Leftuggies™
These aren't just Uggies. They are LEFTUGGIES! The best uggies of all.
First up is this scan from March, 1977, showing the Flower Market. Notice that it is not next to the Carnation Ice Cream Parlor on West Center Street - it has been moved to East Center Street, wedged between the Market House and the Hallmark Greeting Cards. The Flower Market remained in this spot until sometime in 1973.
Next is this cute photo from March, 1975. Kids are super excited to see the cuddly little cubby all stuffed with fluff, Winnie the Pooh. But nobody is more excited than the little girl in the red dress! She just loves Pooh Bear. I've always liked this version of Pooh with the Hunny Jar (and bee) atop his head. Tigger is lurking nearby!
21 comments:
All those guests blocking the view of the attraction poster tunnel interior!! MOVE OUTTA THE WAY!!
Major-
Based on your dates, I think the Flower Market has messed with the Space Time Continuum...
"But nobody is more excited than the little girl in the red dress!" - with the face of a 19-year old woman-!
Thanks, Major
It's a nice photo of the Flower Market, but it would have been even nicer if the flowers weren't mostly in the shade. On the other hand, the shaded flowers make the white-sweatered lady in the sunlight stand out even more. And she's the photographer's subject here.
Pooh looks a little washed out here. Probably because he's in the bright sunlight. At first I couldn't tell where the CM inside could see out. But I think there's a gauzy patch between Pooh's eyes? Did Pooh have use of his arms? Or were they just empty props like the Dwarfs' arms?
They should have made the Tigger costume so that he could bounce around on his tail. This could be easily done by ironing some Flubber on his behind.
Nanook, yeah, I noticed that time paradox as well. I'm sure Major can explain it to us.
Thanks, Major. I'm not sure if they're Leftuggies or Rightuggies, but they are Gooduggies.
JB, the cast members head was inside the pot on Pooh's head. The letters spelling out "Hunny" were actually cutout holes, with a mesh screen across them. The person's hands weren't all the way down inside Pooh's "hands," but they could make his hands "flap" up and down a little.
It looks like the little girl's sister is trying to get her attention and is pointing out Tigger. She's probably saying something like, "Dump this clod, I see something better....it's TIGGER!!!"
Major, thanks for the 1970's Leftuggie™ goodness!
The first photo is one of those where half the fun is looking at the little details.
Assuming the Major meant to type “1971,” whatever was advertised on the left for 89¢ would be $6.72 today.
Behind it in the window of the Hallmark shop we see a display featuring the Mickey Mouse Club, a book-shaped object with Sorcerer Mickey on the cover, and a multicolored horse.
Panning to the right we see a colorful doohickey on the brick strip between the first bay window and the entrance alcove. To the right of that, some multicolored sticks in a bag.
To the right of the nice lady in the white sweater, you can see a large, shaded alcove labeled “TELEPHONE.” Farther to the right, we can see that a fleur-de-lis is missing from the detailing over the awning in front of what eventually became the cone shop, although I think it was something else at the time of this photo.
Finally, although it’s really hard to see, there is a man in a gorilla suit standing directly behind the photographer.
"Plans-a-Party". I never understood this, and probably never will. Is that "Hallmark plans a party for you?" as in: THEY do it? Or they do it with pretty napkins that don't absorb anything (don't understand that either), and paper plates that are also pretty, but disintegrate when anything is put on them? Also, cake and ice cream should not go on a paper plate...especially a Hallmark shiny paper one. Everything just slides off like...a slide! So great to see the Disneyland Employee Card Shop this morning! I'm not sure if "real people" shopped there and it always seemed to be crawling with employees. When Hallmark left (sad day) it was TRULY missed by all of us...we were lost. Getting "Mickey Clothes" at Disney Clothiers (or Mickey & Co?) I don't know...but the crown on the corner was very missed until "Card Corner" by Gibson appeared sometime after. I don't know if a card shop is relevant today in Disneyland Park Resort Thing. Seems like a "retro" thing...but could work with clever marketing. I do not remember melting down when the flower market was exited. We all enjoyed the cone shop...and then Lost and Found...which honestly, was an upgraded environment, but didn't make sense there tucked at the back there. The old Lost and Found was quite the relic, and the back room was very jam packed with all sorts of things, including cash. The area outside of Starbucks: former Flower Market...is relatively unused. Seems like a flower market could work still. Outdoor restaurant, with floral decor. Lots of photos and selfies and worldwide marketing. The Market House: also known as "shell of it's former self"...and that's all I have to say about that. I honestly don't mind "The Market House presented by Starbucks"...what I don't care for is "Starbucks presented by Disneyland Park Resort Thing, in the same way it looks everywhere in every corner of every street on planet earth". When presented with the opportunity of using historic real estate (I would classify Main St. USA as "important") it seems as if more thought would be given. Some Starbucks do give a nod or two to their surroundings, and it seems that with this captive audience deserves a bit more. It could even be a "theorized" coffee shop of 1890...big jars of coffee beans, elaborate devices to make coffee....very scientific contraptions of the machine age...I have ideas. Pooh is pooh. He's awesome, this costume was the best. Tigger is always awesome too. Who doesn't love all of the Pooh characters and the blustery day. Thanks Major for tugging left (tm). Happy Monday all!
