Chris and Albert
Today I have some nice Adventureland and Jungle Cruise photos, with thanks to Sue B. and her dad, Lou Perry; and we can also salute the birthday of Dr. Albert Schweitzer, and Chris Merritt (Imagineer and GDB pal).
I love this October 1981 photo of the entrance to Adventureland, with the bougainvillea almost swallowing that structure right in front of us (something bougainvillea is prone to do). The quality of the sunlight and lush greenery really get me *right here* (thumps my hand over my heart).
Not knowing a lot about Albert Schweitzer, I was surprised to find so many color photos of him - he lived until 1965. Somehow I thought he was from about 50 or 100 years earlier. He looks a bit like Mark Twain here. Ludwig Philipp Albert Schweitzer (14 January 1875 – 4 September 1965) was an Alsatian-German/French polymath. He was a theologian, organist, musicologist, writer, humanitarian, philosopher, and physician. He received the 1952 Nobel Peace Prize for his philosophy of "Reverence for Life", becoming the eighth Frenchman to be awarded that prize. His philosophy was expressed in many ways, but most famously in founding and sustaining the Hôpital Albert Schweitzer in Lambaréné, French Equatorial Africa (now Gabon). As a music scholar and organist, he studied the music of German composer Johann Sebastian Bach and influenced the Organ Reform Movement.
Hey, me too!
Chris was a Jungle Cruise skipper in his early days - here's a photo of him (from his Instagram page). "Over here you'll see three toucans - that makes a six pack".
Here's another wonderful photo from Lou, showing the attention to detail that was given to this exterior marquee. I love the "hand painted" banners (hey, maybe they really were hand painted?), the drums with the sawn animal bones (femurs from water buffalo, I'll bet), and of course the stretched skin with the painted name of the attraction. Pretty cool!
There is no evidence of the usual long lines you'll find for the Jungle Cruise these days; pretty unbelievable. I can't wait to hop on to the next boat!
This one went a bit dark, but I always enjoy a look at the mysterious little hut right on the river. The tenants just stepped out, but they'll probably be back any minute.
And finally, we're done with the Jungle Cruise, but there's the wonderful Swiss Family Treehouse, a masterpiece of design and storytelling. That man-made tree is totally believable, and the jungle is so green and profuse. Living in a treehouse seems like a pretty good deal!
Thanks to Lou and Sue as always!
25 comments:
Major-
Dr. Falls is most-definitely doing his best Mark Twain impression. (I wonder if they share the same moustache-??)
Thanks, Lou and Sue.
Happy birthday Dr. Schweitzer and Imagineer Chris Merritt! I'll go out on a limb and guess that the two of you were not born in the same year.
Entrance) I'm a little turned around. Are we looking slightly into or slightly out of Adventureland? In other words, are we outside, looking in, or inside looking out? I'm guessing the latter.
There's a pack of voracious strollers next to those ladies. LOOK OUT! BEHIND YOU! RUN FOR YOUR LIVES! Oh wait. Maybe these are domesticated strollers... never mind.
Dr. Schweitzer) Major, yes. A bit like Mark Twain, also a bit like Albert Einstein. Same first name, too. He also has a passing resemblance to Samuel Clemens.
Chris Merritt) Chris is looking very serious and business-like here. I'm trying to place the year of this photo. Judging from the LCD wristwatch and the haircut, I'd say around 1990? Maybe late '80s.
Jungle Cruise entrance) Lots of neat detail here. I wonder if the piles of skulls are still there? What animal is depicted in the lower right corner? It looks like a MoonPie with bent soda straws coming out of it. i would guess that it's a crocodile, but what are the soda straws?
Jungle Cruise dock) The low-hanging canopy of dense vegetation truly makes the scene look jungley. Many other parks have similar rides but Disney parks take the prize!
Mysterious hut) There appears to be a pile of bananas on the boat at the left edge of the photo. Or maybe it's a skeletonized rib cage.
Treehouse) Excellent photo! I'm keepin' this one! One has to wonder why the Robinson's built this treehouse when they coulda just moved into that mansion next door.
Many thanks to Lou P., Sue B., and Major P.
I love DL pics from this era! The park wasn't totally ruined yet, even though they had gotten rid of the Mine Train thru Nature's Wonderland at this point. This was the period of time when my park visits really started to increase, since I learned to drive that year!
JB, that first shot is "inside, looking out." And it looks like that lady on the far right is getting ready to report to work in New Orleans Square. I bet she worked in a shop!
