Tomorrowland - March 15, 1957

Oh boy, vintage Tomorrowland! My favorite. This first picture is so colorful and clear that it's hard to believe that it was taken nearly 70 years ago. The Flag still has 48 stars, Moosylvania and West Dakota were not States yet (notice the little girl with the white sweater looking up at the banner). The plucky orange tree is loaded with fruit, I always love to see those survivors from the days before there was a Disneyland. The beautiful blue sky (the flags indicate a breeze from the south) makes this look like a perfect day to visit.

Next, a Skyway view as our photographer looked to his/her left, due southwest-ish. It's hard to resist taking a picture of that Moonliner! Do you have any idea what that building is in the distance (to the left of the rocket)? I believe that the roof of the Space Bar is in the lower left, 
 

Two Fun Ones From June 1967

I really like today's photos, featuring some girls that you will see a few more times in future posts.

In this first one, two sisters spin and spin on the legendary Mad Tea Party attraction - little sis is doing all the work, but she seems to be having a lot of fun, so it's OK. I love the color and implied movement, this one's almost SOUVENIR GUIDEBOOK WORTHY.

Mom finally let this girl get her ears pierced, and I'll bet she was darn happy about it. She's munching on popcorn, holding one of those classic striped boxes that were recreated many years later. Popcorn and braces don't mix well, but sometimes you just have to say "What the heck"!

More Knott's Berry Farm Train Postcards

Recently, GDB pal Steve DeGaetano generously shared scans of his collection of vintage Knott's Berry Farm postcards, all relating to the two KBF locomotives. You might not know this, but Steve loves trains! See those three posts, HERE, HERE, and HERE. Now we have a bonus PART 4! What does Steve have to say?

So, since the last installment on my series of Knott’s Berry Farm postcards focusing on the Ghost Town a& Calico Railroad, I’ve managed to pick up a few more cards. Again, some are pretty common, but I’m saving the best for last.

I know the Major is big on variations, and that’s exactly what this one is. It’s nearly identical to one I posted previously here with one big exception: It’s got “Knott’s Berry Farm” prominently printed in yellow in the lower right corner. The shot is also cropped a little more, resulting in a cut-off cow catcher. Grrrr. Still, a nice portrait of Green River. The two lamps on either side of the smokebox below the headlight are “classification” or “class” lamps.  They tell ground personnel whether the train is on the timetable, or running “extra,” or has other trains following behind it in sections. They usually have clear or green lenses—never red or orange as seen here—but those look cooler. This card is copyrighted 1993.

The next two don’t focus on the trains per se, but the trains do occupy the center of the shots, so I’m making exceptions. This one is a nice image of Calico Square, with some costumed cast members in the foreground, and Ol’ 41, Red Cliff, in the middle distance. A whisp of steam indicates the whistle has just blown. Someone hand wrote “1969” on the back of this card.

I always liked this view of the farm’s townsfolk milling about, while an engineer oils his steed, in the form of No. 40, Green River (this image was also used as the cover for one of the park’s souvenir guidebooks). With the lack of shadows, I’m guessing this photo was taken on a much more overcast day than the unrealistically intense azure sky suggests.

The three cards above I’ve seen many times, but this card is completely new to me. An undated “Plastichrome” card, featuring our beloved Red Cliff sitting front and center, unencumbered by chains, railings or fences. “Come closer,” it seems to beckon. “Some of my surfaces are only 300 degrees!” I don’t believe I’ve ever seen a clearer image of the train station, which, as some of you may know, is the actual Stanton, CA “Red Car” station from the old Pacific Electric Railway, which stood near the corner of Ball Road and Knott Avenue—originally known as Hansen Road.

Thus ends PART 4 featuring Steve's collection of Knott's train postcards. As a postcard collector myself, I really love these artifacts from the past, with their excellent views of features the way they looked decades ago. I even love the way the cards were printed, with their vintage colors, and occasional composited-in  skies. True nerds (guilty) even enjoy the variations on the different card backs! Stamp box? No stamp box? Blue ink vs black (or brown) ink? And so on.

MANY THANKS to Steve DeGaetano for taking the time to scan his cards, and for taking even more time to write up descriptions of each so that we get some facts and context. I'm holding out hope that he finds more cards for a possible PART 5!

