Ambassador Parade, October 1981
Today's post is a continuation of one that appeared on October 4th; that one featured some of Lou Perry's photos of the announcement of the new Disneyland Ambassador (scanned and shared with us by Sue B). What do you do after such a momentous announcement? Why, you have a parade, Disneyland style. That means marching bands, old-fashioned modes of transport... you know, that sort of thing.
Speaking of marching bands, there's the Disneyland Band! I'm sure they are playing "Jessie's Girl", a song made popular by old-timey artist Rick Springfield And His College Boys. The man in the blue shirt is having the time of his life, but he expresses it by tapping his toes almost imperceptibly.
Here comes the hearse! Well, maybe not. Those horses are so glossy, they must have been shined up with new "Shimmer" for horses. The driver keeps a hoagie in his top hat in case of parade emergencies. "Get out of the way, I have a hoagie!".
Now the Disneyland Band has switched to a new song, this time it's "9 to 5", sung by Dolly Parton. America's sweetheart! Did I ever tell you that I saw her at an El Torito restaurant?
"Say boys, what should we do next? 'Hit Me With Your Best Shot'? Or 'Celebration'?". Kool and the Gang, come on! No disrespect to Pat Benatar intended.
It's the paparazzi! The "National Enquirer" and "World Weekly News" need fodder for their next issues, since Bat Boy has been quiet for a while. Notice Goofy, Br'er Bear and Br'er Fox, one of the Tweedles, and Mickey Mouse are there to pay their respects to the next Ambassador.
There she is! Joanne Crawford, who would assume her duties the following year. "My first act will be to make Disneyland 'clothing-optional'", she declared to some controversy. "Just kidding!" (sighs of relief all around).
What a great photo of Mickey and Minnie Mouse. They look as bright-eyed and vivacious as they did in 1928, when they were just two crazy kids. They didn't have two nickels to rub together, but they had songs in their hearts and a pocketful of dreams.
I've always liked seeing Tigger at Disneyland, with his day-glow orange fur, which is actually visible from space. Pooh Bear's popularity rivaled that of Mickey Mouse's, but he remained humble and lovable.
MANY THANKS to Lou and Sue!
18 comments:
Major-
Looking at the dreariness of that 'carriage', it really is hard to believe that it isn't a hearse. (That's a gag Disney has evidently missed - unless somehow connected to the Haunted Mansion).
Thanks to Lou and Sue for more sharing.
76 trombones!... well, 3 trombones! And a tuba, and something that looks like an upside-down saxophone. The toe tapper can barely contain himself. Any moment now he's gonna start dancing like Walter Houston... or Melissa.
Shimmer for horses: "It's a horse wax!" "No, it's an anti-bacterial disinfectant!" "You're both wrong... it's an artificial sweetener!"
Is the driver someone we should know; a Disney character perhaps? Or just a regal looking gentleman?
In the 3rd pic, the parade has come to a screeching halt for some reason. The trombones are playing "Wahh, wahhhhh", sadly.
4th pic: In the background, the regal gentleman in the top hat with the hidden hoagie has dismounted his mode of transportation and is walking alongside his glossy horses. Hidden Mickeys are passé, everyone is looking for Hidden Hoagies these days.
In the paparazzi pic, you can add the White Rabbit to the list of Disney celebrities (on the left edge). So, the regal gentleman is the chauffeur for the Ambassador... Now we know.
Mickey & Minnie: Mickey has been indulging in too many churros; he's looking a little paunchy. You can see a little bit of Chip, or Dale, next to Goofy's snout.
Tigger & Company: Unlike the toe tapping guy in the first pic, the little kid in the green shirt is truly joyful to see Pooh and Tigger, etc.
Thank you to Lou and Sue and Major for more of these parade pictures.
This is a continuation of Bu’s birthday post! Maybe he might recognize more people from today’s pictures...
Sue
The very first thing that Joanne Crawford did as Ambassador, was demand that the Disneyland Wardrobe Department get rid of all of their wire hangers.
Since it's Disneyland, I really think the DL Band should have played Pat Benatar's "Hell Is For Children." It's such a cheery song for the location, and the occasion.
Major, did I ever tell you that Dolly Parton sang "Happy Birthday" to me, on my 30th birthday? (I think I might have, but not here on your blog.)
