Richfield Autopia Driver's Licenses

Hooray for more Vintage Disneyland Ephemera! This time I am featuring some souvenir driver's licenses, given out to riders of the Richfield Autopia. I'm sure many of you have seen at least one of these, but there are some variations that you might not be aware of. 

This example is called the "white castle" version by some (though nobody knows why). I believe that it is the first driver's license handed out, these are pretty hard to find. If the holder desired, a CM stamped the day's date on the back, and as you can see, this one was stamped before the park was even one month old. A license much like this sold for around $160 on eBay recently!

The next two are much easier to find, though anything of that age is harder to locate in mint condition. The white castle is gone, but it is fairly similar, otherwise.

Also very similar is this version - notice that the back says "Junior Identification Card", leading some people to assume that these were given out to riders of the Junior Autopia.

However, I have one that is stamped "August 30 1955" (only 17 days after than the white castle example, leading me to assume that those were discontinued shortly after that period) - the Junior Autopia did not debut until July 23, 1956.

This next one was a surprise to me, I did not even know that it existed until relatively recently. Once again, it all looks pretty much the same as the others (the corner cuts are not such smooth tangents, for some reason). Notice that the text on the front says This certifies that the undersigned has successfully passed the Safe Driver's Test for the Richfield Autopias at Disneyland. Not just one Autopia, but at least two. I love the variations!

There are other souvenir Autopia licenses from later years, including a tear-off "ticket" variety (I'm hoping to get an unused example of that someday), and versions from sponsors Honda and Chevron, but those are for another day. I hope you have enjoyed today's souvenir Autopia licenses!

Beautiful Rivers of America & Canoes

It's time for more scans, graciously shared with us by the Mysterious Benefactor!

Here's another pretty picture of the Rivers of America, looking south (or southwest-ish?). The old fishing dock is to our right, and I believe that the shack might have been restrooms (not sure though). In the distance, New Orleans Square.

The next four photos feature the Canoes, including two from the early-morning cast member races. "Paddle! Paddle for your miserable lives!". Hey, they take this stuff seriously. I like the look of the sunlight through the misty morning air. "I'm sorry I said your lives were miserable, you are all very special to me and I love you!".

Whoa, look at that wake, the canoe is going Mach 2 at least. Did the cast members get to practice before the event? Did they all drink large glasses filled with raw eggs first? The fellow in back looks like he's got the arm muscles to propel this canoe to VICTORY!

Next is this very colorful photo with a canoe, caught perfectly with Cascade Peak right behind it. The purples and pinks make me think "1980s", though it is just a guess. I'm always amused at photos like this, there are the troupers who do their best (even a few grannies), and the people who just sit there and enjoy the ride.

And one last canoe pic for the day; one vessel is well underway in the distance, while the one closest to us has just launched. The CM in front is giving everyone a lesson in how to operate the thing; he's about to tell them what to do in case the little oxygen masks deploy. There's Chief Wavy in the distance, I don't remember him ever being that close to the water's edge. But there's photographic proof!

 MANY THANKS to the Mysterious Benefactor!

EXTRA! EXTRA!

A GDB friend who seems to wish to remain anonymous saved this red shirt, a souvenir from 1986. "Gee, Major, that's a swell shirt, and looks to be 100% cotton, but... what's so great about an old shirt?". 

When you look at the back, you can see what's great about it! This is a souvenir from the 1986 Cast Member Canoe Races! Definitely not something you see very often (if at all). The art was done by Jeff Lee, and it pictures two Tour Guides, a woman with a mostly-traditional plaid outfit, including the hat and riding crop (maybe the skirt is a bit short!). The male TG is displaying his right to bare arms, which apparently caused something of a stir. Anonymous says Obviously, the name of the Canoe team was a take on the “Totally Minnie” promotions/parade etc. going on that year.  Girl Power before her time!  The shirt was a bit of a scandal at the time: how silly…shirtless TG’s: so very scandalous… I am outraged, I tell you!

THANKS to Anonymous, and artist Jeff Lee!

Lunch Breaks, 1950s

I find most photos of Disneyland from the 1950s to contain a secret blend of herbs and spices that makes them especially tasty (to be honest, the blend is 50% salt). FOR INSTANCE! Here's a nice family, enjoying lunch (at the Fan 2 Snack Bar). No big deal, right? And yet... I love the 50s-ness of it. Younger sis rehydrates with healthful Pepsi (sugar gives you all the energy you need!) in her persimmon red/orange dress. Gramps is mighty amused, in his day he enjoyed Moxie (which one gentleman described to me as tasting like "old socks"). Big sis is looking very put-together in her outfit, I like the bold mid-century print on her skirt. 

The guy to the extreme right bonked his head. I'm sorry, buddy, I've been there. Hopefully it won't leave a mark.

