I have a pair of Plaza views from (probably) early 1956 (I'm basing this guesstimate on some other photos in the batch which make me believe that these are quite early - you'll see why in future posts).
First off comes this pretty view looking from a pathway that was fairly south and west, though I don't think that the entrance to Adventureland would be behind us. Maybe the Plaza Pavilion was? You can see a little family (Mom, Dad, two kids) walking past, heading toward the Castle. The little girl is so excited, maybe it's the Surrey with the horse that has caught her attention.
Next, it's a bit later in the day, but we're standing almost (but not quite) where the family was in the first picture, looking toward you-know-what. It looks like it was a beautiful day.
I'm still out of town, but as of this writing, I think I should be home tomorrow (though it might be late in the evening). Have a happy Monday!
1) I guess the mystery of where that path we're on leads would be solved if only we knew what was written on that sign to our left. Mom is looking rather sophisticated and fashionable in her royal purple dress. We get a nice view of the garden center, wire border fencing in this photo.
ReplyDeleteHey, somebody left their rocket parked back there. Boy, some people!
2) I have a 35mm slide from Dec. '57, taken from the same spot. It shows a white cement border around that planter area to our right; replacing the wire fencing that we see here. So that might help to pin down the date.
They have a white horse powering the Streetcar. Seems like they're usually a palomino/gold color.
I see a slight shadow that might be the Dent. But I wouldn't bet the Park on it.
I like puzzles. I'm sure one or more Jr. Gorillas will be able to solve the time and place of today's photos. Thanks, Major.
I believe in that first pic, the bandstand (pre-Carnation/Plaza Gardens) would be directly behind the photographer. We can see the back of a white sign sitting on the ground, just to the left of the pathway. We can see the front of that same sign in the second pic, even though we can't read what is on it.
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to seeing more early DL views from this batch!
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ReplyDeleteIn my comment above, I was talking about the park's original wooden bandstand being behind the photographer, in the first pic. After a little research, it looks like Plaza Gardens didn't open until the summer of 1956. So if these are early 1956, It's possible that the original wooden bandstand was still located just to the left of the Castle. The sign next to the path is probably listing performance times.
ReplyDeleteConcur with TM! on the location of the first shot. You can see where the photographer was standing to take this shot in the second picture. The white sign can been seen just in front of the guy walking away from us wearing a blue shirt, khaki pants, and camera over his shoulder.
ReplyDeleteIn that second photo, you can see that either they hadn’t yet come up with a regular dental plan for the castle or it was due for a visit to the dentist. Look at all that plaque buildup - grime in the corners and streaking under the windows. Surprised Walt would allow streaking in his family Park.
In the same shot, find the leftmost umbrella. Sitting under it on a bench is an armless, legless mannequin in red. Try unseeing that now.
I think that is the Dent, JB. This photo helps confirm how old it is, and it makes sense now - it was before the castle had a preventive dental plan.
Whoa, fellas - I can find the door on my own, thank you very much.
I’m preferring streaks and stains to purple and pink. Not generally in my character to do so, but in the castles case…stains trump Barbie. I like all the little Home Depot lawn fences…so simple. They just disappear. I see why something else was needed, but I like these things when Disneyland was just trying to make a buck to pay off ABC. Ironic that Disney ultimately swallowed them up later in life. The trees in the Plaza were Brazilian pepper trees, and were so perfectly pruned and manicured to make them more sculptural. This way when the twinkly lights were on them they had a random appearance due to all the zigs and zags. There were also Olive trees in there as well. I was dismayed to see the trees gone, and twinkly lights replaced with static and not so plentiful. For a place that goes so over the top these days, that is what we cut back on? I remember from being at that popcorn wagon that the lights were not the type we currently get at Big Lots or whatever…they were a larger bulb that was more “bulby “ and not so pointy. The best part of seeing the plaza was at night as you are making your way out and all of this lights are so very magical. I did not experience that last time at the rodeo. I kind of see the dent..I think…there is someone out there that knows about the dent that should come forward!!! When, how, why, we must know! Happy boxing day!
