More Stuff From the Box

SAY! Howsabout more STUFF FROM THE BOX? This time the box, after exposure to gamma radiation, has morphed into a small 3X3X2 (inches) box that once held a Westinghouse Automobile Lamp Kit. Being so tiny, it doesn't hold a lot. Maybe I'll get four or five posts out of it.

Let's start with this high-relief sterling silver charm/pendant from Disneyland. Naturally there's no date on it, but I wouldn't be surprised if it is from the 1960s, or possibly the 1970s. They've included such features as Sleeping Beauty Castle, the Matterhorn, the Mark Twain, the Monorail, and a Submarine. 

This tiny "play money" cent is a mystery to me; but it has FDR's likeness on it - my guess is that this was before his profile would grace the US dime (in which he is facing to the left). These are not rare, but I can't find any information about the origin.

This next one is pretty neat (and appropriate for mid-December) - it's a "Merry Christmas" badge from the Ford Motor Company, with Santa and his eight tiny reindeer. This badge is about 2.5" across, and stamped from surprisingly sturdy brass. The fact that the tab hasn't been bent is a bonus. Looking for info about these, one person online said that it could be from 1952, and the car outline is a '52 Ford Crestline Victoria (so maybe the badge is from 1951?).

Comparing the outline to this photo, it seems to check out!

Here's another mystery; I bought this at an antiques store, and the seller thought that the W/U stood for "Western Union", but I doubt it. After all, it has those atoms (our friends), and a red bolt of lightning. Willoughby's Uranium? Whitaker's Utilities? If you know, please tell me! Incidentally, this badge thingy has a back on it unlike anything I've seen before, perhaps it was supposed to fit into a lapel button hole.

And finally, here's a nice little employee pin celebrating somebody's 30 years of service. Impressive! This pin is only a bit larger than a dime, and is made of enameled brass. "Can I have a raise instead of this pin, boss?". Boss: HAHAHAHAHA!

Stay tuned for more STUFF FROM THE BOX!

Frontierland Checkers

Here are more scans from the seemingly-bottomless cornucopia of scans from the Mysterious Benefactor! Most of today's scans feature guests on Tom Sawyer Island, where they played checkers on a board near the Old Mill/Fantasmic stage. 

This first pic is the only one that doesn't involve checkers, but you see folks gathered near the shore for family photos. The raucous sound of checkers probably disturbed their good time.

I know people like to play checkers, I just don't know why they'd want to do so at Disneyland! You can play checkers any day. Maybe there's something about the unique setting?

The girl with the stripes is secretly the checkers champion of the world, having recently defeated Svetlana Ivanova in Helsinki six months earlier. It was televised on ABC's "Wide World of Sports", and she was interviewed afterwards by Jim McKay. "How does it feel being called America's Sweetheart?". "I just want that sweet, sweet money, Jim!".

"Don't you boys want to explore the caves, or climb Castle Rock?". "Leave us alone, old man!". "Yeah, this is OUR world now, grandpa!". My, what delightful kids. Right after this picture was taken, each boy lit up a Cigarillo and laughed. LAUGHED! 

OK, OK, these people aren't playing checkers either. But you can tell that they are thinking about checkers, so it counts.

If these two are on a date, there will be sore feelings from whoever loses this game. Not great for the relationship. The guy tried to flip the board when he realized that he didn't have a prayer, but realized that it was stuck down with Krazy Glue (the strongest glue in the Universe). This is more embarrassing than when his pants fell down during recess.

I suppose that if you have a checkerboard available, it is inevitable that somebody will sit down to play. 

THANK YOU, Mysterious Benefactor!

Walt Disney World Snoozles™

I'm not sure if we've had any Snoozles™ from Florida yet, but today's examples (from 1982) are solid examples of photos that should probably be dropped into the "NUKE" bin (you have a "nuke" bin on your computer, don't you?). 

This one is around 50% inky blackness, but you can still see Main Street Station to the right, and the Cup and Saucer, which (oddly) sold cheese graters and yo-yos - both popular theme park souvenirs in '82, thanks in part to that song by Hall & Oates ("Cheese Grater"). 

As the sun continued to sink, the photos became darker and darker, this one is perhaps 60% velvety black. Imagine if the place really looked like this to guests! I'd be afraid to take a step in any direction, there might be a monster right next to me, waiting to eat me. Overhead: the Pigeon of Doom. 

 

Christmas-themed Parks

I have some slide scans featuring Christmas-themed amusement parks for you today, starting with this great shot of two kids in an antique auto (presumably built by Arrow Development?), circaJuly, 1964. Looking at the buildings and giant mushrooms in the background, it's pretty clear that this photo was taken at one of the "Santa's Village" parks. But there were several in the US, so which one is this?

