Nice Skyway Views, 1950s
Delving into a large lot of slides from the 1950s, I have discovered that most of the photos are fine, while about 20% of them are very dark. I can't explain it. Both of today's Skyway views were among those dark slides, and I've lightened them considerably, though they still look a bit murky. What's a little murk between friends? In some countries, it's a compliment (like burping).
Here we are, above the Junior Autopia's roadway, with nary a guide rail in sight. Nary, do you hear? Aye caramba, look at that smog. My eyes are watering just thinking about it. We also get bonus views of the Fantasyland Viewliner station, and there's even a blue Viewliner train in the distance.
Zooming in a bit, and lightening things up, we can also just see the Motor Boat Cruise (sort of). There's two telephone booths, just in case (of what??).
A second photo finds us looking down on Storybook Land. I wonder how many people recognized the "crazy quilt" pattern, with the white cross-stitching? I've always assumed that guests were supposed to be in bed, and when they fell asleep they'd see all of their favorite fairy tale scenes.
Notice the Fantasyland train depot in the upper right.
I feel like I have more than a few photos of Storybook Land in which landscapers (or some sort of maintenance workers) can be seen in the middle of the day. What are they doing? I love the bit of empty farmland visible in the distance.
24 comments:
The first one is great! You're inside the oasis known as Disneyland looking out at the wasteland known as Power Pole Land aka Suburbia. A beauty to behold. The smog adds a nice touch to the wasteland feeling.
Five-Stars for the power poles. Thanks, Major.
Major-
I love shots of the junior Autopia. Had it not been for photographic proof [even seen on these pages - thank you, Major], I'm afraid I wouldn't remember I was lucky-enough to have driven on that highway.
"There's two telephone booths, just in case (of what??)" Oh Major, that's easy... for 'stereo phone calls', of course-!!
"Landscapers (or some sort of maintenance workers) can be seen in the middle of the day. What are they doing?" They're fixing a 'dropped stitch' in the "crazy quilt pattern".
See... I'm full of important info today.
Thanks, Major.
Major, I have a scan from 1957 that's nearly identical to your first photo. Taken (by my dad) just a few feet to the right of this view. Same dark, murky look to it as well. Same smog, same blue Viewliner at the station. Even the same two cars in that turn-out area next to the gas pumps (one dark car, one light). Only, in my pic those two cars have pulled forward to the end of that area. Ooh I just noticed, this really is weird, the maroon car and the white car (in the background) approaching the station in your pic are already at the station in my pic. The similarities are too close and too many to be mere coincidence, wouldn't you think? Could this be the exact Skyway trip on the same day? It even looks to be the same time of day, judging from the shadows.
I think I'll upload my pic to imgur and post a link to it here:
https://imgur.com/o33Qg9d
Hopefully that's the correct address for the image.
Thanks for the deja vu moment, Major. Even if the two photos (yours and mine) turn out to be different days/years, etc., it's still kinda amazing.
They had two telephone booths in case Clark Kent had to make a quick change and one was already in use. That’s a real-world practical problem never explored on the TV show.
I seem to vaguely recall the canal boat skipper’s spiel identifying which Silly Symphony was being referenced with the giant patchwork quilt, but for the life of me I can’t remember which and don’t have the time to research it right now.
Here’s a thought that just hit me - the boatstesses were invariably cute young women back in the day, but I have no recollection of what any of them looked like - I was too focused on the miniature wonders around me to look at a mere pretty girl.
Look at those hoboes stealing a rail to sell for scrap. They’ll probably take a tie or two for their fire tonight so they can cook their can of beans (always beans) while they swap stories and sing “Big Rock Candy Mountain.” Absolutely terrifying mental image. Only one thing scarier than a hobo - a hobo clown. [shudder] I may not sleep tonight.
Holy cats, JB! The similarities are uncanny. It even looks like they might both have been taken at the same amusement park! What are the odds?
Wow! Thanks for the unmurkification; these are perspectives of early Disneyland I haven't seen a lot of. These aerial shots give you even a better sense of how things fit together than maps. I spy a blue and white babushka in #3.
Chuck, the Silly Symphony must be the 1933 "Lullaby Land". I read somewhere that those are 47 succulent beds held together with stitches; why not an even 50?. "The Old Mill" also made it to Storybook Land; it is charming that Silly Symphonies were used for inspiration in those days, and maybe they played in the Fantasyland Theatre.
