Tuesday, November 06, 2012

Tomorrowland, September 1966

Here's a fairly typical photo of one of the gray subs as it begins its journey through liquid space. I think it's the "Nautilus", though it is a bit hard to read. What is not typical is the pinky-purple and orange-red construction wall, part of the early stages of the "New Tomorrowland" that would open in 1967. My friend tells me that the thing sticking up just to the right of the Skyway pylon is a gizmo that was used for pumping concrete. I choose to believe him!


This view of the House of the Future is taken from almost the same angle as this wigglevision photo.


14 comments:

TokyoMagic! said...

Love the groovy colors on the construction wall! And I love the view above the wall of the Grand Canyon Diorama building.

Alonzo P Hawk said...

Wow, this is a great shot of how much a clean slate this land was was in 66'. No rocket jets/peoplemover in the view. New things are coming there but I doubt it will ever match the 67' re-opening!!

Melissa said...

I miss the old future!

SundayNight said...

What’s nice about that HOF pic is that you can see some of the interior decoration.

Anonymous said...

With the Moon Ride building gone, you can really get a good view of the employee's locker rooms (second floor).

CoxPilot

Major Pepperidge said...

TokyoMagic!, you'll be seeing a lot more of those groovy construction walls in the future!

Alonzo, yes, they really ripped out a ton of the original Tomorrowland, it was quite a gutsy move.

Melissa, ME TOO.

SundayNight, you're right, I can just make out some hanging lamps.

CoxPilot, I think I have at least one slide showing those buildings under construction.

Anonymous said...

Major, I can confirm the tall object is the boom of a concrete pumper.

Amazing shots, I know I was there when this was going on, but don't remember a thing about it.

JG

Nanook said...

Let's not forget the then, almost brand-new, Wilbur Clark's Crest Hotel, peeking out above the monorail beamway.

TokyoMagic! said...

Nanook, did that later become the Grand Hotel?

K. Martinez said...

TokyoMagic!, Yes, it later became the Grand Hotel.

Tracy B said...

@ Nanook,
Is that the same Wilbur Clark of the old Desert Inn in Las Vegas?

Anonymous said...

I wonder what that sign on the wall says, on the extreme right of the pic.

Nanook said...

Yeah - from what I can find out, it's the same Wilbur Clark, responsible for the Desert Inn in Las Vegas, and numerous other properties. (Check out this link to a swell aerial shot of the place): http://www.flickr.com/photos/19779889@N00/3896505561/

I stayed there with my friend Billy right around the time of its openeing, whose Dad worked for The Mouse. His folks were so cool, they let us stay in the Suite; while they occupied the "regular "room. And, yes, as I recall, there were swell views of The Park from the room's balcony.

Anonymous said...

Ha, we stayed in the Grand (as it was called then) in the early '90's on my kids first trip.

I can't remember a thing about the hotel, except that on arrival we were starving, and I walked out and bought takeout at Chao's, which was a mistake. Ecch. As others reported later, they were popular for the bar, not the food.

I still like seeing it in the old shots, thanks Major.

JG