Scenes from Fantasyland, April 1959
I have a few swell photos from Fantasyland, 1959! Starting with this view, which shows a little bridge over the western part of the moat (or "WESTMOAT" as my hipster friends call it). It sure is pretty, don't you agree? Next time, I'm bringing a fishing pole, that looks like good smallmouth territory. Hopefully I won't be nabbed by security when I yell, "I've got a lunker!". Out towards the Plaza we can see a Horse Drawn Streetcar, and possibly a Surrey (sorry the image isn't sharper). And there are some of my favorite mushroom lamps, just like the local miniature golf course.
Next is this nice view from inside the castle courtyard (or "CASTCOURT"), a good place to gather with torches, though it I hate getting doused with hot oil from the parapets. Near the center of the photo is the entrance to the Sleeping Beauty Castle walk-thru, which had debuted in April of '57. I have vague memories of the later "Barbie" version, but Chris Merritt and Tony Baxter revamped the whole thing in 2008, and they did a beautiful job!
To the right is Tinker Bell Toy Shop (formerly "Fantasy of Disneyland"), imagine the treasures within. I love that lady walking past with the crazy hat and white gloves.
26 comments:
Major-
That pathway image is very nice and so enticing. I think that's Hedda Hopper in the castle courtyard-! (Or, maybe it's William Hopper...)
Thanks, Major.
Major, when you say "I've got a lunker!" I picture Ruth Buzzi hitting Arte Johnson over the head with her purse.
Looks like a good day in the Park; no killer swans to be seen anywhere. Just lots of flowers in bloom.
In the castcourt pic, the guy near the left edge, in the white shirt, no, not the guy who just got hit with a poisoned dart to his neck, the guy next to him, looks like he's drinking from a giant Coke bottle. What could that be? (I was trying for the World Record of commas in a single sentence, there.)
I like the design of the skirt the lady at the Sleeping Beauty walkthru is wearing. I can't quite tell what those animals are. Owls? Monkeys?
Crazy hat lady: I guess that's one of those Tom Sawyer straw hats. It looks completely out of place on her, considering how sophisticated she's dressed. Maybe some of that hat is her own blonde hair blowin' in the wind? I fully expect her to take-off flying, like Sally Field.
There must be something wrong with that trashcan; see how everyone is avoiding it? They're really keeping their distance!
Thanks for the nifty fifties Fantasyland fotos, Major.
There’s nothing spectacular about today’s photos, but I love the feeling I get from both of them. Unhurried, pleasant. A perfect day for a stroll in the Park. With all of the skirts and full-blown dresses, I’m going to guess it was a Sunday.
The first picture gives you no obvious clues that you are in a theme park. In fact, I would be willing to bet that the average person looking at this one out of context would have no idea where it was taken. I can imagine random Internet “experts” who started visiting Disneyland in 2002 arguing that it wasn’t taken there at all. I can also imagine Major Pepperidge speaking in James Earl Jones’ voice and dressed as a member of the Fruit of the Loom gang (specifically,/the green grapes). Isn’t imagination wonderful?
I love the lgirl in peach in the second picture clutching a handbag that looks proportionately far too big for her. Note the reasonably-sized, center-handled rental stroller in the lower right corner.
JB, that skirt actually features rare hybrid mowls. More fun than a barrel of monkeys, they’re an absolute hoot.
And I have literally no idea what that guy is holding in front of his face. The longer I look at him, the odder he looks. Are those glasses, or does he have antennae?
WESTMOAT and CASTCOURT...I like it! I think you should give your own "hipster" names to more sections of the park.
And Major Dear, why didn't you tell us that the lady in the first pic was Hedda Hoooper?
I think the proposed parking lot project "WESTCOT" should have been "APRICOT"...or better "SENOCOT" (It's natural.) Westmoat, CA USA. Castcourt sounds like something Cast Communications would come up with for a newsletter or something...like VoluntEARS...(do ears have to be on everything?) Maybe you go to Castcourt after 3 written warnings for hooliganism/shennanigans...and that's where you turn in your ID and Silver Pass? People sometimes forget that Disneyland was designed as a "Park"...even though now it's in signs and things "Disneyland Park"...um...duh...I know it's a park. Parking Lots are Parking Lots in the US. In the UK they are car parks. Park your car? or a Park for Cars? I enjoyed the other day seeing that Knott's had a Park for Cars...strips of grass, with big trees...very pretty park for cars. Car Park. Sounds better than a "Lot"...there was a sitcom: "Lotsa Luck". YES! Ruth Buzzi did a guest role! Kathleen Freeman had a starring role with Dom Deluise and was a customer of mine later in life in the early 2000's. She told us at one point that she had an affair with a very very very famous person but said she would never tell anyone, and she died with the secret. The things random people tell you. Could hat and gloves be Betty Hutton? Might be. There was a story that Betty Hutton went to Disneyland and was too recognized, so she bought a big funny hat, but still got stopped. Not because she was Betty Hutton, but people wanted to know where she got the crazy hat. That might have been a Marty Sklar story, so ....its authenticity maybe slightly exaggerated. Betty is wearing quite the outfit there. Why don't people wear gloves anymore...oh they do! But they are latex. Times have changed.
