Birthday Bash
Today is a special day here on GDB... it's Sue B's birthday! Of "Lou and Sue" fame, of course. Sue has been so generous with her Dad's photos, as well as contributing other scans and even behind-the-scenes ideas and suggestions... she helps make GDB better for everyone! So how do I celebrate her big day? I decided to just choose a selection of what I consider to be extra-nice scans.
Like this one, showing the legendary Flying Saucer attraction, from February, 1964. Where the heck is everybody?? That woman is by herself, there's nobody to bump into. Maybe that's a good thing? I've heard that riders needed room to pick up speed, and she has PLENTY of room. I'm trying to make heads or tails of that sculptural thing at the top of the "mast", and can't quite do it. Any ideas? I assume that those are speakers beneath the words "Flying Saucers" (with the red interior), I wonder if guests heard music, or if it just amplified announcements? "You over there! Stop snapping your gum! Unless you brought enough for everybody!".
I always enjoy a good look at the old Clock of the World. People love crazy clocks! And this one (from March 1959), as my beatnik friend says, is "the craziest". It's 1:23 PM, because I am a big boy and know how to tell time (and how to tie my shoes). A group of military boys is walking past CirCARama, Chuck will be able to tell us everything about them; their hopes, their fears, how much change is in their pockets.
From June, 1966 comes this great shot from the Skyway, looking down on the Tomorrowland Skyway terminal (our gondola is heading backwards toward the Matterhorn). I love the Richfield "building blocks" sign, even though the Richfield Eagle has flown the coop (or is just out of frame, likely). Notice the Mark VI Autopia vehicles in the distance, and the Tomorrowland train station.
And finally, there's nothing like a classic Fantasyland scene to give one that sweet sweet Disneyland feeling. This one is from November, 1957, and has a happy Mom and her son aboard an oversized teacup, with that wonderful Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship in the background.
Happy Birthday, Sue!
36 comments:
Major-
I've often wondered the same thing about that 'space age-looking' thing above the Flying Saucers signage. I assume the circular, orange contraption is a central loudspeaker tower - which, as you surmise, plays nothing but the Champagne Music of Lawrence Welk.
The only thing I know for certain is that the trio of tapered, cone-shaped objects are in fact weatherproof light fixtures, designed for PAR lights. I believe those fixtures were made by Stonco, but I can't verify it.
Happy Birthday SUE-! Thank you SO MUCH for all you do here at GDB - the list is too long to give you proper credit-!
Major-
Yes, they are Stonco fixtures. HERE is a similar model using two fixtures mounted to a common canopy.
That first one is a little odd, with the two EMPLOYEESjust standing there, staring at the lone CUSTOMER!
Can someone tell me what year the new Skyway gondolas debuted? I'm writing a new post right now, and I wasn't sure. Obviously they were there in 1966, when that second pic was taken. But I forget if they were brand new for the Tencennial year, in 1965, or if they debuted even before that, in 1964.
The kid in the last pic sort of has a face that you would see in movies or in a TV show.
Happy birthday, dear Sue! Happy Birthday, to you!
@ TM!-
My sources say its 1965 for the rectangular buckets; but just exactly when in 1965 is a question mark.
And, what's all this talk I hear of EMPLOYEES and CUSTOMERS. It doesn't compute.
Sue, you do so much for this site, and your contributions are very much appreciated! Have a scrumptious birthday!
Major, that "sculptural thing" on the mast is a squid tentacle. See the suction cups? It's a leftuggie from the 20,000 Leagues exhibit...... I have no idea what it is. Probably just random abstract, mid-century artwork. Those CMs can hardly contain their joyous excitement. :-\
My, what crisp n' clear picture of the Clock! OK, so what is that little light blue sphere to the right at the top of the Clock? Is it part of the Clock? It doesn't seem to be attached to anything. Perhaps it's a spherical UFO off in the distance... Or a really small UFO up close with tiny ETs inside. And there seems to be a LOT of olives on those toothpicks to the right.
Major, those "military boys" are Cub Scouts; you can tell by their dark blue uniforms.