Well, now I am completely confused. Which is not difficult to do, I concede. But I think the published dates here for the Flower Mart relocation are misconscrewed.
1977 for the move sounds right since I vaguely remember being surprised, but I can’t recall if it registered with Mom. That was the year of their last visit to the Park and she would have approved having two of her favorite things merge plot like this. Mom was a greeting card fiend, she bought them by the boxful. Her volunteer work at the hospital involved remembering birthdays & special dates for their group of call-ins. She had a big calendar, re-drawn every year, with all the names & dates. I remember her sitting at the breakfast table writing them out. If she could buy shares in Hallmark with her purchases, she would have been a major stockholder with a board seat. And never missed the Flower Mart, a must-see on every trip.
I think losing the FM was bad show, but never twitched over the Hallmark exit. Those stores bored me to death, and I spent plenty of time in them. Mrs. G and I chuckle over the movie plots though. Sometimes we invent our own… a good game on a long flight. We could come up with a dice game tied to cliche plot devices. My mom was a better person than I.
I notice that now, some semblance of the FM has returned, a pale shadow of its former self, but enough to tug at a memory when I walk past.
Thanks Major. Also, I love WTP, but Tigger steals the show.
JG
@ JG-
"Mrs. G and I chuckle over the movie plots though. Sometimes we invent our own… a good game on a long flight. We could come up with a dice game tied to cliche plot devices".
Thank goodness Hallmark will be remembered for more than these embarrassingly-amateurish romps in the world of "Television Movies". Prior to operating their own channel(s) - when this dreck was unleashed on the public - they produced a rather stellar back catalog of quality stories. But today's offerings with their thin plot lines (what's the running total: about five-?) and ridiculously trite dialogue would challenge the best of actors; and more often than not, few if any of their thespians can untangle it all to produce believable performances.
Oh well, you can still buy their greeting cards, but far too many of their selections are a far cry form what they once were, when it comes to clever humor. (Maybe it's just me...)
Mike Cozart, I agree with you!
Nanook, yes, I messed up the dates somewhere. I’d have to dig out the original slide, but… what’s the point! As for the little girl in the red dress… I hope that 19-year old woman gets her face back.
JB, it’s true, bright sunshine would be preferable for the Flower Market, but shadows are gonna shadow when you’re located in a little side street. Pooh is washed out because he is very clean and takes two showers a day. I believe that the CM looks out through the HUNNY letters. And I think that Pooh’s arms could move a little, but it’s not like he could juggle chainsaws or something like that.
TokyoMagic!, it’s kind of funny to think of a CMs head inside the HUNNY jar, and his shoulders being at the top of Pooh’s head. But kind of clever from a design standpoint. I can make MY hands flap a little too, so I hope Pooh doesn’t think he’s so great.
Chuck, I might have meant to type “1971”, I just can’t say for sure. As you know, I love to drink and blog, and anything can happen. I wonder if that Mickey Mouse Club item was for the NEW MMC? That colorful doohickey is one of the finest I have ever seen, and is indicative of what Walt wanted for his park. The man in the gorilla suit was that character from “Pooh Goes to Rwanda”, one of the least-loved Winnie The Pooh adventures.
Bu, I’ve wondered about how Hallmark planned somebody else’s party too. “Will one stripper do? Male or female? One of each? Excellent!”. Napkins that don’t absorb anything are the best, they hold their collector value. I agree, paper plates are not suited to cake and ice cream. That’s why I always use my finest antique china. Funny that employees used the Hallmark store so much. Why the heck not? When I worked at the Disney studio, and it was time to shop for Christmas, everyone went to the studio store. “Grandma will love these slippers that look like Sully’s feet!”. I want to go into the Lost and Found and say that I lost a bunch of cash and see what happens. “Rectangular? Greenish? Portraits of Presidents? Yes, that’s mine for sure”. I used to be bothered by Starbucks at the park, but now I kind of don’t care. I mean, I do care, but there have been so many “little cuts” that I am numb to it. BTW, I liked Tigger the best because of his day-glo orange fur.
JG, my guess is that I somehow mis-typed (or mis-read?) the date from the slides and they are in fact from the early 1970’s. That’s so me! My mom is a greeting card fiend too, I used to take my mom to the Papyrus store at the mall, and she would buy over $100 worth of birthday and “thank you” cards. The idea of a card store at the park is not super interesting to me, but I have always wondered if there were some rare park-specific items that I have not seen yet. It’s entirely possible. I do have that wonderful set of “cut and fold” party favors of various attractions, and they also sold some very nice Disneyland-themed wrapping paper.
