More Columbia Details, May 1979
IT'S TIME! For more photos from the Mysterious Benefactor. And wouldn't you know it, I have more details of the Columbia sailing ship for you! Yes, there are a lot of them, and I have skipped many (examples that were too dark, or minor variations of views that I am actually sharing with you). But I think we'll be past the Columbia stuff pretty soon.
By golly, those ropes are as neat as can be. Give Stinky Joe an extra measure of grog, and some extra weevils in his biscuit.
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Nautical flags, so colorful, and yet so impenetrable. Nobody knows what they mean, though some say that they are messages to our alien visitors.
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More pulleys. It's a pulley-pallooza.
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"Cap'n, should we paint flames on the bow of our ship?". "Flames? Why, it's oak leaves and acorns I want! And don't skimp on the acorns!". (The crewmen look at each other and make circular motions at their temples with their fingers). To this day, "Don't skimp on the acorns" is a phrase that all sailors say to each other.
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Ship's anchors were modeled after those designs on sailor's biceps. Some folks think it was the other way around, but they don't know nothin'.
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THANKS to the Mysterious Benefactor!
19 comments:
Major-
Those gold leaves and acorns really are lovely. Some other images seem to indicate the use of multi-layers of paint to 'cover-over' surface flaws, better addressed with a total rehab. I can't remember the year - but probably some time in the late 1980's - early 1990's where a Columbia CM related a rather overall poor condition of the ship and how Walt would be rather 'displeased' with how things have been so poorly maintained.
Thanks to the M B.
Lucky Stinky Joe. He gets extra weevils in his biscuit. All the other sailors will be so jealous!
If somebody was inclined to build an accurate scale model of the Columbia, they need look no further than GDB for reference material!
With all the effort, research, money, and artistry that went into constructing this vessel, it would truly be scandalous to let it decay and fall apart from neglect, as Nanook heard from that CM. Hopefully, someone will come to their senses and save the mighty sailing ship.
Thanks, Major, and the Mysterious B.
I've heard that the strain from the jet engines and ballistic missile launches have really compromised the Styrofoam used throughout the ship. Maintenance was seen melting down cheap coolers to patch large sections in the hull- just like they did in the "olden days." I'm afraid it's only a matter of time before the whole thing crumbles into a huge flurry of floating fake snow, which will be used to completely fill the river and provide an area for the much anticipated Wookie World/ Avatar mashup land. It shall be glorious.
Rivers of America as a skating rink! I just thought of that. "Inspired by the film "Hans Brinker and the Silver Skates" guests will be transported to "New Amsterdam"...a delightful "layer on" of formerly Wookie World as a "nod" to a more simpler time when New York City was a humble settlement for those across the pond. Imagineers have painstakingly re-covered relics from retired attractions, to pay homage to our Dutch Settlers. Formerly known as Tom Sawyer Island and Pirates Something and Fantasmic Something, guests will revel in the festooning of Windmills created with re-purposed siding from the heritage attraction "Keel Boats" and "Westward Ho" wagons. Repurposing abounds with actual logs from formerly "Fort Wilderness, and the abandoned "Fort Nothing" made into Tulips for the Dutch Tulip Spin Factory! Climb into your own tulip for the most rollicking ride this side of Haarlem! OK...I'm done now. I do like using the word "festooned" in as many ways as possible. I drove past "there" yesterday...It's really quite amazing that the Matterhorn used to be such a landmark...you can really only see it from the 5 as you exit on Harbor/Ball road. I remember "exploding" as a kid when the Matterhorn came into view...now, you really have to "dig" to see it. It is kind of cool when it "pokes up" behind the Courtyard by Marriott, and the other multi story things. Those "low rise Motels" actually did Disneyland a favor...you could see it! And yes, the Columbia. It would be quite a shame if it fell into neglect. I'm not sure of too many "working models" of ships from this time, that actually operate semi regularly, for thousands of people...that don't need heavy maintenance. There are two choices in life, buy a boat, or throw money into a toilet. They both have the same outcome financially. With guests shelling out 179.00 a day, I can see how it's needed...but I WOULD like to ride this boat sometime between now and "the end". Seems like it's only operating high days and holy days.....thanks MB for the photos.