ReplyDeletelink
ReplyDeletewow, check out this old (literal) postcard view if the original bandstand... seems that's the likely location of Photo #1. what a shot, never seen that before.
if above link doesn't work, here is link...
https://www.disneyhistory101.com/plaza-gardens
(scroll down to first color image)
JB, have you turned over your DL photos to Major, yet? That's a Jr. Gorilla's obligation, you know. :o) Besides, I'd love to see them.
ReplyDeleteLTL, thanks for the link - great pictures and info!
"...there is someone out there that knows about the dent that should come forward!!!"
Bu, you got your Christmas wish! One of our Jr. Gorillas recently passed on some info and a photo, to me, with the most-probable reason. The info's now in our leader's hands. But do we really want to know?? (I like to think that Tink bashed into the turret on one of her flying sprees.) ;o) Stay tuned to GDB, to see...
thanks, Lou and Sue
ReplyDeleteBTW, I learned a while back the original bandstand was aquired in 1970s by a nursery in Corona del Mar, Roger's Gardens.
Today I researched and found the bandstand is now part of a restaurant at the Gardens.
the same history website as above has good info on this, plus photos...
bandstand link
https://www.disneyhistory101.com/disneyland/2018/9/8/magnolia-park-bandstand
Moonliner Alert!
ReplyDeleteThat is all. Please continue your day. Thank you.
That was Stu29573
Delete@ Bu-
ReplyDeleteStains trump Barbie - yet another name for a band-!
As for those twinkle lights... it's been so long... but me thinks they 'used to be' the same type of bulbs used throughout The Park back in the day, mainly S-6 lamps. THIS SHAPE
Beginning in 1953 and up through 1965, it was still known as American Broadcasting-Paramount Theatres, Inc. (AB-PT) the parent company of the ABC-TV Network; Paramount Theatres being the 'answer' to the infamous 'Paramount Consent Decree' (1948), that forced ALL the film studios to divest all interests in the exhibition-side of the business (the theatres) - although it took a bit of time.
Many folks here might recognize the reference to 'UPT Concessions' (a subsidiary of AB-PT). It operated many concession locations throughout Disneyland in the initial years - such as 'Train Depot Snacks' at Main Street Station; 'Coca-Cola Refreshment Corner'; 'Space Bar'; 'Fan 1' & 'Fan 2'; and two refreshment stands in Frontierland - which I can't verify. By 1960 it was all over, as Disneyland paid $7.5M to buy-back the AB-PT share in DL, along with a release from its ABC-TV contract. And what do you know - in the fall of 1961 it's NBC and The Wonderful World of Color, and so long to ABC... for a while, anyway-!
Bu : several years ago a great deal of incandescent type lighting fixtures and bulbs became illegal to sell or ship to California. At firsts it was pretty bad … the LED technology was all intense white piercing light…and household led bulbs were these awful spiral tube bulbs that stuck out way beyond original
ReplyDeleteBulbs … those spiral Led bulbs were suppose to be so economical and efficient … they were neither : they burned out and I would have to replace them as often as 3 times in a year!!! They would also get brighter the longer they were on….. making you feel like you were having a stroke or had bee. Abducted by space aliens in a beam of intense white light. Anyway … the California LED lightbulb law still exists but luckily the technology is improving … but I remember many of the transitional LED Disneyland park lights that often made everything look like a Walmart parking lot.
Besides the original Disneyland bandstand located at ROGERS GARDENS …. There are two identical bandstand replicas. The bandstand was part of the Rogers Gardens company logo and in the 1990’s had opened two other locations …. One at Santa Ana Main Place Mall …. In Santa Ana California…. And a second location I Corona Cal ( I think). When the Santa Ana Rogers Gardens closed in the early 2000’s the bandstand remained for a long time . It was funny to see the Disneyland band stage right there between. The mall and the 5 north freeway. Someone told me one of the duplicate bandstands was purchased by the same Carlsbad flower gardens that purchased several of the SANTAS VILLAGE ( skyforest ) buildings that are on display . I haven’t confirmed the bandstand being there yet.
