Fantasyland, 1956
I love me some classic Fantasyland, back in the days of painted plywood flats and canvas. Maybe some sheet metal thrown in for spice. Mmmm, metallic!
This is a pretty nice view of the Mad Tea Party. Why is it so mad? Don't be like that. An ordinary hu-man might not be able to appreciate a picture like this, but we know that it's all about the colors and patterns. And that guy with both arms raised in the air, as if somebody has just scored a field goal. Walt originally wanted to pair the Teacups with a ride called the "Crumpet Cruncher", but money was short, and Americans aren't really sure what crumpets are, anyway. Let's go ride Mr. Toad after this!
You knew there was going to be a photo of the Dumbo ride, didn't you? Maybe that sketchy medical trial that you participated in when you were in college gave you precognition. And pyrokinesis! Some say that those same experiments resulted in flying elephants, but that's just a conspiracy theory.
17 comments:
Major-
In image #2 - isn't this the first time we've spied that classic style 'dome top' trash can - and in white no less-?
Thanks, Major.
Picture #1: Another Skyway gondola’s been skewered by Mr. Toad, again.
Picture #2: I never really noticed how cute Dumbo looks from behind, until now.
Colorful beauties, thanks, Major!
Sue
Nice saturated colors in both of these pics.
#1 looks sort of like a frame from an 8mm home movie. Not sure why; maybe it's the lighting and the slight blur.
So why does the man-in-white have his arms in the air anyway? Maybe he's trying to attract the attention of a member in his party who is in one of the teacups, or on the other side of the ride.
The Dumbo pic really shows off the ride to good effect. I added this one to my collection. And we get a pretty good view of the Skyway Chalet, too. For once, Timothy is facing toward us; usually we see the backside of the mouse-with-the-whip.
Interesting clothing on the lady in the yellow top with bright blue pedal pushers(?). It looks sort of like a genie costume one would wear on Halloween.
Thanks for the fantastic Fantasyland fotos, Major.
Nice color today. Eyvind Earle rocked.
Never noticed how the round Skyway gondolas had a shiny, bare-metal plate on the pylon side of the bucket. Going to assume that’s to prevent wear and tear on the paint job as they rubbed along some surface inside the stations.
Nanook, sharp eye on the round-top can. The coloration here helps illustrate why I called these “astronaut” trash cans as a kid, although the date of the photo makes it clear that the resemblance is a mere coincidence. There’s also a current-shape can in the first photo, although since it’s painted in plain, solid “go-away green,” most patrons probably missed it. Would have cut down on having to empty it, though.
Sue! I’ll thank you to kindly refrain from pointing out the positive proportions of pachyderm posteriors. This is a family blog! [clutches pearls, faints]
There is never to be a reference to the backside of Dumbo or any other backside. Polite people do not even say "Bottom", we were implored as kids to only say the "allowed" acronym: B.T.M. "We've been in the motorcar for so very long that my BTM is taxed." It's only later in life that my vocabulary has gone from Maria Von Trapp to Red Foxx. Perhaps the backside of water should be the "BTM of water" in polite circles? It is interesting to see how the Teacups were assembled with planks of wood. This would later be coated by some kind of non-skid type of stuff later in my time. I've seen some early shots of the tea cups with no paint at all- which I suppose in the day no one would notice, but the "me's" of the world say "oops ... ran out of cash." I also have a half finished walkway in my yard with the same moniker. I'm not understanding the lederhosen type shorts with white shirt on the right....what ARE those shorts? Someone will know. Genie lady is a mere blip compared to "full diaper/pleather balloon shorts dude". Guy with arms in the air is practicing some Mickey Mouse Club cheer obviously- or...he has just gotten up from falling down and is exclaiming "I'm OK!". Blond white shirt NASA guy is conversing with brunette puffy sleeves in the ticket booth....it looks like they can put more humanoids in the cups...perhaps he is saying "uh...ya gonna sell any more tickets?" But probably it's "can you meet me at Chao's after your shift?". I'll have to check if Chao's was there...perhaps the land was still a farm waiting to be exploited into ill conceived Chinese Food? I'm unclear to the paint scheme on the Skyway supports. I may have done those in go away green, or in Matterhorn grey. Will have to ponder that thought in my state of emotional hangover after the Christmas weekend....do family gatherings have to be quite so loud? (grumpy uncle alert.)
