Steve in Palm Springs, December 1954

When Steve Stuart offered to share many of his personal scans on GDB, I made a counteroffer to rescan his slides, including the ones that were not theme park related. And he took me up on that offer! With his permission, I thought it would be fun to take a little detour from Disneyland and head back to 1954, to sunny Palm Springs. Here's Steve with his commentary!

Here I am, evidently catching-up on the latest comics from the “LATimes” funny pages.  If memory serves – back when this image was taken – my guess is the side of the paper facing me had Li’l Abner, Peanuts and/or Nancy appearing on it.  (I always loved her aunt’s name ”Fritzi Ritz”, or merely ‘Aunt Fritzi’.  And then there’s ‘Sluggo’).  On the backside we can make-out Ella Cinders, Brenda Starr Reporter & Smokey Stover.  And just for the record – my posture has never been so good-!  You can just see my ‘infamous’, purple, “bikini” bathing suit – which only a Mother could love.  I, on the other hand, had no opinion at the time – or I’d like to think so.

These shots were taken at the Howard Manor Hotel, in Palm Springs, California – and it’s very much still there – although now re-named the Colony Palms Hotel.

This next view has me once again speed-reading my way through the “LA Times” – this time it’s the ‘Home’ section.  (Again with the bathing suit…)  And sitting next to me, some other unidentified magazine [most-likely Life], featuring an ad for Maxwell House Coffee and an article about Thanksgiving.  I believe these images were most likely taken in November of 1954 – which would make me about 3-1/2 years old.

Paddling through the crystal blue waters of the pool at the Howard Manor, is my aunt (my mom’s sister) and me – this time I see wearing more ‘modest’ outdoor attire.

And the final image has my mom relaxing on those same crystal blue waters at the Howard Manor pool.

These look like some great memories! For those of you in colder parts of the U.S., you can dream of lounging by a turquoise pool in the bright and cheerful sunshine of California's desert resort town. MANY thanks to Steve Stuart!