I guess that, as SNOOZLES go, these are not the worst examples. They don't cause bleeding from the eyes. Probably. But they still have their flaws. Like all of us!
First up - this "blah" photo of Cinderella's castle (from June, 1962) as seen from - well, I would guess the photo was taken from a Storybook Land Canal Boat, but I suppose it could have been taken from Casey Jr. The sky was gray, and the colors are subdued and brownish. It probably looked prettier to the eye. The "cross-stitch" shapes always look like bones to me.
Next is this photo from August, 1966. "It's a Small World" had debuted only three months earlier, which is cool, but this image is a little out of focus, and too much like scores of others that we've seen over the years.
Major-
ReplyDeleteI like the 'gold accents' on the rooftops of Cinderella's Castle. Even though we can't spot the pumpkin, I swear I can see a Matterhorn bobsled ascending the roadway to the castle...
Thanks, Major.
Bones, you say? Like, rib bones? Human rib bones? This is what's left after the Killer Swans do their thing. Or maybe they're tusks, and this is the Elephants' Graveyard. Or maybe they're just sun-bleached deer antlers. There's also no Pumpkin Coach to cheer us up (Nanook beat me to it). At least the golden roofs of the Castle are gleaming brightly (Nanook... again ;-)).
ReplyDeleteYes, the Small World facade is a little out of focus. But the dramatic side lighting brings out the details and makes the golden doo-dads sparkle. Looks like a lot of people are making their way to see the never-ending show with the never-ending song... All singing! All dancing! (I'm one of those who like the song.)
Not bad Snoozles at all, Major. Thanks.
Back in the days when trees had no scale…
ReplyDeleteI think the first one was taken from Casey Jr. If it had been taken from a canal boat there should be one more level of railroad right of way visible here. Note the exhaust staining on the tunnel portal under Cindy’s castle.
I think I see three strollers lined up in front of iasw. Oh, the humanity!
Thanks, Major.
Nanook, I do like the gold accents - Disney lore tells us that it is genuine gold leaf - but the castle sure looks forlorn and unwelcoming in that photo. I’ll go to the local pub instead!
ReplyDeleteJB, as we’ve seen in Frontierland, bones are a great way to spice up your decor. The ones on Storybook Land have a particularly “picked clean” look, which makes your killer swans theory probable. The pumpkin coach is probably there, but we are at the wrong angle to enjoy its orangness. Orangiosity? I guess it’s easy for me to dismiss any less-than-perfect IASW images, because I have so dang many of them!
Chuck, when trees had no scale? I thought it was “when trees walked the Earth”. But I admit that I get mixed up a lot. I will bow to your expertise re: the first picture being taken from Casey Jr. Oh that exhaust! I’ll never forget the first time I rode “Casey” (having always done the canal boats instead). Wow, the seat right behind the calliope (near the front) is available, let’s sit there! Little did we know that we were going to have hot exhaust gases directly in our faces for the entire ride. It was very unpleasant!
Major, one day DL might electrify Casey, and have artificial noise and smoke! Actually, I've wondered if plans to have all-electric Autopia might be in the works, with perhaps a wacky interactive touch screen on the dash. Would kinda miss noisy cars if they did.
ReplyDeleteAs long as they don't even think of electrifying the "train around the park" (as we called it)
thanks for pics!
This version of the gold & white facade of "it's a small world" with its blue signage (presented by Bank of America) is my favorite.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Major.
"Orangosity: lucky chances. Orangishlicious happy happenstances." Well: it works. Maybe Anita Bryant can sing it with the Orange Bird. (Maybe not)....that being said: happy Snoozles! For all things good and holy: please do not touch StorybookLand, people! Story Book Land. Storybook Land. !!! Make this a historical landmark please. No more lazer beams please. Speaking of Lazers and whatnot: after speaking to an ex-employee of WDI: despite the "challenging work environment" she did speak to the amount of attention and detail and futzing and futzing that still remains in the DNA. Of course: that is on the creative end before the money people get involved....then there is that thing that's called appropriate taste, "perceived Disney" etc...anyways: despite running screaming from the building there was still many good things to say about the house of Mouse. Which was encouraging to hear. It's amazing that the facade of "it's a small world" in quotes and lower case..presented by BANK OF AMERICA (capitalized, but smaller) still holds up after almost 60 years. That any show could last that long is quite an accomplishment...that it still draws crowds is a testament to amazingly talented people that created it. I've grown to (heart) "it's a small world"...more from it's very unique encapsulation of immersion into the world of Mary Blair (and many others of course). Including Joan Crawford, who if it wasn't for her, there would be no world of laughter and tears. Look up the legend: but it could very well have some truth to it. Electric Autopia: yes: there has been some talk I am hearing through the grapevines: I think part of the fun and nostalgia for others is all the noise and smell. I did say others...I'm a fan of the historic sense of the attraction: but wouldn't say "boo hoo" if the gasoline went away. I wasn't a fan of the smell and noise 40 years ago before my grumpiness got grumpier. Instead of designing electric CARS though: let's get our "Walt on" please and think about transportation 100 years from now: a FLYING Autopia....maybe on little slot car sticks that you can control to give the illusion of flight...I would ride that...especially if it was in a Jetson's style little bubble with the same sounds those flying cars had. Use your imagination WDI. Thanks Major for the snoozletastic (tm) Sunday.
