Here are two fun photos for you today! Over at the Carnation Plaza Gardens, many of your favorite Disney characters have gathered to rub elbows with their fans. There's the Practical Pig, Br'er Fox, the Big Band Wolf, and Balloo, dancing with some of outgoing guests. That lady is gittin' DOWN! In the background, a young lady is very brave and not at all concerned about the Big Bad Wolf's prominent teeth. Maybe if Alice or Snow White had been there, a few guys would have joined in.
Check out the crowd of onlookers!
Typically the Disneyland Band performed at the Plaza Gardens, but the Pearly Band did the honors this time. Go, Br'er Bear, go!
The lady dancing with Practical Pig, looks like she might be doing "The Swim" or possibly "The Jerk." Although those two dance were probably out of style by 1971. And get a load of Miss Bicentennial Britches! I wonder if she still had those shorts five years later, when the country was celebrating it's 200th birthday?
ReplyDeleteJuly 1971? Good gawd! That's so long ago now that I think about it. So did anyone ever dance with the characters like some of the park guests did in these pics? I didn't. Nice pics tody! Thanks, Major.
ReplyDeleteJuly 1971, and still no pictures with me in the background. I'm beginning to wonder if I imagined that entire visit... :-)
ReplyDeleteKen, no, I never danced with any characters, although I did dance with my wife on multiple occasions at the Carnation Gardens.
I would look smooth in that Br'er Bear outfit. Doing the Basanova or a soft shoe, I could dazzle the audience with my moves. Not really, I am so bad at dancing even the Bear suit wouldn't help. But hey, I still know my way around a bench grinder. I love the Pearl Band, I am a big Mary Poppins fan. That maroon bowler is pretty sweet. Thanks Major.
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ReplyDeleteI was wondering the same thing about 'Miss. Bicentennial Britches', or hotpants in this case-! She was definitely ahead of the curve, so to speak - time wise, that is...
Thanks, Major.
TokyoMagic!, are you sure she’s not doing the “Funky Chicken”?? That is still my go-to dance at weddings, funerals, and job interviews. And my guess is that Miss Bicentennial Britches outgrew those shorts by ’76.
ReplyDeleteK. Martinez, I know, it’s weird to think of how long ago the 70’s were. Even the 80’s! I barely ever interacted with the characters, except for one time when I had my photo taken with Buzz Lightyear. It just wasn’t something I cared that much about.
Chuck, I’ll bet your wife is a character! *rimshot*
Jonathan, now I need to see a YouTube series with costumed characters such as Br’er Bear teaching folks how to safely use a bench grinder. Rule #1: Don’t wear a big furry costume. Do you think you will see the upcoming Mary Poppins movie?
Nanook, when do shorts become hotpants? Perhaps we need to consult the International Bureau of Weights and Measures. 23 hotpants equals one rod, or 1/8th of a furlong. (Please don’t check my numbers!)
No, I won't see the new one. Remaking Mary Poppins is like remaking Citizen Kane, or repainting the Mona Lisa. You don't mess with a classic. The music alone, is worth the price of admission. And now I am going to put on my gorilla suit and dance Swan Lake.
ReplyDeleteJC Shannon, Ha! I said the same thing about Blade Runner vs. Blade Runner 2049 and just last night I watched it and enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteThese are unusual pictures, to say the least. People having fun.
ReplyDeleteI've seen more of Carnation Gardens on GDB than I ever did in real life.
JG
Ken, Ha!, Blade Runner without Harrison Ford is like Star Trek without William Shatner. Hey, you may be on to something;)! I haven't seen it yet, but now I will. Thanks my friend.
ReplyDeleteJonathan, it’s not a remake of “Poppins” as much as it is a continuation of the story, or at least that’s my understanding. I like Emily Blunt, and she looks like she will be a good new version of Mary, but of course we’ll have to see. As for remaking Citizen Kane, what about a version with Tom Cruise as “Jack Kane”, newspaper magnate and secret agent? It practically writes itself! I’ll save you a front row seat.
ReplyDeleteK. Martinez, I thought that “Blade Runner 2049” did an excellent job of telling its own story and also tying in the original story too. It looked amazing, and I wish it had been more successful - it would have been cool to have more from Denis Villeneuve. Oh well, he’s doing a new “Dune” series, at least I have that to look forward to.
JG, unfortunately I am in the same boat - I don’t think I even ate at the Carnation Plaza Gardens, much less danced there.
Jonathan, I think that “Blade Runner 2049” is worth a look - hopefully you can watch it on a nice big TV with a good sound system. I liked it a lot.
It took me well into the decade to stop thinking of the 1980s as "20 years ago"
ReplyDeleteAlso, no Br'er Bear and no bench grinder, but Disney did make a tool safety film for GM in the 40s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sd2PNHysj7A
A bit late here...been away for a couple weeks. Since I worked in that era, the faces of the two musicians look familiar to me. Jack is in the foreground...can't recall the other fellow's name. I'm surprised someone hadn't already identified them. Seems like it was just yesterday... KS
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