More Disneyland Hotel - November 20, 1980

Here's another great batch of Disneyland Hotel photos, taken by Lou Perry back in November of 1980  (nearly 46 years ago !), scanned and shared with us by Lou's daughter, Sue B. I feel a bit handicapped by my own unfamiliarity with the Hotel's grounds and history, so hopefully the Junior Gorillas can chime in if they see anything of note. 

I believe that we're looking at the Sierra Tower (I'll probably be wrong a lot today!), as a pair of guests explores the area; back in these days, there were some cool water features, including waterfalls that one could walk beneath/behind.

There's the Marina, with boats "from around the world". Most were just for display, though there were paddle boats that guests could rent if they needed a workout (and let's face it, they've been hitting the Zingers more than they should). To the right I believe we are looking at Seaports of the Pacific. I think that's the Marina Tower looming over everything.

Here's more of the "Water Wonderland". The milky blue-green water is interesting, like glacial runoff. The structure to the right is the Shipyard Inn. If there's one place tourists want to be, it's a shipyard. The sights! The sounds! The smells! The vermin! Especially the vermin. 

Rather than just a small sailboat, this looks like a scaled-down version of a bigger craft. Built especially for the Marina, presumably? Every four months, a hotel employee had to scrape the AA barnacles from the hull.

Perhaps this was the view from Lou's room - once again, there's the Seaports of the Pacific pagoda. Is that brown wall where the Dancing Waters was performed? I thought that there is a pool in the distance, but now that I've looked at a map, I think that was labeled as "Papeete Beach". 

We're not done with the 1980 Disneyland Hotel yet! Sue has more photos from Lou to share with us. THANKS, Sue!

BUPIX - Fox Studios

Among the many photos and documents that GDB friend Bu gave to me was a series of Polaroids taken when Bu managed to explore the old Fox Studio backlot (as well as the MGM backlot, more on those photos in the future!). Pretty neat! It's pretty incredible to see these photos of what was left of one of the great backlots from the Golden Age of Hollywood. 

Bu was kind enough to include his recollections of his explorations! This scene is not “inside” the lot…as the actual lot of Fox was sold and destroyed to build Century City, which decades later I would work in for several years.   The set is from “Hello Dolly” of course, and the photos were taken in 1980.   After being chased out of MGM by the police (true story for later) we drove up to Hollywood I think to eat at the Tick Tock restaurant on Cahuenga (a great old place now gone.  The orange rolls were incredible.   With very old waitresses from a lonnnngggg time ago.   There was also sherbet in-between courses.   Glad I went when I did as it didn’t stay around for much longer.)   So we made our way down Pico to the 405, and saw these sets: which very much are directly on the street…at least they were before high fences and what not.

So…..we got kicked out of the crumbling back lot of MGM, so on to more polished sets.    The scale that you see in the photos was the scale that it was.  Very very impressive.   HERE is Eddie Sotto’s post; The Barbara (Streisand) archives has some stuff HERE.    

We drove up to the gate, boy we had courage back then, and the guard was very pleasant and said that we couldn’t go past the gate, but could definitely roam around out in the parking lot: where the sets were: and these are the photo proof: done in glorious Polaroid.

The photos really don’t do these sets justice, but if you look at the “Barbra” site that I posted, you can get a look of some of these exact places.   This was an EXPENSIVE set…when movies were movies.   Oscar worthy, and it got a few.   It’s a wee painful to watch in kind of a “My Fair Lady” perspective…but both films are complete masters of artist art direction.   And amazing soundtracks as well.   Some of “Dolly” used on Main Street, Disneyland USA.

When I took these photos I had never seen Hello Dolly, so I was just taking photos of sets and history.   The train station was full scale…as were most of these things.  It was really amazing, and that is where there was a fountain, but I don’t think “THE” fountain, as that landed at Knotts sometime in the 80’s.  You can’t make it out very well, but the gates are to “Harmonia Gardens” another incredible set created inside a stage on the lot.  The exterior was just as impressive. 

