1984-86 "Day Custodial" Some Names from the Past

For most of you out there, this list will mean nothing. For those who lived in Day Custodial whites for a few summers in the mid-80's, maybe some of these names will ring a bell.

Let's roll up those Kimbies, strap on those towels, pocket up some park guidebooks, grab a pan(a metal one, of course---not those atrocious plastic things of today; and preferably personalized with one's name or a nickname in permanent marker) and broom, head to the area locker and pray for no "Code V" call in any of your attraction lines.

Throwing some names out from memory, pardon the spelling and don't feel slighted if you've been left out---it's been 24 years!

Kevin Gallaway (took me spelunking in the Amboy crater lava tubes---awesome!)

Curt Visca (later of "Curtoons" fame and local TV in Orange County---always wore Ray Bans)

Beth Nichols (spoke French, great sense of humor!)

Michelle Garden ("Shelly!" A completely nice person)

Mary Luetto (Always smiling!)

Jerry Lofquist (his pan was labeled "J.Lofty III" in 1984)

Blake Ingram (tallest sweeper you'll probably ever see; very funny guy)

Chris Christensen (had the Ray Bans, too; good buddy of Blake's)

Andy Arko (my pal; remember softball games?)

John Toth (best Pee Wee Herman impersonator in the Inn Between)

Eric Grubb (Main Street trash record setter---along with yours truly)

Ranger Dave Fraser (Main Street lead during my summer closing shift)

Jackie Lacey (Dave's gal from Adv./Frontier attractions)

Helmuth Sunrise (or as old "Arthur" used to ask for him: "Where's Yomo? He's off, he's off.")

Don Dishner (Over the Line afficionado)

Debbie Gagne (funny!)

Dana Ohanesian (leader of the "Disney Explorers Club"---who put that cone on Abe's head?)

Andy Garcia

Harry Hemhausen (lead, old school)

Larry "Colonel" Snow (reservist, elder statesman of West Side sweepers)

Bernie Esposito ("He's Bernie Esposito, we sweepers think he's "neato" (sung to "If I only Had A Brain from Wizard of Oz)"---that's why I remember his name)

Stacey Booth

Kim Carrow

Andy

Mike Kelly (uh, that's me)

I'm sure there's plenty more, but those names seemed to have stuck!

Thanks for those great lunches at the Inn Between (how did most of Day Custodial end up with lunch at the same time? Hmm.) We laughed, we cried, we rafted the American River (above Sacramento---not the Rivers of America in Frontierland), we raced canoes (ok, that was in the Rivers of America), we engaged in backstage water fights, drove the main street trash truck a little too fast when trying to dump "Main Gate," mastered the cigarette butt between the legs and into the pan, and still somehow made sure that our flower beds were done before Night Crew came on.

Go Sweepers!

For kicks, here is a photograph I found of Kevin Gallaway on a "former cast member" site---taken just outside the Village Haus in Fantasyland, it appears!!

Jungle Cruise - 1987 - Man (er, uh...Kid) Overboard!!

Ah, the green waters of the Jungle. In the image above, our dear little hut has had a bit of a facelift since the days I took the helm of the Amazon Belle. This photograph was definitely taken within the last five or six years. The water alone looks to have been fresh from a recent rehab (the more recent the rehab, the more lime green the color; with time, the water turns a darker green).

Speaking of green Jungle water, it brings to mind a tale of when I was a skipper. It involves the loading dock, a small child, quick reflexes and "verbal judo."

I had just dumped a load of guests at "Unload" and had throttled into position at "Load." I was giving my welcoming spiel to the boarders ("Step aboard, Adventurers...please don't mind your boat loaders, they are very affectionate and have a disturbing fascination with touching people by their elbows. Just smile as they do this and continue stepping into the boat. They usually let go of your elbow," or some such drivel). The boat loaded up about halfway, with most of the folks on the dock side (port for all you mariner types). At the rear load position, a child was about to step in when the Loader somehow missed the small boy's elbow or forearm. The boat simultaneously lurched away from the dock as folks entering from the rear walked along the starboard side.

