Randos, October 1967
It's time for RANDOS! One pretty good one, another that is average (or below average?).
All aboard the Mine Train! It's the way to see Nature's Wonderland in style, as you relax in your open-air mine car, and feel the breeze and the sunshine, and the spray from the waterfalls. Looks like the red-shirted ride operator is checking to make sure everything is spit-spot before getting underway. Think of the effort required to build that hill in front of us, all so that the train could pass through a tunnel. The old "transition from the outside world to this other world" trick, introduced by Stinky McGee, who still doesn't have a window on Main Street.
There's not a soul to be seen in this Matterhorn photo, I guess October was a good time to go to the park if you disliked crowds. Incredible to think that mere months before, the New Tomorrowland had debuted to great fanfare. In those days, once school was back in session, the "off days" were really off! Here's a dumb thought; the single Monorail pylon appears to be a subdued color. Is it just a natural concrete gray? Or has it actually been painted a soft version of "go away green"?
11 comments:
Major-
"Is it just a natural concrete gray? Or has it actually been painted a soft version of "go away green"?"
It's actually 'go away gray'-!
Thanks, Major.
And the color of the day today is... YELLOW! Yellow train engines, yellow train cars, and yellow-blooming bushes. That center-most yellow bush is probably only 6" across; the things they can do with forced perspective! The red "FIRE" bucket next to it would fit in the palm of your hand. The effect is very similar to the Mighty Microscope.
The top of the Monorail beam also looks a bit greenish. So I would say that the 'green' pylon is just a trick of the lighting; probably reflecting the greenery around it.
That looks like Mr. Potatohead on the left near the bench. He's in the bushes, waving at us (I won't ask what he's doing in the bushes). One of his eyes seems to be missing; the story of his life. Or maybe it isn't missing, just mismatched. And he decided to wear his felt mustache today as well.
The Matterhorn looks especially crisp and clear and majestic in this photo.
Pretty good Randos, Major. Thanks.
JB, your comment gets me thinking (difficult and unaccustomed activity) what about an April Fool Disneyland, where attractions are mixed up. The Mine Train shrinks you, and ATIS has bears; the Monorail puffs steam running down Main Street, and the subs go through Small World…
Major, I am espousing the unpopular opinion that the pylon is a shade of pale green. I’ve noticed this effect before and it might not be done consistently, or rather, the pattern isn't fully evident, maybe related to the theming of the location. Alpine Gardens green as opposed to Tomorrowland gray?
Also, “pylons”. Fine woody sort of a word, “pylons”.
I like this view of the Matterhorn, seems purposely contrived to be a grand view.
Thank you!
JG
The Mine Train pic reminds me of a photo in the book "Walt Disney's Railroad Story". Both are nice pics. Thanks, Major.
Nanook, I feel like gray needs it’s own moniker. “Get Lost Gray”??
JB, but what is the word of the day? I need to know when to scream loudly when people say the word of the day. I didn’t really notice the large and very prominent bush with yellow flowers (so much for my powers of observation), but it’s pretty impressive. More marigolds? Again, one of the flew flowers I know (geraniums being another). You could be right about the Monorail pylon just looking a bit greenish due to the surroundings, when I think about it, it doesn’t really make sense that they would paint one (or a few) different colors.
JG, hooray, somebody is backing up my crackpot theory! ;-) In spite of what I said to JB, I could also see Walt (or John Hench, or somebody) saying, “*Cough cough* Dammit, fellas, that pylon is too prominent! Dammit! *Cough cough*”. He was eating a bowl of chili and flicking the beans at people, of course. “Alpine Gardens Green” is much more poetic than “Get Lost Gray”.
K. Martinez, I know the exact photo you are referring to!
Never gave the pylons a thought. My guess is that they weren't but the concrete was likely an off-white to remove the starkness. Mike Cozart knows all and probably the real answer. Painting pylons seems like a recipe for unending work much like painting the Golden Gate Bridge. It could have been the result of a sealant.
As for the Mine Train, it got me to thinking that I rarely wore the suspenders. It was too uncomfortable. During my tenure, I think they were optional. I need to ask my fellow Miners at the annual meeting in November. KS
KS, you might be right, and I'm pretty sure that the pylons were painted white in other areas where it didn't matter as much (the parking lot); I guess Mike Cozart is busy today! As for the suspenders being optional - I'm shocked!
Glorious; I can just about feel that misty spray.
Especially the color keyed pylons.
cayotes yip yip YIppiing I nearly hear as we waggle away from the station.
MS
Regarding the “attraction mix up” …. In the 90’s Disneyland did an employee event for charity called the “_______ 5K” …. Each year it was a different attraction you would ride over and over - as many times as you could within a certain amount of time. … they would have games and auction previews .. live AA characters etc to help pass the time ..and I remember in one of the showrooms in Small World during the SMALL WORLD 5k the pirates of the Caribbean soundtrack played ..and for the HAUNTED MANSION 5 K … Walt Disney’s head was in Madame leottas Crystal ball saying his Disneyland dedication speach while music from adventure Thru inner space played….
The WDW audio animatronic owl preview of THE WESTERN RIVER EXPEDITION used the toad winkie tavern music for the wester river saloon music …
I know the monorail beams inside the park were painted a light grey color but that was just to keep them clean and uniform looking …. And I believe it was the same grey as the Rocket to the Moon show building grey… I have a vintage swatch of it … but non of it was ever green …and at no time did they want to HIDE the monorail then …in fact they have always wanted to showcase the monorail along its “highway -in - the -Sky” and it was never painted green. I know a common problem with slide and film developing back in the day … was “ too much green “ showing up with lighter colors … so that’s probably what people are seeing if the detect green on the monorail beams .
Going through the tunnel portal into Nature’s Wonderland was like the show within the show that was Disneyland. Now it just seems like a dream within a dream…
I think those yellow flowers above the ravening maw of the tunnel portal (you can’t see it, but trust me - it’s ravening all right) are mums. And Major, “mums’” the word (of the day).
Mike, so, you’re saying that greenish cast on the monorail pylons is not an indication of mold growth on my eyes? Wish you’d told me that before I misted them with bleach.
Post a Comment