Behind this row of sets are offices: guess some of them are still there along Pico, but the sets are long gone, except for a sliver it seems.  You wouldn’t know it unless someone told you however.  Massive train station now gone: lots of glam offices, and the guard gate still where it was.  In the 90’s I went to an audition there, and some of the ramshackle remnants of this glorious set were still there, and that time the guard let me in :)   Have no idea what show I was there for, but I do remember the building was historic, and difficult to find: that lot used to be a maze and you definitely needed a map.   I turned one corner and there was Julie Andrews….painted on the side of a stage: the one where they filmed “The Sound of Music”.   It was all quite magical.

Later on when I worked behind the lot, one of my employees said that a friend of hers discovered a bolt of fabric from the Von Trapp Family children somewhere in storage.   What ever happened to that bolt?  I have curtains to make!  Hope everyone enjoys this trip to Century City CA, home of a big shopping center, the West Coast Twin Towers, and a historic Movie Studio.   All within a few blocks.  And fun fact: scenes from one of the Ape movies were filmed on the streets of Century City because it looked so “futuristic”….but those overpasses really just copied a 1967 Tomorrowland PeopleMover track.   Really.

And just for fun, Bu attached a few additional images, one new, the others showing a sketch and the actual "Hello Dolly" sets:

I wish I'd seen these sets! Such a shame that it was all torn down, but Hollywood was changing. MANY THANKS to Bu for sharing his Polaroids, and for writing down his fun memories! Stay tuned for his photos of the crumbling MGM Backlot.

Easter, and Snoozles™

Because I compose my blog posts so far in advance, I often forget that certain days are actual holidays. Like EASTER, for instance! Luckily for me, Sue B. always knows what's what, and she sent along two fun vintage scans for the occasion.

Let's start with this undated (but probably 1950s) photo of a woman who might be a bit tired (?) at the end of the day (since it seems to be nighttime). On the table is a classic Easter basket, along with lots of cool camera equipment, along with a frankly-huge hard cover manual for a Leica camera. Nice! 

Next is this cute photo of two kids in their Sunday finest. The girl even has a bonnet, which is as traditional as can be. What do you call that collar thing? It's like the world's largest Peter Pan collar. I'm sure they are thrilled with their Easter baskets, in spite of their calm exteriors. 

THANK YOU, Sue B., for sharing these fun Easter pix with us!

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

It's Sunday, a day of rest, and also a day of not-so-great photos (some call then Snoozles™). First up, a Blurzle, taken from a runaway Monorail. Clem, the pilot, was talking to a pretty gal on the platform when the train started moving. NOT AGAIN! You can't see it, but he's actually chasing the Monorail on the beam, a la Buster Keaton. Screechy looks great, even when blurry.

"What the heck, Major? This one isn't so bad!". Well, I was liquored up, and you don't want to be around me when I'm liquored up. I once punched a man for snoring (he was in a hospital bed, admittedly). 

Miscellaneous Amusements

I have some random vintage "amusements" for you today, starting with this great 1950s shot of the entrance to Kiddie Land, which was part of the Seneca Park Zoo in Rochester, New York. It debuted in 1952. Kiddie Land had a handful of rides for children, like a boat ride and a jet plane ride. It was part of a “kiddie zoo annex” that opened in 1952 and soon after included a petting zoo. Viola Ryan and Jack Gordon were the original owners of Kiddie Land… Newspaper stories from 1952 said Gordon was an automobile salesman and Ryan was a Kodak employee. 

Here's a wintry photo from online that must have been from roughly the same time as my scan.

“It’s fun and frolic for youngsters at Seneca Kiddie-Land, at the Seneca Park Zoo, featuring the world’s safest and most enjoyable rides,” read one story in a July 1953 edition of the Brockport Republic-Democrat. “A real wonderland, with such rides as the Horse ‘n Buggy Ride, Rocket-ship Ride, Boat Rides and the new Army Tank Ride with miniature Tanks and realistic sounding machine guns.”

Below is another photo, this one from August, 1963. The boy is wearing a t-shirt from his trip to Calgary, Ontario. It appears that Kiddie Land closed sometime around 1980. To read more about it, there's a great article HERE.

