For today's reruns, I thought I would choose a theme: the Omnibus! Double decker vehicles are awesome. Why not a triple decker? Bob Gurr, I've got ideas.
Here's a lovely shot of the Omnibus up at the Hub (when does it stop becoming the Hub and start becoming the Plaza?). It appears to be waiting to take guests from Tomorrow and take them back to Yesteryear. In 1974 the Peoplemover was still going strong (with its original colors), it's kind of neat to see them juxtaposed like this. Note the cold-weather clothing on the guests. (Originally posted in 2011)
Here's another unusual angle showing an Omnibus as it attempts to run over those two hoodlums who are brazenly walking in the middle of the street. The people on the top level are in for a treat.
I suspect that this photo was not actually taken in June (you know how that goes), but the weather could be a case of SoCal's famous "June Gloom". Hey, if you look really carefully, you can just see the Carnation truck in the distance.
Now an Omnibus waits in front of Main Street Station; there's a popcorn wagon (behind the Horse Drawn Streetcar). And beyond that is the building with the "Liberty Street" sign. Notice the red, white, and blue bunting, banners, and flags, possibly leftover from the 4th of July!
Funny, the other night I was watching "The Liberty Story" on TCM, which was a "Walt Disney Presents" episode promoting the 1957 movie, "Johnny Tremain." Walt opened the show with concept art for Liberty Street and pointed out on the Disneyland map where it was going to go. He made it sound almost like it was being built right at that very moment. I wonder if it had been built, if it would still be standing today.....or if it would have been replaced by a Marvel meet 'n greet.
ReplyDeleteI’m surprised you didn’t mention the Moonliner in the third pic, Major. Photos like that really help you get the lay of the land.
ReplyDeleteMajor-
ReplyDeleteI believe those two troublemakers in the 2nd image are actually "young toughs"-! It's amusing to see the juxtaposition in the 3rd image, with the 'Liberty Street Grand Opening banner' being up-staged by a 'rocket-like' space ship pointing towards the heavens.
Thanks, Major.
Mmm, chewy Omnibus goodness! (Omnibus: Latin for double decker dark green auto-bus).
ReplyDeleteI'd love to drive the Omnibus. I'd pull into the Plaza (or Hub, as you will) and yank a hard right onto the sidewalk, gas it up down Matterhorn Way and announce, "Hell, it says Fantasyland on the signs and to Fantasyland we're a-goin'." Needless to say (yet I'm saying it) any thugs or toughs in my way would be "The Happiest Speed-bumps in the World" as we made our way to the Fancy-land Autopia.
Wasn't June Gloom one of Morticia Addams's maiden aunts?
ReplyDeleteMan, I love the Opera House. It's such a cool and overlooked building.
ReplyDeleteTokyoMagic! I wish I had seen that program on TCM (I don’t get that channel); I really wonder if ANY construction happened for Liberty Square besides that façade? The idea of a street behind (or next to) Main Street is fascinating. One of the things I love about the early wall maps is the fact that they show both Liberty Square and Edison Square as if they really existed.
ReplyDeleteMonkey Cage Kurt, I guess I should have mentioned the Moonliner, but (unlike sometimes) I usually have a pretty good feel for the layout of things while on Main Street.
Nanook, they might also be ne’er-do-wells! If Liberty Street had actually been completed, I wonder if some attempt to hide the Moonliner would have been made?
Patrick Devlin, why stop at Fantasyland! I would take the Omnibus through ALL of the lands! You’d see if from your Jungle Cruise boat, tearing through the African Veldt.
Melissa, if she wasn’t, she should have been!
K. Martinez, it is a beautiful building; that ornate top always reminded me of pediments on top of some English furniture (Chippendale dressers, for example).
I've ridden the Omnibus once--and I have to say, the spiel was one of the funniest ones I have ever heard (although I can't remember most of the jokes). One went along the lines that "we are arriving at Town Square, which is strange name, because, you know, it's shaped like a triangle." Well, I guess you had to be there.
ReplyDeleteAs someone interested in the train conductor hat badges, I always wonder what the Omnibus driver/conductor badges said. The driver of the fire engine also wore a hat with a badge as well. I've never seen either.
I always wonder what the Omnibus driver/conductor badges said.
ReplyDelete"E Omnibus Unum?"
Love the view from top center of the O-Bus....just can't be beat!
ReplyDeleteI love the first photo and the Old Entrance to the New Tomorrowland. Plenty of fresh beautiful flowers and benches to sit on. Those were the days!
ReplyDeleteIn the third and final photo I've got to ask my self, "self, what is that Attractions Host/Ride Operator doing pacifying himself with thumb in the mouth and fingers rubbing his earlobe... tough day there buddy in 1950ought something?" Always a treat Major. Always a treat!
And... Always your pal,
Amazon Belle
It's not that I don't enjoy the Omnibus or Peoplemover or Moonliners or the Plaza or the Hub but I really enjoyed the skipping little girl in the second photo. If I were a little girl in DL I would skip, too.
ReplyDeletedz
@ Matthew-
ReplyDeleteHe's talking on the Omnibus' microphone, while leaning against the stairway support. Whatever happened to being "On Stage"-?
Maybe his onstage persona involves a lot of being folksy.
ReplyDeleteSteve DeGaetano, now that you mention it, the Omnibus is yet another attraction that I have never been on. Like the spiel, I have pointed out that Town Square is a triangle! Great minds think alike. I wonder if the archives has examples of all of those different badges? Probably not.
ReplyDeleteMelissa, waa-waaaaa (sad trombone)
steve2wdw, I’ll have to ride that darn Omnibus (assuming it is running) the next time I am at the park so that I can see that view for myself.
Matthew, I think that first one is my favorite of the bunch too. And come on, do you mean to tell me that you don’t suck your thumb and hold your ear lobe at least a few times a day? It’s perfectly normal. I hope.
David Zacher, she is just too excited! It’s funny how kids have so much energy, it even shows up in a still photo.
Nanook, his posture gives him a cool “Frank Sinatra” vibe!
Melissa, yes, maybe it’s more of a “Will Rogers” vibe?
The original Carousel of Progress script included a line "Folks, we don't have an opera house in our town, but right here in our own
ReplyDeletehome we got the next best thing, a talking machine."
I've always wondered if that was a reference to the Main Street Opera House at Disneyland.
@Nanook
ReplyDeleteThank you for the explanation. I didn't know there was a microphone in the back of the Omnibus; however, that would explain the second photo of the gentleman seated on the back of the bus probably giving the live spiel.
And yes, Major it is perfectly normal to find me in that position several times throughout the day. I'm glad to know I am not the only one. ;-)
Always Your Pal,
Amazon Belle
Dean Finder, hmm, I never thought of that, but you could be right!
ReplyDeleteMatthew, don't do it, or you'll push your front teeth forward. Take it from somebody who knows!!