Here is a pair of photos from 1956 - I think. Some of the pix were dated, some were not, and they might be from different trips to the park.
ANYWAY… I love this first picture, an unusual shot from the Indian Village in Frontierland. As you can see, a skilled Native American artisan is carving a totem pole. I wonder how long visitors could see this sort of thing at Disneyland? I also wonder if the finished pole went on display in the park.
Now we'll head over the Pirate Ship restaurant. Gramps is dutifully helping Grandma, who is confined to a wheelchair. But that didn't stop her from buying something bulky! What could be in the bag? I say it's something from the Pendleton Shop. I always enjoy looking for souvenir hats in the background. And ice cream vendors!
Wow-
ReplyDeleteCheck out that swell depth of field in the first picture, not to mention the great subject matter. No point-and-shoot camera, here.
Not certain what to make of "Gramps" and "Aunt Polly" other then they certainly represent a certain period of time. And the upstage bystander showing-off both her derriere and swell pants almost worthy of that wonderful name: "smart hostess pants". (Although tsk, tsk for not wearing 'sensible shoes' to huff-around the park).
Thanks, Major.
Lots of unusual hats on display in the second photo, including three examples of what looks like a pink copy of women's something straight out of a painting by one of the Flemish masters.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous stuff today, Major. Thanks.
Holy plaidsplosion - four different checks at one lunchtime! I wonder if the shop where they sold the folded paper hats was near the Pirate Ship. If I had access to a large-size printer, I'd whip me up a couple reproductions of those. Ever since I first discovered them right here on GDB, I've been fascinated with them.
ReplyDeleteAs for the lady with the shopping bag, I think I see a family resemblance.
It's double plaid booty Wednesday at GDB! Mama Joad can only quietly roll by in disgust at the shameless display Disney derriere.
ReplyDeleteQuick pa roll me over to main street where thars more respectktable girls.
Love how the ship is placed in the photo. Nice composition mystery photographer.
The coloring, hue and composition of these images is very nice. Love Mama Joad and her heavily scrunched Disneyland bag. Definitely not mint, near mint, good or even fair condition for an Ebay listing. Her clip-on earrings remind me of ones my grandmother and mother used to wear.
ReplyDeleteThe blue plaid is one thing but what is up with her hat?
ReplyDeleteRe: Alonzo's compliment to the photographer about the composition...there's a good possibility that the photos were taken with a Kodak Duaflex or a Rolleiflex, which was usually held at waist level to compose and make the photo. Great depth of field and crisp focus were selling points, but the lower angle provided by the waist-high position created some neat perspectives that are missing in much of today's cellphone/eyelevel compositions.
ReplyDeleteBill in Denver
That lower angle may also subconsciously trigger childhood memories of Disneyland, which were all recorded (for lack of a better term) much closer to the ground than our eyes are today, and that may also add an extra layer of nostalgia to these pictures that we don't immediately recognize.
ReplyDeleteI will occasionally stop on Main Street just south of Center and drop to one knee, looking around with the eyes of a child again, and it brings back so many emotions that I don't fully experience as an adult. I can't do that too often, though because I'll cry...or get run over.
Orange Co Native
ReplyDeleteThe first photo has shallow depth of field. The photograph was taken with a good/professional level 35mm camera and lens. However, it seems the photographer shot it at a fast speed and needed to open the lens which caused the shallow depth of field. He/she probably did it on purpose so only the subject (the man carving the pole) was in focus and the background out of focus.