Nice Tomorrowland, November 1970
I have a pair of nice Tomorrowland views for you today, both from 1970. First up is this lovely image of the entrance to Tomorrowland, taken as dusk approached. You can see the Bell Systems sign (with the Saul Bass logo) on the left is clearly lit up. The flag has been lowered, but the one silvery metallic spire on the right still appears to be reflecting the last of the sunlit sky. It's so nice to see the Peoplemover trundling overhead, every time I see a picture like this I am reminded of what a colossal mistake the Rocket Rods were.
This next one isn't quite as nice, but still a good photo! We've seen similar views on many occasions. Just look at all those Peoplemover trains, huddled beneath that overhang for warmth and sustenance. Like puppies! There's no wait for the Rocket Jets, let's go do that. Notice the folding chairs on top of the gantry near those searchlights, I've never noticed those before.
EXTRA! EXTRA!
GDB pal Mike Cozart sent some very interesting photos of a new mural featuring artwork by Mary Blair. I think it's pretty neat! THANKS MIKE!
21 comments:
I wonder if the park was closing, at the time that first pic was taken. The glass doors are closed on both Adventure Thru Inner Space and America The Beautiful. Also, most of the people in the photo appear to be facing us and leaving Tomorrowland. Could the park have been closing this early, in November? I don't have Jason's Almanac right here next to me, and I'm feeling too lazy right now, to go get it!
Interesting about the “folding chairs of the future” atop the Rocket Jets gantry tower. Those covered spotlights are used to spot illuminate performers on the Tomorrowland Stage where Space Mountain will go one day. The top of the gantry tower was designed to have some radar dishes and assorted antennae..... but I don’t think they were ever installed. Several details for Tomorrowland ‘67 were never completed like a water sculpture near the Skyway Station facing the DLRR Depot and Autopia , a Autopia traffic control tower , and a restaurant & dance floor where the Monsanto House stood.
On a side note : in current Disneyland a replica of one of Mary Blair’s Inner Space building concept murals has been installed along the front of Space Mountain Terrace ( where the imagination institute sign was once located ) also to the right of the new “vintage” Blair mural is a new Space Mountain staircase - a safety requirement because of the guest lines on the roof of the 3-D theater. The staircase - not futurist like a Speedramp has been designed to match the Space Mountain architecture - you could probably convince a first time Disneyland guest that the staircase had been there since 1977.
Great photos from the fashion challenged 70s. Let's all put on our bell bottom jeans, embroidered chambray shirts, and macrame belts and groove on over to the Peoplemover. We will turn some heads, I tell ya. Far out Major, thanks.
These shots give me some "inner peace". It definitely is the "end of the operating day" as mentioned- doors are shut (or they might be half way shut) in prep to close AT&T and Inner Space. Odd that there are guests on the first leg of their Peoplemover trip- but if it was 6:45pm and the park closed at 7:00pm...all of these things make sense...including the couple on the right: Mom draped over dad with "OK, time to go" look. There is a Autopia costume walking into Tomorrowland on the right...probably coming from the Inn Between and back to shut up shop- the other way around is further to walk. Mere speculation. This was a peaceful time of day in the 10-7 days...very quiet with tired people and sugar wearing off on the kiddies. Pretty sure it's a fall day...it is hot though October so people wouldn't be in coats and sweatshirts yet. The closing of the Peoplemover to make it into a thrill ride is a mind bender: Karma. I remember going up and down the ramp getting a little foot massage with the wheels under the rubber. There were little animated shadowboxes...so cute...with "GO GO GOODYEAR"...with little cartoonish plastic people and vehicles. Such a nice little memorable touch. The elevator ride to the top of the Rocket Jets was almost as good as the ride- adding some anticipation...in a very NASA 1967 kind of way...it still would be relevant today- just change out the rockets to a space ship or something- at the end of the day- it could be a little bee going around in circles and it's the same ride! Although I am a purist, we always looked forward to the changes, as we KNEW it would be for something more fantastic and fabulous. I'm hoping that the right people are involved in the next "New Tomorrowland"...stylistically, 1967 continues to be a relevant look. Magic cost money. Wookie World seems a little Planet of the Apes for me...if that is tomorrow: "eek".
