A Menagerie, August, 1965

If you were a guest visiting Disneyland in August of 1965, you might have been lucky enough to see this historic reunion of four key Disney characters. It was sort of a summit meeting. There's Thumper and Flower the skunk (both of them were not seen often), along with Pluto the Pup and Goofy.  The little girl in the stroller can't believe her eyes and looks to her mother for reassurance.

The characters are in such a tight huddle that guests can't sidle their way among them for a priceless photo. "Lady, we're not here for your amusement!", Thumper said, wiggling his nose adorably.

Flower apparently left early, and the other three are discussing how to best exit the park without causing a stampede. "I say we split up!", says Thumper. Pluto said "Arf" (because he can't talk, of course), and Goofy was not much help with "Gawrsh!". This is why Thumper has high blood pressure.

More From the Souvenir Dungeon

It's time for more vintage Disneyland paper ephemera! I love this stuff, though you might not be as thrilled about it.

Let's start with this gate handout (parking gate, I'd wager) from Summer, 1958, instructing guests on why they should consider purchasing ticket books. There's Dumbo, who seems to have been an unofficial mascot for Disneyland (along with Tinker Bell) in those early days. He's dressed as a thrifty Scotsman! Och aye.

They used this basic layout for the interior for about four years, with only the prices changing - though they didn't change drastically the way they do today.

Back when I first started collecting this sort of thing, I knew I wanted "the green one". As it turns out, there were three different green ones. On the left, the "Spring 1958" example (posted on GDB years ago); in the middle is the back of the "Summer 1958" handout that I started today's post with; and the last is also from "Summer, 1958", with revised hours. Collect them all!

Next is this very nice and unusual paper bag from the Disneyland Hotel's "Magic Land" shop, from lessees Taylor and Hume. The shop sold toys and souvenirs, just imagine what treasures they had! I like the deep pink color and little spot illustrations. Taylor and Hume were also the lessees for Merlin's Magic Shop and the Main Street Magic Shop.
 

And lastly, here's a rare, complete "Starlite Nights" ticket book (which I previously shared with the Vintage Disneyland Tickets blog ten years ago). It's from June, 1965 and has TWO admission tickets, as well as coupons for 10 attractions; these special books were intended to attract young folks (dating and/or married couples) to visit the park after 5:00 PM, when attendance presumably dropped to the point that somebody figured, "We need to get people in the park!".  I've seen a Starlite Nights ticket book from 1961, but don't know how many years they ran this promotion. I'm glad to have this nice item!

I have so much paper stuff, I need to start scanning more of it!

Random Snoozers

Restless? Tired? Suffering from insomnia? Never fear, I have two "snoozers" that should send you right to Dreamland! 

From September 1960 comes this photo taken from inside the Monorail - look at how much higher up we are compared to the blue Monorail at the station! A good 15 feet I'd say. If nothing else, this is a different view of Tomorrowland and the Monorail/Subs load area. 

This next one is from November, 1970 - a blurry view looking down from the Peoplemover at Goofy and Pluto as they trailed the Disneyland Band. It almost looks like Pluto is carrying a loaf of bread, but it must just be his arm (?). I don't usually think of the Peoplemover as ever getting this close to the Plaza Inn, but of course the track did extend nearly that far before the trains turned.

Airplanes

Everybody loves vintage airplanes! Well, everybody who is cool, anyway. Are you cool?

This first photo scan (undated) shows what appears to be a family standing on the tarmac of "Hillcrest Aircraft Co.", in Lewiston, Idaho. They are still in business! I could not even hazard a guess as to what kind of airplane. Maybe a Beechcraft of some sort? Please chime in, propeller heads! 

According to their website, Hillcrest Aircraft Company was formed by Jerry Wilson in 1956 and has been providing specialty aviation services to its customers for more than 60 years. At its beginning, Hillcrest owned and operated four Stearman bi-wing aircraft for crop dusting. In the late 50s, Hillcrest expanded its operations to include firefighting, using World War II aircraft that included six B-25s, five B-26s, six Grumman TBMs and one B-24.

