Two Beauties From the 1950s
Say! Let's go to Disneyland! Set your wrist watch time machines to perhaps 1956 (I'll let you choose the day and month).
Here we are in Town Square, looking past a horse's... er... rump, toward the Bank of America, which was the first building on East Main Street, and as you can see, a sizable one too. You could go in and get actual B of A traveler's checks. I'm not certain if it was a full-service bank in other ways. Could you open a savings account for little Billy and his sister Sally? Could you get a home loan? My guess is "NO".
Notice the "white wing" walking to our right, I'm not sure if he is an ice cream vendor or a sweeper. I don't remember noticing the posters to the extreme right before, but then again, this corner of the park was not photographed very often.
We can see gold leaf lettering on the upstair windows, but I'm not sure what is written there. To the right of the lamp post globes, it appears as if the upstairs windows are open. Also notice the souvenir stand, with Keppy Caps, felt pennants, and those conical paper hats.
Meanwhile, over in Tomorrowland... we get this beautiful night shot of the Clock of the World (looks like it was nearly midnight), with the Hall of Chemistry behind it, including that wall lit in sherbet tones of pink, rose, and orange. Love the neon atom!
29 comments:
Major-
Is that a window air conditioner in the 2nd window from the left-? How very advanced for the turn of the [last] century-!
I believe those window names are:
#1: Wade B. Rubotton - George Patrick
#2: Wilson Martin - Gabriel Scognamillo
#3: Richard Irvine - Marvin Davis
Not certain what's on the 4th window.
The Clock of the World & the Hall of Chemistry image speaks for itself. Wowie-!
Thanks, Major.
And a mighty fine horse's... rump, it is! Only horses with the most photogenic rumps grace the Main Street of Disneyland.
That's quite a babushka that the Blue Lady is wearing. I wonder if she made that outfit herself? It has a no-frills simplicity about it. The little girl walking behind her seems to be carrying a doll. Is it one of the fairies from Sleeping Beauty?
The Clock of the World looks more elegant and sophisticated in this night shot than it does during the day. I'm trying to read those red and yellow signs on the left. The only one I can make out is "Dairy Bar", and I'm not even sure about that one. This is a very nice nighttime photo; someone knew what they were doing.
Thanks for the "beauties", Major.
@ JB-
Those signs are:
The Hall of Chemistry by Monsanto
To the Story of Aluminum by Kaiser Aluminum
20000 Leagues Under the Sea
The Dairy Bar by American Dairy Association
Tomorrow Today by Crane Co.
I knew attraction posters were displayed along the inner gates …. And on the train station’s “cut stone” stair and planter walls….. but I’ve never seen the souvenir kiosk with red lower panels … I always thought they were blue!?
The Hat shop - opera house - bank block were always the most REAL looking buildings on Main Street . They also appear much larger than any of the other Main Street facades. I think I once was told the reason for this … but it is an explanation that I have forgotten over time.
The closeup of the first shot really puts the business end of the horse up close and personal. I can almost smell the scene in my mind’s nose.
That night shot is gorgeous. All of that colored lighting gives the scene a completely different feel than daytime shots, similar to some nighttime photos of the 1964 NY World’s Fair, although for some reason, this shot makes me think of the 1958 World’s Fair in Brussels (which, I guess, is sort of appropriate in that the original, 11-camera Circarama version of America the Beautiful was first exhibited there inside the US pavilion, although I know that wouldn’t be shown in Disneyland until 1960).
I don’t think that’s a neon atom; with only six electrons, it would have to be oxygen. ;-)
It may have been midnight in Anaheim, but the Clock of the World proves that Jimmy Buffett was right - it’s five o’clock somewhere.
Nanook, good squinting. I gave up after a short while, but came back after reading your comment. I think the last window before the arched window over the entrance reads “Architects and Associates.” No idea what the window to the right of the entrance says.
