Knott's Berry Farm
I love vintage Knott's Berry Farm, and still have lots of slides to scan for you. But today's examples (from the 1950s) suffer from under-exposure, meaning that they are darker than we might wish for. Still, they are not a total loss!
Here's the Stagecoach, passing through part of the parking lot. Is the restaurant where you could get one of Cordelia's chicken dinners to the right? My favorite part of this picture is the boys on their bicycles, local kids out for a little adventure. I wouldn't be surprised if they visited Knott's regularly; it was free at the time, and heck, I would head over there all the time. Wouldn't you?
Next is the familiar pool with sea lions. From the looks of things, they weren't getting many free fish that day. Could that wooden shack be "Petland" (as mentioned in a previous blog post)?
And finally, here's an unusual view of the Stagecoach load area, it looks like they've just taken on a full compliment of guests for an exciting ride through parts of KBF, with some even more-exciting view of Buena Park. It's wonderful that you can still enjoy this attraction at the park (as far as I am aware), though I have never done it because the line is so long. I feel like I'd better do it sooner rather than later.
12 comments:
Major-
You ain't kidding about those boys on their bikes: It seemed "back then" every boy rode his bike wherever one needed to go - at that age. And Knott's seems just perfect.
Thanks, Major.
1) The kids on bikes look like the cast from the movie "Stand By Me". Weren't "four white horses" featured in the song "She'll Be Comin' 'Round The Mountain"?
2) Looks like the seals go into 'downtime' mode when there aren't people around to supply them with fish. But when a group of humans is present, it's 'showtime'! What is that metal thing around the seals' rock? Looks kinda dangerous for the seals. If one of them should happen to dive off the rock and land on that thin upper edge...
3) The metal staircase/ladder, used for getting up and down from atop the Stagecoach seems a little incongruous. Wooden steps would have been more appropriate. But I suppose the metal ladder is more light weight and mobile; and less likely to rot and fall apart.
These are not the usual views of Knott's that one sees. Thanks, Major.
That structure over to the right (in the first pic) was the horse arena. That's where the Calico Mine Ride would eventually be built. And the fact that the stagecoach doesn't have any passengers in that first pic, probably means that it was just being brought out of the Stage Coach Barn. That used to be located next to the arena. This map shows the arena and the Stage Coach Barn, with a road leading out of the barn and crossing the R.R. tracks, just like we see in that first pic.
1950s Knott's Map
That little shack next to the Seal Pool also appears on the map, but it isn't labeled. It might be the shack where Cordelia Knott personally wrung the necks of each and every chicken that was ever served in her restaurant.
Thanks, Major!
JB: “she’ll be driving six white horses”.
Seals and Petland is a Knott’s Berry Farm long before my time . Those kinds of “attractions” at Knott’s seem depressing to me. In fact I don’t think I’ve ever really cared for animal shows. Growing up in San Diego we had the great San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park - but I loved the SKY-fari Ride , the Wagasa bush Line ( monorail) and at Sea World the BAY SKYRIDE , the SKY TOWER and Sparklets Water Fantasy - and of course the animated figures of Hawaiian Punch Village …
I used to suffer from under-exposure, but it turns out that over-exposure can be worse. I feel like I’ve said too much already.
I sure remember riding my bike all over. We had a network of irrigation canals and river levees that connected with most of the farms so I could ride all over without going on the highway, which was very dangerous road, high speed semi-truck traffic, etc. a different world for kids then.
Major, thank you for these KBF photos, very little of this is familiar. I found some old Knotts memorabilia in the garage last week, would make so great posts. I’ll send it along.
JG
These slides are from long before my time, showing scenes I am Knott familiar with.
That said, my immediate thought on that first picture was that it was taken where TM! says it was, but since he got to it first, I don't have to do any research. Thanks, buddy! :-)
JG, looking forward to you exposing your memorabilia.
Tokyo!, Cordelia sounds like she was a real 'hands on' sort of gal. ;-)
Mike, “she’ll be driving six white horses”. Dang, I missed it by that much! [JB heads back to the 'punishment corner'.]
JG, "over-exposure can be worse". I was going to make an Elon joke here, but thought better of it. Now I feel like I've said too much. Hey, I didn't use any last names... it could be any Elon!
Nanook, getting my Schwinn at the age of seven was one of the most momentous days of my life!
JB, I can’t tell if those horses are white; maybe they are orange. I’m sure seals learn quickly that people=little fish, and they’ll perform and bark. That metal thing regularly sliced seals completely in half, but that’s how it went. Disneyland’s stagecoaches had a roll-away staircase, a nicer solution, but once you were on the coach, I’m sure that staircase was not noticed at all!
TokyoMagic!, wow I was way off in that first pic! I am aware of the horse arena, in fact I have a good slide of performers doing tricks to empty stands. Interesting about the Stagecoach being brought out for use. Cordelia was a mellow lady, mostly because she could get all of her aggression out on those chicken. CRUNCH. I wrote today’s blog post months ago, and what do you know, I can actually see Petland in one of my slides!
Mike Cozart, I know what you mean, I have very mixed feelings about zoos, even though modern zoos tend to be much better for the animals. I remember seeing a monkey cage in Virginia - it was like a jail cell, and it was COLD outside. Even as a small child I felt bad for those poor chimps. I’m not a big Animal Show person either - I guess parrots riding little bicycles is OK, but big cats or elephants make me feel sad.
JG, over exposure? You mean because of the National Enquirer? Those leeches! My years in Huntington Beach were really great “bike years”, it felt like we went everywhere. I’ve probably said it before, but we would ride our bikes to the beach, lay them down on the sand, and they would still be there when we were done. Incredibly. I look forward to the Knott’s memorablilia!
Chuck, I am sorry, I know you love to do research! Trust me, you’ll have another opportunity soon. There are cartoons for me to watch and Doritos for me to eat.
JB, I only know ABBA songs, so I am the wrong person to ask. That’s right, you could be talking about Elongated Muskrat.
Major, "That metal thing regularly sliced seals completely in half". That's what I was picturing too, but I'm not crude enough to say it... OK, I AM crude enough to say it, but I figured if I didn't say it, you would. Tadaaa! (I'm gonna be in this punishment corner a looong time.)
And yes, I was talking about "Elongated Muskrat". (How did you know?!)
JB, I'll say anything, I'm a real wild man! Some people can't handle the truth (to paraphrase Jack Nicholson).
That metal thing regularly sliced seals completely in half
That was Cordelia Knott's brainchild. The seals were cut neatly and efficiently into slices, which were then cooked and served in Knott's Steak House. You didn't think they were serving beef steaks, did you?
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