Two Beauties From 1973
Well homies, we are almost to the last of the wonderful 1973-ish photos taken by Mr. X. There are a few more 1973 images that I will describe as "leftuggies" that I will share at a later date, but I wanted to save some of my favorites for last.
Like this one - a view of the Keystone Cop saxophone quartet, playing next to Town Square's flagpole. At the base of the flagpole are colorful flowers. Geraniums? I am surely wrong, but that's OK, you guys will let me know. It looks like it was a beautiful day to be at the park.
I always think of the song "Minnie's Yoo Hoo" when I see this quartet, thanks to "The Official Album of Disneyland/Walt Disney World", which I listened to a LOT back in the day.
And now, my favorite of the whole bunch, this amazing and wonderful (and also awesome) photo taken from the Plaza, looking toward the entrance to Tomorrowland. The COLOR! And oh boy, it was a busy day, but that lets us enjoy looking at the people nearly 50 years after the picture was taken. Mr. X told me that he stood on a bench to get this view above the crowd.
As is often the case, X also waited for the Peoplemover trains and the Rocket Jets to be in prime position before he snapped the shutter. It was worth the wait, I'd say.
Many thanks to Mr. X. We will see more photos from him!
27 comments:
Major, I think you are accurate in your assessment. Thems thar are geraniums.
The second photo......well, PERFECTION!
Thank you Mr. X and Major. And thank you for standing on that bench, Mr. X, so we could all enjoy the results 50 years later!
Major-
Yes - what TM! said about Tomorrowland-!
Thanks to Mr. X for that swell image.
The lady in the front row-left of the Keystone quartet looks like those Brach’s candies with the pink , coconut and black …. I think they were called “Neopolitans”
Oh to be able to visit THAT Tomorrowland again! Imagine going back-in-time to 1973 and showing guests what Tomorrowland would be like in 2023! They’d probably think of all the amazing things Disneyland and the WED Imagineers would have dreamed up and built….
Then they’d see it and say “ WHAT HAPPENED!???”
Quintessential Main Street USA. It's nice to see folks enjoying the performance by the Saxophone Quartet. And I'm sure you're right about them playing "Minnie's Yoo Hoo"; do they know any other song? ;-) I have the recording on the "50th Anniversary: A Musical History of Disneyland" CD set.
Wow, everything about the Tomorrowland entrance photo is perfect! Even the puffy clouds are centered. I'm definitely keeping this one.
Plaid pants, plaid shirts, not sure about plaid dresses. And there's one of those psychedelic Disneyland shopping bags on the left. I can see only three trashcans through the sea of people.
Mike, haha. Yeah, Brach's Neapolitans. Or maybe Good & Plenty (after they've been bit into to expose the black licorice). I think maybe black licorice is on Major's "of the Devil" list. ;-)
Mr. X was definitely in good form on this day! Thanks to him, and thanks to you, Major.
Mike, I was 12 the summer that Space Mountain opened. Right around that same time I remember thinking, "Gee, if Disneyland is this awesome now, just think what it's going to be like when I'm an adult!" BOY, WHAT A MAJOR LETDOWN!
Wonderful Tomorrowland image.
1973 was one of my favorite years at Disneyland. Still around were the Mine Train Ride, Pack Mules original Fantasyland and Carousel of Progress. I'd love to step into the way-back machine and visit Disneyland again in 1973. Thanks, Mr. X. and Major.
TokyoMagic!, I was 17 the summer that Space Mountain opened, and I never imagined that Tomorrowland would become so underwhelming.
MIKE COZART, when I see Tomorrowland today, I still say “WHAT HAPPENED!???”