Nanook, did Hedda Hopper wear big crazy hats??
JB, I picture Ruth Buzzi hitting Arte Johnson with her purse too, only she’s wearing a bikini. That’s what you picture too, right? RIGHT? You will soon be contacted by the Guinness Book of World Records to certify that you have used more commas in one sentence, surpassing Gary Mugwump’s record that has held since 1957. Very exciting! Sorry, no money is involved, but you do get a coupon for 50% off one game of laser tag at a mall in Iowa. I can’t figure out what the “giant Coke bottle” really is. Maybe it’s a can of “Sprite”. Or a camera flash of some kind? Yeah probably not. That lady’s skirt shows owls AND monkeys, something that is now illegal in most States. You don’t see much long flowing hair in 1959, blond or otherwise, so I’m thinking that that is ALL HAT on that lady. Impressive, really.
Chuck, yes, these photos almost invite us to step in and enjoy a day at the park on a beautiful sunny day. Now I’m looking at photo #1 and trying to imagine what I would think if I was an average Joe who didn’t know anything about it. You are probably right, “Disneyland” would probably not be the first thing that popped into mind. I do speak like James Earl Jones, only I curse a lot more. A LOT more. That girl’s handbag might be too big, but it makes her feel “grownup”, so she’s happy to carry it. That man isn’t wearing glasses, and he doesn’t have antennae, but he does have very long blond eyelashes.
TokyoMagic!, I don’t want to brag, but I’m pretty hip and cool, and also “rad”. That’s short for “radical”, in case you didn’t know. Why am I getting an “ILL” vibe from your Hedda Hoooper comment?
Bu, if there’s one thing the Disney company loves (or used to love), it’s coming up with cool names and acronyms for things. I spend four to five hours every night thinking of my own, which is how I came up with “Castcourt” and “Westmoat”. I’m expecting a check to arrive from Disney any day now, with a note of appreciation and gratitude. I would be so ashamed of having a silver pass, only gold will do. Or the even more exclusive platinum pass, where they not only let you into the park for free, but have to call you “Your Majesty”. It’s pretty sweet. Somehow “Lotsa Luck” rings a bell, though it is faint and distant. Like “Holmes and Yoyo” or “AfterMASH”. I don’t know who Kathleen Freeman is (was), but I’m hoping she had an affair with Dom Deluise. That Betty Hutton story does have a Marty Sklar aroma to it, but who knows, maybe it’s true. Imagine how many people would stare at you blankly today if you mentioned the name “Betty Hutton” to them.
Major, I love your naming conventions here, hoping for more. Fine “you-are-there” views of favorite places.
Chuck, you’re right about photo 1, esp. the experts with 20 years experience. I sometimes laugh out loud at some of the podcasters.
SENOCOT, perfect. Remember folks, park in the driveway after driving on the parkway.
JB, the hip-roofed cans developed a great deal of heat due to their nuclear fusion disposal methods. You can see this one is the plain green paint right from Trash Cans R Us in Sawtelle, with a fancy roof added. While the roof prevents building the Tower of Jenga with food trays, it is more expensive than a jazzy paint job, and were ultimately abandoned.
I think there were at least two of this type, this one, and it’s brother around the corner close to Peter Pan. At least I’ve never seen any in other locations. I haven’t seen them both in the same photo though, so there might only have been one.
JG
Love the first pic. It shows what a beautiful park Disneyland was. Would love to step through a time portal to wander through these gardens.
Thanks, Major.
these are the great types of random snapshots that put one right in the scene. and that wrought iron bench in photo #2 looks like an inviting place to sit for four minutes
Another rave on that first pic. First of all, not a usual angle or location for a shot - this photographer totally gets the "peaceful" vibe and knows how to capture it.