As I spieled into my microphone, I caught a tuft of the boy's brown hair as it disappeared below the boat's railing on the dock side. A splash of gross, green water that erupted in the same location told me that we had a swimmer between the dock and the edge of my boat. The frantic scrambling of the read Load position Loader was also a tip off that something was terribly amiss in Adventureland. As this drama played out, the guests on board---being humans (mostly)---leaned toward the dock side of the boat to see what was happening. Experience in boating (and skippering the Cruise) told me that this was a "BAD" thing.

"EVERYBODY stand up and lean AWAY FROM THE DOCK!!!" I shouted to my vessel full of guests. I must've sounded pretty serious because (for perhaps the first time in Jungle Cruise history) the guests actually took a skipper seriously and followed orders. Cops call this type of authoritative affectation "verbal judo." It is meant to compel immediate compliance. Sometimes it actually works, because when I yelled "LEAN AWAY FROM THE DOCK!" again, everyone leapt to their feet and immediately leaned toward the center of the boat and away from the dock.

This action by my crew of guests shifted the weight in the boat so that the dock side of the vessel was tilted up and away from the edge of the dock---thus affording the small boy who had fallen between the boat and the dock a wonderful opportunity to NOT be crushed! The boat leaning away from the dock also allowed our frantic boat Loader to reach down and grab the soaking boy by the arm. He instantly pulled the boy up out of the gunky water in a single motion.

When the crying child was safely back on the dock, everyone in my boat sat down. A wave of relief rushed over all of us. Then the guests started clapping---for our heroic boat Loader and, oddly enough, for ME, since they all realized--at about the same moment---the reason why I had suddenly shouted at them to get AWAY FROM THE DOCK! If they had all kept leaning over to look, the boy would be crushed or at least stuck under the boat (which is not a good place to enjoy the attraction).

The kid never thanked me, but he's out there somewhere---uncrushed---walking with a memory of Disneyland and the Jungle Cruise that I don't think he'll soon forget. I don't blame him though, he was wet, scared and was shuffled away from the dock before he or his surprised parents had the opportunity to fully absorb what had just occurred.

As for you, dear Reader, just think about that green Jungle water. Now think about being in it over your head. You'd best step lively the next time you think of boarding a Jungle boat!

Disneyland's 30th Anniversary - My Small Role In History

July 11, 1984: I was there that early morning before the park opened, along with a bunch of other Cast Members, to help form a human "30" for a photograph in front of Sleeping Beauty's Castle that would later be used in promotional literature (and the 1985 Guidebook).

The article to the left is from the Disneyland Line. In digging through my old stuff, I was surprised to see that there was actually an article on the event! I was there, along with some fellow sweepers. I was on the Plaza Gardens side of the photo in my white sweeper garb, waiving with my right hand over my head. I actually received a much larger copy of the photograph at the time, but it has been lost along the way. Anyway, the photograph ended up on the cover of the 1985 Disneyland Souvenir Guide Book.

I wasn't part of the lucky few who made up the "30," but I am just to the left of the top portion of the "3." Can't you tell? Anyways, I still remember that morning, because I was only about two months into working at the Park and it was all still new. It never stopped being fun. Down below I have blown up my copy of the 30th photograph. You can see me in the left hand side. I am looking back to my right (just my luck) and there is a red circle around me. It's got details kinda like the Zapruder film, but I promise---that's me. My friends Eric Grubb, Michelle Garden and John Toth are a bit more recognizable in their sweeper whites (at least to me they are).

I did get my Donald Duck birthday button for showing up at the crack of dawn to be part of the picture! I'll have to see if I can dig that up somewhere.

Hard to believe the Park celebrated its 50th just three years ago! My wife was there this past Wednesday with my daughter and my mother. She said Disneyland was looking very clean (quite a change from the Eisner days). It was also amazingly uncrowded, but don't tell anyone---we'd like to get over there before the crowds return.

