Town Square
I chose two very early scans from Town Square. Early as in "possibly from 1955", but I don't want to say for sure because I don't want to go to prison again.
It's late in the afternoon, and the shadows are getting longer. Pretty soon, all the lights will come on, the air will cool off, and maybe we'll even hear some soft music (was there "area music" in those early days?). For many people that is the best time to be at Disneyland. Notice that we have a familiar style of trash can in the foreground, but over by City Hall there is an early yellow version that says TRASH so that you don't accidentally put your Fabergé Easter eggs in it.
Panning a bit to the right, we see the firehouse, with a group of people gathered around the Chemical Wagon (perhaps they are about to board for a ride). It looks like the window is open up in Walt's apartment (I think?), which always makes me wonder if he was up there, eating a bowl of chili.
I thought I'd try to merge the two photos into a panorama, without much hope for success, but it mostly worked, though the little arched arcade behind the couple got a bit jiggered. I'll still sleep like a kitten tonight!
13 comments:
Major-
"It looks like the window is open up in Walt's apartment (I think?), which always makes me wonder if he was up there, eating a bowl of chili". Actually, the reason the window is open is due to Walt just having finished eating a bowl of chili - if you get my drift...
That 'sandwich sign' is declaring:
"Scenic Rides
Elegant Station Wagons
For Hire
Adults & Children 10₵ One Way
At The R.R. Depot
Town Square"
Nice merging job - it's put me in a Cinerama mood.
Thanks, Major.
About the trashcans: "...that says TRASH so that you don't accidentally put your Fabergé Easter eggs in it." I HATE when that happens! I can't tell you how many Fabergé eggs I've put in unmarked trashcans, only to come back later and find them gone. Annoying! Very annoying, indeed!
While the yellow trashcan says TRASH, the green can says PUSH. Very helpful for guests passing by who are in labor. Walt thought of everything.
There's that little information kiosk in front of the Police Station.
The man in the checked shirt is all casual, enjoying his visit to the Happiest Place on Earth. While the lady next to him is all business, "Keep up, dear... and don't look at the camera!". I think that's Fred Mertz getting onboard the horse-drawn streetcar.
Another successful merger of two images! Now we know why people say that Disneyland is 'magical'.
Looks like it was a nice day at Disneyland; 1955 edition. Thanks for the photos, Major.
Nanook, thanks for the info on the sandwich board sign. I was wondering about that. I know we've seen the "Be A Fireman!" sign in the past, but this was obviously a different one. It looks like the Surrey might be depicted on it. Oh, and I get your drift. And Walt's, too!
Actually, I've heard that Walt used to like to hide behind the curtains at the open window, and flick spoonfuls of chili down on the guests, below.
Thanks, Major. Your merge turned out great. I would have never noticed the jiggered arcade, if you hadn't pointed it out.
Push Waste. I can say a lot about those things but will leave it there. A lot of care and attention went into trash can decor and I very much appreciate it, along with appreciating that the color scheme and design that has not changed that much. Congrats to the paint shop. Excellent mash up and that is a keeper. Walt is home. That is always an interesting thing to note- not sure that apartment had AC back in the day which was probably rough. I would have to go back to a photo of today and do some forensics for what has changed overall in this picture. Seeing the constancy of eucalyptus trees is wonderful, and when the park is relatively empty here (wait for moments until closing...) the view is very much the same. Can't wait until later in the day when I have time to really inspect these photos. One interesting note: I don't see one kid. Maybe that is one in the white shirt headed towards the restroom (?) Tiny white horses are so awesome to see. How charming must it have been to hear the clip clop of so many horses on the street with more than a few vehicles horse powered. Garden borders are humble here, and nice to see roses. The last visit the roses were all dormant except for one "Disneyland" single bud in a planter in New Orleans Square. I will note that the landscaping team does an amazing job at Winter pruning. Some of those bushes- especially the standards- were immaculately pruned and tended for. Looking forward to seeing them all in their glory. Don't pay too much attention to turf these days...yes...they have even TRE'd grass...its artificial in some places: you can tell even more when leaves fall. Thats for the charm this am Major!
Major the merge is wonderful. Thanks for your hard work.
If this were a perspective rendering you could draw a tree over the merge line, but as noted, it is scarcely evident here.
We have noted the use of non-standard trash cans near City Hall before. Seems like those oddballs were the last to go.
Cheers all!
JG
Nanook, unfortunately, I do get your drift! Does the sandwich sign actually say “Elegant Station Wagons”?? Do they have simulated wood paneling?
