Disneyland in the 1950's - - wow, what a place! I am continually charmed and fascinated by Walt's original park, especially during its first few years. Imagine being able to walk down Main Street U.S.A. toward the castle, circa 1957, knowing what you know now. My brain would probably explode from sensory overload!
I love this colorful photo showing two boys (we'll see more of them in upcoming posts), propped up by an antique horse hitch, in front of wonderful Sleeping Beauty Castle. The trees still have that spindly look, the ladies wear skirts, and everything looks so darn clean. Both boys hold turquoise blue bags, possibly holding postcards - yes, let's say they have the rarest postcards, worth hundreds of dollars today!
Even the umbrellas brighten the picture, like overgrown flowers. I can't explain exactly why, but I really get a kick out of this picture.
Closer to the castle, we see the boys (one wearing a sporty souvenir chapeau) posing for another picture, while some lady (not related, I believe) butts in with her little stinker. Notice the toddler near the middle of the picture, she (?) is wearing a Keppy Kap! Even though they were "one size fits all", I am still surprised one would fit on a noggin that tiny.
Here's a Keppy Kap, for those of you who don't know what I'm talking about:
“Aw mom, it’s bad enough you made us ware the same shirts, now you have to take pictures of us together?”
ReplyDeleteWow! The color is SO nice in these, and SO darn clean. Did you have to clean them up much?
Nice pics today Major! Thanks!
That first one IS a beaut, Major! Such vibrant color. Mom did a great job coordinating the boys' shirts with their merchandise bags. That takes some planning.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite details are the tuna boat's sails billowing over the castle ramparts and the security host disguised as a waste paper receptacle.
What a nice way to start the day!
Major-
ReplyDeleteYes - matching outfits - one with a belt appearing ready to take-on several more inches of 'waist expansion'. Also of note is the Souvenir Stand, emblazoned so, right there on the edge of the umbrella. And just what graphics are on that sandwich sign, to our right-? It almost looks like a dude on a skateboard - not exactly a reality in 1957.
Thanks, Major.
Look at all that exposed castle structure that just isn't visible anymore because of the foliage growth around it today. And benches! Lots and lots of benches with no one sitting on them.
ReplyDeleteThere is nothing quite like the first quarter century of Disneyland. It's the Disneyland of a time and place that resides in the warm memories of my youth.
Thanks, Major
I wonder why these kids aren't smiling? You are at Disneyland for gosh sakes!!!! The darker haired kid's shirt is half tucked in on the right in one pic and half tucked in on the left in the other pic. Meanwhile his brother is a rebel and refuses to tuck in at all.
ReplyDeleteI just remembered that the half-tucking in of a T-shirt was actually a "thing" about 10 or 12 years ago. I remember Ryan Seacrest doing it on American Idol during the audition episodes. I always thought it looked more sloppy than cool. "Seacrest- out!!!"
ReplyDelete@TokyoMagic!-
ReplyDeleteYes, slovenly-attired youth is the first step on the road to truancy and then it's 'young toughs'. Oh, the horrors-!!
TokyoMagic!, Perhaps these boys think they're tough and are giving the camera the 'tude'.
ReplyDeleteActually some people just have that serious look on their face no matter what. My sister and I took my niece to Disneyland for the first time back in 1986 and the niece never smiled once the whole time we were there. I asked my sister about it and she said it's just the way she is, but that she really did enjoy the park. Years later I discovered she was as big a fan of Disneyland as I was. Apparently through that serious unsmiling face she was taking it all in during her first visit to Disneyland.
Monkey Cage Kurt, these photos were from a rare lot of slides that were clean to begin with, AND clear and colorful. This is definitely an exception - many slides are dusty, and disappointingly not clear.
ReplyDeleteChuck, I’m sure the mom called ahead to find out what color the bags were. That’s what good moms did back then. I love your tribute to Agent 13 from “Get Smart”!
Nanook, it’s almost like that kid has a rope belt, like Jethro Bodine. Don’t forget, Marty McFly invented the skateboard in 1955! I think that the sign might have graphics for the fire wagon, but I’m not positive.
K. Martinez, it really is amazing how different the castle looks when you can see so much of it. I know that there are still benches at the park, but I guess there are way fewer? I’m glad you enjoyed today’s pix.
TokyoMagic!, if it was later in the day I might guess that the kids were worn out, but you can see that it was still early. They’re just punks, that’s all there is to it.
TokyoMagic! II, Did you drop your microphone after saying “Seacrest - OUT”? After I finish with GDB, I will do a Ryan Seacrest blog. Stay tuned!
Nanook, these kids grew up to be Sharks, or maybe Jets. They practice snapping their fingers in unison for hours.
K. Martinez, I think you might be right, these kids probably just weren’t smilers. It’s almost worse to see kids with a big phony pasted-on “smile for the camera” grin to appease their shutter-happy parents.
Major, All I know is it's hard to find open bench seating in the shade when it's hot.
ReplyDeleteNanook, send them off to reform school where every year they'll get a new sledgehammer for Christmas!
ReplyDeleteThey still have a bunch of benches all around the Plaza, but I've notice lately that the cast members all have to move them prior to the parade and fireworks so that the benches are either lined up in rows or moved to the edge of the street on the curb. I would hate to be one of the cast members that has to move all of those heavy benches!
I thought it was Calvin Klein who invented the skateboard. He’s an absolute dream!
ReplyDeleteI missed the Agent 13 thing, but I was wondering what Chuck meant by that comment.
@ Monkey Cage Kurt-
ReplyDelete"Agent 13 is a Control Agent who is often sent on field reconnaissance missions where he has to hide in unlikely places such as mailboxes, washing machines, lockers, trash cans, or fire hydrants". (Hence the DL trash can reference). Pretty good, huh-??!!
Oh I did eventually get it Nanook, but only after the Major pointed it out. it was such an obscure one I’m kind of surprised someone did catch it. But I guess it’s just been way too long since I’ve see a Get Smart episode. It sure was a brilliant show.
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