JB, I was thinking along the same lines for Shimmer: It's a floor wax, a dessert topping, AND a horse polish!
I hear Joanne Crawford had a big feud with Beth Davis.
My favorite is the third picture, where the band id pointing right at us with their deadly 3-D trombone slides. However, the light is just beautiful in all of them.
So jealous of all the Dolly Parton meetings!
76 trombones!... well, 3 trombones!
In my high school music theory class, every week we had to write a certain number of arrangements for different ensembles. If we were in a rush, we'd try to include as many "C" instruments as possible so we'd have to transpose less. We used to sing amongst ourselves:
Seventy six bassoons in the marching band,
While a hundred and ten oboes played the air.
Then I modestly walked the route as the one and only flute,
And I tootled up and down the square.
Lively pics Lou & Sue, thanks!
Lots of stuff to peruse, but I like the fact that there is not one smile in the second photo when the Haunted Mansion buggy goes by. Day-glow Tiger is a treat with Poo and Pinocchio. When I was about 14, I noticed that Pinocchio always had nice legs, which led me too believe that that the character was played by a girl. Probably like every other boy around that age.
Thanks Lou & Sue, great photos as usual. Thank you Major for this lively post.
All these Main Street photos and not a single glimpse of a trash can. Must be a first.
What is that thing hanging from Robert Redford’s belt in photo 5? A VCR battery?
Dr. Goat, Pinocchio? I know, right?
I love the little kid following Pooh and Tigger. That’s a Disneyland face on him.
I signed off my zoom meeting yesterday with “TTFN” and had to explain it to some of the youngers.
Thanks Lou, Sue and Major!
JG
Forgot to add - Pooh stayed humble because his hunny pot kept him from getting a swelled head.
Nanook, I guess you could argue that the driver looks like he could be dressed for an Easter parade, but I prefer the hearse theory!
JB, those were the days when people played upside-down saxophones, it was crazy. The music was upside-down too, which is why kids learned to breakdance. I don’t think the driver is supposed to be anyone of note, he’s just a dressed up chump! (Sorry, that was mean, I apologize to the chump). “Hidden Hoagy” is my rap name. Mickey has always looked a little paunchy, after all his bottom/belly was drawn as a perfect circle. I don’t want a skinny Mickey! I do love seeing happy kids watching parades, they are so thrilled to see their friends.
Sue, I haven’t read ahead, we’ll see if Bu chimes in.
TokyoMagic!, I got rid of all my wire coat hangers, and my life has been demonstrably better, so Joanne Crawford knew what she was talking about. “Hell is for Children” would be perfect for the marching band. And NO, I don’t remember you telling us that Dolly Parton sang “Happy Birthday” to you. How in the world did that happen??
Melissa, let’s face it, Joanne Crawford had a feud with everybody. She probably won her ambassador position through blackmail. I read it in The Enquirer. If that third photo was in 3-D, we would be wearing eye patches now.
Melissa, you took a high school music theory class? Gee. I took “study hall” four times a day. I got an “A” every time! I don’t know what a “C” instrument is, but I assume that the “C” stands for “cursed”.
DrGoat, ha ha, it’s verboten to smile when doing anything related to the Haunted Mansion. Anyone violating that rule has to scrub the toilets for the next month. My first real girlfriend loved Pinocchio, but he must have been in Stromboli’s bird cage that day because we didn’t see him.
JG, huh, that IS kind of weird, could it be that the trash cans were moved for this busy event? You’d think that we would see at least a few. I don’t know what that thing is on Robert Redford’s belt, it looks like a walkie talkie. Or an old cell phone. I guess I can understand kids not getting “TTFN”. “Is that dirty?”.
Melissa, once you learn the truth, it all becomes so obvious.
