Two Leftuggies
You saw the title of the post, what do you want from me?? Sorry, I'm just a bit grouchy, it's not you, it's me. Anyway, it's LEFTUGGIE time. Always worthwhile.
Like this first scan, from March, 1961. It's kind of an odd duck, we're behind a popcorn wagon, which is perched up on that custom curb so that the vendor will be 6 inches taller than most people. Intimidation is a great sales strategy. Gramps is hiding behind the tree, he tried to sneak up on the vendor, but had no idea the vendor was once a Marine in the Special Forces. Senses like a cat! As you can see, Gramps is recoiling from the reflexive karate chop that the vendor just meted out. I'm surprised that the vendor's coat is rather subdued, no longer the cheerful red and white stripes from earlier days.
Can anyone help a brother out and ID some of the buildings (all restaurants, I believe) that are to the right of the popcorn wagon?
Next is this weirdly-colored look at the Autopia, circa May 1969. The faded color makes it look older, but there are the Mark VII vehicles to prove that it's post-1968. This is sort of an interesting angle on the Skyway terminal, with several gondolas gliding back and forth. Not to mention the Peoplemover, and Screechy, the Richfield Eagle. EEEEYYYYAAAAHHHH!
9 comments:
Just over the popcorn card you can make out that Frontier Gun Shop. As for the restaurant, I believe that would be Oaks Tavern. Just off to the right would be the Silver Banjo, if it was still around at this time in 1961.
Isn't that the Golden Horseshoe behind Gramps? Maybe that's Aunt Jemima's behind the popcorn wagon?
I think we can see a little clown, costumed in white, turning the popcorn crank. Or maybe it's a deflated weather balloon stuck to the window of that restaurant in the background.
Major, this isn't an odd duck... an AED, now that's an odd duck!
Ah, Screechy. She's still clutching that huge egg. There's a guy on a pair of crutches to the left. Looks like he's hanging onto a briefcase, or maybe it's a camera case. These Autotopia [sic] cars look more sporty than the previous models. Hmmm, there seems to be a lot of people wearing white in this photo, including Clark Kent next to that orange auto-lifter thingy.
Brad Abbott says the restaurant behind the popcorn cart is Oaks Tavern. Oh well, I tried.
Thanks for the very tasty Leftuggies, Major. I notice that you gave us two of 'em, because, like Lays, you can't eat just one.
The space between the popcorn wagon and the back edge of that concrete slab seems very narrow. I wonder if the vendors ever fell backward, off of that slab. Disney could have at least put a tall railing along the back edge of that slab. This looks like one of the many types of safety hazards that existed at Knott's, when I was working there.
Hi Screechy! We love you!
The gray-striped popcorn vendor’s coat was a cost-saving measure after analysis by Buzz Price over at Economic Research Associates showed that 35% of all visitors documented their Disneyland visit with black & white film. The Disneyland master plan was reworked so that 35% of the Park would be in shades of white, black and gray. This explains the colors of the House of the Future, much of 1967 Tomorrowland, the it’s a small world facade, the Matterhorn, and the asphalt in the parking lot.
The Autopia crew needs to get on the ball - there’s a shady-looking character hot-wiring that light blue Mark VII car. I wonder how often cars were stolen from the attraction?
I like the Buzz Price theory, and if enough people talk about it, and possibly agree that it was possible, it will probably end up in a Tour Guide Spiel. In any case, that certainly is the most gigantical popcorn vendor ever. Even if he was at "ground level", the guy is kind of a giant. I know the size of those wagons and my head only came to about the top 14 of the popcorn door, so I would say this guy is 6'4"- 6'6". Just a wild guess...the costume is frontiery enough...the white trousers are definitely a "choice" when you work in foods. It's a messy job. The popcorn is appropriately "mountained" per SOP, and given the not so busy day, I would also say that it is an appropriate amount. The hat, although very jaunty, is super hard to deal with when you are basically crawling inside that wagon to work. I opted out. Incidentally, the placement of this particular wagon still exists: pretty much exactly. There were no raised slabs when I was a wee lad, but in time all of the asphalt was replaced by a level slab of concrete. I do see a drip pan underneath, and that is definitely needed...those wagons can drip popcorn oil...the oil comes from the back of the wagon, and is pumped automatically through a stainless tube, and into the pot in a pre-measured amount. Which is quite efficiently genius. The seed you have to put in by hand: with a custom aluminum measuring cup, that you pour salt into as well so the popcorn comes out pre-salted. The set up of this wagon is backwards...you can see where the old guy is standing: there is a glass door that closes up the wagon, so if a guest is there: the open glass door is in front of them. The storage bin should be on the other side so that the "counter" (where the clown is) is where you transact. Fun fact: one of these wagons from Disneyland was used in "The Devil and Max Devlin" in a carnival scene. We sent it to the ranch one day. Seems like it would be less hassle to rent one locally: you barely see it in the scene for a nano-second. Price of a box in 1961: .15. Price in 1979: .50 Price in 2023: 5.25. Popcorn buckets are ridiculous and particularly sanitary, and this ex ODV does not support them. Just my POV. And just to be clear, I do not support anything refillable, ever. "Would you like a refill? " "no". Just me.... Looks like the others identified this Frontier site: wonder if the trees are still there? The Autopia: yep: there it is. I like seeing old School Screechy, with new school buckets and movers. There are the steps to the Tomorrowland Area Office, where us ODV and other Tomorrowland peeps got our paychecks every Friday. Thanks for the LT's TM MP!
