Pirates & Mansion, October 1975

Today's photos come courtesy of a bad, bad person. Someone who flagrantly disobeyed the "no flash photography" rule! This person's criminal record probably continued on and on, with more heinous crimes, until they wound up in Sing Sing for murder. It could happen.

Right after you left the Haunted Mansion's spectacular ballroom scene, you entered the attic scene; and there you would find this ghostly bride waiting for you. In some versions she had a glowing red heart that beat rhythmically - maybe it's just not visible in this picture. Her arms look odd, resembling the arms of the T-1000 (from "Terminator 2") when they morphed into blades. Does anybody know what she was supposed to be doing? Maybe a karate chop? Anyway, there is still a bride in the attic, but the scene has changed dramatically in recent years.


These three minstrels have been performing in The Pirates of the Caribbean for years and years. The guitar player is staring right at us with his robot eyes, and it's freakin' me out, man! All three wear striped socks, so they must be Tim Burton fans. The plump fellow in the middle combines horizontal and vertical stripes, which is a big fashion no-no.

Tomorrowland, May 1960

Boy oh boy, do I love this first picture! I want to step into it just in time to hear the (3-car) red Monorail's distinctive "whoosh" as it passes, and maybe even hear the air horn toot twice.


It would be easy to let Tomorrowland become cold and sterile, but Walt's landscapers added plenty of flowers (marigolds? and Bird of Paradise plants?) to make 1986 seem much more inviting (1986 was chosen for Tomorrowland because that was the next passing of Halley's Comet).

Weeki Wachi Springs, Sarasota Florida

Weeki Wachi Springs is a tourist attraction that has been around since 1947. The springs had been there forever, but it was in '47 that an amphitheater was built, allowing people to view the underwater world through large glass windows (much like an aquarium). And what did you see (besides fish, turtles, and the occasional bloodthirsty manatee)? Mermaids! Some say they were really just healthy gals in form-fitting swimsuits. What's not to like?


What did the mermaids do? I have no idea. I think you'd watch them brush their hair, swim around in loopety-loops, and repair black and white TVs.


Waitacottonpickinminute, do mermaids wear scuba masks? Lame mermaids do. You can still visit Week Wachi Springs, which was designated a State Park in 2008.

Lush Frontierland, June 1962

Today's photos show a Frontierland practically swallowed up by the riotous growth of plants after a mere 7 years. Combine Southern California's warm, sunny climate with plenty of water, and watch your trees and shrubs go nuts!

Compare this first photo...

... to a similar angle from 1956!

There are at least 5 elk (elks?) in this photo, and 3 elephants. Can you find them all?


And finally, a view of Fort Wilderness, mostly hidden by trees. You'd need a crafty scout to lead you to this safe haven.

"Souvenir Dungeon" - Tin Tip Trays

Welcome back to the souvenir dungeon. The happiest dungeon on earth!

Today I have a set of four tin "tip trays" with a Main Street vehicle motif. These trays are only about 7 inches long, so they are not terribly useful - which explains the minimal wear after so many years (I am guessing that they are from the 50's or 60's).


You could eat a little cucumber sandwich off of one while watching TV. This red example is my favorite, by the way.


I assume that they were sold as a set. Could there be other trays with other vehicles? The horseless carriages? The Omnibus? The surrey? The motorized fire truck?


Salmon pink, oh yeah. Maybe you were supposed to buy four, and you could share three of them with various friends or relatives?

Anything Goes Saturday - 7th Avenue & 46th Street, New York City 1959

On today's "Anything Goes" saturday, we'll transport ourselves to Times Square in New York City, and back in time to 1959.

I love New York! Even though I'm from Los Angeles, I feel a bit like a "country mouse" when I'm in The Big Apple. If you've never been there, you should go! During a recent trip to the city, I arrived late at night, checked into my hotel, and decided to go for a little walk down 7th Avenue. In the distance, Times Square glittered, lights and billboards moving and flashing colorfully, while the sidewalks still swarmed with people at 1 a.m.

This first photo view shows us the corner of 7th Avenue and West 46th Street; a little slice of a big, busy place. There are ads for Sylvania light bulbs, LIFE magazine, Sports Illustrated, and good old Planters Peanuts. The RKO Palace Theater is showing George Stevens' "The Diary of Anne Frank". If you're not in the mood for a movie, how about "Two For The Seesaw" at the Booth Theater? Henry Fonda and Anne Bancroft were in the original cast (it was made into a movie in 1962). Or go see Rodgers and Hammerstein's "Flower Drum Song" at the St. James Theater (directed by Gene Kelly).


