Two Leftuggies From October 1962
I found two scans out in the snow, shivering and lonesome. I brought them in, gave them some stew, and now they are ready to be shared with the world.
So... this is kind of an odd photo, but I like it for that reason. You know what I mean! At this point anything different is a novelty. The photographer must have been sitting on one of the Disneyland Railroad's passenger cars, facing into the park (as usual); it's possible that the train has just gotten underway after loading up at Frontierland Station.
Just beyond the station is a green lawn, so inviting that a few people are stretched out in the sunshine, enjoying the warmth. To the right... a construction wall. For Galaxy's Edge! A raft is on its way to Tom Sawyer Island, and the Mark Twain is taking on a new load of passengers.
Meanwhile, over in Fantasyland, we have this view across part of the moat, with the Snow White Grotto almost lost in the shadows. Who doesn't like crossing an inviting little bridge?
22 comments:
Major-
Thank goodness the wall isn't for Galaxy's Edge, but instead for a much-bigger crowd pleaser: New Orleans Square-! And that should be the new Frontierland Train Station we see, and the [original] Frontierland Station's depot building was moved across the DLRR's tracks.
Thanks, Major.
Wow, who knew that Galaxy's Edge was sixty years in the making!
1) One of the two guys walking in between the 3 trashcans (which must be some sort of interdimensional portal) is carrying a white cubical receptacle. Anyone know what it might be? Since they just popped in from the future, I'm guessing it's a dilithium crystal.
It's Bend Over Wednesday! I count three (3) people bending over at the waist here.
2) Somebody is wearing a souvenir hat with a tall white ostrich feather wafting in the gentle breeze. The castle tower makes it look like we're surreptitiously peeking around the corner at the people admiring the Grotto.
Hmm, no killer swans visible. But we know they're there, their three-inch fangs thirsting for the thoughtless throngs. (I wanted to get "they're, there, and their" in the same sentence. Also the alliteration.)
Thanks for the languishing, lonesome, leftuggies, Major.
Love the first image. I can almost feel the motion of rolling by on the passenger train. Thanks, Major. Glad these pics found a warm home.
In the first pic, everyone is watching the lady on the far left, demonstrate how to make shadow puppets. "And this is a barking dog....."
The first picture is a near perfect "Wish I had been there" shot. Of course, if I had been I would have been one month old, and probably not enjoying the situation as much as I should. Little babies learn "normal" in those first few months. Can you imagine spending them at Disneyland and then the whole rest of your life in the "real world" thinking, "Well, this stinks."
I've always liked the grotto. Who knew that that was the early inspiration for The Bat Cave? Really- who? It's always amazed me how those statues were made out of soap and have never melted away. Actually, I think more things should be made of soap. No reason.
Speaking of soap, does anyone remember Fuzzy Wuzzy soap? You used it and then it "grew hair." It wasn't nearly as gross as it sounds. Kind cool, really!
Nanook, I believe that they never actually built New Orleans Square because children did not know what New Orleans is. It seems crazy to us, now! Yes, I agree, that is the new Frontierland Station, not sure if it is the exact same structure that is there today, or if it has been rebuilt at some time.
JB, it’s facts like the one about Galaxy’s Edge that you won’t find on any other blog. No idea what could be in that cubical box, though it is an unusual shape. Who knows, it could be a ceramic mug. Or a ceramic bug. I think some of those bent-over people are looking at… flowers? The woman with the feathered hat is the subject of our photographer’s affections, we’ve seen her before, but not for a while. As for peeking around corners, it’s what I do best (that and stealing pies from window sills). Nice alliteration!
K. Martinez, the last time I stood at that train station, I waited 20 minutes, and not a single locomotive came by. Whut the…? I later boarded a train at Tomorrowland Station, and got to see the dinosaurs, hooray.
TokyoMagic!, I’ve never been any good at making shadow puppets, so if that lady is adept at it, she should have been made President of the World.
Stu29573, I thought that when you were born you had a slim mustache and spoke with a clipped British accent. Oh wait, that was me! I love the idea of a baby being raised in Disneyland, only to see the “real world” at about the age of nine. Sure, we’re talking about a real human being here, but I think the experiment is worth doing. Funny you should mention Snow White soaps, they actually made character-shaped soaps (not sure if they did all seven dwarfs AND Snow White, but I think so) back in the late 1930s. They weren’t made from Dove soap like the ones that are there now. I do remember Fuzzy Wuzzy soap, but never quite understood it. Did it really “grow” hair, or did you just expose the barbershop sweepings as you used the soap?
Major, I’m glad you brought these photos in from the cold.
Three of the “X” style trash cans show how old that decor was, before it went on to inspire the space fighter designs in Star Wars, and is that a one-off wood grained design in the station near an ash urn?
