OK-zles™
OK-zles! First discovered by scientists at Bell Laboratories, OK-zles are a fascinating phenomenon. Originally mistaken for Snoozles, brainiacs in lab coats noticed distinct and unique characteristics, thus enriching and improving our daily lives (*gets tears in eyes*).
The first OK-zle is this totally OK photo from September, 1962. One might assume that the photographer was riding on the neck of a giraffe, but carefully analysis proves that this picture was taken from a speeding Monorail. The motion blur in the foreground is a feature, not a bug. It's nice to see one of the trains sitting at station. This was a beautiful September day, where is everybody? In front of the station are posters - many that are easily identifiable, even at this distance. I'm noticing a (party obscured) "Art of Animation" poster, and a seldom-seen lilac Main Street/Santa Fe poster.
Speaking of Main Street Station, here's a bright, clear, extremely OK photo from December, 1969. It's weirdly devoid of people, with the exception of two lonely souls up on the platform.
9 comments:
Major-
That 1st image is a great angle for capturing all the hubbub in the "foyer" to the Magic Kingdom. The 'backside' of that smaller billboard, just to the right of that sea of pink, "satin" petunias should still be plugging Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color - LOOK HERE.
Thanks, Major.
I love how we’re seeing that trash can heading for the turnstile — probably getting ready to start its shift on Main Street.
Pretty flowers in both pictures.
Thanks, Major.
Well y'know... our photographer could be riding on the neck of a giraffe who, in turn, is riding on top of the Monorail. And the Monorail is on planet Urf (thanks, Major), which is being hoisted through the heavens atop a herd of giant elephants, which are milling around on the back of a mighty tortoise who is slowly making his way through the universe. Oh, and I think i can see four trashcans.
Wow, this "extremely OK" photo of the Station has a surreal starkness to it. It's lacking all the usual small details, like clouds in the sky, or a bit of trash on the ground, or water stains below the drain holes in the retaining wall, which looks freshly painted. Even the flage are hanging limp. Floral Mickey is looking especially happy on this day.
Sue, haha! Maybe the trashcan forgot its name tag and can't get into the Park.
These are very OK OK-zles, Major. Thanks.
Speaking of giraffes, we can just make out the head of one among the trees, looking in the direction of the Jungle Cruise.
Made ya look!
Sorry, I didn't really have anything else to say. I guess I could state that I prefer this version of the Mickey Mouse flowers, over the current version. Oh yeah, and they ruin everything! ;-)
That looks like the Fred Gurley with the Excursion Train at Main Street Station. The Park is surprisingly empty for 11:30 in the morning, but it is September, and the off season in those days was delightfully uncrowded, allowing you relax, knowing you could take your time. September mornings still can make me feel that way.
The emptiness of that second photo is odd. Potential guests must have taken that “go away green” a bit too literally. Here’s how that area looked when properly populated with people.
TM!, from now on, I will read entire comments before referring back to the photos. Well played, my friend…well played.
This is a fun angle on the esplanade (or so I have heard it called, although that word has also applied to the River bank across from NOS). Yes, four cans in green and yellow Main Street livery, although a fifth is undoubtedly hiding closer to us, obscured by those people or maybe the roof, symmetrically arranged because that’s how trash occurs.
I wonder what was under construction that needed a crane? Was this the beginning of the Haunted Mansion?
The retaining wall is freshly painted go-away-green, no cracks aligned with the fence posts, and no dribbles from the weep holes, clean and crisp. Mickey is still picked out in the traditional white and purple alyssum. With the exception of the missing posters, this is Peak entry!
Thanks Major!
JG
I agree, these are OK-zles(tm). I agree that that train station has a starkness about it, and that retaining wall looks very freshly painted, with the pavement also very fresh...as much as the unfinished concrete wall and asphalt looks kind of "unfinished"...I actually kind of warming up to the "no so perfect" look of it. I don't like pavers however in any context. There is a crane there in the background on the West side....wonder what that could be building? I also like "old Mickey". If I was the boss, for the 70th anniversary thing: I would bring back the entrance to it's vintage look with attraction posters etc....instead of rainbow banners and all the other highly saturated color "adornments" they seem to have going on now. Maybe I'll have to wait for the 100the birthday: only 30 short years away. The last 30 years have gone by quickly, so I'm assuming that the next will be even faster! Thanks Major!
Nanook, I don’t have to look there (though others might need to), I know which sign you are referring to!
Lou and Sue, trash cans need fun too!
JB, I’m imagining the comic possibilities of a giraffe ON the Monorail. Sounds like things could go poorly at some point! I had no idea that so many animals were involved in our daily lives, but I’m OK with mighty tortoises. The Main Street Station photo is iffy, I love that building, but there’s no denying that this photo is not very good. And thus… it’s a Snoozle.
TokyoMagic!, I have to admit that I was going to go back to the photo to see if I really *could* see a giraffe’s head! I agree, this is the better version of the Mickey Mouse flower portrait.
Chuck, it’s odd, I normally like to name the specific locomotive in a photo, and yet I didn’t do it this time. Maybe I was in a hurry. Perhaps Disneyland would not be able to survive with lots of slow days like the one in that first picture, but it sure looks great by 2025 standards! I love that picture with you and your mom - I forget how many of the other people in the pic are part of your group. The boy in the green shirt looks like an interloper.
JG, yes, I remember when I was collecting “area music tracks”, many of the loops that were from this area said that they were from the Esplanade. Funny how the brain works, there is a shopping center in Oxnard (for reals) called The Esplanade, and I still remember their radio jingle from 40 years ago. “The Esplanade, na na na na!”. Brilliant. 1962 would have been around that destruction/construction zone in Frontierland and the future New Orleans Square, when we sometimes see all those red steel beams - which were apparently torn out when Walt decided to make “Pirates” a boat ride instead of a walk-thru. Or so the story goes.
Bu, it’s nice to see the train station area looking so clean and flawless, but I think I agree with you, I don’t mind a few flaws. Signs of life and history! See my comment to JG regarding the crane (though he knew what it was for as well). I never understood the need to change the look of Mickey for the flower portrait, the new one looks like a Mickey that I would have drawn in grade school, not the classic smiling face we’d see at the beginning of a Silly Symphony. I’d love it if they brought back displays of attraction posters in front of the station, but I guess somebody has deemed them unattractive, or else they required too much maintenance. I saw a thumbnail for a parade that is for Disneyland’s 70th, and it shows Duffy the Disney Bear, a character I despise with all my heart. With 100 years’ worth of beloved actual Disney characters, they had to invent a new “merchandise cash grab” bear that looks as un-Disney as can be?
The boy in the green shirt is one of my dad’s 56 (or maybe it’s 54) first cousins. The couple to the right of me are my grandparents on my dad’s side.
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