The website continues: In 1960, Hillcrest became a Cessna dealer and an FAA Repair Station. Hillcrest sold Cessna airplanes and used them for charter and flight instruction. In   addition, Hillcrest also started an outside maintenance facility for light fixed-wing aircraft. In 1961, the company sold the most single engine Cessna aircraft in   the entire U.S.—“Top Gun in 61.” Hillcrest purchased its first Bell helicopter, which was used to spray farm fields and perform firefighting operations, that same year. By the end of the 1960s, the company owned 10 Bell model 47s.  NOW YOU KNOW.
 

This next photo features a Lockheed Constellation ("Connie"), beloved by many. Wikipedia says that the Constellation was a propeller-driven, four-engine airliner built by Lockheed Corporation starting in 1943. The Constellation series was the first pressurized-cabin civil airliner series to go into widespread use. Its pressurized cabin enabled commercial passengers to fly well above most bad weather for the first time, thus significantly improving the general safety and ease of air travel. Plus, it's just a cool-looking aircraft, with its triple tail. Notice that this is a "Super G" version, introduced in 1954.  

The 1049G "Super G" was the most successful version of the Super Constellations and one of the last great piston-engine airliners. For long range operations, the Super G could be fitted with extra wingtip tanks, increasing the fuel capacity by two-thirds more than the original Connie models.

Two Beauties From the '50s

Happy Friday, everybody; what a week, huh? Never mind that I actually am composing this post in mid-January. "What a week?" always applies on Fridays. I have two lovely scans for you today, so sit back and relax. 

From what I presume is the late 1950s (or perhaps the early 1960s) comes this beautiful, colorful photo taken aboard the good old Skyway, or "cable cars" as the photographer called them. I suppose that's not completely inaccurate. There's so much detail! It's hard to believe that just over that wooded hill (where the chalet loomed) was a western frontier, but that's the way it was. In fact I think we can even get a little glimpse into Frontierland just above the colorful umbrellas where the "Fan 1" dining area was. We've got Dumbo down below (to our left) and Casey Jr. (to our right), too.

Zooming in, we see the passenger in lucky number 23 trying to take it all in before his smooth trip through the sky ended. Notice the long stairway (non-ADA compliant) where passengers were descending back to sea level (not really, but you know what I mean). Could Kodachrome get any better than this?

Next is this wonderful photo looking into Tomorrowland (definitely the '50s); I always love it when we have bright sunshine and an intense blue sky, especially when it makes the Moonliner look so good. The "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" walk-thru is to our right. Look at all those nautical flags! We get a good look at the planetoid lights on the sides of those buildings, and even a good toothpick and olive light fixture (with a few boomerangs thrown in for good measure).  I like the lady's paper hat, and the little "green zones" that were probably not long for this world. 

Two Leftuggies

I have a pair of orphan slides - all by themselves, with nobody in the world to take care of them. Except me! I'll give them a warm home and all the gruel they can eat. 

From August, 1971 comes this photo of the Pearly Band (see how their costumes are festooned with large mother-of-pearl buttons?) as they serenade guests over near Storybook Land. An animated Pearly Band appeared in "Mary Poppins" (1964), and they can still be seen performing in the parks. I'm not sure if they were  a mere quartet here, or if the photographer only captured part of the band. It usually consisted of more than four members. Sometimes they will be accompanied by Mary Poppins or Bert.

From October, 1959 comes this crisp, bright, colorful photo of Sleeping Beauty Castle. I sometimes groan when I see the million-and-fifth photo of SBC, but I have to admit that a nice image like this one still makes me happy.

Random Pix

I have some random photos for you (as the title of today's post indicates)... "leftuggies" if you like (and I do!). 

From March, 1961 comes this photo taken from the Tomorrowland Skyway queue looking toward the Autopia. For all of the busy-ness of the criss-tracks and multiple levels of stuff, it all looks kind of deserted. Sure, there are a few tiny noggins visible behind the wheels of some Autopia cars, but otherwise it's relatively unpopulated. March, the "off season" I suppose. In 1967 things got even busier when the tracks of the Peoplemover were added, as you know.

Here's an unusual view of Castle Rock on Tom Sawyer Island, with a coonskin-capped boy giving us the eyeball. I am wondering if this photo was taken with a long lens from one of the Mark Twain (since the Columbia can be seen in the distance), or if the photographer was standing someplace on the island itself. I can't quite come to a satisfactory conclusion, maybe you can help. 

