Stan Kenton, Carnation Plaza Gardens, August 1972
I have a batch of photos taken by Mr. X, from the days when he would get off work at one of the popcorn wagons, and then stay after work to watch the big bands as they performed over in the Carnation Plaza Gardens. Pretty neat!
On this August 1972 evening, Stan Kenton and his Orchestra were on the bill. Wikipedia's brief synopsis says: Stanley Newcomb Kenton (December 15, 1911 – August 25, 1979) was an American popular music and jazz artist. As a pianist, composer, arranger and band leader, he led an innovative and influential jazz orchestra for almost four decades. Though Kenton had several pop hits from the early 1940s into the 1960s, his music was always forward-looking.
Was Stan standing on a table? Was Mr. X on the floor? We'll never know, but Stan looks like King Kong here. Only nicer!
My dad was into Big Bands, and I remember a number of Stan Kenton records in the beloved cupboard full of LPs (and even one "album" of 78rpm records with a wonderful Dali-esque cover). I wish I could remember the name of my dad's favorite Stan Kenton tune, but I was too busy rocking out to The Partridge Family. Yes, I was a degenerate. (The song might have been "Tampico", sung by June Christy).
I have a photo of Kenton and his band performing at Freedomland U.S.A. in 1964. Check it out HERE!
THANK YOU, Mr. X!
16 comments:
Colorful music, colorful lighting, colorful crowd. Everyone looks like they're having a good time; whether listening off to the side, or dancing, out on the floor.
So, Disney doesn't do this anymore? This area was turned into a Princess meet-and-greet?... pity.
Then again, I guess the Princess thing is very popular for a lot of guests/paying customers. So they're probably raking in the $$$ by the fistful. [sigh]
Thanks to señores X and P.
Stan looks a little bit like Gary Morton, in that first pic. I'm just saying....
JB, the meet and greet is actually in the location where the Carnation Gardens restaurant was. This metal tented pavilion was used for princess shows (Beauty and the Beast?) I'm not sure if it's still used for that. It's possible that this is now where guests queue up for hours, to buy their $85 plastic popcorn buckets, or their $50 Zinger® Snack Tray.
Thanks for these Carnation Gardens big bands pics, Mr. X and Major!
Thanks for today's photos, Major and Mr X. I always enjopy pics of jazz veterans at Disneyland. It's strange, though, to think that the heyday of the Big Bands was only thirty years in the past in 1972, whereas the rock and pop nostalgia acts from the '60s, '70s, and '80s who play shows at the Epcot festivals these days are often from a comparably more distant era. God, Ithat makes me feel old!
This is classic old school Disneyland and people would be calling for months prior to the Summer to find out the talent line up. The Big Bands were a Summer every night thing, and there were some real hoofers who showed up. I'm not sure if they spent any great amount of money, and that is probably why the Princesses moved in. Lots of great memories of Plaza Gardens as a guest: it seemed to be where we always ended up in a more shady spot that the other choices around the Park, or the craziness of Coke Terrace with another kind of entertainment. I met "Benji" the dog backstage at Plaza Gardens, and a little cougar cub who was also in the movie. The trainer Frank only allowed us to have limited access to the cougar who was acting up, and earlier took a swipe at Benji. Benji was very sweet and very very very docile. Almost like when we were petting her she was thinking "ugh...more fans....". For the show however, she totally turned it out, like she was another dog. I'm not sure how we got invited to see the Benji: probably the pretty blonde TG who was with me, which was usually the case with these invites. Stan certainly has quite a few saxophones in the orchestra. I always like a lot of brass and grew up with Herb Alpert. Tijuana Taxi was always in the background somewhere. Architecturally, Plaza Gardens is awesome. With lots of curly queue's and fret work. Disneyland Victorian Revival. If there wasn't such a thing already, I've just coined a phrase. Time to go to the Trademark office. Thanks Mr. X and Major for the photos!
"......when we were petting her...."
Bu, HER???? I supposed next, you are going to tell me that Lassie was played by a male dog? ;-)
An, civilized music. Although I know there was a contingent of die-hards that hated jazz too.
I didn’t go in Plaza Gardens till I was in high school, and then only once and no music playing. I feel that I really missed out. Well, we get too soon old and too late smart.
Lucky Mr. X!
Major, thanks for the photos and memories of your Dad.
JG
@ TM!-
"Stan looks a little bit like Gary Morton, in that first pic. I'm just saying...."
You just can't help yourself, can you-? Next you'll be saying he reminds you of "a certain Cuban band leader..."
Thanks to Mr. X.
