NYWF, June 1964

NYWF, that's New York World's Fair to you!

There's the iconic Unisphere, symbol of the 1964/65 New York World's Fair. It was 140 feet tall (as tall as a 12 story building), and weighed 700,000 pounds (if you don't include the base). Useful information? Probably not. But I am a sucker for trivia. The dozens of flags add color and movement to the scene. Folks appear to be bundled up more than you might expect considering that this slide has a June date on it. My favorite detail... the family with the souvenir hats, each with a bright, ridiculous ostrich plume!


New York state's pavilion was distinctive due to the "world's largest suspension roof, made of translucent colored plastic and hung from sixteen 100-foot concrete columns." I wonder how many summers and winters those plastic roof panels would have survived? Another fun feature was the floor of this building, which was a huge terrazzo road map of the state. I'm sure that locals would immediately head for their town and snap a photo. Wouldn't you? In the background you can see the two towers, the tallest being the "observation tower" from which many photos were snapped. These are still standing, and visible as you drive by on the Long Island Expressway.


There's another one of those feathered hats! I just don't understand why that fashion statement didn't last longer. These two aren't speaking to each other, apparently! And what do you know, there's the Pepsi pavilion and the "Tower of the Four Winds" behind them. Don't go in if you suffer from pediophobia (fear of dolls)!

Alice & Storybook Land

This first image is from September 1958, when the "Alice In Wonderland" attraction was only a few months old (it opened in June). Here we see three guests riding their caterpillar vehicle towards the rabbit hole, where all kinds of craziness will ensue. I like the "eyes" on the back of the vehicle, they will protect the riders from hungry birds.


Now it's one year later, and here is a photo of the loading area for the Storybook Land canal boats. Nothin' much to say about it, except that it's pretty!

Tahitian Terrace, September 1962 - Part Two

Today I'm posting the rest of the photos from a performance at the Tahitian Terrace. Part one was just a few days ago, just scroll down!

Three ladies (one with a microphone) sit up by the cool waterfall; two of the ladies appear to be making graceful hand gestures, sort of a sit-down hula.


Here it is, 2009, and where can you go in Disneyland if you want to watch scantily clad babes dancing? Nowhere, that's where! The one with her arms crossed is hip-mo-tizing me!


I am not familiar with the show, but it looks like the ladies are taking their leave...


... to be replaced by a male dancer weilding a flaming baton. Don't try this at home, kids! The sun has set, making the moving flames more dramatic.


Gotta match, buddy? Ha, I crack myself up!


It's a shame that this wonderful show is no longer at the park, especially since Tiki culture has made a comeback in a big way. Who wouldn't love to sit beneath the stars, sip your Pepsi (sorry, no zombies or mai tais are served here!), and enjoy the sights and sounds of the exotic tropics!

Two Bridges, September 1961

I know, today's post is pretty lackluster... I promise to do better tomorrow!

Here's a photo taken (presumably) from the Mark Twain, looking towards Tom Sawyer Island. We can see two of my favorite features on the island, the floating-bobbing-undulating pontoon bridge, and the swaying suspension bridge. Did pontoon bridges like that ever exist, really? It's obviously a popular feature; and look at all the souvenir hats!


The suspension bridge closed for what seemed like a year or two, and I feared that it would never come back, but thankfully it has.

Red Wagon Inn & Plaza Pavilion, 1957

When it was time to eat at Disneyland, you could grab a burger at the Tomorrowland Terrace or one of the small window service Fantasyland eateries. Or you could head back to the hub and enjoy a nice lunch, with waiters and waitresses who brought your food to you while you let your aching feet rest.

I think I would have gone to the Red Wagon Inn myself...


... although the Plaza Pavilion would have been pretty nice too!

Disneyland Hotel, January 1962

I never had the pleasure of staying at the old Disneyland Hotel, but I sure wish I had! These photos are from January 1962, definitely the "off season"; and these appear to be taken just as the sun was going down.

