We're back in 1955 again (along with Marty McFly), to enjoy some Kodachrome images of the Disneyland Band. Amazing color! I love the warm afternoon light, it really makes the reds and yellows pop.
There they are, those lovable moptops from Liverpool. I think. They are gathered 'round the flagpole (and near the plaque that quotes Walt Disney's dedication speech). To this day, scientists do not know why certain musicians are drawn to flagpoles, but it makes it easy to catch them, make crucial measurements, tag them, and release them back into the wild.
Vesey Walker is mostly obscured to the left; we can see the Maxwell House cafe and can almost (sort of) see the sign for International Street (but we can't see the sign for the International House of Pancakes).
Now the band is heading up Main Street toward the Castle; lots of folks have gathered to watch... you don't see a sight like this every day. Unless you work at the park of course. Nearly all the gentlemen are in coats and ties, while the ladies wear dresses. Children wear Kevlar™ body armor and bowler hats.
"Kevlar™ body armor and bowler hats." Now I'm imagining Oddjob at Disneyland...
ReplyDeleteThe Disneyland Band has been a favorite of mine since the day I sat on the curb when I was two and a half with a Carnation milk carton and watched them march by. Thanks for a great start to the day, Major!
The trees in the hub are pretty fair-sized for 1955. Would these be trees that were already on the property and either relocated or designed around?
ReplyDeleteThey took the budget for Tomorrowland and spent it on big mature trees for the hub. That's why they settled for the Bathroom of Tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteChuck, I like the idea of many small Oddjobs running around Disneyland. I don't have many personal memories of the Disneyland Band except for the time that they boarded the Mark Twain while we were waiting for our journey to begin, and we got to listen to them for the whole trip.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous, from what I've read, Bill Evans rescued mature trees from the paths of freeways that were under construction, as well as from many other construction projects going on in that postwar boom.
K. Martinez, now that I think about it, the trees were yet another case of Walt wanting to do something at just the right time. Other parks, like Freedomland, opened with spindly saplings, and it showed.
"To this day, scientists do not know why certain musicians are drawn to flagpoles, but it makes it easy to catch them, make crucial measurements, tag them, and release them back into the wild."
ReplyDeleteOK...THAT is classic GDB. Thanks David for the morning laugh!
Always your pal,
Amazon Belle
Scoff if you will about the Bathroom of Tomorrow, but I'm certain that it's the other end of the time portal I'm building to get back to DL in its prime
ReplyDelete@Dean Finder -- If my math is correct, that location is more or less in the area that was the Starcade until last year. If I hear of someone breaking into backstage areas of Tomorrowland in the next few weeks, I'll hope you made it!
ReplyDeleteMatthew, thanks!
ReplyDeleteDean Finder, I would never scoff at the Bathroom of Tomorrow!!
Mark H. Besotted, wait, the Starcade is gone??
According to the Disney Wiki, Starcade has been closed since they first opened the Baymax meet and greet.
ReplyDeletehttp://disney.wikia.com/wiki/Starcade
I get out there even less than you, though, so I had to depend on a wiki to learn that...
Yes, it's true. The Starcade is closed, but the sign remains up and was on at night in all its neon glory. I was there Feb 19-23 this year. Tomorrowland is mostly 'Star Wars Place' at this point. Some skeletons of Tomorrowland '59 and '67 remain but they've been beaten beyond recognition. Too bad!
ReplyDeleteOn one good note the Matterhorn Single Rider Line is AWESOME!!! I got to ride my favorite ride 3 times which was cool. The new sleds aren't as good as the last ones, but oh well. The Yeti is more CG now too which is lame...also they took out the ice crystals and Frank Wells tribute for some homogenous whatever it means tableau. Garbage.
Oh well it was good seeing the kids and they all had a wonderful time. I'm just glad that my times of spending large $$$ there are over, now that the 'tribe' has grown up!!!