Sleeping Beauty Castle, November 28, 1973

It's December (in case you didn't know) and I think it's time to start sharing some Christmas-ish pictures. I've saved up a bunch over the past year, and Sue B. has some related pix that you'll see as well, so there will be no lack of Yuletide spirit here on GDB. 

As you can see, November 28, 1973 was a beautiful day, with brilliant sunshine, and the bluest of blue skies. Cobalt blue, perhaps. (I probably should have mitigated the off-kilter angle, but I didn't, and I will sleep like a baby tonight). The Christmas decor is tasteful and minimal, just a few humble garlands and a single wreath purchased at Zody's. Flocked trees are in the moat, too, the ground crew keeps cutting them down, and they keep growing back like weeds. Being a Wednesday, there are not a lot of people - just imagine being there on a day like this! 

I hope the lady to the right was not supposed to be having her portrait taken, she's practically lost in the shadows.  Beneath the portcullis, a woman is wearing orange-brown checkered bell-bottoms. It's 1973, folks! Quite a lot of ivy has covered the right side of the Castle, doesn't that stuff do damage?

**********************

I wanted to let folks know about an upcoming book from Don Ballard, who wrote an incredible book about the Disneyland Hotel. Don (a friend of GDB) is about to release a followup that will concentrate on the years 1960 thru 1964... I will let him tell you about it!

Step back into a remarkable era of growth, glamour, and mid-century modern sophistication at the Happiest Hotel on Earth. Disneyland Hotel 1960–1964 unveils a vivid, meticulously researched portrait of the hotel’s most transformative years—when clean lines, bold architecture, and modernist design shaped a new vision of resort luxury.

Packed with rare photos, forgotten stories, authentic ephemera, and newly uncovered details, this book brings to life the hotel’s restaurants, shops, guest towers, celebrity visits, and unmistakable mid-century aesthetic. Discover how the Disneyland Hotel expanded, modernized, and embraced cutting-edge style long before “mid-century modern” became a beloved cultural revival.

Whether you’re a Disney historian, vintage-era enthusiast, architecture lover, or someone who cherishes the classic modern look of the early 1960s, this volume opens the door to a world that hasn’t existed for decades—yet still shimmers with timeless design and Disney magic.

One of the crown jewels of this book is an extraordinary, never-before-published section devoted to the remarkable photography of Lou Perry. A frequent visitor to the Disneyland Hotel throughout the 1960s, Perry captured scenes, angles, and locations that no other known photographer documented at the time. His images reveal rare corners of the property, fleeting architectural moments, unique mid-century modern details, and historically significant views—some depicting things even I had never seen before encountering his photographs.

Presented with beautifully restored images and thoughtful accompanying text, this special section offers an intimate, almost time-capsule glimpse of the Disneyland Hotel during some of its most dynamic years. Lou Perry’s work is not only visually stunning but historically invaluable, providing a fresh and deeply authentic perspective on the hotel’s evolution, charm, and spirit.

Books will be shipping in early to mid January. 1,000 copies are being printed with almost 600 already accounted for. I am taking pre-orders now. If this is good for you knowing this, you can place an order through PayPal and I will offer free shipping for these initial orders. Details are: send $76.30 (book $70.00, tax $6.30) to Don@magicalhotel.com and again, shipping is free once we ship in January. Book is approx. 300 pages, hardbound with over 1200 pictures and special sections.

If you are on Facebook, you can read more about the book HERE. I have preordered my copy of Disneyland Hotel 1960-1964 and you should too!