Four from 1967

Happy saturday, everybody. Today we have four slides from 1967 to make your eyebones smile.

This first image is reminiscent of one that Matterhorn1959 posted a few weeks ago, only his was cool and vintagey. Mine is cropped strangely, I figured you wouldn't miss a few inches of blindingly white sky. Anyway, Coxpilot clarified that the window to the left was an entrance for VIP's and special guests. Hey, isn't that the Fred Gurley a-waitin' at the station up there?


Well yes, it IS the Fred Gurley, bright and shiny. It would be cool if somebody could identify the two fellas inside the cab. Dude, I'll give you $5 for your badge! And I'll throw in an extra buck for your hat. In the tunnel beneath us, you can just make out a Jungle Cruise poster.


These two happy kids are going to love their ride on It's A Small World, which was still pretty new to Disneyland in 1967. I get a kick out of the boy's Huckleberry Hound shirt!


And finally, just because it's from the same lot and it was scanned, here are a bunch of flying elephants. They can't ALL be Dumbo, can they? Also, I've always wondered why Dumbo's trunk is curled in a manner that suggests that he should be holding a magic feather. And yet....no feather. It makes me cry myself to sleep every night.

December 29, 1956

Here are three fantastic, colorful photos from the very end of Disneyland's second year (even though it was technically only open for half of 1955).

Congratulations to you, this is the one millionth picture that you have seen that was taken from the Skyway! It's quite an achievement. Don't ask how I've been keeping track, that's my little secret. We're looking down on the Pirate Ship back in the days when it was in a ce-ment pond. Look at all the people on the poop deck! (Heh heh...)


The sun starts to set pretty early in December, and the shadows are growing longer and longer in this view of the friendly Indian village. Behind the village you can see the track where the Disneyland RR went. There's no kid & dog standing on the overturned canoe because the kid is indoors watching TV.


We're back on solid ground, in Fantasyland. There goes the Skyway overhead, the cables leading our eyes to the Chalet. The crowds were heavy as 1956 came to a close, and it was a beautiful day to be at the park!

The Happiest Parking Lot On Earth, September 1964

Whenever I post photos of Disneyland's old parking lot, I seem to get a lot of positive response. I don't know if it's a backlash directed at Disney's California Adventure, or if it's just nostalgia for the park the way it was years ago. Either way, here are three pictures of that massive parking lot from 1964.

Our photographer snapped his photos from the Monorail as it was returning to the park from the Disneyland Hotel. Across the way is the blue Monorail, with the iconic original Disneyland sign behind it.


We must be aboard the red Monorail, because you can see the yellow version on the track to the right. There's the Hotel Disneyland! Wow, that's a lot of cars...that's mine in the foreground to the right, the real old-timer! (I wish)


This last one's a little bit blurry, but you can see that it won't be long until we head on back into Tomorrowland...a Tomorrowland that still has a Rocket to the Moon, Flying Saucers, and the 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea walk-thru.

The Mine Train, July 12, 1958

July at Disneyland evokes images of crowds and long lines,rabid monkeys, and most of all - - blazing heat. But these two slides, hand-dated July 12, look overcast and anything but summery. Perhaps the famous Southern California "June Gloom" held on for a few more weeks into July that year. Who knows! Anyway, we're getting some up-close-and-personal views of the little Mine Train before it ever went through Nature's Wonderland (which was added in 1960). For some reason the original seating arrangement was kind of screwy, notice the way some guests have to torque their bodies in order to see what's coming up (in this case they are approaching the "natural arch" that the pack mules crossed over).


Now we are about to enter the Painted Desert, with the bubbling pots of colored mud ("Real mystery of the desert..."), as well as a few of those crazy cacti, and a few geysers too. You can also see the C.K. Holliday passing just behind that little rise and the mysterious shack (what was that for?).

A Selection from June 1965

Here's a few random images from 1965...what more is there to say?

This bathing elephant is still there after so many years. It was based on one of Marc Davis' sketches, and was added to the Cruise in 1962. This tableau fooled one webmeister into believing it was a real elephant at play (in an entry about frolicking animals)! He later added a note correcting his mistake.


Pinocchio's poor, wrinkled arms betray his real age. Even wooden boys need the occasional nip and tuck, especially after so many wild nights on Pleasure Island. Partying will age you extra fast!


Here's a weird idea! Looking at this photo makes me want to build a reproduction of Main Street Station out of Lego's. I'll never do it, but there must be somebody out there with enough determination (and Lego's) to build one. Half scale! Come on! After that, a working scale repro of the Haunted Mansion.

