Saturday, December 14, 2024

Knott's Berry Farm

I have some fun vintage Knott's Berry Farm scans for you today, starting with this first great shot dated "July 9, 1970" (a Thursday), looking up Market Street toward the impressive Calico Mine Train ride, with the full-sized (but narrow-gauge) railroad stopped at the depot. I love the look of this one, with the eucalyptus trees providing a bit of shade, and lots of people milling about on this summer day.


Next is this scan from 1966, featuring a couple sitting on a weathered old wagon (probably used to bring Pringles to the frontier).  Gosh, they're having fun! 


I almost wonder if this next scan from the 1950s was an "oops"; it's a weirdly-composed image of two of the Native American characters (who were available for photos) as they seek a tiny bit of shade on a presumably-hot day. 


And finally, a scan from May of 1958, featuring this friendly fellow out in front of the Livery Stable. Is that the same wagon seen in photo #2? Just visible is some feathers, possibly from some headdresses that guests could wear.
 

Posted by Major Pepperidge at 12:01 AM

3 comments:

Nanook said...

Major-
That last photo sure is a beauty.

Thanks, Major.

12:05 AM
JB said...

I've mentioned it before, but I used to think it was called Knottsberry Farm, as in Walter Knottsberry... even as a young adult! (I just felt like being humiliated again, tonight. It's good for the soul. :-p)

1) Ooh! I agree about this one looking especially good. Imagine the heavenly scent coming from those eucalyptus trees! Hmm, I think the guy in the brown plaid shirt and shorts is a pod person... or maybe a zombie. Or maybe he has cerebral palsy and I just made a foolish jerk of myself. (Also good for the soul.)

2) Ha! The guy kindasortamaybe is having fun. But the gal? "Ohhhh myyyy". Maybe she has stage 4 cancer and I just made a fool of myself again. (She actually does look like she's in the latter stages of cancer... been there, done that. I wasn't having fun then, either.)

3) I tend to agree about this one being an "oops". Even if the Native American characters aren't looking at the camera, you'd thing the photographer would have gotten the top half of the popcorn wagon in frame, rather than giving us a more-than-generous look at the dusty street.

4) The chief (do only chieftains wear that kind of feather bonnet?) looks quite elegant and sophisticated here. I wonder if they supply their own costumes?

Thanks for the Knottsberry pics, Major. My soul feels really good now. ;-)

12:41 AM
TokyoMagic! said...

Hey....is that "day old" popcorn? If the pic was taken in the early morning, there's a good chance that it was.

Sadly, those eucalyptus trees were cut down. And in 2001, management had 30 more trees inside the park chopped down, after a tree branch fell on a popcorn wagon at Disneyland, and injured some peeps.

Major, that wagon in the pic with Chief White Eagle was on School Road, and the wagon that the very cheerful couple are sitting in was on Main St.

I always love vintage Knott's pics. Thanks for sharing these, Major!

1:52 AM

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