Major, you say that we're heading out from the Skyway terminal, and you're probably right. But I can't tell which side our gondola is on; left or right? I think we're dangling from the center cable with one hand while taking this photo with the other; the buckets swooshing by us going in both directions.
I tried to see the shadow of the Richfield Eagle somewhere in the photo. And there IS a shadow being cast over the "IEL" in the Richfield sign. But it doesn't look very eagle-like, so, maybe not.
I agree, Major. That's a great photo of the mom & son in the Teacups. Wonderful, saturated color; happy people; it couldn't be anywhere else in the world, but Disneyland!
So, happy birthday to Sue, and thank you! And thank you to Major, too!
Nanook, thanks for that year, for the square Skyway buckets!
And, what's all this talk I hear of EMPLOYEES and CUSTOMERS. It doesn't compute.
Oh, yeah! Pardon me. Make that, EMPLOYEES and PATRONS!
The first pic is great! Love the centerpiece to the Flying Saucers.
The R-I-C-H-F-I-E-L-D blocks sign is great too. Thanks, Major.
Happy Birthday, Sue! Thanks for all you do here on GDB.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO SUE!!!!!! Hope you do something fun today!!….. like find out your microwave oven is capable of sending you time traveling and you go back to
1960 and clear out the ART CORNER of cels and attraction posters !!!!! But then the sales castmember girl reaches under the counter and presses a security button because as you pay she noticed that sone of your paper money has dates like 2019…and wonders if this lady is really from the future or is she trying to pass off funny money at Disneyland ……….?? Sue makes a run for it and slips and falls … hitting her head on the blue tiles of the Tomorrowland World Clock… as she comes to she realizes she has returned to her own time and her microwave oven timer is DINING and her coffee is ready and has been warmed up …. Sue wonders if she really traveled back to Disneyland 1960… or was she dreaming ? Either way she’s glad to be home in her correct time. As sue sips her warm coffee , outside her kitchen window you can see a neighbor’s American flag waving in the distance …. Sue fails to notice that the flag has 57 stars on it……….on on Sue’s living room wall are some vintage original Disneyland attraction posters for The House of the Future and the Jolly Roger Pirate Ship Restaurant…….and Edison Square …..
That’s a great image of the Flying Saucers marquee. The Flying Saucers has always been Disneyland’s “Woodstock” : way more people claim to have remembered riding them than actually did…..
Happy Birthday Sue! And a very happy Norwegian Constitution Day to everyone! I hope that people are enjoying their lefse, waffles, goat cheese and smoked reindeer meat this morning! Sue, thanks to you and big daddy for all that you do and we enjoy on the GDB…or as I call it: Go ‘dere Bigfoot! Re guests and employees: guests were always guests. Employees were, are are still around to some extent. Cast Member sounds odd to me, but I said it when on stage and speaking to guests. Internally, it was said in a more public open sense. I think I’ve been down this rabbit hole before. Guest is commonly used in the hospitality industry and even places like Pottery Barn- so it makes more sense in that context. Cast Member helped the employment department at one time to make “casting decisions” based on type (looks) etc. “We are casting for the role of Storybook Land, so we need young ladies that look like Alice in Wonderland, etc.” of course, that doesn’t fly today, and that’s why some ruffled scruffy dude with a beard is talking about Gepetto’s village. I don’t mind scruffy ruffled dudes, but I’d rather see them on Canoes. I see how ladies can get snarky and fun on the Jungle Cruise, but I’m not sure if it works the other way around (in some cases.) Just me and only a reflection from my days as a casting assistant where actors are commodities. Not sure I’d cast Paul Reubens as Thor, but it would be an interesting choice with the right director. Back to Sue! I hope you have the most wonderful of Taurus times! Us Librans and you are supposed to be pals, and I suppose that is true! Thanks to Big Daddy for giving you the gift of life and of course for his camera! :) XOXO
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SUE!!!!!
These are great shots! I especially love the Richfield shot. Oh to be swinging over Tomorrowland in a bucket!
Happy birthday Sue!
Happy Birthday Sue! Or as Owl would say to Piglet, “Hipy-papy Birthu-Hapiday”! (because owls really can’t spell or write very well, in spite of a reputation for wisdom). Many Happy Returns of the Day, with gratitude for your manifold contributions to GDB.