The best part is that much of this area is relatively undisturbed; the path and bridge is still in the same place, and much of the rockwork.
Thanks for some great images today!
Major-
"Nanook, did Hedda Hopper wear big crazy hats??" Oh golly, yes. In fact, in 1952 she even wrote an autobiography entitled: From under my Hat.
(I wonder if it detailed the fact she was one of the driving forces behind the creation of the Hollywood blacklist-?) "Thanks" Hedda, for your 'civic concern' while you destroyed the lives of many, many folks-!!
Wow - Major, can you zoom in on that banner on the left in the 2nd pic? I've never seen it before! Thanks for the kudos on the 2008 redo - obviously it was a labor of love for all of us. - Chris
JG, how can I turn my genius at naming things into a multi-million dollar scam - I mean business? I guess I should Google it. In a way I can’t be too mad at younger Disneyland fans who don’t have as much experience as some of us, but it IS very aggravating to hear “facts” that are just plain wrong. And as you said, sometimes it is fun to laugh at them!! And I did not consider the fact that the hip-roofed trash can might be nuclear (please pronounce it “new-kew-lar”), the “lid” is glowing white hot! Obviously the cooling system has failed.
K. Martinez, I’m sure many folks would look at that first photo and think that it looks boring, but to folks with an appreciation of finer things, it looks pretty wonderfull!
LTL, I love those wrought-iron benches, notice how no two are painted alike. A lot of care was taken for something that most people wouldn’t even register.
Tom, yes, I don’t believe I have any other photos in my collection of thousands of slides that shows the same view as photo #1. Somehow I thought that the bridge had been redone, but I am no expert on details like that.
Nanook, I guess big hats are no crazier than my habit of wearing capes. I knew that Hedda was involved in the Hollywood blacklist, but did not know she was “one of the driving forces”. Yikes. I remember reading something about Ward Bond “policing” potential commies in a pretty reprehensible fashion.
Chris Merritt, I will look for the high-res scan and send you a jpeg. Not sure how good it will look, but hopefully it will be of interest!
Chuck, I heard one of the internet Disney experts explaining how the telegraph message in the Frontierland train station is the Walt Disney Opening Day speech and how that must have been so secret before the internets, as if that detail hadn't been published in about a hundred guide books before 1960.
SENOCOT, I'm going to visit that amusement park "regularly".
Nanook, I don't think that is William Hopper, he usually wears loud tweed sports jackets.
JG
Chuck, Ha! Took me a second to figure out whattheheck you were talking about; mowls??? I was getting ready to Google it when it finally hit me. An absolute hoot, indeed. :-p
Whoa! I didn't even notice the orange 'eyebrows' on that guy. I assume they're the top rims of glasses.
Major, it's a good thing you explained what "rad" is. I was thinking you were highly radioactive.
JG, I hadn't thought of nuclear fusion. I'm sure you're right. I bet the can was giving off an ominous hum, and that's why people were avoiding it.
Major, I think Doc borrowed one of these trash cans to power the DeLorean.
That first photo is fascinating, it is one of the few angles that doesn't show anything specifically Disneyland, except maybe the mushroom lights. I'm not sure that if I saw it out of context that I would have recognized where it was taken. It could be Butchart Gardens or Huntington Gardens or many other similar spots, even Golden Gate Park.
JG
Chris Merritt, if I had to guess I would say that banner read something like...
Walt Disney's Sleeping Beauty, Playing Now, Fox Wilshire
... so everyone knew to go to Beverly Hills to see the movie when the park closed 8-)
JG, exactly. And even if it hadn’t been published, it’s not like there weren’t any living telegraph operators around anymore who could have decoded it on the fly. One of the stories is that it had to be changed very early from a supposedly “blue” soundtrack when Walt had casually remarked that Lillian had trained as a telegraph operator and could decode Railroad Morse.
Chris Merritt, I haven’t seen the restoration of the SBC walkthrough in person, but I’ve seen a lot of pictures. Many thanks to you, Tony Baxter, and the rest of the team for an outstanding job.
The Tinker Bell Toy Shop has the Sleeping Beauty movie characters in their window. Maybe those were dolls for sale?? I’m also wondering if that classy lady in the beautiful hat and green dress might be Tink’s mom?? She IS clearly walking with an attitude!
Great pics today, Major.
@ JG-
Don't forget his ubiquitous white trench coat, when he's "doing a job for Perry..."
