Sunday, July 11, 2010

The Castle, 1956

Today's slides aren't the most exciting, and they would have benefited from a sunny day and a blue sky. But they is what they is.

It looks like it's night on the other side of the castle tunnel, with the carrousel lights visible even at this distance. Maybe the castle is a time machine! A portal that takes you five hours into the future. It's so obvious, why didn't I think of it before? In the foreground, gramps is upset because people keep coming up to him and saying "Hey Ike, where's Mamie?".


Well, the illusion is shattered. It's not night on this side of the castle at all. I hope you're happy. Random thought; wouldn't it be cool if they could occasionally have a ghostly figure - of a medieval guard maybe - walking behind the parapets at night? No idea how they would achieve this effect, but I want more "haunted Disneyland". Please have the Walt Disney Company send me one million dollars for this idea. Thank you.

7 comments:

SB said...

Of course the Carrousel was a lot closer in those days, which would help explain the darkness in the archway. Kind of hard to tell if any of these people were meant to be in this composition or if it was all just unfortunate randomness.

Strange when compared with today too. No strollers, no electric wheelchairs, no backpacks, no T shirts...

(A palace sentry appearing occasionally at night is a cool idea.)

TokyoMagic! said...

How about an occasional beheading in the courtyard, as well?

Major Pepperidge said...

SB, the old guy ("Ike") is apparently the husband of the woman who took these photos.

TokyoMagic!, I think a beheading each day is a genius idea! Did you know that a 1955 LIFE magazine mentions the concept of a torture chamber in Sleeping Beauty Castle?

Nancy said...

so gloomy is right....esp with just about no one there in the second shot.

we should arrange a party there so we can liven things up a bit....ghosts and all!

TokyoMagic! said...

They could at least do the beheadings and torturing for Halloween. After all, Knott's Berry Farm hangs a witch every night in Calico Square during their Halloween Haunt Nights.

Chuck said...

The second photo reminds me of the oft-reproduced image of Walt looking to the right across an empty castle courtyard. He was still living when today's photo was taken. Wish he were still with us today...

Anonymous said...

Nic pic of the "back door". Rarely seen in tourist photos. I don't mind the lack of people, helps focus on the architecture.

sorry.

JG