More Lou and Sue
Today I have more great photos from Lou Perry and his daughter Sue B. - these are from Tomorrowland, circa September 1977.
What is there to say about the Peoplemover that hasn't already been said? It was smooth (with just the right amount of comforting rumble), quiet, and cool to look at. In this version we can see that the last car has the number 9 on it - a few years ago, two Peoplemover cars sold at auction for a huge sum. I wonder if they appear in this picture?
How's this for a beauty? This Tomorrowland is futuristic, but far from sterile. In fact, it is warm and inviting, with flowers, shrubs, palm trees to help make it feel alive. I just love this view.
Here's the Rocket Jets - I couldn't help noticing the arm that appears to be waving from that one rocket. Did somebody up there know Lou? Or maybe it was just that "hands in the air" thing that people do, like on rollercoasters.
And last but not least, here is another look at what might be the best Tomorrowland of all. If I had any model-making abilities at all, I'd love to make a version of this section of the land. In excruciating detail!
Many thanks to Lou Perry and Sue B. for sharing these fantastic photos. There's LOTS more to come!
14 comments:
Major-
These images merely re-cement the feeling that this Tomorrowland was simply the best; and provides more shame to what was done to "improve it" in subsequent 'remodels'.
As for that errant waving hand in the Rocket jets, it belongs to a former Six Flags employee, who were all instructed to wave at any passing train, if their work assignment positioned them near the train's route. Definitely one of the more unique "features" from the old days at Six Flags parks.
Thanks to Lou and Sue for sharing these. (P.S. - shout out to the Mary Blair mural in the second image).
Wow! These pics are worthy of being in a pictorial souvenir.
The first two illustrate how Tomorrowland 1967 was full of warmth and color.
Thank you, Lou and Sue. These pics are excellent. I'm glad to hear there's lots more to come.
Hooray for Tomorrowland '67....uh, make that '77. It was still cool ten years later. Heck, it was still cool 30 years later, when they destroyed it.
Major, apparently, Lou took that third shot, from the exact same spot that he took the night shot (which you posted on June 5th). We can see the same sign that informs riders how to board their rocket. We can also see the same corner of the Character Shop's roof. I would bet money that both shots were taken from the upper level of the newly opened Space Mountain Complex.
I LOVE these pics!
Thank you, Lou, Sue and the Major, too!
That arm in is waving to us, in the future, as we look at the past.
Interesting how back then, in Tomorrowland, we wanted to to be here, and now that we're here, we want to be back there. There's a lesson in there somewhere if we're willing to look for it.
Thanks again, Lou & Sue.
Gosh....that second photo just stopped me in my tracks. So slightly curvy and so awesomely sexy!
The Peoplemover cars look so much better with a variety of colors as opposed to the all-gray scheme in later years. I wonder if the colors were chosen by John Hench? Yellow just seems like the color of energy and optimism, while the turquoise hue somehow brings to mind the energy of the 1960s. Maybe that's because old swimming pools were often painted that color....
Thanks to Lou and Sue!
Hey, you mean those long covered walkways in Tomorrowland used to DO something??? Whodathunkit!
Billions to build Wookie Wonderland and not a penny of love for a real fan fav. Very sad...
Peoplemover Number Nine
Going down Tomorrowland Line
If the train goes off the track
The mouse won't give your money back
These are all definitely postcardworthy, and capture that feeling of tomorrow being constantly in motion. I especially like the second one, with Peoplemovers going through both foreground and background. It was a great big, bright, beautiful, colorful Tomorrow.
Nanook, it would be hard to argue with the opinion that this Tomorrowland was the very best; I love the earlier Tomorrowland too, but they really hit it…er… out of the park with the 1967 redo. Mary Blair, who is that? ;-)
K. Martinez, on forums I have read that Tomorrowland used to be “all white”, which is clearly just wrong. Guess you had to be there?
TokyoMagic!, I didn’t want to mention it, but Lou actually stood in the same spot for 8 hours, without moving a muscle. He didn’t even blink! That is the kind of dedication to one’s craft that you don’t see today.
Chuck, as long as their middle digit isn’t extended! I think the lesson you are looking for is “be yourself”. Or maybe, “It isn’t the journey that’s important, but the friends we make along the way”. Or perhaps “it’s what’s inside that counts”. Oh heck, I admit I don’t know what the message is.
steve2wdw, perhaps there are too many curves?!?
Penna. Andrew, I agree, and have always wondered why somebody thought that the gray/white color scheme was an improvement. It wouldn’t surprise me if John Hench was responsible for the ’67 hues, since he was their color guy.
stu29573, I have read many reasons why the Peoplemover track remains, unused and unloved. I guess it’s nice that it provides some shade, but I just can’t believe that there isn’t a good idea out there that could make better use of it.
Melissa, I guess there are people who think in verse and people who don’t, because poems never occur to me! I agree, that second photo is especially wonderful.
What a treasure trove of truly spectacular photos. The first and second incarnations of Tomorrowland are truly the best. For me, the color turquoise and 56 Chevy blue embody the spirit of the mid century. The Peoplemover is the epitome of futuristic cool, moving along, never stopping on a track that is a work of art all it's own. Thanks to Lou and Sue and Major for these great photos. I will be enjoying them the rest of the day.
Yep...it's unanimous. The Tomorrowland of yesterday is far better than that of today. KS
Thank you for all of your kind words! - I'll make sure my dad reads them. Your past comments have made him very happy. He's had all of these pictures (and slides) boxed away for all these years, never thinking anyone would be interested.
I especially LOVE all the laughs, too! And the best poems ever! (Major, aren't you about due for a haiku?)
Sue
The poem is just an update of the "Engine, engine number nine, going down Chicago line" rhyme we used to skip rope to.
Major, WDW's Tomorrowland used to be all white and blue - maybe that's what those posts were referring to? I thought it was beautiful; it looked like a futuristic city in the sky.
KS is right, Tomorrowland 67 is the best expression, maybe in all of Disneyland, and not just because we all remember it that way.
It is the one "land" that wasn't trying to imitate something else, but was entirely original to the Imagineers. It's what we got when they were set free to do their own ideas and those guys were brilliant.
Lou and Sue, and Major, thanks for the wonderful look back.
JG
Post a Comment