Happy Birthday, plus Two Ships
It's time for another GDB BIRTHDAY... this time we are celebrating David W's special day. Go to the store, buy a whole chocolate cake, and eat it in David's honor! Just think, David got this close to being born on February 29th!
Meanwhile, a little bird told me that David is especially fond of the classic pie-eyed Mickey Mouse (as am I), so I decided to find some good examples from around the internet and share a few of them with him, and with all of you!
How about this cute vintage birthday card? Mickey is with his two nephews, Morty and Ferdie.
Next is this wonderful cover for "The Pop-Up Mickey Mouse", from 1935. I'm sure an example would fetch many hundreds of dollars if you wanted to acquire one today.
Just look at those colors, those pleasing shapes... what's not to love? This is a book from 1934.
From 1933 comes this rare Mickey Mouse Cut Out Doll Book. Imagine finding something like this in a thrift store! I know, about as likely as finding one of King Tut's artifacts in Oxnard, but you hear stories!
And finally, here is the cover of the first issue of Mickey Mouse Magazine, from 1935. So many familiar Disney characters are spilling out of the pages, including Horace Horsecollar, the Three Little Pigs, Clarabelle Cow, and what may be Max Hare (from "The Tortoise and the Hare").
I also decided that today would be a good day to share some photos of a sculpture that David W. made. All by himself, with no help from mom! You might not know it, but he's a VERY talented sculptor, just look at how adorable little Dumbo is (in his "circus clown" costume)! Incredible. He really captured that innocent baby cuteness.
David sent me these photos long ago, suggesting that I could share them the next time I posted a photo of the Dumbo attraction, and then it seemed like I didn't have any good photos of that ride for months and months (and months). So today's the day! BTW, "Dumbo" is one of my favorite Disney animated features.
I just can't get over how good this sculpture is! Thanks for sharing, David!
NOW, ON TO OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED PROGRAM
Yesterday we had two trains, today we have two ships! Very different ships. These are both from "sometime in the 1950s" (I have a lot of slides from that time frame!)
We'll start with this view of the Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship. This one is a bit of a mystery, at first I assumed that it had been taken from the Skyway - but aren't those Skyway cables at the top of the frame? We can see a bit of the Castle in the lower left, as if the photographer was somehow standing up there. But HOW? I'd love to hear any theories you guys have, or if I am just plain wrong.
Meanwhile the angle is interesting, as we get a nice juxtaposition of the ship and Casey Jr. in the distance; and I like the people milling around down below.
Next is this look at the Moonliner (a ship to the Moon, see?), dramatically lit by the last rays of the setting sun. I'm noticing a tiny bit of difference in red color if you look just above the rocket's cockpit, as if the "cap" of the rocket was painted separately. Hmmm! Proof the the world is flat. Or something. In the lower left, a "tri-level" Frontierland poster, one sold at auction in late 2021 for over $28,000. Yes, it's rare.
24 comments:
Major-
Since David is fond of 'pie-eyed' Mickey Mouse, shouldn't we all be eating a chocolate pie-? (I'm just saying). This is a wonderful assortment of Mr. Pie-eyed himself, with some swell images.
What can I say about that incredible Dumbo sculpture, other than how beautifully and simply it says so much about Dumbo-? Such talent, indeed.
As for the 'mystery' photo location - it was taken from the rooftop of the Mickey Mouse Club Theater. You can just see the 'stonework' of the "parapet" and the east edge of the navy blue "spire" above the theater's sign. I realize that eliminates the image being shot by a guest, but that's my story, and I'm sticking to it-!
Happy birthday to David W. Thanks, Major.
Happy Birthday, David W. You coulda, woulda, shoulda been bornded on Feb.29th. But nooooo, you hadda get bornded in a non leap year. So, March first, it is! It's probably better this way... too much confusion otherwise.
Well I'll be. I never knew that Mickey had nephews, and that their names are Morty and Ferdie. Next you'll be telling me that Donald Duck has nephews, too! Yeah, riiiight. That'll be the day. That IS a nice card. Colorful, and very Disney. I like the slight shading that gives it a sense of depth.
I would have been delighted and excited to receive this card as a kid, back in the day. Back then, anything Disney had a magical feel to it.
