Disney's Carousel of Progress

[sheeplady]

I think they're trying to suggest that back in the 1920s homes with electricity was a new thing -- at least for the average person -- and that the wiring, particularly in small towns and rural areas where most of the populace still lived back then tended to be DIY. The fact that not everybody had electricity yet is evidenced by many of the radios from the '20s with their "A", "B", and "C" batteries.

Ok, that actually makes a lot of sense. The area I grew up in didn't have electric until the late 1930s/ 1940s; so honestly I have only seen early electric in pictures (and not my family pictures).

I've been in houses with the old wires stapled to the walls for things like clocks and occasionally outlets. I think the last time I saw that must have been the very late 90s. I'm sure those houses are all updated now.

[Tango Yankee]

Nice. Growing up in southern California in the 60's and 70's the Carousel was a favorite of mine as well. The motorboats were cool, too! I have a photograph somewhere of the model of Space Mountain they had on display in 1977; you can see me and my girlfriend reflected in the glass. We were there for my high school's senior's day. I don't think I actually got a chance to ride it until 10 or more years later.

Anyone remember the original Mickey Mouse balloons? The ones that were a colored Mickey Mouse head and ears balloon inside a clear balloon?

Cheers,
Tom

[V.C. Brunswick]

The motor boats are gone. They were taken out a few years ago when they redid the submarine ride. I always thought it was funny that the motor boats were part of Fantasyland as I always thought of it as a Tomorrowland kind of ride.

[rue]

Anyone remember the original Mickey Mouse balloons? The ones that were a colored Mickey Mouse head and ears balloon inside a clear balloon?

Cheers,
Tom

I do!

The motor boats are gone. They were taken out a few years ago when they redid the submarine ride. I always thought it was funny that the motor boats were part of Fantasyland as I always thought of it as a Tomorrowland kind of ride.

I think you told me that before.... so depressing

The Jungle Ride is still there right??

[Espee]

I never saw it.

The one thing that I loved that's gone now is the Country Bear Jamboree

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"There... was.... bl-ood on the sad-dle..."

[rue]

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"There... was.... bl-ood on the sad-dle..."

[Espee]

It may have been mentioned elsewhere, but currently (on certain days of the week) the esteemed Reynolds Brothers (Ralf and John, with helpers) are performing at Disney's California Adventure as "The Ellis Island Boys."

[vitanola]

I saw this at the 1964 Worlds Fair in NY! I am not sure I saw it at Disneyland. It is a piece of my childhood. I also recall the Goodyear tire ferris wheel.

United States Tire Ferris Wheel. US tire merged with Royal Tire to become UNIROYAL. The ferris wheel tire still exists. After the fair closed it was moved to Detroit and installed as a (still) advertising sign on the side of I-94. Every few years it receives a facelift so as to reflect the latest in tire styling.

[vitanola]

The fact that not everybody had electricity yet is evidenced by many of the radios from the '20s with their "A", "B", and "C" batteries.

Well, satisfactory AC operated tubes were only introduced in 1927, by the end of which year the battery radio was pretty much a dead letter as a mass market item.

The wires running everywhere do seem to be a bit of a comic exaggeration, though. Remember that electric refrigerator sales at this time generally included installation. My grandmother bought her General Electric refrigerator from the Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company (the local electric utility) back in 1933. The cost was $15.00 down and $8.00/month, including the installation of an electric outlet for this refrigerator.

Note that by the late 1920's the so-called "schoolhouse" light fixture fitted with a 150 watt Mazda Type C light bulb was pretty well universal in kitchens (at least in the cities and towns), replacing in most cases the bare bulbs on cords and dust-catching chandeliers of the turn-of-the-century. These improved units were often installed by the local power and light company for a nominal charge. In homes which lacked outlets, these fixtures would often include a pendant switch and convenience outlet combination on a cord which would hang from the fixture.

[V.C. Brunswick]

The Jungle Ride is still there right??