Coke Corner, July 1961

Here is an unusual photo showing the interior of the Coke Corner. It was a very dark slide, and it got a bit grainy when I lightened it up. But it's worth it, I love the fancy marble counter and stained-glass lamps...pretty fancy for a place to buy some fizzy sugar water!


Check out the little scenes over the back counter...I can only assume that they had some sort of limited movement, like the windows on Main Street? The kid at the counter has just run up a bill of 10 cents. Note that the sign says that over 58 million Cokes were sold each day back in 1961 (what could the number be today?). Pretty unbelievable. Let's see, 58 million times ten cents - - that's over eighty dollars a day!


From the same lot comes this slide, which was labeled "Cutie in Disneyland". Well OK! You be the judge. To me, it looks like this girl is considering using her purse as a lethal weapon, and I for one would not mess with her.

Junk 'N Stuff

I've got three unrelated images for you in today's quickie post...

Welcome to Tomorrowland, circa 1968; America the Beautiful to the left, every color of the Peoplemover vehicles is visible, and a tiny bit of one of the Mary Blair murals can be seen through palm trees. In the dusty upper right corner is the Rocket Jets.


The Bertha Mae no longer plies the waters of Frontierland, and that is a durned shame. I don't know how many people actually miss the Keel Boats, but they added some kinetic excitement to the Rivers of America, and their absence is felt by those of us who remember them. If the canoes ever vanish completely...well, I won't be happy. In honor of the Keel Boats, I will name my daughter Bertha Mae and my son "Gullywhumper".


And lastly...I know....a not-very-exciting picture of Harper's Mill, with a little bit of Huck's Landing and Fowler's Harbor visible as well. The vines and foliage have really matured on Tom Sawyer Island, making this feel even more like an ancient mill.

A Couple From July 1961

This picture reminds me of the kind of dining experiences my family had at the park when I grew up. Nothing glamorous or refined; grab your burger, fries and Coke, wolf it all down as fast as you can, and get back to the important business of waiting in line. This dining area in Tomorrowland was particularly low-budget...apparently added to handle the extra summertime crowds. It's one of those odd things that I'm glad somebody thought to photograph!


I didn't know that Disneyland had a room that was apparently just for ladies. What's up with that? How would women feel if there was a room just for men? It's an outrage, I tells ya. Heaven only knows what's going on in there. This one was located in City Hall. With all of the wonderful things to take pictures of at the park, why would somebody take a picture of this? One couple is taking a load off of their feet on a shady bench, probably planning out what they want to do next. I like the wasp-waisted woman with the bleached blond hair, she looks pretty sassy for 1961.

A Triad From August 14, 1956

1956, baby! Unlike some other bloggers (you know who you are) I don't have quite as many early views of the park. Which is why I decided to go ahead and post these faded images that are from when Disneyland was only about a year old.

Here's the famous Leaning Rocket. There's not much to say about it that I haven't said before. Did you know it was made entirely out of white chocolate? Years later, it wasn't removed, it was eaten. There's footage of it somewhere, I swear.


I wonder if this was taken first thing in the morning? There is absolutely nobody in line, and all of the Jungle Cruise launches are lined up, apparently ready to go (there is a cast member in each boat). Note that the sign says "Adventureland", it was soon changed to "Jungle Cruise".


I love these early views of Frontierland, when the place looked new and undeveloped. There really wasn't much of anything built on the entire west edge of this land, as you can see. Just some train tracks, an Indian Village, and what looks like the path for the Stage Coach and the Conestoga Wagon.

Jungle Cruise Conundrum

Once again my limited knowledge of the park leaves me with questions, this time about the Jungle Cruise. Questions that you can answer! I am wondering if these two photos, taken seven years apart, depict the same area of the Cruise? There are many differences, but then again, there are lots of similarities as well. In this first picture from 1965, You can see the mysterious monkey god sitting in his ruined temple, guarded by an enormous spider. I'm sure the spider has been there for hundreds of years, protecting the monkey god (and perhaps some hidden treasure)!


Fast-forward to 1972, and the scene now shows a different temple, this time housing a golden idol that appears to be surrounded by precious gems. Don't even think about taking the loot, though...it is guarded by another (or the same?) giant spider, a swaying giant cobra, and a couple of hungry crocodiles as well.

I know that the Jungle Cruise has received more upgrades and changes than any other attraction at Disneyland, since Walt wanted to be sure to keep things exciting and new for repeat visitors!