In my duties dumping trash, I noticed people sometimes threw away Polaroids that they didn't want for one reason or another. Eventually I started to keep a collection of them. I was just rummaging through an old junk box and found a bunch of them. Here are just six. If there is sufficient interest I'll post some more.
There were a lot like this. Some guy with blonde curly hair walked in the line of fire. This looks like the Small World ride. I suspect the photographer was trying to take a picture of his family as their boat went by.
The summer Disneyland was blessed with my labors they were also celebrating their 30th anniversary. You can see one of the parade floats in the background. However, you just can't take your eyes off that guy's beer belly.
Ah, the good ol' Flying Basket ride. I imagine the photographer wanted an aerial shot of the park, when this other basket, going the other direction, cut in the way. Dang! What are the odds?
One of my favorites. Such a lovely mouth.
Blurry shots were a common problem.
I have some good photos like this one in my collection. People would set them down somewhere, often on a trash can, waiting the 3-5 minutes for them to develop. I suppose they got distracted and just abandoned this one. Is that Chip or Dale?
Thanks for letting me take you on this trip down memory lane. Want to see more?
ZCore13
Quote: Wizard
I have some good photos like this one in my collection. People would set them down somewhere, often on a trash can, waiting the 3-5 minutes for them to develop. I suppose they got distracted and just abandoned this one. Is that Chip or Dale?
Thanks for letting me take you on this trip down memory lane. Want to see more?
Wow, these are all cool pics. Post more, if possible.
I believe that's Chip in the pic above. (Isn't Dale the one with the red nose?)
Quote: Beethoven9th
I believe that's Chip in the pic above. (Isn't Dale the one with the red nose?)
Yep.
And now my g/f would love you even more wiz...working at disney in the past and creating the baby name list...those are like her two favorite things. :-\
We went to disneyland last month for the first time. She's been to disneyworld about 5 times...and me 3 times. The matterhorn was closed the first day we were there for renovation. The third day when we returned to the "magic kingdom", it had reopened earlier than expected. My g/f rode on it, and wished it remained closed after she rode it. Terribly bumpy she said. We also got stuck on "Radiator Springs Racers" because another car broke down. That was a first for both of us.
Average girth in 1985?
Hairstyles?
What else might be gleaned from it? Too bad there are no background shots of craps tables.
A movie director might be interested in it as a resource for authenticity of dress and public demeanor?
I don't know how this happened with Poloroids, but double exposures were another common problem. In this one you can see the lights and poles from the merry-go-round superimposed over this shot from the Small World. Don't those kids look just like their grandmother?
Another blurry shot. As I mentioned in my OP, I dumped trash two days a week. What I did was push around that big brown cart seen in that picture, swapping out empty trash can liners for full ones. What I don't get is why anybody would pose for a picture behind one?! Those things were filthy and ugly. However, good for me, as it is a nice memory for me of the trash cart I pushed around all summer. I noticed my last trip that the trash carts are only half the size now.
Here is a good picture from the Tea Cup ride. As a sweeper, you had to keep alert for vomit spills outside that ride. Question -- Does how fast you turn that wheel really affect the rotation speed of the cup?
I think this picture was taken accidentally outside the Storybook Ride. As a sweeper you had to keep an eye on the bullet cans on that ride, as they filled up really fast, especially on a hot crowded day. No food or drinks on the ride, please.
Another defunct ride. Across from the Matterhorn entrance there was a boat ride. I don't remember the name of it. The problem here is another common one where the picture partially developed only.
Yet another accidental shot. Those cobbelstone areas were generally for stroller parking, so the strollers wouldn't roll away. Whoever has those calves I think could stand to lose a few pounds.
Quote: CrystalMathI was there that summer, and I wonder if I could find some Polaroids. I remember being there on Disneyland's birthday-July 17, and they stayed open late; we went on the Pirates of the Carribean ride 3 or 4 times right before closing.
I see that 7/17/85 fell on a Wednesday, so I would have worked that day. Sunday and Monday were my days off. I hope you didn't spit out your gum on the hot pavement, spill popcorn in the bushes, or puke anywhere except a toilet. If you had committed any of these infractions in Fantasy Land, then I may have been the one to clean up after you.
Quote: FrGambleWizard you are a neat guy with interesting hobbies and a knack for knowing what is kind of interesting. I think it is cool that you kept these photos and saved them, how many do you think you have? Thanks for sharing them.
Thanks Padre. I've got about 25-30 of them.
Quote: AlanMendelsonThink about a book.
For one thing, I don't have enough of them. For another, Disney could probably make a valid argument the photos are actually Disney property, since they were in their trash cans. I'd be interested in a legal point of view on this from one of the attorneys on the board.
Quote: tringlomaneAnd now my g/f would love you even more wiz...working at disney in the past and creating the baby name list...those are like her two favorite things. :-\
Never let that woman go.
Quote: beachbumbabsI'm particularly taken with the top one and the family grinning ecstatically; the double exposure captures the dream-like bubble you get immersed in when you give yourself to the full Disney experience. What a cool collection!
I used to love Disneyland as a kid. However, once you work there the Disney magic quickly wares off.
