Dining at the Disneyland Hotel

I have a very fun piece of vintage paper ephemera for you today - a little foldout flyer (only about 5" X 3" when closed) touting the surprising number of places where guests could go to drink and dine. Everything from a casual coffee shop to something a little more sophisticated and "grownup". I really love this one!

There's the cover, with a stylized Sun, perhaps evoking an "endless summer" in SoCal. "The whole family will enjoy the California Dining Room". At the bottom, a "special menu for children" is mentioned, you can find these quite easily, a menu that doubled as a paper mask of Mickey's smiling face (they also had a Pinocchio mask at some point). I used to have several of them, until my visiting cousins decided that they were junk. Into the trash they went!

The item unfolds to reveal six panels on each side, each featuring a different establishment for refreshment and relaxation. I had no idea that the Disneyland Hotel had so many options!

Next to the aforementioned cover is the Monorail Bar (not to be confused with the Monorail Cafe), and the Crown and Pillow, where "you'll have a jolly good time". Many of these places emphasize the availability of alcohol, clearly something that the parents and conventioneers demanded after a long day. 

All of the graphics are great, but I especially like the art for the Disneyland Hotel Lounge. The Coffee House sounds like a place I'd want to go, perhaps to enjoy a nice club sandwich and maybe a milkshake. Next, take the "Looking Glass Elevator" (I've never heard that before) up to the "Top of the Park" in the Sierra Tower. So... was the elevator mirrored??

The obverse features six more cafes and restaurants.

Several mentions of the Marina help to date this flyer to post-Spring 1970, when that feature debuted. More cocktails could be had at the Palm Court Lounge and the Shipyard Inn, along with seafood, more English atmosphere, and even dancing in the Oak Room. I wonder if Anaheim locals ever went to these places even if they weren't staying at the Hotel? 

And the last three, starting with Blum's of San Francisco, the Sailmaker's Den (love some of these names), and The Country Kitchen, which had Mediterranean cuisine (surprisingly).

Somebody was selling a different version of this flyer on eBay a year or so ago; maybe someday I'll get one of these (because I love variations), but I'm very happy with the one I have.

More Stuff From the Box

Hey hey! It's time for more STUFF FROM THE BOX! The award winning-feature that the Kardashians are talking about. "What awards, Major??". BIG ONES, don't worry about it.

On many occasions, I've mentioned my fondness for old employee pins and badges. What I can't do is explain why I like them, but why even try? These first two were given out to Texaco employees, "Safe Driver" pins - perhaps these fellows drove the big trucks full of volatile gasoline? I actually like the "14 Years" pin more than the "21 Years", you'd think that by 21 years they'd add something fancy like a diamond chip or a photo of Marilyn Monroe.

I saw this Easter Seals badge at a collector's show in Glendale (CA), and the "Space Ranger" theme appealed to me. I'm assuming it is from the 1950s. Easter Seals (now "Easterseals") is a non-profit organization that provides services to people with disabilities and their families.

Next is a tiny (roughly .75" high plastic button - not a pinback button, but a button that could be sewn on to your shirt. It'll help keep your shirt closed so that you don't look like a slob. I've seen other buttons from the 1939 New York World's Fair, but this is the first time I've ever seen this particular variety - not that I have looked very hard.

Another employee pin! Given out for 15 years of service with the Westinghouse Corporation. The fact that I have previously shared a photo of a similar pin, only it was for 25 years of service, takes the wind out of this one's sails a little bit.

Yet another sub-category of collectibles that I like is airline-related pins. Many employee pins can go for big money, so I don't have those - as a rule. The two below were surely worn by employees, maybe flight attendants. I find them visually appealing, my favorite is the one on the left, just because the red enamel is so striking. but the blue one on the right is nice too! The "five" probably meant that the employee could eat five lobsters in one sitting.

And finally, here's a nice brass pin featuring the Shmoo, from Al Capp's "Li'l Abner" comic strip.  Shmoos are among the stranger concepts in any comic: The unusual creature loved humans. A Shmoo laid eggs and bottles of Grade A milk in an instant, and would gladly die and change itself into a sizzling steak if its owner merely looked at it hungrily. Its skin was fine leather, its eyes made perfect buttons and even its whiskers made excellent toothpicks. Shmoos multiplied much faster than rabbits, so owning a pair of Shmoos meant that any family was self-sufficient. There is another larger brass Shmoo pin that I will share here if I can ever find my example.

I hope you have enjoyed today's STUFF FROM THE BOX!

Frontierland / Big Thunder

Let's continue our long series of Big Thunder-related scans, graciously shared with us by the Mysterious Benefactor! We left off from the last installment with some photos of Big Thunder cast members, and the first three continue that trend.

As I said the last time, it's clear that the photographer thought it would be fun for these folks to have some bubble gum. Well, OK. I guess it gave them something to do besides sit there and smile. In my dad we chewed tobacco and let the juice run down our chins, but I guess that won't do now. I thought that this young woman might be a ticket-taker, but to be honest I don't know if they still used tickets when these photos were shot.

