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. 

A Pair From May, 1960

You never know when June Gloom will hit - it might even happen in May! It's like when Friday the 13th falls on a Wednesday. Judging from the number of guests, this was a fine time to visit the park - perhaps it was Mother's Day. Or Memorial Day! The diffused light makes it impossible to guess what time of day this was, but people are already resting on benches, so I'd guess "what is 'early afternoon', Alex". It's nice to see a Surrey to the left.

This second scan is a bit more unusual, showing the seating outside the Yacht Bar. I am amused that those fiberglass seats with the built-in table reminds me of certain grade-school seating. I'm already worrying about my Scan-tron test! The tables have a hole that is (presumably) just the right size to hold your ice-cold Coke, which is nice because it won't fall over when the Moonliner lifts off. 
 

More Pins From the Bag

The kids are tired of TikTok! They want Pins From the Bag! 

This first pin is special to me, because it belonged to my dad, who was a big fan of Walt Kelly's "Pogo", a comic strip that ran from 1948 to 1975. Dad had around a dozen books (collections of daily strips) from the 1950s that I used to read, and I grew to love Pogo Possum, Albert Alligator, Churchy LaFemme (a turtle), Howland Owl, Porky Pine, and the other denizens of the Okefenokee swamp. After my dad passed away, my mom gave me this large pinback button, which he kept in a drawer with his cufflinks and other "guy stuff".

This next pin is from 1980, when a feature-length animated film was released. I've never seen it! Wikipedia tells us that some of the voices were provided by people such as Ruth Buzzi, Stan Freberg, Jonathan Winters, Arnold Stang, and even Vincent Price.

This next button is likely from the later 1930s or even the 1940s. "Wonder-Cut" bread. Is that the same as Wonder Bread? I get the feeling that it might be a knock-off, but I'm not really sure. The wrapper does have the same multi-colored balloons that I have always liked (though these balloons all have text in them, so...). The best thing about Wonder Bread is the way it sticks to the roof of your mouth.

Many cities around the country had various annual celebrations... winter carnivals, "pioneer days", and the like. This pin is from a 1941 "Aquatennial" in Minneapolis. Knowing nothing about the Aquatennial, I looked it up: The Minneapolis Aquatennial is an annual outdoor event held in the U.S. city of Minneapolis, Minnesota, during the third full week of July. Originating in 1940, overshadowing the teamster picnics (potentially violent events) "to take the minds of Minneapolis citizens off past troubles and focus all minds throughout the state on some pleasant event", the Minneapolis Aquatennial celebrates the city's lakes, rivers, and streams. They still celebrate the Aquatennial to this day!

I've actually shared a photo of this Kid's Ken-L-Klub button back in 2015, but it's in the bag, and international law says that I have to share it again. 

This last one is a favorite, with "Peppy Flame", a natural gas flame who works his (her?) blazing little head off for you! Peppy Flame was the mascot for the Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO) based out of Merrillville, IN and founded in 1912. This mascot was originally created in 1957 to promote the natural gas business and was used in advertising into the 1970s. Peppy’s blue hair is a good sign when using natural gas and is indicative of complete combustion.

There are more Pins From the Bag!

1950s Details

An anonymous photographer from the 1950s seemed to be interested in some of the smaller details in Disneyland. Sure, that castle is great, and how often do you see a moon rocket? But some folks have an eye for the little things that others don't. The Fantasyland Skyway chalet was a real showstopper, perched on its hill, surrounded by an Alpine forest, and replete with charming folk art details. Does the circular device show the signs of the zodiac? And all of those shields must represent various Swiss municipalities (or something).    

While aboard the Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship, our photographer looked up at the crow's nest, which is probably so small that only a monkey could look for distant sails (try not to think about scurvy monkeys). I have learned that the “lubber’s hole” into the crow’s nest is a shameful way for any true seaman to go up… a real “salt” will climb the outside. The rigging and sails all look mighty impressive!

A Pair From April, 1973

Here's an oddball pair from Spring of 1973. A fine time to visit the park! My family had moved to Pennsylvania by then, so I was looking at my copies of "Disney News" and counting the days before Summer, when we'd probably return to California to visit my grandparents (as it turns out, I did not get back to the park for three whole years!). 

There used to be a flowerbed smack-dab in the middle of The Plaza, and as you can see, it was full of colorful blossoms. I suppose that the powers-that-be considered this centrally-located piece of real estate to be way too significant. "What we need is a statue!". "What kind of a statue, boss?". "A metal one!". "Brilliant!". And that's why the "Partners" statue is there today. People love it, and that's not a bad thing.

