Before I get started with today's regular post, I wanted to let anyone in the SoCal area know that GDB friend Chris Merritt will be giving a presentation about Pacific Ocean Park on Friday, May 5th, 2023 at 7:00 PM. Chris says: Hi all - for everyone who is a fan of Mid-Century modern, Los Angeles culture and how NOT to design and run a theme park, have I got the event for you! On Friday, May 5, 2023 60s pop-culture expert Domenic Priore and myself are going to be doing a rare live presentation created back in 2014 for our book on Pacific Ocean Park. See scarce footage from the heyday of P.O.P., learn about the oddball attractions they created in an ill-advised attempt to take on Disneyland, and watch as it all crumbles into bankruptcy within less than ten years - only to have the local denizens of Dogtown reclaim it as their own. Tickets are an astoundingly low $15, and all proceeds go to benefit the Philosophical Research Society in Los Angeles. For those unable to make it in person, a Zoom link can be purchased to watch from the convenience of your preferred modern electronic communication device.
I saw the original presentation back in 2014 at the ESPN Zone in Downtown Disney, and it was fantastic. I'd recommend it to anybody who is interested in amusement park history, beachside amusement parks, and... just history in general! Take a look at the website (where you can order tickets) HERE! I'm going to try to go again if I can.
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And now, on to our regular blog post!
I have another terrific selection of scans from Keith Schad... from 1958. A great year to visit Disneyland! First up, Keith's wife's Grandfather pointed his camera southward from the Plaza to take in all of Main Street. You can see a banner at the far end, which I believe heralds the debut of the Columbia sailing ship. A little girl poses with the popcorn cart next to her, which is pretty cute.
I'm glad we got at least one photo in Tomorrowland - it's surprising how many guests seemed to be uninspired by the World of Tomorrow. We're looking at the Skyway gondolas, with the Moonliner to our right, and the Flight Circle to our left (the sound of tiny buzzing engines!).
And how about this great picture of the Monsanto House of the Future? It's like a Martian igloo (and I should know). All of the guests who have exited are dreaming about ultrasonic dishwashers and microwave ovens! To the right, behind that scraggly tree, I can see... something. It looks like it has a green tarp on it. Any idea what we're looking at?
THANK YOU, KEITH!
Ooh! More vintage goodness from Keith. The warm glow in Photo #1 really adds to the vintage look of the Park.
ReplyDeleteI like photo #2 a lot! So I'm saving it to my Disney Stuff folder. The Astro Jets are flying high, the Skyway buckets are dangling, the Richfield Eagle, and the olives-on-toothpicks lights. And of course, the Moonliner, which for some reason looks even more spectacular with the top part out of frame. It makes it look especially huge!
I'm not sure which direction we're looking in photo #3 so I can't even hazard a guess as to what that green 'tarp' could be. Maybe it's a corrugated roof?
Thank you to Keith and Major.
Hey, where are the Early Birds? Nanook? JB?
ReplyDeleteI have always loved that view of the train station, from the Plaza. It just isn't photographed as often as the view looking up Main St. at the Castle.
That's a good question about that green tarp/wall in the HOTF pic. I think we are seeing the red and white striped rooftop of the Plaza Gardens pavilion, below the green area. So is that green wall beyond that, or is it just an illusion and it's actually much closer?
Thank you so much for sharing more family photos, Keith! I sure wish I could go to Chris M.'s POP presentation. I bet it's going to be a great one!
There you are, JB! You weren't there when I started my comment. Gee, did it really take me a whole seven minutes just to write my comment? I must have nodded off for a couple of those minutes.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, is there a teeny tiny kid riding all by himself/herself, in that blue and white Astrojet?
I think from the view of the Monsanto House that green tent structure may be the first version of the EDISON SQUARE coming soon display …. It featured a striped tent like structure ( look closely and appears the green tent is striped) under awnings and protected bu glass windows were models and architectural elevations of the Edison Square facades …. The display was later made a bit more substantial and changed to a larger red and white striped tent like facade. This was all located between the Red Wagon Inn and the plaza facing “carefree corner “ Main Street block.
ReplyDeleteThat pre Monorail Tomorrowland looks a bit anemic…. Walt hated it looking so flat …. Walt’s earliest plans for a new Tomorrowland featured a secondary level … somewhat accomplished with the Carousel Theater and the PeopleMover / Rocket Jet platforms … but had the phase 2 of 1967 New Tomorrowland been done , Tomorrowland ‘68 / Space Adventure the secondary level would have been substantial.
Wow, more treasures from Keith, thank you!
ReplyDeleteYes, that view of Main Street is often overlooked, maybe noticed later in the day after the New Park shine dissipated. It’s a great view!
I count no less than seven (7) trash cans in this view, and none at all in Tomorrowland?
We are looking at the Back Side of the HOTF, where anything can happen! The Red Wagon Inn is just beyond.
Major, I took your advice from a recent thread and subscribed to “Rope and Pulley Monthly”. The centerfolds are pretty spicy.
Thank you for the pics today.
JG
Just looking at #3 brought back the memory of how popular the HOTF was with a line waiting to enter it. I recall being in a line like that. The early days of the park. Main Street has changed very little. I wonder how much of it has had to be refurbished over the years considering the original structures will soon be 70 years old. And here I am with my 15 year anniversary button. Only just yesterday, right? KS
ReplyDeleteAll winners today! Thank you Keith and Major!
