka the "Hub"). The cerulean blue sky really compliments the whites and yellows (and even the reds!). This is truly a "postcard-worthy" view, it's got the rockets up in the air, several colorful Peoplemover trains, Rolly Crump's flowers (not purple and yellow, but orange and yellow!), the GE logo from the Carousel of Progress, and lots of groovy guests.  

See? POSTCARD WORTHY!

This next photo is dated "May 1980", and is a nice look at the Disneyland RR's #3 locomotive, the Fred Gurley. This appears to be a backstage photo, and I have no idea who or how somebody was able to take the image. Maybe the park was offering one of those special tours of the Roundhouse, and the Gurley was steaming up before it rolled into the park? Whatever the case, I appreciate the novelty of the picture.

A Pair From December 1962

I think it's safe to classify both of today's photos as "standard Disneyland views". Nice enough, sure, but you probably won't call Aunt Marge to tell her all about them. (Call her anyway, she's lonely).

Yep, it's no surprise that it's a photo of the Mark Twain. It looks pretty against that deep-blue sky. Daredevil ducks wait until the last possible second to scoot out of its way (while other less-brave ducks stayed safely out of harm's way). I'd say that this behavior does not set a good example for ducklings. You can tell that there is a slight chill in the air based on the long sleeves and sweaters.

I think I read that the Pirate Ship was almost sponsored by Mongo's Liverwurst, but negotiations fell through when they insisted on pumping the aroma of liverwurst through the cannon's bores. But it's fun to imagine "what might have been"!

Knott's Berry Farm

KBF on GDB! Let's go. This is a random selection of slide scans. 

First up is this shot of Seldom Seen Slim, who used to be sort of an unofficial mascot of Knott's. The prospector with his trusty burro, wandering the west looking for gold. Gooooooold! It makes me sad that Slim and his burro (I call him "Biscuit") have been removed, it seems unbelievable that there wasn't room for this statue anymore. Slim was based on a real person named Charles Ferge. I'm unclear as to when the SSS statue (sculpted by Claude Bell) was installed, though it appears to be on souvenir maps going back to the mid-1950s.

Seeing that statue reminded me of an email exchange I had with TokyoMagic! a few years back, when I'd seen this screen grab from the Wim Wenders film "Paris, Texas". Right next to Harry Dean Stanton is another "miner and burro" statue that looks nearly identical to the one at Knott's! Here's what TM said: I'll tell ya... that door in the background has "Wheel Inn" on it.  That was the restaurant next door to the "Cabazon dinosaurs."  Claude Bell created the Cabazon dinosaurs and ran the Wheel Inn for a while, and I had heard... and have seen accompanying pics to back it up, that he had a duplicate of his "Miner and Burro" statues from Knott's, outside of his restaurant.  I wonder if those statues are still there.  I think the restaurant closed some time ago. Interesting! I sure hope that at least one of these statues still survives somewhere.

Next is this September 1970 view of a mine shaft up on a precipitous hillside (or is it a cliff?). I assume that this was taken from down in the "Gold Mine" where guests could pan for REAL GOLD.

Here's an undated photo of the #40, the "Gold Nugget", I believe that the people in the foreground are standing in Boot Hill, enjoying the humorous grave markers. Is that the Haunted Shack to the left or just some other shanty? 

And sticking with the train theme, here's the #41, the "Red Cliff".  It's kind of an impressive photo, back when there was so much open space around Knott's. Not to mention the eucalyptus trees that somehow added so much to the look and feel of the place.

More Fun Photos

I'm continuing a look at some souvenir Fun Photos from the "Photo & Art Gallery" in Tomorrowland. 

As I said in the first installment, these souvenir photos were placed in a frame that was also a handy mailer, in case you had friends or loved ones to entertain. Here's one of them!

This particular Fun Photo seems to be pretty scarce; a family ("Honored Guests") has been presented with the key to Disneyland, probably by Walt Disney himself. Say, the mom is quite the tomater!  

Here's another envelope variation...

And the photo shows a happy family in the nosecone of the Monorail as it curved through a mountain pass (???). This example shows issues common to these old Polaroid souvenirs, with streaks, blotches, and discoloration. I suppose nobody thought about how they would look 60+ years later.

