Friday, January 02, 2015

Disneyland Snapshots, August 1968

It sure seems like I am tearing through my limited collection of vintage Disneyland snapshots. It won't be too long until they've all been posted. One might consider this an omen.

We'll start with this nice view of the Mad Tea Party. At first I thought, "Jeez, that sure seems high up to be taken from the Pirate Ship". And then I realized that it was taken from the Skyway. Doi! Notice that the Fantasyland Theater is showing "Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day", released in 1968; it was the second Pooh featurette, and the last film produced by Walt Disney (who won a posthumous Academy Award).


Now we're back on terra firma, and right next to the teacups (with Mr. Toad's Wild Ride in the background). I get a kick out of the two ladies in the foreground, especially the one on the left; she  reminds me of my first grade teacher, who I loved. 


That gentleman might have a walking stick, but he radiates a certain élan! I like him already. Which is good, because we'll be seeing more of him in his "leave nothing to the imagination" pants! ;-)


7 comments:

Nanook said...

Major-

"Leave nothing to the imagination pants". Yes, I think that line of mens clothing was available at Robert Hall Clothiers. These are definitely the correct pants to wear when chowing-down on a Tuna Burger or Tuna Clipper Salad, however.

Thanks, Major.

Unknown said...

Hey there. I know you're way ahead of me in the vintage photo department (like 1,000,000 to 17) but did you mean to say Aug '68? 'Cause that's what the processor put on the photo's edges. But hey, there your pics and I'm just happy to see them all.

Chuck said...

That's almost a postcard shot of the cup-a-hurls. I always thought the teacups would be even more fun if they were actually filled with tea. Or sardines. Either one is good by me.

"Winnie the Pooh & the Blustery Day" is the first film I can remember seeing as a child, and I saw it right there at the Fantasyland Theater on my first trip the Disneyland when I was two. It made such an impression on me that we brought home a souvenir copy of the Disneyland Records LP (featuring the wonderful voices of Robie Lester and Thurl Ravenscroft, neither of whom voiced a character in the film) which I still have in my possession, and seventeen years later it also became the first VHS movie I ever purchased.

Another fun remembery from that first visit is walking out of the Park with a Mickey-eared balloon, an example of which is visible over the right shoulder of your first grade teacher.

Major Pepperidge said...

Nanook, are you sure it wasn't "Zachary All"? I think Eddie wore them on camera. They are appropriate for all occasions!

Patrick, ha ha, I always did have trouble with the numbers keys on my keyboard. I hate it when I let a post publish with typos… there was another one in today's post that I fixed as well, I'm sure you noticed it. Arg!

Chuck, sardines, phooey. No thanks! I used to love seeing the Winnie the Pooh films on "The Wonderful World of Color"… I loved the use of turning pages, or tricks like the wind blowing the letters on the page. That was before Pooh became omnipresent in the parks, to the point where I didn't love him so much anymore. They "Stitch-ified" him!

K. Martinez said...

I remember seeing "Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree" and "Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day" on the big screen theater when I was a kid. I loved the turning pages too. I tried to watch the same Pooh films a few years ago and fell asleep about 15 minutes into it. I still like the A.A. Milne characters though.

Always loved the volcanic framing and seating around Skull Rock Lagoon. With the palm trees it was like a tropical paradise at the edge of the medieval faire motif. Fantasyland was really a mishmash of themes back then. Thanks, Major.

Melissa said...

Today's pictures brought to you by STRIPES!

Walking Stick Willie is a dead ringer for my Grandpa if he'd lived to be about ten years older. (And had all his pants shrunk in the wash.)

Major Pepperidge said...

K. Martinez, I haven't seen those films in many years; maybe they ARE slow! I am a huge admirer of Disney's animated shorts, but to be honest, a lot of them are rather dull. Beautiful to look at, but not funny the way Warner Bros. cartoons still are. I love the very earliest Mickeys, along with some exceptions like "The Brave Little Tailor".

Melissa, I'm more of a polka dot man, myself!