Hi kids, just a note to let you know that I am heading out of town as of this morning, and I'll probably be gone for the next three days or so. As usual, I won't have much access to a computer (not counting my iPad, where typing is a frustration), so you probably won't be hearing from me. But I'll still check in! I look forward to talking to all of you soon.
Say, it's almost Christmas! You probably didn't know. In the spirit of the holiday, it seems like a good time to share some vintage Disneyland photos - TINSELIZED!
Let's begin with this fun photo of a parade along Main Street USA. The slide is dated "January 1959", so this is from late in the '58 Christmas season. This was on eBay, along with another slide from the same parade, indicating that the band had come all the way from Oconomowoc, Wisconsin - which is where my great aunt had her farm; I spent many wonderful summers there. Sadly, I was outbid on the other slide, much to my astonishment. Incidentally, the University of Wisconsin's Badgers competed (and lost to the Washington Huskies - 44 to 8. Ouch) in the Rose Bowl football game on New Year's Day.
Next is a scan from a slide showing a beautiful (and uncrowded!) Plaza, with the magical talking Omnibus ("Hey bub! Don't stick your gum under my seat!"), and the mighty Matterhorn with the huge Christmas star on top. Notice the pink construction walls near the entrance to Tomorrowland.
And from the 1950s we have this view of the Castle, bedecked (but not TOO bedecked) with holiday garlands. The lady in the lower right looks a bit puzzled, but she's having a great time!
And finally, here's a beauty from Mr. X, taken back in 1998. Starting the previous year, "it's a small world" was decorated for the holidays, and it's easy to be dazzled by the hundreds of twinkling lights. I love this twilight view.
I hope you have enjoyed today's Christmas Eve pix!
Major-
ReplyDeleteIn the 2nd image, next to the 'family' of balloons, it appears there's a portable, tripod stand with [at least] three, Electro-Voice #CDP-848AT outdoor loudspeakers. And the tripod really appears to be 'listing' to one side-! In the 3rd image, the two gents with cuffed jeans appear to be carrying lunch pails. Presume they are outside contractors...
Thanks, Major.
In the first pic, on the left, there's a guy in (dirty) white coveralls. Is he a sweeper, or maybe a maintenance worker? Next to him is a policeman or security guy. Did the security guys wear police-type uniforms in the early days?
ReplyDeleteThe second photo is crystal clear! As bright and shiny as the day it was processed. Excellent color. Excellent composition, too. The balloons are especially bright and saturated. And there's one of the white flocked trees in the moat that Bu mentioned yesterday.
In the third photo, at first glance I saw only a couple of kids. Lots and lots of seniors though. Then I saw the gaggle of kids on the left and my faith in humanity was restored. As Nanook noted, the two guys near the center are carrying lunchpails (THEY BROUGHT FOOD INTO THE PARK!) I'm guessing they are working on some attraction in the Park.
The Small World pic, I gotta say, it looks "magical"! This one's a keeper, for sure... so I did! Beautiful! The multi-colored paint scheme works well at Christmas time.
Thanks for the Christmasy photos, Major. And a big thank you to Mr. X for that marvelous Small World pic.
Very nice pics for Christmas Eve. I especially like the Christmas star atop the Matterhorn. Thanks, Major & Mr. X.
ReplyDeleteThe two lunch pail men have brought their great-grandmother's famous fried chicken into the park.
ReplyDeleteThe "puzzled" lady in the lower right corner is just a little distraught, because she forgot to bring along some Mink Chow®, to feed to her stole. It will be getting hungry later in the day.
In the third picture it looks like a City Bus Driver or a guest’s Chauffeur is (leaning on the trash can) is enjoying the park.
ReplyDeleteLove the Matterhorn Star image .
I mean, what's better than a Christmas Omnibus?
ReplyDeleteI hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas!
Major, these are great, each in their own way.
ReplyDeleteAre the band musicians wearing motorcycle helmets? Or steel salad bowls?
The Matterhorn Star is brilliantly clear so it must not be rotating. Is that pink wall blocking the trail to Snow White’s Grotto? Many trash cans for your convenience. I think the white flocked trees were lit up in blue at night.