One way to avoid crowds is to fly to Florida and hit Walt Disney World for nine days. That is where we're heading in just under three weeks. I'll be sure to post photographs of our trip.

Pirates of the Caribbean - Hot July 1984

Before "The Bridge," the Pirates of the Caribbean entrance was easily approachable. Of course, it took quite a while to get there. I remember when the line wound back and forth and then down the side of the attraction (between the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse and the Pirates of the Caribbean building). There was a nice covered area (bullpen) along the side of the attraction and you could peek into some of the windows to see the lucky folks who had made their way inside (before they reached the boat loading area). The Swisskapolka lulled incessantly in the background from high up in the Treehouse, providing a bouncy background soundtrack to your seemingly endless stay in line. I can still remember the smell of the Pirates of the Caribbean as you entered. It really hasn't changed much actually---kind of a musty, watery, chlorinated smell. There was also that cool blast of air conditioning as you finally hit the turnstile and entered the building.

On some busy summer days before "The Bridge" was put in place, the line for Pirates would extend almost all the way down to the Rivers of America. It created quite a traffic jam on the West Side, especially if the attraction's hosts were "newbies" and hadn't quite yet mastered where the poles and chains were supposed to go.

I remember one hot day in July 1984 when the crowd was enormous. Somebody got the "bullpen" posts and chains out of whack and the Pirates line became a total mess. Another sweeper and I were trying to push a heavy trash cart through a sea of guests. When we reached the Pirates, things literally became impassable. Security had to clear a route for us and a small contingent of Pirates ride operators made fairly quick work of getting the guests back into a line that actually went somewhere. There's nothing like the combination of afternoon sun, heat, no breeze, thousands of guests, crying children and waiting in a serpentine line to make the Disney magic fade just a touch. Doh!

Fortunately, most folks are pretty good natured about such experiences---you have to expect them when you hit a popular theme park in California right around the 4th of July vacation peak. Here's an insider tip: stay home. Buy an annual passport and come back with your kids in February, March or late September/early October. If you don't like crowds, celebrate the 4th of July and Christmas in your own home. Otherwise, join forces with 64,000 of your friends and herd on into Walt Disney's Magic Kingdom (the original, of course). I'm sure you'll find, there's nothing quite like it.

1983 Guidebook and Blackfooted Rock Hopper

Ah, Disneyland in the early 1980s. New Fantasyland. New Coke. Here's the souvenir guidebook for 1983, along with the "Adventureland" section showing how things were back in the days before "Aladdin" took over the "Tahitian Terrace." Of course, there was no "Indiana Jones" attraction then, either, so it's probably a wash since Indy definitely is one of the few gems added to the park during the Eisner era. Still...losing the "Tahitian Terrace?" Ouch. Still hurts.

Here's a Tahitian Terrace-related Jungle Cruise story. It is true.

As the boat approached the dock at the end of the ride, there were some stepping stones in the water along the back side of the Tahitian Terrace stage. These were part of the pathway that led from the Jungle Cruise to the "backstage" break area behind Main Street. You would walk along the stones on your way behind the Tahitian Terrace to the area where the Jungle boats were stored when they were taken off line.

This walkway was also used by the Samoan "fire dancers" who were Cast Members in the Tahitian Terrace dinner show. They would use the walkway to make their entrance from the rear of the stage, dressed in full Polynesian regalia. These guys were enormous and were not known for even tempers. One Jungle Cruise skipper found out the hard way why it is not good to anger large Samoans.

It seems that one such Samoan gentleman was making his way across the stepping stones as the skipper and his crew were passing by Trader Sam and heading toward the dock. The skipper pointed out the Samoan to his crew of guests. He told them over the microphone/speaker to enjoy their glimpse of the "Amazing Blackfooted Rockhopper on the port side." The Samoan gentleman hear this crack (as he was only a few feet from the boat) and became...shall we say...agitated. He leapt onto the dock and then onto the bow of the boat---in full Polynesian war regalia---and reached in and grabbed the frantic skipper by his shirt. He was about to unleash a torrent of physical pain on the poor guy when other nearby skippers (and Disney security) came to his rescue. The angry Samoan never got a clean shot as his prey, but sure scared the heck out of the guy. Mental note: don't refer to large Samoans as "Blackfooted Rock Hoppers" (especially when they are within striking distance).

