The Magic Kingdom, March 1976

I've recently scanned a bunch of slides from Walt Disney World, and decided to share a few of those today. They are nice to look at, but perhaps a bit dull. You be the judge!

Cinderella Castle is spectacular, there's no doubt about it. It is also pointy, because that's how royal people like to live. Even their food is pointy (porcupine being an esteemed delicacy)! Looking at more recent photos, I see that this castle has turned pinker, just like the one in Anaheim, though I kind of admire the look of it in the picture below, as it if is made of stone (Fine marble? Though I suppose there is pink marble, now that I think about it). Anyway, it still has hints of Neuschwanstein Castle, but is perhaps even more elaborate than that famous edifice. 

Man, just look at the size of the City Hall at the Magic Kingdom. That thing is imposing. On each floor, dozens of functionaries make sure that things run smoothly at the park. People speak in whispers and hold their hats respectfully in their hands.  But it's not all serious - some guests walk out with a birthday button or one that says "This is my first trip to the Magic Kingdom".  

It's nice to see a Flower Market in Orlando's Magic Kingdom; Floridians enjoy fake flowers too, and I find that comforting. Notice the patriotic bunting on the lamppost, this was the Bicentennial year after all. Is the lady with the red top the mother of the lady with the bare midriff? "I used to look like you", she's thinking.

The Hall of Presidents, an opening-day attraction that is still going to this day. Somehow. When I was in school, I was kind of obsessed with learning about all of the US Presidents (I could name them all in order, what a nerd), but these days, not so much! It appears to be attracting impressive crowds here.

And finally, this view with what I believe is part of the moat in the foreground, so does that mean that the castle is behind us? I'm not even sure what part of the park is in the distance, is it the end of Main Street? It looks Main Street-y!

 I hope you have enjoyed today's Magic Kingdom photos.

Christmas Castle

Is it just me, or is the air scented with pine needles, gingerbread, and Hai Karate cologne? Yeah, it's just me. But that doesn't mean that I'm not in the mood to look at beautiful pictures of Sleeping Beauty Castle, CHRISTMAS STYLE! These were scanned from oversized transparencies - undated but no later than 1956, or I'll eat my socks.

If it weren't for the square format, this one would be POSTCARD WORTHY. In spite of some spindly trees, the plantings still look lovely (especially considering that it was December). There is a white-flocked tree (in the moat?) decorated with all-red ornaments, a very mid-century look. The castle itself sports only a few tasteful garlands and wreaths. I love the reflection in the water.

Next, a rare night shot with mysterious light trails - looking at the path of the light, I'm a bit confused as to what produced them. I initially thought that the red and yellow lights moving horizontally must be from an Omnibus or Firetruck (?), but there are squiggles that go in directions I can't explain. Ghostly images of guests can be seen, but they moved during the long exposure. Hey, where is that white Christmas tree?

Christmastime Yo

I recently scanned a batch of oversized transparencies - none of them were in cardboard mounts, instead they were just loose in an envelope. They took some effort to scan, but it was worth it! You'll be seeing many more of them in the coming months, but for now I have two Christmas-themed pix. It's December nineteenth, after all, and time to get into that Yuletide spirit. 

I believe that many of the transparencies are from 1956, though it is hard to be sure. I love this morning view of Main Street USA... the street looks pretty empty, but I think nearly everyone has rushed to the Plaza, leaving just a Streetcar, a Horseless Carriage, and that fellow who seems to be chatting with the driver. 

Overhead, charming decorations exactly like those you might have found in any city add a festive air. 

This next one was in the same batch of transparencies, but the color is quite different. And the sky appears to be much cloudier, so it must be from a different day. Guests are dressed for cool (but not cold) weather; I like the girl with the pink skirt, so very 50s. At first I thought she was wearing mouse ears, but I think it's just a big hair bow. 

 

1951 Studio Christmas Card

I wanted to be sure to let all of the Junior Gorillas know about a new book from GDB friends Chris Merritt and J. Eric Lynxwiler, Knott's Bear-y Tales: The Complete History of the Whimsical Attraction. 

Most GDB readers are fans of theme parks and their history, and Knott's Bear-y Tales was  (as the book's website says), a wild dark ride unlike anything seen (or smelled) before. This is the first book to ever tackle the subject, through the interviews and artwork of those who were there. 

