A Pair From March 1962

Here's a nice pair of scans from March of 1962, although they are from two different slide batches.

Let's start with this odd view, seemingly of "not much". Sure, there's a trash can in the foreground, and we can all get excited about that, but we get some railings, and a bunch of empty space before you get to a crowd of people in the distance. 

Aha! Now it all become clear. Alice is taking a vacation from Wonderland (she had to get away from those annoying Tweedles), and she brought along her BFF, the White Rabbit! For now the little girl in red has the WR all to herself, but other guests can sense that something is going on (the way sharks can smell a drop of blood from a mile away). 

It's amazing how different in color this next picture looks compared to the first; granted, this day is clear while the other was overcast, but still, the whole scene has a warm, inviting feel. Cool weather means that you might want to bring a jacket, sweater, or sealskin suit. 

The horse pulling the streetcar is talking to the conductor. "Are we going to stand here all day?".

Town Square, 1950s

Here is a pair of very nice photos of Town Square, taken late in the day. Mama mia, where are all the people?? There are a few, here and there, but my goodness, the park looks so empty.

First up is this nice look at the Bekins Storage building (I have always loved that interesting shape) and the Emporium. Everything seems so tranquil; I imagine that this was long before they played music over a PA system, so it was probably very quiet, except for the very pleasing sounds of the clip-clop of horse's hooves, the sound of the train whistle, and that sort of thing.

Next we have a Horseless Carriage coming toward us, while the Opera House and Bank of America are in the background. Notice the folding chairs set up beneath the Opera House's awning - just in case any guests thought there might be something for them to see inside the building. Not yet! There are some posters flanking the door to the Opera House, it always kills me to see that they've been drastically trimmed to fit in those frames.

For anyone still looking, I attempted a "tilt/shift" effect on the first photo. It would have worked better if I'd had more lower (foreground) area to help with the "short focal length" effect. Oh well, it is what it is.

More Frontierland, March 1962

Here are even more photos of a woman whose significant other was plum loco about her. 

There she is, posing along the shore of the Rivers of America, with the Columbia moored on Tom Sawyer Island. The sailing ship may have been moored there more than once, but I know for sure that it was put there during some of the construction that happened in Frontierland in 1962. Presumably, Fowler's Harbor was impacted by this work, otherwise you'd think that the Columbia could have just been stored there as it was so often.

Nearby, our gal poses next to a fire hydrant by the load area for the Mark Twain. I wonder what's in that red box to our right? Maybe candy! That greenish building behind the woman is the Ice House, which I believe was used for general storage. As far as I'm aware, the Ice House is still there to this day. I have always liked the detail of bales of cotton stacked up, waiting for pickup.

 

Two From July, 1958

It's Sunday, folks! Snoozer Sunday, and you know what that means. It's time for some not-so-great slide scans (both dated "July 1958"). Like this first one, showing the Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship, although it almost disappears from this angle. The sails become thin wafers, and the ship itself is largely blocked by the backs of heads and by umbrellas. Now we know why so many better photos of the Pirate Ship were taken from an angle.

It looks like the sun has nearly set at this point, resulting in a dark and moody shot of the Indian Village (didn't it "close at dusk"?) and the Canoe landing. It reminds me of those gloomy landscapes that you might find on the wall of a museum. The Dance Circle and the Birch Bark House can be seen through the murk. 

See the USA In your Chevrolet

I scanned a bunch of random slides a while ago, and picked a few to share with you today! First up is this neat street view. Undated, but those cars look pretty old. Is this pre-1950? It was also unlabeled, but the Pioneer Hotel in the distance made it easy to figure out that this is North Stone Avenue in Tucson, Arizona. Hey, one of the Junior Gorillas lives in Tucson! I asked our friend DrGoat if he recognized this area, and here's what he had to say:

Very cool. I know exactly where that is. Looking south up Stone Ave., downtown. The Pioneer Hotel and the Valley National Bank building just south of it. My Mom worked at that bank for 30 years. It is no more but the buildings are still there. That area between the hotel and the tan building in the left fore ground are all gone, replaced by bigger buildings.

Here's a Google street view... you can still see the Pioneer Hotel in the distance (though it is now an office building). 