P.S. regarding crumpets. The most similar thing in the US is and English Muffin. Imagine if an English Muffin and a pancake had a love child....what would come out is a crumpet. They are very tasty, like English muffins but are not two pieces. They are more malleable, and as kids us CA influenced children would fold them like little jelly tacos. I may go make crumpets right now...thanks for the inspiration!
Second viewing, new details:
Photo 1 - the sun is at just the right angle to make the dark stripes on the Mr. Toad facade look like shadows of the blue stripes, making them appear as giant ribbons or crepe.
Photo 2 - there are two little kids standing in front of the Dumbo ticket booth wearing Donald Duck hats. Also - Walt Disney and Van France are deep in conversation, standing just behind the photographer.
Bu, my entire property is full of “oops…ran out of cash” projects. Wish we had the attention span to - ooh, look - shiny squirrel!
The word crumpet always makes me think of Jim Carrey in Dumb and Dumber - “Maybe she’ll invite us up for tea and strumpets!”
Wow, early Fantasyland got a lot of bang for the buck out of paint and plywood. Compared to other boardwalks of that era, it’s positively sparkling.
I don’t know if we have seen that “particular” astronaut can before, but we have certainly seen the type before. The cylinder cans were often found in queues and locations where the bigger cans wouldn’t fit or would be obtrusive. Typically in Autopia, Submarines, Monorail platform, etc. we saw one in the entry of the Moonliner building a few days back. The go-away green one here in 1956 supports my theory that the fancy cans didn’t show up till post-1957 or thereabouts. The astronaut cans didn’t seem to be decorated, just plain factory paint.
If Chao’s wasn’t there yet, it would have to be invented, can’t have Classic Disneyland or Star Trek: Deep Space Nine without Chao’s.
After my participation in a sketchy medical trial (which paid $50), I can no longer offer any association with the word “crumpet” that can be used in a family blog.
Cheers Major, good stuff today.
JG
After many a year twirling the teacups with my two cousins as fast as we could...their pony tails would be straight behind their heads with the motion...I found one day that I had 'grown up" enough to spend a couple hours prone on a bench recovering from the effects. And so went my childhood. KS
OK, I just spotted my favorite pair of pseudotwins yet: the little boy and girl watching Dumbo are wearing a shirt and dress made out of the same fabric. That shows real commitment to the premise!
I remember Crumpet Cruncher, the great British wrestler. Who can forget his win over Scone Cold Steve Aston Martin? He kicked him right in them well, let's just call it his London Derriere.
Hi guys! I’m home, earlier than expected.
Nanook, I’m pretty sure we’ve seen those dome-style trashcans before, but I can’t tell you exactly when. I know there were some in the pre-show area for the Tiki Room, although those were painted with “Polynesian”-style designs.
Sue, Mr. Toad sure hates those gondolas! Ha ha, I guess I never looked at Dumbo’s butt, but he does have a cute rump.
JB, yes, I just assumed that the man waving his arms is trying to attract somebody’s attention. As for WHY, it’s anybody’s guess. I noticed the lady with the yellow top and blue Capri pants too, I thought she looked very fashionable! But sure, maybe she looks like a genie too!
Chuck, I’d noticed that shiny metal “wear plate” on the old Skyway gondolas before, but I don’t think the later rectangular gondolas had them, even though they were larger vehicles. I could be mistaken, though. The “astronaut” trash can reminds me just a little of “Eve” from “Wall-E”. No disrespect to Eve! Hey, Walt was all about butt jokes, so it’s OK to have a laugh at Dumbo’s posterior.