Tomorrowland and SBC, October 1981

The amazing collection of photos from photographer Lou Perry, scanned and shared with us by his daughter, Sue B., just keeps on providing us with more wonderful stuff! As you've seen from the title, today's scans are from October, 1981.

Oh man, I just love that view of the entrance to the classic "New Tomorrowland". The Peoplemover, Rocket Jets, and Adventure Thru Inner Space were all still going strong on this beautiful sunny day. Note that the flower beds flanking the entrance are in the process of being replanted, hopefully with swirls of violet and yellow like the bed in front of us.

I'm assuming that Lou was trying to capture the aqua Peoplemover train, and not the weirdo with the bucket hat staring right at us! 

For the next two, Lou basically pivoted to his left and got some pretty shots of Sleeping Beauty Castle, with its hues of gray, along with soft pink and blue. 

Ivy softens the appearance of the castle - I assume that at some point it might have actually done some damage to the faux stone façade? There's always at least one person gazing at the swans... at least I think there were still swans in 1981.

THANKS as always to Lou and Sue!

Disneyland Employee Handbook, 1957

It's time for another special post, featuring scans of a 1957 booklet given to new hires. "Meet Your New Job"! This was scanned for us by Grant McCormick, who's mother worked as a tour guide (she also worked over at the Crane Bathroom of Tomorrow) back in those golden days. Grant and his sister still have some wonderful artifacts from their mother's days at Disneyland, including this rarity. 

Here's the front and back covers - as always I love the little spot illustrations. The discolored bits are a shame, but I'm sure nobody imagined that this would be of interest over 60 years later! There's 21 pages, which is a lot of reading, but I think you'll enjoy all the details that are revealed.

We're welcomed by Donald Duck himself! Notice that the book says that they use the term "host" and "hostess", and not "cast member".

Which kind of Disneylander are YOU? I want to be a "Permanent Full Time Disneylander", that's where all the glory lies. They say that attendance can go "as high as 33,300" - I wonder which days would draw crowds like that in those early years? New hosts and hostesses learn about the ins and outs of their pay...

... as well as deductions, which are just a fact of life. I wonder how many people had their very first employment at Disneyland? Probably a lot. The little map is familiar, used in other brochures and publications.

Pluto wants us to enjoy ourselves, but don't do anything stupid. I like the way they break the news that a job at Disneyland is still a JOB, with all of its frustrations. 

Mr. Toad may be a maniac on the road, but he is always careful to look SHARP. I guess I will have to get rid of my trick hair cut (aka a "mohawk"). It's nice that they encourage employees to ask for a clean uniform in anything unfortunate happens. The other page mentions the Disneyland Fire Department, I wonder where they are housed, and what sort of equipment they have?

"Working Hours and Conditions"... it all sounds about like what I'd expect (how about that electrocution analogy?), although the mention of a mere 10 minute "rest period" in the middle of an eight hour shift doesn't sound like very much.

Overtime, group insurance, vacations, sick leave... all stuff that is of concern to anybody starting a new job. I'd go for that sweet, sweet double overtime, and rake in the money!

I definitely plan on causing lots of accidents, so I will put a bookmark in this section. "Nurse, I got bit by a mule!". "Nurse, I have a piece of popcorn up my nose!". "Nurse, I suffer from stagecoach sickness!". You just never know at Disneyland.

My favorite things about the two diagrams (one for the whole company, the other for Disneyland) is that Walt is the center of everything.

Ah yes, questions from guests - there must have been some doozies. Be courteous and friendly at all times! "Excuse me, does Walt Disney live here?". "What are you, crazy? Leave me alone!". That would be my answer to every question, I admit.

Question: why are Chip and Dale sawing logs in the rain?

Here endeth the handbook! There's a handy index in case you need to refer to anything again (like those vacations days). 

Thanks so much to Grant McCormick for sharing these scans of this rare and amazing employee handbook!

Sleeping Beauty Castle, August 1966

It's another sleepy Sunday, and that means I have some sleepy slides for you. Which is appropriate, because they both feature Sleeping Beauty Castle, circa 1966. 

