I could really go for an ice cream cone right now. I haven’t even had breakfast. Hey–ice cream for breakfast! Ice cream for lunch! Ice cream for dinner! Let’s scream Oprah-style EVERYONE GETS AN ICE CREAM! EVERYONE GETS AN ICE CREAM!
Actually I’ll admit I’m not a huge ice cream person. I do enjoy a good cone every once in a while, and a pint of Ben and Jerry’s certainly hits the spot, but I’m not one of those ice cream obsessed people. When I think of ice cream I always think of when we lived in Germany. Now THOSE people love their ice cream. Any time, any place, anywhere, you’d see someone licking a cone or eyeing an ice cream vending machine longingly. Seriously, that was the only place I’ve ever seen people standing at a bus stop in the dead of winter, bundled up in coats, scarves, gloves and hats, snow swirling all around them, munching an ice cream bar. And not just once either.
Now that’s what I call dedication.
Anyway, when it gets nice and hot, an ice cream is the perfect snack at Disneyland. Not as perfect as popcorn or churros, since those aren’t weather-dependent, but close. And one of the places to get ice cream is at the Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor right on Main Street, U.S.A.
Ich möchte wirklich Eis
In keeping with Walt’s dream of having Main Street represent Anytown, USA in the early 20th century, the ice cream parlor is represented by the Gibson Girl.
Which then got me thinking a little bit. Who or what exactly is the Gibson Girl? I mean we’ve certainly seen her likeness in those nostalgic turn of the century images–the poofy hair, slim neck, waist the size of my wedding ring, long skirt, etc.–but who is she and where did she come from?
Well, according to my Standard Research Methodology, the Gibson Girl was drawn by this illustrator, Charles Gibson, who if you believe Wikipedia quite frankly (**language alert**) kind of sounds like an ass but if you read other sites within your allotted SRM 3 minutes doesn’t sound that bad. Apparently Charles Gibson was a very influential illustrator and created the Gibson Girl to depict the “ideal American woman” and then plastered her everywhere doing all kinds of things but notably excluding participating in the women’s suffrage movement. One site compared her to her later counterpart, Barbie, except the Gibson Girl didn’t live in a pink plastic house with a ridiculously out-of-proportion swimming pool.
Anyway, it looks like people have written entire PhD dissertations on the Gibson Girl but honestly I’m already bored with the topic so MOVING ON…
Back to the ice cream
I love the window details of the stores on Main Street. And once again, looking up reveals a whole new set of things I’ve never looked at before.
I love this brick work
That is, of course, the theatrical agency upstairs.
The other noticeable thing about the GG Ice Cream Parlor is that they make their own waffle cones and they gently waft the scent out the door so when you walk by you can’t help but notice the glorious, sweet smell of freshly-pressed waffle cone. I’m not joking about that, by the way.
But hey, armchair historians, are waffle cones historically accurate to the early 20th century? Just curious.
Disneyland accurately anticipates the popularity of this centrally-located ice cream shop (shoppe? pronounced “shop”) and you get a bunch of zig zags to wait in.
I'm only a couple of yards away from the counter but there are still 294 people in front of me! Must be Disneyland!
And here’s a question for my very knowledgeable readers–back behind the fruit cart next to the lockers, there’s another ice cream window:
Here it is!
Now I know this one is definitely a cone shop, because I cleverly read the sign (I’m smart like that) but I wonder–are they the same cones and the same ice cream that’s available across the street at the Gibson Girl Parlor? I never get cones at Disneyland–the chocolate chip cookie sandwich is my frozen dairy product of choice–so I can’t say, but if it’s the same ice cream and all you want is a cone, then this would be an awesome place to get it and skip the line at the GG Parlor. I’ve never seen a line at this window, and honestly before a couple of months ago I didn’t know this window existed at all.
Help me, readers! Is this the case?
Anyway, back at the GG Parlor, when you get up close and get dirty looks from people who think you’re cutting in line even though you’re just trying to get a picture, you can see the whole operation.
I'm certain that's an original electric waffle iron straight out of 1918, or an historic reproduction at least.
The GG Parlor does offer very, very, very limited seating.
There's like one and a half tables in this place
And there are various Gibson Girl portraits adorning the walls.
Including this one:
Hunh?
I’m talking about the bottom picture, of course, with the Gibson Girl holding her hands up in a “don’t shoot!” pose. This picture is just begging–BEGGING for a caption contest.
Here she is again, ladies and gentlemice:
Caption Me!
CAPTION CONTEST RULES
This one’s simple. Think of a caption. Leave a comment (upper right-hand corner of the post) with your caption or captions. Enter as many times as you want. Winner determined by me based on creativity, humor, and whichever one I like best. I will send you a prize which will probably be cool but maybe not, no guarantees, I haven’t decided yet. You don’t need to post a separate comment for each entry.
Have fun!
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JAZZ HANDS!
OMG, I love you.
