Sunday, June 06, 2010

Main Street Station Times 3, 1956

Main Street Station was the first thing visitors saw back in 1956 - there was no Matterhorn to spot from the freeway or Monorail to see from the parking lot. And I'm guessing that it exceeded most people's expectations as to what they would find at an amusement park. Where is the "carny" atmosphere and the competing clutter of tacky buildings? Which way to the tattoo parlor?


It's a pretty convincing representation of an old-fashioned train station that you might see in a late 19th-century town. If you ignore the giant Mickey Mouse face, that is.


This photographer was just so darn excited that he took three photos of the station before he had even passed Town Square! Slow down, buddy, there's lots more to see. Maybe save your precious film for Tomorrowland.


(He didn't save his film for Tomorrowland, by the way).

14 comments:

Chuck said...

Wow! This guy had color film AND a time machine! He took the first photo at 11:48, the second at 11:41, and the third at 9:30. No wonder he didn't save any film for the Land of Tomorrow - that must be where he came from in the first place.

Rich T. said...

I bet the designers and construction crews had no idea that the little train station would be standing (and world-famous) half a century later.

The carny atmosphere and tattoo parlor would have to wait for DCA. Thank goodness for the reboot.

Katella Gate said...

Either somebody is mad for mansards or has a finial fetish.

TokyoMagic! said...

Fortunately Walt didn't listen to the "carnies" that advised him to put the train station and tracks at ground level because "nobody will climb stairs to ride a train."

Anonymous said...

Mmmmmmm. Carnies and tattoos!

Connie Moreno said...

I wonder if I'm related to the photographer? Like him, I am mesmerized by that train station and always have to fight the urge to take 3,482 photos of it before continuing on up Main Street...

Nancy said...

such a beautiful day....

and i dont blame him for taking lots of pictures, because im soo guilty of that

i took 900 on each of my last 2 trips to WDW...thank goodness for digital cameras! in my own defense, however, i never took that many when i had good old fashioned film in my 35mm camera

Chiana_Chat said...

The train station's location is a personal statement from Walt that couldn't be more obvious yet its significance is probably missed by most. But I love it there and think it's an example of Walt's genius. "In your face."

Ah Connie I am so glad I don't have that nagging urge. I only shoot 12 shots of the train station before entering.

Well said Rich T.

Spending any money polishing DCA is "welcome" since one is stuck with DCA but honestly IMH, DCA was and will remain just another example of the post-Walt absence of genius. DCA's carny-land was the red flag and it is being not only retained but invested in instead of replaced with something inspired.

Chiana_Chat said...

yay it worked! I've had problems posting the last 2 days. :p

Major Pepperidge said...

Welcome back Chiana!

Vintage Disneyland Tickets said...

Shot number 3 is just splendid, too many trees and greenery today to get that shot. As always excellent photos Major, Thanks!

TokyoMagic! said...

I completely agree with Chiana about DCA! Why are they spending good money on the "carny" section? How much did it cost to convert the swings? And they are STILL just swings! Changing their theme doesn't make me want to ride them any more, nor does removing the sun from the Ferris Wheel and replacing it with a Mickey face. This area should have been bulldozed.....along with 90 percent of the rest of the park.

Chiana_Chat said...

Thanks Maj! Gee. I feel like myself again. hehe.

TokyoMagic - yup. Over a billion dollars later we'll have an improved mediocrity.

Major Pepperidge said...

I don't completely hate DCA like many people, but it is a disappointment. Seeing some of the "Cars Land" models at the D-23 Expo was encouraging. I do agree that the minor changes on the swings and the Ferris Wheel are lame.

It's just such a shame the the park was built "on the cheap" when the possibilities were endless.