Knott's Berry Farm, January 1974
Today's photos of the Berry Farm, from 1974, lack a lot of the charm that is present in most pictures from the 1950's and 60's. Why is that? Anyway, at 38 years old, these still qualify as "vintage", I'd say.
Where could you stand in Knott's that would allow you to look down on the stagecoach? I'm not sure I ever noticed those little leatherette benches before. Look at the sideburns on that one dude! Hippy, or Civil War enthusiast?
Goats! Why did it have to be goats? This billy goat knows how to be the center of attention; I'm not sure where this was exactly... it kind of looks like part of Fiesta Village. Billy is particularly fond of crunchy fingers, and he's about to get some.
You can't have an old western-style general store without a wooden Indian out front. He's holding what might be a bundle of cigars, or maybe a barrel of monkeys. The nice lady stands near a sprig of evergreen with a red ribbon (the slides are stamped "January", but of course the pictures could have been taken weeks before).
Goats! Why did it have to be goats? This billy goat knows how to be the center of attention; I'm not sure where this was exactly... it kind of looks like part of Fiesta Village. Billy is particularly fond of crunchy fingers, and he's about to get some.
You can't have an old western-style general store without a wooden Indian out front. He's holding what might be a bundle of cigars, or maybe a barrel of monkeys. The nice lady stands near a sprig of evergreen with a red ribbon (the slides are stamped "January", but of course the pictures could have been taken weeks before).
10 comments:
Major, the stagecoach is just about to pull up to the loading area in that first shot. Maybe the photo was taken while standing on the loading platform....it has a upper level for loading people into the seats on top. Of course way back when, they used a funky ladder to get people up there, but I think by 1974, they had a platform similar to what they use now.
Why does it look like everyone sitting on the top of the stagecoach seems not be having any sort of fun? The boy in the stripped shirt seems to realize they're stuck on the Stagecoach From Hell.
Or is it moody 1970s for ya?
This was great!! Love the goat, too.
Oh, and that goat is hanging out above the entrance to Old MacDonald's Farm....or I guess by the 70's, they were just calling it The Animal Farm. I have a ViewMaster reel that shows a goat sticking his head out of that same opening.
TM!, I wondered if it might have been taken from the platform, but it seemed so high! Thanks for the info.
David, you're right! They are all kind of glum. The kid just has to get the bathroom asap.
Connie, who doesn't love goats? With those weird eyes, yikes!
TM! again, the petting zoo definitely seems to have taken on a Spanish flavor, compared to the "old barn" theme of earlier years.
wow, has it been that long since I graduated from high school?? geez, i might have to start acting...never mind that, i want to say that Wooden Indians are the best kind b/c you dont hafta worry abut getting scalped. Still celebrating Christmas too, that I do like (just took my trees down last week)
Yes by the mid 70's, it was no longer Old MacDonalds Farm , Just The Animal Farm... I worked there as a kid, up through my college years...
There were 3 goats that were rotated around above the entrance.. there were also the chickens that played the Pianos, the goat that head butted the Old Farmer mannequin, and teh Rabbits that raised the flags.. But my fave was the Flying Jenny, which was the Mule Driven merry-go-round..
My favorite at Knotts was always the Haunted Shack! As a kid I really thought it was supernatural! Sadly gone now, but The Mystery Spot near Santa Cruz is the same-type place. Oh, I also remember this creepy-looking dummy in a jail that would talk to you! I guess parents could put in a form with their kid's name and stuff, and an unseen speaker would hold a "personalized conversation" with the kid. I think he was named Sad-eyed Joe or something like that. Always thought he looked dead!
Unknown, it is true that Sad Eye Joe didn't look too good, but then again, he WAS in jail for a long time.
True! True! That poor dude must be in jail for some 60 years now. Thankfully my folks didn't make me "talk" to the guy, cause he did kinda spook me as a kid!
--Mike Douglas
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