I tried my hand at rescanning more slides that have already appeared on GDB, only they didn't necessarily look so great the first time around. The new scans are improvements, to varying degrees.
First up is this shot looking toward the Rivers of America (circa 1956), with the Mark Twain at the dock in the distance - it appeared on GDB in 2010. I believe that the photographer was standing pretty close to where the Haunted Mansion would eventually be. This angle is unusual, and it's nice to see the parklike area near the riverfront. But the scan is dark, and has a definitely orange tint to it.
The rescan is definitely lighter and brighter, and sharper too. The sky is a little bit on the lavender side, now that I look at it with fresh eyes, but it's OK. I wonder if that person at the raft landing on Tom Sawyer Island is a guest? Or a cast member? Notice the yellow banner directing people to the Indian Village, which was new to this location in May of 1956. It's neat to imagine what it would be like to wander around that early Frontierland on an uncrowded day.
Next is this shot from under the striped tent of the Carnation Plaza Gardens, first published on GDB in 2009. The photo is from September, 1959. There's plenty of seating if you want to stop and eat! Parts of this scan went very dark for some reason.
The rescan lightened things up, but I'll admit that the difference is not that significant otherwise. Still, it's nice to see an unusual view of a feature that is long-gone.
Zooming in a little, I wanted to get a better look at the windows where guest would order their food and drinks, since that's something that really doesn't show up in photos hardly at all.
Major-
ReplyDeleteThat first one is very unusual. If I've got my bearings right, the Swift's Plantation House should be behind us and to the right. I'm guessing all of us would like to be sitting on one of those benches, right about now-!
As usual, your 'touch-up skills' are a delight to the senses.
Thanks, major.
In the first re-scan, it looks like the chains between two of those concrete stanchions (is that the right word?) are missing. Maybe that small sign is warning guests about the danger of falling in the river? Or perhaps it just reads, "Please Don't Eat The Daisies."
ReplyDeleteNice re-scans today, Major!
Nice re-scans Major! Both photos are wonderful. I love getting a rare view of the Carnation Gardens service windows. Our family would sometimes stop by there for a dinner snack - usually a hot dog or burger. I sure wish I could read those menus. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the rescans, Major. Nice work.
ReplyDeleteTM!, the chain's not missing, just down, hanging on the right-side stanchion (that word's as cromulent as another). I think those signs say "EXIT ONLY" on the top line and probably "TOM SAWYER RAFTS" on the bottom; that was a Disneyland standard style exit sign, with "EXIT ONLY" on the top and the attraction name on the bottom. I can't find a photo in the time I have available, but I'm pretty sure I remember seeing a path along that part of the riverbank from the landing near the bridge that used to cross the waterway that connected the Rivers of America with the Jungle Rivers of the World.
The banner definitely says "Keel Boats," but is that "War Canoes" on the bottom? Not sure. Either way, it's not as good a use of space as welcoming Lutherans.
ReplyDeleteI can appreciate your skills now that I have edited some pictures in Photoshop myself, Major. I got what I wanted eventually, but it took a lot of patience!
These look great, although I can sympathize with seeing "ghost colors" after a couple of hours of working with them. When I used to do photo finishing it was amazing how things started looking "off" (usually in the magenta/cyan spectrum) as the eyes got tired. Upon return, the pics usually tended to look better! Never let them tell you that your senses are objective. NEVER!
ReplyDeleteOk, I'm better now...
From comments I've decided to not try to use Photoshop. I'll leave it to the professionals. I appreciate your skills Major.
ReplyDeleteWhile the view is long gone, so are the people, probably. But that ketchup squirter is probably still there.
Thanks, Major
Zach
It’s nice to revisit old friends and find new details never seen before.
ReplyDeletePhoto 1 makes think that Disney might have wondered if the Park would ever be successful. It looks pretty barren here.
Photo 2 and enlargements really bring back the feel of that space. I never listened to the music here, but had lunch once with school friends. I still remember that green & white terrazzo floor. I thought it was old-fashioned then but what did I know?
JG
Great re-scans Major. You took the pensive, melancholy mood right out of that first pic. The pics of the Plaza are really bright and lively after applying your touch.
ReplyDeleteI'm feeling kind of pensive now, thinking about that ketchup squirter that zach pointed out. That little girl in the backround might still be around. She would be around my age about now. She comes back every year to reconnect with her ketchup squirter and talk of the good old days.
Stu, subjectivity is my first go-to anymore as I get older. Then I remember to be objective and arrive at a conclusion that will usually work for me.
Thanks Major. Good work as usual.
Nanook, gosh I would have thought that the first photo was much more “westward”, but I concede that I am often wrong!
ReplyDeleteTokyoMagic!, I think that gap in the chains is possibly to allow guests down to the Keelboat loading area. Not sure though! I wish I could read that sign, but it’s just too indistinct.
Omnispace, I never ate at the Plaza Gardens, and maybe that’s the problem - too many people wandered past it during the day. It sure looks like a pleasant place to relax and eat in that photo!
