Yet Even More Frontierland Photos, April 1977

The first three photos from today's post are a continuation of some photos from the Mysterious Benefactor (from about a week ago). In all three of those, we were aboard one of the rafts to Tom Sawyer Island.

As you can see, we have arrived at our destination. Everyone is hurrying to baggage claim, or to go to Hertz Rent-A-Pony so that they can be on their way. I enjoy the jokey idea of guests sitting on red barrels full of dynamite. Why are there barrels of dynamite on a raft? Who cares! 

"How about a reverse angle, Major Pepperidge?", I hear you cry. Ask and ye shall receive! Enjoy those genuine 1977 humans with only minor battle wear. Near the upper right, on the far shore, there appears to be a little ticket booth that I don't recall ever seeing before. Any ideas what it was for?

Sorry about the color on this one, I couldn't seem to make it look much better no matter what I did. Anyway, a new crowd boards the raft for the 12 day journey back to the mainland. I really love the Keelboats when they got their folk art blue & green paint scheme, so that's a bonus. That stars and stripes visor might be an artifact of the Bicentennial.

The next three are not very different from each other, but I decided to share them all in case one of them struck your fancy more than the others.

I wonder if Walt and his Imagineers anticipated that grown men and women would be just as interested in climbing and exploring as children? My guess is that they did.

There were no stairs or ramps, if you wanted to reach Merry-Go-Round rock, you had to climb. So fun. And I believe that being somewhat isolated on an island made people want to experience things that they might have just walked past, otherwise.

Thank you, Mysterious Benefactor!

Main Street USA, The Magic Kingdom - November 1971

After today, I think there are only four more scans from Mr. X's 1971 photos from the Magic Kingdom. 

Both of today's images are from Main Street in the evening, and that means lights. Lots of lights. There's The Greenhouse; from what little info I can find, I believe it was akin to Disneyland's Flower Market, selling faux blossoms. It was removed in 1984 for Emporium expansion. Next door is the Harmony Barber Shop, it looks like there is at least one customer getting a "reverse mohawk".

I like the "running horse" weathervane silhouetted against the sky.

Let's go into the Emporium, I'm sure it's full of many wondrous collectibles. I am only interested in plush Winnie the Pooh dolls, though. Give me 100 of each! By 2019, they will be worth a bundle, just like my Beanie Babies and pogs.

New Orleans Square, May 1984

It's time for a SUPERCOOL MEGA-POST from Lou and Sue! Sue sent these to me recently, thinking that it would be fun to see them after the discussion about the "One Of a Kind Shop" (see it HERE) - Lou took two nice photos of the exterior of that shop, with its typical eclectic clutter of items on display.

Here's the first of those pictures, complete with no less than three large ceramic dogs. I guess those things might have actually been popular as decor?? The Shaggy Dog can sit by the fireplace. The binnacle is pretty cool, and would look perfect in my 1000 square foot master bathroom. Or the ship's wheel, with plenty of genuine grime - er, I mean "patina" - on it. It even looks like they had one of the ornate cast-iron benches that were used throughout Fantasyland, though this one is a sober black instead of polychromed.

Oh man, more ceramic dogs, as well as a fox, a duck, and that silly owl; there's also a sundial, and of course a cool antique baby carriage. I have no idea what to do with an antique baby carriage, but by golly, I want it. Imagine what oddball items were inside the store!

The rest of this mega-post consists of some really wonderful photographs of New Orleans Square, circa 1984. Like this view along Royal Street, with the "Blue Bayou" to our left, and "Cafe Orleans" to our right.

Similar, but different!

I believe the windows overhead are (were?) part of Club 33. You know, the restaurant that most people will never see in their lives! (You know what? I'm OK with that). "Le Gourmet" is to our left - full of rare and wondrous cooking gear. Like a version of Williams-Sonoma I guess.

Here's a nice look at some of that beautiful wrought iron that gives New Orleans Square so much of that authentic ambiance.

