Thursday, September 24, 2009

Tell-No-Tales Thursdays: The Hat Thief



This July 1967 publicity photo was taken for California Living Magazine and features one of my favorite scenes, showing the burning city and the hat thief. Poor guy is damned to an eternity of having his feet straddling the shore and the boat.

In this shot of the model for the looting scene, it is interesting to note that the Hat Thief is not yet straddling the boat and the dock. The completed scene was not as complex or active as the concept shows. Most likely cost of audio-animatronic figures was the reason.





Once more, but this time without a flash on my camera:



Once on a previous trip to DLand, the Hat Man was missing...just gone...no explanation. I was very relieved to see him back, forever balancing between the boats again. Sometimes it’s fun to look backward in the boat and check out the composition of the scene behind you. Either way, you get a cinematic view of the story.



See more Pirates of the Caribbean photos at my website.

4 comments:

Major Pepperidge said...

You sometimes see Haunted Mansion maquettes out there, but I've never seen any of those great Pirates maquettes for sale (or displayed).

The no-flash picture is great too, shows the moody quality of the low light.

Vintage Disneyland Tickets said...

I recall seeing the Hat man missing too, was the boat gone also? I'm glad he's back. Neat model photo! - Thanks!

Unknown said...

Ah the hat thief.. I always smile when I see him.

walterworld said...

Probably my favorite character in the whole ride!

He has a very deep voice that can be heard when passing...Anyone else notice that?

Thanks as always...