Family Snapshots, 1958

The old black and white family snapshot... my mom has boxes full of the things! None from Disneyland though, boo hoo.

Here are two nice images from some other family, circa 1958. Let's start with this photo of the Midget Autopia - one of the few strictly kid-sized rides at Disneyland. The genius who thought of putting two steering wheels in each car should have been made honorary President of the United States. It must have been kind of exciting for small children, taking this winding drive through picturesque countryside while leaving mom and dad behind.


The Astro Jets prove that everything is better with the prefix "Astro" added to it. It's a scientific fact. This slightly blurry picture shows - mom and daughter? - big sis and little sis? - aboard the "Capella". The other rockets were named Arcturus, Altair, Antares, Canopus, Castor, Pica, Procyon, Regulus, Rigel, Sirius, Spicus, and Vega.

Knott's, October 1964

More vintage Knott's Berry Farm...

A prospector has washed his clothes and hung them out to dry. Notice the little cabin says "Roy's Castle". Who was Roy? The happy couple are standing in front of the entrance to the mine tunnel. I remember worrying about that dark, potentially scary tunnel! But as it turns out, you just walked through and that was that. No undead miners were in there waiting to eat your brains.


There's Calico Mountain, home of the Calico Mine Train of course. Bud Hurlbutt designed this attraction, and developed the notorious "hidden queue" that became a standard theme park trick. Sure it looks like it's a walk-on, but much of the line was not visible until you were in it. Walt Disney himself was mighty impressed!


No Knott's post would be complete without a look at Handsome Brady and Whiskey Bill. Does anybody know the significance of that "17 Miles to Sodaville" sign?

Matterhorn, May 1964

Considering how many times I have seen photos of the mighty Matterhorn, it might surprise you to know that I still get a bit of a thrill, remembering those childhood days when you could see it from the freeway. And 50-some years after its debut, it is still a terrific ride! 2 tracks, abdominal snowmen (they do 500 situps a day), glittering ice crystal caverns, and a free cookie for everyone at the end (OK, no free cookie, but wouldn't that be awesome?). I wish I could ride it RIGHT NOW.


Another look from the northern Fantasyland side....

Anything Goes Saturday, Giant Muskie!

Welcome to beautiful Nevis, Minnesota (sometime in the 1950's)! Minnesota is the "Land of 10,000 lakes" (actually closer to 12,000), so fishing is a big part of life there. My dad was born in Austin (home of Spam), and I spent plenty of wonderful summers with my grandparents on various lakes angling for perch, walleye, bass, and northern pike. But I never caught a mighty muskellunge (aka "muskie")! If you have ever seen one of these large, fearsome fish in person, you will know just how forbidding their appearance is - and at up to 5 feet long for truly huge specimens, they are an "apex" predator... humans are the only threat to an adult muskie.

This wonderful display of a "Tiger Muskie" (a cross between a northern pike and a muskellunge) is a piece of Americana that really appeals to me. Who wouldn't love a giant muskie as long as a bus? "Come on honey, any jerk can see Niagara Falls, let's go to Nevis!". You'll find similar oversized fish in other towns throughout the state.


This lady looks like she's all ready to spend some quality time at the lake. I hope she got to catch fish, and not just cook them. She should definitely prepare for "skeeters". Leeches are an added bonus, there's nothing like wading in a lake and finding a couple of leeches stuck to your legs.

Happily, the giant tiger muskie can still be found in Nevis, although he has had a facelift (or paint job, or whatever you want to call it), and he now has a roof over his head.


I hope you have enjoyed your visit to Nevis, Minnesota!

2000th POST!

That's right homies, today is post # 2000 here on Gorillas Don't Blog! I remember, long ago, when I planned on quitting after 1000 posts (see the 1000th post here). What a fool I was! The comments and participation by the readers of GDB are what make this project fun and keep me going when I am in danger of burnout. So thanks to everybody who has taken the time to comment, imparting wisdom and humor to my hastily-written posts.

On rare occasions I've even had a chance to meet a few of you, as well as my fellow bloggers. Patrick (Matterhorn1959) Dave (Davelandblog), Tim (Vintage Disneyland Tickets), Chris (Meet the World), Jason (Disneyland Nomenclature), Connie (Life Is A Journey), Kevin (Kevin Kidney), Ken (Outside The Berm), and oh jeez, I'm probably leaving somebody out. There are so many other great blogs out there that I read on a regular basis... too many to mention, but they are all appreciated. The Disney blogger community is made up of some wonderful people!

I have a few images that I have been saving for #2000... photos that I consider to be extra special. Hopefully you'll agree! Like this first picture (undated, but probably 1956 or 1957) in glorious Kodachrome; Black Bart - the scoundrel! - hams it up for a photographer, robbing a group of five girls in front of a colorful Rainbow Ridge.


Here's a closer look. If this picture doesn't make you smile, nothing will! Skinny black pants were "in" for girls that year, apparently. I love the look on Bart's face, and the pure joy on the faces of the girls.


The lovable (and, I am legally obligated to add, "short-lived") Viewliner was a spiffy little train that ran between Tomorrowland and Fantasyland for about 15 months before its demise. Sure, we love the Monorail that replaced it, but if only the two could have lived together in peace and harmony. This terrific shot shows the "fastest miniature train in the world" as it crossed the bridge over Tomorrowland Lake. The ducks are not impressed.

Here's a nice photo of the old bandstand (circa 1955), from the short period when it was just to the west of Sleeping Beauty Castle. I think that the orange roof didn't stay that color for very long, either! A small group of guests has gathered to listen to the Disneyland Band; the small flags and the patriotic bunting might be leftover from the opening day ceremonies.