Lou took two lovely photos of the old Court of Angels, before it was blocked off for the revamped Club 33, and even before it was painted in over-saturated colors that look like an amusement park, and not like a 300 year-old city - you can see some images of that over at Daveland's website.

And a second view; I always wanted to run up that flight of stairs and barge in to whatever was at the top. Someplace snooty, I presume!

And finally, I love this great shot of the old entrance to Pirates of the Caribbean. It always seemed to amazing - one moment you were walking through the bright sunshine of New Orleans Square, the next you were in a bayou at nighttime, with soft music, mysterious splashes, and of course, hovering fireflies.

MANY thanks to Lou and Sue for sharing these fantastic photos of New Orleans Square with us! Part of me wanted to split them into multiple posts, but Sue has shared so many scans with me that I am falling behind. An embarrassment of riches!

Using Up Some Snoozers

I have some real duds for you on this "Stay Away Sunday". Sorry!

This one is probably the nicest of the bunch, and it is still a rather unremarkable shot of Sleeping Beauty Castle. There's Christmas decorations, so that's something. Otherwise... meh!

Disneyland at night! I wish I had tons of good night photos of the park after the sun set. Sadly, this one rates about a 4 on a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being best). There's not much to see here, but if you look through the doorway of the INA Carefree Corner, you can see one of the bookshelves that held registries that guests could sign. I would have signed it with the name "I.P. Daily".

There's SBC again, in this pretty boring photo. I warned you!

Aaaaannnd... Cinderella had a castle at the park too, only hers was tiny, or else it was further away, I'm not sure which.

Sorry about the snoozers!

Santa Barbara, California

Let's visit Santa Barbara! It's is a coastal city located about 60 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles, and it is famous for its beaches and its beauty. My sister went to UCSB, so I would visit her there occasionally, though I can't claim to know the city well.

Here is a 1952 view, which I thought might have been taken from the city's courthouse tower - until my brother in-law pointed out that one of the buildings in the distance was the courthouse. Oops. He thought it might have been taken from an area known as "the Mesa". Anyway, no wonder people want to live here. It helps to be wealthy!

My bro in-law helpfully pointed out the Arlington Theatre (the gleaming white building in the distance with the tower), the Granada building in the center, and the Courthouse, hard to see, but  to the right of the Granada. Up on the hillside to the right is the old junior high school. 

I found this contemporary photo online, and even though things have obviously changed to some degree, it still has that laid-back look. And you can see the same buildings that were pointed out in the vintage photo.

Speaking of the Courthouse, here's a 1952 photo of that edifice, which was completed in 1929. The style is "Spanish Colonial Revivalist". The "El Mirador" clock tower is 85 feet high and affords a great view of the city below. It may or may not have been struck by lightning in 1955.

I love this nice shot of Mission Santa Barbara (founded in 1786). My sister got married there! Like most California Missions, this one has suffered earthquake damage, and the towers that you see here were built in 1927. The wonderful vintage autos and vintage people all add to this "pretty as a postcard" photo. 

I hope you have enjoyed your visit to Santa Barbara!

New Orleans Square, July 1968

I only have one photo for you today, along with a couple of zooms, but I think you will like it. Check out this beautiful look at New Orleans Square, from July, 1968! The street signs tell us that we're looking toward the corner of Esplanade and Royal Streets. The "One Of a Kind" shop is in front of us. I think the Royal Street Veranda is on the corner, and we might be able to see just a sliver of the Pirates Arcade Museum to the extreme right.

A large part of the appeal of this image is the people in their 1968 duds! I wish I had 100 photos like this, that are more people-centric. I love the colors on the clothing, like that turquoise dress with the lime-green trim, or the lady who is almost out of frame to the left, wearing orange, purple and yellow! It's also fun to observe the guests as they enjoy their snacks, head toward their next destination, or rest their weary feet.

