Adventureland Panoramas

It's time for more photos from GDB reader Irene, and her brother (who took these photos)! I think that today's examples were taken around the time that "Indiana Jones and the Temple of the Forbidden Eye" debuted, or (more likely) just before it actually oopened in 1995. 

Irene's brother took zillions of snapshots, but a few were taken using special disposable cameras that took extra wide panoramas. They're pretty striking! It's like watching lots of old 3:4 aspect ratio movies, and then suddenly watching something in Panavision. 

This first image is a nice overview of how things looked as you entered the queue from Adventureland. The level of detail in Indy's queue is one of the most impressive things about the ride, and that's saying something. Even at this early point, one feels drawn toward that mysterious temple in the distance.

Not only can we see evidence of an archeological dig in progress, but those fearsome cobra statues hint at some of the surprises that wait inside.

When I originally composed today's post (weeks ago, believe it or not), Adventureland's "Tropical Imports" shop was one of those features that managed to survive relatively unchanged over the past 20 years. Then it was announced that the old location would close a few weeks ago to be converted to stroller parking, and a new Tropical Imports shop would open next to the expanded Bengal Barbeque, all in an effort to reduce congestion that has plagued the area. So... that makes this photo extra cool!

Many thanks to Irene and her brother!

Swinging on the Columbia, June 1958

Today's photos were taken in June of 1958, when the Columbia sailing ship was brand new (having debuted that very month). Walt Disney knew that another big boat was just the thing for the Rivers of America, and a duplicate of the first U.S. vessel to circumnavigate the globe was selected. It has been a popular attraction for nearly 60 years!

In the early days, crew members were apparently encouraged to climb the rigging (ratlines?) and hang from the spars, probably eliciting gasps from the crowds below. "I think it's a monkey dressed like a sailor!". "I think that guy has had too much grog!". "If he falls, he's going to land right on me". "I wonder where he bought those shoes?". These are just a few of the thoughts that probably occurred to guests.

Look at that show-off, climbing up to the crow's nest like he owns the place! Why in my day it just wasn't done.

Puppet Show, England

Today's "Anything Goes Saturday" images are undated, though my guess would be from around 1960, give or take a year or two - but they were labeled "Castle fete, England". England! Cheerio, guvna. Pip pip. What's all this then? Man, I talk good English. 

Anyway, both of these photos are fun, with crowds of entranced children (and a few adults) crowded around what appears to be a particularly large mattress. What could it be? 

I love the clothing and haircuts in this photo. One lad holds a toy bow and arrow - even kids in England loved Westerns at that time. 

Aha! A puppet show! Would today's phone-obsessed children even look at a puppet show? This one looks to be of the "Punch and Judy" type - plenty of beatings with a stick. Let's face it, there's nothing funnier than that. 

Pretty soon, they would all become entranced by rock and roll, especially when four lovable mop-tops came along. I'm talkin' Herman's Hermits. Things would never be the same!

I know this is not an original thought, but it is kind of sobering to think that all of these fresh-faced children are now in their 60's and 70's.  

The River, July 1963

Today's photos are date-stamped "July 63", but they have a very "June gloom-y" look about them. Make of that what you will! Both photos were taken from the Mark Twain (since the Columbia is having work done in Fowler's Harbor).

This first one is my favorite, showing the always-placid Rivers of America, with a months-old Haunted Mansion exterior, looming in the distance. We get two rafts (for one low low price) - one nearly at the landing on Tom Sawyer Island, while the other is nearly ready for its 5 hour journey across the river. The one in the distance might head toward another landing on the west side of the island, while the foreground raft is on its way to the one near the mill.

I love zooming in on the people; it's fun to look at their clothing and hairstyles, or to observe their expressions of excitement (or boredom), or even trying to see if they are carrying any souvenirs - I see a hat or two, and a couple of balloons, but that's about it. 

It seems to me that in almost every photo of the rafts, the cast members are in a "head down" posture, for some reason. Are they looking out for snags? Or man-eating snapping turtles? If we have any former cast members out there who know, please chime in!

Notice the Bertha Mae, apparently out of service in the distance. There are still construction walls around the Mansion.

Here's another photo, taken a little further to the east. There's the southernmost dock for the rafts to the left, with the infamous fishing dock to our right. That one guy is using two bamboo poles, he must be really hungry!

Vintage Postcards - Six Flags Over Texas

Ken Martinez has shared many vintage postcards from Six Flags Over Texas, and they have been very popular. Apparently a lot of readers managed to make their way to Arlington, TX! Take it away, Ken:

More Six Flags Over Texas

Today is a return visit to Six Flags Over Texas.  Instead of focusing on a single theme area, this time we'll hop around the park. 

Pictured here is an aerial view provided while riding the Astrolift.  The Astrolift traveled between the Modern section and Texas section of the park.  Below is the La Salle River Adventure.  Both attractions pictured here are long gone.

The Southern Palace Theatre was where the main musical shows would play featuring local talent.  It’s still operating to this day.

Gone long ago, the Fiesta Train ran from 1961-1978.  By 1968 the ride was remodeled with new style trains and new scenes designed by the team of Sid & Marty Kroft which included a trip through the center of a volcano, traveling through a little Mexican town complete with shoot out and a runaway bus.

Here’s an unusual shot of the Runaway Mine Train coasting through a rockwork tunnel and behind a blue waterfall.  I’m not sure if this waterfall even functions anymore or if the rockwork still exists.  Perhaps a reader can chime in with the answer.

Of course Six Flags over Texas became a huge success and the company added two more of its own theme parks before expanding by acquisition of existing theme parks. Hope you enjoyed the return visit to Six Flags over Texas.

