In Tomorrowland, August 1966
Here's a few beauties for you to enjoy on this nice Friday!
I particularly love this first photo because it is from an angle that is unique to my collection. The lady in her peach outfit poses near the entrance to the Autopia queue, with colorful Skyway gondolas passing overhead (with a nice blue sky, puffy clouds at no extra cost), and of course the snows of the mighty Matterhorn gleam in the distance. I'd love to be there on that day, and to cut in line right in front of that lady. (Just kidding, cutting in line is evil).
I don't know if I ever remember seeing the regular Autopia referred to as the "Senior Autopia" as is written on this sign.
And here's a beautiful view as seen from the Disneyland RR at Tomorrowland Station. Check out the Skyway, eight red gondolas in a row! How does that happen? We get the Autopia with the Mark VI vehicles (similar to the Mark Vs, but no headlights, and with that oval grille), and the blue Monorail ("Old Bluie") can be seen too.
27 comments:
Major-
Gotta love those red and brown socks, w/shorts and tennis shoes-!
The "Senior Autopia" has a diploma-!!
RED must be the Skyway color for the day.
Thanks, Major, for sharing these beauties.
Line jumping is verboten. It is also cause for removal from the park. At least that's the policy at Six Flags Magic Mountain.
If that lady had a pogo stick, she could probably jump up and touch that turquoise Skyway gondola.
In the first picture, I love the way the lines of the Auropia gate and the Skyway cables draw your eye straight back to the Matterhorn.
I wonder if Mrs. Peach is purse-sitting for someone else, or if she always carries two. You can never have too much space for those essential tissues, aspirin, wet naps, sugar packets and matchbooks from various restaurants, floor lamps, canary cages, etc. Plus, you can hit two mashers over the head at the same time.
Dig the boy with the blue Keds and red crew socks - I like his style.
I had never heard it called the “Senior Autopia,” either! It sounds so weird! (Insert your favorite joke about elderly drivers.)
So much vroom in the second picture! Especially from the boy in the foreground who appears to be running away from his slowpoke family. Or maybe he’s little Dickie Kimball, the Junior Fugitive, on the run for a juvie offense he didn’t commit. I just hope he doesn’t mistake Captain Hook for the elusive One-Armed Man.
Not only is line jumping evil, it's cause for ejection from the park. At least, that's what I remember the signs said at King's Island back in the l980s. I'd always imagined them strapping errant guests into a Martin-Baker Mk. 7 ejection seat and launching them out of the park (helmet and parachute optional, depending on the severity of the offense and available on-hand stock), but on reflection, that might not have been cost effective. They probably just used an old-fashioned trebuchet.
Sometimes the Cedar Point Sky Ride cars are in color order. In the morning, I'd guess that the first cars put on are spaced far apart and then the next ones added would be between those already on the line. If they had to balance the cable like this, then it probably did take a lot of effort if someone wanted them color-coded. I'm not sure, though.
Not only was the Tomorrowland AUtopia the "Senior" Autopia, the Fantasyland Autopia was originally the "Junior" Autopia. Distance between seat and pedal was shorter in the junior cars. And speaking of skyway cabins in color order, on slow party nights, we'd use the small cabin switch in the F-Sky station to arrange cabins in color groups, and then if we were still bored, we'd arrange them by number within the colr groups. Fun times.
Anonymous, thank you for commenting, as I remember you(?) had commented a while back about rearranging the cabins in color order, but I forgot about arranging them by numbers, too. I think it’s hilarious and am hoping you share more with us! BTW, did you get in trouble for doing that??
Great pictures, thanks Major!
I do remember the Junior and Senior Autopias. The Junior for sure 'cause I couldn't ride the Senior till I was as tall as that sign. I was short and skinny till I was 7 or 8. (Before I got taller and less skinny). I think I was about 9 before I got to jump in the big boys cars.
That first pic is a beauty. Number 24 steals the show, but I've got to say, those 4 pair of socks really pull it together on the ground.
PS Line jumping is evil. I'd love to see that trebuchet is action. Over the berm and onto Harbor Blvd.
