Friday, March 25, 2022

Fun Fifties

I have a few nice scans for you today, both from sometime in the 1950s.

This first one is so fun, a mother and her son pose in Town Square while sporting the old arrow-through-the-head props, presumably bought in Merlin's Magic Shop. Steve Martin used a similar arrow-through-the-head gag in this early days, I have to wonder if he first found that silly toy in Disneyland.

Look at how empty Town Square is! You could definitely swing a dead cat with no problem whatsoever. It's hard to see because the background is out of focus, but the sign for Liberty Street is back near that patriotic bunting.


Mom joins in on the fun, and hey, she's cute too. Her son sports a brand-new buckskin coat, just like Davy Crocket wore. Maybe the arrows were purchased in Frontierland at the same time as the coat (rather than at Merlin's). He also has his Mighty Mouse shirt on, what a lucky kid.


Next is this wonderful images of a well-dressed couple in Fantasyland. I assume that it's winter, the lady has her sweater, and the park just has that slightly bare look. The tall masts of the Pirate Ship look particularly impressive here.


Is that man really wearing a TUXEDO? Whenever I see people this dressed up, I assume that it was probably a Sunday, and that they headed over to the park right after church.  Either that, or the man just came from MI6 after having an exciting adventure in South America. His partner's name is Sassy Silkstockings. She can knock you out with one judo chop.

36 comments:

Nanook said...

Major-
I wonder if Mighty Mouse was responsible for the arrow firings-? I wore one of those thru-the-head arrows in the hospital while recovering from my tonsillectomy-! (Yes, I received great reactions from the hospital staff, as you might imagine).

Is this our first Tuxedo sighting in The park here on GDB-? This is very exciting - perhaps even a red letter day.

Thanks, Major.

Nanook said...

Major-
Also - based on the color scheme of the walls, etc., near the sign for the International Street Grand Opening, I'd say those Town Square images date from 1957 or 1958.

JB said...

In #1, we can see the shadow of the photographer. Looks like it's probably Dad. Mom seems to be a real minx, even without the arrow prop, you can see it in her face. I bet she has a witty sense of humor.

In #2, the gentleman looks particularly dapper. I wonder if he was somebody important; some VIP or other. Her scarf and white gloves complete her ensemble (you have to use the French pronunciation). I bet they arrived by helicopter.

Nanook, it's the first one I've seen, too.

Thanks for the amusing and dapper photos today, Major.

TokyoMagic! said...

I want a coat like the one that kid is wearing. I wouldn't mind having a Mighty Mouse shirt, either!

I went with a friend to "Dapper Day" at Disneyland, in 2013, and we both wore tuxedos. It was February, so fortunately it wasn't too warm to be wearing a tux.

Andrew said...

I'm imagining that I'm able to hear the organ music from the Wurlitzer store in the first picture. I wonder what the Indian Village performers thought of the arrow gag?

Thanks, Major. It's funny to think of this day's Disneyland guests as being just a few tuxedo-wearing guys, as well as moms with arrows through their heads.

Chuck said...

“You could definitely swing a dead cat with no problem whatsoever.” Just head on over to the castle and pick one out.

I know I’ve told this story before, but I wore a tuxedo uniform - my mess dress - to Disneyland once. Surprised my wife when we arrived on her birthday by handing her a key to a locker just outside the main gate that contained one of her fancy dresses and shoes. We changed in the bathrooms and headed in to dinner at the Blue Bayou and dancing to big band music at Carnation Gardens (we took a ballroom dance class in college).

The waiter at the Blue Bayou asked us if we were going to the Prom. “Why yes, my good man! I always wear rank and medals to high school dances.” I was 26 and she was 24. Ahhh…the days when it was still slightly irritating when you are mistaken for a younger person. Today I would probably respond with “Oh, bless you for saying that!” and give him a $20.

Anonymous said...

These are quite fun, if I do say so, and I just did.

I, too, had a jacket like that as a kid, and wish that I had one (larger, of course) now! You can't go wrong with fringe.

I'm pretty sure the Indian performers thought the arrows were funny (if they thought much about them at all). It's amazing how such things really didn't bother people back then. It's only recently that we've had a "who can be offended the most?" competition. Someone said its because we don't have enough real problems. I don't want to find out.

The first thing I thought of when I saw the tux was that maybe he's in a choir. I wore a tux for several years while singing in a Christmas program. In fact, I still have it, but I only wear it to mow the lawn.

Great pics today!

DrGoat said...

