Pearly Band, The Magic Kingdom, January 1973
Here are three fun views from the Magic Kingdom in Florida from January, 1973, at some mysterious venue that I can't identify (no surprise there). Perhaps you can? On stage is a modified, modernized version of the famous Pearly Band. Is that fellow playing an electric bass guitar? What would Mary Poppins have to say about that? (Come on, we all know that Mary Poppins would ROCK).
Over to the right, Pinocchio, J. Worthington Foulfellow (aka "Honest John") and his pal Gideon dance with three young ladies. Girls are much more outgoing when it comes to that sort of thing. My highly-trained eye can tell that they are doing the Frug, the Batusi, and the Swim.
A young boy near the stage has Adam Rich's hairdo.
Now two mice from Cinderella, Jacques and Gus Gus are showing off their moves as well as their early version of rapping (consisting of ear-piercing shrieks with no discernible rhythm). To the left, Eeyore, Pooh, and Tigger talk about Elvis' concert in Hawaii, they watched it on TV like many others.
And finally, we get one more look at the controlled mayhem - soon a mosh pit would form, with bodies colliding and arms flailing. Good times!
23 comments:
In the 1st pic, Major, I think the girl in the white blouse is actually doing The Jerk. The one on the right is doing The Freddie. And yes, the girl in orange is doing the Frug, the Batusi, and the Swim; simultaneously. She called it the Swugtusi. The wild gyrations caused her to dislocate a shoulder and break two ribs, thus the Swugtusi never caught on as a dance craze.
In the 2nd pic, Eeyore and Tigger are eyeing that hunny pot atop Pooh's head. They've got a bet to see how long it takes Pooh to notice it and consume its contents.
In the 3rd pic, Jacques and Gus are about to throw themselves onto the stage floor and do some head spins. While those two women in the audience just couldn't contain themselves any longer and jumped up to do some pole dancing.
Nice people-watching images today, Major.
Major, this venue was called the Fantasy Faire stage, and was located between the 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea attraction, and the Pinocchio restaurant (Village Haus?), in Fantasyland.
I hope at some point, everyone in the audience stood up and started slam dancing.
This photo shows a partially obstructed view of the Fantasy Faire venue. The seating was in the larger tent-like structure, just to the left of red Skyway gondola #46:
https://i.insider.com/5d37676b36e03c32387985e8?width=700
Here's a horrible quality photo, but it shows the venue a little bit better, and you can see people seated under the tent:
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/2e/d4/7f/2ed47fa0672037983b15e70ee7abeca7.jpg
I think that's a Gibson bass, but in order to tell what model I would have to do research and we know THAT'S not happening.
I'm pretty sure the activity in the first picture is a knife fight. Probably duck instigated.
TokyoMagic beat me to it but yes : Fantasy Faire. It featured mostly character entertainment that would be seen at Disneyland’s Carnation Gardens. It also was the stage to see FANYASYLAND FOLLIES and DISNEY WORLD IS YOUR WORLD -TENCENTENNIAL REVUE. The structure was in Fantasyland - to the right of the Pinocchio Village Haus Restaurant restrooms .... and western edge of the 20,000 Leagues Lagoon. Oddly it was more American Victorian looking than anything in Fantasyland was. The structure was apparently built as a temporary stage show venue until the Tomorrowland Theater (Amphitheater) was completed in the mid 70’s but was kept around anyhow for smaller character shows.
An electric guitar in the Pearly Band??
JB, I always stuck to Mashed Potatoes or the Monster Mash. No arm flailing kept the accidental whacking someone dancing next to you to a minimum.
Can't help with the bass, but it's a Slingerland drum kit.
Thanks Major. A lively group, except for Eeyore.
By the way, the bass rig seems to be a Fender cab on top of a Peavey cab with a Peavy Mark IV 400BH bass amp. It was solid state and put out 300 watts (which is the same as around 100 watts from a tube amp. I would explain why but...math.)
The subtle and sophisticated design of the band backdrop really catches my eye, having designed similar things in my past.
Odd number of panels (5) balances the composition, while the layers of wood molding and trim frame a neutral latticework and the inevitable turned posts in between, all painted in subdued colors. Someone spent a lot of time thinking that up and getting the proportions right. Especially since proportions are a thing that have jarred me about WDW in general. Everything there seemed exaggeratedly tall, stretched, and overdone, particularly when compared to Disneyland, which feels more “right” to me.
Notice the ceiling over the bandstand. Usually these are a mish-mash of suspended lights, microphones and similar black-painted tat, all hung from pipe battens or wire grids. Here, all is hidden behind a slotted ceiling, it’s all there, but hidden away, similar to the Tomorrowland stage in Disneyland, keeping the fantasy intact.
