1500th Post

Today marks the One thousand five hundredth entry on Gorillas Don't Blog. It looks even more impressive when it's written out. FYI, that's 500 more than I ever planned to do, just think of the value you are getting for your blogging dollar.

On with today's photos...

Well, looky there - - it's the Viewliner crossing Tomorrowland Lake (as seen from the Skyway, of course). I'm not sure how futuristic the Viewliner was, but I love it anyway, with its classic 50's styling. There were a lot of empty seats on it this time around. Meanwhile, we also get glimpse of still-rural Anaheim.

Here's a wonderful view of early Main Street USA... it was in a batch of slides that were labeled "1956", and yet there's the "Intimate Apparel" shop; aka "The Wizard of Bras". Perhaps that means this is actually a 1955 photo? (Sorry about the horse poop)!


Here's a closer look at Hollywood Maxwell's short-lived store. There was a dummy of an old lady sitting in a rocking chair on this porch, but she is apparently tucked into the corner out of sight from this angle. The fact that this store really existed in Disneyland is pretty great! Isn't "torsolette" a wonderful word?


We've seen this lady (and her hat) before; when the wind picked up, she could fly through the air and solve crimes. I love this 1956 view of the Jungle Cruise dock; notice that the sign in the background says that there were only 7 naptha launches - eventually there were 12. Name them all and win my gold-plated admiration!


Here's a colorful photo from September 1967, showing The New Establishment rockin' out on the Tomorrowland Stage. My guess is that they are singing "Windy" by The Association (a big hit in '67). "Who's peekin' out from under a stairway, callin' a name that's lighter than air?" Greatest. Song. Ever. I love the way the reflected light shines through those plastic panels, infusing everything with a warm glow. To the left we can see the Tomorrowland Ticket Booth, designed by Rollie Crump. Wonder what that guy in the blue work shirt is doing over there?


I decided to close with this beautiful photo of Sleeping Beauty Castle, circa 1958. The tropical plants in the foreground are part of the entry to Adventureland, while the folks mid-ground are crossing the bridge from Frontierland.

I am officially claiming to have the smartest and best-looking readers on the interwebs, and I'm not just saying that so that you'll send me money, bags and bags of wonderful money. Thanks to all of you for still reading (or looking, if you just like the pictures). Will we see a post #2000? I can only promise to keep on keepin' on until "blog burnout" fries my brain completely, or until I run out of photos. I think I smell something burning.