Wow, a rare sighting of the Frontierland Gun Shop. Imagine the pearls that would be clutched over this shop today. Oh won’t someone think of the children?
That’s a remarkable trash can, very unusual style on the border between “rustic” Frontierland and the more polished Esplanade. Is that a tray return on top?
I’m with Tokyo, I’d fall off that raised curb five times a day or more. I get the logic, but another foot wider would be better. The vendor is dressed like a medicine show hawker I think.
And an unusual angle on Autopia too. I can’t master the styles and eras of the car models, thanks for the ID, Major. The Eagle brings a certain flair perched on that ball like the classic depiction of Fortuna (goddess of notoriety who balanced on a globe because fame was fleeting and hard to maintain).
Notice the air and water hoses for car maintenance, just like your hometown Richfield. Were these engines air-cooled? How long did it take before the used popcorn oil was used to lubricate the cars? I learned recently that the DLRR engines burn cooking fat, so it’s possible, I guess.
Bu, thanks for the id of that stair. I always assumed it was an emergency exit from the CoP show.
Thanks Major!
JG
Brad Abbott, I did notice the Frontier Gun Shop, still one of the odder displays in Disneyland, maybe mostly when it is filtered through our 2023 brains. I think that the Silver Banjo BBQ was gone by 1961, but can’t say with 100% certainty.
JB, Yes, the Golden Horseshoe is over to the left, but I wasn’t sure about the stuff more in the middle and to the right. There is something called the Wheelhouse, though that probably wasn’t there in 1961. I believe that Aunt Jemima’s would be out of frame to our right, but again, just not sure. Hey! Yes, there’s the little clown. Screechy carries that egg everywhere, because it gives her a discount at participating stores. The savings are considerable. Yum, potato chips, nature’s candy.
TokyoMagic!, I agree with you, that raised slab looks like a lawsuit waiting to happen, except that in those days if somebody fell and hurt themselves, they’d mostly feel stupid and would not sue. They should have put high-voltage electrical fencing behind the popcorn wagon.
Chuck, I learn so much on this blog, it really is amazing. First of all, I’ve learned that my mom could have named me “Buzz”, and now I’m sad. When I am in charge of Disneyland, I’m going to change the theme so that Main Street will be a German Expressionist version of a small town. Ditto the other lands. Expressionist Winnie the Pooh? You bet! It’s hard to make a getaway in an Autopia car that will max out at 6 miles per hour.
Bu, back in those days my mom seemed to use black and white film about half the time she took photos, and sometimes I wish she’d spent the extra buck or so for color. But hey, that was the times. I’m kind of surprised that Disneyland would actually have costumes that would fit someone who was unusually tall, since I’d assume that the supply would be within a certain set of averages. Is the popcorn popped and kept warm with electric heat? Or propane? Or uranium? If you put popcorn oil on your skin each night, it will keep you supple and youthful. Is the cart set up backwards? The clown is facing out toward where the theoretical crowd would have been. But I’ll take your word for it! “The Devil and Max Devlin”, practically a forgotten movie. I’ve never seen it, to be honest. I’ve seen some of the collectible popcorn buckets, some are sort of fun, but I have zero interest in acquiring any. What are they, $20? More? And then you have to carry it around for the rest of the day. No thanks.
JG, I’m sure that there would be plenty of complaints about a gun shop, even if it was just a display of various firearms from history. “Where’s the potato gun?”, I would ask. It’s all I want to see. Some call it a Spud Gun. But I want nothing to do with those people. I sometimes mix up the various Autopia styles, but by the time we get to the Mark VII I’m good. It was the last one before the toylike Chevron models were introduce - not crazy about those. I’m sure the Autopia cars were air cooled, and I don’t know about popcorn oil being used for lubricant, but folks have claimed that the bio-diesel used on the trains results in the scent of french fries, something I’ve never personally observed.
Major-
'ol Don and his brother Vern were still cooking up BBQ delights at the Silver Banjo Barbecue. It didn't close until September, 1961; but it's out-of-frame, on the right.
That's the Oaks Tavern next to the Gun Shop; and I believe [what would become] the Wheelhouse is sitting behind that trash can. In 1978, the Oaks Tavern would 'transition' to the Stage Door Cafe.
Thanks, Major.
FYI: The popcorn oil is seasoned coconut oil and if you like orange skin, it would actually be a pretty good moisturizer. There is residual that comes out with steam, and I can probably attribute my present youthful glow to an early adulthood filled with partially hydrogenated coconut oil moisturization sessions at Disneyland. The popcorn smell certainly stayed in my hair, and when taking a shower it vaporized, leaving the bathroom with a pleasant Disneyland popcorn smell...which IS different than movie popcorn smell, although similar...when I used to go to the AMC Theatre in Burbank a lot...and by a lot I probably saw at least 5 movies a week...usually two on Saturday or Sunday depending on what was opening. AMC Burbank had the BEST popcorn in all of greater LA. The screens were also good, and not the typical "movie crowd" like on the other side of the hill. We had to see movies with "real" people to get better reads on what the true reactions were...to then discuss with analysts who would forecast numbers for the studios/Variety/et al. When you watch movies with an "above the line" audience...a much different reaction than the grips/focus pullers/best boys and "non-pros" in Burbank. We did walk out of more than a few movies...if it wasn't worth the time...but popcorn every time....going to make some now....
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