Knott's Rustic Carousel

Before the late 1960's, Knott's Berry Farm was free. FREEEEEE! No admission charge at all. You might have had to buy a ticket if you wanted to ride the train or pan for gold, but many of the attractions themselves were free as well. As you can see in this first photo (late 50's?) there used to be a primitive carousel made of little more than wood and chains; I think it might have been mule-powered... simple pleasures for a simpler time. In the background, mostly obscured, you can just see part of one of the old San Francisco cable cars that were on display.


Here's another look at the same carousel, this time from the early 60's. Regular readers of this blog probably recognize the two wholesome kids who we've seen at Disneyland, Jungleland and Santa's Village.


And, just because it was scanned and ready to go, here are the same kids with their bamboo fishin' poles, hoping to catch a wily trout at the old fishing hole.

Tram and Rainbow Ridge, 1964

I know, I know... these two pix aren't the most exciting things we've ever seen. But hopefully they are at least a little bit interesting.

This first photo was taken on board the old tram as it headed from (or is it to?) the Disneyland Hotel, seen in the background. The Monorail is overhead, I wonder if that's what the photographer was trying to capture. There is a Richfield gas station in the distance, original sponsors of the Autopia.


And here's yet another look at the buildings in Rainbow Ridge, possibly taken as the Mine Train was just getting underway. Another unused train is next to us, I think I can see fake pressure gauges inside the cab.

Da Matterhorn

Let us go back in time, a time before the Matterhorn was infested with abominable snowmen. A time when dinosaurs ruled the earth! Oh wait, I mean the 1960's. Forget about that whole dinosaur thing, sorry.

In 1964, a mysterious green wall appeared around the Matterhorn. Some say it was the alien overlords who put it there (they stole it from Fenway Park). Well, OK, I say that. Others say that it is a wall intended to hide some construction going on. And I say to those people, "Whu?". If those people are so darn smart, then what exactly was being built?


In this second photo (taken in 1960), our photographer was in the Skyway, heading towards the Tomorrowland station behind him. Below, a kid is either walking like a spaz or he thinks he can hitchhike his way onto the Skyway.

Photo Phun! September 1959

Today's post is a continuation from yesterday. I wanted to take a closer look at the unique work of this unknown photographer. At first I thought that he was inept, but on further reflection I believe that the work is on par with the great photographers of the 20th century. Is he Henri Cartier-Bresson, with a dash of Paul Outerbridge or Alfred Eisenstaedt? And maybe a smidgen of Weegee?! You be the judge.

Consider this first photo. The castle is in the distance, mostly obscured by trees. The photographer's wife appears in the photo, overwhelmed by emptiness. Other guests face away from us, increasing our sense of alienation.


We know that there is a ride to our right with colorful flying elephants full of joyful, smiling people. But our unknown genius produced this unusual composition, and the message is clear: happiness is an illusion.


A mostly empty street beckons us on towards the looming mountain. You'll notice a common theme in which everyone else in the picture tends to face away from us. The horse hitch in the foreground is a metaphor for the imminent imprisonment of our souls, while the colorful umbrellas mock us.


A barren road lies before us heading nowhere, and vehicles sit abandoned. A series of barriers prevent us from getting to the crowded train, as the people on the benches turn away in shame.


Here we contemplate sitting on a lonely bench. However, there is the ever-present fear that the people do not look at us because we are, in effect, ghosts.


The artist was reluctant to venture into Frontierland (a land that is new and unexplored), and instead is considering the solitude of the bench. However we hesitate because the bench is in front of an impenetrable dark void representing death.



OK, enough with the "art speak"! These pictures are lovably awful. I wonder if this older couple ever brought out the projector, and watched a slide show, and actually enjoyed themselves! Sometimes you really can't tell what the photographer was aiming at, so many of his pictures are basically empty space.

Here's one last masterpiece to haunt your dreams.

Chillin' at the Chalet, September 1959

There's really nothing like finding a little box of Disneyland slides, and HEY, they're dated 1959! Whoo hoo! Only to discover that the photographer was a spazz. A very nice person, I'm sure, but a spazz when it came to taking pictures. In fact, I have just decided (right this very second!) that I'm going to post some of the more baffling examples tomorrow. So stay tuned!

Meanwhile, as the saying goes, even a stopped clock is right twice a day. So there were bound to be some OK pictures! Like this nice portrait of the Matterhorn queue area, themed to look like a Alpine ski chalet. The Matterhorn had opened only three months before, and everyone was enjoying the heady aroma of fresh mountain. Mmmmm! Our photographer (and hero) never let his wife get less than 50 feet from the lens, so we don't get to know her very well.


