It's a Hub, it's a Plaza... it's two thingies in one! After your walk up Main Street U.S.A., you are presented with a dilemma - where to go next. Do I want to see the World of Tomorrow? Brave the wilderness? Step into a land of fantasy? Give me a minute.
I like this first view of Sleeping Beauty Castle (circa 1972), seen from the site of the "Partners" statue, more or less. I can almost imagine stepping into this scene, with the sights and sounds (and smells) of a warm July day.
The fashions aren't quite as crazy as one might expect for 1972. Subdued colors, for the most part, and where are those hippies? Hiding, I'll bet. Always hiding.
Next is this shot from 1966, with two sisters posing in front of a Horse Drawn Streetcar. The youngest has a stylish "Moe" haircut. The girl to the extreme right had better be careful... that green balloon might just get away from her, since she's not holding the string. It happened to me, and I'm still scarred by the experience.
Major-
ReplyDeleteHey - what happened to Adventure-??!! I was all set to step over that-a-way, but evidently my choices have been limited. Boo. In the meantime, you'd think with all those folks loitering-about, we'd be able to laugh and point at a large selection of 'poor fashion choices', but nothing really stands out as too, too extreme.
Now in that third image - first-off, I'm thinking Mother & Daughter - but you can't go by me. More curious, is the sport-coated, handkerchief-adorned, glasses-clad gentleman, who may or may not be chatting with the driver. (Could he be a supervisor-?) We can also spy the Matterhorn and Monorail beamway next to "Mom's" head.
Thanks, Major.
Well if that first images is from 1972, then the first attraction we always headed for was the Matterhorn Bobsleds.
ReplyDeleteThe ivy on the Castle wall totally takes me back to the 1970's at Disneyland. Thanks, Major.
All of a sudden, I'm feeling bad about the horses having to pull the Horse Drawn Streetcars. I never thought about it very much in the past. They can't possibly enjoy it. Does anyone know how long they make them work before swapping them out with another horse?
ReplyDeleteThe hub is the best place to take a load off (the tired feets) and do some people watchin'. The first picture is great for that. Lots of polyester, tan lines and short short (with a few bucket hats mixed in for good measure). Ah, the 70's.
ReplyDeletePic 3 is a gem. Those yeller pants, zowie! Good thing Mr. Ed has blinders on or he'd be full trot down Main Street to get away.
For Leftuggies I'll take em' anyday. Thanks for posting.
I had trouble fixing the location of the third shot until I noticed the same thing that Nanook did: The beam-way and stone bridge back there in the distance. There does seem to be some real abundant foliage up at the Plaza.
ReplyDelete(Mr. Martinez has reminded me to get cracking on my doctoral thesis of ivy-based chronology.)
My brother (the current SM at DCA) got to tour the Pony Farm before Starwarsland got started. He said their shifts are short, like less than four hours and they only work a few days a week. Their handlers (all women) lavish them with care and affection and even arrange "play dates" in the paddocks for the horses who are friends. Aww...
Happy Birthday Walt Disney where ever you are!
ReplyDeleteTokyoMagic!, Patrick is correct. The horses that work the Horse-Drawn Streetcars work a four hour shift then return to the Circle D Ranch for the day. The streetcars themselves being on a fixed rail are an easy pull for the horses. Two men are supposedly able to pull the streetcars fully loaded (the streetcar fully loaded that is, not the men). It's probably good daily exercise for the horses that would otherwise probably not be as active. I'm sure they live the good life.
Thanks Patrick and Ken, for that info! I feel a little better now. I know that they moved the ranch off the property for the addition of Star Wars Land, so now I'm wondering how long that trailer trip over to the park is for the horses and whether or not they like that?
ReplyDeleteNanook, I didn’t want to mention Adventureland because I don’t want the GDB readers to get Schistosomiasis or Dengue Fever. I care too much! I still think that the two girls are sisters (the taller girl could be a teen?), but sometimes it can be hard to tell, admittedly.
ReplyDeleteK. Martinez, I don’t remember what my family generally did first, but I think it was the Disneyland RR. My mom and dad were not roller coaster fans, but my grandpa was!
TokyoMagic!, I recall a Disney News article about the Disneyland horses and their cushy lives. If I really correctly they worked very short hours and were trained to be used to crowds and noises. Plus they are actually robots, so there’s that.
Alonzo, the bucket hat is the apotheosis of human achievement. Not many people realize that Einstein loved them. Yeah, those yellow pants are somethin’ else.
Patrick Devlin, I like the way the Matterhorn waterfall is framed in that part of the Streetcar. So your brother is the “SM” at DCA. Um… what’s an “SM”? I need a job where women lavish me with care and affection.
K. Martinez, great, now I’m jealous of horses. HORSES! They’ve got it all figured out. Maybe they’re like dolphins, much smarter than we give them credit for.
TokyoMagic!, I’d like to believe that the folks who care for the horses do all they can to make them comfortable and calm during the ride over. I sometimes see horse trailers on the freeway, so it’s not like they’re the only ponies who go places…
Oy gevalt. He's, of course, a CM. Sheesh, S and C aren't even adjacent on the keyboard. No fat-fingered excuse for me...
ReplyDeleteIt looks like the "yellow-pantsed" sister is holding a pack of Marlboros.
ReplyDeleteYes, the draft horses live a pampered and loved life there at Disney, working much shorter hours than us humans. They take days off for it being 'too hot'. Drafts seem to love to work and pull...and in general have a great disposition. It's important to keep them exercised and involved. Otherwise, they'll eat the barn. I know...I have a Belgian in my personal stable. KS
ReplyDeleteFor those who want to know pretty much EVERYTHING there is to know about he Disney horsecars, then this book is for you:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.amazon.com/Disney-Railroads-Street-Horse-Drawn-Streetcar/dp/1500757616
Yes, it focuses on the cars of the WDW/Magic Kingdom, but their design (and their 1 HP motive power) are identical to what can be found at DL. In it's 187 pages, loaded with photos, you'll also find out what Coronal bands are and what a "Haim" is!
This stuff is too funny today. You all have me in stitches! And the Major's pictures are nice, too.
ReplyDeleteI'll be dreaming of Belgians now as giant mice eating their barns... too much.
For those of you who might be interested, I've posted a new trip report over at 'outsidetheberm'. It's been a long time since I wrote the last one and, being that it's Walt's birthday today, I wanted to cover something special - the return of Santa's Village. If you're curious come take a look. Hope you don't mind, David. Thanks!
Thank you again, everyone, for the information about the horses! Like I said, I never thought much about it before, but I went to the L.A. Zoo on Monday (for it's 50th B-day) and now I'm worried about all of the animals in the world! I hope the goats from the Big Thunder Ranch are being treated well, wherever they are now and also the Koi fish from the DL Hotel!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ken. Now all I can think of is two drunken horsecar drivers stumbling and weaving down Main Street, dragging a streetcar behind them, singing "My Irish Rose" and laughing at everything. The mental image is a hoot until one of them relieves himself in the gutter in front of the Market House.
ReplyDelete