I would vote you be awarded the Golden Banana Peel for Efforts Above and Beyond the Average.
Mike Cozart, I had a similar dream except when I woke up, my encyclopedia set had only 25 volumes and none for the letter “J”.
Thanks for these fine pics, Major. Looks like the plain silver trash cans lasted through all of Original Tomorrowland.
Tokyo and Nanook, 1965 is the turnover date for the Skyway. The Site That Must Not be Named has at least one photo with both types in use at once, but it can’t be dated closer than the year.
JG
Happy Birthday Sue! Thanks for all you do to make GDB the best site on the web!
Love the Flying Saucers pic. Great view of the sign with the lights, but did they operate the ride at night? I can't ever remember seeing a picture of it in use at night.
Nanook, somehow the Champagne Music of Lawrence Welk does not seem that out of place, as long as they played some appropriately spacey “bachelor pad” tunes. I was pretty sure the cone things were light fixtures, especially since they are generally pointed at the signs.
Nanook, “Stonco” shall be the name of my firstborn son.
TokyoMagic!, man, those Flying Saucer CMs look pretty bored. “I thought we were going to be popular!”. Think again. I’ve been told that the rectangular gondolas debuted in 1965, and that sounds right. Pretty sure they weren’t there in 1964.
Nanook, yes, I’ve never been able to nail down an exact date, even the month.
JB, it’s funny, with all of SoCal’s strange rains of the past few months, I saw that curved blue thing and thought, “It has snails all over it!”. But I like the idea of it being a squid tentacle. Squid are cool. The blue sphere must be a balloon, though it appears to not have ears? We do know that the park sometimes just sold regular round-ish balloons with Mickey’s face printed on them. I’ll bet those cub scouts are looking for an old lady to take on the Matterhorn. I’m assuming that our Skyway rider was in the left side of a bucket that was on the right cable. If you know what I mean.
TokyoMagic!, what about “wage slaves” and “suckers”?
K. Martinez, I tried to pick some good ones for Sue!
Mike Cozart, I kind of wonder, if you were at the park in the late 1950s and asked about buying an attraction poster, and they weren’t being offered for sale at that point. would a kind and helpful employee manage to get one for you anyway? Maybe if you wrote to the park repeatedly. Tell them that it is your life’s dream. By golly, I’m going to do it! Just one problem. I’ve always wondered about the money issue too, you need those vintage coins and bills. Not easy to come by these days!
Bu, mmmm, smoked reindeer meat. It seems cruel to make those reindeer smoke, but my dining pleasure is more important than their health. I wonder if “Cast Member” is really a term used more with the public and less so internally? Maybe that’s why so many employees just call themselves… well, employees. I’ve noticed in older photos that Asians were often placed in Adventureland. Sort of icky. I’m sure they placed others in Frontierland for looking the part. Let’s change the subject. I don’t want a scruffy dude with a beard on my Storybook Land canal boat. I want it to be a perky young lady! But I admit that I am biased. She doesn’t have to look like Alice either. In the Loki TV series, they showed many Lokis from different universes, including a frog version, so there’s no reason there couldn’t be a Paul Reubens “Thor” from a certain universe. I suppose.
Stu29573, I know, the Skyway was so great. It’s a real crime that they removed it and replaced it with… nothing.
Scott Lane, :-)
JG, it sounds like Owl has a reading disability. It’s nothing to be ashamed of, now that we know, we can help him. It’s funny, even now I have not been properly trained to notice the trashcans. Someday! I remember that D****** photo with the two types of buckets, very cool. There was no more precise date on it?
Sunday Night, yes, we are all the beneficiaries of Sue’s generosity. Thank goodness she found GDB! I am sure that they operated the Saucers at night, though I have never seen a picture of them to prove it.
Happy birthday, Sue! Owl wanted me to pass you his birthday wishes, but I see he also spoke to JG.
Those gentlemen in uniform are cadets from the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. The uniform is a very distinctive shade of blue, and you can just make out the black shoulder boards, although it’s impossible to tell at this resolution what year in the 4-year program they are from their shoulder boards.