Because I am so disorganized, I'm not sure if this next one is from the same batch of slides as the first one. But it is from Arizona - Tortilla Flat, about 100 miles north of Tucson. I'd heard of the John Steinbeck novel called "Tortilla Flat", but it turns out that it's about Monterey, California. Who can I sue?! Anyway, this photo shows a small restaurant; "S.R. Slimmer & Mrs. Powell". Even today there's not much around Tortilla Flat, and that was obviously the case back when this photo was taken. Let's go in and get some home cookin' and a cold beer!

Beauteous Frontierland

Frontierland has always been great, but there is just something about the way it was in the 1950s that is especially wonderful. Maybe it's because it's from the days when westerns were possibly the most popular genre in movies and television - people were fascinated with a world where good and bad seemed easier to  discern, and when large swaths of the country were still wild and unexplored. 

Today's slide scans are from at least 1956, you can tell because Tom Sawyer Island has guests roaming about (TSI debuted on June 16th of '56). I absolutely love this first view of the Gullywhumper, I believe that it is just pulling out into the river from its loading dock, on its way for an exciting trip past Indian settlements, burning cabins, and wildlife. You can see that the pilot is talking on a mic, my guess is that the ride was not jokey in the way it ultimately was decades later. The color and composition are quite nice.

Meanwhile, over in the Indian Village, two cute kids pose with a chief, wearing his magnificent feathered headdress and bone breastplate. I wish I could read the sign behind them, telling us about the "Chief's Council Tepee". 

Yo homies, I am still out of town, and away from a real computer, but I may be back with you tomorrow!

Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving! Or "Día de los turquía", as I like to call it. When I was a child, my siblings and I would dress as pilgrims and go door to door, getting scoops of mashed potatoes in our bags. That tradition seems to have died out, but I still like to wear a hat with a buckle on it sometimes. 

Our friend Sue B. has generously provided two wonderful Thanksgiving-themed photos from yesteryear (they are not "Lou and Sue" pix, however), it's always fun to see how people celebrated in the past. Let's start with this one, Pop is carving the turkey, and for some reason he is doing it in his basement workshop. "I think a 5/8 socket would come in handy right about now, and I hope the kids didn't move my pipe clamp". You know how kids are, they love to play with pipe clamps. Right after this picture was taken, Dad basted the bird with a squirt from that oil can. 3-in-1 has a sweet, nutty flavor that goes well with everything.

Maybe there was an additional oven down in the basement, freeing up the kitchen oven for the potatoes, pies, and other delicious goodies? My sister used to have a spare oven out in her garage for the same purpose.

Next is another photo from Sue, this time a scan of a photo print. The family has gathered for turkey and mashed potatoes, and several soft drinks, including Pepsi, 7-Up, and Sunkist orange soda. The bowl in the foreground might hold slices of canned cranberry sauce? The smiling young lady is about to stab the turkey with a fork, the only way to be sure it is really dead. They seem to own an original De Chirico painting, which is pretty sweet. I wish we could see what was on the nearby TV.

Next is a scan from yours truly. "But Major P! There's no turkey, no centerpiece made of Indian corn and autumn leaves, just a pretty lady!". Well, you'd be right about that, Timmy. But this slide was labeled, "Sandra, 1953, Thanksgiving", and that's good enough for me. You look great, Sandra!

 MANY THANKS to Sue for sharing her fun pix with us, and I'd like to wish all of you a very Happy Thanksgiving.

I'm hangin' with my family today (and probably for the next day or two)! I'll talk  to all of you soon!

Four Fun Fotos

Today I'm sharing four photos, brought to you courtesy of the Dream Team - Irene, Bruce, and James; this is the first Dream Team post since the passing of Irene, so I can't help feeling sad at our loss. But I also feel grateful for all of the wonderful photos that she has shared with us.

The first two are a real mystery to me - guests are posing with a character that I can't identify AT ALL. I feel like I have pretty good general knowledge of Disney animated characters, but obviously there are some blind spots. Who is this fox (?) who appears to be in a Prussian (?) uniform? It's a strange feeling for me to not be able to ID him! I can't even think of a film where a character like this might appear.

Judging by those angled eyebrows and rather evil grin, this fellow was not to be trusted. Also, is the location behind them the site of the old Hills Bros. Coffee House? Another mystery!