No if you make the journey to Roger’s Gardens ( there all kinds of pavilion type shops … Christmas .. nursery , landscaping supplies … benches … lampposts …. For sake … a bakery , and a restaurant) but don’t think you are going to see the bandstand as it appears on 1956 postcards and pictorial guidebooks…. But Disneyland fans will definitely recognize it!
Thanks everyone for the detailed commentary and to LTL for the links!
ReplyDeleteThe first view of the Hub might have been a city park somewhere, except for the Moonliner snout.
There’s a big gross stain like a roof scupper on the battlement tower in photo 2, I’ve never seen that before. I wonder if that was re-routed somehow?
Mike C, thanks for explaining the California Light Bulb Lunacy. LED tech has improved dramatically and has leapfrogged the awful CFL corkscrews. I still have a few to dispose of. For a while, gas flames were forbidden too, but with an exception for “decorative appliances” like the gas lamps in NOS.
Another goofy thing that is now banned in the Peoples Republic is alcohol fuel for fondue pots and chafing dishes. We will have to jaunt over to Reno before next Christmas Eve if we are to continue our traditional fondue suppers, or warm the pot over candles.
JG
Those early spiral LED bulbs used to be a real migraine trigger for me. When it was announced that you wouldn't be able to buy oldfangled lightbulbs anymore, I went out and bought a big hoard of them. The LED technology has certainly improved since then.
ReplyDeleteI didn't realize before that you could see the flagpoles of Tomorrowland from this vantage point.
JG: that doesn’t surprise me about the cooking /banquet fuel regulations in California : NOTHING surprises me anymore here , but once in awhile I’m dumbfoundly shocked the people of California fall for all this . I’ve mentioned before that WDI has been planning the evacuation of california for sometime … Creative Costuming , Merchandising …. The were relocated to Florida over several years. I don’t like it : but I totally understand it! Have the materials WDI and MAPO fabrication use in design and final product can no longer be brought into the state. I think I’ve mentioned here before that when a friend of mine was having his PeopleMover car restored he couldn’t find a place in LA that could still chrome the safety bars of the vehicle. He was able to find a place in Arizona … but he couldn’t bring the parts back to california!! I bought a chromed 2-tier fruit basket that matched a single level fruit basket I had bought several years ago from one of my nieces fundraisers…. The two tiered version never arrived but a letter explaining that the chromed item could not be shipped to the following states:
ReplyDeleteCALIFORNIA
And the order had to be cancelled!
Melissa : I totally know what you mean! I get migraines ( though not like I used to) and glares and bright lighting fixtures triggered them most often. Especialy when hatchback cars were common …. The glare off the windows slope . And florecent lights and the sprial LED light contraptions caused migraines for me too!!
It sounds like I can start a side business. I'll order stuff for my Jr. Gorilla friends and have it delivered to my house...then re-box and re-route the stuff to the west coast. I wonder if that's considered smuggling or something??
ReplyDeleteSue, it will be a moneymaker. Like having a rich uncle or owning your own ATM. You will need to ship to Reno and have it brought over in private vehicles, not common carriers.
ReplyDeleteMike, don’t get me started on hot dip galvanizing, which is the only reliable defense against maritime corrosion, etc. soon to be banned. Chrome is a red-list item and we have projects banning it until you tell them the tailpiece drains of the sinks are either chrome steel or Pyrex($$$$).
JG
Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for Sue!
ReplyDeleteMike and JG - It's hard to imagine how anyone gets any projects done in CA with the ever-increasing list of things that can't be used. It's weird considering it's a state that once had GE-spokesman Ronald Reagan as governor.
ReplyDeleteMelissa :oD
ReplyDeleteI love your new avatar.
JG, ha! Now I’m picturing a daisy-patterned [with swirls] sink drain tailpiece.
Sue