In the Pop-Up image, it looks like Mickey is splashing through water, with those streaky drops at his feet. And OMG!, he has bullet holes through the palms of his hands! ;-)
My favorite thing about the MM book is the title font; so classic. I would think that Minnie would have a difficult time walking around in those oddly-shaped high heels, not to mention, running in them.
Wow, I truly am impressed by DW's Dumbo sculpture! So Disney-like!
The Pirate Ship: I agree with you, Major. The photographer must be on the roof of that section of the Castle. But that would make the photographer someone special, to be allowed on the roof. Maybe Walt took this photo! And yes, the guests look well-posed, as if in a painting.
The Moonliner: Very dramatic! I like this one a lot; so I'm keepin' it! I see the color difference, too. Now I'm wondering if it has always been that way and we just didn't notice it.
Nanook, the Mickey Mouse Club Theater, eh? We're both thinking the photographer was someone special. It was Walt, I tell ya!
Wonderful selection of vintage Mickey, Major. And thanks for the two ships passing in the night... well, daytime and twilight.
I'm a fan of pie-eyed Mickey, too! And that's a nice collection of vintage items. But I especially like David's sculpture. It is so beautifully done, and it's far better than any of the merchandise you find in the Disney parks, today. I miss the ceramic figurines that they used to sell in the Emporium, Character Shop, and China Closet.
I agree with Nanook about the location of the photographer, for that Pirate Ship pic. You can even see a flag with Mickey on it, attached to that pole with the gold finial on top. The flag isn't unfurled, so we can't really get a good look at the image on it, but it is Mickey. Walt was probably up on the parapet, waving to the guests below.....you know, sort of like Eva Peron.
Happy birthday, David! And thank you for sharing the images of your Dumbo sculpture with us! Thanks to Major, too!
Happy Birthday David! Glad you were born, as I'm sure you are too.
Thanks for all stuff you do for us out here.
Pie-eyed Mickey is the real Micky Mouse, always has been.
Stay well and happy.
PS Mickey's Trailer is one of my favorite Mickey cartoons. 1938.
Happy Birthday David, Many Happy Returns of the Day!
Thank you for sharing that wonderful little sculpture, you are definitely talented. I can see a whole line of these, perhaps culminating in Johnny Depp!
Agreeing with Nanook and Tokyo, definitely taken from back stage rooftop, about where Pinocchio is today, not a guest vantage point. Pretty rarefied stuff.
Loving all the vintage Mickey, I’m so cynical, I’m thinking the return to the old look Mickey on Runaway Railway is to extend the copyright of that look which is supposedly expiring “someday”.
Great Moonliner pic, that line on the nose fairing marked the breakaway line where the space pods deploy to search for lost astronauts. “I’m sorry, Dave, I can’t do that…”
Thanks Major!
JG
Happy Birthday DW!
Your Baby Dumbo takes First Place, hands-down...er, ears-down!
Sorry Stu, as I know you love the Moonliner. ;o)
Thanks, Major!
Sue
Nanook, personally, I would be happy to have a delicious pie for my birthday (I can think of a couple that my mom used to make that were so good). And isn’t that Dumbo sculpture amazing? I’ve seen a few other examples of D.W.’s art, equally great. I agree about that photo being taken from the roof of the Mickey Mouse Club Theater… but HOW? I wish I knew!
JB, for some reason Mickey’s nephews have never gained much traction with the general public. They appeared in tons of comic strips, but compared to Donald’s nephews, the mice are forgotten. Looking at all of those vintage MM graphics, I can understand why people collect that stuff so avidly. It’s beautiful. Is there ANY chance that (for some reason) guests would have been allowed on the roof of the castle? I wouldn’t think so, but I don’t think any of the other photos in that batch show anything unusual. The mystery is part of what makes that one so interesting.
TokyoMagic!, I only have a few truly vintage Mickey Mouse items, but I generally prefer his pie-eyed look. Not to mention the cartoons, when Mickey was more of a scamp, and went on adventures to cannibal islands or things like that. I can’t believe that people wouldn’t still buy those ceramic figurines that used to be sold, so it’s strange to me that they stopped selling them. I’m sure you’re right, Walt took that photo of the Pirate Ship, now I’m going to sell it for $8,000.
