Stagecoach Scene, 1955?
I have a very nice and early (possibly 1955) slide that was listed on eBay as being from Knott's Berry Farm. But you and I know better!
As you can see, this is a great shot of a father and daughter on the back seat of a Disneyland Stagecoach. The afternoon lighting is warm and beautiful. Dad is holding his early-1955 guidebook (FOLDED) in his hand, though I have seen photos of those in the hands of guests in 1956 pictures. I suppose that sitting on that back seat would give one a different perspective on things, though I'd prefer to be facing frontwards if I had a choice. I guess we'll just have to ride twice in a row. Notice the Conestoga Wagon.
Meanwhile, who is that fellow walking toward us? His coat (possibly from the Pendleton store) is awesome, and quite distinctive.
It instantly reminded me of this scan that I shared a while ago - notice the man on horseback to the right. It has to be the same guy, don't you agree?
I wondered if he could be Owen Pope, who, along with his wife Dolly, was hired by Walt Disney in November 1951 to start putting together some livestock for his future park. They first lived in a trailer at the Studio where they raised and trained the first horses, and helped build wagons and coaches. During the construction of Disneyland, Disney gave them their choice of the houses being moved on the property, and they staked out a 10-acre site for the Pony Farm. Three days before the park opened, they moved to Disneyland but had to live in their trailer for a while until their house was ready. They were Disneyland’s only residents. The Popes continued with the company, running the Disneyland Pony Farm, and then moving to Florida in 1971 to start the Tri Circle D Ranch there. They retired in 1975. (From the D23 website).
I found this picture of Owen, and It is pretty clear that he is not the man in the plaid coat.
However, the excellent Disney History 101 website had this scan (presumably from a Disney publication) showing Owen and the assistant superintendent Day Sechler. Day happens to be wearing a string tie very much like the fellow in the plaid coat, which I admit is not exactly iron-clad proof that he is the same person. And due the different angle and facial expression I can't be certain that that photo shows Mr. Sechler. But I'm leaning towards "YES"! What do you think?
16 comments:
Major-
That certainly *could* be Marion Day Sechler, sporting that snappy sport coat.
Thanks, Major.
Hmmm the plaid coat guy could very well be Day …the ears and head with seem the same … it’s just his smile in the portrait makes it hard to confirm against the plaid coat stern face …
Pony farms are No laughing matter.
Head WIDTH
I think the dad and his daughter would also prefer to be facing forward; they're both craning their necks to see what's ahead. The guy with the "awesome" coat reminds me of an old cartoon where a down-on-his-luck guy would show up several times during the cartoon asking for a handout (or something). Can't remember if it was a WB cartoon or some other studio.
Hmm, I can't tell if the mystery man is Owen Pope, Day Sechler, or John Travolta.
I suspect this one will remain a mystery, but maybe not. Thanks, Major.
I'm wondering what that structure is in the distance, between the Stagecoach and Conestoga Wagon? Would that be a part of Rainbow Ridge that we are seeing? Although, the Rainbow Ridge Mine Trains didn't debut until 1956.
JB, that was a WB cartoon, and it was Humphrey Bogart asking Bugs Bunny for a handout. He had said that line in the film, "Treasure of the Sierra Madre."
^ Thanks, Tokyo!. I was pretty sure it was a WB cartoon.
I concur that it is probably Day in jaunty plaid and bow tie. Seems to make sense forensically, but more research would be needed to solve the mystery. Owen Pope has a Main St. Window in Walt Disney World...across the way from the Firehouse. I was inside the Pope House when it was back at the pony farm and was where the AV team had "offices", however it very much still was a "house" and I had a cup of coffee in the kitchen which overlooked a little garden and trees feeling like you were back in 1951 Anaheim. The historic stack of horseshoes were close by: historic as the pile had been collected since day 1, and the stack was at least 8 feet tall and just as wide. I can see how that stagecoach would become top heavy and flip over: perhaps if it was to scale it would have fared better. I do agree with Walt however, and if you can't ride on top: there is no ride. Capacity and the cost of operating such a venture may have had something to do with it as well, despite giving Frontierland a true authentic feel: much lacking in today's world. With shows like "Yellowstone" there may be a resurgence in the Old West, and it seems if we gave the guests more of an "experience": Golden Horseshoe/ guys on buildings doing stunts/a Sherrif/guys on horses/Davy Crockett/Stagecoaches/Covered wagons/etc....magic cost money, but isn't magic what people come to see? Thanks Major.
Major, these are definitely historical documents. I’m sure the gent in the checkered coat is Mr. Sechler. It makes sense that he would be near the livestock.
