Autopia, August 1961
Oh boy, here we go again. I apologize, because I forgot to set the "publish" time to the usual 12:01 AM. But it's fixed now! Sorry, folks!
No matter how many vintage photos I see featuring one of Disneyland's Autopias, I'm always happy to see them. And today's examples are no exception! The vehicles in today's pictures don't seem to jibe with the August 1961 date; they look like the Mark I thru IV body types (which, from what I have read, were more or less identical); my understanding is that the Mark V vehicles were introduced in 1959, so... two years earlier. But the woman to the right is holding a 1961 souvenir guidebook, so that pretty much confirms the date of the slide.
Here's a Mark V car, for your edification.
And here's a '61 Guidebook.
I feel like I messed something up along the way, but I don't think so. Those Autopia vehicles should not be in use in 1961! This is a scandal of epic proportions. If I suddenly disappear, you'll know why! Meanwhile, notice that the car in the first photo has one of those "Disneyland" signs that I covet so much, while the one below does not.
7 comments:
It may be late (I didn’t notice) but they sure are beautiful. From the joe cool cast members, to the hot cars, and even hotter bystanders thoughtfully giving us a guidebook to date the picture 60+ years later. And the Major even graced us with a garbage can. We are not worthy!
Wow, Guidebook Lady!!
Was there a car in that picture?
Great stuff today, Major. Don’t feel bad, the time change comes for us all.
JG
Major-
Mike probably knows the answer, but I suspect the swap-out of the Mark IV vehicles, beginning in 1959, was still taking place two years later-? (Or maybe this image depicts a bunch of errant 'loaner' vehicles...)
Thanks, Major.
It wasn't late for me. I love "early years" Autopia pics. No guide rails and that wonderful vehicle design by Bob Gurr.
Thanks for another fun trip in the Wayback machine, Major.
Budblade, I am very disappointed that you don’t sit at your computer one minute after midnight. I’ll never be the same. I’ll bet that woman would be happy to know that people appreciated her looks all these years later! As for gracing people with garbage cans, what can I say, I will do anything for the Junior Gorillas.
JG, ha ha, I like how the lady looks casual, but still elegant. “California chic”?
Nanook, two years seems like a long time to me, but your explanation is as good as any.
K. Martinez, I don’t know if I ever experienced the Autopia without guide rails, I wonder if kids at the time saw the rails and thought, “WHAT THE…??”. Only they also said a bad word. You know how kids are.
Sorry I'm late, I forgot to set the publish time of my comment to 12:30 AM (ish). ;-)
In the 1st pic, I'm wondering what that NASA guy in the background, on the left, is doing standing in the grass. He might have something in his right hand... or maybe that's just a small tree trunk like the ones to his left. Maybe he's shooting moles.
Hmm, I don't see any sign of the Matterhorn on that '61 Guidebook cover. Shouldn't that huge (in every sense of the word) attraction be prominently displayed?
Hey! The first and last photos are out of chronological order! White-haired NASA guy is in both pics, but black-shirt teen (future NASA guy) is getting underway in the first photo, and standing on the curb in the last photo, waiting his turn.
Thanks for (eventually) posting today's photos, Major. ;-)
JB, you can buy a dedicated computer to always remind you of when to check in on GDB. The more money you spend, the better (that’s my motto). I think the guy on the grass could be part of the groundskeeping crew rather than Autopia CMs, but it’s just a guess. His shirt doesn’t look as white as the other men’s shirts do. The guidebooks that were produced during Walt’s lifetime largely feature his photo (though a few early ones show the castle), and they did not tend to show the latest and greatest additions to the park on the covers. I wasn’t even thinking about chronological order when made this post!
Post a Comment