Who donated today's photos? I'll give you two guesses. No, I'll give you ONE guess. That's right, it's Mr. X! He handed me an envelope with strips of color negatives that are (probably) from 1996. For some reason I never could get the color to turn out just right, but I think that subsequent entries will be a little better than the jpegs I'm sharing today. Fingers crossed.
In any case, X was taking plenty of pictures back in those days, and his love of Main Street meant that we have some sweet images from that "land". Like this unuusal view looking view toward the Castle; a horse-drawn streetcar is veering to our left, while most people seem to be working their way northward (it appears to be early in the day). It's interesting how the little island of greenery looks like a miniature field of wildflowers.
You can't fight it, but City Hall looks mighty nice, and suitably respectable here. There's a person on the steps holding something shaped like Mickey's head. But what?
I thought that this third photo might have been taken pre-"Partners" statue, because I guessed that it was taken from the area right in front of the castle. But "Partners" was added in 1993. Maybe these photos are from much earlier than 1996? Unfortunately, Mr. X is not entirely sure.
More flowers! Lupen, I guess. With this photo I am officially announcing that this blog will now be devoted to lupens instead of Disneyland. So exciting!
Major, I think that Mickey shaped thing is one of the newer Mickey Mouse balloons. That person probably isn't holding it by the string, because he/she is under the porch roof.
ReplyDeleteThe first shot is a beaut. It makes me think of C&H sugar.
ReplyDeleteI was thinking that that person in the second photo had been doing some big game hunting and was waiting at City Hall to register their trophy before trying to take it through Customs, but TM! is probably right.
In the third image, the Partners statue (if it's there) is out of frame to our left. Mr. X was standing about here when he pressed the shutter.
Nice start to the day, Major. Thanks!
I can really go for some Main Strret wildflowers now and then. Heck, sometimes, I even wish that they would replace the street itself with a big meadow... just imagine the flowers which you could hide out behind for the afternoon parade!
ReplyDeleteVery pretty pictures - especially that third one. What a unique shot!
ReplyDeleteSue
Major, I think that coloring of the Castle is from a spring 1996 refurbishment.
ReplyDeleteVery nice. Thanks, Mr. X and Major.
ReplyDeleteHe seeks theme here, he seeks them there, he seeks those lupins everywhere.
ReplyDeleteThe colors look great; your usual Photoshop magic at work. They have the same you-are-there quality one expects from Mr. X. My favorite part may just be the adorable baby in the front seat of the streetcar.
TokyoMagic!, of course it MUST be a balloon! I wasn’t sure they had that kind back in ’96, but it can’t be anything else.
ReplyDeleteChuck, strangely, the first shot makes me think of beef jerky, but then again, everything makes me think of beef jerky. I wouldn’t mind bringing a genuine Mickey head home with me, though I sure don’t want to carry it around all day. Maybe I could wear it? And yes, I think you are correct about the location of the 3rd pic.
Penna. Andrew, if there was a big meadow instead of a street, I’d have to lay down and take a nap. A few ladybugs won’t bother me!
Lou and Sue, Mr. X was getting artsy!
Progressland, oh interesting, I honestly didn’t realize that the colors were different than older photos - I don’t detect much pink, for instance; but I appreciate your confirmation of the 1996 date.
K. Martinez, I only wish Mr. X took about 1000 more photos… but I’m grateful for the ones I have.
Melissa, I can’t hear the word “lupin” (which I misspelled as “lupen”) without thinking of Dennis Moore - and I see a lot of lupins around here. Odd to see old Dennis dubbed in Italian!
Those are delphiniums, not lupin, btw.
ReplyDeleteThanks Major and Mr. X for the fine views of Main Street, surely the most undervalued of the "lands".
ReplyDeleteEveryone is in a hurry to get to the blockbuster ride of the moment, which at the time of these photos is Indiana Jones, and little time is spent admiring the flowers.
Disney should have a Monty Python Land and my joy would be complete. At the very least, they could add The Holy Grail to Fantasyland. "Message for you, my lord".
JG
The little kid in me is screaming, "Let's get to the rides!!!"
ReplyDeleteJG, that's a brilliant idea. Paul Pressler could play Concorde. He should be used to taking arrows about Disneyland by this point in his career.
ReplyDeleteMr X is as mysterious as his photos. I think, in addition to being a great photographer, he is probably a Russian spy. "I will take pictures of park so we can build better one in Murmansk." I have always thought Delphiniums sounded like a name for a band in the 60's. Thanks Major.
ReplyDelete@Chuck, I just realized that the settler outside the burning cabin must have been Concorde.
ReplyDeleteSo they did put Monty Python in Disneyland, just not in Fantasyland.
It must have been Lancelot's particular idiom.
JG
Dennis Moore, Dennis Moore
ReplyDeleteRiding through the night
Soon every lupin in the land
Will be in his mighty hand
He steals them from the rich
And gives them to the poor
Mr. Moore, Mr. Moore, Mr. Moore
Thanks Major. Now this song will be in my head all day.
Nice pictures though.
So, I guess he wasn't a dead settler after all. He was just waiting for Lancelot to send help as soon as he accomplished a daring and heroic rescue.
ReplyDeleteHe sure waited a long time.
Excuse me, could, uh, could somebody give me a push, please...?
Melissa, I agree! -- that baby IS adorable! I didn't even notice him the first time. (Am guessing it's a him because of the blue hat.) He's at the perfect center of that picture, with all the wonderful activity going on, all around . . .
ReplyDeleteSue
Anon, MY ENTIRE LIFE IS A LIE!!!! ;-)
ReplyDeleteJG, I agree, Main Street is the most under-appreciated “lands”. I think that as a kid I didn’t even think of it as a land, it was just someplace to walk through to get to the good stuff. What a fool I was. I can’t criticize people for not appreciating the flowers when I was just as guilty. Hm, a Monty Python land… as much as I love Python, it might get to be a little much. “Spam!”.
stu29573, and the adult in me is saying “Hold your horses!”.
Chuck, I don’t know who Concorde is (was) except that I love his grapes. They make a great juice.
Jonathan, Mr. X is everywhere… and nowhere! He might be right beside you. He might be watching you via closed-circuit security cams. Basically he is like Santa.
JG, er um, more Concorde…?
Alonzo, at least it isn’t “It’s a Small World”, am I right??
Chuck, there’s nothing like being in the middle of an inside joke that I don’t get!
Lou and Sue, just think, that baby is now in his mid-20’s (I think it’s a boy, anyway)!
Sorry, Major. This might help.
ReplyDeleteAt least Main Street in Disneyland still has a couple of attractions. All they have in the Magic Kingdom is the train station and a character meet.
ReplyDeleteYou mean you don't consider buying stuff and getting a haircut an attraction? ;-)
ReplyDeleteI had forgotten about the Barber Shop! Still retail, but still awesome
ReplyDelete