We saw this guy last time, and I swear he looks so much like actor Anthony Michael Hall (from "The Breakfast Club" among others). The Ray Bans seem like they might not work with "The Disney Look", but he's not in Disney Jail, so I guess it was OK. On a hot summer day, shades might have been needed for mere survival.

It's the gal from the first photo again - I'm posting these in the same order that they appear in the MB's folders - I just realized that gum in general was frowned upon in Disneyland (it's a pain to deal with when folks drop it on the ground), I think the photographer should have given them all switchblades to brandish instead.

We're done with gum! Here's a pretty photo of a small cascade pouring through the town of Rainbow Ridge - for some reason I thought that the town's name had changed when The Mine Train Through Nature's Wonderland closed, but nope, it is still Rainbow Ridge. 

A dramatic angle!

Next is this nice look at some of the theming, with mine equipment and machinery, old crates and casks, etc. I wonder if "Burke" was the name of an Imagineer? 

THANK YOU, Mysterious Benefactor!

Twain Snoozles™, May 1971

Today's Snoozles are not so terrible, really - they're just sort of "same old, same old". But I'm happy to see our Mark Twain gleaming in the sunshine on our Big River, it's still a pretty sight. And, ya know, it makes me thankful that we still have the steamboat and river here in Anaheim. The Old Mill looks great, and I like the Canoe in the scene.

After carefully applying the parking brake (I love that old-timey ratcheting sound!), the Mark Twain unloads at the dock. This is (of course) pre-Big Thunder Mountain, it's almost surprising to see hillsides covered in trees and shrubs, and no southwestern rock formations.

The Magic Kingdom, November 1982

I recently scanned a batch of slides from Florida's Magic Kingdom, date-stamped "November, 1982" - over 40 years old! - and while they are a little bit on the dark side, it gives them a certain dramatic atmosphere that I find to be visually interesting. 

Let's begin with this photo in Fantasyland, with It's a Small World right in front of us. That taller building definitely echoes medieval architecture that you might see in Yurp. I'm assuming that a dark ride is near us to the left, any idea what that would be? The good old Skyway glides overhead, against some pretty clouds.

The Richard F. Irvine was the only steamboat on the Magic Kingdom's Rivers of America by 1982 (the "Admiral Joe Fowler" had been destroyed by me in 1990). And of course it was refurbished and renamed the Liberty Belle in 1996. I wonder if they got tired of explaining just who the heck Richard F. Irvine was to guests? The dark shadows give this a film noir feeling.

Even with the dark areas, this is a very pretty scene. All gone now, incredibly.

Here's locomotive No. 3, the Roger E. Broggie. Please let me know if you have any idea where this photo was taken (Frontierland of course, but was the train stopped at a station?). Also, could a guest walk up to that low rope fence and lick the locomotive? I'm not asking for me, just so you know, but for a friend.

And finally, howsabout a beautiful look at the Star Jets (atop the Wedway Peoplemover station). I love the "lifting body" (is that the right term?) vehicles, still circling a mighty Saturn V rocket. I'm sure there's some interesting stuff at ground level, but we can't see it.

Stay tuned for more WDW scans!

Leftuggies™

It's Friday, and that means that I have a pair of above-average scans for you, to start off your weekend on a high note. This first one is undated, but I believe it is from the early 1970s (or late 1960s?); it's a very nice view of the entrance area to Tomorrowland, with the curved track for the Peoplemover overhead, along with two trains. Did they do "rope drop" back then? Tomorrowland appears to be roped-off, and other than a few cast members, it's devoid of people, I'm not sure how else this photo would have been taken. The "flying whale" fountains are in the center, by those wonderful metallic bas-relief panels that I love.

Next, (from 1973-ish) comes this photo of the Small World Stage, where the Kids of the Kingdom entertained a pretty solid crowd; Stage decor hints at a patriotic theme. By 1973, Linda Piesik (former Kid of the Kingdom and friend of GDB!) had moved on to bigger and better things, but the KotK still sang songs of positivity, love, friendship, and monkeys - four of my favorite things.

More Disneyland Hotel

It's time for even more November 20th, 1980 photos from the grounds of the Disneyland Hotel - photos taken by Lou Perry, and scanned and shared with us by his daughter, Sue B. It's hard to believe that these are over 45 years old!

The Marina was built in 1970, and changed the look and feel of the Hotel in a major way - it's fairly incredible that they devoted so much space to this miniature "ocean". But I love a good water feature. Especially a swamp; I told Jack Wrather that people want to see smelly swamps full of alligators and snakes and nutria, but he had other plans. FINE! 

It's hard to get a sense of scale, but those boats look kind of teensy - maybe they were built at 5/8 scale? I also wonder how deep the water is in the Marina - my guess is that it is several thousand feet deep. There were giant squid and gulper eels at the bottom.

