Stuff!
I recently had the souvenir dungeon redecorated - new burgundy shag carpet, wood paneling, a bumper pool table, a snow cone machine - all of the most elegant amenities. And while I was down there, I decided to scan some more random Disneyland stuff.
Like this press pass from 1963 for Disneyland's "Salute to Summer". It's a sticker, but happily this one was never stuck. The red, white and blue colors and the sleepy bald eagle evoke the Fourth of July, but dang it, it's only June.
Next I have several scans featuring an information brochure from the summer of '62. This one is not that common, but when it does pop up on eBay, it seems to fetch pretty low prices for some reason. I like the cartoony cover art, with a helpful clockwork suit of armor printing out information like an old-fashioned ticker tape machine.
Look at that middle panel - valuable real estate, squandered! You'd think they could have advertised the recently-opened Swiss Family Treehouse, or the Tahitian Terrace. Or maybe one of the latest Disney films (though admittedly the pickings were kind of anemic), "Bon Voyage" or "Big Red".
The inside spread advertises some of the biggest and best Disneyland attractions, and it encourages guests to try a tour guide. I love the drawing of the typical 1962 family.
Next is this souvenir horseshoe, made of solid 24-carat gold! Or it might just be gold-colored pot metal. Either way, it's a chunk, nice and heavy and all ready to put into a sock for use as a weapon. I think these were sold in the 1960's and 1970's.
This one is not very exciting, but I have fond personal memories of the big Bicentennial celebration at Disneyland, including a t-shirt with the Disneyfied version of the "Spirit of '76" painting, featuring Mickey, Goofy, and Donald. My family had just moved back to California after some years on the east coast, so I was excited to see the elaborate, odd "America on Parade".
I guess this was just a flyer that was probably tucked inside an INA guide, or maybe it was just handed to guests at the front gate. I would happily go and watch "America the Beautiful" again right now!
I hope you have enjoyed this Disneyland stuff.
9 comments:
'Odd' is right.
Those giant expression-less heads gave me the creeps.
Major-
The artwork for Disneyland's Salute to Summer 1963 really bears the hallmarks from a much later era - such as the late 1960's. (Oh, those trend-setters at Disney-!) Whereas the informational brochure evokes more of a 1950's feel - or at least it does for me.
... and all ready to put into a sock for use as a weapon. Ohhh - a homemade blackjack, eh-? Major, I didn't know you were so protective from the roving gangs of 'young toughs' often found circulating throughout Disneyland. The horseshoe is a beauty, though.
Thanks, Major.
Major-
I just realized what those "body-less heads" remind me of: The accompanying 'artwork' from my Spanish 1,2,3 textbook. That style was used to excess throughout the book creating, as Graffer duly noted, "the creeps"-!
I have that bicentennial flyer from the Summer of 1975, it was available all over the park at the ticket booths as far as I can recall.
You could have posted nothing but the inside of that flyer and I would have still been happy. So much awesomeness in one spot - where to begin?
I love the Butterick packaging-style illustration of the tour guide, reminiscent of a hundred different patterns I saw strewn all over my mother's sewing table while I was growing up. Note that the copy stresses that your tour guide will be an "interesting, helpful, and attractive young woman," which is a bit more respectful than describing her as a "well-built, hand-picked honey."
The attraction drawings appear to be the genesis of the little illustrations that appeared next to almost every attraction listing in the legendary INA guides, although the level of detail is much greater here due to the size.
Note that your tour includes either a "leisurely cruise on the Rivers of America aboard the elegant paddle-wheel steamer Mark Twain...or a fascinating trip, via mine train, through Disneyland's newest adventure, Nature's Wonderland," but not both.
And my favorite tour offering - "a close look at the wonderous (sic) things behind the walls of Sleeping Beauty's Castle." Man, I wish my parents would have sprung for a tour so we could see steel girders and bundles of electrical wiring!
Thanks for a great start to the week, Major!
That's some nice stuff there Major. I think I have one of the giant button/pin things with that 1976 pic on it with some ribbon hanging off. I'll dig it out and send you pic. And that family does resemble the ones you used to see in those religious comics that I remember from back then.
Graffer, they’re coming to get you!
Nanook, it’s true, one can kind of see a sort of fetal version of the swirly lettering that would be found on psychedelic rock posters of the 60’s and 70’s. As for weapons, pretty much anything in a sock will work. Loose change, canned chili, a bar of Irish Spring… the list could go on and on.
Nanook II, don’t you mean, “Español, uno, dos, trés”?? MAN, am I fluent or what?
D-Ticket, the Bicentennial was a huge deal for Disneyland, I would not be surprised if these flyers were produced in the kajillions.
Chuck, I am unfamiliar with Butterick packaging, since I only buy the finest in fashions from Milan and Paris. They should have hired the writer from “Parade” magazine to write the copy, you just can’t beat descriptions like ‘well-built, hand-picked honey’. I’m sure the guided tours gave you a number of options, but wouldn’t it be a bummer to have your own personal choice outvoted?
DrGoat, I have one of those buttons as well! It’s in a box somewhere, but it has the ribbon just like you described.
Oooh, boy! What I would give for a properly fitted out souvenir dungeon!
@Chuck, "well-built, hand-picked honey." I remember that thread, man. Ditto the sewing patterns.
I do remember that America on Parade logo, if not that particular piece of paper.
@Major and Nanook. I prefer either a couple of D batteries, or a roll of quarters in the sock. The bar of soap will work, but the extra weight really seals the deal.
We never took a guided tour, just limped and loitered around on our own. Did tours get to jump the queue? If so, that could be an inducement to take one today, even though I could do my own narration.
Great stuff, Major. Thank you.
JG
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