Penny Arcade - 1984

The Penny Arcade on Main Street was once a...penny arcade.
Imagine.
It was there that we first met.
As I walked into the place, I was drawn to her.
She did not say a word.
Neither did I.
Our eyes locked for a moment and I found myself walking over to her. Something about her was mystical.

Her long dark hair draped over her shoulders. She had dark eyes, incredible lashes and full lips. She wore a dramatic silky blouse with a vest and a bold sash.
I stood before her searching for a way to connect. There are some people in this life you wouldn't drop a dime on.

For her, I dropped a quarter.
We never spoke, but she left me with this.

Disneyland 1983 Wallet Fact Card

As a Custodial Host during my first summer at Disneyland, I was provided with a "Wallet Fact Card" for the Park. Having been a Park goer for many years prior to working there, I was already quite aware of most of the information on the card.

Looking at the card today reminds us of the way things were just before Eisner & Wells came on board. This was the park before the corporate greed really got rolling and stupid things started happening to Disneyland. Back then, admission prices were reasonable and the attractions were classic. Area theming still remained true to Walt's original vision. There was a parking lot. A big parking lot. It stood in gray contrast to the colorful world "inside the berm."

There were actually things to see and do in Tomorrowland, for example.

America Sings was till operating. You could take a "Mission to Mars" or cruise along the Peoplemover tracks and look down over Tomorrowland. The Rocket Jets were high in the air and in the middle of Tomorrowland. Now, they're on Main Street and a bizarre modern space sculpture occupies their old location (what the hell is that thing anyway? Looks like a bad DirecTV antenna). Mary Blair's mural still graced the building that housed the Circle Vision theater, where you could catch "American Journeys" and cool off during a hot summer day. The Submarine Voyage subs cruised their crystal-clear lagoon while the Skyway floated overhead on its way through the Matterhorn to Fantasyland.

Tomorrowland itself was a bright, white vision of the future. Sure, it was a "dated" vision, but it beats the heck out of the funky, rust-colored "Jules Verne" mess that it later became. Even the Autopia was friendlier. The cars were bright, primary colors. There was no massive canopy thing (again with the Jules Verne rust colors everywhere) blocking the wide open view of the Autopia and the Monorail track above it.

I miss the "old" Tomorrowland.

Oh, and one more thing, the Carnation Ice Cream Parlor on Main Street. It is gone. Oh do I miss the strawberry ice cream sodas they used to make there. I also miss the old red and white umbrellas over the tables in the patio area. The red and white just seemed to blend in with Main Street. They also served a Monte Cristo sandwich that was fabulous. The costumes worn by the cast members were also fitting and perfect for the 1890s theming.




Well, enough reminiscing. Here's hoping that the new crew in charge of Disneyland will look back and take some lessons from the folks who originally designed and built the place. I see some promising signs that this may be happening. Call me when they bring back Tomorrowland.

Disneyland's Canoe Races - 1984

I experienced my first Cast Member Canoe Race in Summer of 1984. The Davy Crockett's Explorer Canoes were used by teams from all around the Park---Operations, Custodial, Outdoor Vending, etc. There were Men's, Women's and Co-Ed divisions. Some of us from Custodial joined the effort. Of course, the shoe-ins were always the guys who ran the Davy Crockett's Explorer Canoes. They had python arms and hours and hours of practice skirting Tom Sawyer's Island during their daily shifts, often with little or no assistance from the guests.

July 12,1984. I remember the early cool morning before opening, just as the sun was cresting. We were gathered in Bear Country and preparing for our run. The groups were competitive---some cutthroat, but most were out to have fun. The team names were creative (some not so): "Pink Sheets," "Rowing Stones," "Skid Rowers," "Oar Mongers," "East German Women," etc.