ReplyDeleteI wonder if that’s CoxPilot in the flight circle, on the ground with the plane? I’d like to think that’s him!
I’ll be attending Chris Merritt’s presentation via Zoom—I got my ticket. Wish I could be there in person.
Sue
Would love to step into this Disneyland, even with vignetting and an iron-deficient Tomorrowland. I’ll just pretend I’m about to black out from lack of oxygen because it’s taken my breath away.
ReplyDeleteJG, holy cow - you ain’t kidding about that centerfold! Check out the working end on this month’s issue. A fella could really tie one on with that one. Makes you want to take a bight, doesn’t it?
Sorry, folks - didn’t mean to rope you all into some bad cordage jokes. They’re really knot very funny.
Thanks again, Keith!
JB, how much stuff is in your “Disney Stuff” folder?? I have one of those, and I don’t really keep track of what I put in it. And then when I actually look, there’s a LOT! I love any old Tomorrowland shots, for all of the things you mention. And I’m like you, it’s unclear what direction we are facing (I guess I should know where the exit of the Monsanto House was, but… I don’t know really).
ReplyDeleteTokyoMagic!, I guess the early birds are off commenting on some other blog! Probably that popular Franklin Mint blog. They’ve been doing a month-long series about commemorative thimbles that has rocked the world. So funny, I thought that the red and white tent was closer to us than the green tarped thing, but you’re right, it has to be the Carnation Plaza Gardens. Still, it doesn’t help me ID that green thing.
TokyoMagic!, I’m sometimes shocked at how long it can take me to respond to comments, especially if there are 15 (or more)! That teeny tiny kid is a young Evel Knievel.
Mike Cozart, hmmm, that’s an interesting idea. There’s something about the way those elements are arranged that my brain can make them into different structures (if you know what I mean). I’ve never seen a photo of the Edison Square display with a green structure, but then again, I’ve only seen a very few photos of it at ALL. I know that even the earliest concept art for Tomorrowland featured a Monorail, usually funny little egg-shaped vehicles, but that second level adds a lot to the look of the place.
JG, I love that view looking down Main Street, the perspective is kind of “formal” but it’s just right. In the future there will be no trash! Anything can happen behind the HOTF?? I don’t even want to think about it. And I’m fine with responsible adults getting “Rope and Pulley Monthly”, I personally get it for the insightful interviews.
KS, the HOTF was pretty new at that point, I’m sure it drew all sorts of curious crowds. “What IS that thing??”. Heck, I would have wanted to take a look. I think that Main Street has been refurbished a number of times - sometimes not necessarily for the better, but I guess I won’t dwell on the negative.
Sue, I was wondering the same thing about CoxPilot! I wish you could be here for the POP thing too.
Chuck, “iron-deficient Tomorrowland”? From what I see, most people have clothes that are not very wrinkled, if at all. All of those rope puns are painful and now I need to lay down with a cold compress over my eyes.
Major, as of this date, my Disney Stuff folder is 3.45 GB. Inside, there are 3,671 loose files plus 16 folders with ~361 more files. And then, outside of the Disney Stuff folder there are other folders for Knott's, the '62 Seattle World's Fair, and another for various World's Fairs.
ReplyDeleteMajor-
ReplyDeleteDamn... you've revealed my little 'dark' secret: The Franklin Mint.
[Forget the commemorative thimbles] 'cause at the moment I've got my eye on the Lewis & Clark Compass - "A needle pointing north. Antique science captured in admiralty brass. Allowing sailors to cross vast oceans, explorers to discover continents. Set sail for the fabled Spice Islands, legendary Cathay… rumored South Lands. An instrument of exploration that changed the world of Renaissance, forever…" Just how can one resist that siren song-?? On the other hand - if the 'needle only points north', I may need the services of the Boy Scouts to rescue me-!
Thanks again to Keith for these views.
Today's Vintage Fashion Award goes tp the girl in the middy blouse posing by the popcorn cart. Hello, li'l sailor!
ReplyDeleteThe Richfield Eagle always looks to me like some kind of colossus from the ancient world, inviting me to look upon his works and despair.
@ Melissa-
ReplyDeleteI wonder if there's a pattern on her dress - as it appears to me, there might be. (Perhaps it's a repeating pattern of leaping Dolphins...)
JB, that’s pretty impressive! I’m way to disorganized to even be able to give an estimate of my Disney stuff, but I’m sure it’s comparable (probably larger to be honest) because I am obsessive.
ReplyDeleteNanook, I KNEW IT! It started with the Star Trek plates, continued with the Wizard of Oz porcelain figurines, and now… thimbles! That compass sounds great, you should buy three and keep two to resell someday. Think of the value!
Melissa, is that what a middy blouse is?? The Richfield Eagle had a cameo in Ben Hur.
Nanook, good grief, how can you even see a pattern?
Major-
ReplyDeleteForget the porcelain Wizard of Oz figurines. Now it's THE WIZARD OF OZ Peter Carl Fabergé-Style Musical Eggs, from the Bradford Exchange-!
Mr. Merritt’s POP book is excellent.
ReplyDeleteMS
Nanook, OH MY GOSH! ;-)
ReplyDeleteMS, oops, sorry, didn't mean to skip you! I agree, the POP book is awesome, as good as I'd hoped, and my expectations were pretty high.
ReplyDelete