I found this postcard featuring what appears to be the exact same antique auto ride, from the Santa's Village in Skyforest, California (near Lake Arrowhead). It closed in 1998.

Next is this scan from a slide dated November, 1965. It's another Santa's Village! Or maybe the complete name of this place is "Santa Claus Village", as seen on that yellow sign to the left. Either way, I can find no other photos of a park with this entrance and with that statue of Santa holding his book listing the Good Boys and Girls. So for now, this one is a mystery to me!

Christmas Parade, December 1965

Christmas and parades at Disneyland go together like salami and grape jelly on a sandwich (a gourmet delight)! Today I have four photos of a holiday parade; the slides are dated "January, 1966", and thanks to my razor-sharp intellect, I have deduced that the parade was from the previous month. 

An odd little calliope is accompanied by a two pantomime horses. It looks like they took pieces (or castings of pieces) from the various circus wagons that Walt had purchased for "Toby Tyler", and applied them to this float for a bit of that old-world look. It's interesting, but even more interesting is the fact that the buildings of New Orleans Square are under construction beyond that wall! I can't wait to visit the Parfumerie.

A horrible irradiated caterpillar terrorizes guests, eating them in a single slurp (and two burps), while a mutant half-human, half insect taunts people; they will be next! Jeez, Walt, this parade is messed up.

Donald Duck drives by in one of Mr. Toad's antique motorcars, along with his nephews, Huey, Dewey, and Louie. I wonder where that drivable version of the Toad car is today?

Same parade, slightly different angle; a group of magnificent knights on horseback trot by the Frontierland Ticket Booth in the brilliant late-afternoon sunshine. What non-religious Christmas song are they playing on their authentic medieval instruments? "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town"? "Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer"?  In the distance, the Matterhorn is crowned with its seasonal star.

More Magic Kingdom Shop Windows, December 1983

After moving "part one" a bit, I am sharing the second installment of photos of shop windows from the Magic Kingdom, as taken by Lou Perry, and scanned and shared with us by his daughter, Sue B. 

I don't believe that this figure was for sale, but... maybe? Mickey's wearing his famous costume from "The Band Concert", in which he bravely conducts a ragtag band during a tornado.

I had one or two glazed ceramic figurines of Mickey that looked almost exactly like the style seen here. Some vintage Disneyana appears to been display too, like those bisque (?) figures of the Dwarfs. Or maybe they're brand new! 

Donald Duck appears to be singing, with his quacky voice, I can almost hear it!

Uh-oh, Minnie's standing beneath the mistletoe!

"The Sorcerer's Apprentice" is one of my favorite Mickey Mouse films (it's right up there with "The Brave Little Tailor"), so I'm always happy to see Mickey in his robe and pointy hat! 

Music boxes! They're nice, but I'm glad I didn't start collecting those. Same with cookie jars.

Nothing says "Christmas" like a rat in an old-fashioned costume! Perhaps this was a shop that sold ceramic goods, though it's hard to be certain.

Mickey is popping and locking, he got into hip-hop street dancing before most people had even heard of it. He could do that thing where he spun around on his head, which was much harder to do with those ears.

And hey, it's another Christmas rat. But I admit that she's cute. Maybe I need more rats in my life!

THANK YOU SO MUCH to Lou and Sue! Stay tuned for the third and final part of this series.

Magic Kingdom Shop Windows, December 1983

GDB friend Sue B. sent along a folder full of photographs taken by her dad, Lou Perry, way back in 1983 (42 years ago!), featuring images of various shop windows in the Magic Kingdom in Orlando. There will be three installments, and I admit that I am saving the best for the third part! 

Mickey and Minnie are dressed in their traditional holiday outfits. I'm not sure if the style qualifies as "Dickensian". Anyway, they are talking about what they are going to buy for me, which is awfully nice.

I wish there was lots of information about how these windows were created - maybe old issues of "Disney News" had articles about the sculpting of the figures, the sewing of the outfits, choosing the props, etc?

Lou liked this scene!

I have no idea which shop had this window - if I had to guess I'd say that we were in one of the Center Streets, but I really don't know.

Minnie is in her nightgown and nightcap (where she keeps a single donut for later); she's knitting a scarf in very 80s colors.

Meanwhile, Mickey decorates the tree, he likes to do it by himself because he's a little bit OCD. There's nothing wrong with wanting perfection! 