JB, I’ve accidentally thrown away three Fabergé Easter eggs over the years, and it is frustrating! I also threw away a Patek Philippe watch and a Tiffany lamp. Oh, and a Monet. I guess I just get distracted. At WDW, they used to have a talking (and maybe “walking”?) trashcan named “PUSH”, I seem to remember seeing video of it at the time. Fred Mertz, I always imagine him calling Desi Arnaz “Rick”. In fact I imagine him calling ME “Rick”, but that’s another story.
TokyoMagic!, I wish Disneyland had a “Be a Garbageman!” sign. “Let’s face it, it’s what you deserve!”, it should continue. Put those guests in their places so that they don’t get too uppity, that’s what I say. Thank you for the mental image of Walt flicking spoonfuls of chili on unsuspecting guests, that will serve me well for the rest of the day!
Bu, thank you for “leaving it there”. I wonder if Tivoli Gardens or Efteling had decorative trashcans back in the 1950s? Interesting thought about whether Walt had AC up in his apartment. I don’t think I’ve ever heard that he did, but then again, he was Walt Disney. Why not spend a bit more so that he could go up and flick chili at people in air-conditioned comfort? It’s not uncommon to see few-to-no kids in vintage photos, particularly from the 1950s, proof that Disneyland was not just for children. Now if only we could convince the public that animation was not a children’s medium. It can be, but it doesn’t have to be. I did notice the artificial turf, and while I prefer real grass, I do understand that they are trying to save water. Plus the fake turf doesn’t look that bad, you really have to look to even notice.
JG, I wish I could take credit for hard work, but in this case Photoshop did all the work. I think it took me two tries. Well actually I tried a few more times trying to deal with the jiggered part of that arcade, but nothing ever seemed to fix that. Instead of a tree, why not a giant octopus tentacle? I kind of love those TRASH cans, they really didn’t want guests to drop their paper on the ground.
Bu, I'm tired of all those trash cans telling me to waste paper!
Mmm, sandwich boards.
That's pretty good mergification there!
Lot of men in broad-brimmed hats on that trolley.
Vintage Disneyland photos as opposed to current images tend to show :
**Guests without luggage , backpacks and camping equipment.
…… come on people!! You are going to Disneyland … not crossing the Sierra Nevadas on foot in the winter!!! Leave the massive camping equipment and backpacks!! And if your child needs a Conestoga wagon sized stroller : your child is too young to be a Disneyland!
**Not as many kids and children as you’d expect.
And now I’m going to sound like grumpy old man : I am DUMBFOUNDED at the mass amounts of kids …mostly locals at Disneyland during the week and on a school night!! My parents - though encouraged my Disneyland interest would have NEVER let me or my sister go to Disneyland that often - ESPECIALLY on a school nite. I’m amazed how young sone of the kids are at Disneyland on a school night!!
California kids & schools may rank only 49th outta the states …. But at least they got to go to Disneyland during the week and stay out late avoiding annoying learning and studying…. GO CALIFONIA!!!
(Wink!)
I love the merger, Major! And the idea that Walt’s probably home....even if he IS flicking chili.
Sue
Major-
Yes, that REALLY is what the sign says. No fooling.
Melissa, maybe we should make sandwich boards out of bacon?!? Love seeing so many men with hats, it instantly places the photo back in time.
Mike Cozart, I had a backpack for my last few trips to the park; for one day, rain was threatening, so I could carry a collapsable umbrella and even a raincoat. Turns out I didn’t need it, but it was better than paying for a locker. I think a lot of people hope that they will find the park to be less crowded on a weekday. One day away won’t kill them (just my opinion), though I do remember seeing a YouTube video that said “Monday is the new Saturday”, apparently EVERYBODY thinks that Mondays will be relatively quiet.
Sue, I was happy that the photomerge turned out OK, since the resulting panoramas are always some of my favorite things!
Nanook, huh, I guess I didn’t know that the term “station wagon” predated the lovable cars.
Yep, it's true. Walt was a chili flicker.
You know what this scene needs? Bubble guns - lots and lots of bubble guns. How else will you get soapy residue to build up over time and make the pavement dangerously slick when it rains? You think those guests are going to slip, get hurt and rent wheelchairs all by themselves?
Major, you keep throwing out Monets and you are going to have to start buying dustpans. That gets expensive!
”…Now if only we could convince the public that animation was not a children’s medium…”
When The Black Cauldron came out, I lived in a small, isolated town in SW Oklahoma with two single-screen theaters. Unless it was a huge blockbuster, if you wanted to see a film you pretty much had to catch it during the week or two that it was showing. Well, as luck would have it, I was out of town on vacation when it was playing and I missed it.
Later that summer, I was visiting a friend in suburban Ohio, Land of the Multiplex, and saw that The Black Cauldron was still showing. I got pretty excited and told him I’d really like to go see it. He refused to take us - “I won’t pay money to see a cartoon.” We were both sixteen.
To this day, I have never seen the movie.
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