I agree that this particular corner/scene of Town Square is rarely photographed, and it's one of my favorite parts of the park architecturally- the brown of the Bank of America, all the dental work, the awnings, door ways, windows, etc. I'm not so sure what services were available at the Bank at this time period, but 25 years later it was basically a foreign currency exchange for most of the time. If you had an account, you could transact, and at other Bank of America locations you could get Disneyland checks which featured a photo of Mickey + others in an interesting photo in front of the castle. I have cancelled checks "somewhere". It's interesting to note (thanks Mike) that the scale of these buildings is different than the rest of Town Square...and when that tidbit of info is understood, I would like to understand it too! Upstairs were offices that you got to via the door on the side of the hat shop. The steps were very skinny and steep if I remember correctly, and there was a long corridor that went all the way down through the top of the bank: where Publicity was located, Bob Roth's office, etc. Down the side of the Bank there are not often used restrooms...I think guests got freaked out since that is a major employee artery to backstage and looks a bit "verboten". I don't remember if my paycheck said "Disneyland Branch" of the Bank of America...but it definitely said "Bank of America". Will have to dig out those too...I made a Xerox of my first paycheck...it's here..."somewhere". I am surprised to see these fanciful Fantasyland colors on the Souvie Stand. I've never seen that red color either...I dug around and found another shot of it in the same red. Very interesting choice against the backdrop of a rather nondescript brown of the B of A. I do not enjoy that they have modified the inside of the bank numerous times for the Disney Gallery/Disneyana/et al...and sort of feels like the "art galleries" found on board cruise ships: curated crudely. There are some interesting products in there, The safe is cool...yet strangely merchandised inside...and employees that ignore you. "oops" that slipped out. The Tomorrowland shot is awesome of course: more proof that Disneyland after dark continues to be magical. I am wondering, and someone knows, if whoever did all the mosaic tiles at that time also did the mosaic tiles in the tunnel at LAX:https://laist.com/news/entertainment/lax-tile-mosaic-hallways. Thanks Major for today's dose!
I believe the BofA was actually a full-service bank. I'll have to get home before I can provide any particulars...
The neighs have it!
Tomorrowland at night (Tomorrow Night land?) Is so enticing. That's a real jump-through-the-screen picture.
Bu, those are my favorite bathrooms in the Park. I love the shady walkway to get to them, they're never crowded, and it's always fun to hear a train chuffing into the station high up on the berm.
As odd as it may be to have favorite restrooms, I agree, the ones just inside to the right are highly ranked for all the reasons Chuck lists.
I like photo 1 but wish the horse was out of frame. The air conditioner and the newspaper rack (?) are nice touches.
I’m guessing the tile mosaic was made up of 1 x 1 or at most 2 x 2 unglazed ceramic mosaic tiles, probably pre-set at the factory on plastic netting and hung in big sheets. This could have been a “factory-random” pattern that would be easier to install than a field mix of individual tiles. Makes a beautiful picture too.
Recently came through LAX from one somewhere to another and found myself in that striped tile hallway. What a blast of deja who, I had forgotten it existed, and I was instantly, but momentarily, 10 years old again, which is about when I first saw it.
LAX is probably the worst airport through which I travel frequently, but that corridor redeems it somewhat.
Thanks Major!
JG
Nanook, Wade B. Rubotton? He owes me $8!
JB, horses were judged on a number of factors, including “best rump”. Tape measures were used. That lady is wearing a Super Babushka, from Whammo. I can’t ID the doll that the girl is carrying, but I’m pretty sure that Sleeping Beauty had not been released at the time this photo was taken (the movie came out in 1959). Reading ahead, I see that Nanook has answered all of your questions!
Nanook, The Dairy Bar. “Gimme a half and half, no ice”.
Mike Cozart, I think there were at least two (and maybe more?) souvenir kiosks, so perhaps they all had different colored panels? I don’t have time to do a search right now, but maybe later. I’m fascinated that the Bank of America building is done in shades of brown, as if made of various milk chocolates. You KNOW that today they would not be able to resist making it a bright hue of some kind.
Chuck, unfortunately I know what you mean, re: the horse. I’m guessing that nighttime lighting effects generally follow trends, just like anything else; while I would assume that the Tomorrowland photo is from around 1956, that’s close enough to the ’58 Expo. TOO close! “I don’t think that’s a neon atom”… well, I guess I asked for it. Jimmy Buffet is right about everything. I can actually clearly read Marvin Davis’ name on the B of A window, but the others would have been illegible to me. Meanwhile, the arched window to the right appears to have the same text as it’s cousin to the left.
