Three From Lou and Sue, September 1977
Sue B., ever-generous, sent me a large batch of scans of Disneyland from September, 1977. There's some good stuff in there, which is no surprise; it's going to be fun sharing these with you over the coming months.
We'll begin with this view of the Submarine Lagoon as seen from the Peoplemover. I can't quite tell which sub is heading toward us, but zooming in it looks like it might be the "Blurb Flenderson", and just behind that, the "Edward Norton". Main Street Station peeks in from the distance,
Next is another Peoplemover view, this time a rare view as the vehicle passed through the Character Shop. About the only merchandise I can positively identify is a selection of Pooh dolls, and a stack of souvenir wall maps (just above the word "courtesy"). Neat!
It's nice to see those odd fountains still splashing water (they were eventually turned into planters), I didn't know they lasted as fountains as late as '77. I always think of them as a flock of space whales.
THANK YOU, Lou and Sue! There's more to come from 1977!
25 comments:
Major-
Hats off to the Character Shop-! A rare image, to be sure.
"Blurb Flenderson", indeed-!
Thanks to Lou & Sue-!
The summer of 1977 was the start of my time working at the park, actually right across from the Sub Lagoon & below the Peoplemover track at Coke Terrace (where I had to put in my time before I could put in a transfer to attractions).
I'm pretty sure that the first Sub is the George Washington, followed closely by the Patrick Henry (but Major, your guesses were close...;-)).
Thanks Lou & Sue for the photos & Major for the post!
-DW
Judging by the tight rippling of the lagoon water I'd say it was probably a breezy day at the Park. Major, your Sub names are a good guess but I believe the nearest Sub is the "Pyro Hippopotamus" (Fiery Waterhorse) recently returned to the fleet after a five year hiatus. Actually, it looks like it says "George Washington"; (DW agrees). And the other Sub, based on the number of letters, is either "Patrick Henry" or "Ethan Allen"... But I like your names better.
In the Character Shop photo, I see several plush tigers but I don't think they're Tigger. Oh, and a pink elephant on the left.
I do like the metallic entrance to Tomorrowland but it always remind me of TV dinner trays. Frozen TV dinners used to come in aluminum foil trays instead of the microwaveable paper fiber trays of today. We all know Walt was scrapped for cash when he built Tomorrowland, so I think TV dinner trays are a good guess. Hey, they use them in TV shows and movies, so why not Disneyland?
Looks like we're gonna be spoiled with lots of Lou Perry photos in the near future. Thanks Lou & Sue & Major, too.
I absolutely love the Character Shop photo. I spent a lot of time shopping in there. I also liked the decor suspended from the ceiling. Was that Rolly's design? It looks like it could be. Why would they get rid of that? It's timeless. Oh, that's right, they ruin everything!
There is a blonde lady in the shop, near the top of the photo. It looks like she might be looking into a kaleidoscope. And just to the left of her are a bunch of "Disneyland" pennants. Behind her, it looks like there might be a couple rows of umbrellas hanging on a rack. If they aren't umbrellas, I can't think of what they would be. They wouldn't be rolled up posters, because the posters were kept in a big tall rectangular box type of thing that rotated.
Near the bottom right hand corner of that Character Shop photo, it looks like there are some visors with the "stars and stripes" on them. My friend had a visor just like that. His father worked for W.E.D., so the chances that it came from there are pretty good.
I also didn't know that the entrance fountains were working as late as 1977. I wonder if they were just broken or turned off every time I went to the park.
Great 70s DL pics, today! Thank you Lou, Sue, and the Major, too!
Is that man in the bottom center of the Character Shop photo, looking up and waving at us in our PeopleMover car?
Okay, I am still examining that Character Shop photo! Near the bottom left corner of the Minnie Mouse image (hanging from the ceiling), there are more of those red, white and blue visors. And just to the right of them......that cash register looks like it has this decal stuck to the side of it:
https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zqZDC201yQY/WCZcrCcBtvI/AAAAAAAAObU/81nLrbwDFsQU7vSRs6zMR794IRTPMk7LACLcB/s1600/DL%2BStickers%2B-%2B1970%2527s%2B%25281%2529.jpg
It might have another one stuck to the front of it, or one of the decals might be the matching Minnie Mouse one.