Great stuff! And this is before Steve Martin's arrow shtick. As we all know, Steve Martin worked on Main Street from '55 to '57 or something like that. Coincidence?
Had many fringed jackets like that. The pro part of living 60 miles from the border. There was a store in Nogales, Mexico called the Mickey Mouse Store. I kid you not. It was a big store that sold those jackets, fireworks, switchblades, watches, Kahlua, you name it. And they were much less in cost and just as genuine. I still have one hanging in the archive closet. Went to many concerts back in the 60s-70s wearing one of those.
And that dapper couple does take the cake. Great photos Major. Thanks.

JG said...

These are really special photos today, Major. The people and their personalities really shine out. The kid is wearing the Wrong Mouse, but I was a MM fan too, so I can understand.

Chuck, that’s a great story. The tuxedo couple look like they have a destination in mind, maybe they have a chauffeured Autopia lined up. I haven’t worn my formal suit for years, I hope it still fits. I may still need it.

Dr. Goat, you have a picture of you with that coat in your Pinterest, very dashing. I feel like im always on the fringe, so never got a coat like that.

For Steve Martin fans, Daveland has a section devoted to his Disneyland years.

Thanks Major this is fun.

JG

JG said...

Nanook, Main Street might be 1958 since the trash cans are now themed.

Tuxedo couple is earlier I think, since the only trash can visible is the plain green one. I’ve never seen a reliable dated photo of one like that later than 1957, although the themed roll-out could have taken a year or so.

I’m glad no one is swinging dead cats, even if there was room.

JG

Grant said...

Way cool pics Major!

Fringe jacket: check
Mighty Mouse shirt: check
Crew cut: check
Silly arrow toy: check
Yeah, 50s arrowhead kid could have been me.

Fast forward ten years or so and the arrow had changed to a headband and the shirt became tie-dye. Still wore a fringe jacket though. A common tale for many of us. :)

I'm thinking tux guy is there for an event. Maybe a band leader? In the countless times I was at the Park I don't remember seeing anyone besides a performer in a tux.

Dr.Goat, that store must have been amazing for a kid.
Hmmm... fireworks, switchblades, Kahlua... what could go wrong? :D

Nanook said...

Major-
Say... HERE's a familiar-looking chap - without fringe-! (From February, 1958)

Thank you, Daveland.

Anonymous said...

Nanook, is that the same little boy? AMAZING

Then 1958 is a good date for those Main Street trash cans.

JG

Major Pepperidge said...

Nanook, I was waiting for a punchline about you wearing an “arrow through the head” after your tonsillectomy, but I guess you were serious! As far as I can recall, this might really be the first park tuxedo (not counting Mickey Mouse), hard to believe.

Nanook, the sign in the distance is blurry, but the red, white, and blue made me assume it was for “Liberty Street”. Do you think it’s for “International Street”?

JB, it’s quite something to consider that the mom in this photo is probably a good 35 years younger than I am now. UGH. I can’t imagine why anyone would wear a tux to Disneyland, but I do appreciate the gentleman’s style. I think they arrived at Disneyland on the “United States” ocean liner. I don’t know how they got to Anaheim on a cruise ship, but by golly, they did it.

TokyoMagic!, I imagine that the buckskin coat is very stiff, and has a particular smell, but I’d still want one. I never really cared for Mighty Mouse cartoons (they were all the same), but I liked the way Mighty looked. I still don’t understand why you wore a tuxedo to Disneyland, but more power to you!

Andrew, I never thought about music coming out of the Wurlitzer store. Prerecorded? Or was somebody playing one of the quality electric organs in the shop? And in the 1950s, you really were either a tuxedo guy or a mom with an arrow through her head!

Chuck, I’ll bet your wife remembers that trip to Disneyland vividly, with her hubby all dressed up in his fancy uniform! You were smart to take those ballroom dancing lessons, I still have two left feet, and I’m sure I’ve missed out on some great girls who loved to dance. I’m imagining how you must have looked… 26 is pretty young! Maybe not “prom young”, but still!

Stu29573, if I had that jacket, I could finally retire my t-shirt that looks like a tuxedo jacket. You know, the one I wear every day. Hilarious! You might be right about the arrows not being bothersome to the Native Americans… folks think that Speedy Gonzalez is an offensive stereotype, but he is supposedly beloved by Latinos. Some of them, anyway. Well, I am off to find something to offend me!

DrGoat, I can’t remember if Steve Martin talked about the origins of the arrow-through-the-head gag in his book, “Born Standing Up”. But I’ll bet he saw the gag arrows at Disneyland! I think I have a photo of that Mickey Mouse Store in Nogales somewhere on this blog, believe it or not. Just checking quickly, I do, on September 14, 2013. My sister used to bring back these cool fireworks from Tijuana, they were called “garbanzo beans”, you threw them at the ground and they would bounce and spark. I wish I had some now!

