Random Snoozers
Restless? Tired? Suffering from insomnia? Never fear, I have two "snoozers" that should send you right to Dreamland!
From September 1960 comes this photo taken from inside the Monorail - look at how much higher up we are compared to the blue Monorail at the station! A good 15 feet I'd say. If nothing else, this is a different view of Tomorrowland and the Monorail/Subs load area.
This next one is from November, 1970 - a blurry view looking down from the Peoplemover at Goofy and Pluto as they trailed the Disneyland Band. It almost looks like Pluto is carrying a loaf of bread, but it must just be his arm (?). I don't usually think of the Peoplemover as ever getting this close to the Plaza Inn, but of course the track did extend nearly that far before the trains turned.
15 comments:
Major-
It's sheer genius how the monorail beamway completely obscures the 'Yacht Bar' signage. Clearly, Pluto is transporting a violin case containing contraband back to Wardrobe. The sneaky devil-!
Thanks, Major.
Monorails, submarines, marching bands, Pluto, Goofy and so much more! Now I'm wide awake - I want my money back, Major...these aren't snoozers!
In the first picture, at the bottom of that moving ramp (or whatever it's called) - it that a Disney worker? The shirt has a unique pattern. Maybe Huck or Mike might know...
Thanks, Major! Happy Sunday, everyone!
Major, yes, please. Send me right to Nara Dreamland!
We are on the same level as the Skyway, and we can even see City Hall and the Town Square flagpole from this vantage point.
If I could pick a Dreamland to go to, it would be an easy choice.
Definitely an unusual angle on photo 1, we are there with Dark Glasses Lady, undoubtedly an incognito celebrity or a spy. She is counting trash cans but can’t see any.
Even photo 2 which might be nondescript otherwise, has three trash cans in a narrow field of view.
Thanks Major!
JG
Gadzooks! There are no windows in that Monorail car and no safety rails! How on Earth are people to know that you aren’t supposed to climb out while the train is in motion over the submarine lagoon?
That first photo is chock full of 1960 Tommorrowland goodness. For some reason the flat painted nautical flags on the front of the Yacht Bar are drawing my eye.
I think that’s Pluto’s paw in the second photo, but it sure does look like a loaf of French bread.
Darn it, TM! That’s twice in the past week you’ve beaten me to a joke. Well, I guess I can console myself that great minds think alike. Us, too. ;-)
I hear you, Andrew. I’ve always had a burning desire to see Coney Island’s Dreamland.
JG, are you sure you only see 3?
My dog loves bread, so that photo makes sense! Looks like white pantsuit lady could join right in on the DL Band shenanigans. Yellow short sleeved jr. exec looks completely uninterested but perhaps he is having a calm moment before the general hinjinx that ensues when coming into close proximity to those "people in entertainment." I would love to have a Plaza Inn umbrella for my backyard! I loved the Plaza Inn on the terrace at night with my Disneyland cheesecake and Coke. I still am completely fascinated by the Yacht Bars roof pitch. It is so extreme. God bless engineers. I design things that ultimately fall apart or fall down...don't worry...not public buildings. I see a couple of empty Skyway buckets...looks like a bit of a slow day as Ms. sunglasses prepares a swan dive into the refreshing Sub lagoon. I have a few interesting stories about the subs...when I was a wee one I was terrified of being underwater, so I screamed through the entire thing (sorry everyone else in the sub) and then when the sea monster appeared I went totally ape-crap out-of-my-mind-kiddie-meltdown-inconsolable INSANE. I'm sure the rest of that sub totally enjoyed me. Later in life the only part that freaked me out is when they closed the hatch and my ears popped. All the sub guys had tales to tell, some of which are unfit to print, and most of them surrounding them standing in the "drivers seat" during load-in when guests thought they were an animatronic and not a human male. Those crazy guests!
I’m just glad that Pluto isn’t carrying a Tommy gun in its case!
Lou and Sue, hmmm, I will have to consider a refund. How does that work? I’m pretty sure that’s just a guest at the bottom of the Speed Ramp, I’m not sure why they would need an employee to monitor the exit ramp. But I could be wrong!
