Feisty Frontierland

Here are five more Feisty Frontierland scans from our pal, the Mysterious Benefactor! It's a nice mix of subjects today.

Here's a familiar view of the Burning Settler's Cabin, if only the settler had worn his blue shirt that day, he'd still be alive (and 164 years old). 

Next is this pretty scene along the Rivers of America, with two Explorer Canoes and the Mark Twain, with Big Thunder Mountain peeking up, not far from where Cascade Peak once stood (though that was more to our left).

This next photo is from much the same angle as the previous one, though (based on the trees) it must have been taken a few years earlier. A family poses for a sunny portrait. It kind of amazes me that even at this later date, Frontierland could still appear lush and green from certain angles.

Holy Toledo! Look at that  insane crowd! I have to wonder if this was taken during the debut of Splash Mountain, or on some other special occasion? Surely this can't just be a busy summer day, can it? We have no date so it's hard to say. However I just noticed that there is a crowd heading away from us, and another crowd heading toward us. It's a mystery!

And finally, here's a pretty and placid look at the Rivers of America. All of the watercraft must be on their journey through the frontier. Which gives us a slightly better look at Big Thunder, though it is far away.

 THANK YOU, Mysterious Benefactor!

More Stuff From the Box

Here's yet another selection of STUFF FROM THE BOX! I hope you enjoy today's goodies.

Let's start with this brass ring with a frowning bulldog's visage, and the words "DEVIL DOGS". This is a movie-related prize given out in 1935 with Quaker cereals - a tie-in with James Cagney's "Devil Dogs of the Pacific". It's the story of the U.S. Flying Marine Corps (which explains the feathered wings on the sides. The owner was able to have his or her initial engraved on the front, I guess this one is a "J"?

This next extra-fancy pin is undated, but I would not be surprised if it was from the 1930s, or even earlier; it was given to a 30-year employee, and it has a "genuine" diamond - for all I know, it really is a low-grade diamond; I own another employee badge with a diamond chip, and my mom immediately said, "That's a real diamond!" when she saw it. I choose to believe her. One website says The Bell Telephone Co. of Illinois was chartered in 1878; three years later, it became part of the Chicago Telephone Co. By the beginning of the twentieth century, Chicago Telephone was associated with the Bell network of American Telephone & Telegraph Co. (AT&T), the largest phone company in the United States.

I like this rather heavy brass badge with the white enamel star, celebrating the International Dairy Exposition! While I can't find much solid info, I believe that the Exposition was held in Indianapolis in 1949. Everyone dressed like cows. I hope.

In the early 1970s, my father and Grandpa took us to the L.A. Auto Show for several years in a row. It was quite a scene! My brother and I greedily collected every brochure and freebie we could get our hands on; we could often tell that the exhibitors were annoyed that kids with no money were taking their lavishly-printed books and brochures. "Tough bunnies!", as my dad might say. I still vividly remember a giant moving cutaway model of a Wankel engine. And my brother and I got to sit in a Rolls Royce that had a phone in it. Can you imagine? Both of the exhibitor pins below are from a few years later.

I associate Libby food products (later known as "Libby's) with  frozen TV dinners (remember "Libby the Kid"?), and (I think) some kind of juice that was advertised with the song, "When it says Libby's Libby's Libby's on the label label label, you will like it like it like it on your table table table...". This stickpin is probably from the early 20th century, though I'm surprised at the shoddily-applied paint - atypical of such items from that era. Perhaps somebody touched it up more recently.

And finally here's a Roy Rogers Deputy badge, given out by Post cereals in 1951. The bas-relief of Roy is a pretty good likeness! I'm not so sure about Trigger, however. On the back is a whistle for calling your friends during an emergency, as well as a mirror so that you can flash Morse Code messages to the authorities from across the canyon.

 Stay tuned for more STUFF FROM THE BOX!

Blurzles™

It's time (unfortunately) for more Sunday Blurzles™. Slide scans that need contact lenses. These are dated "September 24, 1956", so Disneyland was just over a year old.

Folks just arriving to the park often liked to ride the Disneyland & Santa Fe RR; or at least they liked to climb the steps of the train station for a nice elevated look at Town Square. This seems to be yet another case of guests not showing up until late in the day, which baffles me. The banner at the entrance to Main Street says, "Disneyland Welcomes...", well, we don't know who it welcomes. Let's pretend that it says Disneyland Welcomes Junior Gorillas! 