TokyoMagic! My dad has that MM decal...he may have purchased it on this trip...
I’ll be back later to comment more...I’m glad you’re enjoying these.
Sue
Pretty sure that’s the Patrick Henry following the George Washington. Never noticed that of the three subs originally named after real people, two of their namesakes were revolutionary patriots from Virginia. I think that’s appropriate; from King George III’s perspective, they were both subversives.
Adding to the merchandise IDs, there’s a giant Pluto just below the Disneyland pennants TM! mentions above and something that appears to have the classic Mickey Mouse Club logo on it next to the stack of maps.
JB, I see that pink elephant. Of course, I see pink elephants everywhere, so that may not be terribly remarkable. Could the tigers be an off-model Shere Khan? It may be a stretch, butThe Jungle Book did have a re-release in 1978.
Thanks again, Lou & Sue!
I didn’t realize that the entry fountains were still operating in 1977…. They wouldn’t be for much longer however. WDI has the fountain posts and ceramic basins in storage … around 2011-2012 there were plans of setting the sculptural Tomorrowland fountains back up on “The patio” between the MAPO building and the Mickey’s of Glendale employee shop. A pavilion was constructed ( it’s used for a bar at patio parties) and the fountains were going to be installed on both sides of the pavilion. But for whatever reason ( cost I’m sure ) the 1967 fountains were never installed. But WDI still has them!! The fountains were designed by WED but were manufactured by a company in LA that made similar fountains for office
Plazas , banks and shopping centers …. From basically the exact same material as the Tomorrowland versions . The silver fin panels were designed by the same imagineer , and are abstract representation of mankind’s exploration of seas, land , air , space and inner space. The masters were hand made from wood and then the park used panels are Vacuformed in plastic. I regret to inform everyone that very few of the panels currently used are 1967 originals - but are formed from the original wood “plugs” .
Thanks Lou , Sue and Major!
The Character Shop photo is cool. That was my favorite stop for Disneyland souvenirs including those cool ceramic figurines of Disney characters on shelves against one wall. Lots of memories at the Character Shop.
Great pics! Thanks Lou, Sue and Major too.
Hey, I'm going SHOPPING!!!
Ok, I can't figure out how to get into the picture, but I'll keep trying. Right now I've made a pretty good dent in my monitor...
I'm pretty sure a group of flying whales is a "Flod." I can understand not knowing that, as the need for such a term is extremely small. Sort of like "Skurder." (A group of roller skating crows). You don't see those much any more.
Thanks to Lou, Sue and the Major too!
Lou and Sue are Patron Saints of GDB, thanks to them and to you, Major, for this great look at Peak Tomorrowland!
I’m surprised there was never a sub named after Emperor Norton of California, one of the first of San Francisco’s prize lunatics.
DW, any chance you are at the Coke counter in this pic?
Love the Character Shop and Tokyo’s narration of the Disney Shopping Channel.
Chuck, that joke was lurking just below the surface.
Mike, architects love fountains and can never foresee what maintenance nuisances they will be, nearly all will become planters before long. I think I told the story of a fountain in a hotel lobby close to a fine wood paneled wall. The wind from the automatic doors sprayed water on the veneer, causing it to warp and crack. Eventually the fountain was shut off and the damaged wood remained. Thanks for the background on the metal tiles, I used to know the designers name, but it’s forgotten now.
JG
Nice to see the Character Shop! I agree: HUGE TRE. There was no need. It's not like anything mind blowing took its place. If you are not making things better, don't even spend a cent. Done with that rant. Thanks Lou and Sue for the photos. I haven't seen too many Character Shop interiors. And this view from the PeopleMover was so quick...but always memorable: looking at all the stuff I would never have! Later when I became an employee, I visited here frequently. They used to sell "Modern Marvels" like mini TV's and such. One of the undercover security guards told me that a guest sneaked one out under her skirt between her thighs...and then...WALKED NORMALLY. Yes. True story. They nabbed her after she went through the exit as it's not "stealing" if you are still in the park. Probably that has changed. If you remember those "mini TV's"...there was nothing too mini about them. Thanks Mike on the itel of the moulds and fountains. In 1980 they were plants just for reference. It's odd to me, that in some European places they have fountains hundreds of years old and they work just fine. My pond fountain freezes over every year, and always magically comes back on in the Spring. Don't cheap out on the plumbing. This seems like the easiest fix ever. Water would be better. I'm glad they kept them however, and look forward to them being used again- even if it's in a place I can't see. There is an artist that does work like that that I have been trying to find this morning. He is an Italian sculptor. The name will come to me. My uncle did walls like this for over-passes and whatnot...it was the same price to pour the cement if it was decorative or not. In Europe, so a different sensibility. They were in the spirit of these Tomorrowland walls, and also done in wood first. So very shiny. It would be a crime against art to see these go. Like the Wally Crumptastic Character Shop. Or is the the Charcuterie Shoppe? Space meat and cheese. An idea. Thanks again Lou and Sue and Major!
