Tomorrowland Entrance, January 1966
Vintage Tomorrowland, it's the bee's knees, it's the cat's pajamas, it's the weasel's hat! In other words, I like it. I guess I could have just said that in the first place.
It's January, 1966 (or so the date-stamp says), and the Land of Tomorrow looks pretty swell as seen from the Plaza. What a beautiful Winter day it was, with brilliant sunshine and a blue sky, with only a few scattered clouds. Almost everyone is wearing a coat, or at least a sweater, so there must have been a bite in the air. With the New Tomorrowland coming in less than seven months, you'd think that we'd already see construction walls, or some evidence of the enormous project that will be underway so soon.
Here's a second shot, clouds have moved in (or maybe they moved out in the first picture), it's probably going to rain and ruin my new curly perm. Pay no attention to that boy in the foreground. Or that other boy with the black coat. Let's make a deal, don't pay attention to any boys. We can see somebody standing in front of the Clock of the World, trying to figure out what time it is. Melvin Douglas's rocket looks swell, the Hall of Chemistry beckons (chemistry = explosions), and we could hang a left and check out America the Beautiful.
4 comments:
Major-
I assume we're seeing the same CM in both images hiding in and among the guests. In the 1st image [and barely in the 2nd] we can spot a white platform evidently for a follow spot [covered in plastic]; and as the color filters are attached externally to the front, that would be a Strong Trouper. (Is this a hold-out for use in a Xmas parade-?)
The young gentleman down front in the 2nd image is evidently rehearsing for a bit part in Bewitched.
Thanks, Major.
Funny, how we can't see the Moonliner from this angle, slightly to the right of where most of these photos looking into Tomorrowland are taken. Is it behind one of those green Pipecleaner Trees? And hey, there's a TV camera (or is it a follow spot?) [Edit: Nanook says it's a follow spot] draped in plastic sheeting on the left. Just below that are a couple of men in uniform. The uniforms look a little to ornate to be military. Maybe the guys are Disneyland Band members? The lady in the white coat, sitting on the bench, looks like she's getting ready to jump up, rush over to the right, and slap a teenager upside the head for stepping on some flowers.
Ok, now that you said so, I can't NOT look at the boys! They're both smoking cigars, so any minute now they'll turn into donkeys. I suppose those things are root beer flavored hard candy sticks from the Candy Palace? The kid in front looks like he's blowing snot out his nose; to each his own. The tall guy in the dark blue jacket has a patch on his shirt. Is that the Castle in the middle of the patch? It doesn't look like a CM tag to me.
Nice, bright, and clear photos today, Major. Good for people watching too. Thanks.
Nanook, I agree that the spotlight and platform must be for the Xmas Parade. If these slides were date stamped "January 1966," then it's quite possible that the photos were taken in December. Also, the Christmas parade would run on into January, until the end of what the schools used to call "Christmas Vacation." I think today, they run the Xmas parade and keep the decorations up even longer than that.
I suppose those things are root beer flavored hard candy sticks
JB, they might even be horehound candy sticks. They very well could be root beer flavored, but I just wanted to use the word, "horehound." (Knott's Berry Farm sells horehound candy in the Ghost Town's General Store.)
I hate to disagree with you, Major, but I think New Tomorrowland wasn't due for another 19 months, in July of 1967.
Look at how those benches are just stuck out int the walkway at an odd angle. And even with all that bench seating, there's still a guy sitting on the ground.
I have searched all of those state flags and still can't find the one from the State of Confusion.
JB, I think you are right - those kids are in band uniforms.
Thanks, Major!
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