I actually witnessed a genuine fist fight between a line jumper and a person that took exception. Believe it or not, it was in a line to go see the Doors at the Sunset theater in LA. Late show, 1969. A lot of long hair, weed and god knows what else. I'm surprised I didn't run into the Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers. The tussle didn't last long, the defender being quite adamant and a lot bigger that the interloper. It was a good start to the show. Found out later they recorded some of the show for the upcoming Absolutely Live album. It was a memorable show and a whole other story. I was out from Tucson visiting my sister. One of those memories that will never die.
Nice Friday pics Major. Thanks
When I was a kid, I loved the Autopia. It was a kid's chance to drive a car. Very cool when you're nine. Maybe that kid is a Boston fan. Thanks Major.
Great pics today. Somewhere, there is a pic of me and my dad in a Mark VI car but I don't remember them. My favorite was the Corvette inspired Mark VII and not driving with my Dad.
I figured that all those red Skyway buckets were employee shenanigans...ANYTHING for when you were bored...I did some very shameful (but not hurtful) things in my day. In these days, we would definitely be fired. We were all such practical jokers. SENIOR AUTOPIA! I can envision the possibilities! Sounds like the themed attraction (presented by Pontiac) would be based in the lush gated community of "Boca Del Pines"- Board your full size 1985 Pontiac Bonneville and feel free to stop in at the Boca Del Pines Olive Garden (gotta love the bread sticks), or Costco (get your samples!) along your path! At the end you board a special Ferry: presented by Norwegian Caribbean - where the bounties of an all you can eat buffet, and spectacular stage show: "Lawrence Welk's Kids of the Kingdom"! I see lots of feathers and sequins! Perhaps an audio animatronic Liberace! YES! Actually.....as a Senior...this ride sounds kind of good to me :) Magic Skyway with food...not too bad.
Bu, where do I sign up for that ride? Sounds wonderful, especially the Lawrence Welk part.
Photo 1 is a beautiful composition, but I don't recall the Senior Autopia term at all. Must have discontinued use after removal of the Junior ride.
Anonymous #1, thanks for the back story of the Skyway colors, I love that. Often wondered if there were coded messages spelled out in the color sequencing.
Melissa, that is a wonderful description of my Mom's bag. Don't forget the Vicks Vap-O-Rub and the restaurant soda cracker packs.
I saw some line jumpers at POC on my last trip, but they were in the center of the below-grade spiral and no one but us could see them. It wasn't a big deal since the parades were on, and the queues were light. Always wait to ride POC and HM until the parades start. Chuck has the solution for the line jumpers, trebuchets use no fuel and do not pollute.
Dr Goat, great story, hope to hear more someday.
That last vantage point is one of the best in the Park.
Thanks Major, for ending the week on a high note.
JG
Man, do I love that first pic. Great angle and wonderful colors. The warm colors of Tomorrowland.
I think I need to get new glasses. At first I thought that yellow sign read "Señor Autopia". I was thinking the other day that they couldn't use the name "Midget Autopia" in today's social climate. It wouldn't fly.
Anyway, today's pics are extra good. Thanks, Major.
Senor Autopia. In Frontierland adjacent to Casa De Fritos. Let's tear down Big Thunder and make a rip roaring, rootin tootin Olde West style Autopia. Miniature Stagecoaches, and lifelike miniature horses- or perhaps even real ones...that you travel around the old Frontier...oh ...wait...that was a ride....
Nanook, I knew somebody would comment on those red socks! “Senior Autopia” makes it sound like it’s for old-timers to me. Maybe because I’m an old-timer myself!
TokyoMagic!, it might be verboten, but I’ve definitely seen line jumping at both Magic Mountain and Disneyland. Maybe it’s a technicality, but usually there’s one person in line, and then six more people come along eventually to join that one person. Arg!
Melissa, yes, those cables are like the perspective lines that you lightly sketch in to establish your vanishing point when making a drawing. You know right where everything is supposed to converge. I’m sure Miss Peach is holding the photographer’s purse - I have other photos from this batch, but I think this is the only one that clearly has a portrait of somebody in the photographer’s part. The young boy’s pose in photo #2 looks like he was playing “red light, green light”, and paused in the middle of an awkward moment! Ha ha, a “Junior Fugitive” show would be… interesting.
Chuck, removal via ejection seat, trebuchet, or any other way, is too good for ‘em! Throw them in the underground jail, and feed them bread and water for a month.
Andrew, I admit that the workings of the Skyway (and other sky rides) is something of a mystery to me - I don’t really get how they space them out on the cable while the thing is running all the time. There must be a real art to it!
