Wednesday, September 05, 2007

Aerial View, 1955

A few years ago, a friend of mine gave me several 8" X 10" photo prints that were apparently made from a vintage negative (the prints themselves are new). The best of the bunch was this color aerial view of Disneyland, circa 1955. I've provided a fairly large jpeg for you, so if you have a slow connection, it might take a while to download. I think it will be worth the wait!

Frontierland looks like a whole lot of nothin'! You can see the gazebo near the castle, the Mark Twain is at the dock, and you can even see Casey Jr. and the Plantation House. There are vehicles parked at the base of Snow Mountain, as well as a number of them on the roadway that surrounded the park. Look at all of the orange groves! And you can see how all of Disneyland's waterways were actually interconnected with each other.


I can only see a little bit of railroad track (I think)...could this photo be from before the park actually opened? The parking lot is full of vehicles, but they might belong to the many construction workers and craftsmen scrambling to finish the park in time for its nationally televised grand opening. It also looks like there are cars parked in Tomorrowland right next to the star-shaped flag court.
at

9 comments:

  1. Anonymous11:19 PM

    I love DCA in this picture!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Tinker Bell12:33 AM

    I second that comment!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Jim Moore7:22 AM

    What a fantastic & unique shot!!! There are details captured here that have never been seen before in any aerial of the park. Thank-you!!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Peter VINCENT11:49 AM

    What a great photo. It be really interesting to see Disneyland now, photographed from the same perspective (or do you already have that photo in one your older posts?!)

    As always thanks for those unique pictures.

    Pete

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous1:08 PM

    I think you are quite correct, this photo might be from the last weeks before opening. I don't see the RR tracks, cars parked all over the back lots, all ride vehicles parked in the loading zones. No flags and no tourists, despite being taken in the late afternoon.

    Katella Gate

    ReplyDelete
  6. Major Pepperidge2:42 PM

    I do love these aerial shots! Peter, I don't have anything similar to this photo from recent years, but maybe Matterhorn1959 or Daveland does?

    ReplyDelete
  7. Matterhorn19598:00 PM

    I believe the park is open and running. The railroad tracks were laid and the trains operating on July 4th 1955 with the Walt Disney Studio Penthouse Club party. Also there are lots of umbrellas and seating areas installed. Tomorrowland at opening was pretty dismal and here everything seems to be operating.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Anonymous9:32 PM

    I can't make out even a hint of railroad tracks and it looks to me like Main Street station might be in scaffolding. This has got to be before opening day.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Anonymous10:43 PM

    This has to be prior to the park being opened. As there is NO train in sight, anywhere on the path. Not to mention, the tracks are not even in sight. There are cars inside the park. Autopia is not running. The park is clearly not open to guests. All those cars in the parking lot have to be construction crew's automobiles.

    ReplyDelete