Sunday, January 01, 2023

Mickey and Minnie Step Out

Happy New Year! Gosh, 2023, who woulda thunk it. Time keeps on slippin' slippin' slippin', into the future, to quote a great philosopher. What do today's scans have to do with the new year? Nothing at all. But I didn't want to share the usual Sunday Snoozers, so instead I picked some fun pictures of Mickey Mouse and his gal Minnie as they met fans in Town Square (circa September, 1961).

Mickey is going formal, with his top hat and waistcoat. Sometimes you just want to dress up, right? The kid to our left looks like he's at that age where he's a head taller than he was a year ago. I wish we could see the design on his shirt. I think everyone is standing in front of the Wonderland Music Store (more or less), with the Opera House to our right. Notice the Hills Bros. Coffee Garden in the distance.


Minnie had three espressos this morning, and she's got so much energy she doesn't know what to do with herself. "I'll stand over here and stare at these empty chairs!". Obviously some group performed here during the day, maybe it was the Disneyland Band. 


16 comments:

JB said...

Mickey- I like this version of Mickey M. He's sort of a missing link between the early 1930s Mouse and the 1950s version. Kinda goofy and friendly-looking. Not as sophisticated as the more polished, modern Mouse.

Minnie- Hmm, maybe I spoke too soon. This version of Minnie is rather... homely. Cartoon characters are supposed to have bigger heads than normal, but geez! Even her dress looks kinda ratty (or mousey). Still, she looks friendly and goofy, like her beau Mickey.

Thanks for the rodents, Major.

Nanook said...

Major-
I'm actually more-drawn to the light blue shirt on that handsome young man on the left side of the image: the interesting rib along the neck in front, and the 'side split' at the bottom hem. I wonder what designs are on that shirt-?

Minnie does look a bit "wired", doesn't she-?? That appears to be the Submarine Voyage AP behind all those foldable music stands.

Happy 2023, everyone. Thanks, Major.

TokyoMagic! said...

Yeah.....Minnie looks pretty raggedy here. No wonder nobody is hanging around her!

I can't help but wonder how many people are at Disneyland right now for New Year's Eve, even though it's been raining here in the L.A./Orange County area for most of the day and night.

Once again, Happy New Year to all!

Bu said...

Happy New Year! My computer keeps spewing out calendar alerts saying TOMORROW: NEW YEARS DAY SUBSTITUTE. I'm: "huh"...ok...is that like margarine is to butter? The Gods have given a beautiful sunny and not too terribly cold winter day here on the first day of the year. What a treat! YARD WORK! Normally, it's snow and hanging out by the fire, which I will have to work in as well at some point. Mickey and Minnie are quite charming. I'm not particularly a fan of the polished Mickey of today. And his very choreographed actions seem to be a bit spastic and over exaggerated akin to a production of Mummenschantz. The costumes are a bit worse for the wear, but still very charming...and in a world that did not have these sorts of things hanging about with mere mortals I suppose they were quite the sight. It looks like Minnie is deciding what chair to sit in as she is about to join her 12 step meeting, or "group"...either one. "Hi, I"m Minnie and I'm a churro-holic". I will say again I do not understand the fascination with the churros, and the seasonal churros and the whatever-churros. Thats just me. I think the Park would be better off selling beer from those carts...akin to a county fair or the like...at least the would make the day a wee more tolerable for the dads that are carting around their broods of screamers. I was around one of those screamers a few weeks ago...I had to say out loud: "what are you crying for kid? You're in freaking Disneyland...how bad can it be?! You could be in Nara Dreamland! How would ya like that?!" Wishes for 2023: Bring back Hills Bros. Or a version of it. Make Tour Guide Gardens into a quaint outdoor tea/coffee room...except don't paint it KrazeeKim and bring back the statue of Laura...or was it...somebody else. Emile Kuri apparently picked that statue out, and now....is it sitting in someones backyard? A place to drink and enjoy coffee and tea....PLEASE. Happy New Year!

JG said...

Happy New Year, Junior Gorillas!

Both mice looking ratty today, but I would still want their autographs.

We see the temporary bandstand that was visible a few post back, remember the music stands? I guess after the original band stand was moved away “somewhere”, a performance spot was still needed. According to a long series of photos at The Other Website, the submarine and monorail APs flanked the Opera House doors in 1959, advertising those new attractions.

Bu, on my last visit to the Park I spoke to a kid who was acting up in line for Casey. I used my Dad Voice to tell him to settle down or Mickey would put him in the Castle dungeons to make churros for the rest of his life. He looked terrified, his mom loved it, and the kid settled down.

JG

K. Martinez said...

I love these old Micky/Minnie costumes. Always have. That blue shirt on the young man is nice. Very different style for 1961.

Happy New Year to All!

Nanook said...

@ Bu-
"... I do not understand the fascination with the churros, and the seasonal churros and the whatever-churros. Thats just me."

It turns out it's not just you. Hey, it's fried dough with a sugar/cinnamon coating - it has a basic appeal. On the other hand, there is a world of more 'interesting' food choices out there; but you know how that goes for many, many, many people...

Melissa said...

Jeepers, I sleep a measly 24 hours and all of a sudden it's 2023 or something? Drat this linear time nonsense. Yeah, Mickey's looking sharp but Minnie looks like she's just been shot out of a cannon. The early 60's turned out some super-cute kids' clothes. But I think my favorite sharp-dressed urchin is the kid in the second picture with the shorts and matching socks.

