Storybook Land Loading, March 1962
It's Storybook Land time again, with this nice shot of a canal boat ("Lady of the Lake") taking on a new load of passengers. A giant graham cracker is propped nearby in case anybody gets hungry.
Notice the tour guide to our left, not to mention the pretty cast member who I believe was going to be the Boatstess for this journey through the miniature tableaus. Clearly it was a chilly day, everybody is bundled up (California style).
Our photographer pivoted to the right (while dribbling a basketball) to capture this view looking toward the cave entrance to "Never Never Land", where boats were stored and maintained. Except for that one right in front of us. Look at that male CM, he is walking with a purpose. There must have been a restroom back there. To the right we can see the yellow garage from the Midget Autopia.
27 comments:
Major-
The rudders on the Canal Boats must be the most colorful ones, anywhere. Down front in the image of Never, Never Land, we can just spy some white, yellow and orange Iceland poppies. "Poppies will put them to sleep-!!"
Thanks, Major.
Major-
Should've also mentioned just beyond Monstro, we can see a waterfall from Skull Rock, and just above and beyond that - one of the roof gables on the Skyway Chalet.
They couldn't make that cushion look more like a graham cracker if they tried!
Those Canal Boats are an excellent example of Disney's attention to theming and detail; very Old World European looking.
Speaking of graham crackers, has anybody else noticed how small and narrow they've become lately? They used to be considerably bigger. Same with Nilla Wafers vanilla wafer cookies.
In the last photo, Ha! That male CM is doing an excellent Big Foot impersonation with that classic pose. Glancing toward us while taking those giant strides.
I wonder what kind of plant that is with the vibrant orange flowers. It looks sort of like an agave, but I don't recall seeing those with colorful blooms. That's another interesting plant/tree behind it; a banana plant maybe. But they don't have woody trunks.
I see Nanook is focused on plants today as well.
Thanks for the ride on the Canal Boats, Major... Oh wait... we haven't gone on the ride yet. I want my money back!
@ JB-
There isn't much to go by, but that tree could be a sycamore...
"I wonder what kind of plant that is with the vibrant orange flowers"
Pretty sure that's a Bird of Paradise - a plant often used around ugly apartments in the 60s.
Nanook, I think we're looking at two different trees. The one I mean is just to the upper left of the orange blooming one. It has broad, banana-like leaves, but a woody trunk.
Sunday Night, yeah, I thought of Bird of Paradise too. But somehow it didn't look right to me. But you're probably right.
The Storybook Land Canal boats are mostly based on Dutch design , but are painted in the bright elaborate liveries common with English canal boats.
Originally it was planed that the boats would have static tow boats behind the motorized lead boat , but the engines were determined to not be strong enough.
None of the Canal boats are originally as they were all rebuilt over a period of time in the 1990’s.
really like the third photo. male CM is perhaps technician or maintenance, seems to have just entered via small gate we can barely see swung open. love the blue benches, and of course the scalloped fence tops. what a nice little hobby someone had building an environment like this for people to visit
I think we may have our first backstage trash can sighting on GDB. No wonder they never never take guests back there.
The Lady of the Lake is a worthy vessel! Here in Dallas "The Lady of the Lake" refers to a ghost story involving White Rock Lake in East Dallas. Sort of "Resurrection Mary" relocated, really. I'm pretty sure Disney wasn't referring to that one.
The Midget Autopia barn shows just how close together things are in Fantasyland! I can almost see the doors spring open and an elderly couple drive out!
Very fun pics today, Major!
Stu: I’m not really sure what “The Lady of the Lake” boat name is referring to, but the “Lady of the Lake” I know of was a sorceress who tricked Merlin and turned him into a tree ….. but I think it sounds like she was bad …. And an odd choice to name a cute - happy canal boat after.
Nanook, Walt mentioned “hard facts” in his opening day speech, but he forgot to mention “colorful rudders”. He never forgave himself. Iceland poppies?? What’s wrong with California poppies?
