I don't have many slides from 1955 in my collection - but I have some. And a few of those have turned pink to one degree or another. Those were posted long ago, but I've decided to take another crack at them to see if I can improve the way they look. Results were mixed!
I'll start with this neat view looking down Main Street, from a slide dated August 13, 1955. Just a month after opening day, roughly. I was bothered by the reddish cast that infuses nearly everything, which is what inspired me to try again.
Well, I guess that's an improvement, anyway! It still leaves something to be desired, but I'll take what I can get. This early view has many charms, like the tiny trees, the "Plaza Apts" (replaced by the INA Carefree Corner in September of 1956), and the popcorn vendor, doing boffo biz.
Just for yucks I zoomed in to this little family resting on the bench; most folks have those blue-striped popcorn boxes in hand, and sailor boy is chowing down.
Next is this photo of the Disneyland Band marching somewhere near Town Square (note the sign for the Red Wagon Inn). Jeez, there's nothing here but umbrellas, benches, trees, and dirt. Where's all of that famous Disneyland stuff?
The new restoration attempt has at least restored the sky to a nice blue, and the uniforms on the band members don't have that odd blue fringing. It's a bit sharper too. You can tell that this is early because those dark blue uniforms weren't use for very long, even though I think they look swell.
Wow! Great color work Major. The DISNEYLAND BAND looks more like a Salvation Army band.
ReplyDeleteAgreed - you make your rescan efforts look effortless and are worth the, um, effort.
ReplyDeleteI love the sacked out infant in the last photo. Brings back plenty of memories of our first Disney Park trip with kids. Look at all those wonderful benches!
Mike, your comment dredged up memories of our high school's production of Guys and Dolls my senior year. I was cast primarily because the musical director thought I'd fit into the "Save-a-Soul Mission" uniform they'd made for a very skinny student who'd had the part in an earlier production 15 years before. I didn't, but they made me wear it anyway. I'll probably have "More I Cannot Wish You" stuck in my head all day.
1955, even before my time, well I was so small I would have had to drink my Sunkist out of a tippy-cup. Great job of restoration on these vintage goodies. The Main Street photo looks like a scene out of Father Knows Best. I have a pic of me somewhere wearing a sailor suit when I was about five, complete with a hat just like that. Food for thought, the baby in the band photo is collecting Social Security today, and the little girl is a grandmother. Thanks Major.
ReplyDeleteWonderful restoration work Major. It brought in to sharper focus a large group of people in the far distance. I wonder what they were all lined up for?
ReplyDeleteWow, great job Major. Really brought things into focus. Always strange to see images of the park that early in it's existence. I was toddler at that time and Dad & Mom weren't into a long trips with a 5 year old yet. Agree with Mike. Wonder if they're playing 'Sit Down You're Rocking the Boat'.
ReplyDeleteMajor-
ReplyDeleteNice work again at restoration. I don't know if the landscaping hadn't a chance to grow, or if it's merely been trampled to death. I'm thinking maybe the latter...
Thanks, Major.
WOW!!! That first photo had me wishing I could just walk right in to it. Call me nuts but I like the coloring of the original, LOL. So cool...
ReplyDeleteJust having these in your collection is quite an achievement Major! KS
ReplyDeleteMAd skillz, Major.
ReplyDeleteThat first picture is a winner, and a rarely seen view. Not sure why everyone takes a snap of the castle, and not the train station. Shows the brilliance of the "weenie" concept, giving us something to walk towards, and then another something beyond that.
Looks like there was a fair amount of landscape mortality in that hot summer. Dead trees and shrubs, no ground cover, little wire fence to keep pedestrians out of the flower beds.
Yes, the sleeping child brings back some memories. Having dinner at Cafe Orleans with my son asleep on my lap. He had had a lot of day in his day on that first visit.
Thanks Major.
JG
Mike Cozart, maybe the resemblance to the Salvation Army band is why they discontinued the dark blue uniforms? Interesting!
ReplyDeleteChuck, ha ha, that baby has had quite enough. I’m ashamed to admit that I have never seen “Guys and Dolls”, (in any form), though I’ve seen clips of “Sit Down, You’re Rocking the Boat”. That’s a movie I think I’d like to see.
Jonathan, photo 1 does look like an establishing shot in a movie (or TV show). Maybe “The Twilight Zone”. “Submitted for your consideration…”. Gosh, I wonder if my mom ever dressed me in a sailor suit?? My dad was in the Navy, so anything is possible.
Gnometrek, now that you mention it, those people DO appear to be in line for something. But they are a long way from any attraction entrance. I have no idea. Could it just be the general crowd heading up to the castle?
DrGoat, the early park looks very rough around the edges, and even a bit “rinky dink”, but man, what I wouldn’t give to be able to go back and visit it just the way it was!
Nanook, since this is only weeks after opening day, I assume that the plants just hadn’t had time to grow.
Connie, nice to hear from you! The originals have a kind of “Instagram filter” look, and I suppose that gives them a warm “retro” feel, so I can see why they’d appeal to you.
KS, It was sheer luck!
JG, I’m still not 100% happy with these, but I feel like the improvements made it worth the time and effort. The castle was so unusual, especially in 1955, I can understand why everyone took a photo of it. I think perhaps that I have read about 1955 being an especially hot summer, so maybe the young plants really were blasted by the sun and just couldn’t take it.
Sailor Boy is super excited about the popcorn because it makes a nice change from his steady diet of Cracker Jacks. Crew-Cut Steve with the Rolled-Up Sleeves looks like he’s about to play chicken with the trolley car.
ReplyDeleteThat's not dirt; it's just brown pixie dust!
Echoing the rest of Gorilla Scouts Troop #001: these rescans are really great. You've come a long way, baby!
@JC Shannon - I wore a (skirted) sailor suit under my high school graduation gown; the gowns were made of this translucent white satin, and it was the only white dress I had.
@JG - Mmm, double weenie! Pass the sauerkraut!