The first class graduated from the Academy in June of 1959, so it’s intriguing to wonder if these are members of the first class. I can’t tell you what their fears and dreams were, but there’s a good chance that they had an opportunity to live them both out. Most went to flying training. One member of that class became an astronaut, another the first graduate to return to the Academy as superintendent. Most served in Vietnam; the first cadet sworn in in 1955, Valmore Borque, was also the first graduate to be killed in Southeast Asia. All set the standard for the 64 classes that have followed.
Oh, and between them they had twelve wheat pennies, two Mercury dimes, four Roosevelt dimes, and two Franklin half dollars, totaling $1.72. Unfortunately, I can’t tell from this angle how much folding money they had. But I can tell they had a great time.
Well, my dear Sue, a Happy 39th to you!! Reading that message at the beginning of today's blog followed by a picture of the Flying Saucer (singular) brought back started my day well. May your day be filled with "high-flying" adventure!
And for Nanook who mentioned the champagne music of Lawrence Welk. Let's remember the Champaign Lady herself, Norma Zimmer. One of her sons was a CM at the Park working in my area whom I still know today. Cheers, KS
Happy Birthday Sue!! Have a wonderful day! Thanks for all that you do & for being a part of the GDB family.
All cool photos today Major, but anything with the Chicken of the Sea ship is going to be my favorite.
-DW
Major: a friend of mine who started working at Disneyland at age 18 and still works for Disney today , used to write the studios , and Disneyland all the time as a kid. One time she explained she wanted to become an artist for Walt Disney etc .. etc… and shortly after she received a thank you letter response and a tube with a actual Haunted Mansion and Tom Sawyer Island attraction poster in it! She was very excited but never knew why those specific posted were sent …as she hasn’t mentioned any attractions in her “recent” letter …
Another friend of mine worked in custodial in the early 1970’s and would often eat lunch at a table with serval sign shop guys … at sone point they let him select a handful of attraction posters …. At the time they were being stored in rolls vertically in wooded cabinets in what he thinks were once clothing lockers as each cabinet door had a wire mesh vent at the top. Each locker had multiple names of attraction posters on then. At the time he was very aware of posters being there that were long gone …. The Carousel of Progress had recently departed so that was one of his posters he selected … a haunted mansion was another I don’t recall his other selections.
Chuck, yeah sure, Owl spoke to me too. Sure he did! I heard him plain as day! (Makes no sudden moves). Wow, amazing that you not only know that those guys are Air Force, but that they are from the Academy in Colorado Springs. I guess they walked from Colorado to Anaheim (because they aren’t allowed to use the jets for personal matters). As soon as you mentioned that the first class was in 1959, I wondered how many of them went to Vietnam. I’m going to say something controversial: war sucks. Such a waste of everything. I can tell that one of the boys is carring an old “silver certificate” dollar bill.
KS, I have no idea who Norma Zimmer is!
DW, you must like this blog a lot, because I have TONS of photos of the Chicken of the Sea ship!! ;-)
Mike Cozart, it’s so funny, I’ve heard many stories about kids who wrote to the studio and received some sort of goodie in return, by mail. TokyoMagic! has a few such stories. But I wrote to the studio twice, and never got any response. I guess I dropped too many f-bombs? Man, imagine getting a Haunted Mansion and Tom Sawyer Island poster in the mail, unexpectedly! For FREE! And oh man, your story about your friend in custodial… he had the right idea! Befriend the sign shop guys! I think GDB reader Huck did the same thing, and he got some good freebies out of it. I’m imagining cabinets full of posters just waiting to be used (or given to ME)!!
KS, Norma Zimmer, wow her name takes me back.
Mom and Dad never missed Lawrence Welk and I remember Norma Zimmer well. How cool that her son worked at the Park with you.
Major, as you know, I play only Lawrence Welk music in my Flying Saucer to this day.
Nanook, agree those are Stonco fixtures, that shape was a Mid-Century standby. They were still in the their catalog when I was picking more "modern" fixtures 20 years later.