DrGoat, “Mickey’s Trailer” is from “peak Mickey”, when they put so much into the animated shorts - I think Walt was using them as training for Snow White, so they had beautiful backgrounds and top-notch animation.
JG, DW should do a sculpture of Johnny Depp as he looks now, looking more and more like Keith Richards all the time (something Johnny would be thrilled with I’m sure). Your theory about extending the copyright for Mickey is not crazy, but I don’t know enough about the legal stuff. They kicked me out of law school for being too awesome!
Sue, seeing DW’s sculpture makes me want to watch “Dumbo” again!
Happy birthday, DW! Glad that folks here are finally getting a chance to get a peek at your talent; I have always been amazed and impressed at your skill.
I’ll admit that I often ignore Mickey due to the poor fella’s overexposure in just about every media imaginable, but vintage graphics like these take me back to a younger Chuck and make me feel all warm and nostaligicalistical inside. As JB said, “Back then, anything Disney had a magical feel to it.” Right on, brother! Or…sister? I have to admit I don’t know from your initials; maybe I’m projecting. And now I’m embarrassed. And hungry.
Why am I hungry? It’s all of this talk about pie - and not a pie in the house! Now doesn’t that just take the cake…
I know that the starboard-side entry door to the pirate ship was moved aft in 1960, but it still throws me off every time I see it here. Note the mobile homes in the distance beyond the berm.
I think $28,000 was a bargain for that tri-level Frontierland poster. Think of all the disposable dustpans you could make from it!
Wow Happy birthday, David W! I, too, prefer my mice with pie-eyes. Those are great examples!
The sculpture? Wow. That's all I can say. WOW!
Ah, my Moonliner (that's ok, Sue). Since the main body of the ship was a cylinder built by a boiler company, the tail was a true cone. The nose, however, is actually at least two pieces; the true cone of the tip and the subtly curved transition section that blends the cone with the body cylinder. I would have thought that the two nose sections were joined lower than the paint line, but maybe not.
And now that I've completely bored everyone, have a great day!
Chuck, my first name is Jim; if that helps.
Wow, Chuck, I have just understood for the first time that the guest entrance door to the Pirate Ship was not always at the rear!
As it is shown in today's picture, the entrance would be right in the middle of the food prep area as I knew it, (well, service area, as I think KS said once that the food preparation, salad makings etc. was done in the Hills Bros. kitchen and carried over for assembly)
Was the restaurant an afterthought and put in later, or was it heavily reworked when the door was moved? Maybe poor traffic flow is why the door was moved?
There was a third door on the port side of the ship that opened into the service area, with it's own little gangway, I wonder if that was the former guest exit door since it would align somewhat with this original door location?
I remember the stair to the upper decks was accessible from the interior, you went into the snack bar "lobby" and climbed up to the deck. I think this stair ran forward and up in one run, no switchback or landing. There was also a kind of fake "aquarium" diorama on the stern wall with various Starkist products on display as if they were underwater. The serving counter was on the right as you entered and the servers faced aft. Here is a link to the Daveland interiors that I remember. Sorry Major, you'll have to pay Dave for the links.
https://davelandweb.com/chickenofthesea/images/60s/COTS_1_19_1968_C.jpg
https://davelandweb.com/chickenofthesea/images/60s/COTS_1_19_1968_D.jpg
JG
@ JB-
At these times... that may merely be a tease...
@ JG-
The Chicken of the Sea Restaurant (Starkist Tuna es no bueno) was there from the start. It would "appear" the entrance door was moved aft at the same time as Skull Rock, etc., was added [late 1960] - but positive proof eludes me. MIKE-?
Chuck, I need to ask DW if he has sculpted any other famous Disney characters, because his Dumbo is an A+. I am “meh” oh later Mickey Mouse, but the pre-1940 version is SO appealing, and his smiling face appeared on so many wonderful toys, books and magazines. I used to be friends with a couple that had one of the most amazing collections of vintage Mickey I’d ever seen in person. I actually did not know that the door on the Pirate Ship was ever moved! Now I’ll have to compare old/new pix. I made disposable dustpans from a Monet, and I’ve never been happier.