It looks like a fun show, everyone having a good time, even the character heads seem to have real smiles.
Thanks Major.
JG
What made me post my first comment in a while? A photo with a vintage bass guitar of course :) (Bass geeks love this stuff. Thanks Major!)
Stu, I was thinking Gibson too or possibly Epiphone. There are a couple of Kays that look similar. I found a couple of 70s Japanese models that are close but I couldn't find images of any bass exactly like Mr. Pearly Bass is playing. Any luck on your end?
Stu, good ID on the bass rig. 300 watts was huge for the time.
Nice collection of hats in the audience, from the humble blue bandanna babushka to a brand=new personalized set of mouse ears. Most hatters start out perfectly sane and then go mad gradually.
Pearly band and Gideon...is that mixing metaphors? ...as an 80's employee I frequently thought it was odd that Gideon and JW Foul et al...were "staple" characters on stage. I often heard guests saying "who is that cat?" for the recipient to mumble "I dunno". The kids didn't care however, the characters are just giant stuffed animals no matter who they are. I remember that Gideon was a costume that "normal size" guys could get into- those like 5-8 to 5-10- ish. When they had leadership cross training, Gideon was used frequently...from my perspective walking past the Zoo to my locker. I guess Gideon is less likely to be attacked than a Mickey or a Donald. And yes, when you cross trained...it was multiple disciplinary. They had a name for it, maybe Mike knows..."The Disney Way" or "Traditions" something like that. So you were a fry cook in the morning, a ride operator in the afternoon, and a character for 15 mins or so. later. I did audition to be a character- the competition was a bit fierce, but I made the cuts to the end, and that ended that. I went on to other things. It seems that in '73 that guests were still dressing nicely. I don't see pajamas and what not, so that is a plus. The pearly band hung out around the UK Pavillion at EPCOT- I remember that opening weekend when a guest from the UK was being hyper critical about how the "pearly bits" were not accurate enough. I thought..."oh jeez...those are recycled Mary Poppins costumes from down the street...relax." Louise Tate looks great in her purple double knit slacks! Love the hairography. Adam Rich (the real one) bought a balloon from me at the entrance to Tomorrowland in 1981. He was there with Dana Hill the daughter in European Vacation RIP. I thought it was a weird combo, and they were there without entourage or otherwise- which I also thought was odd as I think "8 is Enough" was still relevant at that time. They were both normal, sunglass-less, and very much "kids at Disneyland"- not celebs at Disneyland.
Nope. My research turned up exactly what yours did, Grant!
Yes, we bass players are an odd lot, lol!
JB, while it looks like the girl in white is doing the Jerk, my highly-trained (HIGHLY TRAINED, DO YOU HEAR?) eye can tell that is in fact the Russian version of that dance, indicating that she is a spy. Dancing always gives it away. I’ve always been impressed by Pooh’s ability to balance that large hunny pot on top of his head - though he might use Gorilla Glue. Jacques and Gus might throw themselves to the floor, it’s just something they did every now and then.
TokyoMagic!, thanks for the ID on the location! I guess it must have been the inspiration (sort of) for Disneyland’s Fantasy Faire. I hope there was lots of slam dancing too! That’s when I knew it was time to head away from the stage.
TokyoMagic!, I would have just assumed that the tent was where the Carousel was, but then… there’s the Carousel to the left! Thanks for the links.
Stu29573, you guitar guys amaze me how you can ID a particular model even at this distance. How much would that bass be worth today?
Mike Cozart, Fantasy Faire really feels like something that would be added later. “We need more STUFF for people to do!”. “Disney World is Your World”, hey, that’s Disneyland’s line! Sounds like the “American Victorian” style is more along the lines of Main Street. I guess they might have used historic pavilions as their model? Thanks Mike.
DrGoat, you should dance like I do, I stand there like my feet are nailed to the floor and move my shoulders to and fro. All the kids dig it! Slingerland, wow, what a name. Eeyore is lively - for him.
Stu29573, aha, you did research anyway! Or did you just finally recognize the gear? Please don’t introduce math to this blog, if I wanted to learn I’d go to summer school.
JG, you picked up on more subtleties than I ever would have. I’m sure it was very intentional to have five panels, for the reasons you mentioned. I understand the designers’ desire to make WDW bigger, but I do feel like there was a case of diminishing returns in some cases. Yes, things were bigger, but they felt more cold and sterile. I’m sure there are plenty of WDW fans out there who disagree, though! Good eye on the lights and such, it’s nice that they hid them away from guest’s eyes.
Grant, well, there you are! Funny that it took a bass guitar. Now that I watch people restoring old guitars on YouTube, I’ve learned more about guitars than I ever knew before - but don’t ever quiz me on anything!
