Miscellaneous Amusement Parks

I always enjoy photos of vintage amusement parks from around the country - hopefully you do too.

First up is this September, 1963 image from Maryland's "Enchanted Forest", with Little Toot (the brave tugboat) cruising along the mirror-smooth waters. Enchanted Forest opened in August of 1955; Wikipedia says... Appealing mostly to families with small children, the park... featured fairy tale buildings and characters, but no mechanical rides originally. Track rides were added later, including the Alice in Wonderland ride with teacup-shaped cars, a Cinderella's castle ride with mice for the cars, the "Little Toot" boat that took children to Mount Vesuvius for giant slides, and the Jungleland Safari which was driven by open Land Rover-type vehicles. Children's birthday parties were often held in the picnic areas among the attractions; many local teenagers worked as ticket-takers at the park. Unlike many other attractions of the time, the Enchanted Forest was integrated from the day it opened.

Enchanted Forest finally closed for good in 1995.

This next slide is from 1970, and I'm not entirely certain of where this is! Each railroad car says "(Something) Mountain Railroad Co." Stone Mountain, maybe? The green and yellow car might say "Hat Creek" on the side as well, but it's hard to be certain. Whatever the case may be, there's nothing more fun that watching simulated killing; the guests look like they're having the best darn time.

And finally, here's a neat photo of a little "diesel" locomotive (steam is for losers, man!) awaiting its next load of passengers at Storyland. There were several parks with that name, but those palm trees makes me assume that this was the version in Pompano Beach, Florida. Postcards that I saw on eBay seemed to back that up, although I could find no photos of that train, or of Jack atop his beanstalk (or is that supposed to be the giant who terrorizes Jack?). Anyway, I love this photo, in spite of not finding a lot of information about the park itself.

Tahitian Terrace, August 1970

My friend Mr. X gave me a small batch of Instamatic-style slide transparencies a while ago, and among them was this group of four great photos from the beloved (and much-missed) Tahitian Terrace.

Well, well, well! Now this is more like it. I'm sure the food at the Terrace was delicious, and the sounds of the ukulele and steel guitar were pleasant and relaxing, but it was the beautiful dancers that many guests remember. And we can see why!

Aloha! Looks like another dancer is waving goodbye, but don't worry, there will be more to come. On a side note, there is a red spotlight up in the trees - or is it a heat lamp for those chilly days and evenings? The tree (Disneyodendron) is a 35-foot tall, man-made wonder, completely believable in every way.

I would have had a hard time paying attention to my food with so many lovely ladies onstage, though that boy in the foreground is perhaps a little bit young to fully appreciate them.

And here's one last look, I can almost see the hypnotic movement of that grass skirt! I believe that the Jungle Cruise river was just beyond that wall of greenery, with boats passing by every minute or so.

Four From Fantasyland, October 1981

Today I have a swell selection of classic Fantasyland photos, courtesy of Lou Perry and our friend Sue B.! These are from 1981... 40 years ago.

Is that a smile I see on old Skully's face? He's glad to see us. I love later photos of this feature, when the plants had really matured and look so appropriately lush and tropical. Once again it looks like the tallest waterfall (to the right of Skully) isn't working, I wonder if they knew that this feature was going to be torn out all too soon, so it wasn't worth repairing the pump?

Look at that amazing Pirate Ship! In my mind it's the most piratey of all pirate ships. Arrrrr! You know, for a bunch of unshaven, smelly, vicious criminals, they sure knew how to make their ship look pretty. I've seen photos where the words "Captain Hook's" were painted on the bow, but I prefer the elaborate painted scrollwork.

Monstro is looking a little bit sleepy here. He just ate another boatload of guests, and that inevitably makes him groggy. Notice the small pile of wooden 2 X 4's by his mouth., and what appears to be some kind of construction machine to the extreme right of the photo.