I’ll definitely take the pale pastel Castle over the gaudy version any time. Tokyo, Purina probably made Mink Chow, your friends at Checkerboard Square!
And the Piece of Resistance is the Spumoni IASW all lit up. What a brilliant photo, thank you Mr. X!
Thank you Major, have a great Christmas with your family, and my best to all the Junior Gorillas too.
JG
iasw also has a projection show to go with the holiday lighting. I caught the end of one showing back in November, but it's really hard to figure out the timing of shows at DL now that there are no printed time guides. Guest Services told me they're in the phone app, but it was easier to plan your walk around the park when you could look at a single piece of paper to see when all of the musical performances, parades, etc. were happening
ReplyDeleteDelightful. Love those solid color banners and white trees.
ReplyDeleteThe Matterhorn star rotated? Never saw that myself somehow.
Merry Christmas GDB
MS
@ MIKE-
ReplyDeleteHe also looks a little like George Chandler (or is it George Cleveland-?) - both appeared on Lassie as 'Uncle Petrie' and 'Gramps', respectively. [Not to mention the two 'Dads', three 'Moms', two 'Timmys', and God only knows how many 'Lassies'-!] And this was considered good, wholesome "family entertainment"-?? And lest we forget... Jack Wrather produced this show.
@ JG-
I was wondering if that 'pink wall' was actually just one side of a strategically-placed container filled with helium balloons used by Entertainment for parades, etc.
Always had mixed feelings about that star on the Matterhorn. Makes it harder to pretend it's a real mountain.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, it's time to break out "Disneyland Around the Seasons" and/or "One Hour in Wonderland", the latter ideally accompanied by Refreshing Coca-Cola in bottles.
"Babes in Toyland" makes for a nice background, whatever its failings as an actual movie. It's saturated with boomer-era Disney ambiance: the set design, the musical arrangements, Annette, etc. Likewise "Backstage Party", the promo episode. Something to have on the tube in lieu of football.
Still wish they'd release "From All of Us to All of You" (original version with Walt introducing) and some of the other holiday episodes of the hour show.
Happy travels, Maj! So cool that you have a personal connection to the first picture.
ReplyDelete#2 is the pick of the litter for me. I like the effect of the bright banners and signs against the less colorful December foliage and sky. The two boys are really pulling off the not-identical-but-similar-siblings-but-not-twins look. And look at the Soviet spy in the background, in her babushka and suspiciously red coat. She'll get Khrushchev into Disneyland yet! (Maybe disguised as a large lunchbox full of fried chicken.) The Talking Omnibus was much more popular than the Talking Blunderbuss.
One of the best times of all was working the Park during the Holidays. The guests were happy, and of course we enjoyed the spirit of it all. Yet, the lasting memory was to be there after closing to have it all to yourself...or so it seemed. You couldn't help but to walk slowly though the Park heading backstage to change into 'street clothes'. And to be able to do that every night during the Season. Simply Santa's workshop. KS
ReplyDeleteTokyo!, She can stop by Purina House on Main Street to pick up some Mink Chow. It's right next to the Fox Chow and the Chinchilla Chow. [Edit: JG sorta beat me to it.]
ReplyDeleteJG, I think those are old fashioned motorcycle cop helmets, like you see in 1950s TV shows and movies. Why are they wearing motorcycle helmets?... Who knows. I prefer to think that they are salad bowls.
Has anyone seen our bag of Christmas stocking candy? The German stuff? It was right here a week ago. Oh, man…Mrs. Chu-, er, I mean Mrs. Claus will not be pleased. Looks like I may be getting coal in my stocking this year…
ReplyDeleteCheckerboard Square is 18 miles from my house.
These have been a real treasure…just as I treasure all of the friendships I’ve made here at GDB over the past 13 years. Merry Christmas to you all, and as Tiny Tim (no, not Herbert Butros Khaury, the other one, the one that didn’t get married on The Tonight Show) implored, may God bless us, every one.
Major, I love all of these images - especially Mr.' X's! Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteMS, I'll attach a link to the GDB post that shows the Matterhorn Christmas star rotating - on tomorrow's Christmas post - so that I make sure you see it. It's really cool!
Thank you, Major and Mr. X!
Merry Christmas, everyone!