The next two are "mystery parks", I have no idea where they were located. This little helicopter ride seems to have been very popular, it shows up in many photos from all over the country. Like the fancier Dumbo attraction, kids had some limited control of their whirlybirds, allowing them to go up or down a few feet (notice the sign at the top of the "tower" that reads, "FLY YOURSELF - pull lap bar to fly UP, push lap bar to fly down". Whoa, this is complicated! 

And finally, another typical "'round and 'round" ride that could have been anywhere - this happy kid loves his classic automobile!

Leftuggies™

Today's LEFTUGGIES™ are piping hot (whatever that means)! This first photo is date-stamped "November, 1962", and is a crisp, clear image of Tomorrowland, with an emphasis on the contrast between the central planter (can you imagine something like that in Tomorrowland these days?) and the gleaming Douglas Moonliner. Douglas bought it used from TWA, but they had it repainted and detailed, and spritzed with "new rocket scent" inside. I've always enjoyed the tropical plantings seen around this area, including regular bird of paradise plants, and the giant bird of paradise "trees" to the left.

Next, from December, 1971 comes this photo of the Pearly Band, standing on the western edge of the compass rose (etc) in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle. I wasn't sure when the Pearly Band first appeared in the park, but online sources say that they've been there since Mary Poppins was in theaters in 1964. Maybe they are playing "Step In Time"? The Plaza Gardens tent is behind them, waiting for the evening, when the sounds of a famous Big Band might be heard, and crowds of happy dancers would congregate.

 

Frontierland and Big Thunder Mountain RR

It's time for yet another installment of photos from the Mysterious Benefactor! I've made a pretty good dent in the large folder of scans that he sent to me years ago, but there are still MANY photos to share.

I hope you like Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, because we'll be looking at it for quite a while. I was thinking that perhaps it was a new attraction when these pix were taken (it opened on September 2, 1979), but the gals in this first image have a very 80s vibe to me. "Sir, will you take a photo of me and my friend? Tee hee!". At least that's how I imagine women talk, I've never actually spoken to one. The cast member is happy to oblige.

Today is a historic day  - to my knowledge, this next photo marks the first appearance of a churro on GDB! I know it looks like the girl in the lilac top is eating her churro with a beer (who wouldn't?), but of course there was no beer to be had in Disneyland in those more-innocent days. Both of these gals are more than tall enough to ride, but they're going to have to finish their food and drink before they can board.

During every visit to Disneyland, you'll reach a point when you feel like you are completely out of gas. And the boy leaning against that sign has reached that point. "Go on without me! I'll just stay here until the buzzards get me". A goth girl stares into our souls, she's in the dead-center of the picture. The twin boys in blue windbreakers make me think of Melissa.

Here's a pretty, postcard-worthy photo as one of the runaway mine trains leaves the station, for the wildest (or is it "rootin' tootin'-est"?) ride through the wilderness. 

Ooo-la-la, this one is as artistic as heck! *Chef's kiss*. Maybe this photo was taken by Ansel Adams' son Argyle. Is that natural stone arch still there? And is it a surviving feature from the Mine Train Through Nature's Wonderland? The rock work looks very realistic, a big improvement from earlier days.

As impressive as this looks here, I especially love seeing Big Thunder at night, lit up, but not too bright - sort of "low and moody".

THANK YOU, Mysterious Benefactor!

Two Leftuggies

It's time for some delicious LEFTUGGIES!™

This first one is date-stamped "June 1970", and is interesting because it shows one of Bob Gurr's lesser-known designs. Of course he was responsible for the familiar Omnibuses, but he designed another one, with three levels, just to see if it could be done. According to an issue of "Disney News", it was humorously referred to by Cast Members as the "Tromnibus" - the view from the top must have been something! I wish we could ask Bob why the Tromnibus was retired after such a short time, but I'm very happy to have this rare photo of it.

Next we have a photo from August, 1970, featuring a scene from the Mine Train Through Nature's Wonderland. We've all seen this tableau plenty of times, viewed as a train crossed a trestle bridge; those four bears are living the life! Fishing, scratching, burping... three of my favorite things to do. Why, I have half a mind to jump out of the train and join them. But I don't want to get all pruny. As a famous  and insanely wealthy blogger, I have an image to uphold.