Christmas Castle
Is it just me, or is the air scented with pine needles, gingerbread, and Hai Karate cologne? Yeah, it's just me. But that doesn't mean that I'm not in the mood to look at beautiful pictures of Sleeping Beauty Castle, CHRISTMAS STYLE! These were scanned from oversized transparencies - undated but no later than 1956, or I'll eat my socks.
If it weren't for the square format, this one would be POSTCARD WORTHY. In spite of some spindly trees, the plantings still look lovely (especially considering that it was December). There is a white-flocked tree (in the moat?) decorated with all-red ornaments, a very mid-century look. The castle itself sports only a few tasteful garlands and wreaths. I love the reflection in the water.
Next, a rare night shot with mysterious light trails - looking at the path of the light, I'm a bit confused as to what produced them. I initially thought that the red and yellow lights moving horizontally must be from an Omnibus or Firetruck (?), but there are squiggles that go in directions I can't explain. Ghostly images of guests can be seen, but they moved during the long exposure. Hey, where is that white Christmas tree?
12 comments:
Major-
Both of these images are real beauties. I'm fairly confident the white Xmas tree is sitting on the lawn, and not in the moat. And this image is from Xmas 1956. I like the nicely-decorated signage for the Carnation Plaza Gardens.
Thanks, Major.
Like yesterday's photos, these oversized slides provide the opportunity to see more than we normally would. Like this Castle view. I agree with you that the reflection makes this picture extra special. It looks like a cel from one of Disney's animated films. We wouldn't be able to see the entire Castle with the entire reflection in a normal-formatted slide. I think I can see some green grass under the base of the flocked tree, so maybe it's on the bank (EDIT: as Nanook suggests), and not in the moat? I know we've seen smaller trees in the moat. And maybe, just maybe, I can perhaps see The Dent! Beautiful picture... I'm keeping it!
If you look at the pattern of all the squiggles, they're all the same. So the squiggles are simply a result of the camera jiggling during the long exposure. Although, I have no explanation for that one squiggle going high up into the tree on the left. And we still don't know what caused the light trails in the first place. I love the ghostly images of the guests. Is it possible that the flocked tree is off to the left, out of frame?
These really are nice photos, Major. Thanks.
In the second pic, I like the multi-colored Christmas lights they strung across the Skyway towers. ;-)
The first photo is quite nice. I agree with JB that the white tree is on the lawn between the sidewalk and the moat. It was originally a green tree until one of the killer swans managed to get out of the moat and devour its flesh, leaving only a bleached skeleton behind. Note the woman in the red coat at the extreme right. She must be a time-traveler from 1957.
The night shot is spectacular, reminding me a lot of the closing credits of The Wonderful World of Disney. Note the ticket taker in the little booth between the castle entryway and the carousel, also wearing a red jacket. She must have been very still to show up so clearly in this shot. I wonder if she was counting inventory? Or maybe she was just scrolling on her phone.
I think the red and amber streaks on the right side of that image were probably an omnibus coming into frame and the photographer moved the camera just before he or she closed the shutter. I think the streaks up in the tree to the left are the fixed lights there having the same effect.
TM!, I think those actually might be multicolored lights strung along the Skyway's central cable. If those were the lights on top of the Skyway buckets, they should be streaks in the long exposure unless those lights blinked rapidly.
Oh, and I forgot to say...these are great photos that really put me in the Christmas spirit. Thank you, Major!
I love the large (or mid) format! I still have my Yashica-Mat 126 that I used on weddings and a few sports team shoots. You can't beat the big square negatives (or in this case, positives!)
Of the two, I prefer the night shot. The phantom light trails (probably caused by camera jiggle when the shutter was closed- they might not have had a remote cable) like Chuck said. Those Christmas ghosts are nice too! Bravo all around!