Considering that this is 1968, I'm a little surprised how few women are wearing pants. The lady in the bright blue dress is looking intently at her INA souvenir guidebook. It looks like the fellow with the white shirt (next to the young lady with the red minidress) has one of those pink "Two Wonderful Ways to Enjoy Disneyland" flyers in his shirt pocket.

How many of you wish you could step into this scene? I know I do!

View From a Peoplemover, November 1975

Today's scans are a from a large lot (30 or so) of slides that were all taken in Tomorrowland. So crazy! I'm posting them in the order in which they were taken (based on the number stamp), which occasionally makes for some less-fantastic pairings. But something tells me that you'll all be OK.

So we're still aboard the Peoplemover, as the little motorless train is making a left turn toward the "Adventure Thru Inner Space" building, where guests get a tantalizing preview of that attraction - Atomobiles and the Mighty Microscope! What's not to love?

Down below is the Plaza/Hub. You can really see the swirly pattern in the flower beds that flank the entrance to Tomorrowland. 

Moving right along (the Peoplemover is always moving right along), we're now passing the Carousel Theater, home of "America Sings" by 1976 (well, by June of 1974, to be precise). That attraction was located on the lower level, while the trains would go through the "Super Speed Tunnel" the following year. I'm glad to know that there will be plenty of graceful palm trees in The Future.

GREEN MONORAIL AT ONE O'CLOCK!

Disneyland Hotel from Lou and Sue

Here are four fun scans from Lou Perry and his daughter Sue B., who have been gracious enough to share lots of their personal family photos!

This first one is neat, a scan of the confirmation for Lou's upcoming stay at the Disneyland Hotel. May 7, 1956! Disneyland wasn't even a year old yet. Notice that the hotel was still "Wrather-Alvarez Hotels, Inc". While I am unclear on the details, I am under the impression that Helen Alvarez was essentially forced out of her part ownership of the Disneyland Hotel. If anybody knows more, please chime in.

Even with the prices adjusted for inflation, it is hard to not be blown away at the thought of a mere $10 (or less!) for a night at the Hotel. And like the park itself, the hotel was still a little rough around the edges, but I wish I could have seen it as it was then.

Now we've leapt ahead to February, 1978, for two shots of the Disneyland Hotel as seen from the parking lot. How about that stormy sky! Notice that the Bonita Tower (to the left) is under construction. 

And here's a second photo. It's nice that the parking lot had a section for you if you arrived in your camper/RV. Both of these views are very unusual, and that makes them extra fun to share.

Extra! Extra! Here's a late addition; Sue sent me two photos of her father, Lou - the man who took all of these pictures! Both of these are from 2001.

This first one shows Lou at the foot of the famous "Music Box Steps", near Sunset Boulevard (in Silverlake), where Laurel and Hardy struggled to deliver a piano up an extremely long flight of stairs in 1932. Lou is a fan of Hollywood history and was thrilled to see this place in person.

Here's a four minute excerpt from "The Music Box" from YouTube (ignore the mouse cursor!), if you're interested - you can easily find the whole film there too.

Next we have Lou, somewhere in the Hollywood hills, possibly near the Griffith Observatory. Notice the Hollywood Sign in the smoggy distance. It's nice to meet you, Lou!

A big "THANK YOU" to Lou and Sue!

More Vintage Frontierland, April 1977

I have three variations on a theme today, all from the Mysterious Benefactor!

I can't recall seeing too many (or any?) images taken from aboard one of the rafts that ferried guests to and from Tom Sawyer Island, so this trio is kind of neat. I'm posting them in the order in which they appear in the catalog of scans, but they don't seem to be sequential.

What a surprise to discover that Quentin Tarantino was a raft pilot! This was long before he made it  big, as evidenced by the white patch on his red shirt.

Darn kids and their carbonated beverages! Why, when I was their age, I drank lukewarm pond water, and was grateful to get it! Of course you all recognize former silent film star Harry Langdon; sure, he's older, but he's still got it. 

I assume that the crude wooden "tent" on the raft is where the powerful motor was hidden? Quentin will never tell.

