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.

 

Snoozles™, August 1962

It's Father's Day! That day when we salute all of the wonderful dads out there. In spite of the zillions of photo prints that we have, I'm running out of examples of just me and my Dad. But I found a good one! It is a (damaged) photo of him holding Baby Pepperidge, telling me that he hopes that I will grow up to be a famous and respected blogger. Well, I'm a blogger, at least!

It's also the FIRST DAY OF SUMMER! Sue B. sent this cute picture of an adorable girl who has just landed a monstrous bluegill. Summer always meant "fishing" for me, with annual trips to Minnesota to see my grandparents, and to visit any number of lakes. Moose Lake. Bass Lake. Kabetogama. Leech Lake. And more. I sure have fond memories of those days! Thanks for the fun photo, Sue!

****************************

As  Snoozles™ go, today's examples are not too terrible. They're just a bit "blah". 

Jungle Cruise hippos go with Snoozles like ice cream goes with cake. And I like ice cream and cake! This first scan is kind of an interesting composition, though I'm sure it was a quick shot as the boat slid through the water. At least there are no silhouetted heads in the way. You can see the head of another hippo either just coming up, or just submerging; ditto in the area with the bubbles to the left.

Along the Rivers of America, we see this moose; meese are probably in my "Top 5 Ungulates", not that this should be a surprise. Just look at him! Sure, he kind of disappears against the foliage, but that is pretty cool. I'd disappear against foliage too if I could.

DuPont Sign, New York World's Fair - March 1964

Today I am sharing the third and final (for now) blog post from the 1964 World’s Fair, showing the installation of the sign in front of the DuPont pavilion. Go back and look at the first two posts if you've forgotten about them!

This first shot is from the upper "terrace" of the DuPont building, looking toward the Unisphere (with the Republic of China building just to the right of it). Down below, roadways are full of worker's cars as they push themselves to complete the Fair for opening day, only a month after these pictures were taken (it opened on April 22, 1964). The building closest to us, to the right, is the "Spain" pavilion, with the saw-toothed roof of the "Indonesia" pavilion beyond that.

I love these ground views at this stage of the construction! We had a similar view in the last post. I have no idea what that sporty pale red (deep pink?) beauty is in front of us, but some of you will know! The big IBM "Selectric" ball to the left has a square hole in the side, but this will be filled in soon enough.
 

OK, back to the sign. I admit that the last three are not quite as interesting as the views from the previous two posts, but this is what I've got; one of the three identical signs appears to be in the process of being hoisted into place. In the background we can see the upper level of the DuPont building, where the first picture was taken.

The two remaining sides of the triangular sign still sit on the truck that brought them all the way from Baltimore. 

It looks like this might be the final piece, on its way up. Weirdly, there was no photo of the finished product in this batch. BUT... I have another group of slides, it's been a while since I've looked at them, but I believe that we might get a few additional views of things like the Unisphere under construction, the Fairgrounds blanketed in snow between seasons, and more!

I hope you have enjoyed these NYWF scans!

Two Beauties

I have two randos for you today, but they are nice randos that help old ladies across the street and open doors for others. First up is this view from February, 1961. If you didn't like crowds at Disneyland, I guess February was the time to go, just look at it. There's maybe a dozen people in all, including those in the Skyway gondolas. Mama mia! The slurry is damp, either from its morning scrub, or possibly from a recent shower (it was Winter, after all). I just kind of like the color and composition in this one, and my favorite orange gondola (yes, I am sure there was more than one) is overhead. Check out those cool drinking fountains! 

Next, we warp through time to July, 1964 for this sunny photo of the Matterhorn (again), with one of the Snooty Caterpillars from the Alice in Wonderland attraction to the right. I love the pearlescent colors of the Skyway gondolas (those Ditzler Fleet Finishes! Thanks, Mike Cozart), they remind me of the kind seen on old Vacationland magazine covers. The girl in the Caterpillar has doffed her ostrich-feathered chapeau to somebody (Dad?) down below, while her younger brother dreams of returning to the sea.
 

More Special Event Mini-Posters

It's been fifteen months since the first installment of SPECIAL EVENT MINI-POSTERS! Was it worth the wait? I say yes!

This first example is a bit different, dating from March of 1967; ROHR Family Night. What the heck is Rohr? After some Googling, I am guessing that this was Rohr Steel, located in Pomona, California - about 30 minutes from Disneyland. Or maybe I'm wrong! Participants could enjoy the new It's a Small World, explore New Orleans Square (though Pirates of the Caribbean would not be open until one week later!), and the wonderful Primeval World scene along the Disneyland Railroad, which had debuted on July 1, 1966. Plus Bill Elliott, the Mustangs, the Date Niters, and so much more! I have a "blank" just like the background for this poster, see it HERE.

I shared this one before, and have seen it reposted (without credit of course) all over the place. It's for the October 1970 NAVY NITE, which I just happened to attend as a child! My dad was still in the Navy at the time, working at the Long Beach Naval Shipyard, and going to Navy Nite was one of the highlights of my year. I remember being VERY scared to ride the Haunted Mansion after kids at school told me that "ghosts go right through you". I DON'T WANT THAT! But it was all OK of course. I've seen a few other items from the same time period with Mickey as a ghost, though some have pointed out that it looks like he's wearing a Splash Mountain poncho.

