New Orleans Square, April 1967
New Orleans Square looks like it hasn't had time to open for business in this 1967 photo. While it doesn't appear to be especially early, the park might not have opened until 10 o'clock. The Blue Bayou is shuttered, and there is nobody manning the shoe shine stand. A couple of ladies are checking out the winding streets and shop windows.
Pirates of the Caribbean had opened only weeks before this photo was taken (the ride debuted on March 18), I would imagine that it wouldn't be long until this part of the park was teeming with curious guests waiting to see one of the most talked-about attractions of all time.
This second image comes from the same lot of slides, showing a couple of gentlemen walking past the Swiss Family Treehouse. I didn't remember that it was "in bloom", although the attraction poster shows it that way. This was definitely the ultimate treehouse! If I recall correctly (and it's been a while since I read the book!), the family doesn't live in their treehouse for long. Among other things, they are frequently harrassed by hoards of monkeys. I believe that they eventually move into a dry, comfortable cave. (Please correct me if I'm mistaken, folks!)
2 comments:
Just read SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON to the kids, so it's fresh in my mind: the treehouse (called "Falconhurst") gets built first, then the Cave house ("Rockburg") gets discovered and improved. But the family continues to occupy both dwellings; the treehouse during fine weather, the cave during the two-months of winter, the tropical rainy season.
That is a nice view of New Orleans Square. It looks so much better without the crowds there now. And I think in the Disney film version the family stays in the tree house for the entire film.
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