Monday, June 2, 2008

Photos from George Short, Part 10

George continues to show us Tomorrowland today, with photos dating from 1958 and1959. Tomorrowland Station here sits empty and fairly new (or "gently used" from its days as a Viewliner station). He perhaps photographed the station during the Santa Fe & Disneyland Railroad's closure to permit construction of the Grand Canyon Diorama.

The Excursion Train pulling away from the station:

This somewhat unusual vantage point of early Tomorrowland affords a great look at the rooftops! And an empty Disneyland--either a normal closure or pre-opening. You can just make out the top of the Clock of the World in the distance (you know where to look!):

This fantastic photo of the Thimble Drome Flight Circle dates from 1958. Cox Pilot shared some insights about the banners over at Davelandweb's Tomorrowland page; be sure to go over and read them. George must have been on a rooftop for the photo--or strapped to a jetpack!

And we conclude today's Disneyland photos with another elevated shot, of the beloved Moonliner:

RIP, Kong.

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11 comments:

  1. The Viewliner LimitedJune 2, 2008 at 8:48 AM

    I never knew that they used the Viewliner station for the TL station. Great pics.

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  2. outsidethebermJune 2, 2008 at 10:48 AM

    Wonderful photos!

    And you saved Kong's hand! Good man!

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  3. The Viewliner LimitedJune 2, 2008 at 11:12 AM

    On second thought, after having done some research. That is not the old viewliner station in TL. Both the viewliner and tomorrowland stations exsisted at the same time. Here is a picture link that proves this.

    http://disneydutchman.blogspot.com/

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  4. Jason SchultzJune 2, 2008 at 11:20 AM

    Thanks, Viewliner. After I posted, I realized I'd never seen that bit in print... and also realized there would be photos out there for comparison. Heck, I could have compared the Viewliner's closing date with the introduction of the Tomorrowland Station! I think Bruce Gordon told me that.

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  5. UnknownJune 2, 2008 at 11:32 AM

    This whole series is just fantastic!

    Is that the Art Corner pictured in the first major Tomorrowland shot

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  6. jedblauJune 2, 2008 at 3:24 PM

    Great shots! Where did that King Kong hand come from? Too cool.

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  7. Jason SchultzJune 2, 2008 at 7:01 PM

    The Kong hand is Bob Gurr's! I'm sure he's told me in the past, but I don't recall if it was a test, a spare, or what. I also have a piece of duvatine cloth that came from the project. (It'll be a more interesting fact when I provide more context!)

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  8. Major PepperidgeJune 3, 2008 at 7:54 AM

    Jason, you can see the Tomorrowland Viewliner station in several posts on my blog... take a look at the May 19, 2008 post.

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  9. Vintage Disneyland TicketsJune 3, 2008 at 7:58 AM

    I’m confused (it’s so easy to do). Obviously there was a Viewliner Station and Tomorrowland Station at the same. I’ve seen that photo in the link before.

    Where there two identical stations OR did they move the Viewliner Station (once it closed) over to Tomorrowland and replace the original one which sure looks like the same one that’s there today? THANKS!

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  10. Jason SchultzJune 3, 2008 at 8:05 AM

    Based on the visual evidence, the Tomorrowland Station is the same today as when new in 1958. Who knows where the Tomorrowland Viewliner Station ended up! It doesn't look like the stations are identical--just very similar.

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  11. walterworldJune 6, 2008 at 12:56 AM

    Mystery solved!

    It's kind of amazing to think that the station is vintage 1958; I've always liked its classic look.

    Sure hope that they don't decide to change it anytime soon...

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