I have some Leftuggies for you today - in fact these are images of slides that I initially didn't even bother to scan years ago. Looking at them now, I'm not sure what happened, since they seem pretty nice to me now.
Like this one! The Mark Twain was a-chuggin' (always a-chuggin') past the little riverfront bandstand and the landing for a Tom Sawyer Island raft (it looks like perhaps that one raft is just waiting to cross the river, while more folks wait for their turn). In the distance, a Keelboat might be returning to its dock on the west shore. The Twain pilot seems to be looking in our direction!
Next is this great picture (from "sometime in the 50s") looking toward Main Street Station past the happiest chainlink on Earth. Those flowerbeds are so nice, and really make Disneyland feel special before a guest has even technically set foot inside the park. At first I thought the boy to the right was wearing a Keppy Kap, but it's just an odd-looking baseball cap I suppose.
Oh boy, posters! We can see that the Space Station X-1 poster is now "Satellite View of America", which places this photo somewhere between 1957 and 1960.
The Mark Twain image is wonderful. Love the how the trees and foliage haven't filled out yet and you can clearly see the TSI structures without obstruction and the Mark Twain stacks are clearly visible against the overcast sky. It makes the details of the Mark Twain stand out. Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Major.
Major-
ReplyDeleteI believe those "nice flowerbeds" are loaded with petunias. And as the Frontierland 'Tri-level' poster is also featured, the image can be more-tightly identified from between 1957 and October-ish, 1959 - if the folks charged with keeping such things up-to-date aren't falling behind...
Thanks, Major.
I'm sort of at a loss guessing what year this first pic was taken. I'm gonna say 1960-1962. There are several unexploded AEDs floating around, well, several AECs (Animatronic Exploding Coots). The Mark Twain looks like a stage set here, for some reason. All it needs is a big burning dragon behind it.
ReplyDeleteWe rarely see the Station from this angle; it's almost always straight on, or more from the west. Lots of that white wire fencing in front of the happy chainlink.
Yummy Leftuggies, Major. Thanks.
There is something about that first pic that makes it seem different/special. It's probably just that angle from which it was taken, and also the fact that so many little park elements show up.
ReplyDeleteAre we actually seeing people on the second level of Fort Wilderness? Just to the left of that are some of Ken's telephone poles....or at least one. I'm surprised he didn't mention it!
JB, are those coots young? Or are they old coots?
Is that a soldier on the far right, in front of the bandstand? And is that some kind of an apparition hanging out above him?
As for the second pic, I want Bu to speak to the exit gate employee, and give him a firm talking to. Wow, maybe sitting was allowed at the main gate, but leaning while you are seated? And then placing one leg up on something? Just wait until Walt passes by!
Both shots are from unusual angles today. Nice!
ReplyDeleteThat gate guy’s repose is a bit extreme for even the Disneyland employee standards of today. If you zoom in really closely, just to the right of the clock on the Main Street Depot you can see blue sky.
TM!, good eye on the soldier in the first photo! His olive drab uniform blended in with the environment and I didn’t see him at all until you pointed him out. He is wearing a waist-cut “Ike jacket.” That shade and cut of uniform began to be phased out in 1956 and were gone by late 1960, which helps to narrow down the date of the photo.
I think that those “people on the second level of Fort Wilderness” are actually the antlers above the sign on the fort’s gate.
Chuck, oh yeah....antlers! The one thing that any fort, mill, log cabin, or mercantile should never be without!
ReplyDeleteRaise your hands if you've ever noticed the seven red fire buckets on the top deck of the Mark Twain! As I recall, their bottoms are rounded, so they couldn't be used as regular buckets.
ReplyDeleteHey gang, I apologize for my unexpected absence over the last five days; some family came to town, and kept me super busy every day (we did a lot of stuff, and did a LOT of driving). I originally thought that I’d have time to respond to comments, but it’s a lot of work to keep three visitors entertained. Things should be back to normal now!
