"Walt Disney's Disneyland" Part Two
I'd like to wish a VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY to our friend, David W! You may remember some of the photos he has shared with us, HERE and HERE, and also HERE. Oh yeah, and HERE.
It's time for the second installment of "Walt Disney's Disneyland", with thanks to JG for scanning this entire book!
This page repeats the story of Walt's wish (going back to the 1930s) of a place where children and grownups could have fun together. I guess hotdog eating contests didn't exist back then? I am truly surprised that the well-worn story of Walt eating peanuts on a bench while his daughters rode the Griffith Park carousel was somehow not included.
I particularly love the two-page spreads, where photos can really breathe. This one shows an amazing Christmas parade, with Santa Claus himself passing by on his sleigh full of toys. Vesey Walker conducts the Disneyland Band, and thousands of balloons were released into the sky. Where do they go? Who cares!
The idea of what Disneyland would become continues to develop, he gathers a team of artists and designers, and made the masterful decision to produce a weekly television show for ABC in return for much-needed funds. It didn't hurt that he was able to devote entire episodes of that show to the park.
There's a beautiful photo of the "Ernest S. Marsh". It really is like a big toy! The text goes into more detail about Walt's process, as well as some of the press' reactions. Ray Bradbury, always an enthusiastic supporter, tells us why he loves Disneyland.
People who had only visited your standard seaside boardwalks or carnivals must have been stunned to think that an amusement park could have anything so immersive and dazzling as the Jungle Cruise.
"Pirates of the Caribbean" was a huge deal - there's an earlier edition of this book that has a writeup of "Pirates" accompanied has a photo or two of the model that was built to help give Walt (and everyone else) and idea of what it would be like to go through the ride. Which is fascinating of course!
I'm telling you, folks, there's a lot of reading to be done. Marty relates the familiar story of how it all started with a train (you know what I mean), with Walt's "Lilly Belle" backyard railroad leading to the Disneyland and Santa Fe Railroad that encircled his park. We also learn about the forced perspective used to great effect - the concept had probably been used on movie sets for decades.
So much of the information related in this book is so familiar to fans of the park's history. We all know about the berm, the happiest pile of dirt in the world. Do any of the other parks have a berm? I think it's a brilliant idea, but it seems to have only been implemented in Anaheim.
Marty will walk us through all seven "kingdoms" in some detail, starting with Main Street, USA. He quotes "an art director", I wonder who it was? John Hench? Some of the prose is mighty fine; "inhaling the nectar of nostalgia", whee-doggies! Or how about the mention of "fat, juicy pickles"?
There's lots more of "Walt Disney's Disneyland" to come! THANKS to JG for sharing this book with all of us.
20 comments:
Major-
It's not as though we all don't know the story, but it is fun to read the text as if it's brand new.
(And who knew Bob Hope's 'joke' writers were as clueless about American history as many who should know better) to mis-identify Alaska as our 50th state. Really-? Maybe if they visit Disneyland they will discover for themselves "... it is a place for people to find happiness and knowledge."
More thanks to JG.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DAVID W!
From Lou & Sue
Major, I'm glad you linked the past photos from David W. The one of him smiling-on-the-job (Autopia) makes me smile!
I'll be back later to read the rest of today's post....
Yay! Another chapter of Walt Disney's Disneyland. Wasn't the original TV show also named that?
The red-coated pirate in the well-dunking tableau always struck me as having a very 'animatronic' stance. Never really convincing as a real person. Perhaps he is supposed to be drunk, and that explains his wonky positioning. Although, at this point in the story I don't think the pirates are all that liquored up yet. The auction scene, it seems to me, is the most elaborate of the tableaux.
Happy Birthday to you, David W! Any more photos? We're insatiable, you know.
Thanks again, JG for offering up this memory-filled book. And thanks Major for posting it with your commentary.
When Disneyland at last opened to an eagerly awaiting public, a mine train pulled out of it's station in Frontierland....."
I guess Marty had forgotten that the Rainbow Caverns Mine Train did not open until almost one full year after the park opened.
I'm glad to hear that Walt wasn't always relegated to sit on a bench while his daughters enjoyed the merry-go-round, and that sometimes he was able to enjoy having his bottom dropped out from under him.
Thanks JG, and Major P.!
Happy birthday, David W.!
Eating contests always take me back to Stand By Me. If Walt had a similar reaction, I can see why he built Disneyland as an alternative for family fun.