We had a co-ed team in Day Custodial. Great group. Not so great lap time. Still, splashing about in green water containing billions of heretofore unheard of species of bacteria at 6:00a.m. with a bunch of friends in a canoe was actually a blast. Indeed, the paddling seemed to take hold, as the Sweepers, later that summer and the next, organized whitewater rafting trips on the American and Kern Rivers. Those trips were completely enjoyable.
I attach pages from the "Disneyland Line" in July 1984, including an article that discusses the history of the Canoe Races with a few cast members who were there when the Races were started in 1963.

The Canoe Races undoubtedly remain fond memories for those who participated in them over the years. I still can't get the bacteria smell out of my t-shirt, though.

Jungle Cruise - Pull Over!

This is a classic Jungle Cruise prank, best performed at night.

First, you need a seasoned skipper (Skipper 1) and a boatful of guests. Now send them out into the jungle and give them about 3-5 minutes lead time.

Next, a Lead and another seasoned skipper (Skipper 2) grab the motorized skiff and a flashlight and head out into the jungle after the Jungle boat.

When the skiff catches up to Skipper 1 and his boat (preferably around the African Veldt), the Lead flashes his flashlight while he and Skipper make siren noises. They proceed to "pull over" the Jungle boat skipper (Skipper1), just before the Hippo Pool.

Then Skipper 2 (in the skiff) boards the Jungle boat and announces that its skipper (Skipper 1) has violated Jungle Cruise policies for the last time ("by returning with 3 empty boats so far today" or "by offering guests as appetizers to natives in headhunter country," etc., etc.) and generally makes a commotion, followed by a ceremonious and overly dramatic "arrest" of Skipper 1. Skipper 2 then directs Skipper 1 off the Jungle boat---to the surprise of his crew of slightly stunned guests---and onto the skiff with the Lead waiting on board. The skiff is usually nice and close to shore and on the "Rhino" side of the river, so as to minimize the risk of blowing the prank by having Skipper 1, the Lead or Skipper 2 fall into the Jungle juice aka "The River."

In any event, after getting arrested and kicked off his boat, Skipper 1 is now hastily spirited away in the skiff at full speed (heading back to the dock along the regular route home---i.e., past Schweitzer Falls) as though being hauled off to a booking facility.

Next, Skipper 2 announces to his newly-acquired boatload of bewildered guests: "Sorry for that folks. Glad we finally nailed that guy. Now, where were we?" He then finishes up the rest of the cruise as though nothing had happened, picking up in the spiel where Skipper 1 left off.

As a topper, the true pros at this prank would have Skipper 1 waiting back at the dock surrounded by a "guard" of two or three other skippers standing by him while he pleads for bail money from the guests exiting the boat.

There were several variations of this prank, but they all played out about the same.

Remember, the above was performed over 20 years ago by trained professionals. Don't try this at home!

Secret Tiki Bathrooms

If you are hip to the Adventure/Frontier experience, you should know about the public restroom located just to the left of the entrance doors to "Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room" attraction. It's like your own private restroom in the middle of Disneyland. Very few guests know its there. Heck, very few Cast Members know about it for that matter.

Say it is about 110 degrees out and it is the middle of July and you (for some unknown reason) are actually in the Magic Kingdom with 65,000 of your closest friends enjoying a little theme park excitement. You need to use the facilities but everywhere you turn you find lines out the door. Before clamoring to City Hall to demand FastPasses to Disney restrooms, chill out and head over to the Tiki Room. Breeze knowingly past the bleary-eyed and sweaty guests languishing in the Tiki Gardens waiting in line for Dole pineapple whips. Walk up the steps and slowly disappear into the doorway to your left. Pick the appropriate door for your gender, of course. You will likely find a small, empty restroom, all to yourself. A cool blast of air conditioning will drift over you as you enter. Relax. Chill. Remember, if you didn't know about his already, you heard it here first.