This next photo might be near the first photo’s location, though it appears that the Junior Autopia is in the distance... would we be able to see that from Fan 2? Looking at an aerial photo from 1958, it is definitely possible. Pee-paw and Mee-maw are clutching hamburgers - the most delicious hamburgers ever made! Some faces are lost in the shadows, but that just lets us imagine famous movie star visages. The man to the left? A John Barrymore twin! The woman to the right? Myrna Loy's doppelgänger. 

 

Blurzles™

Well, it's Blurzle™ time, and you folks know what that means. Maybe I should rename it "Astigmatism Theatre"? Both of these photos are fuzzy, like Mr. Fluffers (my kitty). They're from August 1961. 

Here comes the Monorail! Like a strange biomechanical creature (as opposed to regular biomechanical creatures), it moves past us without a care, because we are too tiny to be of any threat. Plus it has lasers! Bob Gurr never mentions it in interviews, but it's true. Giant, scary lasers that will fry anyone to a crisp in the blink of an eye. They haven't fried anyone since 1970 when some Yippies tried some funny business. And yes, the lasers sounded just like the heat rays from the George Pal movie, "War of the Worlds". 

They tried putting lasers on the Submarines, but that just resulted in fully cooked fish floating to the surface. A little dill, a little lemon butter - delicious!

 

Mystery Amusement Park, 1950s

I have a set of four vintage slides from the 1950s featuring a small amusement park (or possibly a fair or carnival). I'm always a little disappointed when I don't know the location of one of these places, but there are not many clues - it all looks rather generic. But they're still fun to view!

Two boys enjoy a flight on a rocket. Not a lame airplane, like little babies might ride! Not only are they on rockets, but they have guns to shoot down pursuing UFOs - you can't be too careful. In the distance, two other spinning rides, at least one must be a Merry-Go-Round. 

I'm not sure what kind of ride this is... some sort of kiddy-coaster? The little girl has gotten into the spirit of things. Dad doesn't have a pack of cigs in his rolled up sleeve, I don't know how to process that. I wish I could read that sign in the distance, it might hold valuable clues.

Uh-oh, rockets again. Or still. I'm trying to figure out what is going on in the building to the left, possibly Ski Ball or something like that.

Oh nice, a little train! I get a "midwest" vibe from these (the surrounding land is so flat!), though of course they could be from anywhere. Not California, I'd wager. 

 

Beautiful Monorail - May 1984

I'm still out of town, but will be back soon. Have a great weekend!

Lou and Sue (that's Lou Perry and his daughter, Sue B.) really came through with some exceptional beauties today! There are three gorgeous shots of the Disneyland Mark III Monorail as it passed through the Hotel grounds. Check them out!

Zooooom... well, it's really more of a "shooooooshhhh...", but with a "hummmmmm....". But also like an electric guitar, totally shredding! OK, maybe I've gone too far. But how can I not, when looking at that super cool Monorail??

There it goes, back to its cavern, where it will disgorge the passengers - nutritious food for its young. Sorry, folks! I love the lush greenery, even if the flowers are poisonous oleanders. Deadly but cool. You can't even look at them for too long, or the poison will jump into your eyes. I did my own research.

Just a year or so later, the Mark III trains would be phased out one by one, replaced by the "Lear jet" Mark V trains, which I could never love. Let's take one last look at the Mark III red!

Thank you, Lou and Sue!

Happy Thanksgiving

Wow, it's Thanksgiving again! So soon. I'm still eating leftover turkey from the last one! It just keeps getting more flavorful and complex - quite the taste sensation. I am thankful for my small but somehow-loyal audience, all of you make GDB so much more fun than I would have ever imagined. So... thanks! 

I have a few vintage photos from Thanksgivings of yesteryear - maybe they will remind you of your own family gatherings. First up is this picture (circa 1962) of a boy with a bow tie. I've never worn a bow tie in my life - I am more of an ascot guy, as those of you who have met me can attest.  

The kid is laughing because he wished his family into the cornfield, and now all of the food is his. Can you blame him?  The turkey looks magnificent, cooked to perfection in mom's Hotpoint oven. There is a decorative centerpiece with fruit and vegetables that look suspiciously waxy. My grandma used to have wax fruit, and her terrible grandchildren (not me) ruined it because we, I mean they, could not keep their hands off of it. Look how soft the wax is! We, I mean they, could scrape the color right off with  fingernails. Grandma also had bunches of soft plastic grapes, it was so fun to pull the grapes off and throw them. Fun for my siblings, I mean, I would shake my head solemnly.