Nanook, isn’t there a Hallmark cable channel? Not sure. They are famous for their corny holiday movies in which an ordinary American gal who is obsessed with her career falls in love with an incognito Prince. It writes itself! I always manage to find at least *something* at the local Hallmark store, though it does take a lot of digging to find one that is not dumb. I also hate the cards that essentially say, “It’s your birthday! You’re old and have one foot in the grave!”. Guess it’s funny to somebody.
Major-
The sorry state of greeting cards from both Hallmark, American Greetings and others, has led me to 'creating my own'. This one is going to be sent to 'one of my many Davids' - the one who worked for The Mouse for a long time...
[Although it's not all that original], the front says:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY OLDEST FRIEND
And inside:
I CAN'T BELEIVE HOW OLD PEOPLE OUR AGE LOOK
Nanook, its' weird being the same age as all these old people.
I'm more of the blank card persuasion now too. I often forget to write anything inside which helps preserve my reputation for mystery.
There is a kind of a card store in Downtown Disney, I bought a card there that turns into a kind of fold-out little scene. Very clever use of origami or something. I didn't see anything inside the berm though.
JG
Regarding lost money. It is a thing, and yes...you WILL get your money back believe it or not. At least, you could in 1984. If you are an employee, and you find money: you cannot just put it in your pocket. Things found in trash/on the floor/etc. are considered stealing if you keep. Yes. Even trash itself. I think if you found cash you had to wait 60 days and then it would be yours. This happened frequently...yes..several times a day. You would fill out the form at lost and found, then check back in 60 days with your NCR receipt. For "items", you would get those items in 30 days. For money: the cash would be deposited in Cash Control, the global bank of Disneyland. If a guest lost cash, they would also fill out a form. They would need to know exactly where they possibly had lost it...("I was on Space Mountain, and when I went to Coke Terrace my money was gone")...and the time in which they lost it....a few more data points...and then they would match up the circumstances. Yes, sometimes the circumstances did line up. "after the fact" lost money....well, that's possible too, to process by mail, and by the same process. You would be amazed how honest people are...including guests that also returned money, items, etc. Finders/Keepers is the rule, but with paperwork and due diligence. There was a story about a giant wad of cash that was found...I think I put it in the "Tour Guide Times" as an article. Or perhaps it was in "The Main St. Gazette". Those little grass roots newsletters were a bevy of information, and sometimes way more info than the very official "Disneyland Line" would go into. I even had a comic strip "Tour Guide Tilly". No so surprisingly (for me), it was a bit more "Mad Magazine" than the Disneyland Line, and ultimately I was shut down. I produced an "appropriate" last version, and yes....it WAS the last. The fun (and the comic strip) were eliminated and I produced a dry piece of unimaginative toast. Management was worried about "the use of the XEROX machine, and how much paper was being used." (uh huh) I wish I saved them.
I managed to leave my waist pack at a table at Casey’s Corner in I think it was 1996. Went for my water bottle about 40 minutes after lunch and realized what I had done. Went back to the table and no luck. Talk about a sickening feeling - probably $100 cash, my back card, my personal credit card, my Government travel credit card, my drivers license, and my military ID were all in my wallet, which was in the pack.
We went to Lost and Found, filled out sone paperwork, and were told to stop back an hour or two later. There it was, waiting for me. A cast member had picked it up while wiping down the table and turned it in as soon as practicable. Really appreciated the honesty and integrity of that CM.
BU : my mom at least purchased some items from the Hallmark Main Street shop : we had two small table centerpieces of a Thanks Giving Turkey & a pilgrim couple that came from Disneyland. My grandma had sone little baskets that had little ribbon bows on the handles she would put jelly beans in around Easter - my mom said my grandma bought them at Disneyland and first used them as birthday decorations at a hotel for my aunts birthday. My neighbor Scott in the early 70’s had a cardboard Hallmark “haunted house” his mom bought at Disneyland - remember being anxious to see it because I thought it was going to be the DISNEYLAND HAUNTED MANSION …. And it’s was really cool but it was just a generic Haunted House. A friend of mine has a small “goofy” collection because when he was in Disneyland characters his was mostly tall characters- mostly goofy . He saved a super tall 5th birthday card he got that was from the hallmark shop at Disneyland featuring photographs of the park costume characters .. his 6th birthday card was Pluto … the cards are almost 9 inches tall and say “made exclusively for Disneyland” so while lots of shops were really for atmosphere or corporate exposure … I think more people purchased things from the hallmark shop then you think.
