Tomorrowland Leftuggies
There are certain things that make me happy. An episode of "Bonanza" that still has Adam in it. A packet of Pop Rocks. Any song by Barry Manilow. AND... vintage photos of Tomorrowland, of course!
Take a look at this beautiful view of the Land of Tomorrow, circa July 1960. The Matterhorn is dead-ahead, still giving off the aroma of fresh lumber and paint (probably). I'm guessing that our photographer had just exited from his Skyway gondola, and was about to take the stairs down, when he noticed this view. The blue sky sets off the other colors nicely; I apologize for Screechy for this indelicate view, but it just happened.
Nearly 13 years later (it is May, 1973 this time), we have a whole new Tomorrowland, and it looks pretty great as seen from the Plaza. Judging from the cold-weather clothing (coats, babushkas, cardigans, anoraks made of seal pelts), this must have been taken a few months earlier. Peoplemover trains come and go, the Rocket Jets are soaring, and I get irrational joy from seeing the Bell System and Monsanto logos.
7 comments:
Major-
I aways wondered who was the president of the Pernell Roberts fan club - and it turned out to be you-! (Did you get to wear a sash-? I'd be so jealous).
That's a lovely image of Tomorrowland and the Matterhorn. T'would be a grand time to be there.
Thanks, Major.
Wow, both of these photos are fantastic! So clear and colorful.
We're getting the Summer version of the Matterhorn here, where most of the snow has melted off, exposing the stark gray rock. We can't see Fudgie but I can see all sorts of faces in the rock. Some are kinda scary, some happy, but all of them kinda creepy looking. Some are so obvious that I wonder if they were deliberately made that way. Disney has a habit of including imaginary faces and such in its animated features. Like when Snow White, terrified, runs through the woods and sees scary faces and claws.
Screechy doesn't know we're looking at his backside because he's facing away from us. Down below, at the drinking fountains, there's a guy with numerous colorful things tucked under his arm. I can't figure out what they are... Mickey-ear balloons? (I don't think so.)
Such beautiful lighting in the '73 photo. As you noted, we even get to see the Rocket Jets in mid-flight. I wonder if the photographer waited until the Rockets were up in the air to snap this picture? Maybe Lou
Perry took this photo! I suspect the bundled up guests were SoCal locals, not used to the nippy air. While visitors from say, Minnesota, are the ones wearing short sleeved shirts. The palm trees are really striking here.
This was a special treat today, Major. Thanks.
There are certain things that make me happy........
Major, in addition to Pop Rocks, I hope that Zotz candy also makes you happy!
These are super nice Tomorrowland Leftuggies! Thanks, Major!
Beautiful.
MS
I guess the GE logo doesn’t get your love, Major. I suppose that’s to be expected; progress was their most important product, not warm, fuzzy associations with their branding.
Nice leftuggies today. Many thanks.
1960 was a light snow year, runoff into the Sub Lagoon was minimal. The Matterhorn still has that “New Mountain” smell, before they put in the pine-scented air fresheners. Beautiful picture from a slightly unusual angle for that era.
Photo 2 shows off the four-wheel drive capacity of the PeopleMover climbing back up to the elevated track segment. Casey Jr. served as a trainer for these new vehicles. Those corporate logos bringing us a proper future instead of the one we got.
Major, thanks for these photos, and for reminding me to get my sealskin anorak out of the cedar chest! The weather is a bit nippy just now.
JG
Nanook, we “Pernell Heads” aren’t kidding around! We don’t wear sashes, but rings with a hidden compartment.
JB, I’ve always liked this first version of the Matterhorn, with the darker gray and the simpler snow. Nowadays the snow is very elaborate, and probably takes a lot of time to do… but it’s also too busy. Snow critic! We actually can see Fudgie, though he’s a little bit obscured, but he’s there. As for seeing faces in the rocks… are they talking to you, JB? What do they say? ;-) I think that the drinking fountain is a woman with a big purse. My friend Mr. X always waited for the jets to be up in the air, so I always think of him when I see them soaring like that. It’s hard to think of it being very chilly with those palm trees making it look so tropical.
TokyoMagic!, I used to like Zotz (especially lemon), but once in a while the outer candy would get so thin that it was like a razor… I think I cut my tongue at least once, if not more. “Another candy-related death”.
MS, I have to admit that these are extra-nice!
Chuck, I feel bad that I omitted the GE logo from love, because I do like it a lot. I once did an assignment in art school for Sylvania lightbulbs, but my teacher wanted me to use a logo, so he made me change it to GE!
JG, “pine-scented air fresheners” makes me think of the Log Ride at Knott’s. We used to look forward to that pine tree smell! I think some people said that the aroma was from the fresh lumber, but I don’t believe it - it HAD to be sprayed/piped in! While I am insanely jealous that Florida still has a Peoplemover, I do wish theirs could go up and down hills like the original. Keeping your sealskin anorak in a cedar chest makes it smell great! Unlike how they usually smell.
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