Above Fantasyland, July 1971
Today's first scan provides a look down into Fantasyland as seen from the Skyway; we are ascending from the chalet and heading toward the Matterhorn (sponsored by Ricola™ throat lozenges). It doesn't feel like we're very high up, and yet we can see into the land o' Tomorrow, including the Volkschlepper and the track for the Unirail. The snack stand known as "Fan 2" is in the lower right, serving up rubbery hamburgers and limp fries to happy customers. Add lots of ketchup, it'll be fine! Notice that the tables beneath the umbrellas have little stools to sit on instead of genuine chairs.
As I have pointed out in other early 70's photos, I am impressed with the bright (but tasteful) colors on the clothing. Greens, yellows, oranges, blues, and even puce. The Storybook Land Canal Boats are popular on this summer day.
Continuing on our journey, we've passed through Ricola™ Mountain and are well on our way to the Tomorrowland terminal. "It's a Diminuative Planet" gleams like a fantastic mirage. It can't be real! Meanwhile, the Motor Boat Cruise lulls guests into a dreamless sleep, from which they will awaken, refreshed and ready to go.
18 comments:
Major-
"... and even puce". Those are words not heard very often these times-! On the other hand "It's a Diminutive Planet" is still going strong. As for the Motor Boat Cruise, I had some of my best dreams while carefully navigating around those humongous rapids-!
Thanks, Major.
I tried to write the lyrics to "It's a Diminutive Planet, All Things Considered," but my brain kersploded. I like pie!
These bright, sunny pictures are the perfect antidote to the cold, wet weather we've been having.
Nice views from the skyway today! If you watch the new Disneyland "winter" commercial they show a rider looking down from the Skyway. False advertising at it's best. I wonder if anyone is going to the park (Anaheim) and then complaining about the Skyway not being present because they "saw it in the commercial".
I think we have yet to traverse Ricola Mountain in the third view.
All I know is that the photos you've been posting on GDB this month have been extra good. Some really fresh views and from my favorite era at Disneyland.
The photo of the transitional area between Fantasyland and Tomorrowland where the two "lands" run into and overlap each other and blend together is pretty cool. It was one of my favorite areas of the Park. Thanks, Major.
If you get real close to the first photo you can smell the burgers cooking. Or maybe I'm just hungry. Turquoise Peoplemover cars, and IASW gleaming in the sun, cool. I agree with Ken, extra great photos this month Major, thank you.
Does anyone know the year they stopped using the lighthouse ticket booth for Storybook Land?
These are views we cannot replicate today until I perfect my stealth drone. Muahaha!
I agree, the recent photos have spoken to me more than usual. And I don't think it's the burrito diet I'm trying.
Thank you, Major, for your dedication to this blog. And while I'm at it, thanks to all for the comments.
dz
Major, these photos are very nutritious and have extremely high fiber content, lots to chew on here. Sort of a graphic granola, or even mueslix, courtesy of the mountaineers.
@Ken has pointed out the nub of the gist, here are photos of one of the oddest transitions in the history of, well, almost everything. From a place that didn't exist in the past, to a place that failed to exist in the future, all observed from a vantage point in a present that no longer exists. A veritable festival of nihilism, and yet, Nietszche is nowhere in sight. Perhaps lurking behind Diminutive Planet in the massive white building (Global Van Lines?).
And right in the center of it all, the stool samples of Fan 2, presided over by Howard Johnson. We can glimpse the elusive Motor Boat Cruise sign while wondering what the semaphore flag message conveys, and tantalizingly just out of focus, the sign for the Lighthouse Ticket booth.
Also a rare peek at the little gift shops flanking the Long March out to Diminutive Planet. What wondrous souvenir goodies would be on display there? Unbelievably, this photo only predates Luke Skywalker by 6 years. Who would have guessed at the total takeover only 48 years in the future.
Now I will be humming "It's a Diminutive Planet, All Things Considered," all day long.
Re: recent blog quality. I agree, there is a marked upturn, both in the pics and the captions. Thank you, Major for the hard work and entertaining captions, and Thank you,all the posters for funny comments and the extraordinary depth of knowledge, not just Disney, but old cars, music, doggerel poetry, sewing, military insignia, flags, and general "stuff" (which is a technical term I learned in college).
All in all, a great start to the week.
JG
@ JG-
I had no idea this was also a medical blog. (The things one learns here...)
Nanook, puce is everybody’s favorite color! It’s a scientific fact. I would imagine that the gentle putt-putt of the Motor Boats combined with the soothing motion would lull even the most hardy of insomniacs to sleep.
Melissa, I did it! It’s like playing “stump the band” and winning. What a triumph! It’s all downhill from here. Cold wet weather, I wonder what that is like (I am jealous).
Alonzo, do they REALLY show somebody looking from a Skyway bucket in new Disneyland commercials?? That is unbelievable! “While you’re here, why not enjoy a ride on our wonderful Mine Train?”.
Anon, arg, yes you are right! I need to do more thinking, less smart-alecking.