Nanook, well by golly, you’re right!
JB, back in those days it was the fad to make objects look like food. I can’t think of a single other example, but I need you to trust me on this. I also need you to give me your PIN and your Social Security number. It’s just between you and me! I haven’t had graham crackers in a long time, but it doesn’t surprise me that they’ve made them smaller. Everything is smaller! My brother was complaining that a “family size” box of Wheat Thins is what the regular size used to be. That plant appears to be a Bird of Paradise, seen all over SoCal. As for the “agave”, I couldn’t tell you!
Nanook, I guess I must be looking in the wrong place… don’t sycamores usually have light-colored trunks?
Sunday Night, Bird of Paradise even be seen around OK-looking apartments!
JB, maybe it’s a rare “death banana”?!
JB, I’m pretty sure that the orange baby is a BoP.
Mike Cozart, I wonder if Walt saw some canal boats in various countries in Europe and wanted them in his park? Or else his well-traveled Imagineers just knew what he would like. Interesting about the idea of having the boats towed, I think that what we actually got turned out to be perfect.
LTL, it’s interesting that most benches around Disneyland were green, but somebody wanted blue for that viewing area (notice that the benches are facing toward the ride too!).
Chuck, we may have seen backstage trashcans before (I’m thinking Skyway views), but I will mark this day as the official “first sighting”. I will also alert the media! ;-)
Stu29573, the “Lady of the Lake” referred to on that boat was a woman named Marge, she yelled at kids to stop splashing. It seems strange to us now, but Walt knew what he was doing. Those Midget Autopia cars were pretty small, but I suppose an elderly couple could be small too!
Mike Cozart, I think that the “Marge” I referred to also turned Merlin into a tree. But I do sometimes mix up my legends.
I left a nice comment earlier, and it doesn't show up.
Either blogger ate it, or it is hung up in my iPad at home. :( so here goes again.
Fun post. What are the colorful beads by the well-dressed lady in the first picture? Are they part of a purse?
Chuck, we have seen that trash can before, I recall Bu describing how grotty that backstage area was.
Pretty sure the plants with the woody trunks are agave, not bananas or Birds of Paradise. Bananas often have multiple trunks, and the leaves and flowers on both are the wrong shape to be either BoP or bananas.
There are several "Ladies of the Lake" depending on the version of the Arthurian legend you are reading. Morgan Le Fay beguiled Merlin into his long sleep, and the arm of another Lady, clad in shining white samite lugged Excalibur at Arthur following the damage in battle done to the Sword in the Stone, as foretold by the Scrolls of Python. There is even a description of the hierarchy of these Lamiae, some are evil, others just fey and unpredictable, as likely to do good as to do bad, much like the Sybil of Delphi. The Lady of the Lake offering the Sword later became the mother of the Maid of the Mist who was cursed by the Norns into ferrying onlookers around the bottom of Niagara Falls (named after Sir Albert Niagara).
Thanks Major, lots of fun today.
JG
Major-
The (possible) sycamore tree I was referring to is right next to that grouping of Iceland poppies.
JG, I thought Niagara Falls was named after Sir Albert Falls.
—Sue
JG, “Maid of the Mist” - brilliant! And I can only add that strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government. Supreme executive power derives from a mandate from the masses, not from some farcical aquatic ceremony.
Sue, you are thinking of Schweitzer Falls.
Chuck, you’re right. I get them confused.
—Sue
As a former resident of Niagara County, I can confirm that the Falls were named for Sir Niagara Albert, who was very clumsy and fell down a lot. He was also barrel-chested.
I think that looks more like an ice cream sandwich cookie than a graham cracker.
"Speaking of graham crackers, has anybody else noticed how small and narrow they've become lately? They used to be considerably bigger."
