I'm using up the last two scans from a batch circa 1959; they're not bad, but not great! Speaking of not great, here's a picture of the Matterhorn as seen from the Plaza. I have similar photos from pretty much the same angle that I think are better - nicer lighting and color, and such. But this one is perfectly serviceable. The Monsanto House of the Future is mostly hidden by an olive tree, but it's there.
I can't be too disappointed by any photo of the wonderful Moonliner, and certainly have worse examples than this. But it's odd that the photographer chose an angle that left 1/3 of the rocket obscured by tree. Just walk around to the other side! Still, that tree will be sorry when the rocket finally takes off!
Both great icons of early Disneyland. Not sure why a tree was planted next to the Moonliner, but there you go. I love trees, but that one seems out of place. Thanks, Major.
ReplyDeleteThat olive tree in front of the House of the Future is sporting the biggest orange-colored olives I have ever seen.
ReplyDeleteIn the second image, I wonder - is that a 1/3 scale tree to match the rocket?
The tree’s position relative to the rocket’s legs keeps reminding me of strategically-placed flora in medieval and Renaissance paintings of Adam and Eve. Of course, with that tripod undercarriage, I’m not sure which side is being obscured. After all, the attraction is called “Rocket to the Moon”…
I took so many photos of the Matterhorn from that exact same spot. I think it's because once you emerge from Main Street and before the hub it is such a spectacular view. I actually prefer a later Matterhorn with less "Swiss Cheese" holes (story to follow) and more shiny snow- but I do like all of the waterfalls! The story is that when the Matterhorn opened a kid asked "Mr. Disney why does your mountain have so many holes in it?" where he replied "because it is a Swiss mountain." (who knows if this stuff is true, but that's what we were told.) If we drove up the hill in Palos Verdes at night and it was a clear, you could actually see the Matterhorn and the Fireworks. I expected them to be much bigger looking from that far away, but they were all tiny dots. That is a strange place for a tree, however, since generally you walk "in" to Tomorrowland generally from somewhere over to the right from the Hub, it may make more sense from the other angle. I've never seen a picture where one of the attraction posters is an ad for the Disneyland Hotel, but it's kind of cool- there next to a stagecoach poster...in Tomorrowland. In my perfect world the TWA rocket would have been integrated into the TWA hotel at JFK. Both incredible icons of a different time, but still relevant. At least the TWA rocket doesn't look like a Jeff Besos rocket...that looks...like something else. I will leave it there.
ReplyDeleteWell, Major, as we have seen by that rare lifting off photo you found, people were not real concerned with the Moonliner blasting off. I guess trees shared this trait.
ReplyDeleteAt first I was very confused by the fact that there's a notch out of the landing gear on the left. It actually took a couple of minutes (and a "zooming in") to see what was going on! Stupid posters!
Great stuff today!
...oh and there's a mountain picture... ;-)
Major-
ReplyDeleteI do believe there’s a bobsled in view.
@ Stu29573-
“Stupid posters!” Them’s fightin’ words. Although not co-located, I have both of those posters on display. (No Moonliner, however).
Thanks, Major.
Hah hah, Chuck.
ReplyDeleteIf it isn't rockets and wands at Disneyland, it's tunnels and caves.
Natures's Wonderland, in the Raw.
I can't stress enough how cool the Moonliner was to an 8 year old kid. The TWA livery, the future personified. It is a sight I still remember, and I can barely remember what I had for dinner last night. Bu, I agree, what the TWA terminal needs is a 707 and a Moonliner. We actually used that terminal when the fam went to the Worlds fair in 65. So many memories. When did "Would you like coffee or tea with your breakfast this morning?" become "If you don't follow my orders, I will have you removed from the aircraft?" Tomorrowland and commercial aviation have taken a real nose dive (pun intended). Thanks Major.
ReplyDeleteAhhh.... 1959 photos...
ReplyDeleteThe House of the Future - no matter how little is visible...
The Rocket to the Moon - no matter how obscured by trees...
The Matterhorn - no matter how pedestrian the shot...
A sweet time!
I'm setting the DeLorean for a non-crowded day in '59. Anyone want to come along?
Grant, I call “shotgun”!
ReplyDeleteMajor, we will take these views anytime.
Back to the Future knew what was coming…
JG
I had a few clever things to say about the Rocket and the tree, but I thinks its been already covered.
ReplyDeleteChuck, LOTR reference hard to come by with these photos. Must choose just the right time to throw one in or it comes off as cheesy, but I've been guilty of that quite a few times.
Major, Read your last comment about the so called pod caster thinking that LOTR was slow. What a sad, pathetic lot we seemed to be cultivating lately. Thankfully there are lots of exceptions.
Grant, I'll just hook the Way Back Machine to your rear bumper and hitch a ride, if you don't mind.
Thanks Major. Yes I loved that pic you sent me!
+1 for the Skyway bucket between the flags.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Major
So much great midcentury-futuristic design in that Moonliner picture. Parabolas! Rounded trapezoids! Olives on toothpicks (and whiskers on kittens)!
ReplyDeleteThat must be the Kite-Eating Tree's cousin, the Rocket-Eating Tree. The Moonliner is afraid, in an oft-repeated dream, of what the tree might do. The composition of the photo makes it look like the pointy bit at the top of the rocket is about to pierce the border of the picture and let all the color out.
JG called shotgun. You got it!
ReplyDeleteDr Goat, feel free to hook on.
I'll bring the hoverboards. :)