Anybody lucky enough to experience this ride remembers the scent of boysenberries and the wacky characters, such as bears Boysen and Girlsen, Crafty Coyote, Sarah Skunk, Zaz Owl, and the frogs of the Frog Forest. 

I just got a copy of this book, and it is beautiful! There are hundreds of photos (many in full color, including some from Lou and Sue!), this thing is not a Xerox-and-stapled volume. It's a thoroughly-researched labor of love. It is truly amazing! Chris and Eric used their contacts with people such as Rolly Crump and his son Chris to tell the whole story of this beloved attraction. You won't be disappointed! Follow the link above to the website to order yours (limited to only 2000!). Chris's previous book, "Knott's Preserved" sold out, and even the updated second edition sold out, making that excellent book a real collector's item now. 

ALSO: Chris and Eric will be giving two presentations in the SoCal area, one for the OC Historical Society on Thursday, January 9th, and another at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles on Sunday, January 26. I've attended a half-dozen of Chris's presentations, and they are always fun and full of amazing photos and information. If there is any way you can attend these, I encourage you to do so! I plan to be at one of them for sure, and possibly the other one too. HERE'S a link for complete info.

AND NOW, OUR REGULARLY-SCHEDULED POST!

The holidays are upon us, and I thought it might be fun to look at one of the classic Disney Studio Christmas cards. The Studio sent out cards going back to the 1930s, and many of them are beautifully designed and highly-collectible today. I only have a few (oh how I wish I'd bought them back when they were relatively inexpensive!), but I like the examples that I own.

Here's the mailing envelope - even in this "used" condition I'm happy to have it. Love the red ink stamp for "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs", which would be rereleased in 1952.

Here's the cover, with Mickey, Minnie, and Donald signing carols, while two of Donald's nephews prepare to throw snowballs. "The Little House" is in the center of the picture, she was featured in an animated short that would be released in 1952.

Unfolding the card once, we see Robin Hood and Peter Pan; "The Story of Robin Hood", starring Richard Todd, would be released in June of 1952, while "Peter Pan" would not be released until February of 1953. I am reasonably sure that the artwork on this card was painted by Eyvind Earle, it just looks like his style. He painted non-Disney Christmas cards as a side gig for many years, some that are still in print. 

Flipping the card over, we see a handy (?) calendar with many familiar characters, and a few less-familiar characters, such as Susie the Little Blue Coupe, Lambert the Sheepish Lion, and Lucifer the cat (from "Cinderella").

Let's just unfold the whole thing, OK?? I know it wasn't really intended to be looked at this way, but what the heck, now you know how it was laid out.

I hope you enjoyed this Studio Christmas card!

Two From July 4, 1964

Hey hey, it's the fourth of July! Well, it is in these pictures, at any rate. Not that you can tell, nobody is wearing red, white, and blue overalls or a foam Lady Liberty crown. Gosh, these people are boring!

In this first one, a couple stands among bushels and bunches of flowers. The flowers aren't real, but what is, you know, man? The gentleman is saying "hello" to Carol Burnett's grandmother by tugging on his earlobe. Then he picked his nose, which is how he said "hello" to Ernest Borgnine's grandfather. 

Over at the Carnation Plaza Gardens, the Disneyland Band performs for the lunch crowd. The sign to the right tells us that the Band was led by Jim Barngrover, who was the third director after Vesey Walker and James Christensen. The man behind that column is having a time-out after misbehaving.

Mine Train & Cascade Peak, August 1961

I have two very nice photos of the Mine Train as it circled Cascade Peak, circa 1961 (when Nature's Wonderland was only about a year old). 

I'm guessing our photographer was on Tom Sawyer Island, and he grabbed a quick shot of the very nice scene across the river, marred a little bit by the crewcut-headed boy in the lower left. Darn kid! Shouldn't he be in military school? Somehow, Cascade Peak looks particularly big here (look at the tiny people in the train), I'm sure it helps that the surrounding trees were still small and appropriately-scaled.

Luckily, we get another photo, taken from a lower vantage point (though still on TSI, I guess?), with the plucky little Mine Train chugging its way through spectacular vistas populated with many photogenic critters.

Snoozles™

"Gladys, get the kids, it's Snoozle Time!". "SNOOZLE TIME???" (Gladys faints). That's right folks, gird your loins for some "just OK" scans.

