Frontierland Again, October 1971
This is a Monday, but today's scans probably qualify as "Snoozles™", if I'm being honest with myself (which I'm usually not). They're just fine, but lacking in pizzazz (and pizzas).
When the Columbia was berthed at Fowler's Harbor, it didn't need the sails to be unfurled. Maybe they were being steam-cleaned! That's what I like to do with my sails. It freshens them right up, and then I'm ready for company to come over to circumnavigate the globe (I just wanted to say "circumnavigate"). A Keelboat takes a nap nearby, and a raft floats over to Tom Sawyer Island.
Speaking of Tom Sawyer Island, there it is! Like you've never seen it before. Well, OK, you've seen it like this plenty of times. By 1971, the trees and shrubs had flourished, producing abundant oxygen that made guests light-headed and prone to spending more money. It was all part of Walt's plan!
12 comments:
Both photos are quite nice, but yes, they would be better with pizzas. (Isn't everything?)
The same people are on the raft in both pics, which leads me to believe that the photographer just swiveled to his right (or left, depending on which photo he took first) to take the second photo.
In the first photo, besides the things you mentioned, the Old Mill is looking like it's been there for at least two centuries. And there's that vast old growth forest that goes on forever, like we saw in yesterday's pics.
The second pic is a fine exemplar of "lushness". Plus, there is just the right amount of water in the foreground and sky up above. The sky could be a deeper blue, but the universe isn't perfect.
A phine couple of photos, Major. Definitely not Snoozley.
Major, it looked like these photos might have been taken from the same spot. As JB stated, the photographer probably just turned to the right a little, for the second pic. I tried to merge the photos and it turned out decent, I suppose, with the exception of the sky being different shades of blue. I don't have Photoshop, so I wasn't able to correct that:
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaXtwgRBeQMhrXKqW6qVv_HjA3nYS6ni9jGK4rtWl0HfBW5_UZ_HrRAaD2116KCrFlDIuFeutV918vf8MIhR2n6lJshHW-LTi1kOdQ3Jm2AbRoKo76zqctN_EnfQ1kjrvOkqK3fS_698MuZbnoJ4mMyfjGXvlb2pk7gGPn_dYPol9Bb6jYQEVh8if6s6c/s1855/10-1971-_ColumbiaFowler%20-%20Merged.jpg
I missed snoozing yesterday, so thanks for the Monday Snoozles(tm) even though I don't find them very Snoozley(tm). I do like seeing a completely unfurled Columbia, and with the Captains Quarters windows open for some below-decks fresh air. I was thinking that they would have to have a professional sail rigger hired full time...or perhaps a few....to take care of Columbia...seems like intricate work, and maybe those guys moonlighted on the Pirate Ship with it's own intricate rigging. The Keel Boat is upright: fantastic! The mill is properly shrouded in vegetation: which I like the naturalistic nature: but yesterday's photos of a "clean mill" isn't too bad either. I can see the brick wall of the Haunted Mansion: but it's interesting that the trees completely hide it...or perhaps it was one of those "disappearing" acts...like when Sigfried and Roy made the Castle disappear in the 80's. As we all know, trees have no scale. The lush vegetation in these photos are a testament to what sun + water + California can do in a few short years. I often thought about a tunnel to Tom Sawyer Island...and once the tape plays out I think: "no...the rafts are way more fun...even if you have to wait a tiny bit". I'm wondering if the general population of Tom Sawyer Island with a tunnel in place would automatically make it just as crowded as the rest of the Park. Something to ponder. Thanks for the Monday Snoozles(tm) Major!
JB, I think I’ll be having pizza for dinner tonight, so neener neener. Yes, these photos are from the same batch (usually the case unless I mention otherwise). The direction the photographer swiveled depends on whether they are metric or imperial. I’d explain it but it is very technical. I think it’s very cool the way they can take a structure like the Old Mill and make it look ancient, even when it was brand new in 1956. I’ve noticed that different film stocks do things to the sky; old Kodachrome will give you deep blue skies, while these (probably Ektachrome) give subtler hues.
TokyoMagic!, yes I have no doubt that these were taken from the same spot! I guess I should have tried to merge them in Photoshop; I’d do it now if I was home. Still, your version shows that they would line up pretty well!
Bu, I’ll bet that Captain’s Quarters could get hot and stuffy on a summer day. What luxury it must have been for the Captain to be able to open his windows! Eventually those sailing ships had roll-down windows, just like in a station wagon. They MUST have had somebody very knowledgeable about how old sailing ships were rigged, though I don’t know if it would have been a full-time job. Maybe that person was hired on a consulting basis? The shrubs and vines enveloping the Old Mill really soften the appearance and make it look as if it’s been there for decades if not longer. I’m afraid I missed Sigfried and Roy’s “disappearing castle” trick. I did see David Copperfield make the Statue of Liberty disappear. Impressive and yet… not? I don’t know if a tunnel to TSI was ever considered; it would be weird to be walking beneath the river. I do like the rafts, and am glad that the island never gets as crowded as the rest of the park.
