We haven't seen Molly (our Polly Holiday lookalike) since last November, so it's nice to be able to check in with her again. Here she is (with her friend) on the top deck of the Mark Twain, waiting for their journey through the wilderness. Molly might be a vampire, she's avoiding the direct sunlight a little too obviously if you ask me. In the distance, we can see the colorful tables and benches from Casa de Fritos.
The lady who brought an ice cream cone on board has the right idea!
The Mark Twain might have still been at the dock when this photo of Rainbow Ridge was taken (maybe toward the back of the boat?).
The Mine Train was not operating that day, from the looks of things. Any idea what that construction to our left was for? Perhaps it was the platforms for guests who were going to ride the Pack Mules - it's much easier to climb on a mule from two feet up! I like seeing the small ticket booth.
Major-
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to take one's eyes off that red/white outfit - complete with "dingle balls"-! What a trend-setter-?? (Even she couldn't refuse a babushka).
Thanks, Major.
The construction appears to be work on the track for the Pack Mules. In those days, Disney maintenance was legendary, and it paid off - there is not a single recorded incident of a derailment on that attraction during its entire 18 years of operation.
ReplyDeleteIf you look behind Polly's head, you can see two of the flags from the display atop the riverboat landing that we discussed a couple of days ago. Above her head, we get a really nice detail of the line of light bulbs that frame the Twain's texas. And above the cone operator's head we get a blue Skyway bucket.
It's a Super Seventies Sartorial Saturnalia! A Polychrome Patchwork Parade of Polyester People!
ReplyDeleteI wonder if Molly and the other babushka lady are together? Cousin Dolly? Either way, I am living for that pompon-fringe trim on the red and white dress.
I bet they work their assays off in that office. (I'll be here all week; make sure to tip your muleskinner.)
I'm didn't realize that Rainbow Ridge was to the east directly across from the Mark Twain. Of course I knew it, but I never really thought about it. My mind had it to the west, somehow (which makes no sense). It's kind of how, as a child, my mind pictured the pilgrims landing somewhere around Malibu. My mind's GPS stinks....
ReplyDeleteNanook, I wonder if it was a breezy day, and that’s why our two ladies are wearing babushkas? I saw that “dingle balls” are primed to make a big comeback in fashion.
ReplyDeleteChuck, I agree that the construction work has something to do with the pack mules. And while there were no mule derailments, who can forget the “Pileup of 1963”? There was a heavy fog, and mule after mule crashed into each other at speeds up to 3 miles an hour. After that, new laws required each mule to be equipped with a radar array. Molly purposely posed with the flags behind her head, she’s very patriotic.
Melissa, yes, there are multiple photos in this group showing Molly and dingle-ball lady standing together. Whether they are related or not is a mystery. I appreciate the “assay” joke, but always considered poop and butt jokes to be MY territory. ;-)
stu29573, thank goodness Rainbow Ridge wasn’t to the west of the Mark Twain! Unless the inhabitants were some of H.P. Lovecraft’s fish people. Which is possible! Meanwhile, I have a terrible sense of direction, so don’t feel bad.
Fantastic photos of Rainbow Ridge. This is the perfect time to sneak into Natures Wonderland and play Marco Polo with the bears. You just don't see enough tassle balls on women's fashion anymore. Polly and Dolly don't look happy, perhaps they were fighting over who got to wear the blue babushka. You can't see her of course, but their friend Molly is on camera duty 'cause she forgot her babushka at home. Who's up for sneaking in and taking the MT for a spin? Thanks to Major, who never wears tassles by the way, for today's awesome pics.
ReplyDeleteAnother Disney design stroke of genius to have the pack mules run on tracks. Had to be easier on the animals too.
ReplyDeleteLooks like the deck planks on the load platform are being replaced.
In the zoomed out photo of Rainbow Ridge, one of the attraction posters showing four attractions at once can be seen just beyond the lady in yellow. I think all four quadrants show aspects of the Mine Train sights and the whole poster is for the attraction as a whole, but can't recall for sure.
Also a bit of Castle Roof visible through the trees in that same pic.
Even if the River has been wrecked at both ends now, at least the Mark Twain is still the same. Lets face it, I would still ride the Mark Twain if the River was completely changed and routed only through Wookie World, or even converted to a static display.
Walt was so lucky, imagine having your own river boat, and your own river to run it on. So cool. Parties on the Mark Twain would be a riot. I'm surprised none of the bean counters have thought of offering private charters to the Club 33 crowd. Just ride around in circles drinking bourbon, playing cards and admiring the Burning Settlers Cabin. That ought to be worth thousands in ticket upgrades. Oh, right, the cabin is gone too. Well, admire something else.
