Main Street Scenes, April 1973
If this first photo was really taken in April, then it was getting late - the sun set at around 7:00, and I don't know about you, but that is way past my bedtime. Many guests are heading toward the exit, but why walk when you can ride on a Horse Drawn Streetcar? I'm trying to figure out what the fellow with the plaid pants (on the Streetcar) is looking at - I can't quite place it.
Upon further reflection, I considered that the item in the fellow's hands might be one of these mini-postcard books with a comb binding that were very popular souvenirs. There are two different versions (with different covers).
Whatever he's looking at opens in a similar manner, I can't think of anything else that matches (though I could easily be forgetting something).
This was the image that I thought was the most similar to what we can see on his booklet; it's pretty close, but I'm not sure it's spot-on. Other Disneyland postcard "fold-outs" changed many times over the years, with pictures added, updated, or dropped; perhaps these booklets were also updated? I don't have a representative sample.
ANYWAY... next is a view of Town Square, also from late in the day. Why are there three (or possibly four) security guards patrolling the area? There's an FBI guy too, trying to blend in (and failing). Seems excessive. I like this unusual angle, Town Square looks very inviting, there are plenty of benches for people-watching. There's something about this particular photo that makes me wish I could be there on a day just like that.
12 comments:
Major-
I was thinking the same thing about that booklet; but then I decided it had to be a copy of Goodnight Moon, as I always bring a copy with me when visiting Disneyland. (Don't you-?)
Thanks, Major.
Not sure what that fellow has in his handses, but looking ahead, it looks like you've solved it. So onto more important things in the photo! :-p The guy dressed in ketchup and mustard inspired clothing (seen on the other side of the street, behind the Streetcar driver) has an alien 'chestburster' erupting from his body! Oh, the pain! The way dad is carrying that toddler looks like the kid is about to go wee-wee, or worse. Or maybe the kid already went!
Hmm... That could be the image in the booklet. But...
Are those guys Disney Security? Or NAVY guys? Maybe they are trying to locate the parents of that kid in the abandoned stroller in the center of the pic. There's a yeller Mickey ear balloon being held low by someone on the foreground bench. Also a couple of red ones and a pink one elsewhere in the photo. I much prefer NASA guys over FBI guys.
Nanook, I always bring a copy of The Cat in the Hat everywhere I go.
Nice people-watching photos, Major. Thanks.
Funny, before even scrolling down past that first image, I thought it might be a "Disneyland Hi-Lites" booklet. I think we're seeing the third page of this version of the book (the Town Square photo):
Disneyland Hi-Lites Book
I always take my Mrs. Piggle Wiggle book when I go to the park, and I use a flashlight to read it while riding through Pirates of the Caribbean and the Haunted Mansion.
- TokyoMagic!
It’s funny, Major, when you said “plaid pants”, I instantly knew the pictures would be from the 70’s.
Beautiful Main Street, seems to be early in the day with long shadows on the east. Perfect time to read on the horse car. I’m sure he is looking at those postcards, but today, he would be squinting at his phone to mobile-order his breakfast. This first photo seems to have a high, or at least non-zero, percentage of people wearing red trousers.
Nice work on the postcard book, everyone. “Golf clap”.
Photo 2, at least has some trash cans, I can make out three and a possible fourth. And we see the patriotic bunting that was in the photos earlier this week. Are these taken in late June, early July? People seem dressed in a combination of clothing, some coats and shawls, some in shirt sleeves?
Thanks Major!
JG
Major sleuthing fun today. Thanks
MS
The only book I ever took to DL was a Ticket Book.
I wonder if there was a tantrum starting. People seem to be looking at the little girl sitting on the sidewalk.
Thanks, Major.
Zach
I find One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish to be an invaluable field guide when riding the subs, but to each his own.
The extra security hosts are there for the evening Flag Retreat Ceremony at the Town Square Flagpole. Two handle the halyard on the flagpole, lowering the flag, while the third renders a salute as the flag is lowered.
TM!, I immediately thought about that very version of the DL Hi-Lites book but couldn't remember what it was called. My little sister picked that out on a 1976 visit while I got one of those pink-covered "This is Disneyland" postcard foldouts (thanks for posting that 11 years ago in anticipation of my comment).
Sorry - I guess one security host handles the halyard and the other two wrangle the flags as they come down (forgot about the California flag up there).
Nanook, to this day, “Goodnight Moon” is one of my favorite books! GOODNIGHT MUSH!
JB, check out that leather wrist band thing on Plaid Pants Guy. He must be in a gang. You aren’t kidding about the ketchup and mustard clothing, there are FIVE people wearing red pants in that first photo. I hardly ever wear red pants. I’m pretty sure Navy guys don’t wear spats, but I could be wrong. There might be a little baby slumped down on that stroller, the angle makes it hard to tell. Darn slumping baby. How can you tell the difference between a NASA guy and an FBI guy?
TokyoMagic!, I think you might be right, in your scan you can see the angled Omnibus in the lower right corner, and I think we can see it (blurry) in my photo too. I have that version of the Hi-Lites book, but it’s probably at my mom’s house. Thanks for that! “Mrs. Piggle Wiggle” that’s not one that I am aware of. Maybe it was too advanced for me.
JG, ha, oh man, I had some plaid pants in the 70s (more MID 70s) not to mention a horrible plaid suit that I wore to church. With white shoes that I constantly had to apply white stuff to, because they got so scuffed up. I can’t blame anybody for looking at their phones at the park, the whole system is designed to make you rely on it all day long. So, no escape. These are date-stamped “April 1973”, so a little early for Fourth of July celebrating. Maybe that stuff was always up? April might explain the warm clothing, since it can theoretically still be cool in April. Theoretically.
MS, thanks!
zach, well to be fair, that guy must have bought that little postcard book, perhaps at the Emporium! Not sure about a tantrum, you mean the girl sitting at the curb (in white)?
Chuck, what about “Hop On Pop”? The ending always surprises me even after hundreds of reads. Ah, great, the Flag Retreat makes perfect sense. Good one! I must have several of each of those Disneyland Hi-Lites books, but they are scattered all over. And that pink “This is Disneyland” foldout has dozens of variations, I’ve never had the patience to look for them all.
Chuck, I’m just glad that you corrected yourself before I was going to call the authorities.
Major, "How can you tell the difference between a NASA guy and an FBI guy?" The FBI guys wear a suit jacket.
“Mrs. Piggle Wiggle” that’s not one that I am aware of.
Major, my second-grade teacher read us a couple of the Mrs. Piggle Wiggle books. The character was a little "Mary Poppins-ish." I can't help but wonder if the author was influenced by P.L. Travers' stories.
I remember the "Hi-Lites" books being displayed on those wire racks that also held postcards, pictorial souvenirs, flip books, and Dial-A-Guides. They were available at the Emporium, the Character Shop, and the Newsstand locations.
- TokyoMagic!
JB, maybe the jacket even has a big yellow "FBI" on the back!
TokyoMagic!, I guess the Mrs. Piggle Wiggle books must be popular, I'm sure they came along when I was way past the age when I would read them. I was more into "Ulysses" and "Gravity's Rainbow" when I was six or seven! I've seen photos of the Hi-Lites books on postcard stands, I'm sure they could be purchased all over the park.
Post a Comment