TM!, wow, that is a pretty glaring historical error on Marty's part, made even more egregious by the fact that he had been working at Disneyland from the beginning. Maybe the use of the "that's progress for you" gag was just too much for him to resist.
Chuck, personally, I think he just enjoyed telling lies.
Ooops, I forgot.....Happy Birthday, David W.!!!
Happy Birthday David W! Thanks again Jay Gee for the trip back in time. This book must have been one of my first collection pieces as the words took me back quite a ways. "Miracleland"...would love to have seen that. Probably just as odd as it sounds. It's kind of amazing that they wouldn't let Dr. K into Disneyland- but back in the day when "everyone is a VIP" closing the park for a day to accommodate the request was probably way out of the question. Certainly other political figures enjoyed the same- as I remember my own experiences with those "types". Something else was definitely "up" with that denial of a request. Maybe fingers too close to "buttons" got people very very nervous. Who knows. Maybe it's a book, a movie...certainly some good material there. I thought all of the parks had a berm as it was DeRigueur before construction started....something for the train to sit upon (?) How long do we think trains will last? The Auction scene certainly has always been controversial. I was witness to it as early at 1980. Stylistically, it's an amazing tableau. Looks like someone got lost in the folds of the pages. I also loved that Santa scene with the balloons. It's kind of odd that the band would be playing during a parade- which looks like Fantasy on Parade with Annabelle there in the back seat of the sleigh. There is also a seating area for fancy people...perhaps this was a special performance (?) Don't worry about the balloons- they are latex and go back to the earth. Even working in the balloon room we didn't have any knowledge about the environmental impact of our products....just keep blowing those suckers up! Thanks for the quiet morning read!
Well, I posted but it vanished.
I don't remember what I said, so it wasn't important. Just the way the day is going.
However, Happy birthday David W.!
David W, happy birthday! Many Happy Returns of the Day! Thanks for sharing your photos and memories.
Yes, a familiar story, but read it again as if for the first time.
I’m sorry, the two-page spreads lose a bit in the “gutter”, but can’t be helped.
Major, thanks for posting. I’ll be curious to hear what details are seen by the Junior Gorillas in these pics.
JG
Nanook, you’d think that people who lived through Alaska and Hawaii becoming states would remember the correct order, but then again, my expectations for Bob Hope’s writers isn’t that high! If you ever see clips of some of those old Bob Hope specials, the jokes are pretty awful.
Lou and Sue, I knew you would be making sure I didn’t forget David W’s birthday! ;-)
JB, I think that the original show was just called “Disneyland”, but I might be wrong. And hey, I am standing like that red-coated pirate RIGHT NOW. People look at me funny, but that’s what I want. I never really thought about it, but you could be right, the auction scene might be the most elaborate example in “Pirates” (though I love the ship firing on the fort too).
TokyoMagic!, ha ha, YES, not to mention the fact that none of the trains on the Disneyland RR are “mine trains” pulling out of the station in Frontierland. Come on, Marty! I agree, the line about Walt having his bottom dropped out from under him is a weird one.
Chuck, that scene in “Stand By Me” is great! My guess is that even a 55-er like Marty did not get too caught up in historical accuracy. “I don’t remember when that ride opened! I’m Marty Sklar, dammit! I own a Porsche!”. (I love Marty, and have no idea if he ever owned a Porsche). I somehow doubt that a Mine Train engineer ever told that “progress” story, it sounds like another one of “those stories”.
TokyoMagic!, whoa, harsh!!
Bu, “Jay Gee”, any relation to “Jay Z”? We all know that JG is a successful hip hop producer. I think that the story about Khrushchev not being allowed to visit Disneyland was supposedly it would have been too hard to provide security for him. I’m not sure if I buy it, but that’s what they say. I don’t think that they ever gave a tour of the park to a VIP when the park was closed, did they? It would kind of give a weird impression, with everything quiet and empty. I want to see the Disney+ movie about the kerfuffle, starring Tom Cruise as Nikita “Jack” Khruscchev. And Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson could play his security guard, I can already hear the phony Russian accent. He could constantly order a glass of beet juice at the snack bars, only to be shocked that his choices were Coke or Pepsi. Funny that you remarked about the latex balloons, I go hiking a lot, and it is amazing how often we will see a mylar balloon stuck in a tree, even though we are out in the middle of nowhere.
stu29573, you need to do what Sue does… type your comment in a text document, and then, if it somehow doesn’t go through, you can just copy and paste it. I have had success on your blog by commenting in Google Chrome!