Stay tuned for more FUN PHOTOS!

Nice Frontierland, September 1962

Here are two swell slide scans from September, 1962! Let's begin with this great view of the Bertha Mae Keelboat gliding along the River with a full compliment of passengers. I wonder, if they brought back Keelboats (It'll never happen of course), would they be popular with guests today? The ride looks like a pleasant way to spend 10 minutes (or so).

Over on Tom Sawyer Island, we're up on the upper walkway in Fort Wilderness, the "civilized" outpost of the Frontier. Folks are milling around the Regimental Hdqrs., where Andy Jackson chatted with Davy Crockett and Georgie Russell. A girl in a pale pink dress waves "hello"! 

Blurzles™

Yep, it's Snoozle™ time, with these falling under the sub-category of "Blurzles™". As if often the case.

This first one is from the 1950s, and might have been a pretty photo of a Casey Junior Circus Train chugging through the patchwork quilt of Storybook Land, but our photographer was a little bit jumpy. It's not a total loss though, the late afternoon sun makes it kind of pretty.

Next, from 1967 or 1968 comes this dynamic composition with the yellow Mark II Monorail coming toward us on the elevated beam. Pylons! And posters! Not as many posters as I'd like though. The Disneyland Hotel is in the distance, the Monorail has just come from there and was on its way to Tomorrowland, which is pretty cool.

 

A Hotel and a Motor Lodge

I selected two rather random slide scans, but there is a theme (as you can see by the title of the post). Where can you stay when you go to Palm Springs or Santa Barbara? Stay tuned!

This 1963 scan was a mystery to me. Sure, we can see a funky place called the "Dunes Hotel", with that distinctive whatsit out front. A pergola from outer space? With the name of the hotel,, and the desert-ish environs, I thought that this might be on the outskirts of Las Vegas, but it is in fact Palm Springs. The Dunes is still around, and has been updated; it looks clean and modern. But they seem to have lost the Venusian pergola.

Here's a vintage postcard...

Next is  this undated (but certainly 1950s) photo showing two well-dressed ladies near the ocean (you can see a pier in the background), with an avenue of stately palm trees, which is apt since they are at the Ocean Palms Motor Lodge. It was simple enough to find out that this was in Santa Barbara, CA. I believe that it is now known as the Ocean Palms Resort Hotel, because motor courts are squaresville, daddy-o.

We love vintage postcards! Typically the dead fronds on palm trees are trimmed off, but somebody wanted to be sure to provide a good home for rats.

Another vintage postcard!

I hope you have enjoyed your visit to Palm Springs and Santa Barbara.

Nice 50s Slides

Disneyland slides from the 1950s! They're hard to beat. Today's examples are really nice - starting with this great Fantasyland view, filled with the usual riot of colors and patterns. Overhead, Skyway gondolas move to and fro... 

... with Holiday Hill (no Matterhorn yet) and the tallest of the Skyway support towers.
 

I kind of love this view of three coatless men posing just outside the entry gates (and near the ticket booths). This is not exactly the typical group of Disneyland visitors, I'd love to know why they are there together, apparently without spouses. They probably heard all about the Mad Tea Party and couldn't wait to check it out for themselves! A stiff breeze blows the flag over Main Street Station eastward, along with the men's ties. The bowtie is always impeccable.

Beautiful Fantasyland, 1960s

Fantasyland has always been the most "Disney" of all the lands, with its movie-themed dark rides right near the Castle. It had lots more to offer as well, as we can see in this first great photo, taken (I presume) from a Skyway gondola as it backed into the Fantasyland chalet. There's the beautiful Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship, the Mad Tea Party, the Carrousel, Casey Jr., and even the Matterhorn is part of Fantasyland. 

At first I thought that this was taken during the early part of the day with some low cloud coverage, but now I'm not so sure. The sky is definitely not as blue as in the previous picture. I guess the ship's sails were at the dry cleaners being Martinized, pirates hate dirty sails. For some reason I find those concrete benches painted in cheerful colors to be charming, they weren't used anywhere else in the park.
 

Hello, Captain Guy! I just found a vintage article online that said that Guy Exon played "Captain Kidd". I was never aware that the peg-legged pirate had a name. Meanwhile, that boy in blue is not showing proper deference and will soon walk the plank.