TokyoMagic!, I remember seeing an article about Nara Dreamland in the L.A. Times, maybe back in the 1980s, and I was so fascinated by it!
Andrew, those old Coney Island parks really were amazing to look at. Too bad they were apparently all soaked in kerosene, since they tended to burn down every few years. I’d love to see Dreamland, Luna Park, AND Steeplechase Park!
JG, that’s Hedy Lamarr on the Monorail, she’s always wanted to go to Disneyland. I’m with her, I don’t see any trash cans either!
Chuck, I’ve always loved that the old Monorails were open like that. Not sure what they did when it was cold (which CAN happen, just not a lot) or rainy. Maybe they just didn’t run that attraction? Pluto loves a baguette, he’s on his way to make a croque monsieur. Yum! I am ashamed to admit that I didn’t even think of Coney Island’s Dreamland when writing my hilarious and incredibly insightful text.
Lou and Sue, there are two things that may or may not be trash cans (beneath the umbrellas), are those what you are seeing?
Bu, let’s face it, dogs love most “people food”! I’m sure that yellow shirted executive (who else would wear a necktie to Disneyland?) has seen the Disneyland Band 1000 times by then. Disneyland cheesecake and Coke, plenty of sugar for healthful energy! It’s not uncommon to see empty Skyway gondolas in photos, even though its hard to believe nowadays. I’d imagine that a ride like that would be very popular if it was still around. I suppose that any kid with a water phobia probably didn’t care for the Subs… I think I was so interested in everything that it didn’t occur to me to be afraid! Did guests tap on the sub driver’s legs, thinking that they were robots??
Major...apparently...and allegedly...they tapped on "other things" that were at the same elevation as a guests head as you walked by the platform the sub captain stood on. You learned many "seaside shanties" while eating your .10 cent ice cream bar in the Tomorrowland break room. I'll leave it there. Yellow shirt is avoiding those ever-non-lovable characters...known (in my time) for fettering around and harassing all unsuspecting employees...we referred to them as: "those people in entertainment"...said with a somewhat raised upper lip and grimace. Musicians were a different animal altogether...always trying to pick up pretty girls...the older guys in the DL band were fairly innocuous. I don't remember one interaction with any of them besides a infrequent "Hello" to Stan Freese who I ran across regularly walking through backstage. I did have a few buddies in characters...and they harassed even MORE if they spotted you...it was more like flies at the beach..."STOP BUGGING ME FLY!!!" In Outdoor vending they were unfortunately an unwelcome distraction to the work that needed to get done when they are surrounded by guests no matter where they are. I'm sure all of their shenanigans are sooooo monitored now...since I hear people have to wait in line or pay or something to say hello to them.
I can feel the wind in my face as we start to pass over the sub lagoon in that first shot. I feel it really is a POV classic! KS
Major and JG --
Directly above Mr. Yellow Short-Sleeved Jr. Exec's head - and right under the yellow and white umbrella - is the 4th trash can (it's white and yellow - like the other one under the left-most umbrella). There are a few others that may be trash cans, but I'm not counting them.
Fun comments, today!
Bu, jeez, it’s hard to believe that people would be that bold, or just gross. Yuck. Funny to hear how the characters loved to pester and harass certain people! Musicians and pretty girls, it’s a tale as old as time. Girls just love a man who plays a sousaphone! With litigious guests in abundance, it’s probably just as well that the characters’ behavior is closely monitored.
KS, Glad you like that one!
Lou and Sue, aha, I see it. Don’t know why I didn’t notice it before, it’s not that hard to spot!
Sue, you are right, I see it now! The “yellow X” pattern.
Bu, what a story.
Chuck and Major, I distinctly remember the old Monorail windows were open and unglazed. On my first visit to the Park in the rain, late fall 1968, the Monorail was closed and the train was parked in the station with a gray tarp over the cars. I think in an earlier thread someone mentioned the roundhouse only had room for one train at that time and the other was kept in TL station, but I can’t confirm.
JG
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