Sunday Snoozers
Here's a pair of Snoozers™ for your Sunday! Not the worst pictures ever, but a bit wide of the mark. Both of these are from 1956, which is the year after 1955, and the year before 1957. It's both!
I guess the photographer was charmed by Cinderella Castle in the distance. Or maybe by Casey Jr., chugging into the frame. OR they liked the stern gallery of the Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship and Falafel Hut. The captain is the only person who gets a view (not counting the guy up in the crow's nest).
This one's kind of pretty, but is rather soft, focus-wise. Which is too bad, because the warm light of the setting sun makes for a dreamy scene. The Old Mill was new at this point, as was the Skyway in the distance, but the Matterhorn was still just a stony acorn waiting to sprout.
17 comments:
Oh, Major-
Isn't it obvious what the photographer was attracted to in the first image-? The power pole, of course-!
Thanks, Major.
In #1, ya gots yer power poles (also sprach Nanookathustra), yer castle-on-a-hill, and a piece of a pirate ship. What more could you want? Well, maybe sharper focus... and more contrast... and more color saturation. But other than that, it's perfect!
#2 reminds me of a 3,000 piece jigsaw puzzle. The ones where almost everything is basically the same color, with lots of empty sky and water. Also, it looks like a picturesque European village.
Classic Snoozers, Major. Thanks!
Today’s Picture Search Game:
Find the blurry castle in each.
Hey, how come the castle in the 2nd picture is casting a shadow against the sky?? Or is it just my silly eyes playing tricks on me?
Sue
The soft focus of #2 is charming. It looks like something out of an old movie.
Sue, the 'shadow' is definitely there, but I have no idea what it is. Too big for a tree, I think.
Looking at number 2 again, there's something of an Impressionist painting about it, too. Not just the softness, but the light and composition.
Three details in the first picture:
1. There are a couple of ladies by the Jolly Roger’s wheel, oriented as though they are having their pictures taken. There’s another lady just to the right checking her cell phone to make sure the photos turned out OK.
2. There’s something odd going on on the “stone” bridge across the canal. It looks as though there is a group of people in a single ride vehicle (possibly from the Rocket Rods) about to cross the bridge. I know that can’t be what I am seeing, but my brain can’t deducalatize what else it may be.
3. The feet rooms and telephone are somewhere off to the left. At least that’s what it looks like the sign says to me.
Second photo:
1. Weird how the Old Mill was the Old Mill, even when it was brand new.
2. I think that “castle shadow” is some sort of imperfection in either the scan or the slide itself. It is odd, especially since nothing else in the image has a similar shadow. Maybe somebody bumped the castle hard as the picture was taken. The Dent had to be caused by something.
My guess is that the shooter of the first picture was intrigued by the way the captain's quarters were essentially all carved wood, and wanted to capture that - but he/she only had a fixed-focus snapshot camera with no zoom and a wider-than "normal" lens.
The rest of the scene was irrelevant to the shooter - they weren't trying to make a pretty picture - they just wanted to remember what that area of the ship looked like, so in that sense it was a success.
Any pictures of that wonderful ship are worthwhile, to me.
It was one of the things that made Disneyland, Disneyland. When they decided to destroy it, they destroyed an important part of the park. They might as well have torn down the Main Street train station. It was iconic.
Chuck, the “ride vehicle” on the bridge is the roofs of the Cinderella Castle Village beyond the bridge.
Photo 2 wins today, shadow or no shadow.
Hogarth, I agree, I’ll take any photos of the Tuna Clipper, but don’t give them any ideas!
Thank you Major, quiet pics for a quiet Sunday. Much appreciated.
JG
JG, thanks. That was driving me nuts. Which, as you know, is actually a pretty short drive.
Nanook, it’s all so obvious now!!
JB, yes, there’s a lot more I could want. But I’m a greedy ba****d. I admit it. I recently saw a YouTube video that had a “jigsaw puzzle robot” assemble an all-white puzzle, it was amazing.
Sue, I think that was just a bit of fuzz on the slide or on the scanner, they sometimes leave “shadows” like that. But it does kind of look like the castle is casting a shadow!
Melissa, it’s like a scene from “Gone With the Wind”!
JB, it’s FUZZ, I’m tellin’ ya!
Melissa, yes, sort of like a George Innes painting (though he wasn’t Impressionist I guess).