The next two photos were taken from what looks to be a 5th or 6th-floor height, presumably where Lou's room was. He had a nice view of the Marina! It's not exactly bustling with guests, but I suppose that, being November, it might have been a bit chilly? Well, not necessarily... "Jason's Disneyland Almanac" tells us that the high temperature was 81º that day, which is very pleasant. However, it did drop to 44º at night, so there might have still been a morning chill in the air.

Different time, probably a different day (boats have moved around). The Hotel buildings cast large shadows across the area at certain hours. I see those paddleboat, which look fun, but are in fact a real workout.

From this angle, the Marina looks a little odd, a mash-mash of building styles and a variety of objects added for visual interest, like that buoy nearby. I'll bet it all looked great at night though!

THANK YOU, Lou and Sue! There is one more installment of photos from the Disneyland Hotel from Lou's November 1980 trip.

 

Indian Dance Circle, August 1962

It seems like it's been a while since I've shared photos from the Indian Dance Circle in Frontierland. As I've mentioned before, my family never made it to this area for some reason, but I wish I'd seen the various kinds of Native American abodes, the Indians making totem poles, weavings, and sand paintings, and of course the Indian Dancers. Maybe I'd learn something, and it wouldn't make my brain hurt! You know how it is sometimes. 

Internet commentators love to make fun of Walt Disney as "insensitive", and he certainly was famous for his temper and farm-boy humor. Perhaps I'm not the right person to judge, but it at least feels like the Indian Village was a genuine attempt at a respectful presentation of Native Americans as something other than bloodthirsty killers (as seen in so many B-movies). He wanted to show their culture, arts and crafts, the way they lived off the land and used what they gathered. Let's at least give him credit for that. 

KBF, July 1969

I'll admit it. I will. Just watch me! You think I won't but I'll surprise everyone! Uh, what were we talking about? Oh right. I have two "mid" Knott's Berry Farm scans for you. They're OK, but not that special. But I've zigged at the end for a little extra something. The cherry on top. The "Inferno" hot sauce from Taco Bell. 

Here's a nice lady (I can just tell) having fun posing with Whiskey Bill. Hey Bill, here eyes are up HERE! The lady is nice, but it's fun to pretend to be a little bit naughty. I never really noticed that Whiskey Bill has a bag, is it full of gold dust? If so, gimme gimme.

Next is a pleasant look at some burro riders, they are not too far from the Calico Mine Ride. I sort of love how the burros went right through Ghost Town. Burros are famously immune to ghost antics, they don't give a durn. Speaking of ghosts, notice the sign in the upper left. "HACK". Rude! Just kidding, it's the sign for the much-loved and much-missed Haunted Shack, which no burro would ever visit because they have no time for such nonsense!

Back in 2017, Heritage Auctions had a bunch of amazing KBF artifacts available, including the 16-foot long wooden sign, presumably the same one seen in the previous photo. As you can see, it went for nearly $9,000 (including the buyer's premium). If I'd had the cash (and the room) this is possibly the item I would have wanted more than any other, in spite of its rough condition. But I spend all my money on the world's largest Beanie Baby collection. More on that in a future blog post!

The description of the lot reads: "Haunted Shack" Ghost Town Sign (1954). The "Haunted Shack," a house of strange phenomena, opened in June 1954. Daily tours revealed gravity-defying mysteries inside that were narrated by the voice of wisecracking "Slanty Sam". This attraction was based on a similar one featured at the Calico Ghost Town (which Walter Knott purchased in the 1950s); the Knott's Berry Farm version closed in 2000. This is the original "Haunted Shack" wooden sign that perched on the roof near the front entrance, measuring a whopping 16' x 21". Years of outdoor use and storage have left the sign in a state of disrepair; it has boards behind it to keep the decaying wood together, but will need restoration. It's without a doubt an amazing piece of Ghost Town history that any devoted "Shacker" will cherish! In Fair condition.

 

Last Two From July, 1970

I noticed that I only had two remaining scans from a batch dated "July, 1970"... they're not that exciting, but they belong together, like pasketti and meatballs. (Now I'm hungry); 

This is a pretty nice view from a Skyway gondola, heading backwards toward the Fantasyland Chalet. There was no roaring yeti inside the Matterhorn at this point, it was just a big somewhat unthemed space. Still, I wish I remembered it more clearly - like many things from my childhood, I never thought anything would change, and so I didn't appreciate them until they were gone. There are no bobsleds visible, which is a bummer, but we shall carry on. The Rocket Jets are in the distance, as is the Grand Hotel.

If you're going to have a slide showing the façade of It's a Small World, it is a plus to have the mechanical clock in action. The toy soldiers are playing their drums, while a parade of dolls in costumes from around the world march past. I loved this feature when I was a child - and I still do.