The Chapeau on Main Street USA in the Magic Kingdom
The Chapeau on Main Street USA in Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom sells “Gentlemen’s & Ladies’ Hats,” according to its sign. And a look inside shows that there are indeed hats for sale. Although the kind of hats that would be sold in a turn-of-the-20th-century hat shop are probably nowhere to be seen. Because people don’t wear those kinds of hats much these days. You may see a guy (such as me) in a fedora from time to time, but you don’t see ladies wearing those big, fancy hats anymore. Especially at a theme park in hot, muggy Florida.
It is interesting to look back at old photos from the early days of Disneyland to see people actually dressed up for their visit to the park. It was not unusual to see men in coats, ties, and hats, or women in dresses and even hats. My, how times have changed! The family walking in front of the Chapeau here are actually pretty reasonably dressed compared to much of what you might see in the Magic Kingdom, particularly on a hot, sunny day such as the day that this photo was taken. If you were to see someone in a coat and tie, you would probably think they were either filming a commercial or had lost a bet.
I like the architecture of this shop, and of all of Main Street USA for that matter. I have always wondered what, if anything, that door to the left of the Chapeau goes to. In theory, it would go to the stairs to get to the space up above the shop, where perhaps the shopkeeper would live. But since this isn’t actually real (gasp!), I would guess it really either is a fake door or goes to the offices up above the shops. Although you do have to admit that it would be a pretty cool place to live, even if you did have to run the shop during the day.
Technically, I guess this shop isn’t actually on Main Street if Main Street is the main street that runs north and south. This shop is found in Town Square, near the building known either as the Main Street Hotel or the Town Square Exhibition Hall, where now you can go and meet Mickey Mouse. Since it is on the east-west strip, what street is it located on? The next street up the block is Center Street, but does this street have a name? Or since the main street curves around Town Square, is this still considered Main Street? Does anyone care? Do I have too much time on my hands?
Maybe those last two questions don’t really need an answer.
But collect for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves don’t break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. - Matthew 6:20-21
About the Photo
This photo uses the same processing that I used for the recent photo of Laura on Pirate Night. Here, the technique brought out the clouds a good bit. I also lowered the saturation and vibrance a bit to give this a slightly antique look, to match the antique architecture styles.
Photo: A single RAW exposure, processed in Photoshop. Read more about the photo software and gear I use at the camera gear page.
Camera: Olympus OM-D E-M10
Lens: Olympus M.Zukio 25mm f1.8
Date: June 11, 2015
Location: Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World, Florida