That train station shot is a beauty!! We used to always get to the park before opening and I remembered while in line to get tickets or entry how excited people got when that first train of the morning pulled into the station and waited for the first passengers of the day.
Back in college a group of friends and I went to the park mid week . My friend Tim was out of school and was going to play hooky- so he used the pay phones ( it was the 1980’s ) between the Guest Relations Ticket Window and the Kennel building to “call out sick” and while doing so in his best under-the-weather voice that first morning DL RR locomotive began approaching the station ringing its bell and a whistle that could only be DISNEYLAND!!!
Happy birthday David!!
I'll have to get back later and enjoy this post, but a big Happy Birthday, David W. Your past posts were always a trip to look at. Hope your B-day goes well. And tomorrow, an Un-Birthday!
@ TM!-
I saw that 'error' about the Mine Train, but just figured Marty was referring to the "grand circle tour". It seems a rather egregious mistake to make.
@ Bu-
"Maybe it's a book, a movie...certainly some good material there". No maybe about it. It's a piece of historical fiction called "Bombshell", by Barbara Allan, published in December, 2012. Summary as follows:
"In an attempt to soothe growing Cold War tensions between America and Russia, Premier Nikita Khrushchev visits the US to see all that his “enemy” has to offer. Top of his to-do list? A trip to Disneyland and an introduction to sexual icon Marilyn Monroe.
Thanks to the impossible security requirements, Disneyland is out of the question. Marilyn, on the other hand, jumps at the chance to put on a show for the Russian official. During her appearance, she overhears the details of an assassination plot designed to spark an atomic holocaust and devastate both superpowers. When the Secret Service refuses to believe her, Marilyn risks everything to whisk Khrushchev away to safety—in The Happiest Place On Earth.
With US agents and the KGB hot on their trail, Marilyn and Khrushchev enjoy the thrills of the amusement park while fighting to stay one step ahead of the assassins and prevent the horrors of an unprecedented war that would annihilate millions."
Nanook: OMG. It's real. I need this book! "Sales of "Bombshell" mysteriously spike on Amazon due to anecdotal posting on blog...."
Major, oh I agree. There are several scenes in Pirates that are more exciting than the Auction scene. Like you mentioned, seeing the cannons fire and having the balls 'hit the water' next to your boat is definitely one of the highlights. I guess I was just referring to the number of animatronic figures in the auction scene and all the fruits, vegetables, chickens, etc., that went into the theming. The burning town is another highlight.
Nanook, it sounds like "40 Pounds Of Rubles".
Thanks GDB family for the birthday wishes!:) -Lou & Sue, JB, TokyoMagic!, Chuck, Bu, stu29573, JG, Major, Mike Cozart & DrGoat.
Lou & Sue- When I see the Autopia photo- I can't believe how long ago that was...
JB- I'll see if I can find more pictures in my files.
JG- Thanks for all the great scans of the Disneyland book- a lot of cool photos & text.
Major- As always, thanks for making this all possible.
-DW (David W.)
Mike Cozart, that train shot is classic, they used similar angles for so many postcards and magazine covers. I’m sure I would have been excited to see the first train pulling into the station too! So funny that your friend tried to call in sick with the sound of the DLRR bell interrupting.
DrGoat, I hope David checks in, but… he might not!
Nanook, “Bombshell” sounds like a fun, trashy read. Perfect for an airplane flight!
Bu, buy 10 copies, it will be the perfect stocking stuffer in 10 months.
JB, I knew what you meant, and I agree with you. There are SO many AA figures in that scene. I think I’ve always been so dazzled, and there was so much to look at, that I never even realized just how elaborate it is!
DW, there you are! By this time of the day I figured we’d missed you, but I’m glad you stopped by! Happy Birthday.
@ JB-
Of course I was thinking about 40 Pounds of Trouble, I just wasn't clever-enough to substitute "Rubles". Yes, that's the ticket-!
I finally got a chance to finish reading the scanned book pages, and I thank JG and Major, for posting this book. I never read it before, and am enjoying it.
I love everyone's comments today.
Hooky at Disneyland sounds wonderful, Mike!
...and thousands of balloons were released into the sky. Where did they go? Who cares!
Major, I'm still chuckling at that one.
David W. - I hope your day was wonderful!
Cheers David W and Sue, if you (or anyone) wants a compiled pdf copy suitable for an e-reader let me know via Major P, I will send you a link.
JG
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