JB, when “Fantasy Faire” originally opened, I’d heard that they still had swing dancing there on some nights, but I doubt it is (was?) anything compared to the good old days. I’ll need somebody else to chime in as to whether they still do it at all.
TokyoMagic!, I don’t know who Gary Morton is, but I’m sure he is a good dancer (was he that game show host? “To Tell the Truth”?). I would gladly queue up for a four hour line for a popcorn bucket. Those things, along with my Beanie Babies, will be worth millions!
Pegleg Pete, that IS pretty crazy to think that the 1940s were only 30-ish years prior to these photos being taken. All one has to do is look at photos of some of the big 1980s New Wave stars to realize that they are old now.
Bu,this was the era when Mr. X watched MANY legendary bands performing at the Plaza Gardens, he told stories of the crowds there for Duke Ellington. I agree with you, the older folks probably did not spend money quite as thoughtlessly as younger folks. Benji the dog?! I wonder how many people even remember Benji, though “he” was a big star at the time. There must have been at least three movies? Heck, I only starred in two major motion pictures. Herb Alpert, yes! Still with us, too. While you are at the Trademark office, can you please do “Leftuggies” for me?
TokyoMagic!, perhaps Lassie was non-binary.
JG, yes, I would have had zero interest in watching the big bands when I was younger. “Let’s go ride some rides while all these suckers are watching this band!”. My dad liked some rock and roll too, but he was definitely old school with a lot of his tastes.
Nanook, are you saying that Stan Kenton looks like Manuel Ortiz??
Major-
The original host of To Tell the Truth was Bud Collier (1956-1968). [You're probably thinking of Garry Moore, who hosted the initial eight seasons of the 1969-1978 version of To Tell the Truth]. Then Joe Garagiola hosted the final season - and somewhere in there, Bill Cullen did some substitute hosting duties.
Garry Moore is more-famous for hosting I've Got a Secret for its first seven seasons (1952-1964). Confused-? I don't believe any of these folks performed at Carnation Gardens - but you never know...
Gary Morton was an American stand-up comedian whose primary venues were hotels and resorts of the Borscht Belt in upstate New York. He was born in New York City, the son of Morris Goldaper and Rose Greenfeder Goldaper, and had a sister, Helen. Wikipedia.
He was also married to Lucy Ball. I am of the era that remembers him.
But on the matter at hand...
Big name stars at Disneyland...all included in your admission. I don't immediately recall when they stopped selling General Admission tickets to the Park, but that really reduced the cost. I recall when it was a couple bucks to get in and enjoy all that was "free".
Thanks Mr. X. I remember hearing so many of the big band players walking by at the end of my shift for a few minutes. And yes...Duke would pack 'em in. But despite that, the area wasn't a big money maker...selling Carnation Ice Cream and hamburgers and fries. Making the big bucks everywhere wasn't the plan at the time. KS
With all that gender switching, I'm sure that Benji and Lassie would be barred from many states today. Not sure if I should add a winky face ;-) or an uncertain face :-\
Nanook, I know that there were multiple hosts of “To Tell the Truth”. Honest! I’m surprised that Joe Garagiola only hosted it one season, because I didn’t really watch the show, but he’s the one I think of most. “I’ve Got a Secret”… a show I’ve heard of, but never seen.
KS, now that I know that Gary Morton was married to Lucille Ball, I remember a video of the two of them. Lucy was quite “up there”, and Gary Morton seemed very warm and nice to her, while she was kind of mean and cranky to him. Just one more reason why I don’t LL!
JB, hey, as long as Benji and Lassie were happy, they can call themselves whatever they want. “Arf” is the term they prefer.
I enjoyed today's photos and memories shared...thank you Mr. X. You do have good taste in music.
BTW, I see that Stan Kenton was born the same year as was another very popular person. *wink wink*
Thank you, too, Major.
Bu: “Victorian Revival” was a sub-architectural movement from the 1980’s that was grouped under “Post Modern” …. “Disneyland Victorian Revival” is more of what designers now call “Hollywood Victorian”. In the 1940’s and 1950’s things designed to be Bu Victorian looking - was sometimes referred to as “Grandmas Kitchen” . You’ll be hard pressed to get anything copyrighted with “Disneyland” in it …
Bu Victorian is suppose to be NEW victorian
Plaza Gardens was inspired by the Streetcar Electric Gardens street car company’s often built along their line or at its terminus … they overly electrified a park or pavilion with hopes during the summer they could extend operating hours - and profits but passengers riding their streetcars to hear bands and attend dancing late in the evening in brightly festive lit complexes. In fact a proposed redo of carnation plaza gardens in the 1990’s was going to be called EDISON ELECTRIC GARDENS.
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