Random Scans
I have a trio of photos for you on this October Sunday. Please pick your favorite and write a 3,000 word essay about how it changed your life.
From January, 1969 we get this pretty nice photo of Cinderella Castle in Storybook Land. If you want to keep the riff-raff away, build your castle on a rocky peak. Everyone knows that. That bridge was an architectural miracle at the time, with its Romanesque arches. It was in all the papers. Of course, my favorite thing to do with photos like this one is to try to see the miniature pumpkin coach as it headed up (or is it down?) the circuitous path.
There is nothing wrong with this December, 1977 photo of the Matterhorn and the Sub Lagoon, other than the fact that we've seen scores of images just like it. I believe I see a faint outline of Fudgie the Whale below that red Skyway gondola - that adds 17 points to the photo's final score. Mark it in your journals.
Somebody tried to capture a night shot of the Crystal Arcade on Main Street, and it was only semi-successful. You sure can see that sign, at least. The rest... not so much. It's scandalous that one of the popcorn bulbs has burned out on the smallest arch; having an actual photo of it enabled me to sell this photo to the National Enquirer for $50,000.
23 comments:
Pumpkin!
Mermaid!
Burned-out bulb!
Just kidding about the mermaid.
Dangit Major, here I was expecting some nice snoozy snoozers to get me all drowsy for bedtime. Instead, we get these truly nice photos. I think that's the best image of Cinderella's castle you've posted.
Hmm, I'm having trouble spotting Fudgie. I think I see his tail fluke.
$50,000! Think how much the Enquirer would pay for an image of Fudgie! (Or The Dent).
Thanks for these Sunday beauties, Major.
- Jangly Bones
Any day witb a Fudgie spotting (even partial) is a great day in my book!
Seriously. Page 326, second paragraph.
You know, WDW sure messed up om Cindy's castle! It looks nothing like this original! Silly imagineers!
I've tried popcorn lights. Not much flavor and they hurt. Two tbumbs down.
Stu-bbornly NOT Giving Up Scary Names Even Though This Is Number 29573. Yikes!
Is that Fudgie’s tail immediately below the red gondola—with the tail touching the gondola? If it is, he has his mouth open.
Do we know when that Arcade picture was taken? There’s no way that was in the 60s or early 70s. Back then you never saw anything burned out. Except people, maybe.
These are nice pictures - thank you, Major.
Major-
That really is a lovely view of Cinderella's Castle, and its surroundings.
As for the Crystal Arcade, I'm voting for S14 bulbs - although 'popcorn' bulbs do sound tastier.
Thanks, Major.
Lou and Sue, a mermaid would have instantly put photo #2 into regular rotation!
Lou and Sue, maybe there IS a mermaid? A really tiny one?
JB, I feel like every image of Cinderella Castle mushes together so that I can’t recall any specific one. Of course some are better than others, but they all feel the same. Fudgie has partially activated his cloaking device, so he’s not easy to spot. Now I need to think of other subjects to sell to the Enquirer, I’ll be rich.
Stu29573, I have the paperback of your book, I bought it at the airport in case I finished “The DaVinci Code” before I landed in Bucharest. Have you tried rosemary parmesan popcorn lights? DELISH.
Lou and Sue, yes, that looks like Fudgie’s tail to me, He is elusive, which is how he’s avoided the whalers all these decades. The Crystal Arcade photo is from “sometime in the 80s”, it’s from the same batch as those dusk images of Tomorrowland from a few days ago.
Nanook, I thought that “popcorn lights” was more a descriptor of how they were used (to outline buildings and architectural features) more than the name of a specific bulb. But I admit that this was only an assumption.
Major-
I've always heard the term 'festoon lighting' to describe lights outlining a building, etc. Kinda like "decorated with festoons of flowers..."
The Cinderella Castle pic is a beauty.
Snoozers take me back to those quiet times at the Park. Besides, it's Sunday and I feel like goofing off...much like what we did back in those days. KS
Well, Blogger ate my earlier comments, so if you hear it burp, that was why.
Major, these are very fine to see on a quiet Sunday, thank you!
JG
Stu (Stu-bbornly NOT...), It's nice to see you valiantly continue to come up with scary names. I've been struggling mightily myself. AND WE STILL HAVE A WEEK TO GO!!
- Jangly Bones
And that, of course, is the scariest thing of all!
i know a whale named fudgie
hes bigger than a budgie
The third picture may only capture the Arcade sign, but it captures it beautifully. Reminds me of a stanza from a Robert Frost poem:
And further still, at an unearthly height,
One luminary clock against the sky
Proclaimed the time was neither wrong nor right;
I have been one acquainted with the night.
