Town Square, 1970-ish
Here's a pair of "OK' photos taken in the Town Square area - they are kind of interesting in their non-specific views.
As far as I can determine, our photographer was standing somewhere near the Bank of America building, perhaps they'd just entered Town Square through the east tunnel. I understand the impulse to take a picture immediately! Two handy drinking fountains await, I'll bet smaller kids liked having one that was just right for them. No more humiliation being held by dad while trying to quench one's thirst. In the distance and to the extreme right we can see a sign for "Walt Disney: A Legacy For the Future", which debuted on January 15, 1970. It featured a display of Walt Disney’s awards and other memorabilia from his offices at the Studios in Burbank. It took the former space of the Wurlitzer Music Hall shop along Main Street, U.S.A.
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Like a wary squirrel, our photographer has taken just a few more steps into the park. You can't be too careful. What's that! A thingy pulled by a horse? I can't believe my beady eyes! Speaking of thingies, what is that green metal object to the extreme left? It doesn't exactly look like a trashcan (with those odd handles on the side), but it doesn't exactly look like an ODV cart either.
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9 comments:
1) Having Dad hold you up to drink from a fountain usually results in water squirting up one's nose.
2) I suppose the Streetcar and horse were meant to be the focus of the photographer's photo, since they're near the center of the pic. But they are mostly blocked by people. We do get a nice view of the teen slurping water from the fountain though.
The thingy on the left: My guess is also an ODV cart of some sort, ice cream bars maybe? Though I don't know what the handles are for. I guess, just to push or pull the cart from place to place.
Nice, non-specific photos, Major. Thanks.
Maybe that cart was a covered bin that could be wheeled around, and used for dumping the trash from all the individual trash cans. It would be more discreet having the cart look nice like that, and also having a cover. Just a guess, though. Maybe it was a cart that sold only Zingers.
And ice cream cakes in the shape of Fudgie The Whale.
That kid at the fountain is looking closely to try and figure out where the sugar comes from. It’s C&H, kid - pure cane sugar from Hawaii, growin’ in the sun. Don’t you ever watch TV?
Hopefully Bu or KS or one of our other Disneylander/cast member alumni can fill us in on what that green thing with the handles is. We can just see the short, white sleeves of what might be a sweeper, so TM!’s theory about a mobile trash tanker does make some sense here.
I know things...the green thing is a cart to switch out square trashcans: festooned 'ala the way trashcans are on Main Street.: in a somewhat go-away-green. In New Orleans Square they were that red-maroon color. Adventureland: bamboo. If I remember correctly: these held 6 trashcans: 3 side by side. maybe there is a sweeper who reads the blog that can corroborate the number of cans. New plastic bag lined trashcans were switched out for the others: filled or not...the trashcans were dumped backstage and then rinsed out. No dirty smelly trashcans here. I've seen some monstrosity trash removal things in today's "Resort" (something like a train...multiple trash things..."horrible".) : the trash can removal system of 1970: still alive through 1990... you didn't really notice. You can see the sweepers white short sleeve shirt there behind the wagon. These mobile trash removal carts made a very distinctive thud..clumpty...clump...sound...with the wheels making their own distinctive melody with the action of plastic trashcans hitting each other, and the sound of the sheet metal trashcan door...opening and closing. It's a very unique sound and I am hearing it now. There is another sweeper behind the horse car: who looks super familiar and possibly he is familiar. Sweepers had tenure and it was a coveted job. Not my bag: but for guys who want to be out in the park and basically a solo act...a park filled with females mind you....it made sense. "Walt Disney a Legacy for the Future"...wow...first time I have ever seen this in my lifetime...and I suppose after this it became the Preview Center after the Walt Disney Story opened in '73. I wouldn't mind all the goodies and things from the Hollywood Studios museum in Florida coming to Disneyland in the Opera House. The models of Main Street are exceptionally good and interesting: as are many things in there. Historical "museum" things I think are better suited to Disneyland somehow now that paving paradise to put up parking lots seems the order of the day. I suppose this is the opposite of DCA, where they paved a parking lot to put up a ...hmmm..."something"...It has it's merits I suppose and given the many people who visit....OK, I get it, but I don't have to like it. If WESTCOT was ever built would it have become Moana-Town too? It seems like Westcot was a missed opportunity to organize a place like Downtown Disney...a meandering train wreck...I wouldn't mind a little World Showcase there with food and drink...and logically organized. One thing I think would be great is to have trolleys to take you from the hotel to the Main Gate: or a moving sidewalk...that of course would defeat the purpose. The Starbucks at Downtown Disney is notoriously the slowest service Starbucks in the universe: so despite no tram service: I'm still not going to stop...just saying. Thanks Major for the Monday Morning grumbles!
