Two From 1973
I'm continuing to go through a fairly big lot of scans from '73. I'm posting them in order (more or less) based on the numbers that are stamped on the cardboard mounts.
Just look at all those flowers in the Plaza! But they are protected from rampaging people with a tall wrought-iron fence now. No more stomping through the daffodils to make your own path. A balloon vendor is in danger of being blown away by the apparent breeze. I'll bet those vendors feel 10 pounds lighter while clutching their bouquets, and at the end of the day, they'll feel the now-returned 10 pounds even more - like an astronaut returning from space, sort of. Think about it!
Our photographer walked into Tomorrowland, which is always a wise choice. And you can't blame him for snapping this beautiful photo of the Rocket Jets (in mid-flight), the Peoplemover, the distant Carousel of Progress, and one of the Mary Blair tile murals, nearly lost in shadow.
11 comments:
Major-
Goodnight... look at all those lucky folks [attempting to] enjoy the best Tomorrowland ever-! What a place to be.
Thanks, Major.
I see that the balloon vendor's costume is kinda snazzy, in a friendly way. Not the unfortunate 'Pinocchio' costume that we've seen before. I think I will have a red Mickey-ear balloon. Those look sort of transparent, which appeals to me. And we've got more petunias... lots of petunias! They look nice. Too bad they have to be kept caged up. Petunias like to roam free. And free-range petunias produce better tasting eggs.
I wonder what the vendor on the right is vending? Ice cream bars? I bet it's chocolate covered turkey legs.
Wow. The Rocket Jets really 'pop' in this photo! And the blue sky looks especially nice. Everything else is in partial shadow. And I like that there's a bit of motion blur on some of the rockets. There is a PM car heading into the CoP building over on the right. And arrrr, I spy with me little eye a pirate hat in the crowd. Thar be a blue plume stuck in the hat.
We can see a couple of those "Go-Go-Goodyear" animated displays in the shadows under the PeopleMover station.
Enjoyable, iconic Disneyland photos today. Thanks, Major.
These are both very nice photos. I like the angle on that first one. The photographer obviously had to crouch down low for that....or maybe they handed the camera to their baby, who was in a stroller.
JB, I spotted that pirate hat right away! I bought one just like it (but with a white feather) in New Orleans Square, back in the eighties. I wore it while working at Knott's, during one of the park's "Halloween Haunts." I even posted a couple pictures of myself in the hat in October of last year! It's one of the few DL souvenirs that I got rid of, but now I wish I hadn't. If I still had it, I could wear it around the house and also when I go out shopping.
I'm 99% sure that vendor with the cart (first pic) was selling ice cream. But there is a 1% chance that he was selling ice-cold bubble wands. Or frozen light sabers.
Thanks you Major, for these wonderful pics. I'm looking forward to seeing more from this large "lot" of slides.
The color of the balloons and flowers complement each other well.
1973 was a wonderful year for Disneyland. Carousel of Progress was still there. Thanks, Major.
1973 is Peak Disneyland.
Photo 1 is a pretty view of nothing in particular. I always thought those fences were to keep guests out, but it makes more sense that they are to keep the flowers IN.
Photo 2 is definitely the Best Tomorrowland. Skyways, Rocket Jets, PeopleMovers (including one heading into the Carousel), and the Bell logo! It’s all here folks! Let’s go ride the Rocket to the Moon, or is it to Mars by this time?
Thanks Major!
JG
As a former balloon vendor, I can attest to the fact that the bunch does not make you feel lighter. In fact, it's only a slight tug...unless there is some wind going on...then it's just a different tug. The rules say you don't stand that close to the ice cream vendor, as "talking" isn't allowed to employees unless it is work critical: otherwise you are there for the guests. He's probably asking if he went to the Banana Ball the night prior...which in '73: I would have to check if it was happening. It was notorious and deserves it's own blog. When I did a search for "Banana Ball"...some sports team came up: that looks like they wear ODV costumes....with cleats. I wouldn't have minded cleats back then. That being said: I wish I could grow petunias like that: those are truly world class looking. Tomorrowland: looks like a busy Summer day. That's what it looked like from 4th of July going forward. It definitely brings it's own vibe when it's busy...but now, I'm not sure if there is enough "impromptu entertainment" to keep people excited and moving despite the crowds. Through the photo, I can hear the Coke Terrace stage....and the Rocket Jets with people screaming...the narration of the PeopleMover.....all those things add up to: "this is a special place despite so many people". Where that PeopleMover sign is now is a churro/et al cart....with it's line snaking backwards...it's a eyesore as are most of the ODV carts...monolithic things they are. I get it, but from a design perspective: hmmmm... "questionable". I won't rant on, and will continue to look at this view of the best Tomorrowland ever: and in full swing. Thanks Major!
