The Land of Adventure, March 13 1958
Here are a few from True-life Adventureland! It was March 13, 1958. Even though I have posted some slides from this lot before, I have somehow NOT included some fun info gleaned from Jason's Disneyland Almanac. March 13 was a Thursday, and park hours were 10:00 AM to 7:30 PM. The high temperature was 68 degrees. And get this: attendance was 3400 people!! WOW.
I love this little monkey temple (though the scruffy monkeys have vacated the premises). Inside the temple is something that resembles a golden Buddha. Looters would have stolen him, but he is protected by hungry crocodiles, poisonous cobras, and deadly spiders.
These natives have returned from the hunt, and have bagged themselves a lion (?). Lion tacos are their favorite! The huts are very tiny, but I suppose they only have to give the impression of a village for the few seconds that guests see them.
Let's zoom in a bit… on one of the very earliest Disneyland TV episodes, they showed a man subjected to the uncomfortable process of having his entire body cast. Apparently they did a cast of his head too, because they all happen to look just like him.
Ricky the rhinoceros loves to pop out and greet each passing boat before ducking back into the brush. Rhinos are silly that way!
6 comments:
The people who live in those tiny huts must be related to the folks who live up the hill in Rainbow Ridge.
That group of natives gives a new meaning to the term "cast member."
The last photo immediately reminded me of this Nikon commercial: http://yeahthat.nexcess.net/video.php?id=351
How cool is a monkey temple!
And 3400 TOTAL in the park?!?! Today, 3400 is a short line for Indiana Jones...but I'd still wait in it!
Bill in Denver
Good jungle pics today, thanks.
You are correct sir the Actor and former pro-football player who was cast in plaster for the natives was Woody Strode. Here is his imdb page.
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0834754/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1
He played Pompey in one of my favorite John Wayne movies. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance.
Since Walt's men were also movie making men, I think the huts were smaller to enhance the illusion of depth and distance. The scene is framed and the view controlled. I could be wrong, but that's my impression.
Apparently they did a cast of his head too, because they all happen to look just like him.
Nothing like having your boat ambushed by a set of angry sextuplets. They stick together, man.
Thanks for the great photos!
Melissa, those sextuplets were bonded by that new glue, "Six-o-Stick"... well...
As for those tiny huts, could it be that this tribe practiced "uprightness" to the extent that there were not lateral positions or motions within the huts, therefore the almost "rocket like" appearance? Another explanation: the tribe had a cavern city underground (they drew their inspiration from the Haunted Mansion, man).
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