Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Sub Rehab, February 1964

When you have a Submarine attraction, it's going to have to be spiffed up once in a while. It's one of Newton's laws. I remember being disappointed to find that the Subs were closed during one visit oh-so-long ago, but was fascinated by the spectacle of the drained lagoon! I tried taking my own photos, but it was night, and I was too dumb to realize that my Magic Cube flash wouldn't light the entire lagoon.

Here are two totally boss photos (plus a couple of details) of one such rehab in 1964. The water filters out so much color (leaving only blue-green), it is surprising to see the rocks and "corals" painted a fairly vivid reddish orange. Coverall-wearing workers are polishing the giant clams and oiling the treasure chest that opened when it was full of bubbles. The temporary, wheelbarrow-friendly ramp allowed easy access to the floor of the lagoon.


Judging from the empty peach baskets, the workers enjoyed their fair share of peaches! Or maybe those containers held new, shiny shells, corals and seaweed.


This second angle faces the entrance to the "show building", where the attraction became a dark ride. That's the part I would have loved to walk through. Or better yet, get a snorkel and some fins and swim through!


What could be in those big metal drums? Paint? Adhesive? Waterproofing? Yoo-Hoo? Along the dock are many smaller paint cans. No wonder the Submarine Voyage was such an expensive ride to maintain, it was a huge job!

10 comments:

Daveland said...

The lagoon sure looks different when it’s drained—very cool shots!

Chris Merritt said...

Wow! So very cool - just 5 years out from opening - very much the way it likely was on opening day! This is super rare stuff. I wish they could have taken shots inside the show building!

Katella Gate said...

Ditto the show building! Of all the unknown corners of Disneyland, the Submarine Voyage Show Building is the most unknownest of all.

Thufer said...

I agree, very impressive set of pictures.....yes inside the show building for the sub voyage is high on the holy grail factor.

Jason Schultz said...

Great photos! I never got to walk through a drained attraction, but I did get to walk around the catwalks in the cavern about four years after the attraction closed--very strange experience.

Katella Gate said...

Progressland: If there are no photos, it didn't happen.

-jk

Jim said...

Attraction imagess with the skin peeled back...pure gold. Thanks for the mid week gift.

Nancy said...

awesome! :D

Chiana_Chat said...

At the bottom of the ramp around there, I see what look like old fire extinguishers. Seems strange, you're in the freakin' lagoon but ya need... Awesome seeing it in Technicolor. :)

Chiana_Chat said...

PS - the barrels contain laughs.

Walt's orders, needed more humor.