(I know the sign isn't a clock, but seeing anything lit up against the night sky makes me think of it.)
I agree, Melissa. The Arcade sign is beautiful and, upon a second glance, I see that the evening sky is peeking over, at both top corners. Cool!
Hey, JB, if you need some more October names, feel free to email me. Just click on my name above and then hit 'email.'
Nanook, I am almost positive that I originally heard (read) the term “popcorn lighting” in a Disney publication of some kind. But… hard to say for sure.
K. Martinez, I need you guys to help me see these photos with fresh eyes!
KS, the “goofing off” was probably one of the reasons the employees were in such good moods all the time. Better than being overworked and underpaid!
JG, I’m sorry Blogger ate your earlier comment. I still don’t understand why that happens, although it has happened to me recently on some other blogs (Stu’s Attic, which you guys should all be checking out!!).
JB, I have to admit that I would have thrown in the towel long ago. In fact I guess I did, after a mere one attempt!
Stu29573, scarier than “The Exorcist”!
Melissa, now that you mention it, Fudgie IS bigger than a budgie. Poetry really does reveal truths that we normally don’t see. I’m amazed that Robert Frost wrote a poem about the Arcade sign, but that’s why that guy was the best.
Lou and Sue, like many old “night” photos, I’ll bet that the sky was actually much lighter to the eye, but the camera (or film) wasn’t able to capture the subtleties. Oh man, Sue is flexing, she has so many October names!
Yes, Major, I do...but 'Just Batty' has to want help. I can't force him. :o)
Well, I COULD actually do a 3000 word essay on how those pictures changed my life. With 11 years looking at those things 5 days a week, I have a lot of material :) Cinderella's castle is so very well done as is all of Storybookland. As I am sure everyone knows Walt was a big miniatures collector. His collection actually went "on tour"...in his lifetime, and then later at the Carol and Barry Kaye Museum on Miniatures in LA next to the Petersen Automotive museum. When Walt's collection was shown there, there was very little fanfare if I remember correctly. I wanted to go, but I was so broke at the time I couldn't afford the admission price- those were some rough days! Now some of those things are at the Walt Disney Family Museum. The Kaye museum is no longer however. As I kid I went to a "model village" called Bekonscot near where I lived in England. Imagine Storybookland except you get to walk around all of the buildings close up. They also have operable model trains that run all over the property. Yes, you can still visit Bekonscot (in Buckinhamshire) and it is close enough to London for a wee day visit. I am surprised Walt never visited this village- it has been there since 1929. Perhaps he did incognito? The former Princess Elizabeth visited when she was a wee lass, and I as a wee lad. I have always loved miniatures, models, dioramas, etc. Perhaps I missed my calling as a model maker.
Thanks for the plug, Major!
Oh crud, I'd better write something!
Just like The Borrowers Aloft!
Sue, haha! Thank you for the offer of assistance. I'll keep you in mind. Meanwhile, I won't be wanting any help because I am perfect in every way and I live in a perfect world, where nothing can go wrong... go worng... GO WORNG (voice fades away in heavy reverb.) :-)
- Just Batty [Happy now? ;-)]
Lou and Sue, ha ha, FORCE HIM! :^)
Bu, I’m with you, I love the peaceful and low-tech charms of Storybook Land, it’s the kind of thing that made me love Disneyland in the first place. Sure, I also love the wonders of the Haunted Mansion and “Pirates”, but there’s something to be said for a ride that requires you to use that… um, what is it again? Imagination?!? I saw that exhibit a the Carol and Barry Kaye Museum of Miniatures, it was the only time I went there but I’m glad I did. I also got some good Christmas presents in the gift shop. I’ve posted photos of a place called Madurodam, a whole park devoted to miniature airports, palaces, amusement parks, and so on. It looks wonderful, and is still going strong today. I’m sure Walt must have visited it during one of his trips to Europe. Do we know for sure that he didn’t go to Bekonscot? There’s so much that could have easily been lost to time.
Stu29573, my pleasure! And get to work, you!
Melissa, what about The Borrowers Betwixt? I just made that up, I’ve never read any of the “Borrowers” books. Because I can’t read.
JB, hooray for the old Westworld posters! I was at the right age to love that movie, in spite of its many flaws. Have you seen the sequel, “Futureworld”?? Man, what a stinker!
Yes, Jaw Breaker, I'm happy now.
;o)
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