In spite of the blur, this photo still manages to be interesting since it provides us with a rare look at the Space Bar. There it is way back there! Just visible are the signs for hamburgers, hot dogs, sandwiches, coffee, soft drinks, and tarantulas. To the left, some bright yellow vending machines for those customers who prefer to get their food from a slotted gizmo.


This is a pretty nice photo of the cliffs and tiny pueblos up on the mesas (and the lonesome coyote in his cave), part of the "Living Desert" portion of Nature's Wonderland. If there was any attempt at forced perspective involving the indian dwellings, it isn't working! They look like little adobe doll houses. But it's OK because it is charming in its way.

Ticket Booth, 1975

Back to 1975 we go! This time we haven't yet entered the park. Instead, we pause to take a photo or two, and maybe take in some of the ambiance. The train is at the station, from the looks of things it is loaded up and ready to go on yet another "grand circle" tour around Disneyland.


This closeup is for Tim over at the Vintage Disneyland Tickets blog. If you already have some of the ticket books from this era (used or otherwise), you probably know the prices and options that guests could choose from. If not, this might be a good reference for you!

Main Street, September 1975

Here are a couple of slides from 1975 featuring Main Street U.S.A. To be honest, things haven't changed much in the intervening 30+ years!

Mmmm, ice cream. People hate ice cream now, that's why this restaurant is gone! Notice the ultrasonic riot control devices on top of the building, used to pacify deliriously happy crowds. It turned their insides to goo! Could the patriotic decorations on the light post be part of Disneyland's early celebration of the upcoming bicentennial?


Oops, sorry, you can't get ice cream here today. Renovation, I'd wager. Looks like Mickey is apologizing for the inconvenience.


Looking towards the Main Street Magic Shop, we see even more red white and blue bunting. Crossing the street is a cute nurse, even the guy behind her is checking out her gams. There's just something about that white uniform! Maybe she was finishing her shift at the Baby Center to the right?


Please enjoy the rest of your day!

Clock o' the World, 1957

The Clock of the World wasn't just a cool way to tell time, it also was apparently a popular place for tobacco lovers to gather and consider what a big world we lived in. Not a single cigarette butt on the ground, as you can see!

The clock itself is an odd bit of design. The earth is represented by an inverted, truncated cone, set on top of a contemporary 1950's tiled base (more truncated coneage!). It is crowned with what is almost a medieval sculpture representing the sun and the moon. I have no doubt that if I had seen this as a kid, I would have stared at the little globe, waiting for the numbers to change one minute at a time!


In the background, a bustling, classic Tomorrowland. Too bad it's so distant, but there looks to be quite a lot of folks gathered around the Flight Circle.

Goofy

Goofy - - "foolish; Harmlessly eccentric" - - yep, that about does 'er! Here's a fun picture of The Goof making people happy in Fantasyland. It almost looks like a publicity photo. But it isn't.


And, just because it was waiting for it's closeup, here's a view from the Mark Twain. It's a mysterious Indian burial! I wish I knew when this was removed from the park. Or is it still there? I've got no recollection of seeing it the last few times I rode the steamboat. There's something about this feature that I like... the dose of reality, a peek at customs that we might consider strange (and maybe a bit scary), and of course the tribute to the old west. Imagine being on a real steamboat 150 years ago, heading through the wilderness, and seeing a sight like this! I'm doing a terrible job of saying what I mean, so hopefully you get it. Anyway, those were the days when you could see at least a couple of dead bodies at Disneyland! Nowadays - - not so many.

Meet Me On Main Street

...Town Square, to be precise. Just look at all the people. They are converging around the flag pole, presumably to observe the lowering of the American flag as the sun sets. Let's hope that the guests remember to doff their silly souvenir chapeaus in order to show their respect!


If we look a bit more to the east, we see the Hills Bros. Coffee Garden, a diligent custodian cleaning up after the horses, and a sliver of the Opera House when it showed the sets from "Babes in Toyland".


And, one year later, when everything was blurry due to a passing comet, we see plenty of folks enjoying a meal at the Hills Bros. restaurant. I once bought a 1960 souvenir map (rolled!) from a woman who said she worked at this restaurant, and she recalled that Walt Disney often stopped by in the morning for a pastry. Well, I thought it was interesting, even if you don't!