Anyway, she remembered that November 18th is Mickey's big day - his 97th big day, in fact! She sent along two scans of photos by Lou Perry (her dad), from a parade. Sue said that these are from Mickey's 50th Celebration, which was in 1978, which explains why everyone is in disco clothes. There's the mouse of the hour, looking pretty spry. I need one of those big crutch thingies for emergencies.
Behind him, at a court-mandated distance of over 100 feet, rides Minnie Mouse and Donald Duck. They are riding with a giant Hallmark Card, purchased at the last minute just up the street. "Have you got anything BIG?". They filled it with balloons from the "Fun With Latex" shop next door. Two CMs carry a rope that might ward off evil spirits, or else that's the end of the parade. Two floats? TWO??
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Given the occasion, I feel kind of bad, there have been a lot of very MEH scans on GDB lately, but it's just the way things worked out, as far as going through my current box. I promise there will be more good stuff! Meanwhile here's a standard view of Rainbow Ridge, looking deserted and a little spooky if I'm being honest.
Like most GDB readers, I miss Cascade Peak, and I'm happy to see photos of that long-gone landmark (torn down 27 years ago), even if it's not the greatest picture!
This one almost wound up in the Snoozles bin, but I didn't want to upset its parents, who I know pretty well, so I'm just placing it with the other two scans. The woman to the right wants us to see how her shampoo has left her hair bouncy and manageable, but she did it right when we were trying to take a photo of Old Unfaithful and the Devil's Paint Pots.
Major-
ReplyDeleteAs you already know, ANY images from Rainbow Ridge or the MTtNW are always a welcome sight - even if one is partially interrupted by 'bouncy hair'. (You should've seen mine today...)
Thanks to Lou and Sue for sharing Mickey's big day - and The Major, too.
I know it wasn't specified where the Mickey's 50th Parade pics were taken, but they both happen to be at WDW. I wonder if Sue also went on that trip?
ReplyDeleteI bet Mine Train Rider Lady washed her hair with Gee Your Hair Smells Terrific! Or maybe I Can't Believe It's Not Butter.
Hmmm, it looks to me like Mickey isn't having that great of a time. Which is odd, because his big grin is molded permanently on his face. Maybe it's his stance. At first I thought there was a checker board painted on top of that trashcan, but it's just a frilly design. Disco Dad and his little daughter with the red top, have some sort of tags around their necks. Maybe these two were on sale that day. "Half off!" Or "Buy one, get one Free!"
ReplyDeleteIn the second "Lou pic", it looks like Minnie and Donald are stuck to the giant Hallmark card. Maybe they used double-stick tape... or flypaper. The festive, floaty 'bloons add a festive look to the festive float. (It's alliteration day here on GDB!)
I suppose Rainbow Ridge does look a little spooky with no one around. It would look even spookier if some normal-sized people were standing on the boardwalk in front of those reduced-sized buildings... Land of the Giants! (An Irwin Allen production.)
Sorry Major, but I think this is a really nice picture of Cascade Peak! It has a lot of forced perspective to make it look tall. Plus, we get a side-view of the waterfall on the right. Alas, the sheep have absconded.
Wile E. Coyote and Sasquatch are also being obscured by those luxurious locks. It's a good photo of Old Unfaithful and the Paint Pots though.
Tokyo!, Ha! I almost used the "I Can't Believe It's Not Butter" gag too, before I noticed you already did.
Thanks to Lou and Sue for the Mickey's Birthday pics. And to Major for the Frontierland pics.
Proper waterfalls, yay.
ReplyDeleteI had to look really hard to figure out that the card is also in Florida, but the classic red bag cinched it.
Happy day to the big mouse...hope his cake is cream-cheese.
MS
Happy Birthday Mickey! Many happy returns of the day!
ReplyDeleteAnd thank you Sue for remembering! That was a great conversation about triangles too.
Now I understand why those photos felt odd, taken at WDW. Explains it all thanks.
Major, those CMs with the rope are there in case of engine failure. They can tow the crippled float backstage for repairs.
I see Miners Hardware is selling wood stoves, which are made of steel. I’m so confused right now. I guess you didn’t need an ID to shop there. Years later they added a Miners Software department that makes the Disneyland phone app. The hotel next door is foreshadowing the next big change in Disney hospitality, in 2026, at all Park hotels, bedding will be an extra charge, along with toilet paper.
