I decided to start with the most impressive scan, showing the famous Peter Ellenshaw map. Notice that the text in the upper right says, "WATCH FOR OPENING DATE - MID-SUMMER, 1955". Since construction on the park began in 1954, it is very possible that this brochure is from pre-1955.
I've provided a large jpeg of the other side of the brochure so that you can read it if you want to. Those discolored areas drive me bananas, but I just have to live with them I guess. I saw one of these brochures on eBay a year or so ago, and the seller wanted $800.00 for it. ZOIKS.
Since this item was printed in the early stages of the park's planning, it's fun to look for tidbits that never came to pass - or they did come to pass, but in a different manner. For JG, I thought I'd highlight the mention of the "giant pylon-like space rocket", since he is such a fan of pylons. The description of the "super-automated restaurant" is interesting, I'm not sure what they had in mind there. They did have an "automat"-style area where guests could get food, but automats had been around since at least 1902.
There is a blurb for Holidayland, including a mention of being able to ride a horse-drawn buggy (or surrey) through"an early-American covered bridge and along a winding country road". Hmmmm!
The Fantasyland panel mentions an Alice in Wonderland attraction, which did not actually open until 1958. I'm fascinated by the fact that the Mr. Toad ride was going to end "at the 'Pearly Gates' to the sounds of Heavenly music". We all know where guests really went! I'd love to know the details of how they settled on going to Hell instead. The "breath-taking aerial ride" (aka the Skyway) didn't open until 1956, and there is a mention of the "Old Dutch Mill" (which I believe was a sort of Ferris Wheel) and the "Donald Duck Bumps" (bumper boats), two early concepts that didn't make the cut. Oh, and I didn't highlight it, but Monstro the Whale "provides a novel water slide", another idea that was not realized.
In Frontierland, guests were to be able to ride a buckboard, among other vehicles - those appear on opening day, and in at least one early postcard, but the buckboards did not last long. Disneyland eventually got its replica of New Orleans, but there were plans to have scenes of Natchez, Mobile, Cincinnati (!), "and such historical buildings as West Point and Mount Vernon". Fascinating!
I hope you have enjoyed this vintage brochure.
Major-
ReplyDeleteWhat a fascinating brochure-! You pointed out the many things that would not be ready in time for opening day (listed on the inside of the brochure as July 15, 1955) and the 'oddities' that never made it at all - such as 'a speedboat regatta' - unless the Phantom Boats qualifies.
Thanks, Major.
Wow, I studied that map for quite a while before beginning my comment. It's really interesting to spot the differences, and similarities between the concept and the real thing. For instance, the backstage area, east of Main Street, has a large circus tent and a bunch of buildings; Liberty Square? (Or whatever it was going to be called.) There IS a large rocket in Tomorrowland, but it doesn't look like the Moonliner that we're familiar with. Tons of other examples like that.
ReplyDeleteInside the brochure, as Major notes, there's that mention of Monstro as a water slide that we've heard about here before. And where the heck were they gonna find room to put all those sights that Major mentioned (like, Cincinnati, Mount Vernon, etc.) along the Rivers of America? I can't tell if it says "1¼" or "1¾" miles that we'll be walking inside Disneyland. Whichever it is, multiply it by 8... or 10. I wonder what would happen if we called "MUtual 3111" today?
Really interesting brochure, Major. Thanks.
I'm curious how these were distributed. Mailed in response to queries? Distributed by Disneyland show / park sponsors? Travel agencies? Passed out to employees and contractors so they can tell people what they're working on? Maybe at the gate of the construction site itself, so impatient visitors don't leave empty-handed? It resembles the tourist attraction brochures you'd find in racks at motels and such. But it's too early and too general to be useful there.
ReplyDeleteHOLIDAYLAND was originally almost an extension of Main Street USA … the pick Nic grounds for the small town. There were plans for row boats and a dance pavilion. imagineer Bill Martin’s designs for the HOLIDAYLAND horse stables was re-deployed to become the “riding stable” building of the Tour Guide Garden on Main Street to the left of City Hall. This structure was based on a carriage house that belonged to a 1860’s mansion in upstate New York.
ReplyDeleteNanook, I’ve seen the Jully 15th opening date listed on other old items, I wonder when they decided that they needed those extra two days? As we know, it was a race to finish everything. Yes, I assume that they meant the Phantom Boats when they refer to the “speedboat regatta”.