Major, the D******* link with both types of Skyway buckets is not dated closer that "1965", but there is a pic dated June 1965 with only the old buckets, and another dated September 1965 with only the new, so I assume the change was made in the summer.
https://davelandweb.com/skyway/images/60s/6x6_1965_N06.jpg
JG
Sorry for all the misspellings. Just typing way too fast in between phone calls.
Major...you have to look up Norma Zimmer. I guess also have to get into the "way-back machine".
JG...at least I am not alone! KS
In junior high and high school I used to write the archives and WED Imagineering all the time … and I always got responses … sometimes the letter would be directed to someone at WED and they would respond. Sometimes I’d get two responses from the same inquiry… one from a secretary saying my letter had had been directed to someone and then a second from someone answering my question. I saved them all !! At the time I had no idea who specifically they were but I hade letters from WED and WDI from Marty Sklar, Tony Baxter , John Hench , Randy bright , and many others - so e well known others not - responding to questions about discovery bay … new Tomorrowland(s) , names of new log flume projects … Tomorrowland’s Grestest Hits BGM recording sessions , to a planed replacement for America Sings and Adventure Thru Inner Space …. To the type of urethane foam Imagineering used to carve model rockwork and the foam used in a study model and the kind used in a finished “show model” . One time I was sent a packet of model maker magazines from the model shop that has the WED address on them … it’s sender saying I’d find many manufactures and supplies that WED uses for their models. When I look back at the letters I can tell most are sincere and sent with the intent of answering me and my enthusiasm…. As opposed to a company responding with a form letter .. or having a secretary just brush me off. It was a different time for sure.
Another thing regarding me writing to the studios and WED as a kid and student … I was always polite and concise with my questions.. several years ago I purchased sone early 70’s Disneyland and Walt Disney World brochures and publicity stuff … and in the group were lots of letters from WED and the studios and even Walt Disney World preview center! All from a person like me from a previous generation ….. HOWEVER …. While the answers were sent … many of the letters started off saying in the future the inquiry’s from the person needed to be polite - ESPECIALLY when you are asking for something … sone of the others had responses from designers and imagineers still providing answers to the senders questions .., but clarification if some of the comments were a attempt at humor … in which case the reader didn’t take it that way!! Lol. …. I don’t have any way of knowing what the sender had originally said that didn’t come off very well . I was raised with
Better manners and etiquette… lol.
Mike, I loved your time travel story. Riveting!
Bu, I'm saving the smoked reindeer meat for dinner tonight, but I had the lefse (had to look that one up) with lingonberry jam for breakfast.
Major, hmmm, I guess it probably IS a balloon. Although it looks awfully round and globe-shaped; not like yer typical teardrop-shaped balloon. After zooming in a bunch, it looks like there is a dent near the bottom of the balloon. Perhaps this 'balloon' bumped into the Castle turret and caused The Dent... mystery solved!
Yeah, I also assumed that the photographer was on the left side of the right bucket, or whatever you said ;-p
Chuck, thanks for the Air Force lore... and the numismatics lesson.
KS, I knew that Norma Zimmer did some of the vocals in the Tiki Room, but I didn't know her son was a CM, and that you know him to this day; cool!
Happy borthday to Sue,
Happy birthday to Sue.
We love all your pictures,
And everything else you do!
All of today's picture's are very special. I think the Vintage Fashion Award goes to the sharp-looking servicemen edging their way behind the Clock o' the World.
Bu, we had to refer to our customers as "guests" when I worked in retail, and I remember thinking that if any guest in my home acted like most of our customers I'd throw them out on their behinds.
We were also a Lawrence Welk family when I was growing up. I still can't say "Good night" without the whole closing theme song playing in my head.
Happy Birthday Sue! You are one of the most generous and kindest person I am lucky to call my friend.
Thank you everyone, for helping to pin down the year of the new Skyway buckets. I knew it happened before the New Tomorrowland of '67, I just wasn't sure how much before.
I meant to ask if anyone could tell what that thing is on the ground (in the Flying Saucer pic), between the matching trash can and ashtray? Is it a leather coat all bunched up? Or is it that customer's oversized purse, and those kind employees are watching it for her, while she enjoys the ride?