DBenson said...

A faint memory of very early childhood, maybe first grade. We were in a store that had Halloween stuff: boxed Ben Cooper costumes, plastic hobo and witch hats, etc.

There was a giant-head Mickey costume. Basically, it was a really big flat mask with eye holes in his hat, mounted on something like a suit bag with a bandleader uniform printed below the mask and openings on the side so your arms would pop out of the sides of Mickey's face. I think the back was just blank. It was sized for little kids, who were on their own for suitable sleeves and pants.

I have never seen a similar Mickey costume since. Does anybody remember it? It would have been the very early 60s, or maybe even '59.

Major Pepperidge said...

JB, I like both the Minnie and the Mickey, they are a bit primitive, but still cute. I think the wide-open eyes are supposed to be “bright eyed”? I sometimes get the feeling that these characters fall down a lot, you’ll often see scuffs and dirt on the costumes, I can imagine it being easy to lose your balance. Hopefully they have a CM nearby to help them back up!

Nanook, it’s also interesting that the blue shirt seems to have a wavy bottom edge, that’s unusual. I’d love to know what the design was too. I’ll take your word for it on the Sub poster, it’s so dark on my monitor that I can’t tell!

TokyoMagic!, aw, poor Minnie. She needs a Tide pen and some TLC, that’s all. Good question about the crowds at Disneyland in the rain, is it possible that it was crowded anyway?

Bu, I don’t understand, what needs to be substituted on New Year’s Day? Sitting around watching football all day? I remember when my family used to look forward to the Tournament of Roses parade, but I haven’t watched that for years. Yard work can sometimes be rewarding, if not fun. Hey at least you have a yard! I haven’t really observed a costumed Mickey for a while, but not too long ago I saw one and was impressed at the way he interacted with people without speaking. Minnie has her days, just like all of us. While I’m sure many people would love beer carts in Disneyland, I’m glad they don’t. Not a fan of drunks, as I’ve said before. I wish I’d seen Nara Dreamland at its peak!

JG, I guess if I was a child it would be fun to get character autographs, but I scratch my head when I see adults with their autograph books. You know that’s not really Snow White, don’t you? I did wonder what music was performed in that spot… the Disneyland Band? Can’t they just stand or march? Maybe a Dixieland band? No idea. Ha ha, that poor kid in the Casey Jr. line, he’ll never eat another churro. Until five minutes later, when he has forgotten.

K. Martinez, I can’t help wondering if that blue shirt is some kind of surfer shirt. Or an oddball souvenir from someplace. We’ll never know!

Nanook, yes, basic things can be appealing. My niece and I were rhapsodizing about how good sourdough toast with butter is in the morning, it’s literally bread and butter. But so delicious! I can’t say I’m fascinated with churros, but I would be happy to eat one if there was a churro cart nearby.

Melissa, I guess we were used to Mickey being “master of ceremonies” after the Mickey Mouse Club, while Minnie was basically just herself. Not that there’s anything wrong with that! Is the boy with the shorts and matching socks wearing mouse ears?

DBenson, I have a big flat Bob’s Big Boy mask much like the Mickey mask you describe. It’s awkward to wear, but it looks good hanging on a wall. I’ve never seen an oversized Mickey costume that was available for the public. I’ll bet it cost extra, like $2.50 instead of $1.50!

Nanook said...

@ Melissa-
"I think my favorite sharp-dressed urchin is the kid in the second picture with the shorts and matching socks". AND the black loafers... don't forget the loafers. He's also quite visible in the 1st image, standing in the background, observing it all, while practicing a future 'Dad pose' - arms on hips, etc. A pot belly will complete the look.

MIKE COZART said...

2023!!!!! Wow!! That’s almost THE FUTURE!!

The two opera house “broadside” poster frames appear to have been intended as ticket windows when they structure was built. I’ve seen a Mickey Mouse Club Headquarters poster/sign and a Babes In Toyland one displayed there . In between I’ve seen images of many attraction posters inserted - Submarine Voyage , Autopia , Tom Sawyer Island , Monorail , Grand Canyon Diorama… are just some. These were all trimmed down to fit the two Opera House “windows”

Attraction posters were often trimmed and forced into frames all over Disneyland in the early years . The posters were also used EVERYWHERE - as they were intended to be when they were created - a inexpensive tool to replace all the have painted signs the sign shop was having to created in Disneyland’s first year … it was making things cluttered … sandwich board signs all along Main Street and park walkways because guests just didn’t understand what all these ATTRACTIONS were all about. The attraction posters created a standardized graphic tool.

"Lou and Sue" said...

I would love to know Minnie's secret. It's now 60+ years later, and she looks better.

For all you churro lovers (Bu, JG, Nanook) out there, feast your eyes on THIS!

Happy New Year!

"Lou and Sue" said...

Oops, I forgot to thank Major for these FUN scans. I love 'em!

DBenson said...

Major: Would be grateful if you could post a picture of the Big Boy mask/costume.

Nanook said...

@ Sue-
Uh-huh... Let's just say I won't expect 'churro lovers' to enjoy the foods I love, if they'll politely decline to express their food opinions to others who happen to have greater interest in food.