The Pirate Ship, 1956
Here are two not-very-exciting pictures featuring that most-photographed ship named for a canned fish product!
I am wondering if the photographer was trying to just get a nice photo of that lady and small child who seem to be waving at us from the upper deck (only to have the shot spoiled by those three interlopers)? I kind of think that wasn't the case, since those folks don't show up in any other photos. Maybe the guy with the camera was just really into anchors. I can almost imagine him exclaiming, "Look at the flukes on that baby!", only to get slapped by an outraged woman. This did not happen to me, and if it did, I would deny it.
Ah, there we go… that lady up by the wheel looks familiar, or at least her jacket does. Which leads me to mentioning that these are more photos from the bunch that GDB pals Kevin and Amber found for me months ago. Thanks, K & A!
9 comments:
Major-
"Maybe the guy with the camera was just really into anchors". Now, now - this is a family blog, after all... I prefer to think he was merely "into" 'chickens at sea'.
And the gent in the second pic looks as if he is about to start shooting some images of a very young Fantasyland, with his Bolex 16mm camera. (Where is that footage these days-??!!)
Thanks, Major.
If he was into anchors, what if he stepped back "aweigh" so we could view more of the ship? I'll admit my nautical humor isn't very salty today.
And do I spy some festive garland wrapped around the canons in the first shot? Perhaps a Christmas decoration for the old tuna boat?
Lots of questions, so little time... fun pictures Major!
Bill in Denver
It certainly does look like Christmas garland wrapped around the cannons. Nice haircut on the plaid shirt guy. He appears to be the youngest out of what seems to be a mature older crowd.
Thank, K & A + Major.
I followed Major's link to the spotted jacket and it shows wreathes hung on the castle too - definitely the Christmas season of 1956. I'll add that the photographer has a unique sense of timing his "Kodak moments" - not much to visually inspire the viewer in the castle shot either. But I appreciate the effort!
Bill in Denver
Nanook, if it wasn't so expensive to transfer home movies to digital format, I would love to collect those (I have a few, including some that I haven't even looked at).
Bill in Denver, yes those are definitely garlands… we'll see one final picture from Kevin and Amber with a Christmas theme.
K. Martinez, it's almost weird to look at old photos of Disneyland and notice how few children are there. I wonder if Walt had any idea how much his park would appeal to adults?
Bill in Denver, the photographer was no Henri Cartier-Bresson! But I am still glad he took that we have these pictures.
@Major - I think Walt fully grasped how much Disneyland would appeal to adults.
There are numerous 1938 photos I've come across of people waiting in theater lines to see Snow White. It always amazes me how many more adults there are compared to the number of children. Walt really did know how to appeal to adults, even way back then.
^ 'course, parents strictly controlled the purse strings back then and stuff for kids often = indulging frivolity, which could quickly become shamefully irresponsible. Less angling to kids as the market and more angling for the kid in the adult and the kids via the adults.
Good photos. The ship is certainly interesting in its proportions and had an interesting history, surviving whatever its original duty 'till Hook got his er, hook in it, then going on to be a successful galley for many years. Also, the photographer managed to nicely feature those fine flukes, with appropriate discretion.
I am in love with the sweet old granny smiling over the guns in the first picture. For just one moment, she's transformed into the scourge of the high seas!
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