Stagecoach
I'll admit it - I'm a bit baffled by this first photo of a Stagecoach as it returns from a harrowing trip through the wilderness. Is this even Disneyland? Maybe it's Knott's Berry Farm. I'm so used to seeing Rainbow Ridge behind the Stagecoaches when they're "home", but here all you see is trees. I do recall reading that the coaches originally loaded in a different area, so perhaps that's the answer. Unfortunately the slide was a bit on the dark side, so many details are lost.
This slide is definitely Disneyland! I am guessing that the coach is passing the northermost edge of the Rivers of America, and is about to turn east.
11 comments:
Major, I'm going to guess Knott's for that first pic...just because all of the trees and also because it looks like the area just before the loading/unloading spot.
I agree with Tokyo. The first thing that popped into my head even before reading your comments was Knott's!
Yeah, it just didn't feel like Disneyland somehow! And since both of you agree, now I am positive!
Let me add to the Chorus, the first photo is Knotts.
Re the second pic, this must be well past Cascade Peak, or did it even exist at this time?
A very early view from the state of the trees.
Check out the overhead electrical just beyond. It looks very close in the view, can this be located outside the park boundary? This would be visible from the ship rides in the river too. Seems like it would be underground inside the boundary,
I can't imagine allowing "real world" utilities to be so visible in Disneyland. Makes me wonder if this second picture is Disneyland.
Sorry to be a grump.
JG
JG, yes that's Disneyland, Utility poles and all...
The Stage Coach picture is taken at the northern boundary of the park: the coach is turning east towards Fantisyland.
The northern boundary line was established by an existing east-west public road that was a hold-over from the "Age of the Orange Groves".
I don't think Disney had acquired all of the northern acreage at the time of the initial purchase of the main plots, but even if he had, that road was still a public easement and although the poles are unsightly, Disney probably waited for the right time before starting the legal wrangle to have the poles removed.
You can see the pole in question easily in this photo:
http://www.usc.edu/libraries/archives/la/disneyland/dland_aerial_1956.jpg
Remember, they had to remove another east-west public road that ran through the park about where the Main Street Emporium was. The removal of this street was vital for the layout of the park, but Orange County may have been reluctant to have other streets torn up in case the Park failed.
Katella, was that Winston Road by any chance? I remember a short little street off of West St. that was used to enter backstage as a parade cast member. It was called Winston Road and the entrance to backstage was the "Winston Road Gate." I never thought about it before, but that street would have been in line with the road directly behind where the DL train tracks used to be (pre-1966.) Winston Road also continues on the other side of the 5 freeway. And would the other road you are talking about (near where the Emporium is today) be Cerritos Ave?
The first is of Knott's Berry Farm the early years.
Winston ran behind Disneyland just behind the Story Book Canal Boats. It is where Toon Town and the building that houses Small World is today. Cerritos Ave was off West St. It ran east across the parking lot, thru the berm, thru what is now the Jungle Cruise, thru the back gate next to the fire station, past the south facing side of Emporium, thru the gates next to the Opera House and on thru to Tomorrow Land where Space Mountain is today and emptied out on to Harbor Blvd. What is left of Cerritos Ave continues east on the other side of the 5 freeway.
very nice pictures of horses...
maybe they will bring back the stagecoaches someday, ya think??
Nancy, I don't think there's any place to run a stagecoach any more! I could be wrong, of course...!
Wow, wonderful combined history/geography lesson.
I learned a lot of good stuff.
Thank you everyone!
JG
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