Stukas Over Disneyland

Here's an interesting one, in spite of it's numerous defects! It is undated, but I am giving it a tentative guestimate of 1960. I can only presume that this photo was taken from one of the helicopters that ferried lucky or wealthy (same thing) passengers between LAX and Disneyland. Magical Disney smog lends an azure hue to the scenery. The horizontal scratches were either the result of a faulty camera or a careless developer. In any case, I thought about trying to clone them away, but then I told myself to ignore them, just like I ignore the voices inside my head.


The foreground "finger of doom" seems to be pointing at the Plantation House ("Let's eat there again, pop!"). Holidayland and the "world's largest candy-striped circus tent" are outside the berm, but not for long. Beyond that.... farmland!!

You can see the Mark Twain, the Columbia, Tom Sawyer Island, the Friendly Indian Village, and other parts of Frontierland. I always enjoy getting a sneak peek at the backstage areas of Fantasyland, full of service vehicles. You can see the Skyway Chalet and even a few buckets if you look closely.

But my favorite thing of all is the aerial look at Nature's Wonderland! There's Cascade Peak, and the trestle through Bear Country. And we get a great view of the Living Desert, the saguaros and colorful paint pots and geysers and rock formations. Follow the loop of track around and you'll see a tiny Mine Train entering the tunnel that led to Rainbow Caverns.