At this point, color had been added to the façade of "It's a Small World", but only some tasteful blues in the middle, so it wasn't too egregious. I know that some people liked the tutti-frutti, colorful pastel look that came next, but it was another case of "too much" in my opinion.

 THANKS to Lou and Sue for these beautiful photos!

1989 Souvenir Guidebook! Part 2

Like the title says... this is PART 2 of a series featuring scans of a 1989 souvenir guidebook, courtesy of our friend JG. We're in Adventureland now (so... counter-clockwise for those of you keeping track). 

Besides the fierce face of Pele (goddess of fire and volcanoes), the most notable thing on this page is the photo of the beautiful dancers from the much-missed Tahitian Terrace. The Terrace would survive another five years, finally closing forever on April 17, 1993. 

A jungle launch (still with its candy-striped, pre-Indy look) moves perilously through a hippo bathing pool. Don't make too much noise, except for those of you carrying a pistol with blank cartridges - you can fire at will!

I believe that the scene with the gorilla and the crocodile was added to the Jungle Cruise in 1976. The tiger might have been added then as well, but I'm less sure about that.

This page features the Swiss Family Treehouse, which would be altered in 1999 with a "Tarzan" overlay. Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room is also highlighted. It is "...where parrots who have learned to talk get a chance to teach people how to whistle". You don't say!

On to Frontierland! The Nature's Wonderland Mine Train was gone, otherwise the land remained much as it had been for many years.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad had already been around for nine years at this point, but for many younger visitors it was a thrilling highlight.

The Keelboats still plied the Rivers of America, and the old mill was still at the south end of Tom Sawyer Island... "Fantasmic!" wouldn't come along until 1992.

Those giant dinosaur ribs always make me think of The Flintsones. There was a T rex skeleton in Nature's Wonderland, and the story goes that this is the same skeleton (or parts of it, anyway), but my skepticism alarm keeps going off.

Reading the text, I am surprised to see the mention of "Sam, who owns the Golden Horseshoe Saloon". I guess Slue Foot Sue sold it. It's all moot, since they don't do an old-fashioned music & comedy show there anymore. We also see Mickey feeding a goat at Big Thunder Ranch.

And finally (for today), it's nice to see Captain Mike at the wheel with two of his friends. He reminds me of Alan Hale Jr. The Disneyland Band is performing on the bow of the Mark Twain, and we get another look at a Keelboat.

THANKS to JG for scanning his guidebook! Look for part 3 in one week.

Jim and the Columbia, 1978

Here is a series of photos taken aboard the Columbia sailing ship, as shared with us by the Mysterious Benefactor.

The ship's pilot (apparently) is this salty dog named "Jim". He doesn't look it, but he's been at sea since he was a small child, and he's crossed the equator dozens of times.

I think this is still Jim, but he's climbed into the shrouds to see if any whales are spouting nearby. He's wearing period-accurate Keds.

The Columbia is such a creampuff, she steers herself! No need to man the wheel. The guests are watching pods of dolphins playing in the bow wave, except for the guy with the red and white-striped shirt, who is feeling queasy on the high seas.

"Sail off the larboard bow! All hands to battle stations! Man your guns!". Jim does this every trip when he sees the sails of the Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship, and frankly it's getting old.

Of course this last one was not taken aboard the Columbia, but from the Mark Twain, as the Columbia rested in Fowler's Harbor. Twice a year they needed to scrape the seaweed and animatronic barnacles from the hull.

Thank you, Mysterious Benefactor!

More Stuff From The Box

Who wants to see more Stuff From the Box? Hopefully YOU do. I'm getting down to the last few items in box #3, but never fear, I've already photographed nearly 70 items from two other small boxes.