This is really the only decent photo of a Phantom Boat that I have... but it's a doozy! Calling Batman... somebody stole your boat. I love the big fins and the "jet engine" cowlings, combined with the prosaic outboard motor. Those motors were notorious for overheating and conking out, leaving guests stranded. Eventually a cast member sat in the back and piloted the boats for them. Lame! From this angle, it's as if there was nothing but miles of grassy meadow in the background; just imagine if this attraction had survived to see beautiful mature landscaping.

Well, that about does it for today! I am sorry to say that there definitely won't be a 3000th post, because I am very nearly out of slides, and will almost certainly run out sometime this year. At that point... who knows. I've got some thinkin' to do. Meanwhile, thanks once again to all GDB readers for your support!

Town Square & Castle, September 1959

For some reason that I can't really articulate, I always like photos of Disneyland's Town Square. Part of it is the appreciation of the wonderful architectural detail on buildings like City Hall and the Opera House (not visible in this photo, as you already know). There are the vehicles, and Walt's apartment above the Firehouse, and the Bekins van (back when it needed to be pulled by horses). And even the canon, a detail that somehow evokes municipal parks in so many small towns. All in all, I can't think of a thing that I'd change!


Here's an interesting angle looking towards the bridge that led to the castle. Notice the top of the red fire hydrant at the bottom of the photo! There's a little brook running among the flowers and bushes, maybe it's full of animatronic trout.

3 From Knott's, 1959

More views from the Berry Farm...

Soft-handed city slickers who always wanted to know the thrill of seeing "color" in a pan full of gold dust-laden dirt could head on over to Knott's and try their luck down in this man-made pit. I wonder how many pounds of gold the park has passed along throughout the years?


Beware of the mule. Or is it a burro? Or a donkey? I really can't tell. Whatever he is, he is cute and likes to have his ears scratched (just like me!). This nice lady is happy to oblige. And while she's scratching...


... her husband has found something that interests him. Nell is showing off her gams, and this fella likes what he sees. Don't take it personally, Belle.

Perisphere, 1939 New York World's Fair

I've posted plenty of photos from the 1965/65 New York World's Fair. But today is the first time I am sharing photos from the 1939/40 New York World's Fair! Poised at the end of the Great Depression and as the war in Europe was growing, this fair was huge and dazzling and offered a view of a better future.

These pictures are from a photo album that my mom found in Minnesota. Thanks mom! The prints are generally smaller than a playing card; in fact, they are about the size of a business card. I guess shutterbugs were OK with small photos, especially if they got more pictures out of a single roll of film.

Check out this wonderful shot taken of the base of the iconic theme buildings, the soaring Trylon (700 feet high) and the huge Perisphere (180 feet in diameter). Wikipedia says: The sphere housed a diorama called "Democracity" which, in keeping with the fair's theme "The World of Tomorrow", depicted a utopian city-of-the-future. Democracity was viewed from above on a moving sidewalk, while a multi-image slide presentation was projected on the interior surface of the sphere. After exiting the Perisphere, visitors descended to ground level on the third element of the Theme Center, the Helicline, a 950-foot-long (290 m) spiral ramp that partially encircled the Perisphere.


Here's another amazing view from the walkway between the Trylon and Perisphere. Wow!


Looking in another direction, I believe that the building with the octagonal roof is the AT&T pavilion. To the right of that, the Medicine and Public Health building.


All those overcoats... the Fair was open until the month of October, and this must have been around then. These ladies are walking down the long Helicline mentioned in the Wikipedia description above. The two tall pylons are part of the Crosley building (Crosley made automobiles and fine radios, among other products).


If you are interested, I will post more images from the 1939 Fair! I even have a few color slides, though some of them are naughty, showing scantily-clad ladies. Woo-hoo!

Two Too Twain, May 1964

Try to pretend that you haven't seen pictures like these a zillion times! If you can view this scene with fresh eyes, you'll find that it is still pretty fantastic. You've got your big river, Cascade Peak, Tom Sawyer Island, and even a bit of Rainbow Ridge (not to mention the buildings of Frontierland itself).


Similar scene, zoomified! The steamboat is loading (or unloading?) a batch of passengers while a plucky little Keel Boat follows an Indian War Canoe. I regret never experiencing the Keel Boats!

Frontierland, April 29 1956

HAPPY NEW YEAR, and welcome to the year 2012! It feels weird to say it now, but I guess we'll get used to it soon enough.

Today I have some nice images from Frontierland, from that 4/29/1956 lot that I have been nursing and dragging out for weeks. Let's start with this great view along the river front, as some very dapper guests head toward the Golden Horseshoe Revue and the Mark Twain. If you look carefully to the right you can see the book-shaped sign that gave guests a preview of what they would see from the decks of the Twain. Also, notice the person on the balcony of the Golden Horseshoe.


Here's another nice photo! Guests are waiting in an area for... what? Was this where you caught the Keel Boats? Or the rafts to Tom Sawyer Island? I'm just not sure. The Chicken Plantation is in the distance, and a top-heavy Keel Boat chugs along.


Here is an interesting detail (one that I think I've seen before, but I'll be darned if I can remember where): this Keelboat is not the Bertha Mae or the Gullywhumper, but instead is the "Gully Pitts". I can only assume that this was one of the craft from "Davy Crockett and the River Pirates", which were used early on, until they could be replaced with larger versions. Which is pretty cool!