A Pair From March 1962

Today's photos aren't the most exciting things in the world, but they were taken on a glorious sunny day with clear blue skies. Amazingly, these are dated "March 1962", which is when all of the photos featuring "Ginny" are dated, and yet she is in a gloomy, gray park. 

I appreciate that our photographer was already on the lookout for something a bit unusual, like the Ken-L-Ration pet motel ("Ken-L-Land"). The sign looks to be inspired by a Googie bowling alleys, or perhaps an exuberant grocery store. 

Those folks are already resting on a handy bench, maybe they're waiting for dad while he parks the car? "I'll drop you off here". The little boy in blue can hardly contain his excitement! 

The blue Monorail is almost the same color as the blue lagoon. COINCIDENCE? There's the Richfield Eagle, and because this is the one above the Fantasyland Autopia, we know his name is "Richie". as opposed to Screechy over in Tomorrowland. 

There's a bobsled to the left! That means GOOD LUCK!

Sunday Snoozles™

It is time... time for some crummy slide scans! Hey, I scanned 'em, so you have to look at 'em. That was in the small print of the contract that each of you filled out before viewing GDB.

Both of these are from January, 1964; we'll start with this ho-hum view of the Mark Twain, late in the afternoon - which means it was probably 4 o'clock. The Twain is packed, which makes me wonder if holiday crowds were filling the park when this photo was taken? It looks like you could hardly squeeze another soul on board without using a crowbar and some lard (that's how I would do it, anyway). If I look really closely I imagine I can see the bell on the side of Cascade Peak, but it might just be a rogue squirrel.

Well, there is definitely Christmas decor on City Hall, garlands and such. Looking at the roof of City Hall, there is a fenced in area that makes me wonder if employees could step out there? Probably not, since they would be in plain sight of the guests; maybe the fence was there as a safety measure for maintenance guys. 

1939 New York World's Fair

You've seen plenty of photos of the 1964/65 New York World's Fair on GDB, but today's scans are from rare color slides from the 1939 Fair. That Fair was supposed to celebrate the 200th anniversary of George Washington's birth, but it is remembered for its other theme - "The World of Tomorrow". Coming at the end of the Great Depression and just before war broke out in Europe, it was a unique time in history.

Eastman Kodak introduced Kodachrome film to the public in 1935. I have no doubt that the film and processing were both very expensive, but it caught on little by little. And the 1939 Fair was a place that some amateur shutterbugs decided to try this new technology; again, color photos from the Fair are not common, but they are out there. It's quite a thing to look at color images from over 80 years ago.

First up is this photo of two mannequins dressed in turn-of-the-century outfits, at the wheel of what I believe is an early Ford automobile, though it is admittedly only a guess - there's not a lot of detailed information about the displays at the '39 Fair. I'm wondering if this could have been an early electric vehicle? Yes, those did exist, even in the very early days of horseless carriages. If anybody has any information about this photo that they'd like to pass on, I'd love to hear it!

Here's what the Ford pavilion looked like from the outside. See all those little glass panes? SEE THEM?? Well, now you have to clean them all. GOT YOU.

Outside the Ford pavilion was this art deco tribute to the glorious V8 engine - perhaps specifically a tribute to the popular Ford Flathead V8, introduced in 1932. Notice the Trylon and Perisphere (the Fair theme buildings) in the background! 

And finally, here's a nice photo of the Italia pavilion as seen at night. I quoted a description before, and I may as well use it again: The Italian Pavilion displayed a combination of classical Roman and modern Italian architecture in its design. A statue of the goddess Roma stood atop a 200 foot high pedestal with a waterfall cascading down the steps into a pool at the base of the monument which was dedicated to Marconi.

I hope you have enjoyed these rare color views from the 1939 New York World's Fair!

Parking Lot Pix, April 1974

You can determine if a person is a TRUE Disneyland nerd by showing them a photo or the parking lot. Is there no reaction? Then they are phonies and should be shipped to the gulag in Siberia. If they smile and exclaim, "Jumpin' jehoshaphat!", then you know you are among friends. I already know that all of YOU are friends!

