Here Come The Answers (Part 1)
by Todd James Pierce
by Todd James Pierce
First of all, props to Jason Schultz, who was the first (and only) person to post up 9 of 10 correct answers. Jason maintains a fabulous blog called Disneyland Nomenclature, which can be found here: http://disneylandcompendium.blogspot.com/ . You can also check him out on YouTube, including this explanation of some early brick samples on Main Street: http://www.youtube.com/user/foafproject#p/u/37/4uLeeQ8Ux3M
But now to the quiz. Today, I’ll dish up the answers—and a couple stories—to the first five questions. Later this week, the rest. If you’re curious, many of these quiz question relate to photos first published on the DHI website on July 17, 2011. Just scroll down. All photos are still there.
The WED and Disneyland Quiz
(1) In the initial 1958 summer season, what kind of animal, dressed as a sailor, rode the Columbia each day?
A few years before Chimp Fever swept the studio (Toby Tyler, The Monkey’s Uncle, Monkeys Go Home, The Barefoot Executive, etc.), it arrived at the park. Who knows? Maybe this talented chimp’s career started here and then he—like his Frontierland compatriot, Wally Boag—was then picked up for a couple roles over at the studio. Check out his moves in this fine 1958 DHI home movie clip (just posted today)!
(2) The Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse costumes, used for the Alice attraction’s opening ceremonies, do not belong to Walt Disney Productions or Disneyland, Inc. To whom do they belong?
These characters costumes—like those featured at Press Preview Day in 1955—were on loan from the Ice Capades. Back in the 1950s, a guest at Disneyland had a far better chance of seeing live action characters and actual celebrities than an animated character. For a couple of years, Zorro made somewhat regular appearances at Disneyland. Robin Hood and his Merrie Men—from the Disney film, The Story of Robin Hood—briefly, appeared at the entrance to the castle. And then, of course, there were many appearances by the Mouseketeers. Disney animated characters did not start arriving at the park en mass until the 1960s.
(3) That famous photograph of Michael Schwartner and his cousin Christine Vess Watkins, the first two “official” guests, was taken on which day—July 17 or July 18?
Now this story has been repeated for decades incorrectly. Even the Walt Disney Company has repeatedly cited this photo as having been snapped on July 17th. Here’s an easy rule of thumb: on July 17th, Walt wore two outfits: in the morning, a casual lightly patterned shirt and jacket and then in the afternoon a white shirt, dark jacket, a LONG dark tie and NO Smoke Tree Ranch pin. (He tended not to wear the STR pin on TV.) On July 18th, Walt wore a similar white shirt and dark jacket, but this time a SHORT dark tie and the STR pin. Now you can go through and sort your photos.
But if that isn’t enough—and I guess it shouldn’t be—to finally place this photo on July 18, here’s an article from the LA Times (published July 19, 1955) which describes the first official day the park was open to the general public—that, of course, being July 18. You know that first day when people could buy tickets and things.
(Click on article for larger view.)
And if that doesn’t convince you, I’m also posting up an article from the New York Times as well, also published July 19, reporting on activities the previous day.
Come to think of it. Maybe Roy Disney should’ve greeted the first two official paying guests!
(4) What is the name of the vehicle that Walt is driving in the Christmas in Many Lands parade?
This is Walt’s electric runabout. Somewhere I have some recent photos of this vehicle—which of course I can’t find at the moment. This car was designed by Bob Gurr. And, well, he tells the story better than I do. So in his words:
Walt loved to show visitors around Disneyland, whether just friends or Heads of State. He was a fast walker and some of his guests had to hustle to keep up. If he dawdled too long anyplace, a crowd would surround his party and make it tough to continue. So he thought the answer would be some kind of special vehicle that he could drive and spare his group the brisk walk, and solve the crowd problem to boot.
To fit in with the Main Street era, I thought a replica 1900 curved dash Oldsmobile would be small and cute. We could make it electric so it didn’t make any noise and would not create exhaust fumes. It could then be driven on Main Street as well as run on the sidewalks and paths thru all the different places in Disneyland. Walt ordered our Studio Machine Shop to build four Electric Runabouts.
(quoted from Bob Gurr’s excellent online articles, Designer Times)
(5) Identify an object featured in one of these photos—other than a ride vehicle—that was designed by Disney legend and vehicle designer Bob Gurr? Hint: advanced math was necessary to design it.
This, here, I suspected would be the tough question in the bunch. But Jason Schultz nailed the answer. The wire track model of the Matterhorn.
Repeatedly Walt looked to Bob Gurr, who was trained in exterior car design, to oversee unique projects at the park. Mostly, these projects were focused on cars and trains (Autopia cars, Omnibus, Viewliner, Monorail, etc), but late in 1958, he was given the job of designing the double track-course layout for the Matterhorn—two interwoven tracks that, essentially, fit inside of an conical show building. This, an assignment that required significant calculations to a designer who, back in High School, had once failed geometry. Click here to find the full story in his own words: http://www.laughingplace.com/News-ID108090.asp
OK, I’ll be back later this week to serve up answers to the final five questions in the quiz. Until then, Paul will be at the helm to unveil some very old drawings of the Mouse.
I’m sure Disney holds the record among the most used theme to children’s party cause I’ve talked to a custom banner maker who said that out of,at least, twenty banners they are making almost half of those are mickey mouse inspired theme.