Sunday, July 21, 2019

Rainbow Ridge & Cascade Peak, September 1960

It's time for more snoozerific Sunday scans. You could skip today and be just fine. I promise my feelings won't be hurt.

I'm sure that folks in the late 19th century didn't find themselves up high very often; most of the country was pretty low to the ground. But a steamboat, with its gleaming white gingerbread decor, could get you a good 25 feet up. What a view! Too bad this one is a little bit blurry. Still, I'm always glad to see Rainbow Ridge, and the little Zocalo marketplace.


Backlighting left this scene dark and monochromatic. If only the photographer had visited this area a bit earlier, old (but actually brand-new) Cascade Peak would have been a sight to see. Perhaps we would have even been able to make out the mountain goats at the top.

12 comments:

Nanook said...

Major-

I do so love the view of the Zocalo - kinda resembles a gypsy encampment-! Just what Disneyland needs to go with Wookie World®.

Thanks, Major.

Melissa said...

"You could skip today and be just fine."

makes me think of those old Mitchum deodorant ads that told you you could skip a day with their brand. And, of course, Carol Burnett parody of same.

No such thing as too many pictures of these beautiful, long-lost areas.

Andrew said...

It seems like 75% of Sunday pictures are taken along the Rivers of America or somewhere in Frontierland. I guess the sleepy 'ol river just rubbed off on the photographer and made them take a mediocre picture.

stu29573 said...

Vintage Disneyland had the ability to establish a sense of place and time better than any other park, before or since. The old set designers knew their stuff and they served up heaps of it to a hungry audiance. Now, in our CGI world, I'm afraid the art is lost. It's wonderful to see these, but sad that the current designers (I refuse to call them imagineers) can't match it.

JC Shannon said...

Any pic of Rainbow Ridge is a winner, blurry or not. The Imagineers hit it out of the park with Cascade Peak as well. My memories of both are great. I bet you could actually afford a souvenir at the Zocala market. Thanks Major.

Major Pepperidge said...

Nanook, the Zocalo intrigues me these days, mostly because I would love to know what rare and unusual merch might have been for sale.

Melissa, OK, time to go to YouTube to find the Carol Burnett parody. On a side note, “Television City”, where the Carol Burnett Show (and tons of other classic programs) was shot, was sold and is being developed, though I am unclear as to how much of the historic structure will remain when all is said and done.

Penna. Andrew, you are so right, Frontierland really captured people’s fancy, I’m sure that at least 60% of all of my Disneyland photos are from Frontierland, and the number could be much higher.

stu29573, I agree with you, and as I’ve pointed out in many old scans, vintage Frontierland was especially effective in selling the illusion of being miles from civilization. It was pretty amazing.

Jonathan, I don’t know, some souvenirs might have cost as much as $1.50. Who has that kind of money? I’ll just take one of those free ducks that are always walking around.

Nanook said...

@ stu29573-

Ditto. And what a pity it appears that "art of design" has vanished - at least at the present-day WDI. On the other hand - and in spite of all their self-promotion - there IS life beyond Disney...

stu29573 said...

Very true!

Chuck said...

The monochromaticism of the last photo is just fine. I have no desire to make out with a mountain goat.

TokyoMagic! said...

What stu29573 and Nanook said!!!

I think I can see a sign in the Zocalo Marketplace that reads, "Build Your Own Zorro Sword - $100" I'll take two, please. One in hot pink and the other in electric blue.

stu29573 said...

I see what you did there...lol!

JG said...

Good stuff today, Major. Thank you.

I'm surprised by the height of that building to the left in photo 1. Looks much bigger than anything I remember in RR.

Were there mountain goats on Cascade Peak? Disney could have had a dairy after all!

JG