A Pair From, November 28, 1973
Here are two fun views, from November 28, 1973. Even though I've shared at least one blog post from this batch, I think I neglected to refer to Jason's Disneyland Almanac - something I always enjoy doing. So... November 28th was a Wednesday; the park opened at 10 AM, and closed at 6 PM (so early!); the day reached a high of 70º, with a low of 42º. There are no attendance estimates.
Meanwhile, here is a photo of the Ernest S. Marsh as it rested at Main Street Station - you can just see a tiny bit of the parking lot in the distance. A Cast Member is busy doing some sort of maintenance, possibly applying oil. Or macaroni and glitter, which is my guess.
Over in Frontierland... well, here's a nice, but fairly standard, look at the Mark Twain. I have become so used to similar photos that I have to remind myself how pretty this is.
18 comments:
I was 4 years and 2 months old when these pictures we taken, Gee how time flies.
I love to watch others work, especially when it’s on something big and shiny.
That’s a LOT of people on the Twain. Don’t everybody stand on one side or she’ll capsize! That one lady looks lonely.
Thanks for the pictures, Major!
Well, if the CM has macaroni and glitter, then ya just know he also has a bottle of Elmer's Glue... and maybe a few pipe cleaners.
The Ernest S. Marsh looks a lot like a popcorn wagon here. I guess that makes the CM in the cab the Roasty Toasty Man. I'm sure Nanook can tell us the make and model of that car in the Parking Lot (and the official color), after all, we can see the general outline and one(1) headlight... that should be enough. :-p
Oooh, this is a better-than-average picture of the Mark Twain! The lighting, the colors, and the clear blue sky make it stand out from most of the others. Perhaps 'postcard worthy'. There appears to be a musical group (wearing dark suits) at the bow. One guy looks like he's playing a guitar. Or maybe they're just passengers and I'm seeing things that aren't there.
These look like they could be Lou Perry photos; they're that nice! Thanks, Major.
I suppose the Pack Mules were closed by November of that year, but we can see a bit of their dirt path going up the hill. I wonder if the let the path become completely grown over?
Thank you, Major!
It's too dark for me to be certain, but it does appear the engineer is oiling the Marsh's valve gear linkage between the two drive wheels.
It's neat to see the window sash behind the fireman (and the engineer), slide down into the cab walls to open. At about 140 degrees in the cab, the fireman is indeed roasty-toasty.
Looks like the pressure on the large steam pressure gauge in the cab is close to the 125 mark. The smaller half-hidden gauge to the right is the brake air pressure gauge.
All the best trains have macaroni and glitter with pipe cleaners, and don’t forget the gold spray paint. The California High Speed Rail will use billions of dollars worth of macaroni. We still set out a little Christmas tree made of gold macaroni glued to a cardboard cone, made by one of the kids in first grade. Probably 30+ years old now. As Budblade says, time flies.
Thanks Steve for the interpretation of the photo. Love trains.
Major, there’s nothing wrong with a favorite view. I’ve had several over the years, usually related to coming back home after a trip. I have similar feelings to this view of the River, I feel like I’m coming home in a way.
Thanks for these pictures!
JG
The train engine does give off some popcorn wagon vibes. When I hear people referring to popcorn wagons as "cretors", it sounds kind of silly: even though that may be the technical brand name https://www.cretors.com They invented the popcorn machine, but even they refer to it as a popcorn machine. And now onto the train: 140 degrees in the shade. Sounds like a great movie: but a tad warm. Question is: how healthy is this? Even with a slight fever I'm sweating like a farm animal. Hope these guys stay hydrated, or perhaps their systems are just used to it. Blonde lady along the river does look a wee lonely, but leads me to think she may be an employee....walking from one office to another. I miss these days when it was nice to walk along the river not dodging rascals and strollers and hoards of people. The railing there looks very lacy and blends perfectly and harmoniously into the space: as do the light standards. The chain railing around the Mark Twain is so much better to look at. They could have tried to do something less horsey as boats DO have scale. There are quite a few people on there: which is nice to see on this uncrowded day: but looks are deceiving and it could have been a very busy day. The determiner is: how long is the line for Pirates? So if the camera was turned around: you would know pretty quickly what the "in park" was. I'm sure in '73 they had to tabulate the hourly in-park by hand. And with all the rides, you'd have a ride operator with a clip board, taking down numbers on the turnstiles. Not sure what those people do now....although I do see a lot of chatting and standing- or lining random parts of the park standing and waving at guests. I found out that it's part of their on-boarding: to be "amongst" the people (?) I found it a wee disturbing as it was so out of context: but then again: I am a bit odd and out of context myself. Thanks Major for the "Perry Style" photos this morning!
Budblade, well gee, you’re just a baby! I was older than you by ’73. I agree, there is something satisfying about watching skilled people do their thing. Poor lonely purple pants lady!
JB, Elmer’s Glue is the best, though you can use cheaper 99 cent store brands. I’ll know the difference, however. I guess I see the resemblance of the Marsh to a popcorn wagon. Lots of red! The photo of the Twain is nice, but I have many far better ones, so I know my heart has shriveled and ossified.
TokyoMagic!, perhaps the Mule path was still used by the maintenance staff? They’d still need to get out there to trim shrubs and such.
Steve DeGaetano, well fine, but I’m still thinking it’s macaroni and glitter. I can’t imagine working in a little 140º box, I’d lose my mind. 125 psi?? It’s gonna blow!
