Monday, August 20, 2018

Flower Market, July 1971

I've got two nice photos of the Flower Market (conveniently located on West Center Street). If you wanted to show off your prowess as a color photographer, this would be a good place to practice. There's every color of the rainbow - even indigo, the least-popular color in the world according to data that I just made up. 

The Disneyland florists have responded to constant requests for bigger flowers. Giant irradiated daisies and black-eyed Susans are the perfect accent to every floppy hat or extra-wide lapel. 


I also need some faux fruit for that bowl in the entryway that I always forget about. I'll take three each - lemons, oranges, apples (what, no 'nanners?). I also need all of those giant pink flowers - each one is the size of a human head, so a bouquet will make a really big impression.


12 comments:

Nanook said...

Major-

The only thing better than artificial flowers, are examples which are over-sized. (Impress all your friends-!) In the second image, I like the taller gal's choice of footwear. It appears to be moccasins. Special kudos for calling-out the rainbow's most-forgotten color: Indigo. Those of us who are members of the Indigo Fan Club thank you profusely.

Thanks, Major.

TokyoMagic! said...

Those giant pink flowers are hydrangeas. Madonna hates hydrangeas.

Melissa said...

The first picture has really nice composition; the blue dress of the subject is perfectly framed by the yellow and white flowers around her.

Smiling lady in #2: "I swear, Clem, if you keep pointing that thing at me I'll give you such a knuckle sandwich!"

I always call artificial Forsythia "fauxsythia." And it always makes me think of Jughead Jines, whose given name was Forsythe.

Melissa said...

Chiming back in because I just noticed what I think is the straw boaters of the Dapper Dans in the crowd to the right of the second pic!

Chuck said...

I think you're right, Melissa. I second the Dapper Dans sighting and move for a vote.

It's not often that we see a photo that includes both segments of Center Street. In the second photo, you can see how they didn't quite line up, which, I'm somewhat embarrassed to admit, I had forgotten. For reference, check out this incredibly accurate Main Street map from the (sponsorless) Spring 1976 Disneyland Guide.

Anonymous said...

And the Dans are singing "Yes, We Have No Bananas!"
They just HAVE to be!

Stefano said...

The flowers in the first pic are reminiscent of the Munchkinland blooms in "The Wizard of Oz", a masterpiece of artificiality in that not one second was filmed outside of a soundstage. And the posing lady has a Pepper's Ghost effect going on behind her, what looks like a spooky Quaker woman and flores por los muertos.

JC Shannon said...

Very colorful, and cheerful as well. It took me a while to find the Dans hat, I may need new glasses. "Yes We Have No Bananas", followed by "Flower Girl" I reckon. I think indigo is a misunderstood hue. But I do like the Indigo Girls.
Thanks to Major for the scans today.

Major Pepperidge said...

Nanook, that gal is definitely wearing moccasins. She can walk through the forest and not make a sound. The only thing that Indigo is good for is dying blue jeans! ;-)

TokyoMagic!, “hydrangea” sounds like a tropical disease. Why does Madonna hate hydrangeas?? FYI, I saw Madonna live at Angel’s Stadium during her “Who’s That Girl” tour. I was coerced! It wasn’t a bad show, but somebody stole the sweatshirt I bought for my sister.

Melissa, I saw a photo of Monet’s kitchen, it was painted yellow, and had blue plates (Dutch porcelain, perhaps) on display. He knew a thing or two about color! “Clem”, ha ha. Jughead’s actual name is “Forsythe”??

Melissa II, I definitely see a straw boater!

Chuck, the motion has been seconded (pounds gavel). It is interesting that they didn’t just make East and West Center Streets completely perpendicular with Main Street - you’d expect them to form a cruciform shape. I wonder if that idea harkens back to backlot design? Streets are often curved on backlots so that you can’t really see an end.

Stuart Powley, I can’t think of that song without remembering that my great aunt had a player piano, and that was one of the rolls that she owned. “Never On a Sunday” was another one.

Stefano, I was just listening to a podcast about “The Wizard of Oz” this morning! I love that movie. I keep trying to figure out what the “Quaker woman” is, and my brain isn’t doing anything. As usual.

Jonathan, Melissa has bionic vision. It is very handy. “Flower Girl”, I don’t know that one. How about “Wait ’Til The Sun Shines Nellie”? My dad used to play a version of that by the Buffalo Bills. He loved barbershop quartets, and was even in one in high school.

Anonymous said...

Preternaturally huge blossoms were a thing in the '60's, spurred no doubt by the radiation scares of films such as "Them". Many here are splendid examples of nuclear exuberance, although the hydrangeas are approximately life-size.

Mom loved the Flower Mart. Every trip we had to walk through it. Seemed interminable at the time, I would now give anything to repeat one of those walks.

I do think you are right, the streets not aligning makes them seem longer and more complex.

The GAF film logo across the street seems wildly out of place graphically. Oh well, exhibitors and sponsors must be humored.

JG

Warren Nielsen said...

The lady in the first photo looks quite frustrated that she has to pose for yet ANOTHER picture. 'Really Ralph. My feet are killing me. Hurry up! Let's get over to Small World so I can sit down.'

W

Melissa said...

Ralph and Clem may have gotten on their wives' nerves, but we magic wizards of the future get to enjoy the results. Thanks, fellas!