Next is this photo of a nice sign for "Fantasia Gardens", featuring Hyacinth Hippo from the famous "Dance of the Hours" segment of Fantasia. Fantasia Gardens was (still is?) where the old Motor Boat Cruise load area used to be. Why is Hyacinth carrying a tray with a teapot? Was it a dining area as well? From what I understand, it was also a place where smokers could get their fix (not anymore though).

I believe (but am not 100% certain) that this photo shows the area near Fantasia Gardens - I mean, there's a topiary of an elephant wearing a tutu. BUT... I am prepared to be corrected!

MANY THANKS TO THE DREAM TEAM!

Hey folks, today I will be hitting the road in order to spend Thanksgiving with my family. I think I should be back by Saturday at the latest; meanwhile, I'll probably be mostly silent in the comments. Sorry! It's just that I am not good with long-form typing on my phone. Yes, I'm lame. But I am looking forward to reading everyone's comments and will be back with you soon!

More "it's a small world", April 1975

Today I'm continuing a series of photos taken from inside the "it's a small world" attraction back in 1975. As in the previous post, I am using Winston Hibler's narration from the IASW album as a resource.

At this point we are just passing India (I believe) and heading into Bali: A many-armed golden goddess  silhouetted in a temple door, reigns over the beautiful land of Bali. The narration continues: Looking a bit like delicious birthday cakes, Balinese umbrellas shelter a variety of dancers and musicians - and one grinning Bengal tiger.

Africa, with all its color and exotic mystery, now comes into view...

Bashful giraffes, smiling hippos, carefree swinging monkeys, and other animals in their lush green jungle setting, join in the song.

Friendly llamas climb the peaks of the Andes mountains, as we start up the South American continent. We hear a little Chilean boy playing on his reed flute. Gauchos and Señoritas, balancing jars and fruit on their heads, add their Latin American rhythm to the theme.

Beautiful young flower vendors, pottery makers, burro-drawn carts, and towering shelves of familiar Mexican mementos are here for us to enjoy. Listen to the mariachi band!

IASW is such a dense and rich ride that our photographer did not capture even half of the countries, but (as a confirmed "it's a small world" lover), it makes me happy to see the scenes that he did capture.

More Fantasyland, 1983

I have a nice batch of Fantasyland photos courtesy of Lou Perry and Sue B. today, let's take a look! The first group shows all of the hubbub in front of the It's a Small World attraction. As you can see, cosmic rays have turned part of the façade shades of blue. It's like the buildings of the world have been plunged into a polar vortex!

As we have seen before, the number 8 is missing from that panel. Maybe it fell off, right into a passing boat. Finders, keepers!

I linked to this photo in a previous post, but here's what it should look like (from a 1966 image) with all of the numerals.

When I was learning how to paint, I had a teacher who had unkind things to say about the overuse of the color purple. Of course it is a fine hue, but in animation (I was learning how to paint backgrounds) and apparently in theme parks, it started to be used a LOT. Thanks to years of brainwashing, I now feel my hackles rising when I see too much purple. I will never seek treatment!

In spite of the purple, I have always loved that fanciful mechanical clock with the regimental drummers and the rows of costumed dolls marching out of the building. They didn't need to add that feature, but it sure made waiting in line a lot more fun. Notice the Disneyland RR passing by.

People! And strollers. But not too many strollers. Maybe a dozen, rather than the scores of them that can be seen proliferating near some rides. Like rats! Only you can push babies in them. OK, maybe it's a bad metaphor. I haven't had lunch yet.

Now we've moved over to the very busy "New Fantasyland". More strollers! And people in shorts that are shorter than I'd like. Does anybody know that sweeper? Is it Smitty from Lompoc? The long line is for "Peter Pan's Flight", I think I've waited in a line that bad.

"Pinocchio's Daring Journey" was a great addition to the Fantasyland dark rides, though it doesn't seem to be quite as beloved by the public as some of the others. What do they know! Above that balcony is a little proscenium; nothing's going on there in September of 1983, but eventually the marionette version of Pinocchio would wiggle around up there.

Waiting in line, it's all a part of being in Disneyland. Somehow it didn't seem so bad when you could do all of your favorite rides in one day!

A big THANK YOU to Lou and Sue!!

Miscellaneous Frontierland

It's another Snoozer Sunday, and another opportunity to use up some less-than-ideal images. These are all from the 1950s (I'd guess 1957 if I had to).