Let's start with these two nice brass and enamel wings, given out to members of the Junior Birdmen of America. The Junior Birdmen was a national organization for boys and girls interested in aviation and model plane building, founded (ca. 1934) and promoted by the Hearst newspaper chain. It cost a dime to join, and by 1937 there were over a half-million members. After 1937, Hearst newspapers stopped advertising the Junior Birdmen and it became an independent organization, but it was defunct by 1939. As you can see, the top version  says "Hearst Newspapers" on it, while the bottom version does not. There are a number of slight size variations for these wings, and the small holes at the bottom were there for the addition of "rank" badges; Commander, Captain, Eagle, and Ace (ace being the scarcest). I have an example with some of those badges, when I find it I'll share it here!

Next is a Captain Midnight "Flight Commander" ring, given out in 1941 by Ovaltine. I should have taken a photo of the back inside surface of the ring, which reads "Captain Midnight's Super Code 3". But I didn't. That's because none of you can handle Super Code 3, it's too powerful.

Speaking of rings, back in 1949, Post Toasties and Raisin Bran cereal boxes contained simple lithographed tin rings featuring popular comic characters of the day. Kids could bend the rings around their fingers for a custom fit. There were a total of 36 different rings - I only have a few, but it's nice to have one in its original glassine envelope. "Mac" was a character from the comic strip "Tillie the Toiler", a largely-forgotten series that ran from 1921 to 1955. Clarence "Mac" MacDougall loved Tillie, though she did not reciprocate his feelings.

I've shared photos of two other Melvin Purvis badges, and here's yet another - "Roving Operative". Do you have what it takes to be a Junior G-Man?? This is from a series of five badges given out by Post cereals in 1937-38.

Next I have several photos of a 1949 Sky King "Magni-glow" Writing Ring, given out by Peter Pan Peanut Butter. Here you can see the domed magnifying glass, useful for reading microfilm or for starting fires when you've been stranded in the wilderness. Below the magnifier is plastic that glowed so that you could use it at night for flashing morse code at your accomplices. "Buy....more...peanut...butter!".

Say, there's a hinged brass portion, covering a red plastic base. What other secrets does this ring contain?

On this side you can see Sky King's plane, "Flying Arrow", while the other side had a portrait of his horse, "Yellow Fury".

How many rings come with a built-in ballpoint pen? Maybe one in five at best! It had red ink too (dried out by now, of course), and that off-white plastic glowed.  There's the secret compartment too.

This odd little bisque figurine (with moveable arms) is supposedly a Cracker Jack toy, back from the days when they really did have some pretty neat prizes in the boxes. Based on the long braids and evident "fringe"on the dress, I assume that this is supposed to be an Indian maiden. Being only about 2 inches tall (the dime is for scale), I guess we can forgive the crudeness of the casting.

Another charm is this plastic example featuring "Sniffles" the mouse, created by Chuck Jones in 1939. Sniffles was as cute as can be, and Jones strove to be as Disney-like as possible, resulting in charming cartoons with a gentle humor that is quite a contrast with his later, more mature style. I always liked sniffles! He starred in 12 cartoons, finally being phased out in 1946. There are other Looney Tunes/Merrie Melodies charms released at the same time, but this is the only one that I own.

That's it for this installment! Stay tuned for more, IF YOU DARE.

A Trio of Snoozers

It's Snoozer Time! Everyone's least-favorite feature. But it gives me an opportunity to use up some scans that are generally not ready for prime time.

First up, from sometime in the 1980s, comes this very dark and moody photo with Sleeping Beauty Castle peeking up over the blackest, shadowiest forest (that's what it looks like, anyway), which must be full of monsters and witches and things that eat children. I think I'll walk back to well-lit Main Street where it is safe.

Next, from August 1965, is this photo that is almost pretty, but is a bit too dark, featuring the moat (no swans), a charming little bridge, the Wishing Well ("I wish for a billion dollars!"), and the Snow White Grotto, with the ghostly forms of Snow White and her Seven Dwarfs staring at us with blank eyes. Wait! Did one of them just move?!

And lastly, from July 1969, is a photo that is certainly not bad, really; it's just one of those scenes that we've seen over and over. And over. There are many design details that one could enjoy, but I like the arch through which the Disneyland Railroad passed. The lack of soot on the top of the arch must mean that it had been painted fairly recently.