Grant, I guess they needed that oomph to play over all of the other sounds around Fantasyland.
Melissa, about every six months they’d have to find a new hatter, since the old ones inevitably lost their marbles (so to speak).
Bu, I don’t know about mixing metaphors, but the Disney parks definitely mashed up characters from all of their movies. That was part of the fun. There’s Tigger! There’s King John! There’s Alice! I like that they used Gideon and J.W. Foulfellow, and wish that they would use even more obscure characters. How about Clara Cluck or Horace Horsecollar? Those would make me happy. Wow, I didn’t know that employees would work multiple “disciplines”. And I’m surprised that there was fierce competition to be a character, especially in Florida. The idea of being in one of those bulky costumes on a hot, humid day sounds very unpleasant indeed. Adam Rich was one of America’s greatest actors, but he had to give up acting to follow his true calling - competitive knitting.
Stu29573, “we bass players are an odd lot”, I’m glad that Disneyland fans aren’t odd.
Major-
And as long as we're identifying musical instruments, let's not forget the Hammond Organ, being blocked by its Leslie Tone Cabinet.
Thanks, Major.
Major, I'm not sure what that bass would be worth now, but if it IS a Gibson, it would probable be in the 3000.00 range...ish... The EB0 bass was very early (late 1950's) so I'm not sure this is one. The SG bass was much more popular, and is still made. Of course the King of the Bases is the Fender Precision. I however. play three different German Hofners (not at the same time). I like being a little different.
The Magic Kingdom may have been a bit on the sparse side for the first decade or so, but in fifty years they've managed to make it as cluttered as Grandma's junk drawer. I guess the old adage is true that your stuff will always expand to fill up whatever space is available.
Stu, yes it was a knife fight. But it was one of those West Side Story things where everyone sings and dances around menacingly.
Does WDW have a "duck problem", too? Gators, yes. Brain-eating amoebas, yes. But killer ducks? Who knew!
Melissa, "Most hatters start out perfectly sane and then go mad gradually."
Emily Litella: "What's this I hear about 'haters' in Walt Disney World? What is there to hate in the Magic Kingdom? It's a Happy Place! Serves the haters right, if they go mad!"
Chevy Chase: "It's not 'haters' Miss Litella; we're talking about 'hatters'; people who make hats. Not haters."
Emily Litella: "Oh. That's different... Never mind."
Bu, thanks for enlightening us on the finer points of Disney character costumes.
Major, ah. Once again your vast knowledge outshines us all! I bow before you, kiss the hem of your robe, and tug my forelock.
Is Gorilla Glue one of your inventions?
Yep, there are tons of rabid ducks at WDW. Some with guns. Not pretty.
Nanook, the first time I stood in front of a Leslie Tone cabinet in action was at a Steppenwolf concert in the 60s. Always remember watching the rotating speakers and being intrigued.
Years ago I was in a band that had a Leslie. Sounds great. Very heavy. You don't want to move one.
@ Stu29573-
You don't want to move any part of a Hammond Organ-! The total weight, including the bench of a Model B-3 is around 425#. Ouy vey-! (The Model C-3 weighs a 'mere' 300#).
Nanook, ah, the humble Hammond Organ… I had to listen to my Aunt Florence play hers in their Minnesota basement. At the time I was bored to tears, but I would give anything to be back there again.
Stu29573, I don’t even play guitar, but I can see the appeal of collecting classic guitars. They are just cool! I read that Keith Richards has a collection of over 3,000 guitars. How can he afford them? ;-) You play a Hofner, hey, didn’t Paul McCartney play a Hofner? I think you even see it in the “Get Back” documentary on Disney+.
Melissa, “…your stuff will always expand to fill up whatever space is available”… SO TRUE! I can’t tell you how many times I have purged my bookcases, only to have them completely full shortly afterward.
JB, I like the knife fights where everyone stands around snapping their fingers. After a while, everyone has forgotten why they were even there. “Well, see you tomorrow!”. “Have a good one!”. You know that ducks like Florida’s balmy climate, they are probably infested with crazy ducks. Emily Litella… boy that’s a blast from the past! You have to be our age to remember her. I miss Gilda. No need to bow before me, JB, a hatful of cash will do!
Stu29573, you can tell when ducks are rabid because they walk backwards.
DrGoat, I can’t remember when I first learned about the rotating speaker in a Leslie cabinet, but it wasn’t that long ago. It might have been when The Dukes of Stratosphere released their albums and I read about how they replicated the sound of ‘60s psychedelic bands. Steppenwolf! Very cool.
Stu29573, were you in a psychedelic band??
Nanook, Wow, I wonder how they got Aunt Florence’s organ down into their basement? If I recall, their steps were steep and narrow.
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