ReplyDeleteK. Martinez, I agree, I love that first photo now, and can’t understand why I thought it was “skippable” years ago. I only just noticed that Tom’s Treehouse is not yet there, so that makes this at least pre-June of 1956. That’s one of those photos where the people are as much fun to look at as the park.
Nanook, PETUNIAS? The Devil’s flower! I just made that up, sorry, petunias, I did not mean to besmirch your reputation. Good catch on the tri-level poster. Meanwhile, I will be going to see the Joel Magee collection today, so I’ll pay my respects to his tri-level.
JB, see my comment to K. Martinez! With no Tom’s Treehouse, this could be a 1955 photo, and into early 1956 (I have no idea how long it would have taken them to build the treehouse, but my guess is that it did not take very long in those days). Big burning dragons add a touch of class and elegance to all decor, and should be considered by all who care about such things. I wonder why the photographer for photo #2 chose to take the picture from that angle? As you said, nearly all pictures are taken from relatively straight-on.
TokyoMagic!, I didn’t notice it, but yes, we can see teeny tiny people on the top level of Fort Wilderness. Coots - our local park has recently been overtaken by those birds, they seem to have crowded the mallards out. Plus coots seem to poop EVERYWHERE. I’m not sure what that “apparition” is, there must have been something on the slide. Ectoplasm, I guess? As for the man who is leaning and sitting, he was tackled to the ground mere seconds after this photo was taken (tackled by the other man) and sentenced to wear a character costume on the hottest days.
Chuck, now I have to wonder if anybody had a word with Mr. Relaxed. He probably even undid the button on his trousers (like we all do) because he just ate a big lunch. Maybe the shoes came off too. If that man is wearing an “Ike jacket”, maybe it is Ike himself! He was friendly with Walt. I’m not so sure about the antler theory; Einstein worked on the Antler Theory for his entire career.
TokyoMagic!, I prefer a singing Billy Bass (“Take Me to the River”, hilarious!), but antlers will do.
Steve DeGaetano, I have noticed the fire buckets atop the Mark Twain, but had no idea that they the bottoms of the buckets were rounded. It does look that way, though!
Not only can we see the Mark Twain themed fire apparatus, there’s a big modern canister extinguisher on the raft in the foreground, not painted wood grain.
ReplyDeleteLots of fun details in these!
Lazy gate guy is going to get a “talking’ to”.
Thanks Major, love these old pictures.
JG
Interesting data on the fire buckets. Would they be leather as well? I date the Tom Sawyer photo around early '58. Just a wild guess vegetation wise. You can see the little path in front of the Mill, but nary a plant at all. Looking at the dirt, I was thinking...hmmm...wouldn't mind some Disneyland dirt in my yard...and then thought: probably someone is scooping it up and putting it in jars selling it on Ebay. There is still a lot of available dirt on the island, and in very out of the way places. Perfect for a bag of dirt. Just saying. The Main Gate reminds me of a time that I would look at photos from this era PINING to go to this "place". The Disneyland I remember actually going to, is a bit confused with the Disneyland of the '50's early '60's. If I were to gander a guess at my first trip...hmmm...'67-'68 I think. I specifically remember the Haunted Mansion opening in '69 (after a previous trip the years prior) and riding it in it's first year for my birthday...October of '69. I have very few other memories of that day: melting down (in a good way) in the back seat of the "Galaxy" (no seatbelt of course) after seeing the first glimpse of the Matterhorn. Then paying with English pounds that my grandmother sent me to buy tickets. We didn't transact with them: I gave them to my dad and he paid the bill for the "Big 10". "Ike" seems to be wearing "go away Hunter Green". And he also happens to be a giant...or maybe the scale makes him look like a giant.
ReplyDeleteWow...I've been trying all day to part two of my post....perhaps the third time is the charm?