That carriage looks like the same one that Mickey and Minnie rode in for the 1981/'82 Christmas Parade. And I remember a gentleman who was dressed similarly, drove the carriage. I wish I had a better pic of it, but you can see part of it here:
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TEeYcSSSIOU/V3G9PgIY1eI/AAAAAAAAMhY/zzHgrwNqAeIlez4wSn2MR_sWuJOJ8Cb9ACLcB/s1600/1981%2BFOP%2B-%2BBackstage%2B%252813%2529.jpg
Major, Dolly happened to be in So. Cal signing her autobiography, on my birthday. The bookstore employees were passing out papers to everyone in line with the "rules," like "Only 2 books per person," "No photographs," and "No personalizing" (meaning she was only signing her name in the books and not "To So And So," etc. I was a little disappointed that there wasn't going to be any personalizing, but I do understand that her hand must get tired enough, just from signing her own name over and over. Then my friends surprised me when we got up to her, by telling Dolly that it was my birthday. They were hoping that she would ask my name and then maybe on her own, decide to write "Happy Birthday to....." in the book. Well instead, she sang "Happy Birthday" to me! It is one of those moments in life, that I will never ever forget.
Speaking of forgetting, I forgot to thank Lou, Sue, Major, and Joanne!
Major, "The music was upside-down too, which is why kids learned to breakdance". Mystery solved! I knew there had to be a reason why they were always spinning on their heads.
Tokyo!, neat story about Dolly Parton. It's just as well that she didn't ask you your name; I'm sure she wouldn't have believed that it was "TokyoMagic!", anyway. ;-)
Tokyo, what a great story and a memorable birthday.
JG
Who's the guy in the coach with Joannie? Inquiring minds want to know!
And the sinister-looking character in the white jacket right behind the coach - I don't like the looks of him.
That second picture is sort-of creepy. Most of the people are looking at us.
TM! I love your Dolly story.
I'm glad you enjoyed these pictures.
TokyoMagic!, wow, what a fantastic story. Dolly is truly a wonderful person, it was so generous of her to sing “Happy Birthday” to you. I’ll bet other people in line were jealous! When I saw her at El Torito, she was sitting at a table with a man who I assume was her husband. At some point a table full of yokels went over while Dolly was trying to eat, and they all wanted to take photos of (and with) her. She was as nice and patient as can be, I really was amazed. I would have said, “Come on! I’m eating! Give it a rest!”. This is why I am not an international superstar (though I am famous in Oxnard).
JB, I didn’t even consider the “spinning on their heads” part!!
JG, YES.
Anonymous, it is a young Andre the Giant, obviously.
Melissa, nobody else saw him, and yet he showed up on film. WHY??
Lou and Sue, Lou must have been causing a scene!!
I am late! But as "they" say "better late than never". Late did not work at Disneyland. 3 times late: verbal warning. Next one: Written warning. Next one: fired. The end. This changed when I went to the Queen Mary, as the "Disney Way" did not...let's say "translate" to the Wrather Organization. Since employees were not, let's say as "disciplined" as Disneylanders, we had to come up with new attendance guidelines so that we would have employees. In my crazy world, 10 minutes early, is 5 minutes late. And if you are late, it is strategic and planned. Back to Crawford. Yes...I can see a few people...Pic #1 blue shirt and guy next to him- Blue shirt was a somebody...I forget the somebody's name, but it will come to me eventually. Pic #2 of Mortician and shiny horses. Some horses that were used in events/parades etc. I was like "where do they get these animals from?" Rentals wouldn't work out in a parade...so distracting with all the noise and nonsense about. Morticians costume was the same for the boys costume in City Hall, sans the top hat and gloves. The only time I saw that carriage was for the Ambassador ride down main street. I too thought is was a bit "severe". Pic #3 has a celebrity in it. Mickey Mouse. Guy in baseball cap. But Mickey Mouse sans costume. The Ambassador ceremony was an Entertainment Dept. Production, Hence a gaggle of entertainment types. Sorry to burst everyones bubble. There are people inside those costumes. Pic #4 Nothing. Pic #5 Tall guy in beige sport coat: Entertainment. Tall character. Red Coat/Plaid tie on right: another tall character. Usually both these guys acted as Character Leads. Back then they were in the background, it seems today they are very visible "handlers". Beige coat, brown slacks: back to us: I am pretty sure this guy is Supervisor Rory. He was around for a while, and a while after me. The girls loved this guy. He was tough on guys. I think he moved onto the west side from Main Street...Pic #6. Another celebrity in this photo: Salt and pepper hair, name tag, beige coat: Disneyland Barber. (forget his name, but he cut my hair a few times). The guy sitting with Joanne is a someone too...usually they used Disney celebrities...I would have to dig to find this guys name. Last photo on left of Pooh: Photographer Renie again, always with a camera.
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