This first slide had some damage, so I cropped it down, leaving just the filet. It's a perfectly nice (though off-center) look at the Castle; the Plaza's trees have grown large enough to almost block the view. And I'm always happy to see the center flower bed, sans "Partners" statue.

Just a little closer now! Two ladies pose for the legally-mandated photo of them with the Castle nearby. I will mostly refrain from commenting on the colors of the Castle!

New York City

It's time for more vintage photos from the Big Apple! New York City, that is. We'll start with this scan from July, 1965; we're in Chinatown, looking southwest along Bowery at the corner of Pell Street. Besides the interesting touches of "Chinese" decor (including that cool telephone booth!), there is a large billboard that is apparently left over from Barry Goldwater's 1964 Presidential campaign. "Chinese say in our hearts we know he is right". Barry lost to incumbent Lyndon B. Johnson, of course.

Here's a screen grab from Google Maps showing the same area as it looks today. Some of the buildings are still clearly recognizable, though new ones have been added.

While researching my photo, I found this jpeg online, clearly taken around the same time.

And while looking at vintage pinback buttons on eBay (which I do occasionally), I spotted this example! I would have had no idea to what it was referring months ago, but now I know that it is an anti-Goldwater button! Even the seller didn't know.

Next is this oddball photo (from September, 1962) of a cluttered construction scene. Was the photographer staying at the Greenwich Towers? Who knows. The slide mount had the words "Building subway" written on it, perhaps the photographer was interested in such things. Lucky for me, the street address and the name of the building helped me to pinpoint the location.

We're looking west on West 13th Street from 6th Avenue. The architectural details line up perfectly! And after all these years, there is still construction going on at that corner.

I hope you have enjoyed your visit to New York City!

Beautiful Instamatics

My friend Mr. X has come through once again, giving me a group of slides (to keep!) date-stamped "August 1970". A few of them have appeared on GDB before, as scans from photo prints, but scans from slide transparencies are always better! 

Let's start with this beautiful view of the Carousel of Progress building; it looks so great! I sure envy all the people who are just heading in to view the groundbreaking show on the lower level - and I envy the people who have just seen the show, and then viewed the wonderful "Progress City" model on the upper level.

Folks are enjoying the view from up there, and who can blame them? I like details such as the recessed lighting (placed at seemingly random intervals on that extended overhang), or even that lozenge-shaped sign to the right, which was probably discarded when the ride closed three years after this picture was taken. 

Next is this very nice image that gives a hint of the complex layers of activity in Tomorrowland - the Autopia, the Peoplemover, and the Monorail inhabiting the same space by necessity, but doing so in an artful manner. I thought that this might have been one of the "previously posted" images, but not so... I was thinking of the second photo from this post from back in 2017.

I hope you have enjoyed today's Instamatics!

The Return of Cap'n Mike!

I am pleased to present another selection of scans, with thanks to the generosity of the Mysterious Benefactor. These are the last images from Folder #4... but never fear, there are TEN more folders!

By now most of you should be well-acquainted with Captain Mike, who could not only pilot a Mississippi riverboat by sense of smell alone (necessary on moonless nights), but he was also a raconteur who made sure each guest felt welcome on his boat.

I wish I had his people skills, I never know what to say. But Captain Mike always knew what to say, even to a squirmy three-year-old. Notice the little girl in pigtails is wearing a Magic Mountain shirt with one of the original trolls that used to populate the park (along with a wizard). I believe that "Bloop" is the troll pictured on her shirt.

"Why yes, I know Slue Foot Sue, in fact I used to date her! She was... um, er... well, she is a fine woman indeed!". Captain Mike almost forgot himself. Meanwhile, look at the beautiful wilderness as the boat progresses along the river.

I assume that the Captain had grandchildren, look at how he really is listening to the little girl. I was trying to figure out that bucket hat on the smaller girl, and it appears to have Disney characters, possibly Mickey in an appropriate costume for each land.

Captain Mike doesn't want the little girl to see the dead body on the raised bier behind them, so he distracts her by pointing out a cloud that looks like Vinnie Barbarino. 

And... the actual last photo from Folder #4, a cheerful cast member named "Dave". I don't know if he worked ashore, or assisted guests onboard the riverboat (or both), but either way, I feel safe in his capable hands.

 THANK YOU, Mysterious Benefactor!