I like the idea of entering Main Street like a skittish squirrel, usually I am in too big of a hurry rushing to Pirates to enjoy Main Street as its own Land.
These are somewhat odd photos, but I think we have it right, the target is the Streetcar, not the drinking fountain.
While talking trash, I’ve noticed in recent videos that trash cans are now emptied into unthemed gray plastic wheelie bins as typical for residential trash service. No pretense or effort expended to be anything other than trash hauling. Another lost refinement of Walt’s era.
Thanks for these pics of Lost Main Steet, Major. Much appreciated.
JG
Well...I have to admit, BU knows, or remembers, more about trash than I do!!! LOL KS
JB, I don’t remember being held to drink water from a fountain, but I see it happen at our local park. I kind of like that there is lots going on between the photographer and the Streetcar, it gives the photo some energy and “life”. I’ve never seen an ODV cart that looked quite like that thing to the left, although I can’t think of what else it could be.
TokyoMagic!, that’s as good a guess as any! Maybe the “trashcan guy” was a great job, but I would be disappointed to get hired at Disneyland, only to sling trashcans around. If that cart only sold Zingers, it would be surrounded by dozens of people!
TokyoMagic!, Carmichael Carvel and Walt Disney hated each other!
Chuck, that C&H Sugar jingle was so catchy, it was only much later that my mom and dad told me that the melody was from a song called “Pearly Shells”. I had no idea! I see that Bu is the next comment, let’s see what he has to say!
Bu, so it looks like TokyoMagic! and Chuck were on the right track. I did think that the painted ornamentation on that thing looked similar to trashcans, but the handles threw me off. So they had themed trashcan carts for each land? That seems “above and beyond”. Maybe that’s not the case anymore. I have, on rare occasions, seen trashcans overflowing, but admittedly that’s at peak dining hours, right near a very busy restaurant (such as over in Tomorrowland). I know that seeing the cans being switched out might not be considered “good show”, but I would realize that it was a necessity, they can’t wait all day to do the job. At least guests are throwing their waste into the cans and not dropping it on the ground (though I know that happens too). GDB friend Huck said that being a sweeper was a great job, and I believe him. They got to go all over the park, and flirt with the cute girls. Sounds pretty good! I think I’ve had photos of the “Legacy for the Future” sign before, but it is not a common thing to see, so I am not surprised if it does not look familiar. I haven’t spent a whole day at DCA for many years, but it’s a fun place to kill a few hours at least! Damning with faint praise? I know that there are many things that I have not done over there so I don’t want to be unfair. It wasn’t great early on, but my GF had a friend who got us in for free, so we had fun! No complaining about the high price. I’m surprised that there has not been a Moana ride, I actually do quite like that movie, I could imagine something pretty cool if it was done right. Starbucks, I walk past and laugh and point because I am not a coffee drinker!
JG, yes, nowadays I am not timid at all, but when I was a kid, Disneyland seemed very big and busy. I’m guessing that the new trashcan protocol is a combination of cost savings and efficiency, since the park typically has MANY more people than it had back in Walt’s day. Those trashcans probably fill up fast in some locations.
KS, isn’t there a Facebook group for former sweepers??
The Walt Disney Legacy for the Future exhibit was mostly regarding CAL ARTS and a little bit of Walt Disney World. DISNEYLAND SHOWCASE replaced it and mostly featured expansions plans fir Disneyland , Walt Disney world , Independence Lake ( mineral kings was mostly a dead deal by then) and EPCOT CENTER . The new Walt Disney story attraction had some park elements but DISNEYLAND SHOWCASE expanded on the parks . The opening exhibit of DISNEYLAND SHOWCASE focused ironically on on the phase 2 WDW project but also showed how Disneyland was to benefit in its 7 year master plan from Florida developments. A plexiglas overlay over a b&w aerial photo of Disneyland showed how WESTERN RIVER EXPEDITION, LIBERTY SQUARE & The Hall of Presidents , COUNTY BEAR JAMBOREE , THE MICKEY MOUSE REVUE , SPACE MOUNTAIN and THUNDER MESA RUNWAY RAILROAD were all being considered for inclusion in Disneyland . A Fantasia attraction and a Pinocchio’s Village extension to Fantasyland was also presented to come to Anaheim. Unfortunately the gas crises killed much of WDW’s phase 2 and much of the expansion plans for Disneyland at the time. The exhibits continued to be updated in DISNEYLAND SHOWCASE - Splash mountain was the final exhibit for the space was converted to a shop selling mostly plush and offering subscription information to the Disney Channel .
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