Click Image For Magnificent LARGE Detailed View
I know how Disney enthusiasts love rare Disneyland construction photos (I know, because having done the Disney history thing for twenty-five plus years, I searched the seven seas for them … and on the rare occasion one would actually surface, I would spend hours examining every detail). I believe one of the reasons we get such a charge out of construction photos, is they give us a sort of behind-the-scenes Walt view of his Happiest Place on Earth. Walt was relatively guarded about the release of construction shots; I believe for the same reason he was guarded about a lot of things with the creation of Disneyland and the details–he never wanted the illusion of his magical world to be compromised. This “policy” continues to this day, as walls, sheets, and barriers are still erected to hide construction or rehab projects.
In my Destination D presentation on Walt and the 1964 New York World’s Fair, I ended with the impact of the Fair on Disneyland. In talking about the new attractions the Park was to receive, I also related how the Fair became the gateway for the much needed rehab of Tomorrowland. I through in a New Tomorrowland construction photo with this comment: “I put this in not only to illustrate what the Fair meant to Disneyland, but also because I know how Disneyland fans LOVE construction photos.” This statement was answered by cheers and laughs from the crowd (I knew I was not alone!). I know the rare photo from my presentation has already made it around the internet, albeit in a rather blurry form. (On a humorous note, the AV people that were at the back of the Disneyland Hotel Ballroom told me that with each new image I brought up, about 1000 little camera screens went up into the air. It is nice to have one’s topic so revered and appreciated.) Sometime in the near future I’ll pull that particular image off my Keynote presentation and put it up here at DHI. In the meantime, I present today a similar image that I did NOT use (the one from the D23 presentation included the House of the Future). Still, this is a great panoramic image showcasing the construction and progress (land!) in its March 1967 state. Walt was, of course, gone by this time, but his thoughts, wishes, and ideas were heavily represented in the New Tomorrowland concept. Enjoy.
NOTE: I scanned this image at an extreme (well, for me) high resolution, so by all means click on the photo (AND zoom in … and in … and in) to see all the magnificent detail. (It is over 1MB so on my computer screen I can zoom in all the workers and everything!)
An amazing look at histories Tomorrow. Thank you for the wonderful capture of past things that will be.
My pleasure. I will try to get the other image up later today, which has a little more detail (a zoom in and you can see two lamps in the House of the Future windows).
I like how the only shred of the old land that remained is the “Avenue of Flags” and the small light just outside the fence. It’s interesting to see the new Skyway in operation. Thanks for sharing.
Again, my pleasure. Thanks for all of your comments (three different, a record here at DHI). Still intrigued that you have another Walt WED card. There must be plenty more out there then? And I agree, not much left. Walt was pretty disgusted with what Tomorrowland had become, but the World’s Fair put everything on hold (and good thing, because so much of what became in the New Tomorrowland ’67 was a result of the Fair). Thanks again for your comments. Paul