More Rescans
Here are two more attempts at rescanning old slides that originally appeared on GDB in ye olden days, before your old pal Major Pepperidge knew what he was doing. As usual, the results were mixed.
Let's start with this example, originally posted way back in November, 2006. It shows Main Street Station as seen from the last few yards of the old parking lot. As we can see by the shadows, this is a morning view (sun coming up in the East, of course), and yet the colors are so warm that it looks more like a late afternoon shot.
The rescan and readjustments cooled things off nicely - I was pleased with the way this one turned out! The parking lot is wet - did it rain during the night? Did the maintenance crew scrub the streets with a sweeper of some kind? I love seeing the original yellow passenger cars.
Zooming in a bit, some tasteful Christmas ornaments can be seen on the station. I wondered if this could be from the park's first holiday season, but then I spied the Skyway poster. So... perhaps it is from 1956. It also looks like people are walking away from the exit turnstiles, but they are probably just walking toward the ticket booths, which were centrally located.
Here's a Tri-Level poster - sadly I do not have one of these.
The next rescan was less successful; here's an odd (but interesting) shot taken from a Nature's Wonderland Mine Train (circa 1963) that originally published in 2007. I love that we get a look at guests riding the Pack Mules as they crossed the natural arch bridge.
So... the rescan. Looking at it now, I wonder why I didn't lighten it up more. I brought out some details in the sky, but who cares about the sky? I honestly don't think I can put this in the "improved" category. And yet... I will still sleep like a baby tonight. Because Major Pepperidge only cares about one person, and that's Major Pepperidge!
18 comments:
Major-
Love the simple Xmas decorations on the Main Street Train Station. Also, a sighting of the Frontierland 'Tri-level' AP forces the date up 'til at least 1956. And any shot with a feathered, personalized, cap deserves repeating.
Thanks, Major.
Those people in the first photo are leaving in a huff.
"We paid a lot of money expecting some 'Disney magic,' but it was just a bunch of movie sets - nothing 'Disney' at all.
"I lost my temper after we'd spent time in Jungle Land, the Western town, and, oh, Hicksville Street or whatever it's called and headed for the gate. We didn't see Mickey anywhere and my daughter couldn't find the stuffed Minnie she wanted.
"This place is a total ripoff. I mean, seriously - who wants to spend hard-earned cash to see something you can see on TV any night of the week or read about in some old Mark Clemens book? 'Disney magic' my foot.
"What this place needs is something that really screams 'Disney' - bright colors, cartoon characters everywhere, and maybe a chance where you can eat breakfast with them. I'd pay to see that. Yessir - I'd pay a lot to see something like that. Maybe someday they'll come to their senses and give the public what they want."
A young Michael Eisner happened to be walking by with his family, and the rest is history.
Wow, great stuff today! I too, love the yellow railcars, and check out the people strolling past the posters, never realizing that someday, they would be worth more than their car. When I was about 8, I rocked a sweet hat like that one. I remember the feather on mine as larger though. Thanks Major for the rescans.
Lots of goodness today. I like the hats, the posters, the pony tail, the Pack Mules, the yellow rail cars, even the nostalgic exit. Early morning is my favorite time of the day at DL.
I think Purposeful Strider simply forgot something in the car, Dang it! They may miss rope drop.
dz
Nanook, I have looked and looked for the tri-level AP. Which one is it? Thanks.
The Main Street Station pic is surreal in a certain away. Wouldn't mind stepping though the photo in this one. Thanks, Major.
JC Shannon, I believe the tri-level AP is in the third pic behind the bald-headed man in the white jacket walking towards the west side portal(entrance tunnel). The Autopia AP is on left side of it and The Astrojet AP on the right side of it.
Hope you don't mind me answering JC's question, Nanook.
JC, by third pic, I mean zoom-in of the Main Gate Entrance/Exit.
@Chuck. LOL, you nailed it.
@David Zacher: I saw Purposeful Strider open for Tri-Level AP at the Carnation Plaza. Great show.
Thanks Major, fun and unusual views today.
JG
@ Ken-
Of course not. (Now I can be lazy, and sleep-in late-!) Thanks.
Oh yea, I see it now. You guys are eagle eyed. Thanks Ken!
I think I've been trying too hard to ID the poster between the Storybook Land & Frontierland posters. Of course, it's for the Art Corner. Somehow the angled, black "line" near the bottom had me all confused; as it really is about mid-way up on the poster.
Nanook, I wish there had been a “Tri-Level” attraction poster in the Richard Kraft auction - it would have surely fetched at least $30,000!
Chuck, the lady in the pink dress is certainly marching with some real attitude. I know that there are plenty of people who found Disneyland to be corny or boring - these days I wish there was more of them, and fewer of the folks who want to go to the park three times a week! I think it’s funny (or not, perhaps) that people want to eat breakfast with the characters… as much of a fan as I am, that does not appeal to me at all. I get it if you have small kids, but even so… not my thing. I wonder if young Michael Eisner called his pal Paul Pressler and told him all the things that were wrong with Disneyland? “Everything is too well maintained! There’s too many rides! There are not 20 stores carrying plush characters!”.
Jonathan, you are new to the blog (relatively speaking), but those feather hats are my favorites. So representative of a fun day at Disneyland!
David Zacher, ha ha, “Purposeful Strider” is an apt name for her!
Jonathan, read on, other’s have addressed your question.
K. Martinez, yes, sadly you can hardly see the Tri-Level poster in the photo. I’ll add a jpeg to the post for those who don’t know what it looks like!
JG, I really love that first one, but who wouldn’t wish to ride the old pack mules beneath that “natural arch” again?
Nanook, being lazy is my favorite activity.
Jonathan, I’m still attaching a jpeg just in case.
Nanook, boy oh boy, there are so many reflections on that one, it’s hard to say for sure, but the angled black line has to be the easel. Good eye!
Major-
Yes, the prices in the Kraft auction were mostly 'off the charts'. (I'd still love to know the backstory about the Autopia AP that caused the final price to be $250,000.00-!!) Really. I would say a "reasonable" price these days for the Tri-Level AP could be $30,000.00; but that still seems a low ball number for that auction.
Wow! My wife gives me the hairy eyeball if I spend 30.00 on a repop Disneyland poster!
Also, Major, I don't believe that you only care about yourself. Your actions prove otherwise.
JG
Here Here JG, the Major really paid attention to his parents when they taught him to share with others!
I will always think of Main St. USA as "Hicksville Street" now.
I can't get over how much better and more subtle the light and shadow are in the new scans.
Nanook, like you, I would SO love to know the story behind that $250K Autopia poster! On a good day that should be a $6000 poster in today’s market. And the one in the Kraft auction was mounted on board, which in my book is a fail. I truly believe that the Tri-Level is one of the best, as WELL as one of the rarest posters - if all was right in the world it should have fetched way over $30,000.
Jonathan, wives just don’t understand!
JG, aw, thanks man!
Jonathan, thanks to you too.
Melissa, at least the first one was very rewarding to rescan, with the improved color. The Pack Mule photo is subtly different - I should have spent more time on it.
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