Some Randos
You never know what you're going to get when it comes to Randos, but I have some nice ones for you today. Starting with this great look at Town Square, circa March, 1960. You've got a full Omnibus in the foreground; along with those familiar old shops such as the Wurlitzer store, and the Hills Bros. Coffee House - along with the Hills Bros. Coffee Garden to the right.
I was wondering what all those white poles are, sticking up above the Coffee Garden, and can only assume that they are flagpoles from the Avenue of Flags in Tomorrowland.
Next some this swell shot from in front of the Rocket to the Moon attraction, circa March, 1964. TWA had flown the coop, and McDonnell Douglas was now the sponsor. A group of guests is reading a sign to the extreme left, presumably learning what to expect when they board their Moonliner. To the right of the rocket, the Oom-Pah-Pah Band is performing. There is nothing more futuristic than an Oom-Pah-Pah Band. And to the extreme right, the fence surrounding the Wenmac Flight Circle.
And hey, why not go for THREE Randos! This one is a colorful shot featuring Vesey Walker and the Disneyland Band as they marched down to Main Street Station. Perhaps they would stop in front of the Opera House to perform a few more songs. This is such a classic Disneyland image, I love it.
13 comments:
Major-
It's hard to tire of views of Town Square from this period. It seems so tranquil and quaint - and period correct.
"I was wondering what all those white poles are, sticking up above the Coffee Garden, and can only assume that they are flagpoles from the Avenue of Flags in Tomorrowland".
Ummmm... I think not. Just LOOK HERE. See-!
Thanks, Major.
Obviously, the first photo was taken from the canvas roof of another Omnibus. ;-D Hills Bros. Coffee came prepared; they have a big ol' pile of sugar on their roof, for those that like their coffee sweet. This seems to be a transitional period when younger ladies/girls are wearing pants, while the older ladies are still wearing skirts and dresses.
In the close-up, I assumed they were flagpoles, too. But some(most) of them are sort of pyramid, or obelisk shaped. Sooo....
"There is nothing more futuristic than an Oom-Pah-Pah Band" Ha! I think the only reason the Oom-Pah-Pah band is next to the Rocket is because their uniform colors match the Rocket (and its base). There are a few "olives on toothpicks" lights on the right, but none are of the Martian Tripod variety. Is that guy in white, in front of the Rocket, a CM? Or maybe he's a milkman who got lost. This is a pretty good picture. Among other attributes, it emphasizes the huge size of the Rocket.
For a second, I thought someone had absconded with the Castle! But it's there (whew!), mostly hidden by the Omnibus and the trees. I love how the perspective lines draw our attention to the colorful Band. Plus the shops are largely in shadow, which puts even more emphasis on the Band. But ummm, the Band is about to be run over by the Omnibus!
Nanook, Ahh, thank you! So they weren't flagpoles... well... they are flagpoles, but not the ones we thought.
Really nice Randos, Major. Thanks.
Good to see the Hills Brothers Garden, we are too far away to see my Mom and Dad, but I know they are there. How many Hills Brothers were there, and did they all go into the coffee business? Or did some make ice cream or candy?
I wish I could remember what those white balls were in the Rocket lobby? Maybe dioramas of the first Oom-pah-pah band on the Moon?
Great picture of the band and Main Street, with one lonely trash can sitting on Mr. Walker’s shoulder.
Thanks Major!
JG
Thanks Major from a silent film buff, who longs to be at Disneyland in the last photo. What could that first title on the Main Street Cinema marquee be --- "The Devil Dancer"? The word "Devil" was used in silent film titles more than just about any other character; his opposing force seldom, with the 1926 "God Gave me Twenty Cents" an exception.
As for "East Lynne", there were silent versions in 1913, '16, '21, and '25, and talkie versions in 1931 and '82. Since Disney is big on remakes, maybe they should give it another go.
Nanook, I’m so dumb, I put together the photos, including the zoom-in, and then when it comes time to write the thing, I don’t even click on my own thumbnails. D’oh.
