Friday, February 13, 2009

Fabulous Tomorrowland, July 25 1961

Who's in the mood for waffles, swimming in butter and syrup? Well, I can't offer you waffles, but I can present these delicious photos of Tomorrowland for your brain to devour.

If you remember a kid who was proud to be an American (see him here), you can spot him in both of these photos. Kind of a "where's Waldo" thing! There he is to the right, pretending to be a robot. Meanwhile, this is about as nice a shot of the 60's Tomorrowland as you could want. What a place!


Now Waldo is to our left, sans Ray Bans. This photo is almost as nice as the first one, in my opinion. It has so many familiar landmarks, you don't need me to tell you what they are. One interesting detail, however, is the giant thimble over the Thimble Drome Flight Circle...


Here's a closer look. Now that's a big thimble! Yet another Disneyland prop that I would love to own. It's probably turned upside-down and being used as a waste basket in somebody's garage.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

They need to reanimate today's Tomorrowland with those molecules on sticks!

Anonymous said...

Wee 'nother time capsule in Living Color :)

Yep, that thar's a big ol' thimble... built to protect your thumb after you've hit it and it's swollen up? Who can say. But it looks rather pretty all shiny chrome (or polished aluminum compliments of Keisar Aluminum?).

How neat it'd be to walk around there... you really get a feel for that with these.

So can I have some waffles with butter n syrup anyway? Or I'll take a red pair of pants like the kid in the top pic hehe

Vintage Disneyland Tickets said...

Nothing say future like "molecules on sticks". A pair of insanely superb gems! I so want the thimble! Thanks for the colorful and fun post!

Katella Gate said...

The second photo's interesting. The kid on the far left foreground and the guy in the tie under the skyway buckets have both turned around mid-stride to look a the same thing in the direction of the Sub loading platform.

I wonder what noise got their attention that made them look? Probably a submarine engine backfire - because the females all look non-responsive. (Obviously, the problem is mechanical, and a male will be by to fix the situation shortly.)

Yes, that was blatantly sexist, but it's the 50's so put that comment in a time capsule and enjoy it as "nostalgia".

outsidetheberm said...

Your second shot is full of fun stuff!

And the 'noise' on the right? It looks like the 'Yachtsmen' just might be performing today.

Learning Spanish at 41 said...

Third one's a keeper!! :)

Anonymous said...

Wow are those great. That Thimble Drone sign is really neat. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a color picture of it before. This is during the time when all men were required to carry their ticket books in their shirt pocket.

Nancy said...

Tomorrowland is always the place to be for me....

these are truly terrific!! thanks :D

Anonymous said...

THAT's what the current Tomorrowland is lacking -- giant thimbles. I KNEW there was something...

Daveland said...

I hope CoxPilot sees this post; he would go nuts over that Thimble for the Flight Circle.

CoxPilot said...

I haven't had a computer for over two months, but now the new 20" Mac G5 is finally pressed into service. Whow! Talk about withdraw pains.

Love the pic of the Thimble Drome tower. That thing had to be polished at least every other day by one of us, and usually me, with chrome polish and turtle wax.

Bart Klapinski climbed up on it to take the picture I use as my avitar (and is posted on Daveland).

The thimble went back to Cox Mfg in Santa Ana, and later was saved from the dumpster by one of the guys in the model shop when the company went down the tubes in late 1966.