Bu, I’ll have to look at modern photos to see what color they’ve made the Bank of America these days. If it’s still brown, I’ll eat my hat (which is fortunately made out of a buttery croissant). Interesting about the bank being a foreign currency exchange, that makes sense and yet I never thought of it. Please send me one of your cancelled Disneyland checks, along with your SSN, PIN, and any other relevant IDs. Don’t worry about it! Yes, my understanding is that the bank was used as offices, so the upstairs had to be human sized. No 5/8 humans worked for Disneyland (well, maybe a few). Last January I had a chance to go to the park and the person leading our little group recommended the bathrooms that you mentioned as “the best”. I didn’t have to “go”, so I didn’t check it out. I like the art displays that are inside the Opera House (maybe they leak over to the bank side too?), with concept art and models and such, I don’t think I wandered far enough to see the vault and all that jazz. I’m not sure I mind employees that ignore me in those shops… I went to a well-known animation gallery recently, and a sales lady was so aggressive that I left as soon as I could.
Steve DeGaetano, I’d love to know! “Yes, my kids are waiting to go on the Mr. Toad ride, but I’d like to discuss getting a mortgage”.
Melissa, I’d imagine that Tomorrowland at night looked even better than it does in rare photos!
Chuck, you should get a machine that plays train-chuffing sounds in your home bathroom. They make those, right?
JG, I’m not sure I’ve ever had a favorite bathroom at Disneyland… it’s basically “whatever’s closest”. I also eat food that I find on the ground, so maybe I’m not the best judge to ask. There was a “Disneyland News” paper that was issued for years, at least into the early 1960s, but GOOD EYE on that newspaper rack. Imagine just being able to grab one of those now-very-valuable papers! I have a few, and they are lots of fun. You think that the tiles are unglazed? I guess I never thought of it, but I always assumed that they were glazed, even if it was a matte glaze. I love the striped tiled halls at LAX, so wonderful.
In THE DISNEY VERSION, Richard Schickel took Walt Disney to task for many works with a perceived fixation on the po-po. The evidence here is undeniable-- Disneyland plus the biggest backside imaginable. Bigger even than that on the Butler in the original Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, which invited kids to make like a Billy goat. It looks like the Doom Buggy in front of you in the Haunted Mansion.
I have a picture somewhere of a plaque in the ladies' room next to the café in the Tower of London, inscribed "LOO OF THE YEAR, 2000." I think of it whenever I happen into a particularly nice public restroom.
@ Chuck-
I saw [what appears to be] "Architects and Associates", but didn't bother to ID, as Architects and Associates who - or what-?? Seems as if something is missing...
@ JG-
LAX [deservedly] continues to be in the upper echelon of 'Worst Airports' in the world. Such an embarrassment. (I'm afraid there aren't enough mosaic tiles in the world to compensate for such a colossal screw-up).
I couldn't help myself, I had to go look at the BofA facade in StreetView. It looks much like a normal building there, red brick with limestone trim and slate blue accents, blue fabric awnings.
Maybe the pixie dust battalion hasn't remembered it is there?
Was the change in scale due to the offices occupying the second floor? Wouldn't want 5/8 scale windows if real people are looking out through them?
For that matter, what is on the upper floors of Main Street buildings anyway? I bet they store churro flour up there before taking it down to the Castle dungeon where the prisoners fry it up. Either that or the soap solution for the bubble generators.
Nanook, architects are always associating with something or other, it's such a mis-used title, it no longer has any objective meaning.
As far as worst airport, Kansas City has to be in the running, at least for smaller ones. One redeeming feature there was a good brewpub.
JG
Stefano, earlier Disney cartoons did tend towards “barnyard humor”, though Richard Schickel made it sound like some sort of pathological obsession of Walt’s. I don’t remember the butler in the old version of Mr. Toad, I wonder if there is a video or photos? Probably not.
Melissa, what a great honor to be “Loo of the Year”! Throw that BAFTA in the bin. I hope they called the Loo of the Year award a “LOONY”.