JB, they should let guests ride on top of the Omnibuses, for an upcharge of course. For an additional $120, they will not only get an unprecedented view, but will get a pin and a cookie! Keep them or sell them on eBay. I’m glad that first picture is from after the time when women wore full armor. Pyramid shaped flagpoles are well-known features of Planet Krumski. I suppose that when the New Tomorrowland was built, those toothpick and olive lights had to go, but it’s a shame. I could put them in my yard! If I had a yard, that is. The fellow in front of the rocket sure looks like a CM, but I can’t tell what his job would have been. He really does look like a milkman! I’m guessing that the Disneyland Band always had the right of way on Main Street, and that the Omnibus driver was just going to have to lump it. Lump it! Good point, those cone-shaped things are flagpoles, in a way.
JG, I know that the menus for the Hills Bros. Coffee Garden gave the whole history of the Hills Bros., but I am too lazy to look it up now. Later, for sure! One Hills Bro was a dancer, but they never talk about him. I actually am not sure what was displayed in those white balls in the RTTM attraction, if they were dioramas or backlit photos, or what. Vesey Walker was old, they should have let one of the younger guys carry that trashcan!
Stefano, it kind of looks like that sign says “The Devil Dodger” (or “Dodgers”)? I kind of like that as a title, even if I don’t know what it means, exactly. Looking it up, there is a lost 1917 silent Western by that title, so I doubt that Disneyland was showing that on a daily basis. There was a 1927 film called “The Devil Dancer”, but I don’t think the sign says that. It will remain a mystery! Who knew that “East Lynne” was so popular that it was worthy of so many remakes. You really would think that it would have been tried again post-1982.
Major...that 'milkman' is really a sweeper with dustbin and broom in hand. And in 1964, the Rocket to the Moon was sponsored by Douglas Aircraft. Note the signage partially obscured by the Moonliner. The merger with McDonnell was in 1967. Interestingly, the Douglas logo was so good for its time that it continues to this day with Boeing. Considering Dad worked for Douglas, I am always reminded. KS
@ Stefano-
How about The Devil Dodger, from 1917, as The Major speculates-? Everyone loves a good John Gilbert film.
Those balls in the lobby of ROCKET TO THE MOON featured various displays with current information on effects in space …. One showed how your weight would change on different planets. The size of the cabinets was to hold different lighting and slide and filmstrip equipment. Basically some of the same Information in these display spheres was included in some of the Mission Control segment of the 1967 FLIGHT TO THE MOON.
Earlier versions of the Rocket to the Moon lobby featured scales that told guests what their weight was on different planets. These scales were typical “off the shelf” planetary and science museum equipment and remember WDI Imagineer and historian David Mumford saying they had discovered documents showing Disney had donated them to the Griffith Park Observatory.
One of the later pre - new Tomorrowland spheres showed Mc Donnel Douglas help in developing satellite and spacecraft . The satellite display referred to as “windows in space” which it interesting because in 1974 Walt Disney World’s SPACE MOUNTAIN. Featured a preshow section for RCA called “WINDOWS IN SPACE” with miniature models and props mirror projected to show spacecraft and satellite and asteroids study activity in the future by RCA for NASA .
That “milkman” is a stray SUBMARINE VOYAGE cast member - he’s wearing the early 60’s revised “nautical whites” costume done for a General Dynamics redo of the subs attraction.
Vesey’s face says ‘crikey I hope that kid gets out of the way soon’.
Delightful randos today. Probably the closet look I’ve seen of Rocket to the Moon. Thanks Mike for filling us in on those globes.
MS
I've been to the East Lynne Theater in Cape May, NJ. I wonder if its name comes from the oft-remade film.
Mike...maybe so, but I don't recall having a dustpan and broom being SOP for an attractions operator. Not in the job description. So perhaps he was themed for that area. KS
Ken: good point . Sub voyage crew cleaning rocket to the moon … Bavarian band …. All mixed in the waning years of Old Tomorrowland….
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