Saturday, July 26, 2008

September 1958: Pt. 3



Time to wrap this baby up! First up is Dumbo, shot from the Skyway (this photographer, aka Billy Barty, seemed to be challenged by the rails at the park!). Shot #2 shows the Teacups in their original location. This is an attraction that definitely benefitted from change; I enjoy the overhead lights and thatched control booth much better than the original version.



A million miles away over in Frontierland, we have 2 views of the Mark Twain.





For equal time, we don’t want to be unfair, so here are 2 of the Columbia as well:





And here’s a bonus for all you Knott-Heads:



And back to Present-Day Land and the Didja’ Know Dept.: once again, Chris J. pointed out some new info to me. This semi-defunct fountain at the Disneyland Hotel was “imported” from the 1964 World’s Fair. I am diggin’ the Art Deco/WPA look to it, and hope that one day it gets a little restoration.



See more vintage & current Disneyland photos at my regular website.

6 comments:

outsidetheberm said...

For years that fountain was the 'Dancing Waters' show. Colored lights sets to classical music and rythmic water movement. It was a nice free treat.
Had no idea it came from the '64 fair! What exhibit, exactly?

Daveland said...

Chris J would have to tell you that one - Chris? Anyone?

pixiegirltink said...

I loved the Fantasy Waters, especially the Christmas Fantasy Waters! Such a shame that something so relatively easy to operate would be left to ruins. Here's some more info -
http://www.mouseplanet.com/karl/ht040720kb.htm

I didn't know it was from the fair either...I've never heard that. Chris?

Chris Jepsen said...

In reviewing Don Ballard's book, _Disneyland Hotel: The Early Years, 1954-1988_, I find that the fountain actually debuted at the 1952 Industrial Exhibition in Germany and eventually came to the Disneyland Hotel in 1970.

But the history of the fountain during the interim isn't as well documented. I have some indications (from a Chinese website on musical fountains) that the show moved to New York after the industrial exhibition (in West Berlin) was over.

An old entry on Disneyland's official website indicated that "the 'Fantasy Waters' show premiered at the 1964 New York World's Fair as 'Dancing Waters' and debuted in 1970 at the Disneyland Hotel."

When the show opened at the Hotel in 1970, it retained the "Dancing Waters" name. Both the name and the show changed to the "Fantasy Waters" in 1992.

I'm afraid that's all I can find at the moment. Any further information would be appreciated. (Don? You reading this?)

For a glimpse of the old "Fantasy Waters" show, see this article by Karl Buiter: http://www.mouseplanet.com/karl/ht040720kb.htm
I think there are also some clips available on YouTube.

Daveland said...

Chris - Thanks for all the great follow-up info!

outsidetheberm said...

Yes, thank you, Chris. Good information.