Frontierland at Dusk, June 1962
After a day of stomping around Disneyland beneath the bright sun, one can feel a real change in atmosphere when evening approaches. There's no more squinting, no more feeling the urge to sit on a hot rock (this is for the lizards who read GDB), and generally feeling more relaxed. Both of today's photos were taken during the last hour (or so) of daylight.
A mother and daughter hold hands as they head toward the queue structure for the Columbia sailing ship (or the Mark Twain). "I want to see the shiny boy on the canoe!", the girl laughs. "I like the burning settler's cabin!", says the mother (who might be a budding arsonist). There is truly something for everyone. Editor's note: I just happen to be wearing pink pants today. HARD FACTS.
After a brief wait in line, guests would find themselves standing at the edge of the load dock, and this is the view you might expect to see. It's very pretty! We can see the distinctive oval sign of the French Market across the water, as well as the tops of some of the buildings in New Orleans Square. I like the fact that some of the lamps are lit. Some of the magnolia trees appear to be full of large white blossoms (magnolias were my grandmother's favorite tree). I also like the way shirts that are yellow or red seem to "pop" especially.
9 comments:
Major-
Dusk is definitely a magical time at Disneyland. After closer inspection, now realize the "1962" date for today's post is where the typo resides. (No God-fearing Mom would be caught dead wearing such a 'loud' outfit in 1962-!) Nor was there a French Market in 1962.
Thanks, Major.
I'm gonna take a wild guess and say these two photos are from 1972 instead of 1962. People in '62 looked like people in the fifties, mostly. These folks look too trippy and groovy for 1962.
In the first pic we can see a green Mickey balloon with undersized vestigial ears. In the center of the photo is Margaret Hamilton, wearing dark glasses so nobody will recognize her. But she can't fool me.
You mentioned how the red and yellow shirts 'pop' in the 2nd picture. And I agree, the bright colorful clothing is the best part of this photo. Since this is so close to nightfall, I'm thinking this is the last Canoe ride of the day. (Don't the Canoes close at dusk?) This is a very nice you-are-there photo.
Now that I've refreshed the page, I see that Nanook also notes the date discrepancy.
Regardless of the date, these are nice photos for people watching and you-are-there-ing. Thanks, Major.
NANOOK: you are correct sir!
JB: you are also correct sir!
Yes : canoes did close at dusk … but I think this is the first time I’ve seen guests in the canoes this late … maybe the line moved slow and they had to cycle the guests already in the que… today the canoes and Tom sawyers island would never operate at the same time the evening lights came on. Of course “CRANTAMSIC - presented by Ocean Spray has ruined these magic hours around Frontierland & New Orleans Square.
That was CRANTASMIC!!
This very well could be 1962, and what we might be seeing in the second pic is the "pop-up" for New Orleans Square, when Walt wanted to give the idea a test run, and see how popular it might be. "Pop-up" shops and restaurants were very trendy in the early 1960s, just like pillbox hats and the "Jackie" look. ;-)
Ah, a scene that can still (pretty much) be seen ar Disneyland, but shall never be seen again in the Eastern Parks (which shall remain nameless because Walt would NOT approve). Their folly has made DL firmly my favorite park! So, there!
On a side note, I hate it when my shirt pops. Very messy.
Photo 1 is somewhat odd, unless Mom and daughter were the subjects? There doesn’t seem to be much of a focal point other than them.
Photo 2 is very nice, my favorite part of the Park at my favorite time of day, right when the little white lights in the Plaza trees start to sparkle.
KS is piloting the last canoe of the day back to the dock and the crowds in Crescent City are thinking about dinner.
Thanks Major!
JG
Whatever year it is, that is a beautiful shot of New Orleans Square along the riverfront. Having the Explorer Canoe in the pic is a nice addition.
Thanks, Major.
Nanook, yeah, I am not good with “touch typing” on that number row. “1972” is more likely.
JB, it’s funny, I just wrote the text to another blog post with pictures from 1972… only the old round Skyway gondolas were there, so it should have been 1962. Margaret Hamilton spent the rest of her life proving to people that she was not wicked, nor a witch. I never believed her! You might be right about that being the last canoe ride of the day, or very nearly so, at least… now I’m imagining how cool it could have been to do the canoes at night. During fireworks!
Mike Cozart, if this was indeed June, then maybe they had long lines for the canoes. Look in photo #2, it looks like there are a LOT of people waiting on the steps up to the Frontierland Station platform to ride the train! Not to mention plenty at the French Market.
Mike Cozart, now that you mention it, I’m surprised that Fantasmic never had a sponsor (that I know of).
TokyoMagic!, hmmm, I think I remember reading about that “pop up”, Marty Sklar wrote all about it!
Stu29573, the mere idea that they removed the river from the Magic Kingdom’s Frontierland is beyond belief. They have all that land! But it’s needed for more hotels and timeshares.
JG, I see a surprising number of photos in which it is not clear what the photographer was interested in! I agree, dusk is somehow especially magical, no longer “day”, but not quite “night” either. Hey, maybe that IS KS!
K. Martinez, I agree, that photo of the river (and NOS) is so pretty, it makes me wish I was there.
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