Here's an oddball pair from Spring of 1973. A fine time to visit the park! My family had moved to Pennsylvania by then, so I was looking at my copies of "Disney News" and counting the days before Summer, when we'd probably return to California to visit my grandparents (as it turns out, I did not get back to the park for three whole years!).
There used to be a flowerbed smack-dab in the middle of The Plaza, and as you can see, it was full of colorful blossoms. I suppose that the powers-that-be considered this centrally-located piece of real estate to be way too significant. "What we need is a statue!". "What kind of a statue, boss?". "A metal one!". "Brilliant!". And that's why the "Partners" statue is there today. People love it, and that's not a bad thing.
I'm always happy to see the Swiss Family Treehouse in Adventureland. Jungle trees somehow manage to absorb sunlight, resulting in dark photos like this one. It's nice to see this attraction looking so busy. I'm noticing a lot of sweaters and coats - it must have been a bit cool, in spite of the bright sunshine.
EXTRA! EXTRA!
GDB pal DW found a caricature of himself that was done at Knott's Berry Farm "from around 1975-1977". Very fun! I love that he's at the controls of a locomotive - I didn't ask, but I assume DW must have told the artist that he liked trains? Most true railfans recommend riding a train atop the boiler, the way it was done in the old days. Considering that the artist had to quickly represent an old steam locomotive, and that he was probably not exactly an expert in those, I think his sketch is pretty fun. THANKS, DW!
BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE!
Also from Knott's Berry Farm comes this caricature of Sue B. She said this was from my California trip in the summer of 1976. I went to DL and KBF, while staying with relatives in California. I'm positive I had this caricature done at KBF, but there's no KBF stamp??? I had just recently started dating Keith and he drove a 1969 Chevelle...I was a love-sick teenager, missing him while I was away. [Queue in the sappy love songs here.] THANKS, SUE!
3 comments:
Just think, if they hadn't put the Partners statue in the center of the Plaza, the Imagineers could have put the Astro Orbiter there instead of blocking the entrance to Tomorrowland!
That's interesting that David and Sue's caricatures have their names on them, but JG's and mine didn't. And for Sue, they obviously asked her some questions about herself. Unless she shared the part about missing her boyfriend on her own with them.
Thanks for sharing your caricatures with us, David and Sue! And thanks to Major, too!
I was thinking that David's caricature looks like someone famous from the seventies. I've been trying to figure out who that might be. Peter Barton, perhaps?
I don't really have anything against the "Partners" statue. Although, I think Walt would've been against it. Seems like he didn't want to be edified like that. His park, films, and 'empire' were edification enough. I do wish they would've placed it somewhere else that doesn't block the view of the Castle. Town Square maybe. Or off to the side somewhere, like the Snow White grotto.
These flowers are especially vibrant! The guy on the right seems to be waiting for our photographer to snap his picture before he snaps his.
What this Treehouse needs is a good elevator! I'm sure "The Professor" from Gilligan's Island could've come up with something. Made of palm fronds, bamboo, vines, and coconut shells. Miss Pink looks quite stunning in her all-pink outfit. She reminds me of a bottle of Pepto Bismol.
DW, Ah, the 'big hair' years! Hang on tight to that smokestack! And pay no attention to the smell of burning denim!
Keith? Keith Richards? Keith Partridge? You look good, Sue, zoomin' along in that Chevelle. Apparently this was a convertible. You wouldn't have been able to get your head into the hard-top model! :-p
Nice Disneyland photos, Major. And thanks to DW and SB.
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