Sunday, July 31, 2016

Storybook Land, September 1963

I want to live in Storybook Land. I can stomp through the adorable countryside like Godzilla, spewing radioactive flames, and protecting the Three Little Pigs, Mr. Toad, and Pinocchio from Ghidorah, Mecha Kong, and Hedorah (aka the Smog Monster).


Cinderella spent most of her life as a scullery maid in the quaint village at the bottom of this photo, but she moved on up to a de-luxe castle in the sky. All because of some Pyrex shoes. I love the details  on the half-timbered structures, with stone archways, bridges, tile roofs, and cobblestone streets. Each home comes well-appointed with energy efficient appliances, hot tubs, 4K high-def televisions, and complimentary wi-fi.


26 comments:

  1. Hedorah can go toke on a smokestack. King Ghidorah is the coolest! Maybe Practical Pig's little brick house can finally be blown away by one of the kaiju. Is that Biollante I see crawling up the sides of the castle hill? I hear once she takes root she's real trouble.

    I have seen Rodan fly over Tokyo Disneyland in "Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II". That was a hoot to see.

    Always love a Storybook Land image. Especially if it includes the little train that could. Thanks, Major.

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  2. I'm so happy that Cinderella...♫ ♪ finally got a piece of the pi-i-i-i-i-e! ♪ ♫ ♪

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  3. Major-

    And I thought the extent of the town's 'rural electrification' was restricted to that fine outdoor lighting 'structure' we can spy popping-up in the first image, disrupting an otherwise fine view from the Castle. I had no idea even complimentary wi-fi was one of the offerings-! It makes me feel as though I'm living in a hovel.

    Thanks, Major.

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  4. I want to take the walking tour of Storybook Land. I used to dream of building just one building in my Mom;s flower bed. No money, lack of skills, no permission: so many damn obstacles!

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  5. Chuck5:48 AM

    Are we catching a glimpse of everybody's favorite pirate ship (well, everybody who counts, anyway) in the corner of that first image? And Ken's so focused on Biollante that he missed the telephone poles.

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  6. If you're gonna fight that smog monster in Southern California you're gonna have your hands full. Pretty sure that was his home base in the 50's, 60's and 70's.

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  7. I admire your heroic spirit, but frankly I'm more worried what Mothra might do to that quilt. If you aren't careful, she'll eat holes in all the prettiest parts!

    (Mothra's a lady monster, right? I just assume, maybe because of the gorgeous wings.)

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  8. K. Martinez, come on, do you seriously think that King Ghidorah is cooler than a giant flying turtle?? Also, I have to know, do you really get to see Rodan flying over Tokyo Disneyland in that movie?

    TokyoMagic!, I don’t know how you make those little musical notes!!

    Nanook, listen, even fairytale characters have to change with the times, or all the tourists will go somewhere else. They only just got flush toilets, and it made all the difference in the world.

    Patrick Devlin, I used to make little buildings out of thin cereal box cardboard when I was a kid; I didn’t really know what I was doing, but some of them (toward the end of that phase) turned out pretty good! Of course those buildings would have turned to mush out in the elements!

    Chuck, yes, that is rigging from the Pirate Ship in the upper right corner. I admit that if I saw Biollante, telephone poles would not be noticed!

    Scott Lane, it is true, SoCal’s smog was so thick and rich that a spoon would stand up in it.

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  9. Mark H. Besotted, don't worry, the Shobijin would have protected Storybook Land!

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  10. Major, believe it or not, you really do get to see Rodan flying over Tokyo Dinseyland. Here's a frame grab: http://66.media.tumblr.com/e44199813dc770d5e358dcc9f9d0960b/tumblr_n5fdcwC8OQ1sa3t1go2_540.jpg.

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  11. Chuck, Looks like you beat me to it. Here's the link I was going to share. It actually talks about it a little and there's an extra screenshot of Tokyo Disneyland from the film.

    http://jimhillmedia.com/editor_in_chief1/b/jim_hill/archive/2005/04/04/572.aspx

    And yes, you're right! I did miss spotting the telephone poles and wires. Shame on me! I'm sure Godzilla didn't miss them though since he's naturally drawn to them.

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  12. Major, my mother was seriously into Gamera, so the flying turtle just sort of became uncool to me. And yes, I thought of the Shobijin feeling right at home in Storybook Land. It's just the right size. Chuck answered your question about TDL and I added to it.

    Mark H. Besotted, You are correct. Mothra is a lady monster. Biollante is female as well.

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  13. ...and speaking of tokusatsu/kaiju, with a bit of ironic timing, Shout! Factory TV is running an Ultraman marathon this afternoon. Pretty clever cross-promotional, if you ask me...

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  14. Major, Alt + 1 + 3 for ♪ and Alt + 1 + 4 for ♫.....then knit one, purl two.

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  15. I was always kind of partial to Giant Robot myself.

    I love that second shot Major. Makes me feel like I could just stroll over to that little village and then maybe hike up to that castle way up there.

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  16. Pyrex shoes?!? Take my money, please! Put me down for a pair of 2-inch pumps in "Golden Poinsettia!"

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  17. ♪♫Pyrex stilettos!♪♫ That’s what I’m talkin about!!!♫♪♫

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  18. ♪♫Thanks TM!!!♫♪ I’m going to be ♫ gettin ♪ a lot of milage out of these♫ from now on♪♫♪

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  19. Chuck, thanks! That’s hilarious.

    K. Martinez, I would definitely fly over a Disney park if I could get away with it, even if I was a giant monster. You’re right, Godzilla loves to knock over high-tension power lines. It tickles!

    K. martinez again, Gamera didn’t just fly, he had jets of flame coming out of his shell. I can’t imagine my mother ever being into any kaiju movie at all, so your mom must have been pretty cool.

    Chuck, there is a Shout! Factory TV channel??

    TokyoMagic!, what is this “alt” you refer to? I tried using Apple’s “option” key, and the “control” key, and didn’t get little musical notes. I guess I just have to go through life feeling inferior.

    Monkey Cage Kurt, Ultraman, Giant Robot, it was all good. I really did love those shows when I was a kid. If you decide to hike up that trail to the castle, be on the lookout for pumpkin coaches.

    Melissa, the best thing is that you can put Pyrex shoes in the oven or the freezer, unlike most shoes. So convenient!

    Monkey Cage Kurt, now you are just rubbing it in.

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  20. ♫ ♫♪ I can’t help it ♪♫♪ these little things ♪♫♪ just make me ♪ want to ♪♫ ♪SING!!!♪♫!!!♫

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  21. Major-

    There's always the old tried-and-true html shortcuts, which can be found HERE.

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  22. Ha, ha, Kurt!

    Major, have I created a monster?

    Thanks for that info, Nan♮♮k!

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  23. @ TM!-

    I may have to change my moniker. Me likes the look of the 'odd' symbols; even if they are a "natural".

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  24. Hey, while we are on the topic of key-commands, Nanook, how did you make that “HERE” link??? I love that! I hate when I have to put down a BIG LONG line of text just to make a link.

    BTW: ♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪

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  25. @ TM!-

    I can't display the actual HTML here, as only the Link Text will be visible if I do.

    Go to THIS SITE, fer instance, and follow their example under HTML Links - Syntax - Example.

    Unfortunately, blogspot, as with many other sites, will not allow you to open a new window - hence the reason the new link always opens 'within' the GDB Comment window.

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  26. Whoops...

    Make that M C K-!

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