Major-
I keep thinking one of these days they'll be a shot of the follow spots atop the gantry tower that will show enough detail to determine once and for all which model Strong follow spot was chosen; but their tarps always seem to be in place. It's only likely to be one of two. Those "folding chairs of the future" (good one, Mike) bear a strong resemblance to the chairs we saw in-use at the Tomorrowland Stage, from the April 23rd post. Undoubtedly, they're the same.
In the same shot, it looks as if we can see part of a "gold and white spire" from "The happiest Cruise that Ever Sailed".
Thanks, Major.
Bu...your recollection of the slow days at the Park remind me how wonderful that time of day was for us closing the attractions for the night. Not necessarily because the guests were leaving or that there was a party to go to or errands to run...but the sheer joy of having the Park pretty much for oneself for a few precious moments. It's something I wish I could experience again. KS
@JC Shannon
I would wear bell bottom jeans, embroidered chambray shirts, and macrame belts everyday if we could have Tomorrowland back like these photos!
The Astro Jets CM may not be on break too long. Looks like folks are coming and going in the elevator.
TokyoMagic!, I suppose it’s possible that the park was closing before dark in November. But I’ve also seen lots of photos of the better part of the crowd heading for the exit at that time, presumably because they were just ready to go home. Im at my mom’s house today, and my copy of Jason’s book is at my place, so I’ll have to wait until tonight to check!
Mike Cozart, it is kind of funny that they only provided those cheap folding chairs for the guys who manned the spotlights. Nanook can tell you just what kind they were. I think I’m glad that they never added the radar dishes and antennae - sounds kind of unsightly. I wonder if there’s artwork showing that water sculpture you mentioned (the one by the Skyway Station)? And THANKS so much for photos of that Mary Blair artwork, it’s really great! As much as I loved the Mary Blair tile murals (and I loved them a lot), this more abstract composition feels more appropriate to Tomorrowland.
Jonathan, I still wear all those things you mentioned!
Bu, looking online, I see that the sun sets at around 5:00 in Los Angeles in November, but that doesn’t mean that the park didn’t close at 6:00. It seems strange nowadays, since November has become a very busy time, but back in 1970 it was probably very slow until the Christmas parades started. I loved the gantry elevator up to the Rocket Jets, somehow it never seemed to get backed up, and it added to the experience so much. Plus you got to ride your rocket way up high! So great. Funny that you mentioned the “little bee” vehicle idea - Santa’s Village had a bee monorail, and a spinning ride that was basically like the rocket jets, only you rode in a Christmas ornament around a tree!
Nanook, unless Lou used a telephoto lens, it’s likely that most consumer-grade cameras at the time just couldn’t capture that distant platform with any kind of detail. And I’m sure you’re right, the folding chairs in front of the “Kids Of The Kingdom” are the same as the ones up by the spotlights.
KS, I can only imagine how neat that must have been!
Alonzo, ha ha, ME TOO! I’m thinking that it might just have been a coincidence that this photo had a lot of people heading out - maybe because I don’t want the park to close yet!
A great series of pics. I'm with Alonzo. Fringed leather jacket, (Buffalo Springfield style), patched up jeans and Beatle boots. A small price to pay for Tomorrowland ala 1970.
Love Mary Blair's creations. Mid-Centry Modern at it's very best. Thanks Mike.
Thank you Major. Nice Friday edition.
On a side note, the Matterhorn ride is down for repair and renovation evidently. The interior has had problems with things falling apart, as it were. Likely done in two phases, but a huge job.
@ MIKE COZART-
Thanks for sending these images along to The Major. The mural seems quite apropos for Tomorrowland - although the surrounding area(s) seem to be begging for something more.
Major-
As for the hours - W,R, & F the Park closed @ 6 PM (except for the Thanksgiving weekend). S & U, it closed @ 7 PM. (Closed M & T). So, these shots could easily be taken some time after 5 PM - especially then, as a return to Standard Time would've already taken place back in those 'olden times' before Congress decided to use moving-around DST as a panacea for dealing with "saving energy". (As if-!)
What a nice way to end the week. I love the closing photo of the Tomorrowland entrance. It was such an elegant design - much more graceful than the heavy-handed treatment for the Star Wars universe. Are those two kids on the left wearing Donald Duck hats?
Good eye, Bu, catching those Goodyear display pods along the Speedramp. Their light hearted animations were always a nice way to ease into the positive vibe of the Peoplemover. That photo must have been taken from another car on the trackway.