Anonymous, I know that the Fantasyland Autopia started out as the Junior Autopia, but even so, I’ve never heard the Tomorrowland Autopia referred to as the Senior Autopia, especially on a sign (which makes it kind of official)! I love your account of what you and your coworkers did when you were bored!
Lou and Sue, I can’t imagine anybody getting in trouble for a relatively innocent prank - but then again, some of those supervisors could probably be real pills.
DrGoat, I’ll always remember the anxiety about whether I would be tall enough to board some of the rides at Disneyland. Though I do remember one time when an employee let me board because I was only an inch shy (I think that was the Matterhorn). Wow, you saw The Doors in 1969! Pretty cool, they were a wild band for the time! And it’s cool that your show was used on the live album. Did you see any other similar bands at the time?
Jonathan, I’m sorry, but the band “Boston” wasn’t even around yet! ;-)
MRaymond, I can relate, I know of family photos that I want to find, but the prospect of going through all those boxes exhausts me before I even start. I hope you find your photo someday, so that you can share it here!
Bu, the mind reels - now I have to know about the “shameful” shenanigans! It’s to be expected, with so many employees in their late teens or early 20s - in fact it would be a miracle if there were NO shenanigans. Meanwhile you have described the perfect senior vacation, including bread sticks. Hopefully the live shows start early so we can get to bed by nine o’clock!
JG, I can’t think of Lawrence Welk without thinking of my paternal grandparents in Minnesota. That cheesy show! But they loved it, and they loved to go dancing, even in their later years. For a second I thought that a large group of yellow Skyway gondolas would be next, but there’s an aqua one that fouls up the sequence. Line jumpers in “Pirates” isn’t quite so bad because that ride is a “people eater”, but for some roller coasters or other rides, it can make a difference.
K. Martinez, long ago, when this blog was fairly new, I got a comment (anonymous of course) saying that the word “midget” was offensive. Hey, I didn’t name the ride! I do have to wonder what they’d call it, though. The “Mini-Autopia”? That’s not too bad.
Bu, I’d love a Western-style Autopia (or something - can’t use cars of course). How about little chuckwagons? With all the miniatures, it would be something that Walt himself would have approved of.
One tiny "shameful shenanigan" (thanks for the term- I will be using it going forward) involves a bicycle built for 5, a very small office, and enough empty frozen banana boxes to fill said office to the brim and then close the door. "Those damn night people!" Don't worry guests of Disneyland!: the bike was returned to it's unsecure space well before opening and no one was the wiser. (tee hee hee). OK...like no one else thought of riding that thing around but us!!?!! Lock it up boys! ...Keep on the lookout for the next shameful shennanigan: this one involves a walk in freezer, a stuffed jumpsuit, a Small World doll head, ketchup...and an axe..."those damn night people!"
David,
a week later after I visited sis, I went back to Tucson, left Tucson in my sophomore year at the UofA and went back to LA for 2 years. I only remember going to the Whiskey a go go once or twice for a show. The Flying Burrito Brothers and the Byrds, then later that year Humble Pie. Pretty much concentrated on work and hanging with my sister the rest of the time.
Moved back 2 years later.
Believe it or not, Tucson was a hot spots for groups to come and play. By '68/'69 we had already seen Jimi Hendricks, The Rolling Stones, Iron Butterfly, Jefferson Airplane, the Yardbirds, Steppenwolf, Marvin Gaye (who opened for the Buffalo Springfield) etc. etc. We did have to go to Phoenix to see The Who and Led Zeppelin.
Before Alice Cooper was Alice, he was Vince and he and his awesome rock band would come down and play the VIP club twice or three times a month. They were truly the best rock band around. Played mostly Yardbird tunes etc. Very good times.
Bu, what was your job (responsibilities) while on the nightshift (besides “clown”)?
BTW, I haven’t laughed this hard at a post—since the “Windy” post. Thanks, all!
