Frontierland, March 13 1958
This first photo is a real beauty, featuring the wonderful Casa de Fritos restaurant in adobe glory. I love the stripe of blue painted at the bottom of the building (makes me think of Taos, New Mexico for some reason - probably inaccurately). You can see some of the colorful painted tables and benches inside the main doorway. Notice the painted sombrero above the door; it's fun to observe the way the Imagineers have played with scale.. that balcony isn't very big. And there is even a crude lodge-pole ladder, like one might have found at the Montezuma Castle National Monument.
Zooming in a little to the left, we can see part of the Mineral Hall, sponsored by the "Black Light Corporation of America". I love things that light up and/or glow, so this place would have been a favorite of mine - if I had ever seen it.
And lastly, here's a wonderful photo of the Golden Horseshoe Revue as seen from the upper deck of the Mark Twain. That sky is just spectacular, and the park looks so neat and tidy - and empty!
13 comments:
Major-
These are beauties-! Now, as for me - when I see the blue stripe, I think of Taxco, Mexico-! (But, that's just me). And, yes, I have actually been there.
And next to the Mine Train, I can't get enough of Mineral Hall. I can almost remember all the wonderful rocks all a-glow under the spell of the blacklight.
Thanks, Major.
P.S. Where are the guests-??!! Yeeesssh-! OH, for those days.
Such a beautiful shot of the Golden Horseshoe! The clouds and blue sky. The extra banners coaxing you to come in and have a seat.
You can almost hear Betty Taylor singing or the squeak of Wally Boag's baloon animals being twisted together. Thank Major, happy friday everyone.
The Golden Horseshoe image is a beauty. The creamy white with yellow banners was my favorite look for the saloon. Thanks, Major.
Third image: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Where_Is_Everybody%3F
Beautiful color today, Major!
Wow - what great pictures! I love angles where you get to see the connection between one landmark and another: Casa de Fritos and Mineral Hall together.
Beautiful!
I wonder what the red and yellow sign in the planter says.
@Anon - It looks like it's the old sign brought over from the original location of Casa de Fritos when it was next to Aunt Jemima's Kitchen. It probably said "Casa de Fritos"
Here's a photo from Daveland's blog showing the original location with hanging sign.
http://davelandweb.com/frontierland/images/nostreet/50s/KTPBK_Pre57_N06B_d1.jpg
Nanook, I haven't been to Taxco, but I have been to Taos! I am almost positive there was an adobe building painted blue on the lower part. Maybe I'm mixing up my memories!
Alonzo, all day long I hear the squeak of balloon animals. Squeak! Squeak! Everywhere I go!
K. Martinez, I like the yellow banners, but have always been a bit surprised how long they were there, since they fell so "temporary".
Chuck, poor Earl Holliman, he flipped his wig!
Tom, I love those too, especially when they are such pretty pictures.
Anon, I can see that it says "Casa de Fritos" inside the red circle. I can't tell if the yellow part is a stylized bag of Fritos, or if it is supposed to be a shield shape.
K. Martinez, oops, I should have read your comment first!
I've been too busy to visit, let alone comment, lately but today's post pulled me back in. Casa de Fritos AND Mineral Hall! What a two-fer. Great empty shots and fabulous Frontierland captures. Hopefully I'll be able to join the conversations more here again soon. Thanks as always for sharing!
Mineral Hall was the ultimate "dark ride". No one was ever in there at night, especially near park closing.
PsySocDisney, I'm glad you were able to stop by today… and I totally understand about being busy!! I'll be very happy to hear from you whenever you can find the time.
CoxPilot, oh man, I can only imagine what it would have been like in that part of Frontierland, back before it got so darn crowded.
That first photo disturbed the dust in my brain and I remembered actually being inside that covered patio area. I'm not sure but I think you had to walk up to a window of sorts and order your food? I don't remember any details really, other than I was glad to be in the shade!
Great images! The first one is really amazing. I'm staring at it trying to fit this angle into what's currently in this space at Disneyland.
I figure that we're standing in the path in front of modern day Fess Parker's window. The man would be standing in the enlarged Rancho del Zocal patio, covered with awnings. Behind him, where Rainbow Ridge sits, would be a wall and we could see through to the track for BTMRR. Those pin trading people like to at tables in front of the arched entrance to the very left.
I wonder if the menu on the wall, seen behind a tree trunk, is the same frame in front of Zocalo, near the fountain. Anyone have a pic?
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