The landscaping still looks pretty good, but just imagine how much more lush it will appear when the days grow longer and the temperature warms up! The guy in the blue sweater is checking out the scenery, while a sparrow takes a sip of water at the bottom edge of the picture.


It must have been pretty chilly, nobody is willing to brave that inviting looking pool! All of the folding chairs are empty too. I guess the cabanas were there for changing or something (couldn't you just do that in your hotel room?)...


Well, there are a few brave souls, anyway! Once you're in the heated pool, you get used to it, and it feels fine. Getting out isn't so fun though. This would be a great place to take a break from standing in line and braving the crowds at the park (which presumably closed fairly early in January)... the kids could burn off some excess steam, everyone would go and eat dinner, and then get some solid shuteye before heading back in to Disneyland the next day.

Tahitian Terrace, September 1962

Here is a series of slides (with more to come!) showing the wonderful Tahitian Terrace in Adventureland! Stouffers sponsored several restaurants throughout Disneyland, including the Red Wagon Inn and the Plantation House. In June of 1962, a new restaurant opened capatalizing on the popularity of all things Polynesian. It would be another year until "The Enchanted Tiki Room" debuted, making Disneyland a prime destination for tiki freaks!

In this first photo, we get a fine look at the entrance, with all of that wonderful signage. What I wouldn't give for a chunk of that façade! I believe that the Stouffers sign did not stay there very long, but I could be wrong.


Smile for the camera! Alright, don't, see if I care. There's the waterfall that would part, allowing performers to emerge...


Now that's more like it! Waitresses are rushing to and fro, and lovely dancers in grass skirts and flowered leis dance and sway hypnotically. Just visible to the right is a sliver of the Jungle Cruise loading dock.


Looks like this solo dancer is doing something quite a bit more engergetic than the graceful hula dance. I can almost hear the pounding of the drums!


I have a few more photos from the series, which you'll see in a few days.

Lazy Wednesday - Again

Yep, I admit it, I am one lazy SOB! Which is why you only get one slide today. But it is from 1955, and it's a great shot of the moon rocket! Happily the photographer did not chop off the tip of the rocket, something that tends to happen all too often. Anyway, I found a small group of glass-mounted slides that are in pretty awful condition - faded, splotchy, dusty and possessed by demons. DEMONS!!!


What I'm trying to say is that this one took some work to bring back, but I think it was worth it. Believe me, I could have easily spent another half hour on it, if not more. There are one or two others that have so many mysterious orange spots that I am contemplating giving up.

Town Square, October 1967

If you're in the mood to relax at Disneyland, then you should definitely take the time to explore Main Street U.S.A. And Town Square is the heart of the place!

Vesey Walker and the Disneyland Band look splendid in their white and gold uniforms. They've gathered 'round the flagpole to play Jimi Hendrix's "Foxy Lady", and an appreciative group listens nearby.


This little motorized Fire Truck doesn't have the pizzaz of today's giant vehicles, but I guess that's not really the point! Hopefully nothing bigger than a medium sized chicken coop ever caught fireback in the good old days, because that's about all this one would be good for. Nevertheless, it would still be fun to ride on.


Look, it's Harold Lloyd himself driving one of the Horseless Carriages! Somehow he is going to wind up hanging from the top of Sleeping Beauty's Castle, I just know it. I wonder if the small crowd gathered to the right is listening to a tour guide?

Adventureland & Fantasyland, September 1959

From 1959, here are two nice images from stereo slides.

First up is this shot of the Jungle Cruise loading dock from back in the days when the launches still had their striped canopies (not canapés). Guess all the kids were already back in school, because it looks pretty peaceful; the line is just not that crazy. I like the way they use those funky bamboo fish traps as crowd barriers!


If dad had been born thirty years later, he could have auditioned for the role of Kramer on "Seinfeld". The ladies are workin' their cat's eye glasses for all they are worth. The Pirate Ship behind them looks like it is sitting in a swimming pool, no wonder it was eventually remodeled (beautiful) into the scenic cove that many of us remember!