Thanks Sue and Lou. These visual memories are priceless. The Character shop pic is a rare one and so glad Lou took that shot.
Thank you Major and thanks again to Sue and Lou for being there and taking photos that my parents never did.
Nanook, that photo of the Character Shop really brought back memories!
DW, I guess that that sub could be the George Washington (and the other the Patrick Henry), but it’s just too hard to be sure. Blurb Flenderson was one of my personal heroes when I was growing up.
JB, I’m looking at the flags in the distance of the lagoon shot, and they don’t appear to be whipping around in the wind. BUT… there are those ripples. We need Lieutenant Colombo! Maybe the ripples were caused by Ella Fitzgerald who happened to be singing nearby. She had an amazing voice! It’s kind of shocking just how much Pooh merch is in the Character Shop, his dominance over Mickey had clearly begun. I never thought of metal TV dinner trays when looking at those entryway panels, but it’s all subjective. I am reminded of the underground dwellings of my home world. Sue has sent me so many photos! She’s been busier than I have!
TokyoMagic!, interesting thought about Rolly possibly designing the hanging decor in the Character Shop, I wonder if it is mentioned in the book “It’s Kind of a Funny Story”? You’re right, that might be a kaleidoscope that the lady is looking through. The world is a carousel of color. Wonderful wonderful color! Hey, lay off the funny cigarettes, lady. Good eye on the pennants. I don’t believe I have ever owned a single Disneyland pennant. I have my standards. I see those rolled up things, but… what could they be? At first I thought it was clothing on a rack, but it’s too narrow. It was illegal to make visors with stars and stripes until just before the Bicentennial. The punishment? DEATH.
TokyoMagic!, that man is definitely looking up at the Peoplemover, maybe somebody was waving at him and he was returning the courtesy?
TokyoMagic!, you spent way more time analyzing that photo than I did! I definitely see that sticker, good eye on that one, even after you mentioned it, it took me a minute to see it.
Sue, did your dad have the matching Minnie Mouse decal too?
Chuck, I actually could tell which subs those were… so much for my hilarious jokes. Hilarious, do you hear! “Subversives”, OUCH. Now I see the big Pluto doll (or is he just closer to us?). Just think how many of those souvenir maps they must have sold. I’d think that people would want an updated version these days, but for some reason none are offered. Maybe they need just the right artist to mimic Sam McKim’s style?
Mike Cozart, gosh it would be fun to see those original fountains up and working again, I’m glad that they didn’t wind up in the landfill. No surprise that those plans to reuse them were not realized, although the Disney Company is so darn wealthy, how expensive could it have been? The basic fountains were already made! I’m OK with the metallic entryway panels being replacements, since they used the original molds.
K. Martinez, I still have a Cheshire Cat that I bought from the shelves of figurines! I think I bought my copy of “Disneyland: The First Quarter Century” in the Character Shop too.
Stu29573, yes, that second photo definitely makes me wish I could step into it. So much fun stuff! You are right about the term “Flod”, though only Norse ghosts tend to use it today. Now crows ride skateboards, but I don’t know the technical term for a bunch of those.
JG, I am all for naming submarines after crazy people, but others may differ. Just think how amazing it would be to see DW in one of Lou’s photos! TokyoMagic’s soothing voice would be perfect for a shopping channel. My wallet would be empty in no time. Unfortunately you are right about fountains, which is a bummer because I love them. We’ve seen Disneyland build, and later remove, quite a few fountains. Maybe they should use heavy water in the fountains?!
