Saturday, June 16, 2007
Knotts Berry Farm Visit 10-15-48 #1
A series of black and white snapshots showing the Ghost Town at Knotts Berry Farm in 1948. Some of the best shots I have seen for Knotts for this time period. All of the images show how crowded the Ghost Town would become while patrons waited for a Fried Chicken Dinner and a piece of pie.
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10 comments:
Wow. These photos are like waking up to Angelina Jolie.
Great pictures, indeed.
However, you have (in the first picture) inadvertently published a photo of THE BIG SECRET of Knott's "Sad Eye Sam" -- the dummy prisoner locked in the hoosegow who would chat knowingly with any wide-eyed kid (like myself) who stepped up and peeked into his cell.
Can YOU spot the secret?
Keep in mind the photo was taken while standing directly in front of (and with our back to) Sam's little prison.
I will post the answer on Monday...
Thanks for the blast from the past!!
Awesome photos! Tangaroa would love these.
Dreemfinder has certainly piqued my curiosity! I am going to take a wild guess, although I really have NO idea...
Maybe the voice of Sam was actually hidden in the building that we are looking at, and he could see the kids peering into Sam's jail cell? Then he could say something personalized to each viewer.
OK, now I get to wait until Monday to find out if I'm wrong....!
In the second photo you can see the upstairs part of the house that Walter and Cordelia lived in. It's behind the pueblo styled building. Great photos.
... we might mention, too, that the Knott house was bulldozed a few years back. Just like so much of what once made Knott's a unique park.
Ahh! So that's how it was done! Congrats to myself.
Wow! Those are fantastic Knotts photographs. Look at that line for Sad Eye Joe! As far as the secret goes I’ll let you give it away on Monday. Let’s just say I’ve “reflected” on your question and know the answer. By the way, every once and a while that leg would kick against the wall. That Ghost Town was a pretty wild place!
WTG, sundaynight!
Yep, that diagonal piece at the top of the 'chimney' on the far end of the building was a large mirror. I always assumed there was a dedicated Knott's cast member seated in front of a mike and another mirror downstairs.
Funny thing is, that's exactly the kind of job I have currently at the Magic Kingdom!
Never noticed the leg kicking, tho...
Thanks for the endlessly great posts!!
The guy in the last photo is Arthur D. "Slim" Vaguhan (1904-1968). He lived in Tujunga and participated in various "Old West" and Forty-Niners events throughout Southern California. He was a landscaper by trade.
CJ
I remember very clearly, hearing Sad Eye Joe talk to me by name, and describe my clothes, ask questions about my school and things that no stranger in a hoosegow ought to know about a second-grader.
When I was much older, I visited again and figured out the periscope system. I am sure the detailed info came from my Dad to the cast member voicing Joe. I wonder if there was a charge to custom-tease a kid, or if it was gratis...maybe Dad tipped him.
I also remember the leg banging against the wall. My mother thought it was scandalous, although the second-grade kid never understood why.
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