For all the Town Square nuts like me, you must be loving this...and there are still many more TS images to come...image one shows a few mouse-eared kids to the right and the old Bekins building on the left; this is one of the few buildings that has been significantly altered over the years. Compare and contrast with a recent photo:
It should come as no surprise that I prefer the old architecture; it just seems a little more genuine. With the current paint scheme and decor, Main Street seems a little more toy-like as opposed to a real snap-shot of yesteryear. Back to 1956 with vintage image #2: The Surrey is just waiting for you!
A few Keystone Kops crossing the street and one or two old geezers just passing the time, soaking up memories of their childhood while they sit on a bench and relax in Town Square:
2 of the now retired Chemical Wagon getting ready to take a spin up to Central Plaza:
See more vintage Town Square photos on my regular website.
There's so much action in Town Square alone!
ReplyDeleteLoving this series! great that the photog took all these shots (without soneone as the subject, just Disneyland!) That drinking fountian in the Surrey pic is so funny, I like the little block for kids to stand on! THANKS for sharing these Dave~!
ReplyDeleteNever realized how much they changed the Bekins Building, thats dramatic!
Dave,
ReplyDeleteAs you know I, too, share a fascination for the Town Square / Main Street area and you raise a fantastic point regarding the color palate currently in place. I wonder if WDI reached a point where they felt the need to provide a younger generation a vision of Main Street that meets that group's expectations. For generations raised on Disney products where vivid color is a key aspect I suspect the more subdued tones of Yesterland's Town Square just wouldn't do. I wonder if the less vivid version would look somehow less 'realistic' to today's visitors. Thoughts?
Hmmm, I wonder if we'll make it to Center Street soon! Thanks for providing the new photo so that we can compare the old Bekins area to the way it looks now. First of all, why did they remodel that distinctive building so that it was so generic looking? And the colors just seem so "theme park", more like what you might find at a Six Flags. In vintage photos, Main Street is colorful, yet it all works together.
ReplyDeleteI don't like to be one of those "Disneyland complainers", but I do wish that the paint scheme was a bit more tasteful!
We have some photos somewhere around here that show the Bekins Bldg being removed. Will try to locate.
ReplyDeleteCount one more vote for better color accuracy.
I agree with Richard. It has to be for the whimsy...and to give a sense of a charming small-town life that was vibrant and oh-so colorful!
ReplyDeleteHey Dave,
ReplyDeleteUnless I am mistaken, you did your 500th post about six or seven days ago. So....congratulations!
David
Thanks Major - actually I am on #528; and you also congratulated me on that day, too...but hey, still appreciated! It's going to be at least one more day in Town Square. Thanks to all for the great comments; seems like I am not alone in how I feel about the design/color of TS.
ReplyDeleteI would agree completely that the early colors were much more pleasing, and gave a soft vision of the Queen Anne (Jacobean ) era of architecture (1880 to 1910). However; I found a few years ago (after restoring an old house) that the new colors are historically more accurate. Strong, rich, tones with bright highlights were very popular during that time. It was only in the later years that people mixed the colors with white because white paint was cheep. But, again, the softer colors still leave one with a feeling of the "real" times past.
ReplyDeleteGreat analysis Coxpilot, I agree. Too bad we don't have any Technicolor photos of that period. Have the color changes on Main Street been slow over the years or did it happen all at once?
ReplyDelete