Thank you for the wonderful Adventureland pics today, Lou, Sue and Major! And happy, happy birthday, Chris Merritt!
Happy birthday, Chris & Al!
Those drums look more African than Asian, which would mean water buffalo femurs would be imported and probably prohibitively expensive. I think they are more likely wildebeest femurs. But you gnu that already, didn’t you?
That jungle canopy reaching right up to the boat dock isn’t there anymore. Not sure if they pulled a tree less sacred than the Dominguez Palm to make space for the new boathouse or if one just died, was removed, and nothing replaced it. Or perhaps that was part of the Tahitian Terrace terraforming that was removed to turn the space into Aladdin’s Oasis.
JB, the Jungle Cruise entrance was completely rebuilt in 1994 and the skulls are long gone (you can compare photos of the earliest entrance to today’s here). I think the illustration is inverted and those “soda straws” are supposed to be legs and feet. If you look at the picture upside-down and really study it for a while, you’ll notice that all the blood has rushed to your head.
Today’s episode was brought to you by Lou, Sue, the Major, and the letter ”A.”
The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
Because of bougainvillea's creep.
The Jungle Cruise was the first thing I rode at Disneyland, and it was a complete walk-on that day, too.
Happy Birthday, Chris!
From Lou & Sue and a troop of crazy Jr. Gorillas
(Of course you have a Jr. Gorilla fan base - you're a Jungle Cruise Skipper!)
Thanks, Major.
Next to my membership in the Junior Gorillas, I treasure my membership in the Organ Reform Society most. We should get t-shirts.
Happy birthday Chris, Many Happy Returns of the Day! How fortunate to have been a JC Skipper! I can see the resemblance to Dr. Schweitzer.
I think I used to know the guy who lived in that little hut, he’s stepped over to Trader Sam’s for a Mai-tai and a SPAM musubi.
The Treehouse is so perfect, only a complete blithering idiot would have messed with it.
Thanks Major!
JG
Happy Birthday Chris!
The Adventureland gateway doesn't look this lush anymore.
I love this version of the Jungle Cruise marquee.
If there's any consolation, the Swiss Family Robinson is moving back into the Adventureland Treehouse. I just hope they have the Swiss Family "out for the day" and not have static figures Like Tarzan's Treehouse had.
Thanks, Lou, Sue and Major. And Chris Merritt too!
TokyoMagic!,
The park was still great because it wasn't 1985 yet when the Eisner effect started taking over the park. Well, that's just my opinion, but I'm sticking to it.
Wow you guys! Thanks so much - I seriously do not deserve all the attention. Dave and Sue - you guys are awesome. JB - good guess! Summer of 1990 is the date. Ah to have that hair again...
Nanook, he spoke with a southern accent, for some reason!
JB, in the first one you are in Adventureland looking toward the Plaza. Man, those strollers, it’s truly crazy how many of them are at the park nowadays. Hey, I never noticed how Samuel Clemens and Mark Twain are dead ringers for each other! I’d have to ask Chris about when he thinks that photo was taken, and as a rule I don’t like to bug him unless I want to borrow money for booze. You understand. I really do love all of the details in that Jungle Cruise entrance photo, I can’t ID that critter on the banner, maybe it’s an upside-down pangolin? I’m mad at myself for not riding the Jungle Cruise on my last visit, but the line was long, and I was starting to loose my cool about the terrible Lightning Lane situation.
TokyoMagic!, they got rid of the Mine Train Thru Nature’s Wonderland because kids these days don’t know what a mine, or a train, or nature, is. Dumb kids! They should have changed it to the Tik Tok Train, am I right?? I’d make those kids work out in my beet farm for a few days, that’ll teach them that working on a beet farm sucks.
Chuck, I am hoping that someday you will be able to meet Chris Merritt in person. But remember, you are not allowed to look him in the eye, or there will be heck to pay. I’m glad they pulled those trees out, they thought they were so great. Now who’s laughing? Me, that’s who! I’M NOT CRAZY. Yes, I’m sure the soda straws are supposed to be legs, but that doesn’t help a whole lot. Maybe it’s a funny looking dog.
Melissa, uh oh, Melissa’s in Shakespeare Mode again! I’m in Ethel Merman mode (hard to explaiin). Wow, a walk-on for the Jungle Cruise… you’ll only get that first thing in the morning these days.
