Thursday, November 12, 2009

Disneyland - Jungle Cruise - 1983 - Arthur

Ah, the old Jungle queue and entrance. Thanks to old Skipper Ed Cunningham for originally sharing the shot below from 1983. You can see we were a different class of Jungle skippers back then---very well turned out, indeed. This group looks like they just got back from the Banana Ball and they haven't even left yet! By the way, dig the prototype for the new Small World boat at the bottom of the photo---this design never caught on for some reason.
In scrounging around trying to locate old photographs from back in the day, I found one showing "Arthur" on Main Street from 1983 or 84 (thanks to my old sweeper pal, Robin Mora, for originally sharing this picture). If you weren't around Disneyland when Arthur was a regular...well hopefully this will help you understand a little of what he was like.
Let us now raise our glasses...To Arthur!

To Arthur!

Here! Here!

---Mike

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Mike:

Thanks for your remembrances of Authur. He traveled throughout the park meeting and greeting everyone. I can remember him in the evenings in front of Pirates or out at the Time Shack waiting for his ride home. A gentle man who had Disney magic in him.

Kevin Kidney said...

Yes, To Arthur!!

We all loved him. Thank you for posting this.
-Kevin

Dave McMurray in Irvine, CA, USA said...

Good memories that warm my heart. I worked on Jungle 85~87 and saw Arthur many times. I use to wonder if he was really Walt, keeping an eye on us.

Wonderful post!!!! I miss the fun and people. Jungle is the best non-career job anyone could ever hope for! I say non-career because you can't support a family and buy a home in O.C. But it was awesome!!! I think about going back after I retire.

Thank you,

Dave McMurray

Yellows said...

Thanks, Mike! Those sure were the days and the people that made 1313 Harbor all it used to be.

Unknown said...

Just found this blog, love it! Brings back such great memories. Worked in NO/BC Merch '85-'89. Totally remember Arthur with great fondness. To Artuhur!