I unconditionally love any photo of Snow White’s Grotto, this is the sort of design that Disneyland did best and no longer does.
Every time I see it I worry that they have added Johnny Depp to the tableau.
Thanks for these today!
JG
I'm also a big Snow White's Grotto person. I can't tell you how many coins I've tossed down that well. A lot. Many for people in my life that have passed on that also loved Disneyland. It's probably not as serene as it was, but JG said it best.
I’m laughing at all the funny comments. Thanks, all! I’m having a crazy work day and need the laughs.
Stu, YES, I remember fuzzy wuzzy soap—the bear one.
Sue
FUZZY WUZZY SOAP!
Dr. Goat, I think I have told this story before, but here goes.
Snow White Grotto.
My Mom and Dad saw the movie in 1939, while they were dating.
Every trip to Disneyland they stopped at SWG to smooch.
I drop a coin in the fountain to remember them.
I love SWG because I might owe my existence to Snow White.
JG
JG, thank goodness your folks didn’t name you after a dwarf.
Sue
Tokyo!, looks more like a kangaroo to me. :-p
Stu, I remember seeing the Fuzzy Wuzzy commercials. I don't think we ever tried it though.
Major, how about a ceramic pug? Or a ceramic slug or a ceramic jug. Probably not a ceramic rug.
(I'm sure I'll get this rhyming, alliteration thing out of my system soon.)
Sue, haha! Thanks for the link. MOLD SPORES!?!? I never knew THAT! It was probably atomic.
Is this where they got the idea that folks will want to play on a grassy lawn in ToonTown? Will astro-turf cut it?
SW grotto is a forever favorite spot, but it’s the chunky rock in the moat that has me here commenting today. I can’t ever see it without hearing Michael Jackson Wishing Upon A Star…er…following the Yellow Brick Road…jam ease on down Ease On Down The Road. With the late Adam Rich in tow. Yes, Disneyland 25th anniversary was SOMETHING.
MS
Sue, after cleaning the coffee off of my keyboard where I sprayed it laughing at your comment, it occurs to me that maybe I am named after a dwarf after all... Could be Chubby, Sloppy, Stinky... endless possibilities...
JG
JG, it’s funny, I did not quite get that the thing in the foreground of photo #1 is the top of a trash can, it almost looks like a table from this angle. That other thing definitely looks like a place to extinguish your cigarette butts… don’t want to set anything on fire. I agree that something like the Snow White Grotto would never happen these days - the IP is too old, and the feature makes no money. What’s the point!
DrGoat, I don’t think I’ve ever dropped a coin into the wishing well, but that’s because I’m a cheapskate. My used gum didn’t seem to make any wishes come true, unsurprisingly. Having been to the park fairly recently, I can tell you that on a busy day, the Grotto was still pretty peaceful!
Sue, I’m sorry you are having a crazy work day, but that’s what you get for working at Arkham Asylum. Was there more than one Fuzzy Wuzzy?
Sue, the fur was a MOLD SPORE?!!? Yuck!!
JG, I think smooching is mushy and I won’t have it. Couldn’t your mom and dad just shake hands and feel good knowing that they weren’t mushy?? My dad loved Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs more than any other movie, which I always thought was kind of adorable.
Sue, JG’s middle name is “Grumpy”!!
JB, I doubt my parents would have spent money on Fuzzy Wuzzy soap. “What’s wrong with Dial? We have Dial!”. All of those ceramic items are wonderful, and I would gladly give you all my money for them. Yeah, mold spores, I can hardly believe it.
MS, I think I saw some artwork on “Fresh Baked” showing some of those new “lawn” areas in Toon Town, I have to say that I was not inspired. It doesn’t look fun, creative, or pretty. Did Michael Jackson sit on a rock in the moat in a Disney TV special? Adam Rich, aw, poor guy, I’m sure his life was not easy.
JG, Sue should be honored that she inspired a classic “spit take”. In the tradition of Jerry Lewis!
MS, thanks for the tip on that 25th anniversary special, I'm watching that on YouTube right now.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QeTp90xhUk
Oh Dear, it is many kinds of awful...
JG
I just saw that the child actor in that special, Adam Rich died very recently, like "last week" recently.
I had no idea who he was since I didn't watch TV in that era. I was going to comment on what an annoying little runt he was in the Disney show, but it's just the role. Now I feel bad.
Major, you are right, Grumpy is my middle name. Mrs. G. complains about this occasionally.
JG
Yay! I loved it!
Stu29573
Actually the only people I remember having it are my grandparents. They were so cool!
I didn't remember a bridge by Snow White Grotto when I visited last year, but I checked Google maps and one is there, though greatly flattened out. I assume for ADA compliance.
I think those people relaxing on the grass are waiting for Fantasmic. Can't get there too early if you want a prime spot.
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