I couldn’t resist! 🙂
Zombie Gibson Girl
The ice cream window across the street has sliced green apples drowning in hot caramel. Divine!!! I don’t think that’s available at Gibson Girls.
“Hand Check”
Freeze
Look Ma, no hands!
I have a headache this big and it’s got Excedrin written all over it.
Expect to see “Ich möchte wirklich Eis” in your next round-up. Your page was the first page that Google brought up when I put those words in to search what they meant. Actually, it was the first two links.
I’ll try to think of a caption that isn’t completely inappropriate. I’ll get back to you.
This is how much two sundaes will cost you.
Pretty sure the ice cream window across the street is soft serve, like what is available in Toontown.
It’s hard ice cream. My husband gets a double mint chocolate chip when I get my apple with caramel. 🙂
Caught Red Handed !
Are those real? Can I touch them?!
(double scoop ice-cream cone of course)
bwahahahahhaha!
Look Ma! No legs!!!
love this one too!
Alright I got it…
Did I shave my legs for this?
I actually think she is supposed to be looking thru a window (and you are on the other side)…
Am I going to get DQed for not following the rules and having separate captions in separate comment posts? (so asks Gibson Girl as she throws up her arms in frustration!)
You’re getting disqualified on general principle, Kristin.
Audrey’s never going to get those damn Mickey ears is she?!
I burned my hands on that damn waffle iron!
Back away from the ice cream
Stand-By Entrance Approximate Wait Time:
In keeping with the “approximate” timing that seems to never be accurate, that line looks a lot longer than the 10 minutes she is claiming.
And now you can’t see the coin…
Why we hate mimes.
LOL, I was gonna say “Jazz hands!” too!
I’m sorry officer. All I wanted was for Shelby to take me to Disneyland with her!
I just washed my hair and I can’t do a thing with it! I was going for the poofy “Gibson Girl” hairdo, and I ended up with “Lumpy Leia”, instead.
Please, Gentlemen. There’s enough room in this shirt to go around.
Yes, yes, I KNOW my hair is MUCH better than that Leah girl. Please, no need for pictures.
I need a napkin. No, not for the ice cream, for my hair- too much mousse, as usual. What? Think I’m naturally this stunning? Well, you’d be right. The mousse is for my husband.
(Okay, swear to Walt Last one. )
Five Dollar Footlong.
I just HAD to.
OK, I loved “Jazz hands,” but THIS one made me laugh! And now I have the blooming song running through my head. 🙂
That was the plan all along! It’s one of the best/worst/stupidest catchy songs ever. Kinds like “Duck Tales…Woo-ooo!!!” And if you don’t know what that is, FORSHAME.
Every day they’re out there making Duck Tales (wooo-oo!) Watched the show regularly with my older kids while they were growing up. We may still have a couple VHS tapes of the show tucked away somewhere. 🙂
Every day they’re out there making Duck Tales…
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Oh, and they’re so PERKY!!
(16 candles, grandma Helen)
My hands are high, my feet are low, and this is how I jiggle-low! Oh wait… Are we allowed to sing that anymore?
Ha! Thanks for the memory ;). I think by the end of my tenure we were singing wiggle-oh. We definitely weren’t singing the Titanic anymore.
Eeek, it’s Mickey Mouse!
Stop — hammer time.
Ladies, cover your eyes. That duck over there isn’t wearing pants!
After both her career and her stature were cut short in a tragic workplace accident, former magician’s assistant Margaret “Leggy Peggy” McGee went on to find success as a model for Charles Gibson.
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caption: I wasn’t kidding when I said I’d have 10 cones just for myself.
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The cone shop by the lockers has some different flavors (including strawberry and mocha almond fudge) and the sundae’s are different. They have: “Street Car Sundae” (Two Scoops, chocolate & mocha almond fudge ice cream, covered with hot fudge & caramel toppings, whipped cream & a cherry, served in a waffle cup.) “Firehouse 105″ (Two scoops, chocolate & vanilla ice cream, doused with marshmallow & hot fudge toppings, topped with whipped cream & a cherry, served in a waffle cup.)”Ice Cream Cookie Sandwich” (Two freshly baked chocolate chip cookies, served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream in the center) and, as previously mentioned, “Sliced Caramel Apple” (Crisp, juicy apples sliced smothered with caramel)
I was excited when I saw they had the cookie sandwiches, because I LOVE those at Main Street Bakery at Disney World, but alas, they are not the same. (Those and Splash Mountain might be the only things I prefer in Florida.)
I anticipate a Firehouse 105 when I’m there next week! 🙂
(Menu source: allears.net)
AWESOME!!!
When I went in July with my friend and my grandma, we went in just so I could find that picture! Thx for pointing out a LOT more things to notice while I was there. I think 1/4 to half my day was “Oh there is that thing Shelby had on her blog” or “We have to go here, Shelby said it’s a must see.” 😀
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