More Special Guest Photos!
Today is the fifth and final installment featuring scans of wonderful family photos from our friend JG. Check 'em out!
Mom and I go for a Flying Saucer ride. We look happy, but I remember the ride as ultimately disappointing, hard to steer and move about etc.This photo is a vivid memory for me. My older brother tells me that I rode on the Saucers, but I don't remember it at all.
Lots of happy kids pose with Thumper and Flower (he's holding a bouquet!) on the bridge over the castle moat: Here I am with some Bambi characters on the castle drawbridge, with no guardrail on top of the guardrail. It is a wonder I didn't go over the side into the moat and be eaten by a swan. We were tougher then and had better sense. Everyone loves those big fluffy critters.
Just imagine being able to pose in front of the Castle like this, in the middle of the day, without scores of other people around you! At first, I thought this was just a typical pic of the Castle, but I zoomed in while writing this description and discovered that Mom and I are posed on the drawbridge. What a find!
Here's a repeat, but it's so good that it is worth sharing again: This pic was a huge surprise to find and my favorite of this lot. Really captures my Dad, I can almost hear his voice. Thanks for publishing this on Father's Day. These have all been great, but I think I agree with JG, this is my favorite. I love that his mom took this photo of father and son enjoying a special moment as they both watched the Subs gliding through the tropical lagoon.
A huge THANK YOU to JG for sharing these scans! He hinted that he might have some additional photos (non-Disneyland) to share someday, I look forward to seeing them.
30 comments:
JG-
These are really sweet images. Thanks so much for sharing all five installments with us. It also brings back memories of my own family's visits to Disneyland - back in the day.
Thanks, Major.
I see that JG and his mom are strapped in to their Saucer. This is, of course to keep them from floating away during the weightless portion of the ride. And notice that thick insulating disk at the bottom, that's to prevent the Saucer from burning up during re-entry. Disney thought of everything!
Hey, I smell a skunk!... And a rabbit! These two Disney characters are so soft and cuddly it's no wonder that kids flocked to them. JG, maybe you didn't go over the railing, but someone did! The girl on the right is watching the hapless victim being devoured by the Swans.
This is a particularly realistic view of the Castle. I think the non-descript lighting helps in that way. I see that the efficient Disney crew has already cleaned up the gore, blood, and ripped clothing that the Swans left in the Moat from the previous picture. (The skeleton, of course, sunk to the bottom... out of sight.)
Again, the non-descript, milky lighting really gives this repeat photo a magical quality. Almost like it was a photo effect added after the fact to make it look dreamy. I think I mentioned, when we first saw this picture, that it looks like JG's dad has a fishing creel under his arm. Did we ever come to a consensus on what it actually was? Seems like we decided it was Mom's purse, because she's taking the picture.
Thanks again for sharing, JG. And thanks, Major for giving us your 3 cents worth. (It was better than just 2 cents worth. ;-p)
More great family photos! Thanks for sharing them with us, JG and Major!
The last photo with father and son at the sub lagoon is sweet. Thanks, JG and Major.
Great pictures! Thank for sharing
JB, yes, the wicker item is Mom’s purse. I remember it clearly, a wicker “body” with a leather strap closure and a brass loop handle. From other Park pictures, it was all the rage style.
Thank you Everyone! I hope these pics spark a memory of two for you too. It’s pretty clear to me why I still like Disneyland after 60+ years.
Special thanks to Major for cleaning these up and posting them, much appreciated.
I have to run out shortly, but I will check back for comments.
Cheers.
JG
Thanks, JG! Memories were triggered, just like yesterday. Was it this visit when you started counting trash cans?
Thanks to the Major for this fun site where we can share the memories.