Here's a screen grab from Google Maps' "street view", I tried to match it up as closely as possible. The sign for "Terminator Salvation" dates this to 2009 - a full 50 years after the first picture! You can definitely match up certain features. Notice the statue of George M. Cohan (the "father of American musical comedy"). But where oh where is Mr. Peanut?


Never fear! He moved south one block to the corner of 45th Street.

Walt Disney World, May 1972

I have a small bunch of slides from Walt Disney World, from May 1972. The park had only been open for about 7 months at that point... our photographer went to the roof of the still-fabulous-looking Contemporary Hotel to snap a few wonderful panoramas. I wonder if guests can go up to the roof nowadays?

This first shot captures almost all of the Magic Kingdom, from the entrance to Main Street at the left, to the back stage areas beyond Tomorrowland to our right. Florida sure is flat! Let's look at some details.


First of all.... Monorail! Notice all of the topiary animals along the roadways, as well as the many vehicles parked behind Main Street. You can see the towering building that holds the "Tropical Serenade" (aka "Enchanted Tiki Room") attraction in Adventureland.


Cinderella's castle dominates the landscape; if you look carefully, you can just see the Haunted Mansion, partially obscured by the castle. I can see the white tower of the building that houses the Hall of Presidents, and can even see the Skyway buckets in Fantasyland. The back side of Tomorrowland isn't very exciting - and that area looks somewhat unfinished.


Looking out towards part of Lake Buena Vista, you can see one of the side-wheeler "Osceola Class" steamboats (yes, they had real steam engines) crossing the lake, presumably taking guests to the entrance of the Magic Kingdom. There's a tram as well!


Panning to the right, the steamboat sneaks into a second photo, while a larger ferryboat sits at the landing. Two monorail trains can be seen on the beamway too, one having just left the station


I hope you've enjoyed these! There will be some more Disney World images coming up. Meanwhile, I highly recommend Foxxfur's amazing blog, and this informative article about Lake Buena Vista and the history of various watercraft used there.

Main Street Station, 1957

Here's a great view of Main Street Station from the entrance to the park, with the E.P. Ripley and the old yellow passenger cars. And posters! Two beauties that I don't have are the pink Main Street Station/Santa Fe & Disneyland RR poster and the very rare Art Corner poster.


There's nothing extraordinary about this photo, but I like it anyway. The family crossing in front of the Horse Drawn Streetcar is a cute detail... maybe this is their first visit to the park. Love the Surrey, and the way Town Square looks so neat and tidy.

Mystery Kiddie Park, August 1960

I always get a kick out of pictures of various "kiddie parks" from around the country; it's more fun to know where they are, but you can't have everything. Today's examples, from August 1960, might be from a temporary carnival now that I think about it.

Two adorable tots enjoy the thrills and excitement of this little motor boat ride. Well, sis is enjoying it, anyway; little bro is seeing his life flash before his eyes, and he's only 2 and half years old.


Right next to the boat ride is this little train - one of the stranger looking miniature trains. "Sunshine Electric Choo Choo" has a nice ring to it. The train may only go around and around, but judging by the expressions on the kid's faces, they are having a ton of fun. Let's go get some taffy!

Parade Magazine, 1961

I don't ordinarily do scans of magazines.... Mr. Vintage Disneyland Tickets already does such a good job of it. But I've had this issue of "Parade" magazine from March 26, 1961, for years, and decided to share it with you. It has a great cover photo featuring a quartet of tour guides, looking suitably wholesome. They beat up the Dapper Dans and are taking the bicycle built for four on a joy ride. Again.

President Kennedy also tells us the meaning of courage, but anybody who has seen The Wizard of Oz should already know. What makes a muskrat guard his musk? Courage!


The article is, disappointingly, a single page. As brief as it is, I like the fact that Roy Disney gets a mention (hooray for Roy!). I also like the term "Disneyettes" - the first time I've seen that one. They were paid a mere $2 an hour, fer cryin' out loud. But thanks to my handy-dandy inflation calculator, I can tell you that the equivalent for today would be just over $15 an hour, and that's not so bad.

I'm not sure I buy the tattoo story, or even Cicely Rigdon's story ("Honeychile"!), but they make for an fun article, anyway.