It has to be said: the Disneyland Autopias were contributing to the smoggy atmosphere of those days. Walt's wisdom of the berm guaranteed that the murk level would often be concealed below the ridge.
Thanks Major, even murky farm fields look like dreamland here.
Without the commentary, I’m not sure I would recognize these first views as Disneyland. I’m all turned around. I never knew the Junior Autopia loaded from that side.
JB, the resemblance is eerie, maybe these were taken on the same day, or not long apart at least.
Major, the gardeners are putting in a buttonhole.
JG
Who doesn't love the murky Disneyland of the 50s? Smog shrouded power poles, barely visible buildings in the distance, air you could taste.:P
Any local Jr. Gorillas of a certain age will remember Smog Alert days when you couldn't play outside. Many weekend days stuck inside staring at tv, school recesses spent playing games in the classroom.
Great rare pic of the Jr. Autopia.
That reminds me of Jennifer Coolidge's line in Best in Show: "If it wasn't for the little Autopias where would they have gotten the idea for the big Autopias?"
Major, I see no less than 7 castmembers working the Jr. Autopia. Wow that is worse than Cal Trans, four guys standing around doing nothing. In today's Disneyland there would be 2 people working the attraction.
Hey Major, I forgot to ask are those 2 gas pumps there for decoration or is that where they fueled the cars. I always thought any gas pumps would be back stage.
Great job bringing out the murkiness of LA at that time (and beyond). I can still smell the murk when opening the door and stepping out of the Peter Pan Motel in the morning. So excited, but we still had to sit through breakfast and eat as fast as we could. I can still hear Dad saying slow down, we've got all day.
JB, that is incredible that you have an almost identical pic. Thanks!
Thanks Major, brought back memories of early mornings on vacation.
I was just thinking about Junior Autopia and its short layout. I wonder if the guests got 2-3 laps around the layout per ride cycle.
K. Martinez, ha ha, “Power Pole Land”, the most magical land of all! Anaheim would be proud. Thanks for the nice words!
Nanook, I do too, and I have far too few photos of the “Son of the Autopia”. You are lucky to have proof of your Jr. Autopia experience! Hmmm, stereo phone calls, I would have never thought of that. This is called “thinking outside the (telephone) box”. I don’t really know what a “dropped stitch” is, but I hope it didn’t break when it hit the ground.
JB, WOW, that photo taken by your dad is a beauty! Much nicer than my example, for so many reasons. There are definite similarities, but it seems so incredible to think that both photos could have been taken on the same day. You never know, though! Do you have lots more nice photos like that one?? Really fantastic!
Chuck, but what if BOTH phone booths were in use? Clark would have to find some convenient bushes. And as long as he’s there… well, let’s not talk about it in polite company. I’m sure that the Silly Symphony you are referring to is “Skeletons Dance All Over a Quilt And Also Say Some Curse Words”, which won an Academy Award in 1933. “Boatsesses”, love it, I’m surprised that wasn’t an official Disney term. Hoboes do love beans, and they always leave the lid of the can on, just a little bit, it’s sort of a trademark of a true hobo. And joke’s on you, JB’s dad’s photo was actually taken at Six Flags Over Oxnard.
Melissa, you’d think that more people would have snapped photos of the Junior Autopia, and maybe they did, but I sure don’t have many pictures that are like that first one. Maybe three, tops? I see the babushka!
Stefano, well, I guess you are right, it IS “Lullaby Land”. The lack of skeletons gives it away! 47 succulent beds, there’s some trivia for future game designers. I’m not sure if the Old Mill is still part of Storybook Land, but maybe it is? I’m with you, I love that they included those classic Silly Symphonies in the park. I’d be happy with a “Silly Symphony Land”! I’m sure the last thing Walt was considering when requesting an Autopia is the exhaust fumes. Too bad they weren’t powered with baking soda and vinegar.
JG, it’s true, I could imagine showing that first photo to a casual Disneyland fan and stumping them! I’ve mentioned it before, but I’ll never forget when somebody put a photo of the Viewliner up on Facebook, and some guy responded, “That’s not Disneyland”! Ooo, buttholes are tricky, I can barely darn a sock.
Grant, yum, that petrochemical flavor that kids love! Though leaded gas was a bit spicy, truth be told. I feel like I remember hearing about smog alerts, but can’t recall if I ever had to stay indoors due to one. Boy, what a shameful thing! “The air is so toxic that kids have to stay indoors”. Where does the indoor air come from? Er… outdoors? Best In Show, great movie!
