Regular readers of this blog know that I am crazy about Disneyland's wonderful silkscreened attraction posters. So, as you can imagine, I especially love this beautiful photo from October, 1962! Just look at those colors and superb designs. The photographer must have been impressed as well, I don't think it's an accident that the posters are featured so prominently.
Probably the rarest of the bunch is the 3-level poster publicizing the restaurants that were sponsored by Stouffer's Foods; the Plaza Pavilion, the Enchanted Tiki Room, and the Tahitian Terrace. Yes, this is from the days when the Tiki Room was intended to be a restaurant - which, as you know, is not how it turned out. It's cool to see this poster on display at the park!
Here's another neat one from the same lot; it's a really nice view of string of Pack Mules loping along a trail, possibly just above a Mine Train (or maybe even the Disneyland Railroad?). Good photos of the Pack Mules are rather scarce, and this one is particularly crunchy.
Major-
ReplyDeletePosters, posters, posters - mules, mules, mules-!
Each so yummy. (Well, perhaps not the mules...) I do like the two young 'hipsters', leading up the rear, with their cool sunglasses. One can never be to careful when out for a "burro" ride.
Thanks, Major.
Those attraction posters are awfully crunchy, too. Whoever designed the display did a pretty good job of approximating the set design for "Saving Mr Banks." I'm simply amazed at the level of foresight the early Imagineers had.
ReplyDeleteGood photos of the Pack Mules ARE hard to find, and this gem really shows off the level of detail that the Imagineers worked into this attraction. The plants, the burros, and even the guests look almost real.
What a great tribute to the first generation of Imagineers this morning, Major!
These are some fine quality photos! Did you buy a time capsule and find them inside? Crisp, clear and full of color. Phtotoshop can only do so much these are the real deal for their age.
ReplyDeleteI wish I looked as good as these pictures. I'm a year younger and falling apart.
Thanks for starting off friday right.
The Pack Mules image is a beauty. Thanks, Major.
ReplyDeleteBack then, Stouffer's had a very nice restaurant across from Fashon Square (now Main Place) in Santa Ana. They also ran the employee's cafeteria for Ford Aeronutronics in Newport Beach. The food was excellent in both places. I would meet my wife for lunch there whenever I could. Great images of days long gone.
ReplyDeleteWow: real, actual aloe, prickly pear and other desert life growing there along the mule path. Never have I seen such an amazing picture of the mule pack, and certainly not from this angle. Excellent selection today!
ReplyDeleteNanook, mules are only good when deep fried. The cool kids are actually Disneyland employees, hired to scare off varmints.
ReplyDeleteChuck, I remember when I first saw photos (taken by guests) of the park when it had the "Mr. Banks" posters out front. It looked so great! They need to bring those back. A friend of mine wondered if the repros would be sold. "How the heck would I know?!" I replied hysterically. I'm very sensitive.
Alonzo, I'd say that only about 10 percent of the photos that I find have really good color and are nice and sharp. Otherwise they tend to be too dark, too blue, blurry, badly composed, etc. It's frustrating! That's why you see so many duds here on GDB (don't blame me!).
K. Martinez, I especially love the unusual angle.
CoxPilot, I think that when Nestle bought Stouffers, their quality went way down. I had no idea that they had other restaurants; I'm trying to remember if I ever went to the Fashion Square/Main Place… was there a "Buffums" department store there?
Tom, this is probably in my "top 3" for the mule pack, at least as far as I can recall!
Wow, what a great shot of the posters and the train station with the TIMEX sponsored clock. I love seeing that. Thanks for posting.
ReplyDeleteI don;t think I've ever seen that combined Ebchanted Tiki Room/Tahitian Terrace poster before.
ReplyDeleteAnd I do wish I'd gotten a chance to ride the Pack Mules. You can get a $46 horseback ride at Fort Wilderness at WDW, but it's just not the same as going right to Frontierland and riding out on a scenic tour with a whole group.
Mark, at the end on the black mule, later regretted this "ride" when he discovered that this was not the trail to Tijuana.
ReplyDeletetviano, as you probably already know, there was a clock right on Main Street that also had the TIMEX name on it.
ReplyDeleteMelissa, $46 for a horseback ride! That's a lot more than one "D" ticket (or whatever the mules required). As for the poster, I showed a photo of my own copy way back in 2007!
David, I think we can all be grateful that he didn't wind up in Tijuana!
Dang! These are incredible!!
ReplyDelete