Vesey Walker and the Disneyland Band march down Main Street, presumably for their final performance of the day. Note the band's blue uniforms, which were only used in the earliest days. 

Sue at Universal Studios, October 1967

Today I have PART TWO of a series of photos taken by Lou Perry and shared with us by his daughter, Sue B... who also happens to star in all of these pictures! They are from Universal Studios, circa October 1967.  

While the studio had been around since 1915, it opened as a full-fledge theme park on July 15th, 1964 - so about three years before these photos were taken. 

The first two are from the famous Prop Plaza, where guests could see props from movies and TV shows - everything from a Model T to a PT Boat to a giant rotary telephone. I would imagine that more photos were taken at the Prop Plaza than just about anywhere else in Universal Studios! Here we see Sue B., looking adorable as she poses in front of an Air Force jet. I'd love to know how the studio acquired this plane - was it obsolete and thus decommissioned? Maybe it had mechanical problems (probably the spark plugs)? After thousands of hours of research, I think that the jet in question is a Lockheed T-33 "Shooting Star" (or T-Bird), an American subsonic trainer that was first introduced in 1948. Right after this picture was taken, Sue hotwired it and flew it to Tijuana. 

Well, Sue is back from Tijuana, and now she's standing next to some huge matches. Props from the show "Land of the Giants", perhaps? OK, nope, I looked it up, and that program did not debut until 1968. Sue knows that you should never play with matches, even though doing so is super fun and cool.

Here's Sue taking shelter from a sudden tropical rainfall. Never mind the destroyer in the background, I'm sure it's harmless! I believe that this tin-roofed structure was in an area called the Hollywood Visitor's Village; folks could watch as an enemy submarine fired a torpedo at the ship. What happened next? I have no idea, but there was probably a watery "explosion". I'm not sure if the ship ever sank or if you were just supposed to use your imagination.

Sue has found a pretty sweet chariot, and is thinking about how neat it would look if her dad could take her to school in it. It's from Cecil B. DeMille's "Sign of the Cross" (1932!). You can't get more "classic Hollywood" than Cecil B. Demille. The film starred Frederic March and Claudette Colbert, and was made famous by a naughty scene in which Ms. Colbert bathes in asses milk. The film is said to be the first sound film to integrate all aspects of cinematic technique.

THANK YOU, Lou and Sue!

Sheriff and Camera Shop

By pure happenstance, I found that I had two photos featuring the same Frontierland Sheriff character. I'm pretty sure I've seen him before, but I don't know if he had a name. Was he the new "Sheriff Lucky" (since that character was initially played by somebody else)?

This first one is from the 1960s, and shows the lawman posing with a happy guest. The Trading Post is behind them, along with one of the park's two wooden Indians. You can't have too many!

Next is this black and white photo print, with the date "June 29, 1967" written on the back. A specific date? That means I can refer to "Jason's Disneyland Almanac". June 29th was a Thursday, the park was open from 9AM until midnight, and the temperature got up to a high of 77º, dipping down to 55º in the wee hours. We have no attendance estimates, sadly. It appears that two lawmen (one from the previous image) are posing with a lady in front of the Camera Shop.

Not knowing where the Frontierland Camera Shop was, I referred to my INA booklets, and in the 1967 issues, you can see that it was located right next door to the Golden Horseshoe.

I'd hoped for a more detailed description of what went on at the Camera Shop, but blurb in the back of the guide is about as minimal as it gets.

On the Pirate Ship, September 24, 1958

Here's a group of fun-lovin' folks aboard the Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship, from two slides dated "September 24, 1958". You know how much I love to refer to Jason's Disneyland Almanac when I have a specific date! The 24th was a Wednesday, the park was open from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM, the temperature ranged from a high of 81º to a low of 59º, and attendance was a mere 8,327! If you think that's amazing, just two days later, attendance was 4,039. On a Friday!!

Ya scurvy swabs! If I can locate our plank, yer going to walk it. Backwards! You can tell that the young lady (?) to the left is not looking forward to her dip in the ocean, but there are no sharks today, so how bad  could it be?

