Vintage Disneyland Matchbooks
Here's some more vintage Disneyland ephemera; nothing incredibly rare or valuable (Matterhorn1959 laughs at my collection!), but fun nonetheless. I've photographed some humble matchbooks from various locations around the park - I already collected old matchbooks when I was a kid (mostly given to me by my grandparents - both smokers at the time), so examples from Disneyland felt like a natural extension of that collection.
Let's start with this nice book from "Casa de Fritos", featuring that crazy Frito Kid. Hey, Klondike! Because I am a mental patient, I only want unused, unstruck matchbooks, and those can sometimes be a bit harder to find. Notice that it shows the façade of the original location.
Here's version 2 from Casa de Fritos. Somebody must have slapped the Frito Kid on the back, because he maintains the same expression from the first book. This time we see the second location for the Casa, when it was over by the Mine Train.
Believe me, with all of these matches I am sorely tempted to take up smoking. So far I have resisted, but darnit, I want to look cool. I like this smaller matchbook featuring the Red Wagon Inn ("On the Plaza") and the Plantation House.
It is only upon looking at this photo that I think I might need an upgrade on this other (later?) matchbook for the Red Wagon Inn and The Chicken Plantation. I was tender-grown too, but you don't hear me bragging about it. Until now.
You know what would be the perfect accompaniment to a tuna burger? A sweet, sweet cigarette. But I'm out of matches! Lucky for me, the Pirate Ship restaurant has a basket full of them. Considering how many zillions of these that were probably given away, this particular matchbook is rather scarce.
I hope you have enjoyed today's vintage matchbooks!
17 comments:
Major-
In the world of Disneyland collectibles, these matchbooks may not be the rarest items on the block, but they still thrill, nonetheless. Thankfully, I stopped smoking when I was nine, so I haven't the temptation to pick up the habit - although anything to make me look 'cool' would be a welcome change.
Most of the members of my family were actually 'mountain-grown'.
Thanks, Major.
Nanook, was your mother's maiden name "Folger"?
Nice display of e·phem·er·a today Major. Such a fancy word I gotta use them dots to slow me down.
My granny would agree with you, she used to say "Nothing in the world goes better after a soggy tuna samich then a Kool menthol 100".
She had a vintage Las Vegas match book collection that was gutted, flatened and pasted to the top of an old coffee table. Wall to wall match books! What a waste, yellowed with age (and several thousand cubic feet of second hand smoke) and alas was tossed out.
Since we're talking about smoking, Alonzo, shouldn't that be "e-phlegm-er-a"? (hawks & spits)
Hey Major, I was tender-grown too! I remember those halcyon Summer days spent scratching and pecking in the back yard, all the while dreading our vacation's end and being cooped up in a classroom once more. Since we were Catholic we were taught by Franciscan friars. Those classrooms could be like ovens on a hot September's day!
Nanook, thank heavens you gave up smoking and switched to chewing tobacco. It’s much more civilized! I can still hear Mrs. Olson’s phony baloney accent. “It’s the richest kind”!
Chuck, now we all know that Nanook is a billionaire.
Alonzo P Hawk, always use a fancy word when a simple one will do! My grandma and her bridge gals sure loved their cigarettes; it was nasty to visit her right after one of their sessions.
Scott Lane, ewwwww.
Patrick Devlin, my food was pre-chewed for me, and I only wore velvets and silks. Scratching and pecking? “Cooped up”? “Friars”? You are over the limit on chicken puns.
@ Chuck-
Yes - but most folks just called her "Mrs. Olsen".
All kidding aside, however, when that Folger's ad campaign was at its peak, Virginia Christine - the actress who portrayed 'Mrs. Olson' - was involved with the AFS (American Field Service) at our high school. And wouldn't you know it - for many get-togethers, she often brought refreshments - which also included coffee-!! Honest. I believe this is called Life Imitating Art.
Please don't ask if it was indeed Folger's Coffee...
Nanook, "Olsen"? "Olson"? What country was she supposed to be from anyway? My Swedish Great Grandmother's maiden name was "Piersen", but everyone assumed it was "Pierson". So confusing. (Just looked it up, it's officially "Olson" for the Folger's lady)
That Chicken of the Sea booklet looks pretty familiar. I bet I have one of those in Dad's old pile. He was never a smoker, but always picked up matchbook covers on our travels. I know I have one from the Disneyland Main Street Cigar Shop and many from Las Vegas.
Thank you, Major. Lots of fun.
JG
Major-
Once again, I can't proof read my own material. As you pointed out, it's Olson. And at some point, Folgers dropped the apostrophe from its name.
Virginia Christine was American - born in Stanton, Iowa, to be exact. But, she is of Swedish descent. She was married to actor Fritz Feld, most-noted for his trademark of slapping his mouth with the palm of his hand to create a "pop!" sound that indicated both his superiority and his annoyance.
@Scott Lane
LMAO, granny did kinda sound like Doc Holliday on a high pollen day.
Although we did refrain from calling her "lunger" (except behind her back) out of respect and love.
Nanook, and just to tie up everything in a nice, neat, circular bow, Virginia Christine played "Mrs Lapham" in the Disney version of Johnny Tremain.
I'm late......but these are super nice, Major. I have a VERY small collection of Disneyland matchbooks, but they are all from the late seventies/early eighties.....nothing from this far back. I would love to see more of your matchbook collection!
My favorite part of the Folgers coffee commercials was when Mrs. Olson would tell her clients, "You're soaking in it!"
JG, there’s just something fun about a vintage matchbook. Some of them really have great designs, too. Miniature posters! I love Las Vegas matchbooks.
Nanook, I actually figured that “Olsen” was probably right. Which is why I ultimately had to look it up. Once in a while I’d see Virginia Christine in a movie or TV show - “What is SHE doing there?!”. Oh my god, Fritz Feld, I totally remember that guy in so many TV shows. What an odd thing to have as one’s trademark. *POP!*
Alonzo P Hawk, my grandma quit smoking after my grandfather had to quit, so luckily for the last 20 years of her life she was smoke free.
Chuck, wait, are you saying that Mrs. Lapham tied Johnny Tremain up? I’m going to have to rewatch that movie!
TokyoMagic!, I’ve been thinking about posting some nice non-Disney matchbooks. Some of them are quite fun! I remember seeing your examples on your blog, and it inspired me to acquire the ones that I didn’t have, which was most of them. I always wondered why Mrs. Olson’s clients would take their hands out of their coffee and ask “Where’s the beef?”.
Franciscan fryers, then?
Melissa, do those chickens have the funny haircut with the bald spot on top?
Reminds me of this exchange from The Great Race (Blake Edwards, 1965):
Professor Fate [Jack Lemmon]: Leslie [Tony Curtis] escaped?
General Kuhster: With a small friar.
Professor Fate: Leslie escaped with a chicken??!!
Post a Comment