Wednesday, March 07, 2012

Two More From June 1969

There's the Ernest S. Marsh, Disneyland's fourth locomotive (going into service on July 25 1959). Doesn't it look great? I always loved riding the Disneyland R.R., but I only began to truly appreciate the trains themselves relatively recently. Like, yesterday. Kidding! I kid.


You might think that this photos features the Carnation truck, but as far as I'm concerned, the real highlight is that kid's souvenir hat with not one, but TWO colorful ostrich feathers! That's for me. I am one of those people who thinks that gilding the lily is a bitchin' idea. If I ever make it to a Dapper Day (or perhaps a funeral), I need at hat just like that one.

12 comments:

Graffer said...

I don't see the Ernest S. Marsh. I can't get past Mick Jagger getting in the Wayback machine to visit 1969 Disneyland incognito.

Pilsner Panther said...

I don't plan to have a funeral (mainly because I don't plan to die), but those hats would be very appropriate if I did. In fact, I'd make them mandatory for the mourners!

Nancy said...

That lovely locomotive looks like a giant toy....and the balloons right next to it really adds to the picture.

Katella Gate said...

Major, you genius! You have the perfect title for your autobiography. Asimov gave us "I, Robot" and Graves gave us "I,Claudius". You Major, can give us "I, Kid".

Works on many levels, take the world by storm. Have your people call my people.

Katella Gate said...

Oh yeah, I forgot this is a Disney blog...

I wonder how many people walked passed Gurr's Carnation Truck and never realized it was a non functioning prop.

Major Pepperidge said...

Graffer, is that Mick with the pageboy haircut? Those crazy hippies! He definitely looks like he could use some r & r at Disneyland.

Pilner Panther, you can't go wrong with silly hats at a funeral. Also: short shorts for everyone.

Nancy, since the Disneyland RR is a scaled down version of a full sized locomotive, it basically IS a giant toy!

Katella, I'm afraid I have already written a 12 volume autobiography (volume 13 is in progress) called "I, Gorilla". Also, I think that the Carnation truck actually could be driven. Remember the photo of the truck with the bonnet open?

Cora said...

That. Hat. Is. Flipping. SPECTACULAR!!

I have to tell you how much I am enjoying your blog. I remember being in Disneyland in 1976 when I was four. I loved meeting Mickey, going on It's A Small World, cruising over the park on the Skyway, and flipping through the little ticket books with my dad, trying to decide which ride to go on next. (But I hated meeting Pinocchio because he got sassy and pulled my hair bow off my head and then sat in my little sister's stroller and got his rear end stuck.... and I swear I still have not forgiven him! Ha!)

I wish my parents had taken pictures of it all, but they only took a couple. I feel like I'm reliving the whole wonderful thing here on your blog. So, thank you. Thank you for the memories! :-)

David said...

Okay, another lovely look at Disneyland. The flowers on Mainstreet would prevent people watching parades, though.

The boys on the Carnation truck, though. I swear the one looking back is saying to the other:

"Don't look now, but I think those fancy pants Disney employee's are angry we moved the truck!"

Major Pepperidge said...

Cora, thanks for your nice comments, and welcome! As you can probably imagine, my visits to Disneyland as a child made a big impression, like yours did for you. And apparently my family took NO photos, for as many times as we went to the park.

David, I don't think that Disneyland had quite the crowd issues that it has so often today. And I have to admit that I was wondering just what that one kid was looking at!

CoxPilot said...

Katella Gate: I'm afraid your miss-informed. The Carnation Truck ran just fine, and was maintained after hours expressly for Walt D. to drive when he wished. That DID happen several times a year during special events. I remember him driving it through Tomorrowland one time. I wish I had taken a picture.

Connie Moreno said...

Dude, having met you, I know that you could soooo rock that hat!

JG said...

@Cox Pilot, that would have been something to see, indeed.

JG