ReplyDeleteLooks like Vesey Walker is there on the bow. The ambiance on the Mark Twain seemed to drastically change when the DL Band was on board. I prefer a more Louisiana vibe, and enjoyed when that quartet joined. I like Keppy Kap and it would be great if they would sell them again as I would buy one and wear it in a NY minute. I agree that it's a strange version of one, and I was never allowed to stand in such a way as a kid. Hands at side out of pockets! Speaking of not allowed: Yes TM (tm), that employee is extremely lucky he is not reporting to me, as that would be DOCUMENTATION! It does look like he is (loosely) sitting on a seat. I think now they have built in seats for the Main Gate people. Sorry Main Gate people: it's possible to stand, and sitting down makes you look like you didn't want to come in to work today. Please stand up for the people who are paying your paychecks, and you can sit when you get a break. It looks unwelcoming and slovenly. I am hardcore. Disneyland in "the day" (my day) was like a military academy. Well...maybe not completely, but you get the idea...
Petunias and Arbor Vitae grow like weeds in that part of the world, and in most parts of the world so I can see why they would plant them there. There are some REALLY gigantic heritage trees now on either side of the floral Mickey. I don't see them here as little seedlings, but I have seen them in vintage photos. That makes we want to date these photos earlier, but someone will know exact dates based on the attraction posters and the paint colors. It looks like the chain link has a band of painted white wood on it, which is strange, and I have never seen before. I like the simplicity of the little wire fencing and have some in my backyard, but to keep the bunnies off my roses (brats). I think more forensics are needed here to properly time the photo, but looks like the park just opened at 10:07. The population would give something away, but can't see it...I think the posters will do the trick. Bring back the attraction posters! This used to be such a springboard of excitement at the top of the day. I'd rather have this than yellow iron work in New Orleans Square and I will leave it there. Thanks Major!
ReplyDeleteMajor, these are great images. I love all the activity on the ROA.
ReplyDeleteI have a feeling Mike passed out when he saw ALL those wonderful posters, as I see he hasn't commented yet, today. I hope you're OK, Mike.
That is an authentic detail … the rounded pails of fire buckets. Thus was to prevent people for using the buckets for other purposes other than sand. The New Orleans Square & Main Street stations have fire barrels …. And rounded pails nearby. I suppose if Someone wanted they could hammer the rounded pail bottom ( sounds like a 1970’s comedy Western “town - Indian” name : ROUNDED PAIL BOTTOM. The DL rr trestles feature fire barrels …. In the 1800’s these too would have been filled with sand and not water ….
ReplyDeleteA detail lost on most American historic structures isn’t the “widow’s walk” ( a romantic POST 19th century misleading name implying that sailors windows would walk the roofs of their homes searching the bay for their missing husbands to return home from sea) in the 1800’s if you said “window’s walk “ they wouldn’t know what you were talking about - they were actually called “ Fire rails” to assist in climbing your roof to drop sand down a burning chimney or rooftop. The wood planks and sand barrels are usually omitted from historic restorations …. But would have been very prevalent before water forced fire pipes .
Yeah …. I avoided the auction preview dinner and the public preview …. Many of my former items were sold to Joel over the years … attraction posters … signs… props … even some small world AA doll heads … some items sold to pay bills some sold to buy other Disneyland items.
Oh, man, I wish I were local to go check out the Joel Magee collection: https://vegalleries.com/releases/the-joel-magee-disneyland-collection!
ReplyDeleteTokyo!, ALL coots are old! And I think that "apparition" is just where Major spilled some chocolate milkshake onto the slide.
ReplyDeleteMajor, oh, were you gone? I hadn't noticed. ;-)
"coots seem to poop EVERYWHERE." Old coots have trouble controlling their bowel movements... or so I've been told.
JG, if I was in charge, I would have made that fire extinguisher out of lace doilies, in order to be less anachronistic.
ReplyDeleteBu, I’m assuming that those buckets held sand rather than water, so there’s no reason leather wouldn’t work. But… I’ll bet they were wood or metal. Just a hunch. Now that you’ve mentioned Disneyland dirt, I’ll bet people are going to bring little zip lock baggies with them. No not the ones with the ashes of their dearly departed (to sprinkle in the Haunted Mansion), empty ones for dirt. I was the same as you, looking at photos of Disneyland always made me wish I was there. I didn’t understand why my siblings didn’t feel the same way - I mean, they liked Disneyland, but not to the extent that I did. I wish I remembered my first trip to the park, but I think I was around three years old (according to my brother), and really don’t remember a darn thing.