Bu, that’s why we can say “rump”, nobody gets offended! Well, almost nobody. I’m trying to make three words out of “B.T.M.”, though maybe it’s just supposed to be a nice way to spell “bottom”? I never thought about looking at the Teacups turntable when I go to the park, I guess I just assumed it was still made of planks of wood. Time to look at Google! Yes, in the very earliest days, the turntable was just a gray, no pinwheel stripes. I remember the first time I saw a vintage postcard with the “no stripes” turntable, my mind was blown. Yes, I noticed those shorts, I can’t tell if they are leather, or if the man has a leather bag of some kind on his hip. I do like that they don’t over fill some of the rides, and I don’t think the Teacups ever has a line so long that they feel the need to maximize capacity. Yeah, not sure Chao’s was there at this early date, I doubt that it was. As for family gatherings, my family got REALLY loud at times! I literally had to put my hands over my ears.
Bu, I’ve actually had a crumpet (maybe more than one), and liked it, but I don’t think most Americans really know what they are. I hope your crumpets turned out good!
Chuck, I see what you mean about the stripes on Mr. Toad, I assume that was intentional, though I have never picked up on it before! It’s a pretty good optical illusion. Why couldn’t Walt Disney and Van France step in FRONT of the camera? I want that slide! The word “crumpet” makes me think of the old UPA cartoon, “Christpher Crumpet”!
JG, I do love that the early look of Fantasyland was achieved due to lack of money, but it also reflects the style of Disney’s animated cartoons a the time, since Eyvind Earle worked on a number of famous short cartoons as well as “Sleeping Beauty”. As you said, the “astronaut” cans tended to be seen in Tomorrowland, as far as I can recall - except for those examples that I mentioned, the ones in the Tiki Room pre-show area. And those were definitely decorated! When asked if I want to participate in a medical trial, I just ask if there will be any good drugs. You know how much I love my drugs!
KS, ha ha, I did not do the Teacups on my last visit, so I wonder if I would still want to spin them as fast as possible. I know many MANY people who will not ride them anymore. And hey, who wants to feel nauseous for the next hour or so? Not me.
Melissa (new avatar!), wow, I had to really look for the boy and girl with the matching fabric. does that make them psychic twins? Hey, “Crumpet Cruncher” does sound like a British wrestler! He would wear a monocle and a top hat, of course.
The new avatar is just the old one put through a cartoon filter, but I thought it had a certain something.
That “bullet” style trash can is still manufactured today - available in 2 sizes. They were commonly used inside of attractions into the the 1990’s . I believe the last ones were in the Tomorrowland SKYWAY terminal’s upper level. I don’t believe any are used today - mainly because they are just to small in capacity for the amounts of trash produced by modern crowds. I remember Circle- Vision theater, Inner Space and Mission to Mars using them … and at one time the “chicken exit” of Space Mountain used them - all appropriately painted to match their interior surroundings .
Hi Major. More a message than a comment. The colors are looking great, but noticing in recent posts the denoise/dust reduction filters have been dialed up a bit with the consequence of giving the photos just slightly more blur than they typically have...
Awwww, these are HAPPY pictures! Thanks, Major!
Melissa, this is the first I've heard of a cartoon filter!
Mike Cozart, it makes sense, even the larger trashcans can fill up... I saw a few that were in dire need of "attention". You'd think that they would be OK inside an attraction (such as the Circle-Vision theater), since I would assume that they would get much lighter use.
Anonymous, I do not use de-noise software (though I used to years ago), and any dust is removed meticulously in Photoshop (sometimes it can take a while). If the pictures look blurry, well - - it's because they are not completely in focus.
Stu29573, thank YOU!
Re: Blurry photos comment. Sorry for the wrong assumption. It's a result I have seen doing similar touch-ups and thought I'd mentioned it in case the effect wasn't being noticed. Genuinely appreciate the hard work you put into sharing these and have derived great pleasure visiting this happy place from a time I was never able to experience personally.
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