Zach
What delightful and happy photos...having so much fun in this happy placed called Disneyland. The flying saucers! Again a much photographed entity...it's kind of amazing that they didn't give it a second or third or fourth try. You can see how it was wearing. Great concept. I'd go for it again if I were them....but seems like "bumper saucers" wouldn't go to well with the insurance companies. "Disneyland: Presented by Liberty Mutual." The ultimate sponsorship. Who doesn't love Flower and Thumper? So very sweet. Since they don't do re-releases anymore I think an entire generation is missing out on seeing these characters on the big screen: it makes a difference. The castle looking perfect.....a wee June gloom, but how I long for these days: so very peaceful. Busy has it's own vibe: all good too: just different when you can hear the Mark Twain whistle in the distance, and the bell of the train rather than inpatient parents screaming at their kids. Of course the last shot is very endearing and perfect. Looks like the most wonderful visit to the Magic Kingdom! Thanks JG for sharing.
Nanook, I encourage any Junior Gorillas with family Disneyland pix to share them here! For fun, but not for profit.
JB, that blue substance on the Flying Saucers platform is Cavorite, which negates the effects of gravity (as anyone knows who has seen the movie “First Men In the Moon”. Seeing those furry characters always makes me wonder how often those suits get cleaned. Steam cleaned! Irradiated! I think the cuddliness helped kids relax, because the big weird characters can scare some children. Disney does not need to clean up the remains of guests (due to swans), the feral cats come out and do it for them. Hundreds of cats! JG’s photo of him and his dad looking at the Sub Lagoon is my favorite, it’s “souvenir guidebook worthy”. Ha ha, a fishing creel, the purse does sort of look like one!
JG, yes, we’ve seen wicker purses in vintage photos! The sturdy sides would protect any smuggled sandwiches.
TokyoMagic!, (speaking for both JG and me), you are welcome.
K. Martinez, I do love the one with JG and his mom in the Flying Saucer too, that one’s fun.
Budblade, I’m glad JG found these and scanned them!
JG, thank YOU!
zach, ha ha, counting trash cans starts young, and never leaves you!
Bu, I have the feeling that Walt would have enjoyed seeing JGs pictures, with a family having fun together in the park that was built for this purpose (well, for making money too). I have the feeling that after the dud of “Luigi’s Flying Tires”, the nail is in the coffin for a “saucers” type ride. The problem of low capacity would always be there, and the Flying Tires vehicles were so large and lumbering. Remember the beach balls? They were getting desperate. I hear people talking about watching Disney animated films with their kids on Disney+, but I think they often watch “Lilo and Stitch” (a fine movie) or “The Little Mermaid”, and maybe those old 1930’s, 40’s and 50’s films not so much. I could be wrong though. I have literally seen parents yelling at their kids, but I’ve also seen kids behaving pretty badly. Maybe the stress of the day just gets to be too much?
JG, apparently I have a few years on you so I was able to steer those saucers by myself. And while the rest of the kids seemed intent in turning them into bumper saucers, which was nothing more than a variation on bumper cars, I purposely avoided everyone and would scoot across the from one end to the other. Talk about a sense of freedom that cannot be duplicated...literally floating on air. Such a nice collection of photos from 'our' era visiting with our parents. Your last shot is iconic. I think each of the Junior Gorillas can envision ourselves in your place with our fathers. Looks like your Dad was in control of the ticket books seeing that 10-ride book in his shirt pocket. KS
Fun pictures … to have ridden the FLYING SAUCERS … jealous.
They had intentions of bringing back FLYING SAUCERS as part of TOMORROWLAND ‘68 ( phase 2 of New Tomorrowland ) the saucers would have been indoors within the canopy of SPACE ADVENTURE ( SPACE MOUNTAIN)
BU: “INA INSURANCE makes EVERYDAY as “Carefree” as Disneyland !!!” ( hence the Carefree Corner on Main Street USA. The INA INSURANCE Disneyland included sone of the biggest advertising campaigns in magazines and television. The unused Walt apartment - the Royal Suite was first retrofitted in 1973 for use by INA insurance as a lounge .. when they vacated it was ready-for-use as extra office space for DISNEYLAND INTERNATIONAL, Tokyo Disneyland / OLC. Other than some new wallpaper and paint it was easily converted to THE DISNEY GALLERY in 1987.
Major, the Swans do their 'thing'; the feral cats clean up the mess. The circle of life. A place for everything and everything in its place!