WHAT HAPPENED!??? Not sure WHO is responsible for ultimately green-lighting the "new" Tomorrowland, and I will say that I am not remotely interested. Inthe words of "Willy the Shake": "You make your wantoness your ignorance!" "Get thee to a nunnery!". For those interested in some urban archeology, those style benches molded into the landscape and planters can be found on the backside of the former America the Beautiful on the path that leads to the former Coke Terrace next to the Matterhorn- there are a few others in Tomorrowland as well: bordering the former Carrousel of Progress...is anything else "former"? Really, too much to go over here and now. I'm not a gigantic fan of street performers, but they do add some hatmosphere to Main Street. Mrs. Brachs Neopolitan seems to be enjoying it. I was always bothered by the wearing of modern spectacles, or worse: sunglasses, on Park entertainment personnel. I know it's not the actual turn of the century, and I know they need to see, but as a prior boss said to me once "can you act like you care?!" True quote. As a Disneyland employee I always had sunglasses on, I suppose it was the California thing, and the sky there is quite "squinty". I can't wear sunglasses today- I feel like I'm suffocating in an afterworld of darkness. All of these things are for a conversation with therapist later today. Thanks for the photos "X"! There is a lot to explore in these photos and possibly I will be back later with the findings of some forensics!
Oh, wow, that really captures the feeling of absolute wonder at seeing Tomorrowland for the first time. It was a great, big, beautiful yesterday.
Something something sax and violins...
Love both of these pictures! Especially the second one. Thank you, Mr. X and Major.
Sue
P.S. I love the pose on the young man (in the blue and red striped shirt—next to Mr. BrownPantsCameraMan) in the foreground of the second image.
Second photo has so many details, but I’ll just point out two:
1. Note the two sailors sitting on a bench. Find the palm trees on the right side of the flagpole and track down.
2. On the extreme left edge of the picture, there is a fella with long hair wearing dress slacks, dress shoes, and a collared shirt. I normally don’t associate all of those items together, but it has “1973” written all over it.
Thanks, Mr. X!
Geraniums in photo 1, lots and lots of “Crackerjack” marigolds in photo 2.
Yes, Major, these are bursting with 1973 goodness! Thank you, and Mr. X for these beauties.
And what did happen anyway, to our “great big beautiful yesterday?” (Thanks Melissa)
Bu, I must have channeled your boss at some point, my line, “Please pretend to care…”
Imagine, if you will, a Park so crowded you can barely see a trash can. Photo 1 shows one of the white fluted Pedestal drinking fountains, and I came without any sugar.
JG
TokyoMagic!, I had the feeling you’d like these! Also, I’m glad those flowers aren’t hydrangeas. Nobody likes hydrangeas.
Nanook, you said it!
Mike Cozart, uh oh, coconut? I can’t do coconut. My siblings all loved coconut, so I was the annoying holdout. Still am I guess! I agree, 1973 guests would probably expect incredible wonders for the Tomorrowland of 50 years later. I guess they forgot about all those “suits” making sure the budgets stayed down, and no Walt to spearhead everything.
JB, I’m trying to remember if I’ve ever seen the Saxophone Quartet on Main Street. Maybe? You’d think they would have made a bigger impression. “Minnie’s Yoo Hoo” was the main song they performed, but they also did Prince’s “Erotic City”. The second photo makes me wish I was wearing plaid, and that doesn’t happen very often. It has an energy to it! Much more so than the all-leather that I usually wear. Black licorice, bleah! If anybody ever gave me Good & Plentys, I’d nibble the candy coating off and toss the licorice into the pits of Hell where it belonged.
TokyoMagic!, I hope your story will teach you an important lesson: Never have hope!
K. Martinez, things were pretty good after 1973, but the idea of seeing the original Carousel of Progress AND the Mine Train (and yes, the original Fantasyland) is pretty darn appealing!
K. Martinez, I feel like a fool, because I remember reading that Tomorrowland was going to be Jules Verne-ified, and I thought it sounded like a neat idea. What I didn’t know was that mostly meant brown paint and the Rocket Jets being moved. Such a bummer.
Bu, looking back it’s clear that they wanted to change Tomorrowland, but do so on the smallest budget they could get away with. I’ve still never warmed to the Astro Orbiter, I’d like it much better if it was up on top of the old Peoplemover station. And even then I’d prefer the old “Saturn V” theme. I don’t mind street perfomers, and in some places, such as New Orleans Square, they really liven the place up. The Dapper Dans are always fun too. As long as I’m not expected to participate, it’s all good! I know what you mean about the modern sunglasses; maybe they could have given everyone blue-lensed pince-nez shades? I’ve never experienced a suffocating sensation while wearing sunglasses, thank goodness.