K. Martinez, as I have told you, I know that the quality of the photos can vary on GDB, but that’s how it goes when one posts every day for 9 years (or whatever). Still, I am glad that you have been enjoying the latest offerings! In a way it surprises me that, in places, the border between Fantasyland and Tomorrowland wasn’t somehow more clearly obvious. The Motor Boats could be in either (though they were technically Fantasyland).
Jonathan, 1971 would have been a wonderful time to go to the park. They had the New Tomorrowland, including the Carousel of Progress and Adventure Thru Inner Space, while the Mine Train, Skyway, and other wonderful attractions were still going strong. I’ve never seen a date for when those small ticket booths (like the mushroom in front of “Alice”) were no longer used for tickets, if anybody knows I’d love to hear.
David Zacher, I need one of those stealth drones to go with my time machine! Let me know how that burrito diet goes, that is one I think I could stick to. And thanks for the kind words!
JG, I just feel good knowing that each of you will be getting your recommended daily allowance of Niacin, vitamin D, iron, and calcium (for strong bones and teeth). Plus healthful sugar that kids need! The odd transition between lands is perfectly represented by the Matterhorn, which magically changed from Tomorrowland to Fantasyland without ever moving an inch. I think I saw Nietzsche in the dark, steampunk 1998 Tomorrowland, BTW. I miss Howard Johnson’s restaurants, since I loved fried clams, and there aren’t too many places to get those here in SoCal (in spite of the nearby ocean). I’ve always dreamed of walking through the shops of Disneyland, even in the 70’s… I’ll bet there were some real gems to be had at low, low prices. Thank you as well for the nice compliment!
Nanook, I’m not a doctor, but I played one on TV back in the 70’s. I was Marcus Welby’s twin brother Farcus. I looked just like Marcus, except I had a goatee.
I was always impressed how well HoJo's blended in with the Park. Too bad the rest of Harbor Blvd didn't. KS
July 1971 - my first visit to Disneyland! I don't see myself in any of the photos, though. I must have been waiting in line for POTC when these were taken.
Major, did HoJo's serve anything else? If they did, I never tried it.
@KS, the Anaheim HoJo in today's picture (opened in summer 1965), was designed by William Pereira, a noted architect responsible for many excellent and memorable buildings capturing the spirit of the era, including the Transamerica "Pyramid" Tower in San Francisco. The hotel ownership has recognized the design values of the building and is featuring architectural tours and a recent remodeling emphasizing the '60's style.
JG
(For viewers wanting to maintain the GDB "G" for General Audience Rating, please avert your eyes from the following)
The latter building was roundly criticized and is still referred to in some quarters as "Pereira's Pr*ck". For the most part, it has become a welcome and easily recognized civic symbol appropriate to the City.
If I'm lyin' I'm dyin'.
Just go to you tube and search "New Disneyland Holiday Commercial for 2017 and 2018!" or here is link to the full 2017 version. https://youtu.be/DPX9_oQu7Zs
Disney is kind enough to print a disclaimer (very small/last second)
"Attractions and Entertainment are subject to change without notice".
I guess 24 years closed is enough notice.
KS, I’m sure there have been many people who have seen HoJo’s (especially from Skyway photos), assuming it was part of Tomorrowland in some way.
Chuck, if you ever DO see yourself in a photo, let me know. That would be amazing! I know your question about Hojo's was in jest, but HoJo’s had all kinds of coffee shop items (steak sandwiches, burgers, tuna sandwiches, roast beef - they had a lot of meat! - as well as salads, desserts, etc). I had to look at some vintage menus online, since I barely remember anything about the place except for the fried clams.
JG, critics referring to the Transamerica Tower in phallic terms seems pretty lazy - what skyscraper couldn’t be interpreted similarly? I find that there is usually a lot of criticism for anything new and different (I’ve been guilty of this). Parisians hated the Eiffel Tower when it was built. Now it’s hard to imagine a Paris without it.
Alonzo, thanks for the link. I enjoy a glimpse of a classic Skyway gondola as much as the next guy (maybe more!), but it’s a strange way to publicize the park as it is today. I guess the Astro Orbiter was not inspirational enough.
Since I was "attempting" to be funny - I probably should have directed my 'joke' directly at the line of fun (or pun), with a bit more specificity: I was referring to the first sentence of the third paragraph of JG's comment. Perhaps I should have said: "I didn't know we had a gastroenterologist in our midst..."
Oh man, I remember the food being so so so awful back then. Ugh!
@Major, the Transamerica tower was designed in an era when all the best designers believed that tall buildings were supposed to have flat tops. Yes, seriously, that was a design "given" once upon a time. So TT came in for more than it's share of puerile criticisms.
Flat roofs were so much of a thing that San Francisco eventually passed an ordinance requiring new buildings to have "interesting tops". That wasn't the exact wording, but the new rules were called the "funny hat" requirements in the profession.
Architecture is stupid sometimes.
JG
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