Love the Columbia, I’ve had one ride in 40 years since it’s always closed when I’m there.
Sigh.
At least I have the soundtrack album by Norman Luboff Choir/ Thurl Ravenscroft.
Bu, same reaction to the Matterhorn as a kid, we approached from the north. Now, arriving from the south since air travel, but it isn’t the same. I still get a chill seeing the monorail go by for the first time on a visit.
Thanks Major and MB.
JG
The amount of photo documentation of the Sailing Ship Columbia is astonishing. From panoramic views to intricate details ( for nautical atmospheric images to be used on Disney News, VACATIONLAND and other in-house publications … makes me hope that other attractions got this much attention. There’s 12 thousand Columbia images : but nobody photographed the Goodyear PeopleMover Speedramp animated pod vignettes!??
Thank you Mysterious Benifactor and Major!
“And whenever you travel across town or across the country; GO, GO COLUMBIA!!!”
Great details of one of my favorite things ever since our very early trips to the park. Love that ship. Would truly be an ignoble thing to let it slip away, so to speak.
Thanks JB. Things are rather crowded in my life. GDB is a natural part of my day, comment or not.
Thanks Major and Mysterious B. I can almost hear the creaking of the ship.
Nanook, I don’t know how authentic the golden oak leaves and acorns is, but it does look pretty swell. You are right about the paint appearing to cover up wood rot; Paul Pressler strikes again?
JB, weevils have a crunchy, nutty taste that kids love. And they wiggle going down! When I was a kid I dreamed of being able to build a very detailed model of a sailing ship, with all of the masts and rigging being totally accurate. Then I realized that it requires talent. It seems like the Columbia is constantly being maintained, but I didn’t take a close look at it during my last trip to the park. I hope it isn’t rotting away.
Stu29573, let’s face it, they melt down those styrofoam coolers just because it’s fun to watch them melt. There’s no other reason. Between your comment and JB’s, I’m starting to worry about the Columbia!
Bu, that would be interesting, imagine seeing the river completely frozen. I’m sure that would be cheap and easy! ;-) “Tom Cruise IS… Hans Brinker! (explosion)”. “Brinker, you’re a loose cannon!”. “I’m retiring in three days, and then I’m going to enjoy a quiet life with my wife and daughter”. I like the idea of windmills in Frontierland, even though it doesn’t really fit the way things are now. How about calling the spinning tulip ride “Tulipmania”? I just can’t stop spending all my money on tulips. Can I borrow $10,000, by the way? It is very strange that when I look for Disneyland from the freeway, I rarely see anything these days. Maybe part of the Guardians of the Galaxy tower. At this point I would not be surprised if they announced that the Columbia would be removed, for ANY dumb reason. I’m more of a Mark Twain guy anyway, but still, it would be a shame.
JG, Thurl Ravenscroft? Didn’t he sing with The Pixies in the ‘90s? I think you can hear him on “Surer Rosa”. The Monorail is still a lot of fun to see, but I’m not crazy about the cartoony “wraps” that afflict the vehicles.
Mike Cozart, I also would like to believe that other attractions got as much attention as the Columbia. All I have is the Frontierland set of images, so who knows what is in the sets for the other lands? Maybe the Tomorrowland set really did have those Goodyear animated vignettes. Unfortunately I’ll never know. I wonder if the Columbia used Goodyear tires (since it did have wheels??).
DrGoat, I’m choosing to believe that the Columbia is being well cared for today, even if Paul Pressler let things fall into disrepair. Remember that horrible dock accident that killed a guest (and maimed at least one other)? That’s one way to learn a lesson I guess. Thanks for checking in and for commenting, I hope things are OK with you and the Mrs.!