Melissa, I wonder if younger guests of today would be as thrilled by that photo of Tomorrowland as we are? I used to see comments on message boards from people saying that “old Disneyland” looked BORING.
Sue, I choose to believe that the young man you pointed out just moved his glasses and the camera caught him at the wrong moment.
Chuck, it’s nice to have those sailors there, but disappointing that there is not one nun. I think I’ve read that they would not admit men with long hair (maybe because of the Yippie invasion), maybe they made an exception if that young man was otherwise well-dressed? Also, imagine going to Disneyland and not being admitted because of your hair?!
JG, marigolds always make me smile ever since I was given a packet of marigold seeds in the second grade, and I grew them myself (well, with a little help from mom). It seemed like a miracle. That nice flower came from that tiny seed?? I’ve always wondered how many fabulous Tomorrowland concepts were scuttled due to budgetary constraints? To be honest I can’t recall reading about too many, but there must have been some.
Major, I was thinking that that guy probably dressed that way in an effort to ensure he got in the gate.
”…imagine going to Disneyland and not being admitted because of your hair?!” Never happened to me at Disneyland, but I did visit a tourist attraction in Colorado once where they wouldn’t let me in until they’d shaved my head.
Chuck...and then you were stuck there for a few years, I reckon.
Didn’t DrGoat mention something about his long hair and Disneyland—a while back?? DrGoat, if you’re reading this, please fill us in....and I hope you’re doing well.
Sue
1973. My 'Golden Era' at the Park. And does this show it. A great big, beautiful tomorrow...uh make that yesterday. There was something that just drew you in and brightened your spirits. Maybe because we had landed on the moon and everything in the land was fresh, clean and light. Vietnam was, for us, winding down. Bold colors. Lucky that a CM wasn't nearby to remind Mr X that the benches were for sitting...not standing. There's a chance I was working the Mine Train that very day. KS
Too much vintage fashion to even take it all in. If we were playing the plaid pants drinking game I'd have a nice buzz on right now. But I'm giving the gold medal to the red knee socks at the far right of the Main St. picture. We need some nuns and Boy Scouts to balance out the handsome sailors.
Two real beauts today Major, thank you Mr.X! Nice to know he waited till just the right moment, like the flag fluttering further down Main St. between the trees? And perhaps the word ‘Plaza’ on the trolly just passing this beautiful cross-section of humanity.
Brilliance is just the beginning of the Tomorrowland shot!
Thanks for mentions to those waves of marigolds…a smell I will always love because of this concourse, the way they weave into bench seating…who knew this would seem a fabulous feature in a future without any place to sit? Nice to hear some survive.
But the reason I have to chime in here today is just in front of Mr. Plaid Pants on the left. BlueSweater lady has not only a white purse, but the grooviest bag Disneyland ever offered!! The paper would tear easily and crumble in your sweaty hands, but these were trippy little treasures in their own right, regardless of what fun they held inside.
MS
The Keystone cops, likely with different personnel, also appear in "Disneyland USA". The soundtrack superimposes "Meet Me Down on Main Street" over whatever they're actually playing.
A Main Street Magic Shop souvenir I might still have somewhere: Two little wooden plaques, sort of hinged together with strings. The top flap said, "In Case of Fire, Raise This Flap". The bottom one said, "NOT NOW STUPID! In CASE of FIRE!" No Disney branding -- just old school silly.
Sue, I'm here, not doing too well but I can't remember what I said about it. All this stuff I have to take is really clouding my memory. I do remember getting a haircut before one trip to the park, but after that, I kept it shorter and then I think they relaxed the hair rule.
