Monday, December 20, 2010

Rocket Jets, February 1969

Here's a swell view of the Rocket Jets attraction, looking striking up there atop the Peoplemover loading level. Imagine the view from your rocket when you pulled the throttle back and went as high as possible! Some neat signage is visible as well (though tiny...) - my favorite is the lozenge-shaped Peoplemover sign, but the round Rocket Jet's sign has great typography too.


The rockets have all landed, and apparently every human being has left Disneyland. It's funny how this photo, taken within moments of the first one, can evoke a completely different feeling.

16 comments:

TokyoMagic! said...

It looks like there's a rehab/closed sign with Mickey on it at the entrance to the PeopleMover.

I wish I could step into this photo! First thing I would do is check out the Carousel of Progress! Then the Rocket Jets, then Adventure Thru Inner Space.....

Connie Moreno said...

Oh my gosh, that second photo is haunting in a way. Wow...

Vintage Disneyland Tickets said...

Two great pics! I'll step in the photos with you TM, but I'm hitting ATIS first :-)

Thufer said...

I have often said; this is one of the best positioned and 'que-ed' attractions in Disneyland's history.

olddisneylandfan said...

These photos break my Disneyland heart.

Major Pepperidge said...

TM, your eyes are better than mine; I still don't see the sign!

Connie, VDT & Thufer, I'm glad you liked these!

Olddisneylandfan, if I have brought pain and misery to my readers, then my work here is done. ;-)

Chiana_Chat said...

Maj I see the sign too, it's mostly blocked though. Look for the Peoplemoooover sign near the center, hanging from the Peoplemoooover track (not the rotating one above). Then look below. Between Chamois Woman and Checkerpants Woman. In front of the guy and his girl. You'll see a white sign with Mickey on it. That's the "sorry, closed for refurbishment" sign.

Major Pepperidge said...

Oh yeah, there it is! Thanks Chiana!

JG said...

Oh Major, these are beautiful, they bring tears to my old eyes.

My Kingdom for a Rocket Jet.

I wish I could step in...but would it matter if I could never return?

Have to get back to you on that...


JG

Major Pepperidge said...

JG, I would miss my friends and family, but wouldn't it be fascinating to be sent back to 1969?

Nancy said...

Rocket Jets...Peoplemover....my mouth is watering! i gotta get a piece of candy for it to go with this eye candy!! these are gorgeous!

Vaughn said...

It would have been interesting to have been at the meeting where they decided to move the Rocket Jets... "Hey, let's lower them so they aren't near as exciting, and slow them down, and hey, lets fix them up so they look old and worn out."

Chuck said...

I'd have been thrown out of that meeting.

JG said...

I think I can tell you how it went.

The original concept leaves the rocket jets up where they are over the people mover which become the rocket rods, with added Jules Verne looking shrouds on the cars.

Then, after the due diligence structural engineering review, the architectural dept comes back with the cost estimate to update the old rocket jet structure, and the concrete bldg below.

Paul Pressler says, we can buy a whole new Jules Verne rocket jet and put it over here..."stabs map with finger" for half that! I'm a f***g genius.

Then, to reduce the load on the structure and compensate for the rocket rod changes, the engineer took off the old jet cars and rocket fuselage, and was tild to put the stupid antenna on the old arms to pretend that the carcass of the ride abandoned in place to save money, was actually supposed to be part of the theming.

The architects complain about the new ride blocking the traffic lane and the vista. They get canned.

Pressler gets a bonus, structural engineer and architect get fired.

Sorry, but i've been in meetings like that, and i'll stake you a coffee that's how it went.

JG

Jim said...

Hope the rocket is cruising to better places...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v231/superX1/Temp/RocketJetscopy.jpg

Major Pepperidge said...

JG, you might be right!

Jim, thanks for the fun pic!