Horse Drawn Streetcar, September 1966

It's fun to visit a replica of a typical Main Street from yesteryear, with all of the quaint architecture, and old-fashioned shops. This is the era that transitioned from horse-drawn vehicles to motorized transportation. And who doesn't like seeing a nice horsie? Maybe the guy with the broom and shovel, that's who.

I'm pretty sure that when Walt Disney referenced the "hard facts" that created America, he was thinking of horse poop on the streets. Mid-century Stroller Dad can hardly believe his eyes! "I'm sure glad I live in 1966, when everything is perfect", he thought to himself.

I have heard that being a Disneyland sweep was a surprisingly sweet job to have - you weren't stuck in one location, you got good pay, and you could flirt with the pretty girls around the park (I don't think there were female sweeps back in those days). But every once in a while, reality came crashing (plopping?) down.

Out of sight, out of mind, as Shakespeare, or Kurt Vonnegut, or Ben Franklin, or some other wisenheimer once said. As far as I'm concerned, everything is OK again! But the little girl on the Streetcar is nervous.

Rainbow Ridge & Cascade Peak, September 1960

It's time for more snoozerific Sunday scans. You could skip today and be just fine. I promise my feelings won't be hurt.

I'm sure that folks in the late 19th century didn't find themselves up high very often; most of the country was pretty low to the ground. But a steamboat, with its gleaming white gingerbread decor, could get you a good 25 feet up. What a view! Too bad this one is a little bit blurry. Still, I'm always glad to see Rainbow Ridge, and the little Zocalo marketplace.

Backlighting left this scene dark and monochromatic. If only the photographer had visited this area a bit earlier, old (but actually brand-new) Cascade Peak would have been a sight to see. Perhaps we would have even been able to make out the mountain goats at the top.

Let's Visit a Dairy!

As many of you already know, Saturday is when I will post pretty much anything except Disneyland. It's a nice break for me, and hopefully for you too. And if you don't like these, well, GDB will return to the parks soon enough.

The first three of today's scans are from "Valley Farms" Dairy, location unknown, and undated (though certainly from the 1950's). I dunno, I just found them interesting!  There's lots of gleaming steel, steam (gotta keep things clean), and men with white shirts hustling to and fro. I have no idea what any of those contraptions do, though I suppose pasteurization is a good guess, and of course they will separate some of the butterfat, and will have cream (or half and half), and delicious milk of magnesia as additional products.

Good old glass bottles; I don't know if I've ever had milk from anything other than a paper carton or plastic bottle. These bottles (freshly sterilized, presumably) are filled and capped, and made ready for delivery. You want 2%, 1%, or skim milk? Too bad, hippie!

I don't know about you, but a big bowl of cereal sounds pretty good to me right now. Lucky Charms, maybe. Or Cap'n Crunch with Crunchberries.

I found this image in an folder of old, old scans, and am not sure if this "Valley Dairy Farms" Drive-In Dairy has any connection to the other three photos. I'm sure I still have the slide somewhere, but wasn't going to spend hours digging for it. My guess is that this is somewhere in Southern California, but... it's just a guess.

The New Establishment, August 1967

Fun Dad, my personal hero and fashion guru, took today's beautiful photos from the brand new "New Tomorrowland".

From the shade of the Tomorrowland Terrace, a rapt audience enjoys the rock and roll stylings of The New Establishment. They're not like that old establishment, with its fuddy-duddys and squares! The kids play the now sound for today's generation. I'd like to believe that they just finished singing their version of "The Happening" by The Supremes.

On to the another number! "Sloop John B."? Rolly Crump's wonderful Tomorrowland Terrace looks beautiful here - the gleaming white accentuates the rich colors of the acrylic panels behind the singers (who are pretty colorful themselves). I always love seeing the Skyway, even after about ten zillion views.

Of course the Carousel of Progress building can't be ignored - the attraction had debuted in Disneyland just a month earlier, after its two-year run at the New York World's Fair.

I hope you have enjoyed today's photos!