JG, I hope that the high speed rail will use macaroni extruded through bronze dies, that way there is better texture and the marinara will stick better. These things are important. My mom still has awful little ornaments that I made when I was a kid, paper angels, and I think we made a cardboard cone thing too, but that is long-gone. I always love seeing the Twain and the River in person, but having hundreds (thousands?) of pictures of those features makes me grumpy.
Bu, when I hear the name “Cretors”, I think of creosote for some reason, and then I imagine popcorn covered in creosote. Sell it as Wookie Popcorn, and they won’t be able to keep it in stock! I would assume that the DLRR workers have ways to keep healthy, including plenty of breaks, lots of water, etc. It helps to whistle a merry tune as well. I would be happy being in Frontierland with such a lack of crowds, that lady is lucky. I like the little spots of bright color from all of that 1973 clothing, people loved those intense hues. Even with a long line, “Pirates” moves so quickly, I rarely have much of a wait. Of course the best is when I’ve barely broken stride before stepping into the boat, which has happened more than a few times. I would assume that with all of the automated turnstiles and such, any counting is done by machine now, no need for humans to do it. I remember seeing an Indy CM who was talking on a cell phone, I wondered if it was for work, or if she was talking to her mom.
Bu, I can tell you from experience that the 140 degree heat in a steam locomotive can, while wearing long sleeves, overalls, a hat and gloves, is not terribly enjoyable. During the day I would drink six or eight bottles of water and Gatorade, but wouldn’t use the restroom once.
*cab*
The mules were a weekend, seasonal type attraction. Being a slow Wednesday, they wouldn't have been in operation. But this being late 1973 has me thinking that they had concluded their final run for good by then. The stories from those CMs who worked it were always interesting. People too heavy protesting they weren't allowed on a mule, mules being, well, mules at times along with the smell of it on a hot day. Some of the CMs loved to work it. Others thought they had been assigned to serve penance for a written reprimand. Love that shot of the MT and the lone lady in the foreground. BU may be on to something because my first thought was that was a GF of mine from that time. Pleasant memories. KS
I seriously doubt the lady in the purple pants and sweater viewing the MARK TWAIN was an employee - management or other. She has her purse and it’s swinging down low. Purses on stage would have been verboten. And when there was exceptions they would hade been held close.
She also appears to be holding another bag in her right hand . She’s probably a V.I.P. In the days when all guests were considered V.I.P.’s !! Lol. This CM mantra just popped back into my head : “ we work while others play”
Out of curiosity I sent the image to some friends for input: one is the current director of The Disneyland Alumni Club , another a retired costuming- wardrobe DL manager . “No - a guest : not appropriate business attire” and “ no .. too casual and in 1973 she would have been in a skirt in management but some backstage positions did feature pants later - mostly after 1976 “
Steve DeGaetano, are you telling me that you didn’t drink gallons of buttermilk??
KS, yes, the Pack Mules were done by October of 1973 (a month before these photos). I can imagine that you either loved working with the mules, or were ambivalent at best. If a person wound up working with the mules, and they truly did not like it, could they request a change?
Mike Cozart, yeah, I don’t think that lady looks much like an employee to me. What sort of costume would that be??
Mike Cozart, I can’t tell if she’s actually holding another bag, there’s something beyond her right hand, but is it just a shadow on that lamp support?
Mike Cozart, if she was supposed to be a CM working in Frontierland of NOS, I would not think that pants would be appropriate, although I noticed that the “wenches” working Pirates wear pants.
MAJOR: I know there were probably variations during BU’s and Ken’s time but management didn’t necessarily wear a themed costume … area managers wore business attire … but what looked like precessional business attire was often NOT the manager’s own clothes but actually business dress but provided and maintained by wardrobe. If they were complex or area managers they would have their business attire but also various costumes for what they managed.
For example : several of my Tomorrowland 1967 and early 70’s Tomorrowland costumes came from area managers who were able to take their attraction costumes home … but wore their business attire “costumes”
Most of the time … and would wear their operational costumes for special reasons … sometimes to film training films or maybe because of extreme attendance .
Other backstage business like clothing in the park were also considered costumes . If you look at the 1980 viewmaster for New Orleans Square : look at all ladies in the blue bayou image : they are wearing the 1979’s-80’s New Orleans square cast cafeteria costume … but if you didn’t know they look to be wearing contemporary garb, but it is in fact a Disneyland issued COSTUME.
The 1980’s manager costumes of Tomorrowland are all professional business attire and look like real estate agents and airline ticket agents from 1985 … but it is a Disneyland costume despite that it doesn’t look “tomorrowland “
This was done intentionally for the main reason that when guests had issuers and a manager was required , the guests would see management in a Themed costume … like a pirate or frontiersman …. And say “ok now I want to see a manager “ so over time certain levels of management wore “business” costumes or “themed” costumes as needed. Does that make sense?
So that lady in the purple pants could have possible looked similar to what an area manager might have worn at first glance.
Clarification of the 1980 New Orleans square viewmaster cover : the ladies sitting at the tables as guests ( they are wearing backstage costumes) not the blue bayou waitresses
"Not sure what those people do now....although I do see a lot of chatting and standing- or lining random parts of the park standing and waving at guests. I found out that it's part of their on-boarding: to be "amongst" the people (?) I found it a wee disturbing as it was so out of context....."
Bu, it's sad when people need to be taught how to act in public, and how to socialize with the guests. I saw footage from WDW last week where a CM was just standing there and cleaning out their ears. Yep, both of them, thoroughly. At least they wiped the wax on the front of their shirt, instead of flinging it into the crowd. Am serious.
"These look like they could be Lou Perry photos; they're that nice!"
"Perry Style" photos this morning!"
:o) I have to share these with my dad. (You folks always 'make his day.')
Thanks, Major.
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