JG, I guess we can forgive that kid for wearing the wrong mouse. It’s funny how the general public often assumes that a cartoon character is probably a Disney character, if they have no other idea. They should have had a stretch limo Autopia car! With a full bar and a jacuzzi.

JG, I do think that these are a bit later than ’57, because of the “Liberty Street” sign. I’ve never thought about trying to date a photo based on the trash cans!

Grant, ha ha, I wish the kid WAS you, that would have been cool! I’m surprised they let you into the park with a headband and tie-dye shirt. You know how they were about counter culture folks! Today it seems so dumb that they would actually send someone home for having long hair. Your band leader idea is interesting. Stu thinks he might have been part of a choir, not a bad idea since it might have been around the holidays.

Nanook, how funny! Do you just have a photographic memory of every slide scan you’ve ever seen? I’ve had my slide for a long time, and while Daveland has many incredible slides, in this case I like mine better.

JG, now I’m wondering if my slide had a date written on it, but… it’s back in the vault so I’ll never know.

Melissa said...

Takes guts to wear a Mighty Mouse shirt to Disneyland! Tuxedo Pete there looks like the love child of Robert Benchley and Bennett Cerf. I have a very similar knife-pleated red tartan skirt like Sassy's, but it's been a few years since I've been able to fit into it. Still hanging into it because it belonged to my favorite aunt. They have Dapper Day, why not Cat-Swinging Day?

(Sweet story, Chuck!)

DrGoat said...

JG, I think you got the wrong dashing guy. I don't have a photo of me in that jacket. I've got to see that. Where did you find that pic?
Grant, that was a great store for picking up things to get in trouble with back in the states. Especially the cherry bombs and
M-80s. I actually still have a green handled switchblade I bought back in the 60s. It's a letter opener now.

Nanook said...

Major-
Undoubtedly you're correct about that sign being Liberty Street, rather than International Street. That most-likely means the photo dates from 1958 - which aligns it with the Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship image from Daveland.

I only wish I had that sort of memory - but on occasion... I surprise even myself. This came about while perusing the CotS Pirate Ship images this morning. (You never know what you'll find - and indeed I did. Crazy-!)

@ Melissa-
Exactly-! It's been a while since there's been a shout-out to Bennett Cerf on these pages - and probably a first for Robert Benchley.

DrGoat said...

Melissa & Nanook,
With just a hint of Broderick Crawford.

DrGoat said...

JG, I'm under https://www.pinterest.com/cootieaz/_saved/
not Dr. Goat. There are a couple of Dr. Goats on Pinderest. One of them has pictures of my uncles book and some pics from it.

Michaeland said...

Tux AND strut!

Thats got to be a guide map.
At least he’s having a great time, shes not so sure.

"Lou and Sue" said...

He looks like a musician - a French horn player. Just saying.

Will be back later. Work’s in the way, again.

JB said...

Major and Chuck, awww... poor kitty.

Chuck, you romantic softy, you.

DrGoat, haha. We all know what a masterful expert Mickey is with a switchblade!

JG, yeah I know. I'm surprised they let the kid into the park with that t-shirt.

Nanook, wow. What are the odds of that kid showing up at Daveland AND GDB?!!

Major, they got to Anaheim on a cruise ship because with money, anything is possible.

Melissa, Nanook, & DrGoat, plus a little George Gobel.

Sue, oh, definitely a French horn player! (It's so obvious!)

DrGoat said...

Looks like the only things left of Mickey Mouse Curios in Nogales are some old postcards.
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/820429257104758474/ (on the left side of the street behind giant curio sign)
and https://www.hippostcard.com/listing/1940s-nogales-sonora-mexico-postcard-mickey-mouse-curios-store-interior-linen/34916065

Major Pepperidge said...

Melissa, it’s like those kids who wear their mouse ears to Knott’s Berry Farm. IT AIN’T RIGHT! I didn’t know that Bennett Cerf and Robert Benchley had a love child, but I don’t watch much TV. I like the tartan skirt, that fabric always looks good when the weather is chilly. I like the idea of Cat Swinging Day, but it’s always too crowded!

DrGoat, I was wondering how JG saw this photo of you that I’d never heard of. I was being left out! I’ve never had an M-80, or even seen one ignited. And the few cherry bombs I’ve ever witnessed were big disappointments. Switchblades are just cool, and you need one in case you run into one of the rival gangs on the street.