I'm always happy to see the Swiss Family Treehouse in Adventureland. Jungle trees somehow manage to absorb sunlight, resulting in dark photos like this one. It's nice to see this attraction looking so busy. I'm noticing a lot of sweaters and coats - it must have been a bit cool, in spite of the bright sunshine.
 

EXTRA! EXTRA!

GDB pal DW found a caricature of himself that was done at Knott's Berry Farm "from around 1975-1977". Very fun! I love that he's at the controls of a locomotive - I didn't ask, but I assume DW must have told the artist that he liked trains? Most true railfans recommend riding a train atop the boiler, the way it was done in the old days. Considering that the artist had to quickly represent an old steam locomotive, and that he was probably not exactly an expert in those, I think his sketch is pretty fun. THANKS, DW!

BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE!

Also from Knott's Berry Farm comes this caricature of Sue B. She said this was from my California trip in the summer of 1976.  I went to DL and KBF, while staying with relatives in California.  I'm positive I had this caricature done at KBF, but there's no KBF stamp???  I had just recently started dating Keith and he drove a 1969 Chevelle...I was a love-sick teenager, missing him while I was away. [Queue in the sappy love songs here.] THANKS, SUE!

Jungle Cruise Snoozles, September 1964

From the same batch of Instamatic slides as last Thursday's post come today's snooze-tastic Jungle Cruise pictures. Not the worst things you'll ever see, but far from the best, also.

It's that familiar African Veldt tableau, presumably an excuse to populate the Jungle Cruise with a significant number of critters. Why would they all be grouped into one rather small area? To watch one of their pals being eaten! It all makes sense now. "I feel bad, but at least it isn't ME". It's interesting that a worker of some sort (Maintenance? Landscaping?) is standing right in the middle of the scene in broad daylight. Perhaps he was only there for a moment, and just happened to get caught in this photo.

Next is a not-great photo of a scene that I always enjoyed, a bathing elephant who has found a wonderful natural shower cascading down those rocks. As a kid I envied him, who wouldn't want to play in that very spot?

 

Six Gun Territory, Silver Springs, Florida - 1970s

In a large box of slides, I found this group of photos from a defunct amusement park in Ocala, Florida - Six Gun Territory! There isn't a lot of information about this park on Wikipedia. The short version says Six Gun Territory was a Western-themed theme park in Ocala, Florida, United States. It opened on February 2, 1963 and closed on January 1, 1984. The rest of the article is about the Southern Railway & Six Gun, a narrow gauge heritage railroad that doesn't even appear in any of my slides (sadly).

The first three scans show a typical amusement park shootout. People love to watch men gunning each other down! It looks like that man up on the balcony might be narrating the events. Clearly that little girl with the turquoise cowboy hat is one of the desperados, ready for a fight!

What? It's over? I expected more protracted agony, maybe some screaming. I admit to feeling a little disappointed. Where's Sam Peckinpauh when you need him? By the way, these slides are undated, and I  guesstimated that they are from the 1970s, but perhaps they are from the 1980s?
 

Hmmm, perhaps this one should have been posted before that last one, since  the puff of smoke from a six-shooter is still hanging in the air. Or was the boy with the green shirt smoking a cigar? The kid with the yellow shirt was biting his nails in suspense! The lifeless body of the bad man will soon be buried in Boot Hill.

Next, a mother and son pose with a static "photo op" display, a wagon pulled by two glassy-eyed longhorn cattle. The livestock is not attached the wagon in any way, instead they pull the wagon using psychokinesis. Just like in the Old West. 

I was very happy that this photo of the modest Merry-Go-Round was in the bunch, since it helped me to ID the location. I wonder if it was the boy's birthday? He's now wearing a magnificent feathered Indian headdress.

Going around and around in circles never gets old! Especially when you are riding your genuine Honda motorcycle.

Or how about a dune buggy with four steering wheels? The fire engine looks pretty good too, maybe mom will let us ride twice.

And finally, Six Gun Territory had Native Americans performing tribal dances, beneath a roofed pavilion due (presumably) to frequent rain showers. 

I hope you have enjoyed your visit to Six Gun Territory!

Nice Randos

After observing a large weather balloon (launched from the top of Mt. Everest), I have determined that this would be a good day to share some RANDOS. First up is this nice photo, date-stamped "August, 1967", featuring the entrance to Adventureland. There's the arched sign, made of bamboo and woven palm leaves in the finest "Gilligan's Island" manner. Ivory tusks might be seen as problematic, but they were careful to get them from an elephant who was a jerk. To the left, the wonderful Enchanted Tiki Room, where the birds sing words and the flowers croon! 