I’m with you, I can’t ride facing backwards on the train, I get motion sick. The last time I did it, I was going to ask the person across to switch with me, but the seat was empty.
Thanks for these one of a kind pictures.
JG
Nanook, I assume, like another famous “Marion”, that Day preferred to skip that part of his name!
Mike Cozart, even with the smile I feel like it’s the same guy. I’m feeling good about my hunch.
Mike Cozart, I knew what you meant!
JB, yeah, it’s just weird to be facing backwards - we had a seat that face backwards in one of our old station wagons, I don’t think we thought about it that much at that age, but our newer wagon had a rear seat that faced forward and we liked it a lot better. I only watch live-action dramas written by great authors, cartoons are so lowbrow!
TokyoMagic!, I can’t tell what that structure is, in this early Frontierland things are in different locations than they were later. I think I see the Jolly Roger atop the Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship to the right of that structure, but that still leaves me baffled! I can picture that caricature of Bogart so vividly! Not from personal experience, but from a large dusty book about lowbrow cinema.
JB, a Wonder Bread cartoon? Who ever heard of such a thing?
Bu, as I said to Mike, I’m feeling pretty positive about the Day Sechler ID. Which is pretty neat, how often can we identify a cast member from that far back? I think they moved the “Pope House”, though I don’t know where they moved it TO. Is it still Disney property? Or did they find someplace in Anaheim to put it for historical purposes? I’ve heard about those horseshoes, you’d think that they could have put them in the dishwasher and then handed them out to lucky kids as souvenirs. Top-heavy stagecoaches (and keelboats)… haven’t they ever heard of “ballast”?? I’m sure that the stagecoaches would not have survived to today, even if they’d stayed upright the whole time. Too much cost and maintenance, too little capacity. Even with the popularity of shows like “Yellowstone”, I don’t feel like there will be a push to change things in Frontierland. I guess it’s too much a thing of the 1950s and 60s.
JG, I assume Day Sechler had a long career at Disney, maybe he even moved to Florida eventually. Sounds like a pretty nice life in those days. My sister always got motion sick riding backwards, lucky for me I don’t seem to suffer from that malady - not yet, anyway. I have very muscular inner ears!
I would absolutely buy Day Sechler's jacket if it were available. As a matter of fact, I'd buy the entire outfit for the annual Western Night at the German club where I'm a member.
Major-
“I assume, like another famous “Marion”, that Day preferred to skip that part of his name.”. Yeah, he tried using “Duke”, but that name had already been spoken for.
@ JG-
”I assume Day Sechler had a long career at Disney, maybe he even moved to Florida eventually.” It was Owen Pope who moved to Florida for the opening (and beyond) of WDW, and Sechler who stayed at Disneyland until [I want to say 1979]. I’m not at home, so will need to verify the date later - unless someone else chimes in.
@ JG-
Yes, it was February, 1979 that Sechler retired from Disney, after becoming the area stage supervisor. (Pope retired from WDW in 1975).
MAJOR you are correct the Stagecoaches and Conestoga wagons would not have lasted long. The attraction actually continued to operate even after the accident on one of the Mud Wagon stagecoaches. During that time passengers were regulated to “inside” only reducing the already low capacity. The attraction was closed in 1959 to make way for Mine Train expansion and the new Nature’s Wonderland development.
Stagecoaches were proposed again for Disneyland Paris but this was ultimately abandoned. A stage coach simulator using a Indy Jones type system was proposed for Tokyo Disneyland in the mid 90’s. The model
Crate plaque for storage was mistakenly engraved “stagecoach stimulators”
I suppose all that bouncing around would be 'stimulating'. ;-)
Dean Finder, I agree, that jacket is top-notch! They have a Western Night ag a German club??
Nanook, as long as he doesn’t use “Major”!
Nanook, I knew that Owen Pope moved to Florida with Dolly, but was not sure if Day also moved. I guess he became the boss man.
Nanook, 24 years at Disneyland, not a bad run.
Mike Cozart, yeah, as much fun as it might be to ride a stagecoach through the Wild West, it just isn’t practical for an amusement park that needs to move as many people through as possible. I have to admit that we got a good deal with the “new” Nature’s Wonderland attraction, this was definitely a case of losing two rides, but gaining one AMAZING ride. A stagecoach simulator, hmmm; maybe it would have been fun, but it sounds kind of tame. “Stagecoach Stimulators”, I think I saw those for sale on Hollywood Boulevard!
JB, “Sir, please exit the ride, you are a little TOO stimulated”.
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