The Matterhorn, September, 1964
Today's scans almost fall into the Snoozle category, but I'm feeling generous, so I won't punish them. YET.
It's no wonder that visitors would want to take pictures of the Majestic Matterhorn; it's not like you see something like it every day. Unless you live in Zermatt. This slide had turned a blue-violet, which is aggravating - I did the best I could to bring the color back to something resembling normalcy. There are no bobsleds visible, but don't cry - the Monsanto House of the Future can be seen peeking through the trees, and while it doesn't bring good luck, it does have a fresh, minty smell.
13 comments:
Major-
In the 1st shot, the photographer just caught a glimpse of a Matterhorn AP, nestled-in with the Court of Flags.
Gotta love the Matterhorn image from the Tree House - so majestic.
Thanks, Major.
….and there’s a bobsled on that MH AP….does that count for good luck, Major?
1) The color looks fine to me. Whatever kind of magic you use (Voodoo? Alchemy?) on these troublesome slides, it works! We can plainly see Tink's zipline and the support post it's tethered to. Looks like the termites really went to town on this face of the Matterhorn.
2) This is a beautiful, and rare shot of the Matterhorn! It looks like it is situated in a natural setting. As you noted, no Bobsleds. But there is that thing on the right, in front of one of the 'caves'. It looks sort of like a wooden crate, and we've seen it in several other GDB photos. Is it a planter for a tree?
A couple of good ones, Major. Thanks.
Back when the top half was all snow, looking like whipped cream on a sundae of gray ice cream (chocolate Necco wafer flavor?). Wish they'd bring back the Matterhorn bank with a submarine at the base. The packaging said "Save Your Pennies for Disneyland".
Fine views of the Swiss Mountain, makes me want some fondue and a fancy wristwatch, maybe a chocolate bar and a first aid kit later.
Sue, yes, poster bobsleds are redeemable for a daily portion of good luck, just present your coupon on entry.
Photo 1 does have that minty fresh mountain aroma, this first view of the Matterhorn as you round the corner out of Main Street is always captivating. I can hear the wind and feel the snow.
Photo 2 has a lot of good things too; roof of the House of Plastic, roof of the Tiki Room, lots of power lines, skyway cabins and cables, and the cupola over what was then the Plaza Pavilion (after the “L” was shaken out). I don’t see the “crate” that JB mentioned, but we can see through one of the bobsled tunnels to view the track beyond on the Tomorrowland side, which is cool.
Thanks for the mountainous views, Major!
JG
My favorite exterior version of the Matterhorn. Like Swiss cheese with all its holes. Now many of those holes have been filled in/erased. Thanks, Major.
hmm, I never realized the HOTF could be marketed as "mountain view" -- then you *would* see the Matterhorn every day. Same thing if you lived in the Treehouse! Or, for that matter, if you lived in the Yacht Bar
nice shots, thanks Major
If the Robinsons had a view like this from their treehouse, they'd probably freeze to death.
JG, your list reminds me - time to sharpen my pocketknife. I also need to run to the bank.
There's never a Snoozie to me. It was SOP that, when bumped for a break or lunch, we first conduct a walk through. Now, working the treehouse was either one of the longest days on record, especially when it was slow, or a great way not to be spieling one's mind into oblivion on the JC. It was what you made of it. But a treat was taking that walk through and enjoying those elevated views. And seeing there was life outside the berm. KS
Nanook, I have a special fondness for the Matterhorn poster, my first AP was one of those!
Lou and Sue, it’s hard to say, but you might want to check your sofa cushions for spare change. There might be a $2 bill in there!
JB, I suppose the color-correction on the first one came out OK - as I’ve mentioned before, I have trouble with correcting slides that have turned blue or violet. I’m sure smarter people have no problem at all! The Swiss need to call the Orkin man to get rid of those termites. I see the “crate”, and am not sure why it is there, to be honest. It looks like a split-rail fence.
Anonymous, ha ha, Necco wafers give me PTSD. I remember getting a sleeve of them for Halloween and looked forward to eating them, only to find that I didn’t like them! My mom says her grandma used to drop a Necco wafer in her milk to get her to drink it. I have one of those “Save Your Pennies” banks, they truly are one of the best Disneyland items. I could see them doing similar things with other rides!
JG, Oh boy, on this cold (by SoCal standards) day, fondue sounds amazing. I need more melted cheese in my life. I had raclette in Switzerland, that was wonderful too. Some posters have two bobsleds, rare ones have only one. So does a rarer poster give more luck, or less? I do love being able to hear some of the Matterhorn sound effects from ground-level, especially the Yeti roar. It’s funny, as a mental exercise, I would not expect the House of the Future to be where it is in that second photo, but I realize that the Plaza is hidden and that the HoF is right on the edge.
K. Martinez, I get why the Skyway holes were filled in, but am unclear about why some of the others were. I believe that some were to prevent guests from being soaked by the waterfalls?
LTL, see my comment to JG! Hey, that Yacht Bar is a pretty swell example of mid-century architecture - a bit small perhaps, and no privacy, but I always though it was a neat little structure.
KS, I am always amazed when a Jungle Cruise skipper manages to do his/her spiel and not sound like they want to jump overboard. It must be tough. Often the Storybook Land hosts and hostesses are going through their spiels, sounding pretty “rote”, but I don’t know what they can do to spice it up. Add some four letter words? I’m sure a slow day at the Treehouse could be pretty boring, but the walk-thru sounds nice.
“Mr. Disney, why does the Matterhorn have so many holes?” “Well, it’s because it’s a Swiss Mountain!”. That apparently was a true story, but may be a Marty Sklar “mostly true” story. Who knows. I do love Swiss Cheese though! I’m a little married to the Norsk version Jarlsberg…which of course it not Swiss at all, but does have holes in it. Either one I will take melted on sourdough please. The views from the Treehouse are lovely…it seems the Swiss family had a view of a Swiss mountain…which starts the conversation “on purpose?”. Well, anything is possible in Disneyland. I’m not sure if that is said anymore, but I am saying it now. I’ve been on a sabbatical for a while, and now that the holidays are over, I’m REALLY back…I’ll weigh in to previous posts for those who are interested…in some cases, I am “Anonymous” as my phone decides that for me….Thnks Major and Happy start to 2026 to all!
Bu, I have read that story about the “so many holes” question, it’s fun, but really, who would ask such a silly (dumb?) question? Unless they were setting Walt up for a zinger, like Paul Lynde on “Hollywood Squares”. I think it feels like one of Marty’s whoppers (and there are many)! I didn’t really think about the Swiss Mountain and the Swiss Family, for such a small country, they have a big impact on Disneyland. I’m glad you’re back, and hope that you got the break that you needed (I can relate!) and are now in tip-top form. Happy New Year, Bu!
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