And in the 80’s … all those Golden Girls greeting cards came from Disneyland when the shop was located to the old INA building ( Plaza Hotel”) I’ve even seen a golden girls puzzle card that had a Disneyland price tag on it!
I think “plan - a - party “ was a hallmark name for a complete series of items you could use to create everything you need to create a party … not a service . Coordinated invitations , cards , table cloths, runners, lots of crêpe paper decorations , banners centerpieces , party favors , thank you cards … etc.
I bet there isn’t a Disneyland collector that doesn’t have at least ONE Disneyland Hallmark Communications Center mini calendar or a plastic wallet calendar card? To remind you of your trip to Disneyland and upcoming holidays you might need a hallmark product for.
Brett Iwin - the current official voice of MICKEY MOUSE was an illustrator for HALLMARK before auditioning to be Mickey and winning …. He had never had any voiceover work prior. He also on the side has an interior restoration - decorating firm that specializes in California Craftsman Bungalows … bus home and workshop in in old Pasadena : a perfect showcase for line of work in his house that “Mickey” bought .
In the late 90’s early 2000’s Disneyland had the same policy regarding found money …. However it definitely did not go the employee who found it after a certain amount of time …. I think for a while it went to the departments the employee found to be used for cast events … thus didn’t last long and it eventually went to local charities.
Chuck, did you lose a wad of currency rolled in a rubber band?
If so...
I found the rubber band.
JG
Nanook, I guess I just have to come to grips with the fact that some people find those “We’re so damn old” cards to be funny. They seem mean to me.
JG, when in doubt, use a blank card. Also send a blank card! Don’t even sign it. Always leave them guessing.
Bu, I would feel fairly safe if a CM found my bags of money (with the big dollar signs on the side), but chances are good that a guest would find them, and my faith in them is not as great. An old girlfriend once found a $100 at Disneyland, and she insisted on taking it to the nearest CM. “Someone is probably looking for it!”. Well, I’m sure they were, or else they knew that they’d dropped it and assumed that it was gone forever. I’ve seen copies of the Main Street Gazette on eBay, but have never really looked at one of the auctions. There is something else called (I think) “Disneyland Babylon”? Does that ring a bell? Sounds naughty, Kenneth Anger should sue.
Chuck, I once rode the rocket jets and somehow left my wallet on the seat as I exited. I went down the gantry elevator, realized (with a shock) that I did not have my wallet, and talked to another CM at the bottom of the elevator. He let me go right back up, and an employee was standing there with my wallet in her hand! It didn’t occur to me at the time that the other guy had called up to tell her that I was on my way.
Mike Cozart, yes, back in the 60s (and 70s?), Hallmark made some pretty elaborate paper centerpieces and party favors, I always loved the kind that were sort of thin tissue that opened up in a “waffle” pattern (not sure how else to describe it). I still have a box of non-Disney items like that, my mom was going to take them to the local thrift shop, but I thought they were too good. Paper pears and apples are all that I remember, but there are a LOT of them. Man, these days a Haunted House decoration for a birthday would be a no-brainer, you can’t go wrong with spooky stuff. Everyone likes it!
Mike Cozart, so “plan-a-party” did NOT include booking a stripper? No wonder that store only lasted 30 years! ;-) And you are right, I have at least one of those Hallmark wallet calendars - for a while I thought I’d look for the oldest one I could find (maybe that would be 1960?), but then, as usual, I forgot all about it. I wish I was the current official voice of Mickey Mouse, but my rich baritone (and British accent) just don’t work.
Mike Cozart, I guess that as long as employees knew what would happen to found money, they couldn’t feel that bad about not getting it. And if the cash was used for cast events, it benefitted everybody!
JG, ha ha, that rubber band is a Chuck-family heirloom. Bless you for finding it!
In the first image, front center, are those acrylic(?) flowers, "flying birds" and owls. I still have one of the small flowers-in-an-acrylic-pot that was sold there and also in the DL Hotel, from that era. The owls are napkin holders, from what I remember. My mom bought a number of those different acrylic items for gifts, as they were unique (we didn't have any of those in the Chicagoland area). I just looked at the label on mine and it says, "Phil Patel Imports Inc.. California Designed. Anaheim, Calif." I'll send pics of it, now, to Major...though I doubt it's a convenient time for him to add the pics.
In case anyone was wondering, Mike had some of those bees (from Pooh's Hunny Jar costumes). Of course.
Fun comments, as always. Thanks, Major.
sue : I once a had a whole box of those bees!! Some were missing the wings …. Plastic with black screenprinted lines … in the box was a stack of replacement wings but with blue silkscreened lines . Their paint jobs were in very worn condition. I cannot remember how I obtained them then … from someone retiring from Disneyland or was it an employee charity property control sale?? I cannot remember.
Mike, wasn’t it at some event where you bid on, or purchased, boxes—without knowing the contents...it was a surprise.
Sue
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