Aw, you know what? It's lonely eating all by yourself. Zoltan has wished everyone back from the cornfield, and you can tell that they are still a bit out of sorts about the whole thing (and have lost their appetites after eating so much corn). I'm trying to work out who's who; that's certainly dad in the middle - and maybe that's mom to his right (our left)? But who's taking the picture? Grandpa? The two older ladies wandered into the house, nobody knows who they are. And I can't tell is the young woman to the left is "big sis" to Zoltan, or "younger sis" to the mom. These things are important. 

Next is this photo from Thanksgiving, 1953. I can't tell if that turkey was always small, or if it has been whittled away. Dad is doing a good job, unlike me, to this day I am the worst at carving a turkey or chicken. It is my greatest shame. If you look behind dad, you can see what I believe is a ceramic "Faline" (Bambi's girlfriend) figure by the Evan K. Shaw company.

What do you think?

I hope each and every one of the Junior Gorillas has a warm and wonderful Thanksgiving!

C.K. Holliday, August 1965

Hi folks, just FYI, I will be away from my computer (though I will miss it terribly) for the next few days. As always, there will be new posts for you, even if I'm hanging out with the rich and famous. I'll talk to you all soon!

Here is a pair of scans taken as the sun was setting during perfect August day in 1965. The sky is blue and cloudless, and you can't be sad about being in Disneyland. 

I'm not sure if our photographer was just milling around Town Square, or if he/she was leaving for the day. Hopefully not the latter! There's still plenty of fun to be had, and if they leave, they'll miss out of the beauty of the park when it gets dark. Whatever the case, lots of other people seem to be filing out, and perhaps taking one last opportunity to buy a Mickey balloon for the kids. It will make for a fun reminder of the day as it hovers up at the ceiling for a few days!

I love seeing the C.K. Holliday stopped overhead, as passengers board back at the station to our left. Notice the signs for the "Tencenniel" up by the Train Station. 

The engineer is leaning out of the window, possibly enjoying some cooler air - I've heard that it could get very hot in the cabs of the locomotives. Through the archway we can see a sign for Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color, on NBC! 

Frontierland, November 1968

Frontierland photos are certainly nothing new here on GDB, but today's first example is a little bit unusual. We get a nice view (from the Mark Twain?) of some of Rainbow Ridge's buildings on the very edge of town before civilization ends and THE WILDERNESS begins! Brake for critters. Some of these small structures appear to be homes, while others are "last chance" hotels (clean sheets just 25 cents extra); I wish I had a detailed map of Rainbow Ridge with official Disney identifications of all of the buildings! I'm not aware of any such map being made for the public, maybe a blueprint would have all of the callouts.

Less unusual is this shot of the Mark Twain (is there such a thing as an unusual shot of the Mark Twain?) sitting at the dock as passengers boarded. As usual, everyone rushes to the foremost parts of the boat (on all three levels), but there is still plenty of room for us. It looks like it was a great day to take a voyage along the Rivers of America!

Welcome to Disneyland, 1956

Fans of vintage Disneyland paper items are familiar with today's brochures, a 1956 gate handout: WELCOME TO DISNEYLAND, with Tinker Bell as our hostess. They are surprisingly common considering their age; everybody’s mom put them in their desk drawer and there they stayed, for decades. Here's the cover, with a greeting from "The Disneyland Staff":

When unfolded, you get three panels of useful information. Where to eat; phone availability; rest rooms; what to do if you lose your kid; and a list of various sponsored exhibits such as the Wurlitzer shop and the Crane Company "Bathroom of Tomorrow" (though they don't call it that here - maybe "bathroom" was considered to be a bit naughty?). 

I love this spot illustration of Tink!

The other side features a nice map of the park, along with Walt Disney's dedication speech from July 17th, 1955. I've seen eBay sellers claiming that this is an "opening day item", though it clearly is not.

"Say Major, you must be hittin' the sauce, you've posted the same scan two more times! Maybe sleep it off!". Well, I appreciate your concern, and yes, I did drink a bottle of A-1 steak sauce. Thanks to blogs such as Matterhorn1959's seminal "Stuff From the Park" I learned that there are, in fact, THREE different versions of this 1956 item. Things changed quickly in those early days! And I love variations.

"You don't really expect me to read that whole thing three times, do you? I got cartoons to watch!". 

The easiest way to tell them apart is to look at the exhibits listed under "Main Street"; as you can see, they all vary slightly. In my experience, the example to the left, with only five exhibits, is by far the scarcest, I'm guessing it must have only been available for a few months at most. I believe that it is the earliest of the three. The middle example shows the addition of the Yale & Towne "display of the locksmith's art". And the example on the right loses the Hollywood Maxwell Intimate Apparel shop (home of the "Wizard of Bras"), and replaces it with the North American Companies information center (also known as the "INA Carefree Corner").

In 1957, a smaller brochure with the same Tinker Bell artwork was produced, but we won't talk about that one! I hope today's post was not too nerdy for you. This is the stuff I love!