Yet another window, this time Minnie is standing on a ladder, I guess she's arranging the merchandise in the shop?

These scenes remind me a lot of the Disney Stores, but I was surprised to learn that those didn't come along until 1987. Remember when Disney Stores were fun? I'm not sure what happened, if they over-extended themselves or what. Eventually they seemed to carry only clothing and toys for little girls and boys, before they went away. I have no idea if there are any left!

OK, that's it for PART ONE; stay tuned for PART TWO in about a week, and the third and final installment shortly after that. THANK YOU, Lou and Sue!

New Orleans Square Signage

GDB friend Mike Cozart sent me some scans of photos that he acquired from a former Sign Shop employee. All of today's signs are from New Orleans Square. One of my favorite squares! This is "Part One", there will be a "Part Two" eventually.

First up, a sign for The Royal Courtyard. Know what? I'm not sure what (or where) this is (was?)! Probably because the Royal family always kept me out of the loop. You know how snooty they are. This sign is elegant, and appears to be hand-painted in the finest pin-striping tradition. There are no flames, but you can't have it all. 

"Le Gourmet", where they probably sold hot-air popcorn poppers and "Veg-O-Matics". For into about these photos, Mike said: At one time the Disneyland sign shop would send a photographer out approximately every 5 years and photograph EVERY sign and graphic in the park over a few days . These were from one of those “sign safaris” by the sign shop in 1973 (although some are dated 1972) the sign shop photographer always got the main signs and marquees but also managed to shoot images of flags, posters , banners, plaques , vehicle door and safety tags and even directional arrows painted on the walkways.

Hey, wait a minute! This sign is way fancier! At first I thought I saw a Pocket Fisherman in this painting, but it's just a standard scoop. This is certainly more elaborate than most of the signs we see in these pictures. Mike had more information about these photos: The images were done on slide film and photo prints were made for quick reference . These images are from those reference prints. Besides the sign shop , the graphics department at WED and the studio archives would be sent albums of these reference prints. Disneyland would also send a set to Walt Disney World’s sign shop as “this is how we did it at Disneyland“ reference.

"Le Grand Court", where you had to go for jury duty every few years. Florida in kind also sent similar albums to Disneyland. When things at Disneyland were being re-arranged in the late 90’s, the slides were sent to WDI for storage while the reference photo albums were tossed out. My set was saved by a retired WED graphic artist who started at the sign shop. Although now passed, many of my signs and posters in my collection came from his 25 years with WED and Disneyland. VERY COOL, and thank goodness Mike saved these. 

And lastly (for today), Le Forgeron. Not "Le Frogeron", where you could buy frogs (unfortunately). "Forgeron" means "blacksmith", so I assume you could buy all sorts of hand-wrought iron doo-dads. Need cast iron shoes? They had them! Le Forgeron was located back near the train tracks, and apparently closed in 1974.

Stay tuned for PART TWO! Many thanks to Mike Cozart for sharing these cool photos with us.

Christmas on Main Street, 1976

I have a folder with quite a few Disneyland-Christmas scans; but some are less exciting than others. Today's two examples are perfectly nice, with a family posing on Main Street, with the big Christmas tree reduced to colorful bokeh dots. In photography, "bokeh" refers to the aesthetic quality of the blur in out-of-focus areas of an image, especially the background, often characterized by soft, smooth, and pleasing visuals. It's derived from the Japanese word "boke" meaning "blur" or "haze". 

Finally, all those other family members have continued on, and mom can pose with her daughter. The kid that she likes! OK, now I feel guilty, what if the now-grown boy sees this post (I'm sure he's a fan) and I make him sad? I'm sorry, kid!

Snoozles™

I have a pair of Snoozles™ for you today, but they aren't that bad. Think of them as "Snoozles Lite", with a lemony flavor. Both of these are from May, 1960.

This is one of those familiar views that we've seen over and over; perhaps there was a Kodak Picture Spot sign on shore? In a way I can understand why somebody would want to take this photo; "Would you believe that this is an amusement park??".  The Old (and Haunted!) Mill looks convincingly antique, as does the Keelboat. Why the Keelboat is moored at the raft landing, I can't say. Is it possible that Tom Sawyer Island was closed? Up on top of the hill to the left; is that Tom's Treehouse? It looks to be too low, but I don't know what else it could be.

I'm sorry that this next photo is a bit blurry, because the headhunter scenes from the Jungle Cruise are now gone. You can see some warriors dancing in a circle. Are they celebrating a successful hunt (note the sleeping lion hanging to the right)? Or are they looking forward to a successful hunt - FOR YOUR HEAD?!