Krazy Cacti, 1957
Today is day 2 of my "lame post" series... unintentionally! Sorry about that.
Anyway, here's a picture snapped from the old Rainbow Caverns Mine Train attraction (pre-"Nature's Wonderland"). In the midst of various natural arches and tumbling rocks, you would find these seven anthropomorphic cacti. They remind me of seven little hippies, but this was years before hippies were around. Check out their long "hair" and even the crowns of flowers. Woodstock, man! Or they look like the trolls from Magic Mountain. I believe they were referred to as the "seven dwarfs" by cast members.
The most interesting/unusual thing about this picture is the train passing in the background, including one of the open-air "cattle cars" from the freight train. Those were a bad idea from the beginning!
16 comments:
We call it The Friendly Indian Village but the tycoons call it The Stubborn Indian Village. With a train line that goes by multiple times an hour feet from their village - trembling tepees, shaking skinracks and settin' papooses to shreikin' - and a river with heavy traffic on the other side, it's the Least Private Indian Village Ever. But they're sticking it out anyway. In fact they are there still. Take that. And you know why? 'Cause with transit at their tepee flaps, shipping and commutes are a cinch.
The Shineyest Boy In the World isn't on the canoe with his dog. Must be showing off for the train.
i am failing to see lame anywhere here...these are nice!
Snow White with the Seven Dwarfs-no one expects to find that on the frontier but here they are! pretty neat for my money
i also noticed the boy missing. i never realized there was a time when he wasnt here. hmmmm. and i wonder what the purpose of the little only stick teepees was.
thanks for a very unlame set :)
Totally un-lame post today, Major....T-O-T-A-L-L-Y!
Yep, no shiny boy, and also no papooses left out to dry in the sun...or is that one that I see propped up against a teepee?
I love the pic of the seven dwarf cacti. I remember seeing them from the train even as late as 1976. Bring the Mine Train back, I say!
I never heard that reference during my tenure on the Mine Train (70s). Interesting....
Chiana, that rumbling from the train provides a restful massage every hour or so. That's why the Indians are so friendly.
Nancy, I think the little stick-teepee might have been for drying fish or meat or churros.
TM, there is definitely some baby jerky being manufactured! I didn't know that the cacti survived the change to Nature's Wonderland.
And Anon, I think I read about the "7 Dwarfs" thing in "The E Ticket". Or was it on a Viewmaster reel?
These pictures were taken in 1957. The boy probably had not been added yet to the Indian village.
The train ran real close to the village back then. I think it is a little further out now when they moved the tracks for the construction of Small World in '64 and '65. Yes the tracks ran right behind Story Book Canal Boats (Where the meet and greet the princesses fantasyland theater is now). in the first 8 - 10 years of Disneyland.
The Mine Train. A favorite ride of mine from my childhood. It is too bad they had to tear it down to construct Big Thunder Mountain. Inside the caverns with the colored fountains was something very unique and interesting. I always remember how cold it was in there. Heavily air conditioned to simulate a cavern.
Fun Stuff, Major. I remember the anthropomorphic cacti, always good for a laugh.
The Indian villages always felt fake to me, never right.
There's a local train ride near here which has an open car, it only works because the coast weather is so cool and foggy.
Besides, the connotation of traveling in the cattle car is too apropos for today's world.
Glad to see I am not the only one who remembers the shock of entering the Rainbow Caverns.
JG
OC Native, you are right... the Indian boy was absent for the first few years. And it IS surprising how close the train ran to the village back in the day. I loved Nature's Wonderland, it is #2 on my "most missed" list, but perhaps it would be too slow and corny for today's kids.
JG, I think the village does feel a bit like a diorama, but it's never bothered me. Whatever that train ride is that you mentioned, it sounds cool (is it the Skunk Train?).
Major, now I'm curious...what is #1 on your most missed list? And #3?
TM!, #1 would be Adventure Thru Inner Space! As for #3... hmmm. That's a tough one! The Skyway? Peoplemover?
Yes, #1 - Adventure Thru Inner Space. My most missed attraction as well.
I think I miss the Parking Lot most of all...
#1 for me is Carousel of Progress (the DL version, not the altered WDW version). #2 would be a tie between Nature's Wonderland and Adventure Thru Inner Space.
Maj - LOL
@Major, yes that is the skunk train, Ft. Bragg to Willits. A nice ride.
It's the only route to Camp Noyo, a Boy Scout on the Noyo river. All the boys have to ride the train to get there, they ride in the cattle car.
Was there last week, teaching rope and knots.
JG
Hi-Ya Major. It's been a while but here is my two cents. Take a look at the Cacti. Now take a look at the bicycle tires just in front of them. It looks like one of the Disneyland bicycle boys from Maintenance forgot to cover his tracks. Also, if you look real carefully off in the distance you will see the Pack Mules making their way through the desert back to civilization in Frontierland.
I would have to agree with the majority of you… Mine Train is my #1 missed attraction, followed closely by the Pack Mules. I’ve said it on your blog before and I will say it again, rides like Jungle Cruise and the Mine Train allowed you to explore the ‘land.’ To leave civilization behind and take an explorer’s launch or mine train out beyond what you could see from the walkway. Big Thunder is a wonderful attraction, but the moment you could walk around it to get to Fantasyland the illusion of being on the Frontier was broken. It’s when you have to take another form of transportation (the Train, The Mark Twain, the Indian War Canoes, or even a DoomBuggy ) to see the unseen… that is what made (and in some cases continues to make) Disneyland unique.
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