September 24, 2009: Then and Now: Main Street and the Castle

[Circa1966]

Sweet - I totally agree - thanks Werner for doing the comparison shots for us - and I'm looking forward to more as well...

[mickeyandme67]

Awesome article.

I have never thought about it before, but by comparing pictures, the trees behind the castle blow it's scale off. Looking at the castle with no trees in the 1950s picture, the castle down at the end of Main Street looks imposingly large. From the very same angle in 2009, with trees behind, it looks much, much smaller.

It makes perfect sense now that I think about it. When there are two items side-by-side and one of the objects is a familiar subject with a relative height, the familiar determines the scale and size for all the things around it.

[a-net-fan]

Originally Posted by Werner Weiss

I assume that the reason was to make Sleeping Beauty Castle more colorful and inviting than when it was shades of gray. I believe the colors were first changed in 1983.

Thanks for the information Werner. Much appreciated..

[Wendygirl]

These are great and bring back so many memories. I have no idea why my Dad never took actual photographs when we went back then. We have some OK home movies but I wish he had taken photos too.

[sir clinksalot]

I LOVE these "Then and Now" photo updates. So awesome, and you captured pretty much the same shots all the way around.

I will say, the jokes about the castle being "small" sure don't apply in 1955 as it's really the scale of the surrounding trees that make the castle look so tiny these days.

[Oathkeeper]

love the comparative photos! its really neat to see how things have changed (or haven't changed) over the years.
anyone know what happened to the swans in the castle moat? I can't even remember the last time I'd even seen them there /=

[mainejeff]

I like the original castle colors better.

[cellarhound]

Originally Posted by mainejeff

I like the original castle colors better.

So true... I liked the grass and the less full trees... It made the place look more open and inviting...

[a-net-fan]

Originally Posted by cellarhound

So true... I liked the grass and the less full trees... It made the place look more open and inviting...

Thats interesting that you say that. Not too long ago when it was brought up on here about the Treese being removed from around Cinderellas Castle at WDW...if I remember right it was met with some dismay. I like the castle being more open and visible...and it certainly makes it look bigger and more on scale

Of course just replacing the old trees with smaller trees would be the best senerio IMO

[Steve DeGaetano]

Originally Posted by mainejeff

I like the original castle colors better.

Agreed.

As Bruce Gordon and David Mumford wrote so eloquently, there needs to be a "veneer" of reality in order for the fantasy to be believable. The Castle's earlier color scheme (which I believe was changed at a later date than 1983), made the Castle seem like it was built with actual, real stone blocks. It seemed "real." The newer color scheme, which many describe as "Barbie Dream House" colors, may appeal to 5-year-old "princesses," but certainly do not convey any sense of realism.

The same goes for the colors on Main Street. The original color pallete was more colorful in the past, as we can see, but it was also more authentic. Just as the more period-appropriate flags noticed by aduecey help the feel of Main Street.

Thank you, Werner, for taking the time to do this. I know it must have been a challenge, but I am amazed at how close every shot is compared to its "original." Lining everything up so precisely must have taken some serious effort.

[Mr Wiggins]

Thanks for a most excellent Yesterland entry, Werner!!

Originally Posted by Steve DeGaetano

As Bruce Gordon and David Mumford wrote so eloquently, there needs to be a "veneer" of reality in order for the fantasy to be believable. The Castle's earlier color scheme (which I believe was changed at a later date than 1983), made the Castle seem like it was built with actual, real stone blocks. It seemed "real." The newer color scheme, which many describe as "Barbie Dream House" colors, may appeal to 5-year-old "princesses," but certainly do not convey any sense of realism.

The same goes for the colors on Main Street. The original color pallete was more colorful in the past, as we can see, but it was also more authentic. Just as the more period-appropriate flags noticed by aduecey help the feel of Main Street.

Bingo.

[I Heart Disneyland]

LOVE the photos! It was neat to see how the same trees are there (or so it seems) and that the grassy areas are now enclosed with fencing. (I guess in the 50's, people were more respectful of those grassy areas?) Great photos!

[Steve DeGaetano]

Originally Posted by Werner Weiss

I assume that the reason was to make Sleeping Beauty Castle more colorful and inviting than when it was shades of gray. I believe the colors were first changed in 1983.

Werner, the 1993 souvenir guidebook I have shows the castle still in its muted gray, more-authentic color scheme. It was definitely re-painted sometime in the mid-1990s, when the rest of Main Street also was repainted, losing much of its charm and authenticity in the process.

[Mr Wiggins]

Originally Posted by Steve DeGaetano

...when the rest of Main Street also was repainted, losing much of ist charm and authenticity in the process.

Courtesy of the same art direction geniuses who brought you the rustbucket brown of Tomorrowland '98, Main Street's "mauve & teal" color scheme was right out of 90's California shopping mall Toys-R-Us stores. Hey, gotta put those hordes of eager shoppers in the right buying-mood for the crappified Main St. merch, y'know.

[Steve DeGaetano]

Originally Posted by Mr Wiggins

Courtesy of the same art direction geniuses who brought you the rustbucket brown of Tomorrowland '98, Main Street's "mauve & teal" color scheme was right out of 90's California shopping mall Toys-R-Us stores. Hey, gotta put those hordes of eager shoppers in the right buying-mood for the crappified Main St. merch, y'know.

Bingo!