One of the basic lessons you might learn from a photography class is to not take photo of people or things when they are backlit by the bright sun. Unfortunately, our picture-taker cut class that day. The results are this image of the Old Mill on Tom Sawyer Island. It's as if it was painted with Vantablack, somehow the mill reflects almost no light. Maybe Saruman lives there!

This next one is not the worst photo in the world, but it lacks clarity. Still, some fun details can be seen in this shot of Frontierland as seen from a low river viewpoint. Maybe the photographer was on a Keelboat? Besides the Golden Horseshoe building, we can see an ice cream vendor's cart to the left, and above that, the shake roof of the well that was only there for a brief time. To the right of the yellow Golden Horseshoe banner we can see the sign for the Gun Shop. Notice the Christmas garlands, too!

I actually kind of like this photo though as usual I do wish it was a little bit crisper, and I wish those two noggins weren't partly blocking our view. But Tom Sawyer Island looks amazingly lush, one would hardly know that this was taken in an amusement park. And the Burning Settler's Cabin is really blazing! 

 

Motel & Car

I recently scanned a bunch of random "roadside" slides, which I find to be tons of fun. Somehow they evoke vacations, the open road, the Spirit of Adventure (even if on a modest scale), and nostalgia for old cars and old motels.

Oops! Rain?! What the heck. Somebody didn't get the memo, rain is verboten on vacations. I wish I knew where this motel was located, but there are no clues to go by - the sign is at an extreme angle. I like how those chairs allow about three inches for your feet to rest on. Our photographer and his wife lived in New York (see the license plate), but they could be anywhere. Notice the big river in the distance... probably the Amazon?

I did a little research ("little" being the operative word) and learned that the car is a 1965 Dodge Dart. It's pretty cute! The 1965 model was part of the "third generation" of Darts, classified as a "senior compact" car (with a 111-inch wheelbase). It was available in 2-door and 4-door versions. Some new options for 1965 included upgraded suspension components and larger 14 in (356 mm) wheels and tires. Factory-installed air conditioning became available after the start of the 1965 model year, as well as disc brakes, which required the 14 in (356 mm) wheels to clear the calipers. Front seat belts became standard.

Ah, the sun is out, so much nicer! You might remember the woman from some scans from last March, from Universal Studios. In fact we see that hat in those photos too, so maybe they took a leisurely drive all the way from NY to California. I hope you like this couple, because you'll be seeing them again!

More Beauties From 1973

It's time for more swell photos from our pal, Mr. X! Let's start with this wonderful image of the blue Mark III Monorail as it swooshed around the Matterhorn. Those bigger windows really allowed great views for the riders.

And there it goes! Mr. X had a quick trigger finger, it can't have been more than a second or two between the first pic and this one. Is this technically the "back side" of a Monorail?

Every now and then, X will find a few more negatives in a drawer, and he has generously given those to me. This shot of the Penny Arcade has been seen before (back in 2017), though it was scanned from a photo. This newer scan looks so much better! And... not a plush doll in sight.

This one was also previously-seen, another photo print scan, and as before, this scan from an original negative is better in every respect. Let's all go in and order fried balogna (I'll have lots of raw onions on mine), along with a Moxie and some boiled turnips on the side. It's not heaven, but it's pretty close.

THANK YOU to Mr. X.

More Leftuggies

Here are two Leftuggies™ - slides that somehow got left behind. It's no reflection on their quality, which (in today's case) is pretty good. 

The Matterhorn impresses in this pretty photo from July, 1964. The hazy sky makes me suspect that the picture was actually taken during the previous month's "June gloom", but it might just be a misty morning too. I've gotten into the habit of looking for red-shirted climbers when I see photos like this one, but Hans and Otto weren't scaling the icy slopes this time.

How about a nice zoom-in so that we get a better look at the outdoor seating for the Yacht Bar? There are plenty of empty seats, so maybe it really was morning-ish.

Next is this October, 1972 shot looking northeast from what I believe is the upper level of the Carousel of Progress building. From up there we get a good look at the Autopia (and that cool sign), some Skyway gondolas, and several Peoplemover trains. I love that lush, green "parkway" inside that roadway curve, there were probably herds of deer and maybe a few bears living in there.