Sunday, September 08, 2019

Matterhorn at Dusk, June 1969

Here are two unusual (but not great) photos of the Mighty Matterhorn, taken after the sun has almost entirely set - a few rays still hit the taller objects. These were almost too dark to scan without them turning into a grainy mess, but they look OK.

From the ground we get a nice perspective of the mountain - nearly everything is in shades of blue and violet, which is very pretty. The sky sort of resembles the famous alpenglow ("...an optical phenomenon that appears as a horizontal reddish glow near the horizon opposite of the Sun when the solar disk is just below the horizon"). I said sort of! Hello, li'l Skyway gondolas. The Tomorrowland Terrace looks so quiet and deserted. 


What do you think, is this a Peoplemover view? Judging from the angle of the sun, it was taken at nearly the same time as the previous photo, so I can't really explain why it looks so different. It's kind of neat so see some of the lights on in the distance, I'll bet the Submarine Voyage was extra cool at this time.



13 comments:

Nanook said...

Major-
This part of the day is such a [dare I say it-?] 'magical time' at Disneyland, as day turns into night. Let's all go there.

Thanks, Major.

"Lou and Sue" said...

You're wrong, Major, these ARE great photos! This is a wonderful time at Disneyland - when the sun starts to set and the lights start to turn on throughout the park and on Main St., and the evening music starts to play.
Disneyland is at its finest, in the evening . . . which is about to happen soon.

I'm glad I stayed up to glance at these pictures . . . before turning in. Goodnight li'l Skyway gondolas.

Sue

"Lou and Sue" said...

Nanook, great minds think alike. (And you type faster than me.) Good night!

Sue

TokyoMagic! said...

I agree with Sue...these are wonderful photos! I think the second one was taken from the upper level of the Carousel of Progress. Perhaps the photographer shot that one first and then walked down the ramp and shot the first one, right below where he or she stood to take the previous photo.

JC Shannon said...

Disneyland at dusk. Strolling in New Orleans Square before a dinner at the Blue Bayou. The strains of jazz in the distance, drifting gently on evening breeze. Heck, where do I sign? Thanks Major.

Andrew said...

Yeah, if only the Matterhorn itself was a little brighter, these would be top-notch photos. Maybe it's just me, but it look so like there're less Skyway gondolas on the cable than normal, so it must've been a slow evening.

"Lou and Sue" said...

JC Shannon, you just described the best moment in time, at the best spot on earth! And I love the Blue Bayou's "atmosphere" - my favorite restaurant! I'll make reservations for 12, so we can all meet there. And all go on POTC, afterwards . . .

Sue

Melissa said...

The light through the Matterhorn's blowhole transforms it into a glowhole.

Major Pepperidge said...

Nanook, I always did like it when it was just getting dark, all the lights were on, the air was cooling down, and the whole park took on a new atmosphere (I can’t bring myself to say the over-used “M” word - rhymes with “tragic”).

Lou and Sue, well OK! I’m glad you like these. You don’t have to stay up late to look at the pictures, but I appreciate that you do! In the old days, the crowds started to thin out in the evening, too - another reason to like it when the sun set.

TokyoMagic!, thanks for the correction. Your comment made me wonder; was there anything to keep people from walking up the ramp to the second level of the Carousel Theater? If they just wanted to get a nice photo of something?

Jonathan, oh yeah, I loved the soft music in the evenings, especially in New Orleans Square and Frontierland. I wondered if the cricket sounds (or were they frogs?) were real, or recorded and piped in?

Penna. Andrew, I don’t know how the Skyway worked in regards to the number of gondolas on the cable, but I assume that you are right - there would be fewer when demand was low. Less work for the CMs!

Lou and Sue, I have still never eaten at the Blue Bayou, though I’ve always wanted to - I want a seat near the water. Nobody ever wants to spend an hour (or whatever) eating a slow leisurely lunch. Grab a burger and get going!

Melissa, “glowhole” is both poetic and gross!

Alonzo P Hawk said...

Hark, what light through yonder Matterhorn nostril breaks?

As long as we've sunken to poetic and gross I thought "what the heck".

Dark but worth it. Thanks Major. Now I'm off to watch Disneyland after dark.

Anonymous said...

Yes Major, the number of buckets on the Skyway could been increased to handle the demand. June and the place almost looks to be closed. Perhaps this was before the summer hours mid week with closing at 7-8. A different and special time for sure. KS

stu29573 said...

I'm reminded of "Disneyland at Dark" when the lights on Main Street blink on and the musicians start tuning up! Yep, a magical time, indeed!

Anonymous said...

@Alonzo... "chortle".

I agree with Tokyo, #2 taken from the upper deck of the Carousel, #1 taken after #2.

Sue, I am 100% percent behind your itinerary.

Major, we have typically had Blue Bayou meals at lunch hour, since it heightens the contrast of the faux night indoors. It' always wild coming out of the "evening" into the bright light of day. Used to be that lunch was fairly reasonably priced, but no longer. Reservations required too. A very spendy lunch where I can't have a cocktail with my creole meal.

JG