Chuck, I looked at the original high-res scan of photo #1 (the new improved version). “Exit Only” looks like a real possibility, but I just can’t tell about the second line of text. Is the pathway over the waterway pictured HERE? As I said to Nanook, my impression is that the bridge would have been much more to our right in today’s photo.
Andrew, ha ha, that’s what I get for not actually looking at that yellow banner. I’ve seen other photos where a similar banner announces the way to the Indian Village, but you are right, the one in today’s photo advertises the Keelboats and the “War Canoes”.
Stu29573, yeah, it’s funny, I often will fiddle with a photo until I think it’s as good as I can get it. But the next time I look, I still think it’s too yellow, or pink, or blue, or whatever. To be honest, at some point I stop caring!
zach, Photoshop is a great tool, but it takes a lot of practice to do certain things. After more than 15 years I am still learning tricks all the time. I hope the ketchup squirter has at least had the ketchup renewed.
JG, it’s hard to believe, but I guess there were times when the future of Disneyland really was in question. I wonder if Walt ever lost faith? Probably not! I think terrazzo IS old-fashioned, but that doesn’t mean that it isn’t great!
DrGoat, I probably should have left the first photo (the fixed version) a bit cooler, since I believe that it is from earlier in the day. It feels more like “afternoon”. But that’s OK! Looking at the zoomed in version of photo #2, you can see that the ketchup bottle has text on it. Maybe for colorblind guests?? I think it’s hard to not be subjective when looking at photos from the past, we impose our own experiences and memories - that seems harmless enough, and kind of nice!
Wow! Gorgeous redos of unusual views! The steamboat emerging from behind the mill is so cool. Those original Imagineers with their movie experience sure knew what they were doing. And I love the lady in the last picture’s red suit and stripey hat.
ReplyDeleteMajor, terrazzo is popular again, we have had several projects recently with both terrazzo floors and pre-molded stair treads. It's great stuff, lasts for hundreds of years, so you have to be sure you pick a good color.
ReplyDeleteJG
The Carnation Plaza Gardens always remind me of Mary Poppins - SEE HERE. Major, you really did do a great job on the re-scan, as it looks better lightened up!
ReplyDeleteYour first scans are nice, but your re-scans are nicest! Thanks, Major!
Major-
ReplyDelete"As I said to Nanook, my impression is that the bridge would have been much more to our right in today’s photo". Agreed. We're talking about the same thing. The bridge in your linked image is the original bridge connecting Adventureland with Frontierland - removed for NOS. The tranquil scene with the Grist Mill on TSI in the background, should be just 'up the bend' from the Plantation House, on the way to Indian Territory. (Again - if I've ID the location correctly).
Chuck and Major, it does makes sense now, that there would have to be some way to get down to the landing for the TSI rafts. I forgot that the dock for the rafts used to be located at a lower "level" than it is today. I guess I would also be expecting a much larger sign pointing the way.....maybe even one that is posted over the entrance to the pathway. But then, this was 1956....still very early in the game.
ReplyDeleteMajor & Nanook, I guess I didn't describe the path I was envisioning very well. The bridge is right where I remember it (even though I have no actual memory of it because I wasn't born yet), but the path I was thinking of is to the right of the picture you linked, along the bank of the RoA proper rather than the canal that connected the two waterways. I'm home from work and will have a moment to see if I can find a picture. I'm sure I've seen it here on GDB in the past year or eleven.
ReplyDeleteWell, in the interest of time (dinner is almost ready) I had to jump over to Daveland, but I think this photo shows the reverse of the stanchions and chains we are seeing in today's GDB photo.
ReplyDeleteIf you look just above the keelboat you can see a path skirting the water and crossing a little footbridge. Follow that along the riverbank to the right side of the picture, just above the raft that's docked at Tom Sawyer Island, and you can see the path slopes upward to two stone stanchions that are closer together than the others. I'm positive those are the ones with the signs in today's photo.
Thanks Melissa; I agree, the original Imagineers were working on a level that is hard to beat, even today. Maybe they had an advantage, working with a completely blank canvas, but still, they knocked it out of the park.
ReplyDeleteJG, hmmm, I wonder if there are terrazzo kitchen counters? Seems like a good idea. I always love it when I pass an old theater and they have terrazzo designs out front.
Lou and Sue, I never thought about it, but Mary Poppins does look like she’d fit right in dining at the old Plaza Gardens. Those red and white stripes! Interesting. Thanks for the kind words!
Nanook, thanks for clarifying!
TokyoMagic!, I think the “lower level” was that way for quite a long time, I know I’ve posted photos where you can see the steps down to where Keelboats are waiting, but I’m having no luck finding any at the moment. And as Andrew pointed out, that big bright yellow banner actually is pointing out where to catch the Keelboats (and Canoes)!
Chuck, reading this comment and your next… I agree, that is the same path, though Daveland’s photo is a big help, I don’t recall seeing that sloped path so clearly. I guess it helps that his early photo was taken when the banks were still just dirt and weeds! Thank you for taking the time to do the extra research!