"Disney World Florida" [1976]

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(Myself and 'friend' in 1976 at the "Stars Hall of Fame", I presume.)

I had mentioned in my last blog that I would sometime in 2015 present a "Home Movies Reel #2".  This is not it [but that project is next on the list.]  This presentation, I found a bit too unique and its length a bit too long to be put on reel #2 so it has its own identity.  

One of my fondest memories, and strongest for its age, was our trip out West in the USA in 1963.  1964 we saw Florida (for my first time as I hadn't been around for the 1957 trip.)  We traveled about our home state in 1965 but by 1966 & 67, and especially after my parents sold the camper trailer, the biggest trips I recall were dropping my siblings off at a camp retreat called "Michi-Lu-Ca" a bit North of where I grew up.  I would play like I was camping at home when they were gone during those years.  I never went there myself, but also never complained about not going, and by 1968 I think our days of exploration were pretty much over.  

Besides some fishing trips myself and my Dad would undertake, this kind of traveling by 1976 was something we just did not do, which makes this reel of film even more of an anomaly.  Even then, this several-day excursion almost was aborted at the last minute when we learned my newlywed sister had fallen pretty ill and her husband was away partaking in National Guard duty.  Worried about her being on her own at first, it was eventually decided she'd hang on okay, and off we went on our flight.  My brother was 21 years old by now and well on his own so it was just me (at 16) & Mom and Dad.  

[Dad and Mom waiting at the Airport to start our trip to Florida, 1976]

Armed with my amateur Super 8mm camera and pocket-instamatic, I was determined to document the event and make this my first 'straight' presentation.  None of us actually show up in the film, or much on film, except for a few seconds and a few snapshots.  I wanted it to be about the event itself.  

What made matters more difficult for the future, however, was that my photos had been processed with a type of 'silk' finish which was popular and cheaper than the glossy finish in those days, but made these photos almost completely un-scannable.   I thought I would never be able to do anything with them but my new scanner seems to have saved the day and all were reproduced with much better results.

The quality of this photographic still is really better than the snapshots I took from the frames of Super 8mm film, however, I sometimes find it helpful in presenting those as well as I can usually boost the colors a bit more and you can possibly spot things you wouldn't while watching the film.  

 *The film itself opens at the mono-rail entrance to the Disney World park.   I will attempt to distinguish the 8mm footage from the camera stills by putting the text in italics.

*This was a muriel flashing by as we rolled through the resort towards the Magic Kingdom. 

*Inside the Park.

The Map of Disney World at that time, with the Magic Kingdom at the top.  I was able to use this in the film to show where it all begins not too far from the Polynesian Village.

I'm not certain as to why I feel I had to keep this photo, but I recall being enamored with the idea of seeing Walt Disney with Laurel & Hardy.

Here's a reproduction of that photo on the wall which I found on the internet.

This image is from an original scan of the photo, about all I felt I could save from the bunch.  For comparison, I've added the new scan below.

It is amazing what a completely different interpretation you can get using different equipment.

*This is actually film that was sold at Walt Disney World, with the idea people could add it to their home movies.  I thought it was an interesting idea, especially since there was low light within the "It's a Small World" exhibit, and there's no way I could compete with this footage.  All that is left is about a minute from this film.  It's nice to present stills from it here as it had turned pretty red by now, and so I'm able to at least add a little more blue and some green back to it.

*An obvious change back to my footage.

*A favorite, "The Haunted Mansion".

*I thought this was an interesting idea to make a composite of several frames of film as I moved the camera upwards toward the top of the this portion of the castle.

We found refuge from the rain outside by enjoying this indoor act.

*Here is the film footage of the performance.

*Something happened here.  I seem to recall using Fuji film because I wanted to try it, but maybe it was too 'fast' a film.  In either case this section is over-exposed and washed out.  It is nice to try and bring back some detail with these snapshots of the frames.  In some weird way, being this is Tomorrow Land, it may even seem appropriate.

*This is it for Mom and Dad in the film.

*Unknown tourists, but I love this part.  I should have had recorded more things like this.

*Mission to Mars!

*Another composite created from a pan I did in the 8mm camera.

I think, I'm not sure, but I think this is the "Swiss Family Robinson" tree-house, and so therefore I had to take a picture and even though it was getting dark, still reproduce it here as I just loved that movie.

*So that's my little film!  Here is a link to it on YouTube.  I know the thumbnail isn't the most inviting, but given this time of year, Halloween, I couldn't resist leaving it this way.  One thing, even if the footage is less than stellar, the music itself makes this worth watching, and listening to.

This is one of those pictures where you look at it and you are immediately transported back to that place and can just feel the memories of being there.  A true time machine.  I know how much I fell in love with Florida again at this time, and remain that way today.

I always liked this photo of my mother Marjorie, but couldn't scan it at the time, so we had it re-photographed and re-scanned.  It shows up in my regular blog of the times, but is worth a repeat here.

This too is a repeat, but a re-scan with much better results.

There is dad Robert taking a walk with his hat on.  I think we next went to "Sea World" the following day.

I seemed to even like the parking lot layout.

One distant photo of myself.

Mom & Dad.

I know people, myself included, abhor the bad conditions that animals have to endure in zoos and circuses.  I can't speak for how the animals might have been treated here, and seriously thought of not publishing any of these photos.  But, it was what we did in our ignorance in those times, so I figured why gloss it over?  The animals look great here, by the way.  I hope they were treated humanely.

Finally, we travel to the Stars Hall of Fame.

I know this may be laughable, a poor (to say the least) tribute to Lon Chaney and his unforgettable character, but even though I wasn't impressed by it so much even then, I was impressed that Lon Chaney was actually being remembered by a main-stream institution.

Planet of the Apes

The Nutty Professor [1963]

"The House of Wax"  [1953]

"Frankenstein" [1931]

"PT 109"  [1963]

"Gone With the Wind"  [1939]

Shirley Temple

Jean Harlow

Mae West

"The Wizard of Oz"  [1939]

Fred Astair & Ginger Rogers

...and to all, a good night.

It may have been a whirlwind 3 day trip, but I am very grateful we got to visit Florida and rekindle that sense of excitement one has going on a trip.  It would be almost 20 years before I returned to Florida and make it to the Keys that time, and once more after that.  Returning again will be like visiting an old friend.  I look forward to that.

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