Information Source material: 

The Great American Amusement Parks copyright 1976 by Gary Kyriazi

Funland U.S.A. copyright 1978 by Tim Onosko

The History of Six Flags Over Texas – www.ParkTimes.com

As always, MANY THANKS to Ken Martinez for scanning his cards and providing his text!

Boag-Alloons!

Today I am featuring some nice souvenir items from the Golden Horseshoe Saloon - or their empty envelopes, at any rate.

Disney Legend Wally Boag performed at the Golden Horseshoe for some 25+ years and over 10,000 shows; besides singing, dancing, and telling corny jokes, he also made balloon animals for kids in the audience. "Boag-alloons"! Excited kids could take home a kit so that they could practice their own skills in the art of making air-filled rubber animals. 

This first envelope was something of a surprise to me when I found it - I'd never seen one before. Also, nobody else bid on it! I love the interesting color combination and very "early 60's" design of this envelope, which would have presumably held a few dozen varieties of balloons. A young Wally grins at us, holding his carpet bag.

Now that I have shared this scan of the instructions, you can go forth into the world and make your own fortune. When you become a millionaire, just remember who helped you.

Back in 2008, I published this dark photo taken inside the Golden Horseshoe in 1963. Beneath the Pepsi signs and the not-quite-nude portrait....

... you can see some of these very same envelopes behind the bar!

This next "Boag-alloons" container is a card stock box (seen here in its flattened state) rather than an envelope, and is more familiar to me, though still not exactly common. I bought mine from Matterhorn1959. Wally looks plum loco! 

Here's the reverse; written on Wally's hat is, "Actually it was 7 years ago they operated on my father...". Does anybody know the rest of this gag? I'm sure it is groan-inducing!

I hope you have enjoyed today's Boag-alloon containers.

The Magic Kingdom, December 1971

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!

I'm getting down to some of the last scans from a lot of slides dated "December 1971", featuring the Magic Kingdom! 

First off is this nice shot of an artist drawing a little girl's portrait, in what I guess is East Center Street (notice the sign reading "Art Festival"). The easels have lights on them for night portraits, which will make vampires happy. Check out that very unsafe tangle of electrical cords in the middle of the street, which was totally my idea.

Here's a great photo of a busy Town square during the park's first Christmas season. The Horse Drawn Streetcar was a popular attraction, apparently. Why walk up to the castle when you can ride? Notice the gentleman to the right, blue cardigan, white shirt...

... I think that's him, now seated in the second row, facing away from us! Look at all the people, waiting for one conveyance or another. Hop aboard an Omnibus, why don'tcha. To the right is the Hospitality House, which was... well, I don't really know what it was. Maybe the Florida version of the INA "Carefree Corner"? I hope they gave out moist towlettes - nothing says "hospitality" like a moist towlette.

Here's an odd one, possibly shot from aboard the WDW Railroad? To the right, I think we've got Adventureland, while those "lodgepole" shade structures (apparently incomplete) look more Frontierland-ish. All of that bare dirt is magnificent!

Strollers: The Reckoning

Disneyland is for families, and that means little kids - tiny critters who don't have much stamina when it comes to walking. And that's why I invented the stroller! That's right, it was me. I've made a nice chunk of change, let me tell you. Today's photos warm my heart, as you might imagine.

Today we have three portraits of a pair of young mothers as they casually posed in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle. We can send these to Grandma and Grandpa, maybe. I like the way we can see that smidgen of Fantasyland through the arch.

Notice that these ladies have spared no expense and are using one of my Excelsior Dual strollers! I'm thinking about designing even LARGER versions, in a variety of configurations. Someday perhaps even perfectly fit adults will use my conveyances.

Well, I think we've got the best one so far. Looks like the lady in red is expecting another bundle of joy soon enough, and that means more money for ME. Meanwhile, the kid to the left is having a swell time, while the blonde kid is upset that he is missing "The Flintstones" and "Crusader Rabbit".

The Mark Twain, June 1958

Well, you guys know the drill by now - Sunday is not "fun day" here on GDB. Instead it is the equivalent of your weekly dose of castor oil. 

I'm curious, have any of you ever seen a photo of the Mark Twain? If the answer is "yes", please leave a 1000-word comment below. 

Anyway, there it is, looking very blue. The world was just bluer then, OK? I'd explain why, but it's very technical and stuff. 

The Twain is splooshing past the bandstand that used to jut out into the River, with most of the cool people standing on the top deck. It's a little bit strange to see that area just in front of the sternwheeler, just trees and nothing much else.

Here's another photo taken mere seconds later. In addition to the steamboat, you can see a landing for one of the rafts to Tom Sawyer Island, and (to our right) the fishing dock.

Old Autos!

Due to circumstances beyond my control, I have not been able to scan much stuff lately, so today I am going to share some photos of old cars - scans that I made quite a long time ago.

Let's start with this shot of a neat old automobile - one that I can't identify (what a surprise!). The license plate says "Illinois 1947", so it's an oldie. I wonder if it was brand-new in '47? This might have been the first new car for this fellow in a long time, since WWII put a damper on such things. 

Besides the lovely green landscape, I like the ramshackle barn (workshop?) in the background.

Here's a REALLY old scan - I sold the slide years and years ago. And in spite of the slightly weird quality of the scan, it's still a fun look at this old Cadillac - possibly a 1957 model? That lady looks very proud of it. 

This next one is dated "1965", and shows a happy young man sitting behind the wheel of a dragster, in Somewheresville, USA. The Chevy behind him has a price on it (I wonder how much it was back then!), perhaps this was a car show & sale. I'm trying to figure out the purpose of that wooden plank that seems to have either been a part of the dragster, or else bolted to the front of the Chevy. Any ideas?