Wednesday, July 09, 2014

Ye Olde Emporium, 1956

Whenever I see vintage photos of the Emporium in Town Square, I can't help wondering what amazing  treasures would have been found inside. Both of these photos are from 1956, so there were postcards that were 5 cents (that are now worth $100), maps, guidebooks, posters, coloring books, Eleanor Wellborn dishes, and all manner of wonderful tchotchkes to tempt guests! One might find something so rare and wondrous that even die-hard collectors don't know of its existence today.


Maybe there were even a few original animation cels, although I know those were supposed to mostly be available at the Art Corner. All I need is three teaspoons full of dark matter and my time machine will be complete!


9 comments:

Nanook said...

Major-

That first image is another 'keeper'. It even gives viewers a glimpse of The Sleeping Beauty Castle, with many of its conical spires peeking above the (former) Main Street trees.

Thanks, Major.

Nancy said...

Gorgeous view of the Emporium there as our first selection!

I wonder what those people were looking at behind the trees, the ones seated on the benches and turning around? I think I see gray slacks there beneath those trees there in the middle of our frame.

Steve DeGaetano said...

I believe the folks are looking at the Disneyland Band. You can see Vessey Walker just to the right of the lamppost.

K. Martinez said...

Yep, that's definitely the Disneyland Band.

Imagine back then, these people were visiting a "town" that was advertised as an America of half a century ago. Now visitors to Disneyland are visiting a "town" that was created over half a century ago.

Nice set today. Thanks, Major.

Melissa said...

Whenever I see vintage photos of the Emporium in Town Square, I can't help wondering what amazing treasures would have been found inside.

I assume that's where the Emperor got his new clothes. And then, forty or fifty-odd years later, his new groove.

Nancy said...

I dont recall ever seeing the Disneyland band in gray (or any colors but white and red), threw me off a bit. :-)

Major Pepperidge said...

Nanook, are you one of those people who calls Batman "THE Batman"? ;-)

Nancy, I know this is sort of not your point, but I wonder why pants are also called "slacks"??

Steve DeGaetano, yep, there he is in gleaming white!

K. Martinez, my mind is officially blown.

Melissa, I am more interested in the Eperesses "new clothes"!!

Nancy again, I am pretty sure that the band is wearing their blue uniforms, which (for some reason) were only used in the first year or two.

Nanook said...

@ Major-

A former, higher-up Cast Member drilled me in the proper nomenclature of many things Disney. Although "The" isn't a necessary precursor to Sleeping Beauty Castle, or Cinderella Castle, or Tom Sawyer Island, it is a way to help properly identify them. As it was explained: Neigher Tom nor Cinderella nor Sleeping Beauty owns his/her namesake castle/island, and as such are not to be referred to in the possessive: Cinderella's Castle, etc. By using "The", it helps identify each 'property' properly.

Melissa said...

"Nancy, I know this is sort of not your point, but I wonder why pants are also called 'slacks'??"

Mind you, my mother didn't invent the dictionary, but I was raised to believe that not all trousers are slacks - just the more casual ones. As in, you're not adhering to strict standards of formal dress when you wear them, but the looser, slacker standards of casual dress.

Of course, my father had me completely convinced that the tap room was where he went to go tap dancing, so adjust your grains of salt accordingly.