Be well
Chuck, wow, what kind of crazy place would make you shave your head? ;-)
Sue, I do think that DrGoat used to be a “hippie” (and proud of it). I used to joke about hippies (just because I thought it was funny to be “the guy who is always mad at hippies”) but I stopped because I didn’t want to hurt his feelings.
KS, looking at these photos, it seems clear as to why Disneyland would have appealed to all of us so much. But it seems as if the folks of today love it just as much (or MORE), which baffles me. It’s still fun to visit, but to me it doesn’t have that optimism and beauty.
Melissa, I’m with you, there’s just too much vintage fashion to take in. I do wish I had more nuns in my photos, but those seem to show up more in NYWF photos (as a rule).
MS, I’m not sure even Mr. X can recall if he waited for that flag to be in mid-flutter, but I wouldn’t put it past him. I’m not sure I ever remember smelling flowers at Disneyland, but of course the timing would have to be just right. I like the idea! Those particular paper bags are pretty nice, I have a few of them in different sizes - and while the most common version seems to be the kind with the yellow background, there were also examples with white, and also pale blue. I believe I have some of those too!
DBenson, that “Disneyland USA” featurette is one of my favorite pieces of vintage filmed Disneyland. Beautiful color, and fantastic views of the early park as it was really blossoming into the place that we love. I love that Main Street Magic Shop souvenir that you described, it sounds very much like others that I have seen.
DrGoat, I’m so sorry that you aren’t doing well, it goes without saying that I always hope for the best for you and your wife. As I said to Sue, I used to joke about hippies, though I never had any real issues with them. It was almost like mother in-law jokes. And it might not have been you, but somebody had an issue with my jokes, and I did not want to upset anybody, so I stopped!
I do remember being om Mainstreet about a year before I let my hair grow, and there was a long haired guy and his girlfriend at the arcade and I saw someone giving him dirty looks and remarks, but it was another guest, not an employee of the park.
DrGoat, it’s good to see you’re hanging around here with us! Always enjoy your comments.
BTW, I do know at least one other Jr. Gorilla who wore his hair super long, back then. He showed me his photo, but I’ll let him decide if he wants to ‘come clean.’ ;o). All the cool guys back then had long hair...until disco came along.
Sue
DrGoat, I remember how much my grandpa hated long hair on men! I mean he HATED it. I always wondered what the big deal was, but then again, I was in school in the '70s and saw plenty of long hair.
Sue, hmmm, I guess I should know who you are talking about, but I don't! And clearly I was not cool because my hair wasn't that long. It was long-ish, and my mom always wanted me to get a haircut, but it was a lot shorter than other guys my age.
My Grandfather also hated long hair...in London in the 60's, when you have a teenage daughter dating entire rock bands (The Who) who hang out at the house for extended lengths of time because your mother (my grandmother) bakes delicious treats...he would also get on ME for my "long hair and "hippie ties" and "long trousers". I was 4. I remember so specifically him calling me a hippie, and I very much knew what they were, given the crazy home surroundings...but I look at photos SPECIFICALLY from that very day...I look like a flipping MARINE! THAT was LONG hair? As a older teenager I told my Grandfather I became quite vexed by the comment as a child. He didn't remember, (even after I showed the photo) but understood that the tie I was wearing (yes...because 4 year olds wear ties) WAS a "hippie" tie. It had very small flowers on it, and my aunt dressed me in it because of her wicked and strange attraction to hippie types and the motorized "caravans" (read VW bus) they drove. The long trousers were also not acceptable to be worn on such young respectable lads of the day. I am afraid I have turned into my grandfather in more ways than one. I'm still wearing shorts, and still buzzing my head like a Marine.
Jumping on late as usual today.
As Sue said, another Jr. Gorilla who had very long hair is among us... yep... it's me.
I didn't attempt to go to Disneyland for a couple of years. I did get the "looks" quite often. Even refused service in a couple of rural restaurants. Man, that's over a half century ago.
Dr. Goat. Hang in there my friend. I had to take brain-fogging meds for a while too and understand.
Dr Goat, best wishes to you and Mrs Goat. Hope you stay dry down there in the desert!
Grant, good to hear from you!
JG
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