Next is this 1971 mini-poster for North American Rockwell Management Assn. and their FAMILY NIGHT. A mere four dollars gets you unlimited attractions,  music, dancing, and "shows" (perhaps meaning the Tahitian Terrace and Golden Horseshoe, and possibly others?). Such a deal!

September, 1972 was the night of the FAMILY FUN PARTY for the Retired Officer's Association. The price has gone up 25¢, which is outrageous. What am I, made of money? All of the typical goodies are available again, but there is the new "Bear Country", and the "Country Bear Jamboree" too.

Perhaps the recession that was going on in 1973 explains why this '73 poster for Public Employees Night  was printed in black and white. Notice "Sparkie" in the upper left, the mascot for the Orange County Employees Association. The price for attendance was back down to $4.00. 

And finally, here's the December 1974 poster for Sears FAMILY FUN PARTY. Toughskins optional! In spite of the continuing recession, the price is now an astronomical $4.50. But we'll do it for the kids. This is one of the earlier uses of Winnie the Pooh and Tigger. Pooh had been introduced (Disney style) in "Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree" in 1966 to much acclaim. Next was "Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day" in 1968, and as you can see, "Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too!" was released in 1974.

I hope you have enjoyed these Mini-posters!

Skyway Views, July 1972

SO MANY photos were taken by guests while aboard the Skyway! You can see why, really - aerial views are interesting, and there were no distractions (such as other people blocking your view). BUT... now that I view hundreds of those aerials years later, I find myself taking them for granted.

It's July 1972; we're gliding above Fantasyland, with King Arthur's Carrousel down blow, and only glimpses of other attractions, such as "Peter Pan" to the left, and the Fantasyland Theatre to the right. In the distance, the Administration Building, and even further away, Main Street Station.

Next we're gazing out toward the white "city" of It's a Small World - I don't think I ever really think about how massive the façade of that attraction is until I see a picture like this.  I sort of like it this way, without the big gift shop in the way - instead there's a more tasteful shop on the right side of the path.

It's fun to zoom in a bit and make up little stories about various guests. Those four sailors will feel right at home on The Happiest Cruise To Ever Sail 'Round the World. 

Two Knott's Berry Farm Brochures

I was in the mood to share some Knott's Berry Farm photos, until I saw that I had some vintage brochure scans that I'd done nine years ago. It's time to use them! They are variations on a theme.

First is the cover of a 1967 brochure. Coated stock! Color photos! Olde-timey typography! Jams and jellies! It has it all. 200 acres of parking? Is this heaven??

On the back panel we get a brief history of KBF, along with a photo of the family, including Walter and Cordelia. Nice! Daughter Marion, in red, became a key leader in guiding Knott's to its future. There is a mention of a $1 admission fee, I thought that Knott's did not start charging admission until 1968, but I am clearly mistaken, since the tiny date of "10/67" can be seen at the bottom of the brochure.

On the reverse, we see some of the restaurants and shops, as well as features such as the Bird Cage Theatre, Old MacDonald's Farm, and a genuine San Francisco Cable Car. Ding ding!

Next is this "6/72" version of the brochure. No more family photo, which makes me a bit sad. Cordelia would pass two years later, while Walter passed away in December of 1981. Notice that the 200 acre parking was reduced to 150 acres, this was due to the additions of Fiesta Village and the short-lived Gypsy Camp

We may have lost the photo of the family, but we gained some nice color photos of the park, including one featuring John Wayne and his son John Ethan at the debut of the Timber Mountain Log Ride, and a rare look at the Gypsy Camp, as well as the John Wayne Theatre. 

August, 1962 - Here Comes the Monorail!

It's JG's birthday today! Sue B. always remembers. And she sent along a set of vintage birthday photos, just for fun. 

I wish we had more info about these, such as where this party took place. But we can only guess. The paper cups with handles are for warm buttermilk, which I know everyone who reads this blog enjoys on a daily basis. What is that boy holding? It looks like a cross, which means that vampires were probably nearby, and he was taking no chances.

"In many cultures, insects are important source of protein. So I want each of you to try one of the hissing cockroaches from Madagascar". What a mom!

The birthday boy is wearing the coolest coat ever, and he's admiring his chocolate cake - another one with cowboys on the icing, as we saw before. At first I thought that the ball that looks like the planet Jupiter was a bowling ball, but I think it's once of  those bouncy balls that's on a hand-held tether. To the right, what I guess is a "Goofy Ball"?

What the...! The kid to the right is trying to blow out the candles on the cake, and if he succeeds, all of the wishes will be null and void. Never invite him back!

Judging by his expression, the party was a great success! And there's lots of leftover cake, which is never a bad thing. Happy Birthday, JG! And many thanks to Sue for the photos.

******************************

Today's pair of pix could be a little bit sharper, but I can't be too upset at these images of the blue Mark II Monorail rounding the bend and approaching the station at the Disneyland Hotel! Notice the back of the sign for the Hotel, it's those varicolored rectangles. Based on the number of cars parked this far from the main gate, I think this was a very busy summer day.

I would have taken a second photo too, we get an even better look at the Monorail itself. Bubble dome! I love the VW bus, its unassuming exterior hid a ferocious 40 horsepower engine! Hire the kid up the block to airbrush a bikini babe with her pet white tiger on the side panel for maximum cool.