Quote: Wizard
I used to love Disneyland as a kid. However, once you work there the Disney magic quickly wares off.
Never watch sausage being made...
Is there something about polaroids? I might have suspected them to be even worse in fading.
There are similar rides to the teacup at County Fairs, you usually climb inside this thing meant to look like a bear and the spinner is in there. The speed with which you turn the spinner affects the rotation speed on those, they hardly revolve at all if you are not turning it.
Quote: Mission146The speed with which you turn the spinner affects the rotation speed on those, they hardly revolve at all if you are not turning it.
To really negate rotation, it's best to hold the spinner in place. It will usually start to rotate a bit from the ride's momentum.
<--- Gets motion sick easily. :(
Quote: Wizard
I used to love Disneyland as a kid. However, once you work there the Disney magic quickly wares off.
I felt the same way about Hawaii. Loved to visit as a tourist,
hated it when I lived there. The only way I would go back
is if they put in a casino. Fat chance.
Quote: tringlomaneTo really negate rotation, it's best to hold the spinner in place. It will usually start to rotate a bit from the ride's momentum.
<--- Gets motion sick easily. :(
I wanted to, my son disagreed with my opinion. I'm selectively motion sick, if it's an open-air ride, I'm usually fine. It's those enclosed things that don't work for me.
Quote: Mission146I'm selectively motion sick, if it's an open-air ride, I'm usually fine. It's those enclosed things that don't work for me.
Me too. I can take a roller coaster, but things that spin around and around, like carnival rides, do not agree me with.
Quote: WizardMe too. I can take a roller coaster, but things that spin around and around, like carnival rides, do not agree me with.
The last ride I was on was in 1959. They're
still cleaning it up..
Quote: FleaStiff
A movie director might be interested in it as a resource for authenticity of dress and public demeanor?
You are absolutely right and the way to get it noticed is to post the photos here with a detailed description that will show up in a Google Search.
Disney just contacted me for permission to use a video from my TV show in a scene in a movie going into production. They want this video about a car dealer on the screen on a TV in a hotel room because it shows cars from that particular model year to set the time for the movie.
Quote: WizardDisney could probably make a valid argument the photos are actually Disney property, since they were in their trash cans.
there are many court decisions on your side, including a decision by the SCOTUS. Once discarded rights are abandoned. there is a question about photos you picked up.
But the paparazzi who go dumpster diving in front of celebrities' homes on pick up days cannot be prosecuted.
The other "rule" is until someone tells you to stop, you can publish.
Quote: AlanMendelsonBut the paparazzi who go dumpster diving in front of celebrities' homes on pick up days cannot be prosecuted.
Thanks! Good point.
Did you ever see the movie The Star Chamber? If so, what did you think of the "common garbage" argument the defense attorney made in that movie?
Quote: Wizard
Here is a good picture from the Tea Cup ride. As a sweeper, you had to keep alert for vomit spills outside that ride. Question -- Does how fast you turn that wheel really affect the rotation speed of the cup?
I'm a pretty big guy. When our daughter was young we went to Disney World every year, and she loved the teacups. I am here to tell you that they can spin so fast that you think you are going to get thrown out, that you get up from the ride so dizzy you can barely walk. And it gets really bad if you go when the crowds are low, between Thanksgiving and Christmas, and you can ride three times consecutively. Then your head spins like you wouldn't believe.
Obviously a picture from the merry-go-round. Although it isn't that blurry I could picture the photographer thinking, "this could be anybody," and threw it out.
One word -- blurry.
This is a sentimental picture for me. In case you don't know, that is a trash can on the right and a fence on the left. I spent the whole summer of 85 around Disneyland trash cans, so they have sentimental value to me. Every section of the park has a different style of trash can. These aren't cheap trash cans either, but works of art. The trash cans at the Main Street Station are the same style.
I think I was one of the best sweepers because I knew where to find trash that other sweepers overlooked. One common place is the area right behind trash cans, as seen in this photo. In this case that area is clean, probably because of me.
By the way, when I return to Disneyland I can't help but look for a pan and broom to hit all the spots that are frequently overlooked.
This one could have been discarded for a couple reasons. One, it is just a picture of some guy's ass waiting at a window. Two, some woman cut in the shot.
By the way, you youngsters on the forum have it easy with digital cameras where you can take all the free pictures you want. With Polaroids each picture cost about a buck, and a dollar was a lot of money at the time.
Somebody wearing tight jeans looking at cameras. The funny thing is the person pressing the button was on the sales said of the counter. You'd think a camera salesman would know better than to take an accidental shot like that. After that, I hope the customer threw away that Polaroid camera and bought that 35mm camera in the showcase.
Another merry-go-round picture. Unlike the one above, it is much more blurry. I wonder if the photographer had shakier hands or the ride was going faster.
The "window" scene in this set reminds me of the eating area in New Orleans Square where you can get the clam chowder in the bread bowls. Either that or the window outside of the "saloon" in Frontierland.
For the blurry merry go round picture, I don't think it was the photog's hand or the speed of the ride, but the camera's sensor mis-reading the exposure length. Perhaps the photographer should have used a "flash bar".