Nanook, I know, it must have been so exciting to be in Tommorrowland!
JB, I’ll bet the balloon vendors were over the moon when they did away with the Pinocchio-style costumes. Those things were just embarrassing. So that’s a petunia, huh? I had no idea - I thought maybe geraniums, though that didn’t seem right. They really made that iron fence *tall*, I guess they were sick of people stepping into the flower bed. Do they still sell turkey legs at Disneyland? I didn’t notice anyplace that had them, though I might have just missed them. I love that photo of Tomorrowland so much, and the Rocket Jets really do “pop”, it reminds me of why I loved going into TL so much!
TokyoMagic!, I thought maybe the first photograph might have been taken by somebody on a bench! Perhaps they did crouch down, though. Aw, it’s too bad you got rid of your hat, but I get it… I got rid of Disneyland items over the years that I later regretted, and sometimes wound up paying a chunk of change to get another one from eBay. I think you’re right about the ice cream vendor, the cart is not one of the classic “Creators” carts.
K. Martinez, you are right about the flowers and balloons complimenting each other! 1973 was great, but… they did close the Carousel of Progress in September (I believe). Boo!
JG, I wonder if there was a hidden gate in the wrought iron around those flowerbeds? Gardeners would have to get in somehow, right? There’s so much to love about photo #2, including the beautiful color.
Bu, huh, I’d figure that if a vendor was holding a bunch of, say, 50 balloons, there would have to be a noticeable force “upward”. Guess not! I’m sure that talking between the vendors was done whenever they could get away with it -maybe the customer at the ice cream vendor’s cart was asking how to get to Walt Disney’s house. I think I’ve heard of the Banana Ball, which is an odd name. Did Disneyland have a backstage garden area (or off-site area) for flowers, or were they provided by an outside vendor? Your comment about the sounds made me start thinking about what it might have sounded like to be there; from the entrance to Tomorrowland, you would have heard both Main Street sounds and some TL sounds. Which would have been amazing!
Yes, "Banana Ball" is a crazy version of baseball that's sort of become popular in these parts. Think "Harlem Globetrotters" on a baseball diamond.
MAJOR: prior to GALAXYS EDGE , north of the cycle shop and paint shop accessed by Winston Road from Walnut St. ( now Disney Way) was the Disneyland Landscaping nursery , offices and greenhouse. Looking east would be the parade storage warehouse. Here plants were prepped and acclimated for including into Disneyland … annuals were also cared for until they were ready to go onstage. Topiaries were also started here ( in the 60’s & 70’s. there was a topiary nursery near vehicle maintenance as well). ROGERS GARDENS of Newport Beach ( they have the original Disneyland Main Street band stand on display!) was a major supplier/ vendor for Disneyland and I believe they still are. There are / were others as well that have come abs gone over the years . One is in Irvine or Tustin still . Most of the people at DL landscaping have degrees in horticulture and botany and landscape architecture/ Environmental Design.
Major, petunias have a distinctive clove-y scent; especially when there are a lot of them grouped together. If you put your nose up close to your monitor/phone/iPad/magic lantern, and breathe in, you'll see what I mean. :-D
Geraniums, on the other hand, have a somewhat unpleasant smell; like a model train transformer that got overheated from hours of constant use. Not totally unpleasant, but not particularly good, either.
Although “Rose Geraniums” do not have showy flowers, the leaves smell like different varieties of roses and other botanicals: extremely and amazingly fragrant. I’m thinking in So Cal they would grow like weeds! Growing this next to thyme, lavender and rosemary would be a feast for the nose! Throw in some orange blossoms, plumeria and gardenia! There are some things I miss about So Cal: the soil and the sun…perhaps my garbage disposal too….
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