"that blue substance on the Flying Saucers platform is Cavorite". Yeahbut... Wouldn't the Cavorite-slathered platform also lift off into space? I think Cavorite would feature prominently in an honest-to-goodness perpetual motion machine.
Hmmm, now I'm wondering just how many feral cats there are in the Park? "Someone knows" (maybe).
Despite there was never Tomorrowland ‘68 and the return of the FLYING SAUCERS , I have a 1972 backstage photo of the Staff Shop and in the background you can see TWO Flying Saucers sitting on wood pallets !!! Interesting that at least 2 survived that long after they were supposedly destroyed ….. and WHY were they still around ??
KS, I personally hate bumper cars, so the idea of being on that unique ride, only to have people slam into me, sounds like no fun. I would much rather experience what you did, gliding on a cushion of air, free from whiplash-inducing collisions!
Mike Cozart, from what you have told us, Tomorrowland ’68 sounds pretty amazing. And expensive! I (of course) wish it had happened, but no such luck. I assume that a lot of that money was already slated for Florida, and that there was nothing else to spare. I did not know that the Royal Suite was used by INA as a lounge, and am amazed that this is new information for me. I miss the Disney Gallery when it was up there!
JB, hey, I studied Cavorite intensely at Harvard, MIT, Cal Tech, and Bryman College! Some say that my paper on Cavorite is one of the most amazing science treatises ever written. Well, OK, my mom says that, but she counts!
Mike Cozart, I can only assume that those Flying Saucers eventually went to the shredder - it hurts just to think about it. Imagine if we still had at least one around today!
Nanook, glad to hear this…
JG
Cheers Tokyo!
JG
Thanks Ken, I confess to having something in my eye when I found it. Dusty room I guess.
JG
Cheers Budblade, thanks for commenting!
JG
Ha Zach, no I started counting cans a few years ago here on GDB. Major posted a view down Main Street and I was struck by how many of those green and yellow cans were in the picture.
As a kid, I remember my Dad remarking how clean everything was, unlike some other places, but I don’t think we counted cans then,
Glad you enjoyed.
JG
Bu, I remembered that saucer ride all my life, and I was gobsmacked to find pictures of it.
I first saw Bambi in a theater in Las Vegas, probably about this age. I wonder if these characters were featured because of that release. Dad liked Las Vegas, not for gambling or any of the usual reasons, but because it was warm and sunny in the winter when the Valley was cold and foggy. We went there or Palm Springs on Presidents Day every year until I was in high school.
JG
Major, I should have scraped some cavourite off and kept it, like my Knotts gold dust.
JG
Ha KS, that must have been fun to ride like that! I’m glad you enjoyed these. My little thank you to those like you who shared your pics and memories of being CMs. Etc.
Yes, you’re a bit ahead of me, makes me happy to imagine we crossed paths back then somehow, either on the rafts or the Jungle Cruise.
JG
Mike, I’m surprised you didn’t buy a saucer for yourself!
JG
Major, thanks again.
JG
JG, your photos with your parents are priceless. And I especially love the one with you, Thumper and Flower - absolutely adorable. "He can call me a Flo--wer if he wants to."--[said in a cute, slow, sing-songy rhythm]. I don't recall seeing Thumper in Disneyland, before.
JB, you asked about the ferals. One article I read mentioned there were about 200, at the time. I know some Disney employees do "TNR" (Trap [in humane cage-traps]--Neuter--Release) on all the strays, to keep the population from growing. Though I'm sure there are idiots who dump their cats there [and everywhere]. I've seen cats in Disneyland and/or around the Disneyland hotels on every one of my visits over the past 25 years. Sometimes you'll see a couple cats together, as if on a vacation in DL. :o)
Thanks, Major, for more fun posts. And thank you JG for sharing.
See Flower HERE!
And HERE'S an article on Disneyland's feral cats. You'll find more if you do some googling.
Wow, our resident Dentologist is also a Catologist! (not to be confused with a Scatologist... that's a different thing. ;-p) Thanks for the links, Sue. 200?!?! It's nice to know that the cats are being cared for.
Sue, you are welcome!
JG
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