 This first one is dated "November 1963", and appears to have been taken from the "Huck's Landing", one of two areas on Tom Sawyer Island where rafts could... um... land (the other being "Tom's Landing", near the Old Mill). This image isn't too bad, just a bit dark. Looking across the river, we see Canoes that I thought were empty at first, but now I see that they are loading up with guests. They probably won't be full crews, however. I wonder if that little group of guests on the shore are people in line for Canoe rides?

Next is this scan from July of 1964, an upshot of some waterfalls crashing down from Cascade Peak. I don't believe this is Big Thunder Falls, but... maybe it is?

Knott's Berry Farm

I have some fun vintage Knott's Berry Farm scans for you today, starting with this first great shot dated "July 9, 1970" (a Thursday), looking up Market Street toward the impressive Calico Mine Train ride, with the full-sized (but narrow-gauge) railroad stopped at the depot. I love the look of this one, with the eucalyptus trees providing a bit of shade, and lots of people milling about on this summer day.

Next is this scan from 1966, featuring a couple sitting on a weathered old wagon (probably used to bring Pringles to the frontier).  Gosh, they're having fun! 

I almost wonder if this next scan from the 1950s was an "oops"; it's a weirdly-composed image of two of the Native American characters (who were available for photos) as they seek a tiny bit of shade on a presumably-hot day. 

And finally, a scan from May of 1958, featuring this friendly fellow out in front of the Livery Stable. Is that the same wagon seen in photo #2? Just visible is some feathers, possibly from some headdresses that guests could wear.
 

Tomorrowland, August 1970

Here are two nice views from Tomorrowland, from the Summer of 1970. I could have been in these pictures! But I'm not. 

First up is this neat look at the Rocket Jets/Peoplemover/Space Bar platform, with a little bit of the Carousel of Progress to the left. And there's the many-trunked Senegal Palm in the foreground, it is pretty striking, I can see why somebody thought it would be a nice addition to Tomorrowland. I miss taking the gantry up to the Rocket Jets, or the escalator up to the Peoplemover.  

The Coca-Cola Tomorrowland Terrace is hopping this evening, with The Entertainment Committee rockin' the house! The guitarist and bassist are dressed like Beach Boys, but I only have eyes for the two cute gals. In the background, some folks take in the view from the upper level of the Carousel of Progress (having just viewed the fabulous Progress City model), while others walk down the ramp to ground level.

Canoe Canoe?

Today, the Mysterious Benefactor has supplied a series of slide scans featuring the Davy Crockett Explorer Canoes in Frontierland. This first canoe is passing a waterfall, but I don't believe it was part of Cascade Peak's falls. I could be wrong! I'm looking at the painted decoration on the bow of the canoe, with an odd combination of what appears to be an authentic Native American device, along with some out-of-place folk art flowers. 

The next three are all "in series"... I'll be curious to know if KS recognizes the Cast Members here (these photos are likely from the 1980s)! Princess (near the front) is giving it her best! Dr. Alan Grant had taken a break from digging fossils in Montana to have a little fun at Disneyland. This is from before he met Ellie.

More details! I like the way the canoe appears to have been stitched together with rawhide - once it shrinks, that stuff is tough! Some passengers appear to be glancing to their left (our right), while others are smiling at something the fellow in front said. Probably a knock-knock joke. "Knock-knock!" "Who's there?" "Arthur" "Arthur who?" "Arthur any passengers who know how to paddle a canoe?". If you didn't laugh, it's probably because this joke is way too sophisticated.

Mom thought it was funny! "My uncle's name was Arthur!". Looking at those boys, I have to wonder how many paddles wound up floating in the river? And was there a protocol for retrieving them so that the paddles did not get caught in the Mark Twain's paddlewheel (which would cause it to explode of course)? 

One of those paddles still has the price sticker on it; it's the Minnie Pearl of canoe paddles. Maybe the boy holding his head accidentally got bonked? I would assume that 16 (or so) people could make one of those canoes move pretty fast without too much individual effort. 

And finally, here's a group of guests who all agreed to wear bland colors. They called each other the night before, it seemed like a fun idea at the time. That darn teenager in the back is goldbricking, he should be thrown overboard in my opinion. 

MANY THANKS to the Mysterious Benefactor!