YES! It's been driving me crazy that nobody on the Internet is talking about this. I eat a lot of graham crackers, and it's not just the size and shape - they've changed the recipe, too. They smell and taste different, and do unpleasant things to my tummy. I've been leaping like a game of Frogger from brand to brand as one by one, they switched to the new formula. Even the store brands.
All those ladies in knee socks are really triggering my childhood instinct to straighten my socks. Which is awkward, as I'm not wearing socks.
JG, sorry about the lost comment. I wish I knew the cause, but it’s out of my control. I sometimes comment on other people’s blogs and those vanish as well. I’m not sure what those beads are, if they even are beads. Believe it or not, my mom collects antique beads. Thousands and thousands of them. I’ve picked up some knowledge by osmosis. “Are those Venetian?”. “Those appear to be Czech”. Man, I’m good! ;-) Agave sounds like a good guess, though the plant with the orange flowers has to be a Bird of Paradise, no? You sure know a lot about Arthurian legend (and others)!
Nanook, I think it’s a maple tree. Then again, I think ALL trees are maple trees.
Sue, It was named after his cousin, who is also called Sir Albert Falls.
Chuck, I recognize that humorous quote from “Stop, Or My Mom Will Shoot”.
Sue, if there’s one thing Chuck knows, it’s buses. And waterfalls. And Esperanto.
If we’re looking at the same thing, my guess is that the classy lady is holding a pair of really cool and colorful sunglasses.
—Sue
Major-
All this talk about Sir Albert Niagara begs the question: Where does Niagara Spray Starch fit into the picture-??
Melissa, I find it hard to believe that nobody on the internet is talking about the Great Graham Cracker Conspiracy! I mean, it's right up there with the faked moon landing and the government cover-up of UFOs! Nowadays, I think they're made from Soylent Green.
I'm with Sue on the 'beads' being a pair of glasses. I noticed them last night, and at first glance I thought they were beads too. But that didn't really make sense unless they were some sort of rosary beads. And that didn't make much sense either. So after a few seconds I decided they were the 'stems' of eyeglasses; strange-looking eyeglasses.
Nanook, Niagara Spray Starch was originally called Albert Spray Starch. There's yer connection.
"Niagara Spray Starch was originally called Albert Spray Starch"
AKA Prince Albert in a can.
Amuza fakto: Sir Albert Niagara estis la unua persono kiu sukcese trapasis la falojn en GM "Old Look" buso, TDH-3610 posedata de la Buffalo Transit Company, en 1949.
Melissa, "Princo Alberto en ladskatolo" - ridiga!
Melissa, I am glad to learn that Sir Niagara Albert was barrel-chested! Also “fleet of foot”. I like to buy the “extra thick” graham crackers, you can’t bite through them, but the flavor! How can they mess up the classic graham cracker? Are they replacing graham flour with sawdust and melamine? It makes me mad. From now on, it’s nothing but Oreos.
Sue, THAT’S IT!
Nanook, there is no reason that Sir Albert can’t be involved in the spray starch biz! That’s probably why he was knighted. Starch is how he kept his upper lip stiff.
JB, I thought that the “beads” looked like a rigid shape, but couldn’t figure out what they were. Leave it to Sue! I thought that the “beads” looked like African trade beads. Maybe. Again, learning stuff from my mom without meaning to. But they didn’t look quite right.
Melissa, what about new roll-on starch? It’s less convenient, but hey, it’s a roll-on.
Chuck, Tio estas facile por vi diri! (Thank you, Google Esperanto Translator). A GM “Old Look” bus, you say! Very tidiga indeed. (Well done, Chuck)
I’m studying the enlarged photo of the dressy lady and, by gum, I think you all are right! Those are earpieces or temples or whatever of her glasses, striped in bright colors like Joseph’s Coat. I can see it now.
Chuck, you’re right, the only solution is an anarcho-collectivist enclave with an executive committee alternating every other Thursday. The Sybils of Delphi and Cumae nod approvingly in the wings.
The poppies are putting me to sleep. Thanks everyone for all the fun.
JG
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