Maybe the photographer was standing on that blue bench to the right? He'd still need a zoom lens to get that "close up" view, I would think.

Fantasyland in the Fifties

Today's slides were strangely faded, but Photoshop was able to bring them back to life. They both feature views of Fantasyland, from "sometime in the 1950s".

This first one is kind of an unusual view, looking across the pre-1960 "swimming pool" ocean that held the Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship (striped sails visible to the right). I'm guessing that the photographer was in some sort of dining area, though I don't recall seeing stands of bamboo in that general vicinity before. Across the way is the Mickey Mouse Club Theatre, and a little bit closer to water's edge, guests rest their feet beneath the shade of umbrellas.

Nearby, a canal boat loads up with a fresh serving of guests for Monstro. "Why are you sprinkling salt on us?", the girl asks the Cast Member. "Oh, you know, for your safety. Or something". Monstro loves salty snacks! I like the hats on the CMs - not sure what style that is - a trilby? I looked online and saw something similar that was just referred to as a fedora, a variation I guess.

 

Disneyland Hotel Ephemera

Here's a selection of vintage paper items from the Disneyland Hotel. Where I never stayed. I also never got a pony for Christmas. This unassuming item is only about 4" X 5" when in its fully-folded state. "Why, this small item is hardly worth my time!", one might say while polishing one's monocle.

Flip open one fold, and you get some general info - lots of impressive numbers. 1,000 deluxe rooms!  30,000 square foot exhibition room! 25 conference, meeting, and banquet rooms! 80 feral cats!

Further unfolding reveals artwork that is so great that the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel looks like poop by comparison! Just look at those sweet spot illustrations. And for some classic Hotel amenities, such as Dancing Waters, Water World Shows, Pedal Boat Rides, Miniature Golf, real golf, and yes, even a Game Room. There is also an assortment of restaurants to suit your mood, from a cantina with dancing and cocktails to the "Top of the Park" (cocktails, but no dancing). And there's the Monorail Bar (not cafe)! 

Flip the thing over, and there's a handy map so that you won't get lost and cry. While this brochure (or is it a pamphlet?) is undated, the Bonita Tower is not on the Hotel site yet, and that opened sometime in 1978.

Hotel doily, well hotel doily, it's so nice to see you back where you belong! I'm sorry, Melissa, I could not resist. 

I couldn't think of a song to accompany this cocktail napkin, but you have to admit that it's the greatest napkin in history.

Leftuggies

Hooray for Leftuggies, they really hit the spot. This first view is from March 1962, and man-oh-man, Town Square is virtually deserted except for the four folks in the foreground. At first I wondered if this was taken when the park first opened, but lights are on in the distance, so it must be late afternoon/early evening. Imagine being there when it is this empty! Notice the Moonliner sneaking in (though the "TWA" had been removed at this point).

Over at the Opera House,  the "Babes in Toyland" sets were on display. I'm not sure if this drummed up much of an additional audience for the film (which I have not seen, but am told that it is a tough watch). Still, the idea of seeing actual movie sets must have been somewhat exciting, and it was a way to provide an inexpensive exhibit.

Next is this photo from April, 1964, looking North on Main Street. The Horse-Drawn Streetcar is heading back to Town Square, I'd love to know how many people take that vehicle Northward as opposed to Southward? To the right, the Eastman Kodak shop. I'd go in and order a hamburger just to make them mad. The lady with the stroller is wondering if she can outrun the Streetcar. 

 

Blurzles™

It's always a letdown when I find slides that I think will be "better than usual", only to find, when scanned, that they aren't in focus. It ain't fair! I pay my taxes! But here we are. 

Both of today's photos are dated "August 14, 1958", and feature the Suspension Bridge on Tom Sawyer Island.  That was a Thursday, the park was open from 9:00 AM until midnight, and attendance is listed at 25, 633 guests (thanks to Jason's Disneyland Almanac, as always).

A conga-line of guests crosses the swaying bridge - even in this blurry state you can see some smiling faces, so everyone's having a good time. With Summer coming to a close, it seems that folks were taking advantage of the few weeks they had left to enjoy the park before school was back in session.

Arg! Blurry! Otherwise this would be a nice portrait of a young girl (watched by Mom nearby) - Dad must have crossed first so that he could look back and capture this view.