ReplyDeleteJB, you can find color images of Ellenshaw’s map online, it is fascinating (and beautifully done. Strangely, it is nowhere near as famous as Herb Ryman’s drawing - maybe because the creation of the Ryman drawing is such legend now. They had the original painting at an exhibit in Los Angeles, and I was disappointed that they did not take advantage of the fact that Ellenshaw painted it so that it could be viewed via blacklight, as if seeing the park from the air at night! 1 1/4 miles… I think on my last visit, my step counter said I’d walked 15 miles, though admittedly some of that included the walk from my hotel and back.
DBenson, good point, I have no idea how these were distributed or who they were given to. I’m guessing it was a sort of press release, but I don’t really know. As I mentioned, I have three different versions of this brochure, including at least one that was released after the park opened. I still need that fourth version!
Mike Cozart, somehow it makes more sense for Holidayland to be outside the park, but maybe I think that because that’s how it turned out! I am assuming that they needed those backstage areas (such as where the big tent is in the painting), especially in those early days.
Major, thank you for noticing the rocket PYLON. It’s a funny word, not often used, so it catches my eye.
ReplyDeleteI see that many things earmarked for Holiday Land seem to end up around the Hub as an extension of Main Street.
I think the circus tent was placed in the drawing in that spot to avoid a big open space that would otherwise have to be filled with “entourage” as we seen in the later McKim maps. The circus was evidently part of the program since it was actually realized, and putting it in the backstage area of the preliminary sketch keeps the drawing nice and compact. Of course the drawing didn’t need to be any more real than necessary, and it’s common to bend reality for the sake of a good rendering. I’ve done it myself.
I’ve always been fascinated by speculating on the very early programming of the Park, how the east side became the backstage area, with employee entrances, parking, offices etc. and the River and the Jungle assigned to the west side. What initial factors or site features prompted those fundamental decisions?
Thanks Major!
JG
That Peter Ellenshaw map was painted directly on a Disney Studio storyboard. It was found in storage at WED accidentally - this was before the organization of WED’s art collection ( now called IRC : internal research center) most WED art until about EPCOT CENTER was stored upstairs of the 1401 building …. It would be photographed - usually in black & white for documentation … then the artwork would get piled up on tables and 4x8 sheets of plywood sitting on sawhorses. Artwork was completely disorganized, easily damaged and easily stolen. Lots of art was walked out the doors of WED. It wasn’t till a AC leak damaged a “pile of art” it was decided to start organizing and cataloging it. Even into the 90’s this was being worked on.
ReplyDeleteWhile the Ellenshaw Disneyland over was being cleaned and repaired it was discovered that fluorescent paint was all over the painting and they realized that there was only ONE painting and not a lost or missing second NIGHTTIME painting shown on the Disneyland TV show . The painted was exhibited in the 1987 opening exhibit at THE DISNEY GALLERY , The Art of Disneyland .
It was even planned to be a lithograph reproduction that was going to feature fluorescent ink where the original featured it but the gallery’s director at the time - Van Romans - didn’t like the image much … and that limted photo-mechanical lithograph was never released . Years later a set of three small lithographs was released featuring the Ellenshaw map ( daylite only) a Sam McKim 1958 souvenir wall map and the updated Nina Rae Vaughn souvenir map.
Today whenever you see WED or WDI art on exhibit it is a reproduction as fear of damage and fading is too great . This began with Disneyland’s 50th art exhibit it.
Love it. Ephemeral favorites. Nice WED backstory Cozart.
ReplyDeleteMS
"How Much Will My Visit Cost? Disneyland is designed for the enjoyment of everyone and Disneyland will always be within everyone's budget."
ReplyDeleteWow, they even emphasized the word "everyone" by putting it in italics. Poor Walt. He had no idea that his park would fall into the hands of such evil money-grubbers.
This is such a cool item, Major! Thanks for sharing it with us.
truly fascinating document... thanks, Major
ReplyDelete“The care and troubles of your daily world dissolve the instant you enter Disneyland.”
ReplyDelete…still holds true, today!
"... the average expenditure is $6.50 per person per visit -- making a day at Disneyland no cheap excursion for the family."
ReplyDelete-- Richard Schickel, "The Disney Version", 1968.
I missed this posting yesterday, and I'm sorry I did! I would have been in that rabbit hole ALL DAY LONG. These are the things I would read over and over and over and over as a kid...holding this little scrap of paper oh-so-gently, and placing it ceremoniously into a pristine shoe box in a dark corner of my closet for archival preservation. What a gem of history. Thanks Major, and 6.50 in 1955 is about $75 today..family of four: $300...still pales in comparison....
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