Costumed Characters, June 1977
I scanned some vintage snapshots. 1977 is vintage now!
OK, full disclosure - I work for the FBI. Also, this first photo might not be from 1977, even though it was mixed in with the other two that definitely are. In the scheme of this vast universe, which we can't even begin to comprehend, are we going to quibble about a few years here or there? Besides, it's a nice photo of Goofy throwing us a friendly wave, as Aunt Joyce thinks, "Merciful heavens!".
The next two are fun because they feature Miss Bianca from "The Rescuers", Disney Studios successful animated feature, released this very year. I liked "The Rescuers" very much! And Bernhard and Bianca (voiced by Bob Newhart and Eva Gabor, respectively) were very appealing characters.
Bianca wears a pillbox hat, like the Halston-designed version worn by Jackie Kennedy - I'd say Bianca wore it better. Notice the little girl to the right, patiently (mostly) waiting her turn for a photo. I salute you, patient girl.
19 comments:
Major-
The world has been a far poorer place since the expression "merciful heavens" fell out of favor-! (I'll do my best to make a daily attempt to work it into my conversations-!) I wonder if our impatient little crossed-arm friend turned out to be a gracious lady, or a first class annoyance-?? If the latter, I hope at least, she developed a better fashion sense.
Thanks, Major.
The contrast between the posture and expression of the two children is priceless!
I don't remember ever seeing Goofy in the parks wearing his default "beatnik" getup before now.
You can just barely make out the rectangular opening in Bianca's pillbox hat (but covered over with material), where the cast member inside could see out.
In that last pic, there is a "rare" merchandise bag sighting! It's the bag pattern that was around from the mid to late seventies. It had the colored dots that represent the fireworks, coming out of the top of the Castle. That pattern was usually seen with a goldenrod background, but there was a version of it that had a white background, which was used for a very short time. There's a lady holding the white version in the background crowd, in the middle of the photo.
Ms. Bianca hides her stash in the pillbox hat. She's developed some serious addictions since her days as a lab rat.
To me, "The Rescuers" is probably the best animated feature post-Walt and pre-Little Mermaid. It's a charming little movie. Thanks, Major.
Nanook, you might also consider using “My stars!”. That’s a goodie. I have to admit that the “patient” little girl’s crossed arms might betray a lack of patience!
Melissa, ha ha, I never thought of Goofy as a beatnik, but from now on I’ll picture him playing bongos and snapping his fingers.
TokyoMagic!, it’s funny you should point out the hat with the cutout area for the CM to look through… I just scanned a great photo of Alice with the Mad Hatter, and you can clearly see the cast member’s face inside the Mad Hatter’s hat, shades and everything! I have two of the bags you mentioned… a yellow one and a white one, and I have seen light blue versions as well.
K. Martinez, I saw “The Rescuers” in the theater with my dad. He generally didn’t like going to the movies, but “Snow White” was his favorite film, so I think he made an exception when it came to Disney animated features.
The first photo looks like the location of opening year's Wizard of Bras shoppe. In 1955, the effigy of an elderly lady sat in a rocker on that porch. In fact she resembled Aunt Joyce...
Major, I didn't see "The Rescuers" until I was in my mid-thirties (about the time it was released on VHS?). At the time of its theatrical debut I was on the cusp of adulthood and most Disney movies didn't interest me at that time. It wasn't until Eisner came on board that I became interested in Disney movies again. I will give him credit for reviving that sector of the company which needed an overhaul badly.
Anyway, with the arrival of video I caught up on a lot of the Disney movies I missed as well as ones I hadn't seen in years. "The Rescuers" was a standout to me. And shockingly I didn't see my favorite animated feature "Pinocchio" until I was an adult in my twenties.
Major-
“Merciful heavens” always reminds me of W. C. Fields, as he often used that expression in his films.
@ Stefano-
You’re absolutely right. The Intimate Apparel Shop was there all of about six months, as by January, 1956 it was gone and the space was used to accommodate an expanded Glass and China Shop. The Wizard of Bras had exited the building.
Land o' Goshen, I've never seen The Rescuers!
I remember a famous photo of Benito Mussolini with his arms crossed glaring out at the crowd. Il Duce had nothing on this little girl, as she delivers a withering dose of stink eye. She probably grew up to be a high school principle, you know, or a politician. Great scans today Major.
Melissa, heavens to Betsy, that's a good one!
I prefer "Gloriosky!"
"Great Ceasar's Ghost"! Any Perry White fans out there?
Stefano, I believe that you are correct, Aunt Joyce is in front of the former home of Hollywood Maxwell’s (and in 1977 was part of the China Closet).
K. Martinez, I still haven’t seen “Oliver and Company” or “The Fox and the Hound”! They might be perfectly nice movies, but I never read anything about them that made me feel the need to see them. I saw Pinocchio for the first time during what must have been its final theatrical release (1992) - though it might have also been the 1984 release. To this day it remains my all-time favorite animated feature.
Nanook, I certainly didn’t think of W.C. Fields in relation to the phrase “Merciful Heavens”!
Melissa, I think it is worth a watch, especially considering that it was the last film for Milt Kahl. Bob Newhart and Eva Gabor do charming voices as Bernhard and Bianca, too.
Jonathan, perhaps that little girl wound up working for some city’s Transit Authority, and the trains always ran on time?
TokyoMagic!, how about “Jumpin’ Jehosephat”?
Steve DeGaetano, uh oh, are you a fan of Wally Wood?
Jonathan, I have always liked that one!
I always liked "Heavens to Murgatroyd". As Snagglepuss liked to say "Heavens to Murgatroyd!", "Exit, stage left!"
JC Shannon, yes a Perry White fan here. Love it when he says "Great Caesar's Ghost".
One of my earliest cinema memories is wanting to see The Fox and the Hound, and Mom taking us to one of the Dudley Moore "Arthur" movies instead. She said I could go to TFatH by myself, but I was like four or something.
Grandpa was a Jumping Jehosephat fan.
It looks like Bianca is nibbling on that poor girl's head.
Major, “Jumpin’ Jehosephat” is another good one. Didn't Yosemite Sam used to say that?
Ken, that's a good one too, but I sometimes like to use a variation of it and say, "Heavens to "Peta" Murgatroyd!"
@Chuck, apparently I'm exactly the right height that whenever I side-hug a fur character my head looks like it's going into their mouth. It's the most noticeable with Tigger and Donald.
Post a Comment