Boy...the "Senior Autopia". I had forgotten how excited I was to reach the required height. I was a 'senior' way before being a 'senior' in high school. What an exhilarating feeling it was. And look at that stroller too. Now why would that be parked there in front of the Autopia? I doubt the kid could have reached the required level! Nor could Mom or Dad taken it along in the car. Hummm.... KS
That was in Outdoor Vending Sue...our shifts went a few hours after close to tarp popcorn wagons and other duties including many shenanigans- and it's not like anyone waited for the night shift to do naughty things. Some shenanigans did go "noticed"...the big boss was actually not a fan of hi-jinx in any way shape or form. We didn't get written up, but we received a stern "talking to". Ahhhh....kids!...we had so much fun in a relatively consequence free environment. I think the younger supervisors turned a few blind eyes, as probably months before their promotions they were doing exactly the same things- or they were doing things along side us.
Just found your blog! Definitely have to read my way through your posts. We always enjoy Disney nostalgia and history. Enjoy the pictures and miss the old Skyway. The new Disney Skyliner is probably safer, but just not the same as the old open gondolas. We try to hit Autopia any time we find the wait less than 30 minutes. Thanks for the pictures. They are fun!
I see the senior autopia every time I have to do an appraisal at Leisure World. The speed limit is "can't go faster than a golf cart", you have to keep your left (or right) turn signal on at all times and must have a license plate frame that reads "World's Greatest Grandma".
I thinks the eight red gondolas in a row is a glitch in The Matrix.
Great pics today, happy Friday.
Welcome, Andrea!
Am I the only one who would point and yell to everyone in line: "Hey, what's that on the Matterhorn?" Then when everyone turned to look sneak past them! (Nah, never really did it, I'm totally anti-cutting, but I bet it would work. LOL)
I remember when it was the Midget Autopia. Definitely not socially correct. Junior Autopia, nothing wrong with that. Senior Autopia? Do I need to show my AARP card?
Dr. Goat, we definitely would have been friends back in the day. I saw every one of the bands you mentioned, including Alice Cooper in 1967 when they were called the Nazz. Great rock band. Dennis Dunaway was one of my influences when learning bass.
Grant,
Definitely. They were the Spiders when I first saw them. Also, I remember them opening up for Steppenwolf at the Sunset Rollerama (I think that's what it was called) on 22nd St. Thanks for reminding me about the Nazz! They used to do a song called 'The Nazz are Blue', by the Yardbirds. When I think about it, that was some of the best rock n roll I've ever heard.
Bu, that practical joke is OK, as you said, nobody got hurt, or even really embarrassed. Just a bunch of boxes to make somebody peeved! Was the bicycle for the Dapper Dans? That one is for four, of course. Ha ha, I love the description of the Small World doll head in the freezer!!
DrGoat, wow, you really saw a ton of amazing, classic bands! Good for you. There’s a time in our lives when we can do those things, and your really took advantage of it. It’s like you saw EVERYBODY! I don’t know much about Alice Cooper, to be honest. He seems like a nice guy, and smart - and I know he puts on a great live show. But I didn’t know he was “Vince”!! It sounds like you had a very good time.
Lou and Sue, this blog is very serious and I don’t appreciate all the laughter. ;-)
KS, you don’t think that a smaller child would be allowed to ride with an adult? I just assumed that that’s what was going on with the empty stroller. No idea though!
Bu, like I said earlier, those old timers HAD to have expected some rambunctiousness on the part of their youthful workers. Especially at an amusement park! It’s not like you worked at a nuclear power plant or hospital.
Andrea, a new reader! Welcome. I hope you come back and enjoy what’s going on here.
Alonzo, oh man, I was going to say that you needed the turn signal on at all times, but you beat me to it. You also have to be hunched over the steering wheel. Maybe there should be a horn to honk too? The more the better!
Lou and Sue, you are our welcoming committee!
Grant, I have actually never heard of somebody trying to distract other guests just so they could sneak in front of them! But I approve of the attempt. The Midget Autopia was an artifact of a less-enlightened age, I don’t think there was any ill-intent by giving it that name. Especially since it was really aimed at young kids exclusively. Wow, sounds like you saw a bunch of wild shows too! Back when they were affordable. You could see a great show for under $20, sometimes WAY under $20. Now tickets are hundreds.
DrGoat, this is certainly an eye-opener, I had no idea you were such a wild man. I've heard of the Nazz (wasn’t there an album called “Nazz Nazz”?), but I couldn’t tell you if I’ve ever heard an actual song. The Carpenters were about the hardest rock I ever listened to. :-)
I can't compete with any of you - the Carpenters were my first concert!
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