DISNEYLAND ROCKET JETS MEGA POST PART ONE!!!!!!!!!!

Rocket Jet -PeopleMover station concept c.1965

artist unknown

As WED Enterprises began to clear space to make way for the Carousel of Progress return to Disneyland from the New York World's Fair, it was clear that a whole new Tomorrowland was needed. Americans were becoming more sophisticated and NASA was developing REAL rocket ships destined for the Moon and beyond. Walt was excited about having his Imagineers create a whole second level adding addition space for 1967 "World ob the Move" Part of this revision included using the rotary-motor system from the former-ground based ASTRO JETS and elevating to a raised launch platform. This included an exciting Gantry Lift to give Tomorrowland guest all the excitement of a real rocket launch.

early 3-level concept designs  1965

Herbert Ryman

(note the "jets" are still envisioned as the bullet nose 1950's type)

John Hench's concept is one of the first to show a full gantry elevator.

Here, the snak-bar service  on the lower level is reduced to a small counter in the rear facing the elevators. This was to show GOODYEAR how their corporate image and story could be integrated into the loading building---but that's ANOTHER story!!!

George McGinnis 1966 concept showing the  SATURN V Rocket that inspired the look of the new Tomorrowland Rocket Pylon

The FINAL Rocket Tower! Isn't she a beauty!!

The predecessor to the 1967 Rocket Jets was the Astro Jets. This version loaded at ground level, and while they DID raise up into the air, they were no match for the "High Altitude" experience guests got in the NEW TOMORROWLAND's ROCKET JETS!!

The TWA Moonliner has always been a Tomorrowland (and Disneyland!!) icon. It's design was a beautiful  sleek rocket and very 1950's. While the Astro Jets had no rocket, the SATURN V (Saturn 5) rocket designs became the inspiration for the Rocket icon of the sophisticated 1960's.

a  REAL SATURN V Rocket

Like the Disneyland 1967 Rocket Jet Tower, the real SATURN V Rockets began space service in 1967.

The last SATURN V launched in 1973

Visitors to FLIGHT TO THE MOON attraction, might remember MR. MORROW saying:

"The SATURN V ROCKETS are SO reliable, that we're STILL using them! In fact they've become the real workhorses in outer space!"

Here's a view of the Gantry Lift. Atop the elevator tower are show lights for the Tomorrowland Stage to the far left. 1967 blueprints however show there were plans for a series of antennas and radar dishes to sit atop the gantry tower.

Here is the costume patch for the 1967 Rocket Jets cast member costume. You'll notice the colors are the same used on the actual attraction tower, rocket, and jet vehicles--orange/red, black and white.

I have an original 1967 costume but I forgot to take it out to photograph it for this post, so you'll have to due with a patch. I'll show the costume another time.

Here's the John Hench designed attraction poster for Rocket Jets as once displayed inside the Main Street Penny Arcade from the 1960's through the early 1990's.

Some final views of the ROCKET JETS in the TOMORROWLAND of 1967

PLEASE RETURN FOR THE ROCKET JETS MEGA POST #2 as TOMORROWLOUNGE lands in the 1970's!!

SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL PEOPLEMOVER!!!!!!!

Nothing in Disneyland's New Tomorrowland of 1967 went without  the magic touch of WED! The PeopleMover's elevated beam-way is a fine example. In the earliest renderings, simple tubular support poles appear raising the PeopleMover's cars above the ground level  of this "World on the Move". Eventually WED designers  attention went to work. Thanks to Imagineers Victor Greene , John Wise , and John Hench, simple support posts became sweeping modern arches, buttresses and biomorphic "tree-branches" adding to the overall mood and feeling of this Future world.  A simple engineering function transformed as art.

As simple as this center-line entry support is, the mathematics involved to create it is boggling!

a  shady spot to enjoy a Space Mist Punch

(view: between PeopleMover Station SpeedRamps)

Gracefully MODERN!!!!

SpeedRamp down.............

I love this building!

Left flank entry arch

My PeopleMover car is one of these........but underneath reveals it's 1967 heritage:  I own train 12 (red), CAR B!

If guests could only enjoy views like this today.......

A 1977 addition over at the Space Place

More 1967 design (luckily) surviving into the REAL 21st Century!

Next time you're here, take closer look at these planter/benches: they are in the shape of the original Goodyear  logo shape!!

ADVENTURE THRU INNER SPACE -THE FASHION FOUNTAIN : A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE



Early concept of Monsanto's Fashion Fountain



Not too long ago over on Kevin Kidney's great blog http://miehana.blogspot.com/,  a special post focused on the unusual beauty of Monsanto's Fashion Fountain. Tomorrowlounge presents a follow-up salute to this intriguing and  mystifying Modern Motion Sculpture finale to the famed ADVENTURE THRU INNER SPACE!



A cross section showing the Fashion Fountain's relationship to the passing PeopleMover cars and AtomMobiles -a perfect example of WED's SAFETY ENVELOPE!






As part of Monsanto's corporate message, the Fashion Fountain --or actually termed FIBER FOUNTAIN during the design phase-- this oil-drip sculpture was the first exhibit seen by guests in the MIRACLES FROM MOLECULES product-industrial area of the Adventure Thru Inner Space attraction.



A very sophisticated "lounge like setting" ........THIS IS MONSANTO!!

John Hench made many suggestions to this attraction --like adding the walnut-wood paneling to "soften things up" (I wonder what Monsanto's response was to this..........??) Even the exhibit text-tablets featured Walnut ends! The Fashion Fountain , or FIBER FOUNTAIN was also a result of the "softening" of this space --and to lighten what could have turned out to be a heavy-laden corporate overlay. Note the first concept for the sculpture that proceeded the Fashion Fountain:

A swinging, rotating "billboard" confronts guests after their "Thrilling Journey into the Atom"

It was advised to Monsanto that this might be too much corporate message -as a result the graceful looking Fashion Fountain was envisioned.



Here the FIBER FOUNTAIN features no inner display




note how the inner exhibit must be accessed thru a hatch located in the pavilion's roof!




120 individual flowers helped cover up the fountains' "drip pan"



adding to the softening were 120 "flowers" -these helped to create an "natural" feel to a otherwise heavy artificial product line.



Here in the exit area a moody atmosphere displays humorous animated vignettes of Monsanto products and on the back wall-a large 1967 version of the World Clock


As 60's came to an end, this exhibit space featured several updates to the interior as well as the exhibits themselves. In time, Monsanto's sponsorship ended and the Fashions inside the fountain were removed and in their place was inserted an illuminated 70's  "Molecule-Skewer Mobile".



Note the old Miracles' from Molecules exhibit tablets-with the walnut ends



The entire exit area lost much of it's mood and feeling when Monsanto pulled out. The giant clock of the world was removed and a access hole was cut into the wall to allow guests to dump themselves right into the Character Shop. Where the wall clock was once mounted now stood merchandise display counter selling watches, clocks, film and camera equipment --ironically probably made from plastics by Monsanto! The lighting was no longer dim and atmospheric but bright. The Monsanto product niches cut into the wood paneled walls now featured Tomorrowland attraction posters. The walnut edged display tablets that once touted the wonder's of Monsanto, now featured explanation of what the attraction was all about -no doubt because of the guests that strayed into the exit area from the Character Shop.........

Odd however, was the fact that long after Monsanto was gone from Tomorrowland, guests --if they listened closely, could still hear the song, Miracles From Molecules --the attraction's Sherman Brothers penned anthem written for Monsanto. Even in 1985, the song could still faintly be heard.