Chuck, I have no doubt those ladies are posing for another photographer. The third lady is checking her iPhone -30. I’m looking for a ride vehicle in the background of that photo, and am not sure what you mean? “Feet rooms”, Quentin Tarantino’s favorites. The Old Mill was born old, it’s one of Nature’s mysteries. As for the shadow, see my second comment to JB!
Hogarth (a new commenter?) I’m sure you are right, since the Pirate Ship is the closest thing to the photographer, and how often did a person see an ornate pirate ship? Not more than twice a week! It’s possible that the photographer was also trying to make a more balanced composition, but we’ll never know for sure. I’m with you, the removal of that ship was a big blow to Fantasyland - ditto the Skull Rock lagoon and grotto.
JG, oh NOW I see what Chuck was talking about! It does sort of look like a Rocket Rod full of people! The old tuna boat was one of my favorite Disneyland icons, I vividly remember when I first started acquiring old slides, I was always especially happy to find good photos of it.
Chuck, in my case it’s a two-minute walk.
The story about the last remnant of the pirate ship- the aft light fixture- was that is was used in the "new" Peter Pan ride. It may be a legend story, but it was told before the "New Fantasyland" was opened by construction types to us. In inspecting all fixturing inside, it's hard to determine if that is actually accurate. Someone knows. The view across Frontierland is lovely...more so without human beings in it. Very peaceful. I went in the Golden Horseshoe last week, and continue to be horrified that is a mere marginal fast food location with (sometimes) live entertainment...it was kind of an "event" when the old show was on. The space is so amazing, and the historic significance, very documented and wrote about, is not as much of a blip inside. In addition, it closed at 9pm...which again I am flummoxed by given the whole Fanblastic thingy. "I'm sorry, we are closed. Please visit the Stage Door Cafe next door. It has the same things." No...it doesn't: A: it's 43 degrees outside, and I would like to be "in", B: The stage door cafe, is not in any way shape or form The Golden Horseshoe, C: I can't think of one, but there is one. We went to the Plaza Inn...DURING a parade...which...as you know...is not the most pleasurable of things..you cannot exit through the entrance of Frontierland...that is only for coming "in" to Frontierland, they exit you through Adventureland....where you can get to the cross over, to get to the Plaza Inn...which...is also closed. I thought these people wanted to make money? We blew off the eating thing and rode Star Tours. Better on an empty stomach anyway. The employee who boarded us chastised me for not standing EXACTLY on the "dot". This has been repeated several times since our visit when things get out of control at work "STAND ON THE DOT! STAND EXACTLY ON THE DOT! YOU ARE NOT STANDING ON THE DOT!" Me: in English accent to ride operator..."my dear lady, I cannot as much as see the dot, than actually stand on the dot, but I will make the most of valiant attempts." ( It's best to stand clear of me when I speak in my native tongue.) I digress. I do have a view of the Park from where I sit in my hotel...albeit about 15 miles away. I can see the Matterhorn, but I did have to really search. My room was labeled "Park View"...but I think it refers to an actual park across the street...not "THE" Park. Thanks for the snoozers this am Major!
Definitely not a snoozer post today. Thanks, all (especially Bu), for the laughs!
Sue
Bu, I have heard that story, but have never thought to give the light fixture in the ride a good look. I want the story to be true. You’d think that if it wasn’t smashed to bits, some Imagineer would have at least found a place for it at home. Tony B? There was a live piano player in the Golden Horseshoe the last time I went, it at least added a sense of life to the place. It is a bummer that they don’t do a Revue in there anymore. I saw a Toy Story show with Woody, Jessie, etc, it was “just OK”. Nothing like the original show with Wally Boag and Betty Taylor. I guess there were no parades during my last visit, I didn’t even think about it, but I’m glad! I guess the Christmas parade is up and running now. Speaking in an English accent is always a good idea, it makes people assume that you are smart. For some reason? I guess I am too cheap to ever pay for a “park view” room, unless I hit the jackpot someday. Here’s hoping.
Sue, hooray!!
The live show at the Diamond Horseshoe in the Magic Kingdom is right up there with 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea on the list of things I kick myself for not seeing when they were there because I assumed they'd always be around.
I'm now kind of wondering what a Rocket Rod on the Casey Jr. track would be like...
Chuck, I blame you.
JG
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