It's time for more greatest hits! Today we will get no further than the parking lot.
This first one was originally posted way back in 2006, and shows a nice July 1958 photo of some cool old automobiles, with the Disneyland Railroad chugging in to Main Street Station. There are some ticket booths, and the Opera House is clearly visible.
Here's another one that was posted in 2006 (in December), with a neat, moody shot looking toward the entrance (in an undated slide). It's funny, the sky looks like it is blue, with lots of white fluffy clouds, and yet it looks so dark here, for some reason. Meanwhile, the foreground cars and all of Main Street are in bright sunshine. It's a neat effect.
This one was originally published in 2008, and shows a 1957 view with a gray sky. It seems so strange now to see cars right up to the entrance. Lemon-yellow must have been a new, daring color for autos at that time. It's fun to see the families (bundled up, California-style)… imagine how exciting it must have been for them!
I was in the former Disneyland parking lot just a few hours ago and I saw some Cars. I wish I could've stepped into your vintage photos instead and have been able to wander around for the day.
ReplyDeleteMajor-
ReplyDeleteLet's see how far I can get.
PIC #1: Starting at the far end - it looks to be a 1947 or 1948 Chevrolet; followed by a 1951 Chevrolet; a 1958 Chevrolet; and finally just to mix things up - a 1955 Ford.
PIC #2: At the far left - a black, 1954 Chevrolet; a two-tone 1955 or 1956 Buick Special; and next to that is a 1953 or 1954 black-topped Ford. AND ... what a great shot, with Main Street, U.S.A. looking like the a "City Upon a Hill".
PIC #3: Starting on the far right - a 1954 Oldsmobile; I'm uncertain of the two black cars and the first yellow beauty; but the second yellow car is a 1952 or 1953 Hudson. The next black one appears to be a 1951 or 1952 Pontiac. Okay - I'm out. Whew-!
Thanks, Major.
I remember getting so fired up in the parking lot. The family never seemed to be moving fast enough. C'mon people, Disneyland is RIGHT THERE! Let's GO!! We're missing it!
ReplyDeleteI wonder if the current value (2015) of every vintage car in the lot would be worth the 17 million it cost to build the park back in 1955. Looking at these is like a car collectors dream lot. Nice photos today, thanks.
ReplyDeleteWow, Major, what a great shot is number 2!
ReplyDeleteI think the park looks kind of the Emerald City gleaming above a lot of cars rather than a field of poppies.
And I agree with MRaymond: my parents would say, "Let's just wait for the tram." Are you kidding!? If we run like maniacs we can get there a couple of minutes sooner!
TokyoMagic!, so I take it you don't like "Carsland"?? I still haven't seen it! It must not be great if you'd rather walk around a real parking lot.
ReplyDeleteNanook, I don't know, I think I see a Hupmobile in there somewhere. (I just wanted to say "Hupmobile"). I don't know how you car guys remember all of the tiny details of moldings and grilles and bumpers; I just don't have a brain for that kind of thing I guess.
MRaymond, me too! We seemed to always park far away (like photo #2), so the arrival of the tram was a big deal. Our first ride!
Alonzo, hmmm, I wonder. Maybe if they were all in minty condition? Sometimes I'll see an old car for sale and am amazed that it is under $10,000. "That thing is a classic!". Of course it could be a mess under the hood.
Patrick Devlin, I do like that one a lot because of that dramatic lighting. Wagnerian! I like your Wizard of Oz comparison! As anxious as I was to get into the park, I think I was just so happy to finally be there. Just thinking about hearing the train whistle and seeing the Monorail go by… wow!
Major, I actually don't mind Carsland. I know! What? TokyoMagic actually likes something new? I didn't like the ugly and boring Flying Tires, so I am glad they are being replaced. Carsland and Buena Vista Street both look nice, I just feel like there still isn't enough to do in that park. It is still not on the "level" of Disneyland and I don't think they should be charging as much as Disneyland to get in. And yes, if you had given me the choice of going to DCA yesterday or wandering around inside of your photos, I would have chosen the latter.
ReplyDeleteWe all know about the Castle as the 'weenie' that draws us into the park. These photos remind me how I felt in the 'old days' arriving at the park and looking for the Matterhorn from the freeway and the train from the parking lot. Also 'weenies' of a sort. And now that my In Laws live behind the park on Walnut (along with Jack Lindquist whom I met!) I look forward to the whistle of the Mark Twain when I visit.
ReplyDeleteGreat photos and great memories.
DZ
As fond of the memories as I am, I don't miss the old parking lot. I much prefer what is there now. Especially with the Buena Vista Street and Cars Land additions. Now if only Disney would inject some new adventures into Walt's original magic kingdom across the way to keep it fresh and exciting.
ReplyDeleteTokyoMagic!, it's good to hear that you do like Carsland and Buena Vista Street… it would be sad if, after all that money and effort, those things had been a failure. I wonder how much room they have left at DCA to add more attractions? It doesn't look like much, when viewed on Google Maps. How can they add any serious rides to compete with Disneyland?
ReplyDeleteDZ, I've always wondered what it would be like to live so close to the park; of course as a kid that was my dream (well, actually my dream was to live IN Disneyland). You're right, the Mark Twain's whistle, the clang of the Disneyland RR bell, the deep honk of the Monorail… all those sounds evoke so many feelings.
K. Martinez, I would love a new "E-Ticket" attraction at Disneyland, but worry; are we pretty much stuck with Star Wars? Isn't there anything "Disney" that could be used?
Major, there is still room to add more attractions at DCA. There is a spot of land south of the Tower of Terror and there is land south of California Screamin'. Also, the old Hollywood and Dine building is empty, and the former Who Wants To Be A Millionaire building is now only housing a temporary Frozen area. The Muppet Theater also houses just a temporary Frozen show right now. And then there's the HUGE Animation building. That thing is massive when you look at a satellite view of it. In my opinion, everything in that building is worthless. I was in there last month and so many of the exhibits were broken. Also, they recently interrupted the traffic flow through the building by moving the Frozen princesses meet 'n greet over there. So now, there's a dead after you view the animation exhibits and you have to turn around and walk all the way back past everything you just saw.....I should say past all the broken stuff you just saw. I would love to see an "E" ticket attraction replace everything in that space.
ReplyDeleteOoops, I meant to say there's a dead END after you view the animation exhibits!
ReplyDeleteTokyoMagic!, I knew what you meant!
ReplyDelete