ReplyDeleteIt seems Disney has confirmed this story that Autopia is to be electrified. I'd be happy if Honda comes back with some truly futuristic vehicles, not just imitations of current vehicles. It would be cool if they could demo something cutting edge, like inductive vehicle charging in the ride track.
ReplyDeleteI could see them electrifying the Casey Jr. train with electronic sound effects in the future (assuming it isn't replaced with some low budget attempt to capitalize on a current IP. There are already railroad grade crossings near me where the mechanical bells on the gates have been replaced with electronic "bell" sound effects.
It's not the best image of Condy's castle, but it does make the forced perspective work better than most images.
Electrifying a train at the park isn't a new idea. The Mine Train ran on submarine batteries below my seat on the tender. But it is a physics question of gradient pulling so much weight powered by a battery cell of a certain size which can be accommodated in the ride vehicle. As for the Autopia, I wasn't a fan of the heat and fumes while working there, and happily was reassigned to the Jungle Cruise which had transitioned to natural gas. The future of the Autopia being electrified is an interesting concept. Considering the unlimited torque opportunities, there is the potential of head-snapping starts and very quick cycles. Makes me chuckle about the possibilities. LOL KS
ReplyDeleteI’ll take any view of either of these little things.
ReplyDeleteCindy’s Castle, hard on shoes and pumpkins, elongated elegance.
Small World’s vision of peace and harmony, gold and white, as we are told Heaven is to be…
I’ve always thought the stitches looked like anchors, which was weird…
I’ve never been a fan of Autopia, so I don’t think an electric version will matter much to me.
Thanks Major!
JG
LTL, hey, I’d be fine with an electrified Casey Jr… especially since we’ve heard rumors that some people want that attraction to be removed. At least an update would imply that the ride will be with us for a while!
ReplyDeleteK. Martinez, it’s funny how things like the Bank of America sign give us the “warm fuzzies” - I guess it just brings us back to our childhoods.
Bu, yeah, I don’t think we need any more Anita Bryant in our lives. Stay retired, Anita! Have some pie! As I said to LTL, I would be OK with electric motors on Casey; the (diesel?) motors that they have now don’t make a wonderful chug chug sound, and they DO produce nasty hot fumes. So a quiet electric motor would be great. I have no doubt that there are many people who work for (or at) the park who truly care about the details, and I also have no doubt that many supervisors torpedo their loving care with budgetary concerns. IASW gets its share (or more than its share) of complaints, about the song, etc, but I have always loved it. I’m proud to admit it! I’m a little torn on how I feel about the Autopia. I don’t really ride it when I go to the park, but I’m sort of glad it’s still there, too. I do like the trips through the “country” and through the “forest”, including splashing through a little creek. Other things I don’t love as much, but it’s not all about me. My guess is that the cars are going to keep their current look, and will only change “under the hood” so to speak. I love a good bubble dome, but it might slow down loading and unloading.
Dean Finder, yes, it WOULD be cool if we got some very cool, streamlined, futuristic vehicles. I’m not nuts about the ones we have now. They’re not bad, I just can’t love them. I can’t think of any IP that they could apply to Casey Jr. (after all, it’s already part of the Dumbo universe), but that doesn’t mean they won’t do something dumb.
KS, yes, it is kind of amazing that they ran the Mine Train on batteries for YEARS, it seems very ahead of its time for something in Frontierland. And as far as I know it worked great, I’m not aware of any problems. Maybe you are! I didn’t know that the Jungle Cruise boats ran on natural gas, that’s interesting. “Head-snapping starts” - I’m imagining little kids walking around with neck braces!
JG, I’ve seen several videos in which Richard Sherman said that the original It’s a Small World song was written as a sort of hymn - I mean, maybe? He DID realize that he was writing it for an amusement park ride, yes? Still, the song sounds pretty when performed that way. I guess I can see the stitches looking like anchors! Maybe when the Autopia switches over to electric vehicles, I’ll have to give it a go once more.