Stu29573, I’m always surprised at just how well the cylindrical body of the Moonliner transitions into the tapers at each end. They really did a great job, it gives the illusion of a slightly-curved hull (to my eyes, anyway). You didn’t bore me!
JB, we like you no matter what.
JG, if I had to hazard a guess (you know, a gun to the head!), I’d bet that they realized that when the Pirate Ship restaurant got busy, it was better to have the door further aft. Makes sense when I think about it. Imagine how small the “kitchen” was on the ship, it must have been hot and stuffy and no fun at all. Oh how I wish I had a photo of the fake aquarium diorama you mentioned! I’ve never heard about it until now, and my guess is that there are no surviving images of it. Who would stop and take a picture of such a thing? Almost nobody (except maybe Lou). I’ve seen those Daveland photos, they are incredible.
Nanook, not sure I’ve met any women who go by “Jim”, but I am sure there are a few out there!
Nanook, I would assume that photo evidence would be the easiest way to see when the door moved. Just go to your favorite blog already! ;-)
Nanook, LOL. You caught me out.
Now I'm envisioning a Charlie-the-Tuna and COtS Mermaid dueling piano duet like Daffy-versus-Donald in Roger Rabbit. Or maybe a duel to the death with lirpa and anh-woohn in a Vulcan arena.
Major, I did a very-much-not-conclusive review of Daveland archive, it appears that the door was moved by 1960, and maybe earlier, so before Skull Rock, which i think was 1961.
Mike? Anyone?
JG
Major, re the fake aquarium, as I recall it, it had stacks of tuna in cans or some other merch and maybe figures of the mermaid etc. I don't recall specifically any Disney character tie-ins, but we are talking almost 60 y.o. memories here, and I can barely remember breakfast now.
I'm sure the kitchen prep was miserable hot, there was no sign of any kind of air conditioning. The back door had a screen door, which we can see in some of the old photos, but that could not have been much help.
I'd sure love it if some original blueprints of the old Ship came to light, but they were probably all used to make dust pans.
JG
Happy birthday, David! There's no avoiding the March 1 of time!
Major-
And just what makes you think I hadn't already been to "my favorite blog" [sic], already-??!! That was the 1st stop-!
@ JG-
Skull Rock, et al., was completed in December, 1960. [On a 'certain web site'...] there are date-specific images from December 23, 1960, with folks from the Van Camp company, including one image with a line of folks snaking out the [new location] for the entrance, and another image with a 'shiny, new' Skull Rock in the background. So, take it for what it's worth.
The Disney Parks Blog shared a photo in 2015 of the ship under construction. While there isn't a shot of the elusive fake aquarium, it does give an idea of the small scale of the interior.
JB, that’s no help at all.
JG, the entrance and exit doors were originally directly across from each other. I can’t remember where I read the description but IIRC, there were also a few tables inside originally aft of the doors. I obviously never saw it that way myself, but I vaguely remember seeing pictures of that somewhere, although I might have dreamed it (please tell me I’m not the only one here who dreams about tuna).
Major, good for you! That guy painted way too many Water Lilies anyway.
When I went to pick up my mother-in-law this evening to take her to dinner, she handed me a banana cream pie. She doesn’t read this blog. I should have saved that “doesn’t that just take the cake” joke for now. Truth is stranger than fiction.
Major, Sue, Nanook, JB, TokyoMagic!, DrGoat, JG, Chuck, Stu29573 & Melissa- Thanks very much for the Happy Birthday wishes!
Major- Great to see the pie-eyed Mickey birthday card & all of the other pie-eyed Mickeys. One of my favorite collectibles that I have, is a vinyl figure from Medicom Toy (2006) of 1930s Mickey in the classic pose (hands on hips).
To everyone- Thanks for the comments on little Dumbo. The figure was made in 1998 as a gift for my Mom- he now belongs to my Cousin's Wife. He's about 4.5" tall. Other than some things related to the Pirates of the Caribbean, I have not sculpted any other famous Disney characters.
-DW
Major- I forgot to add that any pictures of the Chicken of the Sea ship are always welcome sight. Thanks.
-DW
A belated Happy Birthday DW!! KS
KS- Thanks very much! :)
-DW
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