Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Adventureland, July 7 1961

Here's a terrific vintage photo of Adventureland, showing a kind of "you are there" view as if you had just walked from the hub through the entrance archway and into this exotic land. There's my favorite tiki, as inscrutable as always. He knows all, but says nothing! Notice the group of older ladies with their faux block-printed tapa cloth dresses; also, see the woman with the white fluffy hat to the left? The one with the special light that shines only on her? She must be the wife of our photographer, because she shows up in a number of pictures from this lot.



Here's a detail of the sign in the background, for Chiana.



Fluffy hat alert! But you have to look carefully to find it. The older ladies are here as well; maybe they were all together in a huge group. I'm picturing the tour bus that brought them to Disneyland! Beer cans and empty pork rind bags everywhere. The Yangtze Lotus is full up, but don't worry, another boat will be ready for us in no time.

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It's me again, faithful readers! Just thought I'd mention that I spent all of Tuesday at Disneyland, and will write a brief trip report in a day or two. Is that exciting or what?

15 comments:

Chiana_Chat said...

Inscrutable. He says nothing, because he knows better!

Can we see the sign in the back clearer? "Native [something]"

Blond in gingham dress in the back, our left. That or she's making the most chic recycling of a picnic cloth ever.

The girl may be the photog's daughter? Or mistress? ;)

Young lady looking at us needn't be worried; I covet that shirt!

The lady in the 2nd pic is really smiling cause she's checkin' the cast member's rump. She likes! Yup Fluffy Hat's in the Lotus, leaving our photog temporarily bereft.

Great pics & look forwards to your trip report Maj!

Chuck said...

Major, I need your after-action report on my desk by 0730 NLT Friday. Make sure you're using the new format with the current routing sheet; I'm tired of having these things kicked back by the Colonel's exec to be reaccomplished.

David said...

If I have to pick between exciting or what, then I have to pick exticting

Debbie V. said...

I see two fluffy hats!
Looks like a beautiful day in the park with friends.

Nancy said...

looking forward to hearing whats new at Magic Kingdom!

love how things are filling in nicely by '61, lots of trees and pretty flowers. ;-) everyone should be smiling!

Vintage Disneyland Tickets said...

Those block-printed tapa cloth dresses are too cool for words!

2nd pic looks like cattle being herded, just sayin...

Major went to Disneyland? Seriously? Can't wait to hear your impression of 2011 Disneyland, hopefully you found some spots that match your vintage photos!

PsySocDisney said...

There are indeed 2 fluffy hats. One on and one off the boat. Well someone's embarrassed right now... I hate when that happens.

Pegleg Pete said...

God, how I miss the old Adventureland!

Major Pepperidge said...

Chiana, I think it says "Native Curios". Gingham looks good, even if is a former picnic blanket. I say "fuzzy hat girl" is wifey, but you have a much more worldly view. And now I realize that I need to work the word "rump" into each blog post.

Chuck, when you say the Colonel, you mean Harlan Sanders I assume. He is the only Colonel that I report to!

David, you have created a new word, which is way better than using an old word!

Debbie V., I didn't even notice the fluffy hat aboard the Yangtze Lotus! So the fluff was a souvenir chapeau, who knew. Obviously not me.

Nancy, I always like your cheerful comments! :-)

VDT, I actually did it! I need to organize my thoughts today, and hopefully will have something written by tomorrow.

Hannahx2, I am the one who is embarrassed, for not noticing the second hat!

Pegleg Pete, I miss the old Adventureland too, although I have to say that the current version is still quite nice.

Anonymous said...

I agree with Chiana! That IS a spectacular rump!

TokyoMagic! said...

That cast member in the second pic looks almost as if he is giving the boat a "shove" away from the dock. Doesn't he know it's on a track?

Looking forward to your trip report, Major!

Connie Moreno said...

Am I seeing things????? Second photo - castmember is wearing thongs???? Don't scoff, back then that's what they called flip flops!

Major Pepperidge said...

Anon, we'll have no more rump talk! ;-)

TokyoMagic!, he is actually about to lift the whole boat out of the water. If only we had the photo of that!

Connie, you're talking about thongs, other women are talking about rumps. What is going on?

Chiana_Chat said...

Aw thanks for the close-up! Yes I agree that says, "Native Curios" and lists African/"exotic" countries. Neat sign.

Thanks to the Colonel. I prefer original, by the way.

That's right Nancy! More smiles, is what's wanted around there. Maybe the skulls on poles were making them nervous...

VDT, well it does look like that, but you know, they have to keep them moooving.

Thanks, Anon!

Maj: "And now I realize that I need to work the word "rump" into each blog post."

Especially if it has hippopotamus content.

"Connie, you're talking about thongs, other women are talking about rumps. What is going on? "

The world's going crazy. It's the thin end of the wedge!

JG said...

Major, I look forward toyour trip report. I owe you mine, for that matter.

Great pictures. I think Adventureland has suffered less over the years and may even have improved slightly over the land of my youth.

Thanks. This was a funny thread, but I was too busy to comment when it was new.

JG