TM! I love your merge-picture!
Bu, you brought up a good point. I think a tunnel to TSI would ruin the island. Easy access, as a walk through, would probably mean having to widen the island walkways and cut down lots of trees, too. The rafts definitely slow down the crowds.
What a nice, relaxing scene, today - thanks, Major.
It IS Tom Sawyer Island you know. That is it WAS once upon a time. And remember that rafts were a central part of the TS story to begin with. Indeed, the rafts limit the number of folks on that little patch of ground. Too many and it would sink! KS
A historical expert naval architect was hired by Walt Disney to develop “Disneyland’s second big boat”. I’ve mentioned him here before but for the life of me I cannot recall his name right now. He came up with the suggestions for Walt as to an ideal choice for the Disneyland addition….. Walt wanted something with historical meaning… and ideally avoiding warships if possible. The two ideal candidates were ROBERT FULTON’S CLERMONT & THE COLUMBIA REDEVIA . Walt picked The Columbia. I wish I could remember the nautical experts name … he designed the ship to be as authentic as possible and was an expert on sailing ships and had helped with several real life ship restorations. He also designed THE SAILING SHIP LADY WASHINGTON for Walt Disney World …. Which was ultimately never built , with imagineers choosing a second style Steamboat , THE RICHARD F IRVINE. In 1988 a special limited exhibit of the designers COLUMBIA art work and paintings was displayed from WDI’s collection and the designers widow. A postcard and a lithograph was released by The Disney Gallery for the exhibit in honor of The Columbia’s anniversary . Interestingly WDI sold some original Columbia art work off. This designer who I still cannot recall his name also consulted for several of the watercraft at Walt Disney World as well. He also helped design SHORELINE VILLAGE in Long Beach ca , and SEAPORT VILLAGE in San Diego .
I know I’ve mentioned thus before , but early on in the development of Shanghai Disneyland there were plans for a WESTERNLAND / OLD WEST TERRITORY themed “land” - I worked on the first few versions of the model. It included a NATIVE ISLAND that was accessible by two subterranean tunnels - no rafts . Guests could however board indian canoes once on the island. While this American frontier - type land was left out many of the Native American island ideas were used in the Adventure Isle “lsnd”
( totally different than Disneyland Paris’s Adventure Isle)
I almost forgot : in some concepts for a NEW FRONTIERLAND and NEW LIBERTY SQUARE , there had been plans for tunnel access to the Tom Sawyer Island redesign in Florida since there was no longer a functioning Rivers of America but a new waterway attraction.
The Sailing Ship Columbia’s designer and architect was RAY WALLACE!!!!
thank you Jason Schultz!!!
These are wonderful pics, Major. Brings back good memories!
This is how the Mill should look.
I’m thinking that eventually TSI will be closed to visitors and turned into Fantasmic backstage are entirely. Gets rid of those hazardous rafts and play areas, reduces river traffic, keeps visitors out of the performance area, and cuts down further on maintenance. The island becomes only a backdrop. You know they are considering it.
I’m in a grim mood today.
JG
Tokyo!, nice job on the photo merging. I thought about doing it as well but I could see there would be problems with the water at the bottom of the photos (first image has no water at the bottom).
Major, thank you for NOT doing a deep dive into the mechanics of swiveling, as it applies to metric vs. imperial measurements. I'm sure it would also include the Coriolis Effect... and the air-speed velocity of African swallows vs. European swallows (and coconuts). Doing so would have used up all your e-Ink quota for the day.
Lou and Sue, I could see crossing a bridge of some kind to get to the island, but of course that won’t work because of the river traffic. Keep it just the way it is, I say!
KS, you are right, the rafts are a big part of the story, they can’t improve on them.
Mike Cozart, I could be wrong but I think the Clermont was kind of small? And they already had a steam-powered boat, they made the right choice with the Columbia. (OK, I just looked at photos, perhaps a Clermont replica could have held about the same number of guests as the Columbia). I’m always sad when I read about concepts for the parks that seem so perfect, but never saw the light of day, mostly due to money. I wonder how different “The Lady Washington” was compared to the Columbia? Google to the rescue! It’s funny Shanghai seems so far away that I never even think of going there someday. I think I’d stop at the Tokyo parks before going to Shanghai - a former Imagineer is in Kyoto right now and posting about it on Facebook, it really looks amazing.
Mike Cozart, I’m glad they still use rafts!!
Mike Cozart, ha ha, Jason sees all, knows all.
JG, at this point anything is possible - I can never get too comfortable with the idea that something will “always be there”, we’ve seen too many instances where that isn’t true. Who would have ever dreamed that Florida’s 20,000 Leagues ride would be removed? One of the coolest looking rides, even from “shore”. To this day it makes me sad that I will never get to experience it in person.
JB, I have to remember that not everyone went to the Bryman School of Engineering. I got my degree in just two months, and never had to study! I admit that I never even considered merging the two photos, TokyoMagic! gets all of the glory and money.
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