Bu, I truly believe that some things at the park get changed just because somebody needs to “make their mark”. “You know what we should do? We should make that fun, distinctive store into something generic and boring. And I’m just the man for the job!”. Lou seems to have fired off that shot reflexively, since I think he might have positioned his camera so that the Peoplemover’s safety bars weren’t in the picture if he’d known ahead of time. But I’m so glad he took the picture! I’ve seen videos of women stealing liquor (or whatever) beneath their skirts, it’s pretty impressive. Is it really not “stealing” until you’ve left the park? I’d think that avoiding the cash registers would be the benchmark. SoCal definitely has its windy days, but how hard would it be to have an area supervisor with a button to push (or a valve to close)? Maybe harder than I think.
DrGoat, Lou too TONS of photos that nobody else did, you should see some of the images that Sue has shared with me. Truly incredible.
Always nice to see scenes of the Park from those days of mine that to many would not be worthy of a picture but nonetheless were the daily views that surrounded me as I pulled my 8 hour shift. Things you readily took for granted but when seen today, you wish you could crawl inside the frame and just relive the entire experience around you. I think it's one of those 'you had to be there' to appreciate what I'm saying. Look forward to all the pictures to come! Thanks to Lou and Sue! KS
JG- It's very possible that I was there at the time, but it wouldn't have been at the Coke counter, but back in the kitchen...
KS- I know what you mean about seeing pictures & wanting to relive the experience. Some of it seems like just yesterday & some of it seems a lifetime ago.
-DW
Re: Coke Terrace counter people...Johnny liked the guys in the back, and the girls up front. There were only a few guys on the counter when I was pimped out over there from ODV as it was part of Tomorrowland Foods. The kitchen and the "Board" was 100% male. I forget the lady in the back who did the schedule and was very very kind...but definitely an old timer as was Johnny. Not sure in '77 you would see a boy at the counter. In around '81 I can only remember myself and one other guy...and both of us went to GR later...for those who want to know, the boys did not wear the Coke Bottle Cap hat. That costume was so photographed and iconic. We wore an unflattering jumpsuit thing. I do have a photo somewhere of me in it...but I have to dig deep for it. It's me AND the Mary Blair backsplash tiles. For later.
The Tomorrowland 1967 silver entry fin panels type pattern and vacu-formed plastic was used on the CHARACTER SHOP marquee. A fountain system with similar silver mural panels was also designed for the side flank wall of the SKYWAY station facing the DL RR station …. This extended fountain wall would have hid the Skyway exit stairs … that always resembled a fire escape. This Tomorrowland fountain was left out and was not part of the scope of phase two Tomorrowland 1967. I speculate it was ultimately cost …. But possibly concerns of water spray on the Skyway steps ..(???)… so until 1998 that wall was a planter , skyway exit stairs and payphones.
Major : In the Rolly Crump auction Rolly’s sketches he got from animation library ( photostats) and his cleanup drawings for the banners of the CHARACTER SHOP and some documentation photos were up for sale. It was a very MOD interior for the time … all black and white ( I think there was a silver blue used as well) and the simple black line drawings of 1920’s - 1930’s Mickey Mouse created a bold graphic look.
You also have to remember how unusual this would have looked to people in 1967 since vintage Mickey graphics were not re-licensed again until 1968 with the famous “Mickey Mouse” shirts that became the rage by the late 1960’s and into the early 1980’s.
This was done because Disney was seeing hippie print shops and surf t shirt shops in the late 60’s started bootlegging vintage 1930’s images of Mickey Mouse …. So Disney lawyers said” “ hey if kids are buying old Mickey Mouse images - they should be buying it from us!!”
Disney educational films even did a series of films in the early 70’s called IF THE FERGIE FITS …. About a group of kids that see how popular the vintage Mickey Mouse shirts are and start making their own ( non Disney ) graphic t shirts showing how this fictional corporation (FERGIE SHIRT COMPANY) grew from a small garage shop t shirt company.
I think Tokyo! likes the Character Shop photo. ;-)
Chuck, I suppose it could be Shere Khan. But geez, it would have to be very off-model (as you said). Too cuddly.
Stu, when you finally figure out how to get into that photo... let the rest of us know!
Before you dent your monitor any further, I'm pretty sure it involves the 4th, 6th, and 7th dimensions. The 5th Dimension broke up sometime in the '70s.