That’s a fine picture of Cascade Peak, Major. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
I bet Miss Bouncy and Manageable uses Breck and Prell mixed together.
Thanks Major, Lou and Sue! Good stuff today.
JG
Nanook, I do agree, at this point I’m pretty happy to share any photos from Rainbow Ridge or the old Mine Train ride. I wonder if the woman with the bouncy hair used Wella Balsam?
ReplyDeleteTokyoMagic!, we’ll have to wait to hear from Sue, but I’m guessing that by Mickey’s 50th she was married and living her own life. It would be fun to learn that she went to WDW with her dad, though. I still can’t believe there was a real product called Gee Your Hair Smells Terrific!. But I know it is true.
JB, Mickey’s head does appear to be lowered a bit, as if he just didn’t have the strength to raise it. Probably his favorite sportsball team lost. Apparently people care about such things (as do mice). Now I’m wondering what those tags (worn by the father and daughter) are? I think they might be a sort of early daily passport, but am not positive. Maybe they were a special award. “Least Itchy”. Minnie and Donald are “one” with the giant card, merged using a device similar to a Transporter. It seems extreme, but Disney knows what it’s doing. I like seeing full-sized people near Rainbow Ridge’s small-sized buildings, it makes me feel superior living in a regular world. My buddy Mr. X also thinks that the Cascade Peak photo is pretty good, so I’ve been outvoted. Someday I will have a photo of a real Sasquatch in Disneyland, and then I will be loved by all. More than I am now, I mean.
MS, did they use those red bags only in Florida? I used to have one (I think something I bought on eBay was wrapped in one) but I got rid of it in a drunken rage.
JG, remember when the Disney TV program would make a huge deal of Mickey’s birthday? There would be a cornucopia of celebrities such as Tony Danza or Joanne Worley, and highlights from Mickey’s long career. Now that you’ve explained the purpose of the rope, I feel guilty that I was so dismissive. I’m glad I am not the only person confused by a wood stove being made of metal! Disney hotels - they’ve built so many in Orlando that they can only expand the Magic Kingdom by tearing out classic rides. What a great decision. Thinking of odd 70s products, remember “Pearl Drops” toothpaste? I never tried that because there was something off-putting about them.
That's an interesting shot of Rainbow Ridge. Normally that perspective is off limits to guests being that it appears the photo is taken at the point of the rail spur. Assuming the photographer was not hauled off by Security for trespassing, it must have been taken with a telephoto lens. And there is never a bad shot of Cascade Peak from any perspective. As for Old Unfaithful, good thing our gal escaped unharmed. On those hot summer afternoons, I'd try to get a little mist on the last two cars of guests to give them a nice cool down. KS
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure what kind of shampoo that gal used, but she probably used some Sun-In on her hair. All the girls did, back then.
ReplyDelete"....we’ll have to wait to hear from Sue, but I’m guessing that by Mickey’s 50th she was married and living her own life. It would be fun to learn that she went to WDW with her dad, though."
Was still a teenager at this point, and wasn't yet married, Major. I wasn't on this trip...I was probably busy with school and working and everything. But I've taken a number of vacations to WDW over the years, with my dad [and mom] and my husband. We always had a lot of fun together.
Thanks, Major.
KS, that IS interesting… I thought that this part of RR was right near where guests were loaded into the trains, but I bow to your expertise! I love the idea of letting people get a bit of spray from Old Unfaithful on a hot day. I’ll bet it felt great!
ReplyDeleteLou and Sue, I knew girls who used Sun-In. My sister went to the beach so often she didn’t need it, her hair was naturally sun-bleached all through high school. My mistake about what stage of life you were in! But yes, at a certain point, responsibilities start to creep in, which is NO FUN!
Regarding the spooky emptiness of Rainbow Ridge: in early press announcements the little town of Rainbow Ridge is described as a “old ghost town with a whole lotta life left in it!” But the mercantile and miners supplies always seem so well stocked to be a ghost town . I wonder if this was a disconnect with Walt’s request that things (mostly) to not appear run down or abandoned….and this becomes confusing to guests and later WED art directors that Rainbow Ridge , despite being a ghost town , doesn’t look like one . It was probably earlier to explain a single haunted mansion in New Orleans Square looking well kept but being an abandoned manse.
ReplyDelete