Bu, I’m sorry you’ve been having issues, I wish I knew why this happened to some people when attempting to comment. That is definitely Vesey Walker leading the Disneyland Band, what a trouper. I’ve been on board the Mark Twain when the band played, it’s a nice experience. I might even prefer it to the prerecorded spiel. Man, you sound like you were a real tough boss! I guess I would not be able to get rip-roaring drunk on your watch.
Bu, if you’re gonna plant flowers, why not plant varieties that thrive? Less need for replacement (though I’m sure there’s plenty of that going on all the time). See Nanook’s comment regarding the posters, the “tri-level” really does help to narrow things down to just a few years. And because I did go visit the Joel Magee collection, I got to see a tri-level poster right up close. Man there’s some good stuff there, I wish I had the big bucks necessary to really go nuts.
Lou and Sue, thanks! Yes, Mike passed out and his eyes are Xs.
Mike Cozart, oh you recovered! I’m imagining just how many times somebody must have found the fire buckets to be GONE when they needed them. Making them with a rounded bottom is pretty clever, actually. Though you could make some neat sand castles with a round-bottom bucket. Sorry, burning structure, my art project was more important. I’ve heard the term “widow’s walk” forever, and just assumed it was for real, so I guess I learned something. IT HURTS MY BRAIN. I understand that selling things is the nature of collecting (eventually), but I kind of hate that Mr. Magee bought so many of these items relatively recently, I’m aware of a bunch of things that he won on eBay, outbidding people who probably would have loved and appreciated the items more than he seems to have.
Chuck, I was there today!
JB, if there are old coots, doesn’t it make sense that they were young at one time?? A question for the philosophers. Coots need more fiber in their diets.
Major: I agree with you. In recent years there have been some DEEP pocket collectors show up. And I’m not saying they don’t like or love the parks … but I feel for many it’s just a ego stroke or thrill to out bid the other rich guy… then amass a giant collection then sell it off for a profit…… in a relatively short time span. I miss the days when you get obtain these things for reasonable amounts of money … I think in general it was always kinda expensive … but not obscene …. When I was paying 300.00 for an attraction poster a friend of mine was paying 300.00 for a pair of new jeans ( the attraction poster appreciated in value) but like I said … there was a time if you really wanted a Enchanted Tiki Room poster , you could get one with a little saving or trading or maybe just waiting … but now with the celebrity collectors who amass their collection for shoeing it off and getting attention through there giant auctions and short subject films and appearances in pawn stars and collectors call …. And easily sell it off and move on to the next thing. I’m in it for the long haul and have a passion about it … my for did I get a hard time from friends when I’d but a PeopleMover car for the price of a used car … to someone without the passion it seems silly … but WITH the passion .: you can buy a car new or used ANYWHERE… ANYTIME … but a PeopleMover car!!! ???? You buy the damn thing. Ah yeah …. A Xbox video game … no thanks ! I’d rather have a Sign from 1976 Circle Vision ….. etc etc …. Where do you put?? Who cares !! Get it first then worry about it!!
ReplyDelete^ Mike, you’re our hero!
ReplyDelete—Sue
The round bottom fire buckets reminds me of the light bulbs on the NYC subway that are threaded left-hand so they are less likely to be stolen.
ReplyDeleteSince the Disney parks replace flowers so frequently, what happens to the "past their prime" flowers after removal? It seems like another thing to sell to superfans - "this plant was part of Disneyland's Floral Mickey..."
^ Dean, I like your idea! I would gladly purchase a Disneyland flower—especially if it was re-potted in TSI soil.
Delete—Sue
I remember the guy with the casual pose and sunglasses. He was exotic, kind of an Elvis guy.
ReplyDelete