Nanook, I think that LAX is the best and most fun airport in the world, what do you think of that? ;-)
Major-
I'm certain the construction company my dad worked for at the time would be thrilled to hear your 'opinion' about LAX; as they built the [original] control tower. Even now, that building is considered 'yesterday's fish wrap', as it too can no longer function in today's world of air travel.
If you speak Canadian, a "Loony" (Loonie) is a one dollar coin with the "Loon" depicted on it. A "Toonie" is a two dollar coin, also called "Twoonie" by some. Some dollar stores in Canada are "Loonie Stores", or "Loonie Plus" (for more than a dollar) or Loony Loonie Stores (because it sounds good) or "Dollarama" which is a giant chain, or the Great Canadian Dollar Store...which sounds like a super fancy one..but I think it pretty much resembles any dollar store I've ever been into, ever. Lots of high watt florescent lighting! I have a long list of horrible airports, and I can say that LAX hits the top 5...only because, like the city..there is no center...and other cities (terminals) were built around the original design without much cohesion. Maybe this will change with the PeopleMover. LAX used to be cool when I immigrated 1000 years ago and saw that tile tunnel for the first time.
I have an architectural vendor brochure and sample catalog from the mid 60’s from the company that did the tile murals at LAX . It shows many of their existing murals … i actually got it because it had a rendering on the front of a local Montgomery Ward building that had a blue pattern of tiles from this company. The architecture -environmental design department at San Diego state had this room called “the sample room” …. Companies from all over sent their catalogs and material samples in quantity for students to use … who would one day become professionals and then remember these suppliers for future use. The sample room was like a store … but everything was free for the taking … in one section was old and very out of date catalogs and brochures …. Often art students would come in to get things for collages and projects. From the morgue section I saved some cool 60’s and 70’s brochures … including Goodyear Speedwalks & Speedramps …. Atrium company who built sone of the Knott’s Roaring 20’s Airfield buildings and a defunct Irvine display company that did the actual fabrication of Progress City in Tomorrowland!! Anyway I’ll get the LAX tile mural company for you on Monday … im in San Diego till then.
I know above the “bank building” on Main Street is a sound control room and entertainment- audio offices …. It handles parade audio and lighting . I think that was why the “electrical parade creators” dedication windows are located there.
If you look at the 1/16 scale model of “1955” Disneyland in the opera house ( temporarily removed) you’ll see a mistake ..well you can find lots of mistakes …. It regarding the opera house & bank building block : it’s in its 1990’s - 2000’s color scheme and NOT its correct 1955 color scheme.
Back when B of A was in the park we would always run in as kids to get the free “it’s a small world “ attraction souvenir map and brochure …. If you were old enough you were given 2 different ones : one for the attraction and another about the history of BofA and basically replicated the historical exhibit inside the bank - when it was first called THE BANK OF ITALY…. And was one of the first businesses to reopen after the 1904 San Francisco Earthquake.
I recall hearing stories that the employees at the Main Street BofA were not disneyland employees and staffed as if it was another of the many BofA branches ….. with the drawback you were open on Sundays and holidays!!
The Main Street souvenir kiosks were replaced early with more permanent “newsstand” style souvenir structures …they’re still today … imagineer Rolly Crump took the 2 small obsolete kiosks and repurposed them inside The Advebtureland Bazzaar ….
Late to the party, but I just wanted to say that the Neon Atom is going to be the name of my techno dance club...if I ever open one...which is unlikely because I don't care for techno music...and I'm broke.
@ Stu29573-
"...which is unlikely because I don't care for techno music...and I'm broke."
Don't let little things like that stop you-!
Thanks, Nanook. Were you able to decipher those names from this photo? (How?!) Or did you seek out another, more clear, photo.
Chuck. I hate to burst your oxygen bubble, but I think that atom has 4 electrons; which would make it a beryllium atom. Am I wrong? If so, don't tell me; it'll hurt my feelings. :-D
Bu, "Bob Roth's office". Did it have happy little trees and mountain cabins painted on the walls? Oh wait... that's Bob Ross... nevermind.
Melissa, "The neighs have it"... oh gawd. ;-)
Major, "Tape measures were used. haha. The mental image of stretching a tape measure across the ample rump of a horse made me laugh.
