The Columbia, September 1983
Here are three photos from Lou Perry, courtesy of his daughter, Sue B. These are all from September, 1983, a mere 42(ish) years ago. Lou captured a few pix of the Columbia as it rested in Fowler's Harbor (where it seemed to spend an inordinate amount of time).
One can't help but be impressed by the complex rigging on the Columbia. Hey, it looks authentic to me! Based on my long years at sea whaling, you see. To this day I enjoy gnawing on a piece of of whale blubber for breakfast. But I digress. At the bottom of the frame is a rare photo of the "Zinger Box", where Dolly Madison Zingers and other snack cakes were stored. The roof of the shack in the lower left corner would eventually become Michael Eisner's apartment.
The elements are tough on a genuine 18th-century style sailing ship, especially when the builders declined getting the undercoating. Fools! I always get the undercoating on everything I buy. Extended warranties too.
I sort of love the idea that Lou would sort of wander wherever his feet took him, and captured photos of any detail that interested him. If only I did that for my many visits in the past (I am notoriously forgetful about taking pictures).
Many thanks to Lou and Sue!
10 comments:
Major-
Yes... details... details - so often merely passed-over.
Thanks to Lou & Sue.
"...the Columbia as it rested in Fowler's Harbor (where it seemed to spend an inordinate amount of time)." The Columbia became a real homebody after its long circumnavigation of the world, spending almost all its time at Fowler's Harbor. Plus it was almost always high on hemp and fermented molasses.
So, what was in that box (besides Zingers)? Seems like Ken S talked about the contents of that box a couple of years ago? I wonder if Michael Eisner flicked blubber bits at guests from his luxurious shack apartment?
If it wasn't for the presence of the Columbia in the last two pics, I wouldn't have guessed that this was Disneyland. This is a part of the Park I'm not very familiar with. It looks like it could be just about any park.
More nice, clear, beautiful photos by Mr. Perry; thanks, Lou. Thank you Sue and Major.
The elusive Zinger Box! No Twinkies or Suzy Q's allowed!
I like how two of the pics have no guests in them. And if Lou had waited another two seconds, the one and a half guests visible in the second pic, would have been out of frame! But that's okay. Great pics from Lou, as always.
Thanks Lou, Sue, and Major!
Always grateful for Lou’s photos, catching the unnoticed bits.
It does seem like the Columbia spent a lot of time tied at the dock, so much so that I had nearly 40 years between rides, but part of that was my fault.
Like the rest of Disneyland back then, accurate historic details based on thorough research was just SOP. Now we get Home Depot SLOP instead.
Blubber flavored zingers are my favorite, I hope they bring them back along with the sardine, Limburger, and onion churros.
Thanks for memories today, Lou, Sue, and Major!
JG
Nanook, I’m just sorry that Lou didn’t take a photo of the Columbia’s historically-authentic Foosball machine, which was hand-carved by Walt.
JB, I totally understand the Columbia’s desire to stay at home; I only go out at night when nobody can see me, and scurry back into my newspaper-filled apartment as quickly as possible. I don’t remember what Ken S. said about what was in that box. “Blubber Bits”, are you paying attention, Nabisco?? I do like photos of Disneyland that are almost hard to pin down where they are - most of Disneyland is so instantly identifiable.
TokyoMagic!, I’m sorry that Suzy Q’s were not allowed, but I did like chocolate and vanilla Zingers. Not the strawberry ones with the coconut on the outside. Back in those days, it probably wasn’t that hard to take photos with no guests, especially in that corner of the park. Nowadays… fuggetaboutit!
JG, it turns out that replica sailing ships decay faster in animatronic water. Stephen Hawking wrote about the phenomenon in “A Brief History of Time and Also Disneyland”. I always rode the Mark Twain until about 10 years ago when I finally decided that I had to experience the Colombia. Or was the Mark Twain down for rehab? I can’t remember! Hey, we might get Home Depot slop, but we get the BEST Home Depot slop that was on sale. Now that we can buy “I Can’t Believe It’s Not Blubber”, I chew an oily chunk every day before dinner.
Serious, or at least non-whimsical question: From what I've read, Admiral Joe Fowler insisted on building a dry dock on the Rivers of America for maintenance of the Mark Twain. Walt was irked by what he initially saw as a waste of money, and that's why it's named Fowler's Harbor. It was nicely dressed to resemble an old waterfront, with a boarded-up Fowler's Inn. The question is, was Fowler's Inn ever a themed restaurant or snack bar? At least one book said it was, that being Walt's way of making a lemonade stand from a lemon.
You all jest , but I remember Hostess Fruit Pies ( Twinkies too!) being sold on Tom Sawyer Island at the Fort Wilderness Canteen and Fishing Pier Snacks.
I took photos of the Columbia Harbor entry and signage in 1981 - the Haunted Mansion opened a bit later that day than the rest of the park so a friend and I went through the Columbia Below Decks while we waited for the Mansion to open - I think that may have been the first time I had ever gone in the Columbia. Anyway I see in Lou’s pictures that only a few of thr Columbia signs and displays are still there ….the screen printed blueprint diagram and the big blue and white “Columbia” logo and below deck explanation signs are absent in Lou’s photos -at least I’m not seeing them where they should be. ??? Maybe by 1983 they no longer used them … or maybe they were only out when the “Below Decks” were available while docked?? Another of the many Disneyland mysteries. Thanks Lou and Sue …and Major!
Looking closer at the images - there are no guests or cast members anywhere on the ship nor is the gate open - so that day the Columbia Below Decks is not open… explaining why the signs and displays are absent.
"You all jest , but I remember Hostess Fruit Pies ( Twinkies too!) being sold on Tom Sawyer Island at the Fort Wilderness Canteen and Fishing Pier Snacks."
Twinkies, hahaha! Mike, I never knew that. And us Jr. Gorillas have been joking, all along.
Side note: My dad took a unique photo of the Columbia while under construction [in 1958]. That photo may end up in Disneyland's new upcoming 70th anniversary book...but I still don't know if they decided to use it in the book. We'll see, shortly, as the book comes out next month.
Thanks, Major, and everyone.
DBenson, I am in no sense an authority on these topics, but I don’t think the “old” Fowler’s Harbor was ever a guest facing operation. The buildings were not full scale, they were sort of “tiny” like forced perspective. The pier walkway was always blocked off, even when the Columbia Below Deck exhibit was available. I always wanted to walk down there and I wondered what was behind the diminutive doors. Probably tools and paint buckets.
With the addition of Splash Mountain, the harbor was reconfigured and the Harbor Galley was added, including a through walkway with table seating. One the nicest parts of the Park for me.
JG
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