A Selection From June 1963
I'm sharing the last four scans from a nice lot of "June 1963" slides. Thanks, little slides!
The Columbia looks pretty swell as it pulls away from the dock, on its journey along the Rivers of America. Notice the construction wall over in what would eventually be New Orleans Square, while plenty of white cast-iron benches face the river so that weary guests could rest their feet while taking in the scenery.
You know it, you love it, it's the Friendly Indian Village. I've seen so many pictures of it that I feel like I grew up there. Through the trees behind the village you can see tiny spots of brilliant yellow, which I realized was the Disneyland Railroad passing.
Yeah, yeah, Sub lagoon, I know, I know. Not even Fudgie the Whale to entertain, educate, and amuse us. But at least there's a Monorail to honk at us.
Here's an interesting photo taken from a spy satellite, thousands of miles above the Urf. You've probably heard that those spy cameras can make your license plate legible, and it's true. Here we see guest relaxing in their deck chairs right out on the tippety-tip (nautical term) of the Mark Twain. The local football team is there in case the Twain gets stuck on a sandbar - those guys can lift the whole boat, no problemo! Some of you may recognize two of the ladies in their distinctive white coats.
18 comments:
When New Orleans Square #1 construction was underway the chicken plantation service was relocated behind the construction wall via service windows .... look at all those tacky attraction posters pasted up along the barricade.
Check out Miss Linda Blair in that last photo, turning her head around 360 degrees!
Also in that last pic, I wonder what Mr. Class of '63 is whispering in the ear of the guy who is seated. Maybe he's saying, "I've got a great idea for the prom, tomorrow! Meet me tonight at the local pig farm. And bring a bucket!"
Major-
Imagine my surprise seeing all those white, cast iron benches totally bereft of folks-! Those benches are the ‘perfect’ viewing spot for watching Fantasmic-! (What, you say, that’s a few years off-?) That hasn’t stopped most folks-!
Thanks, Major.
New land idea: “PapooseLand” hundreds of papooses in a “Where’s Waldo” situation, where you hunt for papooses, collect them, and whoever collects the most wins a ticket for a one day passport (in the future of course) from the Gift Giver Extrodinaire”. I’m still mystified why whatever set designer propped them up against a teepee to roast slowly in the sun- but that’s just me. I’m wondering if the names on the crates on the Mark Twain dock were a nod to a person or two ala’ Main St. windows? The football team certainly looked like they could moonlight as cast members with their clean cut haircuts and costumes. Speaking of hairdo’s : you gotta love the “Carnation Twins”…it must have been a chilly day still with those coats! And those MT decks look very brand new! I suppose they were!
@ MIKE-
Yes, those "tacky" attraction posters-! They appear to be: the Swiss Family Treehouse; Autopia; Matterhorn; Monorail; America the Beautiful; and Storybook Land.
I like that view of the Columbia and the dock. I wonder, too, who is being honored on the crates.
And the benches looked like white plants to me. I now see that they are benches!
I don't think I ever took a photo of the Lagoon without a Monorail in it.
Thanks, Major
@ MIKE-
HERE're those service windows. (Thank you Daveland).
I found a business selling "Busy Bee Washers" in Erie, PA like that crate says, but I wonder if the address is an obscure tribute to something different. (I know Erie is famous for the War of 1812 and such, but who can overlook the Whacky Shack?) ;-) Thanks, Major.
Major > "Here we see guest relaxing in their deck chairs right out on the tippety-tip (nautical term) of the Mark Twain."
Once again Major impresses with nautical terminology. He correctly used the term tippety-tip, knowing it is for engine powered boats. No doubt he is well aware that on sail boats the term is mostest-frontest.
@ Grant-
I wonder if 'mostest-frontest' is related to 'hostess-with-the-mostest'-??
Mike, yes, I have seen a photo or two of the little service window, probably on the Daveland blog. And yes, LOOK AT ALL THOSE POSTERS!
TokyoMagic!, that woman was just like an owl! Pig farm? Bucket? Another “I Love Lucy” reference, clearly. ;-)
Nanook, I’m guessing that the Columbia photo was taken early in the day, although it does look like one of those mysterious low-attendance days.