Deadeyes, Major, not "pulleys." Truly spoken like Dr. Maturin. ;-)
Now for some reason, I am imagining Melissa posting lyrics for "Oak Leaves and Acorns" sung to the tune of "Polka Dots and Moonbeams", and hearing it in Thurl's voice.
So, was the nickname "Deadeye" derived from the maritime term, or by way of describing excellent marksmanship? As in "Deadeye Dick"? I always thought he was a good shot, but maybe he was good with ropes instead.
JG
JG, I was actually thinking more along the lines of "Don't Skimp on the Acorns" to the tune of "Don't Sleep in the Subway." I always assumed Dick Deadeye was named after the the thing in the picture, since one of his messmates was named Bill Bobstay, which is some other ship's thingamajig.
The Mysterious Benefactor (or The Mysterious Jolly Jack Tar, as he's known in nautical circles) could build his own sailing ship just from the detail in his own pictures. Lucky us, to be the beneficiaries of his eye for detail.
Major,
The Mrs. and I have been very fortunate in having had 42+ years of good friends, lots of laughs, traveled abroad and within and have seen wonderful things, including many trips to the park together. This is the part that Bette Davis was referring to when she said "getting old is not for sissies".
Wishing you and everyone here a healthy time in the future.
I suspect the acorn laurels on the Columbia were pretty accurate. As I’ve mentioned before the person in charge of the replica abd build was a maritime expert. He designed other Disney ships that unfortunately never constructed including THE LADY WASHINGTON for WDW’s Liberty Square ( the Columbia’s sister ship - they made the voyage together … when the Columbia circumnavigated the globe …. But history gave the Columbia all the love) for discovery bay he designed two static prop ships for the warf : The Eureka and the J. ( John) Sutter. And for EPCOT a fully rigged and functioning vessel
for the dock in front of the American Adventure “the LIBERTY” ( this predated about a decade before the renaming of the Richard F Irvine to The Liberty Belle. He also helped create the replica of Henry Dana’s PILGRIM sailing ship down in Dana Point ( currently under restoration after sinking a few years ago) he also designed SEAPORT VILLAGE in San Diego and SHORELINE VILLAGE In Long Beach.
And I apologize because for the life of me I cannot recall his name!!!! A special two week exhibit of all his Columbia art work was featured at the Disney Gallery on loan by his wife …. And several
Original pieces were sold as well as a lithograph…… Wallace?? I think . I’ll remember soon.
Major: I didn’t even think of that but YES : the Columbia would have at one time used GOODYEAR TIRES !! “The tire ALL Disneyland rides on … and the tire more American’s ride on …. GO, GO, GOODYEAR!!!”
Ok it was Raymond Wallace :
He passed away in 1999.
Raymond E. Wallace, an architect and yachtsman who helped create San Diego’s Seaport Village and Disneyland’s sailing ship Columbia, died April 16 in San Pedro. He was 81.
The native of Los Angeles devoted as much passion to sailing as to designing and married both interests by fashioning seaside restaurants and shopping areas and floating theme-park rides.
@ MIKE-
Great info.
Thanks-!
Melissa, LOL. Great minds, etc.
Mike C, thanks for that info. The depth of Old Disney detail never ceases to amaze.
Major, I think the advertising wrappers on the monorail show that to the current management it is no longer an aspirational futuristic form of transport, but is now no more special or unusual than a parking lot shuttle bus. The height of banality.
Also, I thought weevils tasted like spam. I love spam, I'll have yours!
JG
Bu, it just struck me that the Hans Brinker overlay might actually work at WDW's Liberty Square, with the Sleepy Hollow/Dutch Colonial elements.
Melissa, completely agree. Well, except for that average annual temperature of 72 degrees in Orlando thing.
I understand today Disneyland uses tires from whoever gives them the best deal. Dunlop was recently being used on the Monorails and Uniroyal on many other industrial based tires ..
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