Major, you are right about me sending letters to Disneyland and receiving some nice responses with some "freebies." But I NEVER received an attraction poster, darn it! Maybe all I would have had to do is ask? I never actually asked them for anything specific, other than just information. I was usually asking about "future" attractions and/or about construction I saw during a park visit. Like Mike, I asked about Discovery Bay on more than one occasion. Over the years, the people in the Public Relations department sent black and white publicity photos of Walt and the characters, copies of Disney News Magazine, Walt Disney Productions annual reports, and Disneyland pictorial souvenirs. It's funny that this subject came up now, because I have a new blog post that I will be "publishing" in just a few days, and I am including two such letters that I wrote, back in the day. One of them was redirected to WED Enterprises, in Glendale, so the response came from them. And yes, every response seemed very genuine and sincere, with none of them appearing to be "form" letters.
Major, Norma Zimmer was friends with Guy and Ralna, and the lovely little Anaconi! Funny, I met Norma Zimmer's son at one of the early Dapper Day events at the park, about 11 years ago. I can't remember how it came up about who his mother was, but it did. He was a very nice and very friendly person.
And thank you Major for bringing us all together.
@ JB-
Also from Stonco - are the four spotlights shining on the space age "sculptural thing" and the fixtures illuminating the "Flying Saucers" signage. Those are the 1140-22B. As you already indicated - both of those styles of fixtures were EVERYWHERE in the 1960's. Unless installed near salt water, those cast aluminum bodies will [essentially] last forever.
Major, you DO throw a terrific birthday party! Stepping into these beautiful vintage shots has been fun! I need to teach that lonely Flying Saucer guest how to 'lean and swoop' - NOT 'sit and idle.' I have to laugh at the two CM's just standing there...sort of reminds me of seeing my city/utility workers at 'work.' Seven standing and staring, while one is working. My tax money hard at work.
Major, Nanook, TM!, JB, K. Martinez, Mike, Bu, Stu, Scott, JG, Sunday Night, Chuck, KS, DW, Melissa and DrGoat, meet me tonight at Jolly Holiday Bakery in Disneyland for cake and Matterhorn Macaroons. There's room for everybody.
Thanks, everyone! You folks are the best!
Sue, I'll be there! I'm pretty sure Major will just have the cake... you know... his aversion to all things coconut. :-D
Yep, JB, I also made sure that the cake wasn't banana cake.
I'll see you there!
I’m late to the party, but Happy Birthday to Sue, happy birthday to Sue! Thank you for your amazing presence here on GDB! Fun pics today Major. I like the curly ‘do on the blue pantsed woman in the second to last photo, with the briefcasey purse.
A late "Happy Birthday" to Sue. Thanks for sharing so many of your pics.
Thank you, Kathy and Dean! You're not too late, I saved seats for both of you...hurry over!
TokyoMagic!, I can’t quite tell what that thing is, it might be a coat, but it’s just too hard to tell. The idea that the company would ever send an attraction poster (or two!) for free to somebody just for writing a letter is crazy, and yet… there’s a guy on facebook who shares some of the stuff that he used to get in response to his own letters, including signed photos from Yale Gracey with the early model of the Hatbox Ghost. Holy moly! I’ll be looking forward to your next blog post, it sounds very cool. I have no idea who Guy and Raina are either (or Anaconi), so that doesn’t help me at all.
DrGoat, you are so welcome!
Nanook, I have four Stonco fixtures shining on me at all times. It makes me look extra heroic.
Lou and Sue, there you are! I figured you were probably hanging out with all of your Hollywood friends. You know, Brad, Scarlett, Leo… the whole gang. I can’t blame those CMs for just standing there, what are they supposed to do when there are no guests to help? I’ll bet they were mighty bored. Matterhorn Macaroons, is that really a thing?
JB, I can eat coconut, if it’s used sparingly. But I sure don’t like heaps of the stuff. It’s like weird-tasting shredded vinyl.
Lou and Sue, there are so many kinds of cake, why would anybody make a banana cake! Stick with chocolate and we’ll be just fine.
Kathy!, you know that lady used five cans of Aquanet every morning!
Dean Finder, Sue has sent lots of pix that you guys haven’t seen yet, just wait! There’s some goodies.
Lou and Sue, can I bring my motorcycle friends?
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