JG, besides the items you listed for the upstairs spaces, don't forget the mountain of powdered sugar that we sometimes see piled on top.
Mike, "Adverbtureland". Wow, a whole new Disneyland 'land' that I never knew existed! Does the Bazaar sell things like: rubberly spears and shrunkenly heads?
"Bu, "Bob Roth's office". Did it have happy little trees and mountain cabins painted on the walls? Oh wait... that's Bob Ross... nevermind."
Bob Roth hath happy little treeth and fluffy cloudth...
JB, by golly - you’re right! That is beryllium. I guess I asked for that. The only defense I have is that it was early in the morning before my first cup of coffee. Well, that and I don’t know how to count.
Melissa, you made me laugh again! STOP IT!! ;-p
Chuck, thank goodness, my feelings are still intact.
@ JB-
"Were you able to decipher those names from this photo? (How?!) Or did you seek out another, more clear, photo". (FYI - I couldn't find any clearer photos).
And give away my trade secrets-??!! I think not.
People have noticed that all of the moms in Pixar movies have, umm, ample derrieres. So I guess it's a pattern that's consistent.
LAX was one of the only airports I've even been to that made Newark seem modern. I came back from Mexico through LAX last year and Customs looks like it was built for the 84 Olympics and never updated. It had a huge number of gates, but only a couple staffed. It felt like arriving through a bus station.de
Great pictures and a very enjoyable read.
Thanks, Major and everyone, for a FUN day filled with lots-o-laughs!
JG, I’m glad they haven’t painted the B of A some godawful pumpkin orange or saffron yellow. Or worse, baby blue! The color of fiends. I like the idea of the upper floor being used for offices, but the ceiling still only being five feet from the floor. Kind of like the office in “Being John Malkovich”. We laugh at those bubble generators, but if I could only have a small percentage of whatever the park must make on those every day! It must be a fortune. A good brew pup in an airport, yes, that would go a long way in making the Kansas City airport tolerable.
Nanook, you have to think of LAX like Mary Poppins would. Just a spoon full of sugar will make it nice! Doesn’t LAX have a newer control tower? The old one still stands, but I’m not sure if it serves any purpose.
Bu, I’m aware of the Loonie coins, and appreciate that retailers are having fun with “Loony” puns and wordplay. Fluorescent lighting is the greatest lighting of all, I especially like it when it gives everything a yellow-green cast. Then I can pretend I am a zombie. I have my fun. Do most airports have a center? I’m not sure that’s something I’ve ever felt like I needed. I mostly just want to spend as little time at any airport as possible.
Mike Cozart, very cool that you have that vendor brochure. You must have some sort of crazy big archives. Is everything stored in a salt mine in Kentucky? “The Sample Room” sounds neat. Back in my art school days, we were all encouraged to amass our own “morgues” of photo reference. Luckily computers and the internet were just coming along, and I’m pretty glad that I did not have to have boxes and files full of clippings (though I did have some). Funny that the bank building upper floor is actually used for something rather high tech. Ironical! ;-) Whoa, I didn’t even think about the fact that the bank would have to be open on days when every other bank would be closed. Crazy.
Stu29573, hey, I like techno music!
Nanook, yes, just run up a bunch of debt like I always like to do, and then skip town, and change your name to something like “Major Pepperidge”.
JB, Nanook knows all, sees all. A beryllium atom? Well I’ll be dipped. Dipped in chocolate sauce, that is, not something nasty. As for tape measures, a while ago I had some photos featuring Earl Carroll, famous for his lovely showgirls, and one of the photos shows him measuring one of his gals with a tape measure. I’m sure it was all for the cameras, and it seems pretty silly.
Melissa, yea verily.
Chuck, everyone forgets about beryllium, the funnest element of all.
JB, Melissa will never stop.
Nanook, “trade secrets” = a crystal ball.
Dean finder, I know that a lot of folks were very interested in Elastigirl’s figure. Were other Pixar ladies similarly proportioned? I guess I’m not that observant. LAX is undergoing some big updates right now, but I don’t know if that will translate to things like customs. Hey, we’re getting a peoplemover!
Lou and Sue, thanks!
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