Thursday, March 12, 2009

Main Street USA, 1957

Seems like we've been spending an awful lot of time on Main Street. Someday I'm going to go to Disneyland and never venture beyond the hub. It will be in all the papers!

As the sun sinks into the west, the shadows are leaking out from under the buildings and trees. Darn shadows! The street looks kind of empty and spooky.


The golden light and deep blue sky make for a pretty picture. But be careful! This is the time of day that the Disneyland street gangs come out. And they might want to rumble.


Back at the other end of the street, one lone guest runs for the exit. What's your hurry, bub? Looks like there is a pretty stiff breeze, I hope you all brought sweaters.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

ooooh...nice castle shot...oh,ok...you caught me...this is merely a cheap ploy to plug my own wonderful blog. tee hee...

Thufer said...

i do agree, that first shot looking up main street usa is so warm and rich. a really nice capture.

as many have said; take the castle out and it could be any town during the period.

PTA Transit Authority said...

For me, Main Street could be an amusement park all by itself.

Vintage Disneyland Tickets said...

Another Triple Treat, thanks! The drinking fountain in the first photo needs a 5lb sack of sugar on it!

Katella Gate said...

Yep, the wind blows fresh off Walt's asphalt prairie. Just like he planned it.

TokyoMagic! said...

I wonder if that is the earliest incarnation of that drinking fountain....with just the two pipes supporting it instead of the pedestal base that came later.

Katella Gate said...

TokyoMagic - Without looking at other photos, yes, that is probably the earliest fountain on that spot. That style of ceramic drinking fountain, supported only by the plumbing, was a very common arrangement for public parks and institutions in California at the time.

No doubt, once the money started flowing and the original basins were no longer "brand new", the second generation with the pedistals were installed, since they are far more attractive.

Anonymous said...

When I worked as a sweeper on Main Street in 1975, it would become a virtual ghost town after 12:00 or 1:00. You'd get the rush in the morning as people were coming in but it wouldn't get populated until the early evening when the parades started. Great shots... plenty of memories.

Nancy said...

very nice colors on these images....a bright blue sky is the best :D

TokyoMagic! said...

Katella Gate, that's it! It looks institutional!