Monday, March 05, 2012

Knott's Berry Farm, January 1960

Here are a few wonderful photos from the Ghost Town at Knott's Berry Farm!


I think that the photographer was looking down Museum Lane (so named because of the Western Trails Museum, Mott's Miniatures, and more). To our left is the "Denver and Rio Grande Supply House", a structure I don't recall seeing before. Just to the right of the head of the man in the foreground you can just make out the "Gold Dust Twins" fun-photo feature. And the building beyond that, partially visible on the left, is the Bird Cage Theater. What's that pinkish building to the right?


Why it's the "Little Red Schoolhouse!" The semicircle nameplate above the door says "Iowa School House", but the building is really from Mitchell County, Kansas. It was built in 1879, but had been closed since the 1940's. Walter Knott bought the building and its contents, and had the whole thing transported to the Ghost Town in 1952. (Thanks to Chris Merritt's "Knott's Preserved" for this info).


As a special added bonus, at no additional cost to you, here's a dancin' monkey! Well, a panhandling monkey, anyway. He's really the boss, while the organ grinder obeys his telepathic commands with a vacant grin. The monkey wants cash money, but he will accept cigarettes and candy too.

9 comments:

Chiana_Chat said...

Never saw that supply house either! You'd think we'd been walking those streets so long, singing the same old song, we'd know every crack in those dirty boardwalks of Ghost Town, but no.

Girl on right, 2nd pic: I hope that's a bag in her hand, not school papers and that she's not thinking, "OMG it's after 11, I hope I'm not late for class - they'll probably switch ya good in a school house like that!"

TokyoMagic! said...

Great shot of the schoolhouse back when it had a schoolyard!

Debbie V. said...

I so remember the monkey - my mom wouldn't let me go near him.

Allen P said...

The Denver and Rio Grande Supply House is the Model Trail and Toy Shop. This photo is looking East on the immediate right is Mott's Miniatures, which was located in Jeffries Barn, then just past that on the right is the Western Trail Museum. Continuing down the right side next would be the School House playground, then the pinkish building is the School House. The Bird Cage Theatre is actually behind the School House. The building across from the School House is actually the building that housed the Mrs. Murphy's Boarding House peek-in at this time.

Allen P said...

That's Model Train Shop.

David said...

Tragically, moments after this last shot was taken, the monkey grabbed Mrs Featherbottom hair on its right and revealed Tobias Funke somehow created time travel.

Chris Merritt said...

Great pics!

Michelle said...

I think the building on the left eventually bacame the Candle Shop. Nowadays the Bigfoot Rapids area would be to the right, on the other side of the barn on the right in the picture.

Nancy said...

wow, that is really a LITTLE red schoolhouse. where did they put all of the computers?!