Quote: AyecarumbaI recall that there were sweepers who would use roller skates to zip around the park. Were they allowed when you were there?
No. I've never even heard of that.
Quote:The "window" scene in this set reminds me of the eating area in New Orleans Square where you can get the clam chowder in the bread bowls. Either that or the window outside of the "saloon" in Frontierland.
I've been bread bowls of claim chowder lots of places. Especially Seattle and San Francisco.
Quote: AyecarumbaI came across a fun video of a sweeper at Disneyland who also does street art with his broom: ...
Cool. Totally unrelated to sweeping, but here is another Disney video for you.
Quote: AyecarumbaThis may be the guy who has to follow the horses in the parade. It looks like there is a shovel in his bin. I wonder if he got paid more than the others?
I didn't when I had to.
Quote:I know the guys who do the bathrooms get a "hazard" pay bonus.
How do you know?
Quote: EvenBobModern Disneyland sweepers.
When I worked there wearing shorts was, unfortunately, not an option. Dark sunglasses were not allowed either. Nice to see they are so regimented any longer. When I worked there it was like being in the military.
Quote: WizardWhen I worked there wearing shorts was, unfortunately, not an option. Dark sunglasses were not allowed either. Nice to see they are so regimented any longer. When I worked there it was like being in the military.
For many years, employee facial hair was also verbotten in the magic kingdom.
Quote: WizardWhen I worked there wearing shorts was, unfortunately, not an option. Dark sunglasses were not allowed either. Nice to see they are so regimented any longer. When I worked there it was like being in the military.
When we were there recently, it was 98F on one of the days (in September!), I pitied the workers just a bit more than I pitied ourselves. I couldn't imagine wearing long pants that day unless you are in one of the few places with a/c. Disneyworld is much, much better about a/c in the parks, imo.
Quote: renoFor many years, employee facial hair was also verbotten in the magic kingdom.
It was verbotten when I was there. I couldn't grow much at the time anyway, so that was one rule that didn't bother me.
Quote: Ayecarumba
I know the guys who do the bathrooms get a "hazard" pay bonus.
Quote: WizardHow do you know?
I recall seeing a want ad back in the day. I think the guys responsible for the restrooms got .50 cents more per hour. This was back when minimum wage was $3.25, so, I guess it was enough to make a difference.
Disneyland employs some really talented folks. I wonder if the musicians negotiate their own salaries?
I recall that there was a stage in Tomorrowland that came out of the ground. I always wanted to ride on it.
Tickets for Disneyland seem crazy expensive compared to the days when you could buy a ticket just for the rides you were interested in. Today, a family of four will need to spend almost $400 just for one day in one park.
Quote: AyecarumbaI recall seeing a want ad back in the day. I think the guys responsible for the restrooms got .50 cents more per hour. This was back when minimum wage was $3.25, so, I guess it was enough to make a difference.
You could be right. I just don't remember. There were various types of people in the custodial department. Some were: sweepers (like me), bathroom only cleaners, bus boys, and the graveyard crew. It would seem to me that extra pay would be fair for the bathroom crew. I know I wouldn't want that job. The graveyard custodians were a strange antisocial lot. I overlapped with them on Saturday nights when the park closed at 1 AM.
Quote:Disneyland employs some really talented folks. I wonder if the musicians negotiate their own salaries?
I recall that there was a stage in Tomorrowland that came out of the ground. I always wanted to ride on it.
I think for high-end talent they subcontracted. Yes, I remember that state. It is still there I think. When I worked there a boy band, evidently trying to ride the coattails of New Kids of the Block, played there at nights.
Quote:Today, a family of four will need to spend almost $400 just for one day in one park.
I think Disney would ask you to compare that to what you would pay to see Garth Brooks or Celene Dion in Vegas.
Quote: WizardThe graveyard custodians were a strange antisocial lot. .
All graveyard people are that way. I worked that shift
for 3 years in the late 60's early 70's. You don't sleep
much, and we liked to go for drinks after work at 7am.
I was 19 and 20 and 21, seemed the right thing to do
at the time..
Quote: WizardI used to love Disneyland as a kid. However, once you work there the Disney magic quickly wares off.
You have said that about Vegas as well!
Quote: WizardFor another, Disney could probably make a valid argument the photos are actually Disney property, since they were in their trash cans.
And if a real corpse is found in their Haunted Mansion, is that Disney property, too?
He keeps finding pictures of the same guy over and over, always expressionless. They finally resolve the mystery of the guy who throws away these pictures.
Quote: Wonko33LOL you are like the guy in the movie "Amelie"
Yup, that movie came to mind right away when I read the first post of this thread and intended to post a reference to it myself.
Quote: Wonko33LOL you are like the guy in the movie "Amelie"
Yup, that movie came to mind right away when I read the first post of this thread and intended to post a reference to it myself.
I enjoyed seeing these Polaroids as reminders of the past.
I have a friend whose wife used to work at Dusney's corporate office. She gave me two free passes to Disneyland in 1985. I never did use them and still have them.