Random People
Since I am still lacking a working transparency scanner, I am going through random scans for my Saturday "Anything Goes" posts, which partially explains whey they are kind of... well, random.
This first picture is from the 1950's, and portrays a fun-loving couple chillin' in their crib. Grandma might look stern, but she probably gave hugs and kisses to her grandkids, and made lemon bars when they came over. Gramps is in his coat and tie, like he just came from Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce.
And one can't ignore that huge and impressive "Regina Sublima" music box. Zowie! I think they had one very much like it at Knott's Berry Farm when I was a kid. My mom owns a small table-top version that belonged to my great-grandma, and it is pretty darn cool. The large steel disks are punched through from the front so that a "finger" of metal (for each hole) protrudes out the back. These fingers engage tiny spoked wheels that, in turn, pluck a tuned metal "chime". The effect is quite lovely. My mom has an old cookie tin full of different disks with songs ranging from Souza marches to spiritual tunes.
I just looked online, and a Regina Sublima that is very similar to the one in the photo is priced at over $38,000!
I like this photo of a nine lovely young ladies, in costumes from lands around the world. Walt Disney would approve! The slide is dated "September, 1965", so it isn't a Halloween portrait. I thought it might be a sorority thing, but some of those girls are much too young. So it will just have to remain a mystery! The girl with the glasses bears a startling resemblance to someone I used to know, and yet... it can't be the same person. Still, it's kind of weird, like that photo at the end of "The Shining".
16 comments:
Major-
I would have to say "sublima" easily describes Gramps & Aunt Polly in photo #1 - and also the girl, centered within the "frame", in photo #2 - with her incredibly-small lips. Both images say so much.
Thanks, Major.
Not too long ago, Knott's was selling a new table top version of this music machine in the store located in the Gold Trails Hotel (formerly the Covered Wagon Show space), and they might still have one for sale. The Music Hall in Ghost Town used to have the antique upright version seen here, but I believe it is being stored backstage now.
What we can't see in that second pic is that all of those women are holding jugs containing water from their own native countries. ;-)
Also regarding Knotts, they had a lovely table top Regina in the Emporium Store (not Virginia's) that played regularly. The last time I was in there a couple of weeks ago they had drastically redone the store (not for the better) and the music box was no where to be found. In talking to a sales lady who had been there for many years she said the Regina had broken down and that no one was interested in repairing it. It was sitting in the back in a hallway collecting dust. A crying shame. The store used to be elegant and had lovely things in there but not anymore and I loved the sound of the Regina playing all the time. CD's of the music were still available though.
That was a good one, TokyoMagic! Now I'll be hearing that song in my head today.
Nanook, she does have a tiny mouth! In art classes, when you learn to draw faces, they teach a diagram that places to imaginary lines straight down from the pupils of the eyes; this is approximately where the corners of the mouth should be. Maybe she had just eaten a lemon.
TokyoMagic!, I am amazed that Knott's was selling NEW tabletop versions of those music boxes. I'll bet they weren't cheap. The one my mom has is beautiful in spite of its small size, and really sounds great.
Irene, I would imagine that it *would* be hard to find somebody who could repair something like that. If it's a broken spring (they worked by winding them up) where the heck would they find a new one? Still, it is a shame that it is gone forever.
K. Martinez, what song? I want it stuck in my head too!
Irene, I forgot about the table top version in the Emporium Store. I wonder if it was the same one that was for sale inside the park and they just moved it around, or if they were selling more than one of them at the park.
Major, it was expensive. I can't remember exactly how much, but it was in the thousands. I would think that whoever made them should also be able to repair them, but perhaps fixing it costs more than what Knott's is willing to pay.
Oh, and K. Martinez....SORRY!
Major - There is just one moon and one golden sun and a smile means friendship to everyone, though the mountains divide and the oceans are wide... Is it stuck in your head now?
TokyoMagic! - No need to be sorry. I like the song. That is, if it was IASW that you were referring to.
K. Martinez, okay...I wasn't sure if it was a good thing or not. Funny, you've triggered a memory of something my dad once said. We were exiting the Carousel of Progress building and of course the theme song, "There's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow" is blaring away and he said, "Wow, that one's worse than It's A Small World." Of course, he meant the part about the songs getting stuck in your head, because he loved both of those attractions.
TokyoMagic!, I suppose that if a company is still making the music boxes, then they might have the correct kind of spring; I’m sure a large part of the reason they didn’t fix it was the cost.
K. Martinez, oh that song; well, that’s what I was sort of referring to when I said that Walt would approve. And for some reason, that song doesn’t really seem to stick in my head that much. A little, but not enough to drive me bananas.
TokyoMagic!, I think “There’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow” is more of an “ear worm” than IASW! But I love the song, so it’s OK.
@ All-
Both the songs can be as wonderful or as horrible as listeners' wish to make them. Personally, I find both of them just fine - especially in the context for which they were each written. (They are rounds, after all...) For me, the best version of IaSW theme song is the version included in the long out-of-print CD from 1988, The Music of Disneyland, Walt Disney World and Epcot Center. At the moment, can't verify who the performers are, but it's upbeat, well-orchestrated with great a chorus - and it's all over in 2:38 - minutes-!, that is. Gotta love it.
I presume that particular cut still exists on other discs, formats, etc.
Does anyone remember the violin playing machine that used to be in Main Street? I think it was located in a little alcove next to the market. It was amazing. You put your money in and it played a violin by using rotating disks that contacted each string. I believe it was controlled by a paper roll much like a player piano.
Major, I guess I didn't get your reference, but with TokyoMagic!'s comment it clicked. Also, I never heard the term earworm before. I like it. As a couple of readers commented here the other day, you learn something new every day.
@ Sunday Night-
Yes sir - from the Mills Novelty Co. - the Automatic Virtuosa, comin' at you in 1905. Shortly thereafter, a piano was added to the unit, which was called the Violano-Virtuoso. I either forgot, or didn't realize one of those units was featured on Main Street. I've heard a few of them elsewhere, and they all seemed cursed with a severe case of über vibrato and/or being slightly out of tune. It was definitely a fun listening experience.
Well the day is almost over and no one staked a claim on photo 2 front row left. I guess she’s up for grabs than, I got dibs! Look at that lovely face, isn’t she just a peach?
I am in love with the second picture. It's the piker model of the "national costumes" contest in the Miss Universe pageant.
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