Nanook, so odd that you just happened to be looking at Daveland’s Pirate Ship photos! And fortuitous. I now have some scans of a woman at Disneyland, I am almost positive that I’ve posted photos of her on GDB years ago, but I just can’t find the one that I can remember (a woman on the Dumbo ride). It’s driving me crazy. As for Robert Benchley, I think Melissa herself mentioned him in a comment not too terribly long ago. But it’s true, he doesn’t come up in daily conversation as a rule.

DrGoat, I can see it!

DrGoat, I love that there is so much fondness for your uncle’s book that there are several DrGoats on the internet. It might not be so great for YOU though.

Michaeland, the man is carrying a souvenir guidebook - it appears to be a 1958 edition!

Lou and Sue, yes, he does have that “French horn player” look about him, ha ha!

JB, it’s like you have stumbled on one of Marty Sklar’s lost “Walt quotes”. “With money, anything is possible!”. Maybe not so magical, but he isn’t wrong.

DrGoat, I suppose it was too much to hope for, Mickey Mouse Curios was around for years. But I’m glad I have a photo of the sign in one of my slides! Cool that you actually went there.

JB said...

Major, like the Arthur C. Clarke adage: "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic". So it is with money; with enough of it, it's like magic, anything is possible. At least it seems that way.

TokyoMagic! said...

Major, I wore the tuxedo for the same reason I wore that white three-piece polyester suit to the park. It was Dapper Day. They would not let you into the park unless you were dressed up. ;-)

Speaking of people who look like other people. Doesn't the little boy in the first pic, look like one of the kids in "The Lollipop Guild"? I thought that last night, when I first viewed the photo, but now the supplemental pic from Nanook just reinforces it.

The "kid" on the far right:

https://www.chicagonow.com/wordshed/files/2012/04/LollipopGuild.jpg

JB said...

Tokyo!, yer right!

"And in the name of__the Lollipop Guild,
We wish to welcome you to Dis_ney_land!"


Actually, he looks like the middle Munchkin, too... heck, he looks like all of them!

"Lou and Sue" said...

UGH! My cell phone just ate all my comments AND my copy of my comments!

"Lou and Sue" said...

Chuck, you really raised the bar regarding date nights. Wow! Now you need to tell us how you proposed. I can only imagine.

DrGoat, I wonder if you had described your fringe jacket in a past post, and that's why some of us seem to remember seeing you in it, even I can picture it. Or am I thinking of that picture of you in your fringed pajamas??

Thank you, Nanook (and Daveland) for the other half of that kid's family photos. How cool is that?!

TM! The first time I saw a photo of you, without a white oval, was the one of you in that three-piece white polyester suit, on your blog. But you did have sunglasses on. You didn't mention it was you, but Major gave it away in the comments by referring to you as "Disco Stu." Great photo. I loved the disco era.

In that photo of the Lollipop Guild, what's on the jacket of the last 'kid' on the right??

Thanks, Major.

JG said...

Dr. Goat, I found the pic I was thinking of on your Pinterest, but you weren’t wearing the fringed coat. I’m old and the ideas merged in my jell-o brain. I always think of you as the guy in the aviator glasses by the River with Mark Twain in the background.. You were cooler than I could ever have been.

Thanks for sharing those pics!

JG

JB said...

Sue, Bad cell phone! BAD! You need to rub its nose in it to teach it not to do that again.

Sue again, the splotch on the Munchkin's shirt: oh my. I'm reluctant to hazard a guess!

Melissa said...

French Horn: a cross between a trumpet and a funnel cake.

TokyoMagic! said...

Sue, thanks! I had fun wearing that 1970s outfit. That was also in February, so it wasn't too warm to be wearing a three-piece suit. Or polyester. I haven't posted a pic of myself at the park, wearing my tuxedo. Maybe one day.

Chuck said...

DrGoat, I always think of you as that guy with the sunglasses by the river, too, except that I also imagine that you’ve holding your single-volume copy of The Lord of the Rings just out of frame.

Sue, the proposal wasn’t quite as elaborate and didn’t quite go according to plan, but that’s a story for another time.

"Lou and Sue" said...

TM! I also [somewhere?] saw the photo of you holding the colorful vintage Disneyland bag (that you recreated), and I recall that you were wearing a black suit - and sunglasses. Was that your tux photo?

Chuck, but at least she [obviously] said ‘yes.’

TokyoMagic! said...

Sue, I forgot about that photo! It's also on my blog. That wasn't a tuxedo, it was a suit from the 1960s that had belonged to my dad. The vintage hat had belonged to my grandfather, and the vintage sunglasses had belonged to my uncle. He had never worn them, because they still had the new "Ray Ban" sticker over one of the lenses. I had to remove it so that I could wear them.