As most of you know, the attraction was sponsored by United Air Lines when it debuted on June 23, 1963, and continued to sponsor it until sometime in 1976 (when Dole took over). Frames outside the Tiki Room held posters, sometimes silkscreened attraction posters, and sometimes travel posters from UAL, encouraging guests to Fly the Friendly Skies.

The poster to the left is this bold design with the Statue of Liberty. 

And the poster to the right of that showed a beautiful lady welcoming you to Hawaii!

The next Rando is the last slide from a batch of 50s images that were very faded. Luckily, it was nothing that Photoshop couldn't handle. As you can see, guests explored the Hurricane Deck of the Mark Twain, which afforded great views of Frontierland and the River.

If you happened to be only three feet tall like that little kid, you mostly just saw walls! The brave and resourceful pilot is looking right at us, he can tell that we are the kind of passenger that he likes.

EXTRA! EXTRA!

GDB friend KS recently had a scare when brush fires threatened his Oregon home - which is bad enough (I've been through this in California), but KS also raises & cares for horses on his ranch. All of them had to be evacuated! Luckily, brave fire crews (including some from other countries) kept the home and ranch safe (and generous friends took in the horses). KS sent along this photo, and said, "We are all back and fine, though some are still adjusting". I'm so glad that it all worked out for him!!

More Lion Country Safari, 1973

Way back on May 27th of this year, I shared some 1973 photos taken by Lou Perry from a visit to SoCal's now-defunct Lion Country Safari. After a too-long wait, here is Part 2!

You can tell that these antelope feel pretty safe on this faux veldt, they could hardly be more relaxed. Some might not be alive, who can tell? My memories of LCS are mostly of animals half-asleep in the Irvine heat.

It's a loaf of Rhinocerworsts! Didn't you know that a group of them is called a "loaf"? There might be a reason for that.

As a kid I got a kick out of the official park Jeeps, painted in zebra stripes. If they didn't sell toy versions of these, they were leaving millions on the table.

Yep, this is about how I remember things. Sleeping animals seeking the cooler shade beneath some scrawny trees. "Honk the horn, ma! Rile the critters up!". This is about when I'd get out of the car for a selfie with the cheetahs. I invented selfies!

I believe that those are lions sleeping near those palms. As I mentioned in the first post, commercials always showed a station wagon with a lion on their hood, but I'm not sure I ever saw one even walking.

I always love to see elephants, such huge, strange-looking animals, though we're used to them now. On the other hand, I sometimes feel bad seeing them cooped up in zoos, but at least they are protected from poachers. And at Lion Country Safari, they had room to wander.

And finally, another look at a giraffe (see the first installment), a creature that seems like one of those odd extinct animals that we know only from fossilized skeletons (like giant sloths) - except that they are real and alive! If you give a giraffe a piece of beef jerky, it will be your friend for life. 

MANY THANKS to Lou and Sue!

Main Street & Adventureland Entrance, 1950s

If your Spidey Senses were tingling this morning, it might mean that:

A) You were bitten by a radioactive spider, and/or

B) You knew that it is Steve DeGaetano's birthday.

As always, Sue B. has something for the occasion, and undated photo of a vintage birthday party. 3 elves with pointy blue hats sit in a basement (?) at a card table with a magnificent tablecloth, and the finest, most comfortable metal folding chairs. Putting kids in the basement is wise, they can blow on those noisemakers all they want, and folks in the rest of the house won't be disturbed. I like the birthday boy's bow tie! A clip-on, presumably. The boy to the right is hoping that a clown was not engaged for this party. Happy Birthday, Steve!

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Today's photos remind me of "Pepperidge's Third Law", which posits that: "Early photos of Disneyland are just generally more interesting than most because of their earliosity". I'm trying to get this carved into the walls of the Lincoln Memorial, but so far it's all been roadblocks and red tape. 

What do you do when standing on the steps up to Main Street Station? Well, you can continue up and ride the train, or you can do an interpretive dance about how you are feeling at that precise moment. "Look Mabel, that man is experiencing a combination of happiness and muscle spasms!". "Land sakes!".

Town Square and Main Street look pretty busy, it must have been summer vacation (the patriotic bunting might be a clue). It looks "June Gloom-ish", but we've had some June Gloom in September, so you never know. 

The gray skies kept things cool and pleasant, but pictures like these contain 11% less joy than a bright sunny pic. Still, there's enough happiness to keep me content! I love this photo looking across part of the moat (aka the "dark water system"), with guests coming and going across the bridge to Frontierland. I don't know how long those tree stumps were there by the entrance, I'll bet the trees were cut down by teenagers. You know how they are!