I hope you have enjoyed today's Snoozers!

Random Views

I have some oddball, rather random slide scans that just might be interesting enough (with a little help) to make for a good "Anything Goes Saturday" post!

First up is this picturesque (in an Edward Hopper sort of way) view of two ladies walking away from us, with brilliant sunshine upon them, but with what looks like potentially stormy skies in the distance. The slide is hand-dated "June 1953", and also has the words, "Lake Village, Ark". Wanting to know more, I looked for clues, but the only one of use is the distant sign for the "Azar Motel".

Much to my surprise, I found several vintage  postcards for the Azar Motel ("The Delta's Most Modern Motel") online, though they state that it is in fact in Greenville, Mississippi ("U.S. 82 and Miss. 1"). Lake Village is actually about five miles west of Greenville, on the other side of the Mississippi River, so one can't always rely on the accuracy of written labels. 

Air conditioned! Tile baths! Private telephones! Radios! Beauty Rest mattresses! Bellboy on premises! What more could anyone want? 

Next is this undated photo of a happy gentleman posing at the wheel of a (plywood) antique auto "at the CARRIAGE CAVALCADE" in Silver Springs, Florida. I must learn more! 

Of course I had to look for some vintage postcards. Some info that I found said, the Carriage Cavalcade… later became the Silver Springs Early American Museum. It was located across from Silver Springs, Florida. It was popular during the late 60′s and into the 70′s. When it was known as the Early American Museum, a rocket stood to the right of the entrance. The empty rocket platform can still be seen standing today. After they closed their doors, an industry took over the building. The building is now vacant.

Looking at this photo, how could anyone resist pulling over for a visit?

Another postcard, with a charming southern belle reclining beneath the Spanish moss.

I'm sorry this photo is so racy... if that lady wasn't wearing high-button shoes, we would be able to see her ankles! Normally this is a family blog, but I reserve the right to "go there" once in a while. I love that cute, squashed little car that she is posing with.

I hope you liked today's Random Views!

Walt Disney World

I had a completely different post ready to publish today, but luckily for me, Sue B. reminded me that today - October 1st, 2021 - is the 50th anniversary of the opening of Walt Disney World. Uh-oh, time to pivot! As it so happens, Sue also recently sent me some beautiful photos taken by her father, Lou Perry, during his visit to WDW in September of 1972... the park was less than a year old.

First up is this nice detail of one of Main Streets shop windows - but which shop? I sure have no idea. I would have guessed that it was the Emporium, but I don't think that's correct. There's an interesting assortment of antiques, from a phonograph, to kerosene lamps, to vintage prints. And maybe a Ronco Chop-O-Matic.

Here's a wonderful view looking north on Main Street toward the Plaza and Cinderella Castle. This hazy autumn day is wonderfully uncrowded.

I absolutely love this shot of one of the Keelboats, possibly just being brought out from backstage (?). A cast member is putting the little craft through its paces to make sure it's ready to ferry thousands of guests around the Rivers of America. Frontierland looks so wonderfully scraggly and undeveloped!

It's a little early for ice cream. Wait, what am I saying? There's no such thing as "too early for ice cream". Instead of Carnation, the Magic Kingdom had Borden as a sponsor. Note to self: buy red polyester pants, and use a white belt to hold them up. (Should I have white shoes as well?).

Next is this nice shot of the two-level landing for the Admiral Joe Fowler riverboat. Quite impressive compared with the relatively simple structure at Disneyland. I think it's actually pretty clever the way guests would load on one level (the upper level I believe) and unload on the other, speeding up the process.

And finally, I particularly enjoy this shot of a Horse Drawn Streetcar, as crowds of people give some love and rubs to one of the beautiful Belgian Draft Horses. One little kid proudly wears some Mouse Ears. Everything was so new and wonderful!

Happy 50th Birthday to Walt Disney World, and many thanks to Lou and Sue.