I saw "flitter" of flying piglets the other day.
Bu, mini TV, under skirt, between thighs... I believe that would qualify as "must-see TV"... (sorry.)
Major, the flags, while not terribly 'whippy', all seem to be going in different directions. Maybe the wind is "light and variable", creating crosswinds that are making the choppy ripples on the lagoon?
KS, most of us have jobs that we’d rather not remember, so you’re lucky to have enjoyed yours so much! As I’ve said before, I’m envious of your experiences!
DW, see my comment to KS. So you enjoyed your time at the Coke Corner?
Bu, I’m sure the thinking is that women (in theory) are much nicer to interface with. Guys can sweat over the cooktops in the back! It’s nice to hear that some of those old dimers were nice, and not all hard asses. Was the woman a “Club 55-er”? I wear jumpsuits all the time, they are so convenient. One big zipper in the front, and blam! Instant comfort.
Mike Cozart, I feel like maybe I’ve seen concept art for those proposed Skyway station fountains? You just know that the winds would have made those a disaster. They needed to build a giant clear dome over Disneyland so that there would be no wind. Is that too much to ask? Gosh, it kills me that they sold off some of Rolly Crump’s drawings, but when I worked at the studio (all too briefly), one of the PAs on my show had a husband who worked - in the Archives I guess? - and all he did was scan original artwork at high resolution. Presumably so that they could get sell it off and save space. I’m glad somebody wised up to Disney printing their own vintage Mickey style t-shirts, it seems like such a no-brainer now. Imagine how much money they made of those! I owned at least one, and maybe two. Wow, it would be fascinating to see “If the Fergie Fits” now! That’s the sort of obscure thing I wish they’d put on Disney+.
JB, TokyoMagic! actually hates that photo, but he is just being nice because he feels sorry for me. Have you been to the 9th dimension? It’s pretty fun, but I admit that it smells funny. You might be right about the whippy, swirling winds, but don’t forget how powerful Ella Fitzgerald’s voice was.
Major- Actually working at Coke Terrace was pretty much getting my foot in the door of working at Disneyland, but enjoying the time came after moving to attractions...;)
-DW
Major;
It was Rolly selling off his own stuff. It seems like they were all one off character banners … so it’s possible there were no actual construction blueprints for the Character Shop…. I’ve seen case and fixture displays as part of the 1967 documents but not for the character banners … but it’s possible blueprints for them exist … but may have been pulled from reference drawings since they were replaced back in 1987.
I know I’ve heard stories that the Character Shop was designed to have an open corner entrance with floating cantilevered looking walls …. But engineering required a corner “post” the two sided opening created cross drafts that often made the Rolly Crump character banners and globe stick lighting swing dangerously above shopping guests. So the sliding doors facing Space Mountain would be closed part way ….cutting down on the wind gusts. Cast members says it also made it feel dark inside.
JB, when I look at the Tomorrowland "walls," I do see those old TV dinner trays - and I can see the Jiffy Pop Popcorn foil, too.
Mike, thank you for sharing the "silver fin panel" information. Disneyland could make a fortune selling the old ones, as they're replaced. I bet you have at least one of them. And also thank you for the Character Shop history info. Cool stuff!
Bu, I had one of those little TV's at work (put away in my desk drawer) - back before we all had internet on our computers - and before smart phones. That TV came in handy when some world event took place and everyone wanted to watch it live. I could NEVER imagine going for a walk with it, though.
Major, to answer your question, I don't remember if my dad has the Minnie Mouse decal. BTW, Mickey is his favorite Disney character.
"Lou seems to have fired off that shot reflexively, since I think he might have positioned his camera so that the PeopleMover’s safety bars weren’t in the picture if he’d known ahead of time."
Major, I bet you're right. From recently viewing many of my dad's photos and slides, I can see that he wanted to capture EVERYTHING on film - so he wasn't about to let that scene slip by, even though he probably wasn't expecting it. One cool thing my dad did, that I recently discovered while going through his pictures: Over the years, if he had an unfinished roll of film sitting at home, he would use up the roll by snapping pictures of the rooms in our house. Talk about walking into a time machine now...with pets and all.
Love hearing all the stories about what it was like to work in Disneyland.
I've enjoyed everyone's comments today. Thank you!
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