What lovely shots of a vintage Castle: perfect in every way...including a dent or two. I remember the white trees in the moat later in years: so very sophisticated and calm. Things are not calm now: but we know that. I'm not a fan of frosting on a castle but the GP (general public) loves that goop. The twinkly lights at night these days are kind of nice: and I took a photo or two, however I do prefer a "Wonderful World of Color" night-time castle scene. That moat/grassy area looks so expansive there and gives the castle a bit more "gravitas", and the muted light blue umbrella is a perfect cool companion to the blue turrets. I enjoy how the guest has worn a Christmasy red outfit that goes nicely with the monochromatic red ornaments. You can see the spire of the Carousel "tent" back there as well: and I'm sure that particular color of maroon (possibly) was very purposeful. These areas on the sides of the castle have always been so lovely. Sometimes it's a bit "too grand" to walk over the draw bridge that doesn't draw. Another odd thing...but not odd at all in the land of TRE. I suppose if it never is used, there's not much use....but make it into a "thing" at rope drop....get the press involved...."never been used since '83"....and then it becomes a daily occurrence and a new "tradition" in rope drop...where you can have vendors plugging their wares, and other means of financing it....just goes to show you: there is always a way. Thanks Major for the Christmas reminder...I've been buried in work and haven't looked up yet!
Major, these are terrific, thank you! How fortunate to have such fine Christmas pictures!
I see that many trees at this early date are still oranges, with fruit still on, no less. I wonder how long it took to replace all those with proper ornamentals, and if guests picked the fruit to eat, or to throw at one another? I know my high school hoodlum “friends” would have done that in the 70’s.
The night picture is eerie, those light trails are from alien drones practicing before flying to New Jersey. Note the “original green” trash can here, supporting the theory that the Fancy Cans were only partially rolled out in 1956.
Merry Christmas to GDB,
JG
Nanook, even though I promised myself to not just look at the thumbnails while writing my “prose”, i did it anyway! The sign for the Plaza Gardens looks weirdly “out in the boondocks”.
JB, I should have Photoshopped Tinker Bell flying above the castle! Oh well. Yes, we’ve definitely seen smaller trees in the moat, but you and Nanook are right, that white tree is on dry land. I dunno man, I tried to make sense of those squiggles of light, and just when I thought I had a handle on it, I’d lose it again. Especially that one that goes up into the tree. I need to call my good friend Alfred Einstein (grandson of Albert).
TokyoMagic!, oh yeah! That’s pretty neat!
Chuck, I never knew that swans attacked trees, but it doesn’t surprise me. Those birds are jerks! Hey, 1957 was mere weeks (or days) away, that woman with the red coat is just a little ahead of the game. I do love that we can see that lady inside the ticket booth, I doubt that she ever had room to do much moving around even on the best days. I agree about the Omnibus, but it’s some of those other lights. If the shutter was open when the photographer moved the camera, you’d think (or I would) that the image would have a lot more blur. Unless the film was VERY slow, which is likely I suppose. I think that TM did mean that those lights were strung between the towers and not on the gondolas themselves.
Chuck, I’m glad these helped you feel more Christmasy!
Stu29573, can you still get film and get that film processed for your mid-format Yashica? My brother in law used to be a professional photographer for local newspapers, and he has a lot of portraits of celebrities that came to Santa Barbara. Jimmy Stewart, I remember specifically. He really wants to scan the negs to save digital copies, but it’s so much work!
Bu, I have to admit that both of these castle shots are especially nice, and demonstrate how wonderful the Anaheim castle is - I think it gets less love than some of the other bigger, grander castles. Of course the surroundings have changed a lot over the years and that doesn’t help matters. I like twinkly lights too, but there really is a sense of “more is more”, and I’m not sure I totally agree. Remember, red became a very fashionable color for women’s coats in 1957 (or even late 1956), we have pictures with many red coats in a single picture right around that time. My sister used to have a red overcoat, though it was more of a tomato soup red, not a vivid cardinal hue. I believe that I’ve read that the drawbridge was made inoperable some years back, I guess somebody figured they were never going to use it again and so the mechanism was removed.
JG, I had so many Christmas Disneyland pictures that I am saving some for next year! It just worked out that way. My grandma’s orange trees always had fruit on them in December, but I forget if it was the Valencias or the navels. It’s hard to imagine people picking fruit and throwing it (grown adults, I mean), though there is a volunteer apple tree in a nearby park, and when the apples get to be about 2 to 3 inches around, people pull them off (no, I don’t think squirrels are the culprits). They can’t be eating them, so I assume they are throwing them?
The first pic is just beautiful. Thanks, Major.
Nice, big holiday pictures Major, thanks.
Check out this site(!)... looks like same tree, different Christmas.
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