Dusky Dusk, August 1969
Today's photos, taken just after the sun had set, feel very dreamy and romantic.
Like this beautiful look at the castle, with the warm glow of the lanterns adding so much. I'm intrigued by the single light up in that upper-story window. Who's up there? Through the archway into Fantasyland you can see that the Carrousel is already brightly lit; presumably the twinkling lights in the trees will be turned on momentarily. It's one of my favorite things at Disneyland!
It's even darker, and the Keelboat is nearly lost among the dark foliage on the distant shore. I believe that the Keelboats stopped operating after dark, so this might be the last journey around the river for the day. You can see that there are a LOT of people in the distance - I think it's safe to assume that they are there in a massive line to see the newly-opened Haunted Mansion. Just imagine seeing that ride when it was brand-new, before you really knew much about it!
14 comments:
Major-
It's hard to argue with the sentiment that when the sun sets, and the lights are lit around the Park, it really is the best time at Disneyland.
And as for the crowds surrounding The Rivers of America - those are just scads of 'eager beavers', wishing to get close-up views of Fantasmic, long before the show was scheduled to open - or even conceived. (Well, there is something to be said for clairvoyance)...
Thanks, Major.
Beautiful castle. My favorite time to take pictures is just after the light come on but you still have some sun in the sky....:-)
I wish I had been there for the opening of the Haunted Mansion. It was probably almost as busy as opening day! SUch anticipation there must have been after seeing "something" going on for all those months (years even!) before we ever got a peek at it!
At this stage of the game and beauty aside my dad would probably say. "Everyone's at dinner right now, let's go on the Haunted Mansion the line is shorter."
I would have loved to have ridden the Haunted Mansion when it was brand-new, before it got all dusty and cobwebby.
(Sorry for my late reply to everyone's comments (including yesterday's), I have been super crazy busy!)
Nanook, I thought it might be a bunch of "pre-Yippies" who were drawn to Frontierland the way salmon are drawn back to their river of origin. Once there, they had no idea what to do (except continue to be smelly Yippies)!
Nancy, it would have been neat to be there for the Haunted Mansion opening, though the lines were incredibly long. Still, you would have seen the Hatbox Ghost…
Alonzo, my dad probably would have said the same thing, although it sure looks like there are plenty of people NOT at dinner!
Chuck, they really do need to redecorate the inside. Get some throw pillows, some new drapes, maybe some bright paint… it would be fabulous.
I was there when the HM opened and yes, the lines were long. In addition, being early August, it also helped to set the park's daily attendance record...maxed out capacity in the park itself...thus closing the entrance gates in the afternoon...and causing a massive traffic jam in the surrounding area and I-5 freeway..
KS
BTW Major....is that a shirtless guy in front of the castle? As they said back in my day..."Bad Show"!
KS, I am very curious if you remember the Hatbox Ghost! Maybe after all these years of reading about him it is hard to be sure. Even with all of the negatives you mentioned, it is still very cool that you were there on the VERY FIRST day.
And I don't think the guy is shirtless… he just has a too-tight peachy colored shirt. At least I hope that's the case.
I love the second image of the Keelboat and Mansion. I went on the Haunted Mansion opening year, but really don't remember it in detail too clearly, since all my memories of multiple rides through the years on this attraction seemed to have meshed together.
Keelboats after dark? Well, they were outfitted to run after dark - with red and green navigation lights. But were they actually operated after dark? I don't recall. The only rivercraft I worked were the Canoes (which were definitely closed at dusk). Any old Rivers of America RO's lurking out there have the answer?
I recall them usually being closed at dusk but they would remain in service an extra hour or two after that on very crowded evenings...but never to late night closings. And I do recall the Hatbox ghost, Major. As for the negatives...I was happy to get into the employee parking lot and not miss my shift. Now that was a positive!
KS
To Remain Seated....when did YOU work the canoes?? I was mid 70s. IT was a great job.
KS
That is indeed a nice glow on the castle. Good light for photos.
KS - I was making a splash on the RoA in the late 70s/early 80s.
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