Lou and Sue, thanks as always for all that you do, I know that Chris (and I) appreciate it.
JG, I only want to play the organ if I could pretend to be the Phantom of the Opera. Every now and then I’ll stand up and point at somebody dramatically, because that’s what phantoms do. If Chris grew a big mustache, he’d be a dead ringer for Dr. Schweitzer. Spam musubi, my nephew makes that at home, no Spaghettios for him.
K. Martinez, I’ve been hearing about the return of the Swiss Family Robinson, it almost seems hard to believe. I guess the concept art shows a “girl’s room”, which is interesting. It’s probably full of plush animals and a Princess phone. All made of bamboo of course.
K. Martinez, ha ha, “The Eisner Effect”, sounds like a 1970s paranoid thriller. Don’t trust anybody! Especially Donald Pleasance, that guy is always a creep.
Chris Merritt, while I did the technical work of making the post, Sue gets credit for the wonderful photos and for the idea of celebrating both Albert’s birthday and yours (since I did not know when your birthday is!).
@ Chris-
Whoops... belated birthday wishes - and thanks for your great book on POP - one of my treasures.
Chris...from on Skip to another "Hit it" for another good cycle around the Jungle. And may you avoid a "101"....or two. As I did my final voyage in 1977, I'm amazed how little changed between then and 1990 at the dock and entrance.
Great pictures Lou and Sue! KS
"Especially Donald Pleasance, that guy is always a creep."
Objection! The Great Escape!
Tokyo!, thanks! I kinda thought we were indeed inside, looking out. I thought that lady in the long dress had a kid in her arms; now I'm not sure what's going on there.
Chuck, thanks for the info. And yes, besides the blood rushing to my head, I copied, pasted, flipped the image- and it looks sorta like an anteater, maybe.
Melissa, is that from the "miles to go before I sleep" poem? Sorry, I know (or remember) very little about poets and poetry. It didn't seem to stick from my high school days. (Reading ahead, Major says it's Shakespeare. Oh well.)
JG, I'm trying to figure out what "Reform" refers to in the context of organs. Were there delinquent organs?
Ken M., good news about the Robinsons moving back into the old neighborhood. They're gonna have a hard time getting rid of that chimpanzee smell though. They'll probably have to replace the carpets.
Chris, yay! I actually got one right!
Major, you wouldn't believe how many hours of research I did to confirm the resemblance of Mark Twain to Samuel Clemens. I'm surprised no one has noticed it before!
Since pangolins are a.k.a. scaly anteaters, we're on the same page.
Hello Chris, I’m spending part of a rainy day reading your Marc Davis book. Mrs. G has good taste in gifts. Thanks for checking in. Cheers!
And thanks to Lou and Sue for the photo selection!
JB, the Organ Reform Movement was concerned with restoring principles of organ instrument construction that were thought to have gone awry from the classic forms, so yes, a form of delinquency affecting the modern builders of the instruments. Dr. Schweitzer was a foremost proponent, as well as E. Power Biggs, who not only had a great name, but was a noted organist.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organ_reform_movement
Apparently organ builders starting smoking in their teens, dropped out of organ school, rode motorcycles, and affected long hair, leather jackets and switchblades.
JG
JB - That's the one! "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening."
Forgot to wish Chris M. a happy birthday!
Everything I know about Albert Schweitzer I learned from that one Young Indiana Jones episode. And I gave up on reforming my organs long ago.
JG, thank you for the wikipedia link. I read the article... some of which I actually understood! ;-)
I was aware of the effort in recent decades to make tracker organs (purely mechanical), as opposed to ones with electro-mechanical action. I didn't know there was a 'movement' to create organs 'the old way'. I remember seeing/hearing E. Power Biggs on, I think, Evening at Pops, back in the day.
Too bad that the organ builders fell in with the wrong crowd. ;-p
Melissa, Yay! I got another one right! [JB heads out to buy a lottery ticket.]
Yeah, my organs aren't working very well either.
