tech
Disneyland With No People
When I was 17, I worked at Fantasyland’s magic shop as a magician demonstrating Svengali decks, cups and balls, and the Incredible (their word) Shrinking Die. I loved working to exhaustion, and I was proud to become the shop’s youngest night manager. When Disneyland’s summer hours were extended to 9 p.m. on weekdays and midnight on weekends, I was in heaven. I could watch date night unfold, allowing me to observe and absorb teen romantic norms. One night, however, a chance encounter with a renowned artist was to grip me more than 60 years later, setting my nostalgia for Disneyland in dramatic black and white.
TL;DR
- The author worked at Disneyland's magic shop as a teenager and had a chance encounter with photographer Diane Arbus.
- Arbus was known for photographing "outliers" and "pseudo places," with rare depopulated images.
- Arbus photographed "pseudo places" at Disneyland during off-hours, including "Skull Rock," "Rocks on wheels," and Sleeping Beauty's castle.
- The author later recognized the significance of the encounter and Arbus's work, which evoked strong personal memories.
- Arbus's photographs of Disneyland are described as capturing the "pseudo places" with a unique, non-mocking perspective.