Thanks Major.
JG
Gloom, wind, blazing sun, no matter. Can even repel and birds errant splatter. Just wish they sold them at the Mod Hatter. No woman can resist the power of the babushka.
ReplyDeletePersonally I think the fringe would look good in the pilot house of the MT or even the cab of the little locomotive.
Too bad the proposed babushka and dingle ball dress code was never officially enforced. It would have made the 60's way more fab.
Very nice photos today! Thanks
Oh my gosh I am laughing so hard!!! Oh, make it stop!! Everything from "dingle-balls", to "cone operator" to Melissa's entire post, to Chucks, "mind GPS" to "pack mule pile of '63." OH MY GOSH you people are hilarious. I only wish I could be as funny.
ReplyDeleteNow, for my less funny comments, Agree that they are replacing the wood "load" deck on the Pack mules (why is it we rarely see any photos of Nature's Wonderland from that vantage point... they were walking right thru the middle of the darn thing... smack dab in the middle of nature... and the wonderland... huh? But I digress).
Also notice the time on the Mark Twain dock, it appears to be only 10:15 AM. If this is May, then Park may have only opened at 9:00 AM. It appears that some folks are in the load area of the Mine Train (one may be a Disneyland Custodian or Mill worker, but there appears to be another man behind the tree). I wonder if Mine Train Thru Nature's Wonderland is actually closed or the Attraction Hosts just aren't visible (where's Jason's Disneyland Almanac, when you need it?).
Finally, the scale of Rainbow Ridge doesn't look bad from here with the little Mine Train parked out front and the taller buildings, elevated, and closest to the track. It actually all looks in perspective.
Always your pal... but not nearly as funny as all of you,
Amazon Belle
I can recall slow nights on the Mine Train...standing on the load dock along side the engine looking out to the ticket booth and the Mark Twain. There would always be a ticket seller in the booth, many times reading a book to stay occupied. One of them married an a CM attractions host who is a friend of mine today. While he eventually moved on and retired from Boeing, she will be celebrating 50 years of Disney service in May. She's now supervisor of Main Gate admissions. Ya never know how life works out until you do. :) KS
ReplyDeleteIf she was really committed to the look, she'd have trimmed the babushka with more dingle balls. (I've got balls that dingle, dangle, dingle...)
ReplyDeleteJonathan, in the “E-Ticket” magazine there is a photo of some Disney person scuba diving in the bear pond, I couldn’t help thinking of that when reading your Marco Polo joke! Molly and her friend were probably caught off-guard by the photographer, which is just not cool. It’s hard enough to wind up with a good photo when you’re expecting it. And I haven’t worn a tassel since I had one on a mortar board.
ReplyDeleteJG, I suppose it makes sense that the wood boards would eventually wear out. This is why they should have used diamonds. And you can be sure that I noticed that poster… I’m always on the lookout for those! That poster is more about the various critters that one would see, and the environments in which they live. No Rainbow Caverns is mentioned. I’ve read how Walt loved to be the engineer on the DLRR, but I wonder if he also piloted the Mark Twain on occasion?
Alonzo, here’s a billion-dollar idea - babushkas for MEN! Make them with a nice camo pattern, or perhaps with the John Deere colors. We can’t lose!
Matthew, thanks for the “second” on the replacement of the boards in the Pack Mule (or Mule Pack?) load area. I would guess that the Mine Train is closed, since there were a LOT of photos from in this bunch, and none were taken anywhere in Nature’s Wonderland. But I could be wrong! Don’t worry about trying to keep up with some of these comments, I can barely do it myself.
KS, wow, 50 years as a Disneyland employee! Amazing. I wonder if she will keep working there, and maybe break a new record (not sure what the OLD record is, now that I think about it).
Melissa, I’m telling you, dingle balls are coming back in a big way! First you’ll see them on Cardi B, then on Taylor Swift and Gaga, and then we will all be wearing them.
It’s interesting that these photos are from 1966, as all the Rainbow Ridge Town buildings had a total rehab in 1965. As to the Pack-Mules following a track - the guide rails shown were only used to keep the animals close to the guests loading platforms.
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ReplyDelete@Mike, I never knew that the entire town of Rainbow Ridge had a makeover. That would have made a fantastic HGTV show!
ReplyDeleteLooking at that last photo, there are no props surrounding the buildings so the attraction must have been down for rehab. Being that there were no props and the entire town had a total rehab... do you think that the scans may be May, 1965? Regardless... This post included pictures of everyone's favorite attraction the Mine Train Thru Nature's Wonderland!
Always you pal,