Mike, thanks for sharing the Mary Blair mural! It has a wonderful ambiguity to it. Is it Space? Inner Space? Mathmagicland? ;)
Thanks Mike for the Mary Blair photos- nice to see a nod...someone please help me with the little grey "ghosts" in front of it-my 80's brain does not know what those would be...The stairwell is impressively in scale and appropriate with a late 70's Space Mountain...there is hope...
DrGoat, Let’s all go to Disneyland dressed like David Crosby, circa 1970 (or earlier?)! I really do love that Mary Blair artwork, possibly more than her more “cute” stuff that is so familiar. I saw an article online saying that the Matterhorn was down for refurb, I’m kind of surprised that they didn’t use the year off to really get in there and fix things. But hey, at least they are fixing it!
Nanook, I agree, they need to do something else to spruce up that area so that it doesn’t look so sterile. The mural is a good start though. Thanks for the info on the hours in November - like I said, I’m not totally surprised that the park closed at 6:00, though it would have killed me to leave so early.
Omnispace, it’s really amazing just how great the Imagineers did on that 1967 Tomorrowland; most changes lessened the effect. And WOW, good eyes, those kids are definitely wearing Donald Duck squeaky hats! Mike said that the murals were based on concepts that Mary Blair made for Adventure Thru Inner Space (he said she made dozens of designs that were never used).
Bu, I think those might be Fastpass machines.
These are great, both the vintage batch as well as the contemporary views by Mike.
Your main page "narration" doesn't say it, but you mention Lou and a telephoto lens in the comments above. Are these Lou Perry photos?
Whoever shot them, I'm enjoying them immensely. Thanks, Major, Mike, and (possibly) Lou!
If the park closes at 6 let's all go over to Knotts and have dinner at the Chicken Dinner Restaurant (Cherry Rhubarb Sauce hmmmmmmm) and then take a stroll around Ghost Town. Sounds like the end of a perfect evening to me.
Chuck, no, these are not from Lou... I was just saying to Nanook that the only way we'll probably get a good look at the top of that spotlight platform is if Lou happens to take a picture with a telephoto lens. I guess I didn't make that very clear! I'm glad you like them, even if they aren't Lou's!
Sunday Night, now I can't help wondering how late Knott's stayed open on a day when Disneyland closed so early. I honestly have no idea! The restaurant would almost certainly be open, but I don't know about the Ghost Town. Does anybody out there know?
I went to Disneyland once on a 6:00 closing night and then had dinner at Knott's once, but Ghost Town was closed by the time we arrived. Of course, that was 24 years after these pictures were taken. In the off season in 1970, Ghost Town wouldn't have even been open on a day that Disneyland closed at 6:00 since they had alternating off-day schedules back then, although I'm assuming the Chicken Dinner Restaurant and surrounding shopping area would have been open every day except maybe Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Walter Brennan's birthday.
Major, I love that 2nd picture! So much crammed into one shot. And the contrast of the Matterhorn with palm trees, always makes me smile. Only at Disneyland!
...Let’s all go to Disneyland dressed like David Crosby, circa 1970...
Major, if you dressed like David Cassidy, you'd be even more popular, if that's even possible!
...I was just saying to Nanook that the only way we'll probably get a good look at the top of that spotlight platform is if Lou happens to take a picture with a telephoto lens.
Major, if my dad took pictures of rocks, it wouldn't surprise me if he did take photos of that spotlight platform. :)
Mike and Major, thank you for posting the Mary Blair mural. I can't believe that someone in Disney finally made an excellent decision to honor Ms. Blair and add that nice retro-touch! Do we know who made that decision?? That person needs to be put in charge of future Disneyland decisions! Maybe he/she reads GDB?!
Sunday Night, I'm game for dinner at Knott's...I'll meet you there in 15 minutes!
Wow, that mural and staircase really do look like they’ve been there since the good old future days!
Lovely, evocative, atmospheric pictures today.
Lots of orange and turquoise colors in that first pic! I love the patterns on that lady's top, and also that dress, on the left! I thought of you, Melissa, because I'm sure they caught your eye, too!
Sorry I missed this thread on the day (traveling, hooray!)
Thanks Major, Mike and everyone for these comments!
JG
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