Tuesday, September 12, 2006

The Tomorrowland That Was 1974

This is the Tomorrowland of my youth, the ever popular and moving Peoplemover in front with the America the Beautiful Circarama building sponsored by Bell Telephone in the background. The gleaming and to my 9 year old eyes bizarre building siding on the front of the building with spiky planters. I much prefer the color (check out the bright red of the Peoplemover and the great plants in the planter) and motion of this Tomorrowland to the drab (copper and brown) and almost motionlessness of the modern Tomorrowland. Perhaps as society has become more cynical the visions of the future became cynical as well, reflected in the wisecracking Tom Morrow for Innoventions and the dark coloration.

7 comments:

Chris Merritt said...

Really good description of what once was PJ. I will never forget seeing those planters, along with the rocket jets, cracked and broken - lying out in the sun at out airport warehouse, before being cut up for scrap...

Sad.

William Kelley said...

Tomorrowland at its best.

I remember the lobby and exit area of America the Beautiful so well. One of my earliest memories of Disneyland. The large confortable ottomans, the flight theming, the a/c, the People Mover running right through the lobby. Then the group telephone booths of the exit where my family would call my grandmother. Good days!

Major Pepperidge said...

Is this photo one that you took personally? This is the Tomorrowland that I grew up with and loved. So much movement and yes, color....and a feeling of optimism that is mostly missing today.

allyn fratkin said...

when the new tomorrowland opened in 1967 those weren't planters. they were fountains of water...

Gary Green said...

In the Bell Telephone building there used to be a wall mural with multiple Disney characters and in front of it a series of phones. Each button on the phone corresponded to one of the characters and when you pushed it, they would light up on the wall and a recording with that character's voice would play over the phone. As a kid, I was horrified at the end of the Snow White Recording when she would say,"I'd love to chat more, but there's an old woman with an apple at the door. Bye!"

Anonymous said...

Yes, that's the TOMORROWLAND that really strikes a chord--Tangaroa--didn't you say your car tire hit one of the entry fointain/planters in the parking lot? Anyway, I think we all need to hum some "Go Go Godyear!" to make us feel better!!-Mike (wedway)

Anonymous said...

(sigh) ... The former glory that was Tomorrowland. By far the best and most enticing entrance into any of the Disney "lands". This too was the Disneyland of my youth during the 1970s. Please, bring back the colorful PeopleMover and put the Orbitron ride back atop it as the RocketJets!