Jim A, ha ha, at least the guys at Disneyland were probably actually working! I doubt that they would pay employees to stand around. We need to hear from Bu about that!
Jim A, I believe that those were functioning gas pumps, but I’m not 100% certain. I’m sure that Richfield was happy to have as many reminders of the ride’s sponsors as possible.
DrGoat, the funny thing is, I used to associate the smell of a hot smoggy day with “visiting grandma and grandpa”, so it evokes fond memories! Hey, at least you guys got to stay at a nearby motel and eat breakfast, we never got to do that. I’m so jealous of your motel experience! Glad you liked todays pix.
K. Martinez, wow, I can’t believe I never thought about that. You’re right, one lap would not be much of a ride.
@ Chuck-
I'm going to assume "the boatstesses" seen here are men, as most were in 1956 - which probably dates that image. One of the 'dudes' appears to be wearing a "wide-brimmed hat", which was a part of their 'uniform'.
Major-
A 'dropped stitch' occurs in knitting - 'where a stitch falls off one of the needles'.
And yes - I've placed a few 'stereo phone calls' in my day. Both parties need access to two telephones in close proximity and at least two, different telephone numbers. (And two working ears).
A master class in stereo phone calls, brought to you by Adam West's Batman
JG, well, thanks to Sue, I see that autocorrect has really done a number on my comment to you!! Obviously I meant to type "buttonholes" and not that OTHER word. Yikes.
Nanook, it seems so weird that they didn't always use young women as boatstesses, and yet it seems to have taken them a few years to even think of it.
Nanook, I'm imagining somebody needing to use a pay phone, waiting for you while you are using two at once!
Melissa - GREATEST - SHOW - EVER
Chuck, the upscale hoboes (hobos?) eat ravioli from their cans-with-the-lid-still-attached.
Major, I think I have 11 photos of 1957 Disneyland. So, not that many. This is one of the better ones, showing some of the rarer attractions.
I do like that "Skeleton Dance" short (the real one). I vaguely remember hearing that they drew the skeletons with black paint/ink on a white background, then just used the negative to create the boney whiteness of the skeletons. (Not sure, though.)
If the Autopia cars were powered with baking soda and vinegar, think how much carbon dioxide would be pumped into the air! With the berm trapping it all inside the park, guests would be dropping like flies! Of course, then everyday would be Feast Day for the swans. So there's that.
Huh,huh,huh. Major said buttholes, huh,huh,huh....... "booby".
It is with great disappointment that I have concluded that the two Jr. Autopia photos were not, in fact, taken mere seconds apart from each other like I originally thought. There are a couple of small differences like: In major's pic, there is only one light blue car at the station. In mine there are two. The main difference is the amount of guests at the station in both photos, Major's only has a few while mine has a bunch. I don't think all those people could have materialized in just a few seconds. There IS one white-shirted CM standing at the station with his back to us in both photos, that looks the same. But all-in-all, I think there are too many differences. Oh well.
Major-
Oh, I never used pay phones for such nonsense. (Really... how gauche-!)
Major, autocorrect FTW.
That’s one for the ages…
JG
Melissa, I LOVE your link to Batman. HAHAHA!
I was 5 or 6 when Batman first came on TV. I had a crush on Robin. Even the yellow tights didn't deter me.
JB, I hope you're going to share all your photos.
Major forgot to mention that when I texted him about the word he used, I included a couple of the 'laughing hysterically' emojis. Major, we tease because we love.
Hey, I don't think anybody mentioned the wandering family in Pic #1. Near the right edge of the picture. Where did they come from, and where are they going? It looks like they're walking along the side of the Autopia roadway. Just looks strange.
Thanks, Major and everyone, for a fun day!
Chuck, you are right about "Hobo Clowns." Absolutely terrifying. Isn't that Red Skelton's regular shtick? He and Lucy do that bit together (doubly terrifying!), side by side, in one of the hour-long episodes of I.L.L. See, Major.....I don't love EVERYTHING that she does! I also didn't like it when she was abusive to Groucho Marx at the Oscars. She was actually doing a "Will Smith" before Will Smith (without the slapping part).
By the way, does anyone remember the Hobo Joe's coffee shops? I think they all went out of business. Is it any wonder?
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/87/cc/ef/87ccef55dede0ac61c67dca3afcdfe1a.jpg
TM!, I have a vague memory of watching Red Skelton do his Freddie the Freeloader character on a Disney special with the Lily Belle in the background.
Chuck, I bet he drove every single guest out of the park, with that act!
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