I always fantasized that Dennis Hopper was William Hopper's son, only to find out it was Hedda Hopper who was the culprit. Paul Drake was my favorite character in Perry M. Nice cars, nice suits and the "shave and a haircut" knock when he entered Perry's office from the back door.
Major, you ILL vibe was correct. Even Hedda Hopper made a guest appearance on the show. And I think it's funny, and appropriate (for you) that the initials for the show, with the periods removed, spell out ILL!
There was a great 1985 made-for-TV movie, called "Malice In Wonderland." It was about the long and supposedly bitter rivalry between Hedda Hopper and Louella Parsons, both of whom wrote celebrity gossip columns. It stars Jane Alexander as Hedda Hopper, and Elizabeth Taylor as Louella Parsons. It even has Tim Robbins in a small role, as Joseph Cotton.
@Nanook & Dr. Goat, Paul Drake has it going on, and don't forget the cars. I watch that show in amazement loving the production values, esp. in comparison to Peter Gunn or The Saint going on at the same time and obviously filmed in the same rooms and back lot every week. Everything in PM is beautiful, a work of art.
Chuck, the idea of someone being able to understand the morse went right by me, but of course, back then it was not a lost art. I think my uncle could follow some of it, I don't know how readily.
JG
JG, I can’t remember where I first heard about the telegraph message and Walt’s opening day speech, but it was a LONG time ago! I wonder if it was in the “Disneyland: The First Quarter Century” book? If it really was in books going back to 1960, I must have been reading Archie comics instead of those books!
JB, “mowls” sounds like animals from “Avatar: The Last Airbender”. You know, so many animals were crosses between two of our animals. Penguin-seals or some such thing. And I can be “radical” AND radioactive! They are not mutually exclusive.
LTL, yes, that banner is definitely an ad for “Sleeping Beauty” at the Fox Wilshire.
Chuck, is morse code ever used these days? It seems like we have so many more advanced forms of communication. But… when the power goes down, you might need to flash out a message (heliography) or tap it on the pipes of the Eastern Bloc prison. No I don’t watch too much TV, why do you ask?
Anonymous, you’re right! I didn’t notice those characters. I’m unaware of big fancy dolls being sold of the Sleeping Beauty characters, but then again, I don’t really follow dolls as collectibles. Not my thing. Maybe that was an early version of something similar to the Emporium dioramas?
Nanook, my mom and brother have started watching the old Perry Mason episodes on “MeTV” (or maybe it’s one of those other “classic TV” channels), I thought of you when they told me about it!
DrGoat, I don’t know who William Hopper is. But I know Chief Hopper from “Stranger Things”. He loves his smokes.
TokyoMagic! I KNEW IT! And believe me, I was aware of the fact that “ILL” had a double meaning! I’d actually like to read about Hedda and Louella, I’m sure they were fascinating (if not great) people. Tim Robbins as Joseph Cotton, I can see that.
JG, I have nothing of substance to add to the Perry Mason discussion, I haven’t seen that show since I was a child. As for Morse Code, if it ain’t “SOS”, I’m useless. And even then!!
Oops. Anonymous was me, on my cell. I forgot to “sign it.” For some reason, I can’t comment under “Lou & Sue” from my cell. Silly phone.
—Sue
When the Frontierland Train Station was moved across the tracks for New Orleans Square the “freight depot” made the move too - to become a break room and storage for RR personal The freight depot was originally built as extra Frontierland area restrooms because the manager of the Swift Chicken Plantation house was tired of the large crowds gathered in and around the restaurant’s to only use the limited bathroom space. When the train station was relocated the telegraph SFXs were added .. : HOWEVER this was not the Walt Disneyland dedication speech. The first version wasn’t recognizable …. Except to Lillian Disney who had worked for the Union Pacific Railroad and could translate the RR version of the telegraph …. Lillian informed Walt what the telegraph was actually saying : three different VERY dirty limericks!!! Walt was pissed and it was quickly changed …. To the Disneyland dedication spiel ( part of it anyhow) the person responsible for the dirty limerick version of the Frontierland telegraph message : WARD KIMBALL! Ward also did the first recorded “Santa Fe & Disneyland Railroad” Depot calls…. Later done by Jack Wagoner.
Dela Street is my favorite Perry Mason character - in most of the early episodes EVERYONE drives a Ford Fairlane : the cops - perry - the taxi drivers - perry - Perry’s clients and even the crooks! The only exception is when there is a need for a sports car - ambulance- or a limousine. Later episodes feature a large assortment of vehicles. I recently found out Della Street is the mom of The Greatest American hero!
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