Bu, I think Disneyland has had contests - different from the one you describe, but still, somebody has to find something. I forget what it was. Some item on Tom Sawyer Island, and whoever found it won… something. A box of pine cones maybe. I think the idea of binding a baby up tight like that seems cruel, but I might be missing something. I know that some of the crates on the docks actually were “inside jokes”, but others appear to be more authentic to the period. Hard to say. And don’t let the neat and tidy appearance of the football team fool you, those guys were probably still idiots!
Nanook, I think the one to the right of the Autopia poster is for Tom Sawyer Island. And the one to the right of that might be for the Monorail.
zach, all I know is that they never honored ME on a crate. Who do I sue? I can see what you mean, the benches do sort of resemble bunches of flowers. I’m sure I do have photos of the lagoon without a Monorail, and I always wonder why the photographer couldn’t wait one minute for that extra special photo.
Nanook, yes, that’s the photo.
Andrew, I will need you to do hours of research to solve the Busy Bee Washers mystery! You may have travel, and might need to go to the Library of Congress to do research. Some of those crates have that “raw wood” look, as if they haven’t been out there for very long, unless they’ve been treated somehow. Love that Whacky Shack, I assume you’ve been on it (or that it’s your photo!).
Grant, I never like to brag about how smart I am, because I figure that it is probably self-evident by my use of things like proper nautical terminology! I admit that my knowledge of sailboats is not as thorough, so thank you for that information about the mostest-frontest.
Nanook, I can't ever hear the word "hostess" without thinking of Hostess snack cakes. How about a nice Twinkie, or Suzy Q?
Major-
You are good-! (Not that there was any doubt...) Yes, with cooler heads prevailing, it's definitely Tom Sawyer Island and not the Matterhorn AP.
That shot of the Columbia is great! It would be even better if lush greenery was blocking the construction wall and benches...hint-hint. I wonder where our resident artist/photoshop-expert David W has been?? Hope all is well, DW!
I don't think I ever took a photo of the Lagoon without a Monorail in it.
Zach, I'm now picturing a Monorail swimming in the Lagoon. :)
That last shot is really unique - the tippety-tip from the uppety-up!
Thanks, Major and all!
Fudgie the Whale (and all Ice Cream Cakes) are banned from the Sub Lagoon after Queen Elizabeth (whom we saw boarding the sub the other day)slipped in a pool of melted Ice Cream and nearly fell on her royal arse.
Linda Blair might be spying one of the many rats (known to infest the Mark Twain) who like to dine on the popcorn remains thrown into the waste baskets.
Nice photos today Major. Thanks for posting. Cheers for now.
Nanook, I’ve spent a LOT of time looking at those posters!
Lou and Sue, I know trees would be prettier, but I like seeing the construction walls; it’s a record of a brief time when that area was undergoing significant change. Maybe that’s just me!
Alonzo, poor Queenie, has she ever gotten a drip of ice cream on her wool outfit? I picture attendants feeding rocky road to her by the spoonful - little, delicate spoonsful! I don’t mind Linda Blair’s spinny head, but that thing she does, walking down the stairs like an upside-down spider (deleted scene, look for it on YouTube) - that I DON’T like!
Major, the pig farm and bucket was a reference to Carrie. ("They're all gonna laugh at you!") I.L.L. was never that gruesome. I guess I was in a morbid mood last night.
Lou and Sue- I'm fine- thanks for the concern. Late to the party & missing roll call recently... ;). I always stop by, but I don't always get a chance to comment.
Major- Cool photos as usual. The Sub lagoon is my favorite, followed closely by the Columbia. I did get the Carrie reference & was going to mention that, but I see TokyoMagic! already clarified the issue.
-DW
I see that Shiny Boy and his dog are standing watch in their accustomed spots. I salute them and the papeese, the guardian spirits of the FIV.
I also notice crates addressed to Mr. Re Usable, a well-known pioneer in recycling, and Frank Reynolds, widely known and praised for his acumen in closing business deals, leading to what would later be known as the "Reynolds Wrap".
A day late, and that's all I got.
Thanks Major!
JG
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