Lots of talk about organs...not sure what I walked into...The backside of A. Schweitzer, also known at the BTM of Scwheitzer...If I was a JC guy, I would be compelled to say "the BTM of water" as "Backside", was never allowed to be spoken in my house. Happy B-Day Chris! Looks like I just missed you in the DLand on the JC as I was sailing away on another ship that year: the SS Wrather...I mean QM. Hair is rocking as mine was still too in then. Alas, it's just all migrated down. I'm not sure how or why skulls are scary, and as kids, skulls were cool. Skulls seem to be on everything lately, from footwear, pens, paperweights, objects d arte, Hamlet...etc. Seems like we got a lot in them thar Pirate ride too. What do I know. The humility of the original dock, or the 60's version, et. al...feels much more authentic...as most things back then were. I'm not a huge fan of the stairs and multi levels, but I get it. The rain forest started out as an artificial canopy, and as the vines grew in, the structure was removed. There was an article in the Disneyland Line about it. I remember there were plastic orchids all over it, and the mist was a welcome spritz in the warmer days of wearing a wool coat in 85 degree weather. I preferred the naughty JC Skippers in the day, usually the guys saw the guys in plaid and thought we were the enemy out to report shenanigan-spiels. When the spiel is read verbatim, it is ver-puke-im. Just my .02. Since at that point my shennanigan days were over, so I preferred to witness it vicariously through others. I am looking forward to Swiss Family Treehouse 2.0. Tarzan was also verpukeim too. Tarzana is kind of a cool valley town though. I'm going to buy a big tract of land and call it Buzana. or maybe Bunana. Where I will grown acres of Bunanas. Which are bananas crossed with watermelons. Tastes like strawberries or kiwi...or chicken. Happy Birthday again, and thanks for photos Lou and Sue!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRIS!!!
I remember THAT Chris from when we all had hair and could change its look to the prevailing times!!! My mom always thought Chris and I sounded the same on the phone and she couldn’t tell us apart! One summer some friends and I were up at the park and Chris was working the Jungle Cruise …. He took our group out with no other passengers …. And when we got to the elephant threatening to spray water ……. It did!!! All over the inside of the boat! When we returned from our private cruise Chris’s fellow cast members knew exactly what happened from the drenched boat!! Good times.
Major : those banners are indeed hand painted … so is the medallion Jungle Cruise shield sign. … but the entry marquee is not real hide but fiberglass. However other Jungle Cruise signs into the early 90’s were done in actual suede - like “remove coupon “ and “acompany children” signs.
The original 1955 Jungle Cruise boat house was removed in 1960. The “approved sugar coated” explanation was that the Adventureland Jungle had grown in so much that you could no longer view the boats from its tower. You may have noticed there never seems to be guests slides or photographs of Adventureland views from atop the boat house tower….. why? Because very early on guests became blocked from venturing up to the boathouse lookout. Apparently people liked to hang out and SMOKE. And after several potentially disastrous fires …. Disneyland operations decided to close the tower off to guests. Coinciding with other jungle cruise improvements was a accident where a delivery truck very early in the morning backed into the boathouse and taking out several of its support posts rendering the structure unstable. Rather than spend the money on the repairs on the structure that was really nolonger serving any of its intended purpose , it was decided to remove it….
Major, meeting Chris Merritt in person would be amazing! He seems like a really swell guy. I might even be able to get him to sign one of his books. But that’s no more likely to happen than you and me visiting Walt’s apartment over the firehouse. Still, a fella can dream, can’t he?
On a note regarding current Jungle Cruise : there are no ( human) skulls left in the attraction. There are no natives ( except Trader Sam I guess ) and no native or indigenous shields , tikis or war spears : they have ALL been removed. Everything that was removed has been replaced with a cute monkey / chimpanzee figure.
Also the SWISS family is not returning to the Treehouse or Adventureland … the new attraction is THE ADVENTURELAND TREEHOUSE ….. and it’s new family is comprised of several origins …. The implied theme is that the Swiss family who built the treehouse is long gone ( we know head hunters didn’t get them because there are no head hunters left!!) and another group of people …. Shipwrecked(???) have moved in….. ( probably Thru the Disney Vacation Club). This is actually the better- for - the - park idea . Luckily other proposals were way too expensive .THANK GOD!!! If you knew of some of the awful plans that had been proposed!!!!!!!
MIke, LOL(!) re Chris making sure you all got sprayed! :oD
Sue
Chuck, this sounds like a fever dream, did you get bitten by a tsetse fly?
JG
"What animal is depicted in the lower right corner? It looks like a MoonPie with bent soda straws coming out of it. i would guess that it's a crocodile, but what are the soda straws?"
JB, That's a [deep sea] Gulper Eel, found in the deep seas of DL's JC river. Google it, and I bet you'll agree.
Speaking of DL's JC river, HOW did this event escape me, this past year?!?! CLICK HERE!
Fun birthday party today!
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