First up - the Disneyland sign! It's how we know we didn't actually drive to Knott's Berry Farm. You have to admit that this is quite a sign, and it used to get the heart beating a little faster. It might be a little too soon to start listening for train whistles or Monorail air horns, but everyone in the car - be quiet! 

Doc Severinsen was performing that night, as was Louis Bellson, and The Miracles (with no Smokey Robinson).

Just a few moments later and we've reached the gate into the parking lot. Is this the Katella Gate? No, autocorrect, I don't mean "Patella Gate". You had to pay an outrageous 50 cents to park your car, which is no way to start your day. But at least they will probably hand you a few fun flyers with info on your best value in ticket books. Or why not get a guided tour?

Indian Village, 1950s

I have a pair of nice photos from the old Indian Village, along the west shore of Frontierland. As many of you know, guests walked through a tunnel, emerging into a small land that celebrated a number of Native American tribes throughout the Nation. 

This first view is pretty much what a guest would have seen when first emerging from the tunnel, with the birch bark "wig-was-i-ga-mig" to the left, and the more familiar teepees in the distance. Eventually a cedar plank ceremonial house from the Pacific Northwest Indians would be added, and artisans could be seen carving totem poles, creating sand paintings, and weaving textiles.

Best remembered are the Indian dancers who performed at the Dance Circle until the Indian Village was replaced by Bear Country in 1972. 

 

More From the Mysterious Benefactor

Here's a nice random selection of scans from the Mysterious Benefactor, from the large group of Frontierland scans that he generously shared with me. 

Let's begin with this excellent shot of the Stage Door Cafe, right next to the Golden Horseshoe building. The Stage Door Cafe replaced the Oaks Tavern in 1978, which was just a year before this picture was taken. Those Pepsi cups are hard to ignore! 

And speaking of the Golden Horseshoe, patient guests wait for the doors to open so that they can enjoy the next show, full of music, dancing girls, and corny jokes. Wally Boag would still be one of the main stars, but in 1982 he would move to Orlando to perform in the Diamond Horseshoe Revue. 

There's the Pendleton store, full of woolen goods, but sadly, no red long johns like I always wanted to try. The itchier, the better! I'm here for the itching, but I'm staying for the chafing. 

And finally, here's a nice look at the Columbia sailing ship, the first sailing ship that didn't need sails. Instead, it moved thanks to the power of imagination! Oh man, I feel a bit ill even writing that, I think I need to lay down.

THANK YOU, Mysterious Benefactor!

Two Randos

Today's photos are certainly "randos", but this first one is also technically a Leftuggie™ - it's the final slide taken by Ginny's husband, circa March of 1962. You remember Ginny! She of the perfect posture. Maybe she's hiding behind of of the saguaros in the Painted Desert (which looks considerably more drab on this overcast day). A boiling-hot geyser can be seen in the distance, is it Old Unfaithful? What I wouldn't give for one more ride on the old Mine Train Through Nature's Wonderland.

Next is this lonely photo from July, 1972, showing the Main Street Cinema. It's nice to see Charlie Chaplin was playing there, featured in the 1914 Mack Sennett film "The Rounders". Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle was in that one too. I feel like the Cinema lost a bit of authenticity when it switched to just Disney cartoons.

Monday Sept 18 More From Keith

Hooray, I have two more great scans (and one detail) from Keith Schad for you, so you know these will be good.

The Plaza was lively, with no less than four Main Street vehicles on display; in the distance, the Chemical Fire Wagon; then a Horse Drawn Streetcar, a Surrey, and a Horseless Carriage. A typical 1958 boy (certified by the Bureau of Weights and Measures) is in the lower left. I'll bet he has a slingshot in his back pocket and is just starting to think that girls might not be so yucky.

I love this great shot of the Disneyland Band, with Vesey Walker himself leading the way, as they march toward Main Street Station. The guests are all so well-behaved, sticking to the sidewalk (or at least staying near the curb). There's those lamp post signs for the "Full Rigged 3 Masted Sailing Ship COLUMBIA".

What the...? That guy is on a ladder with a camera. He's presumably an official Disneyland photographer, I wonder if we ever saw any of the photos from this session? On the two lamp posts in the distance we can see other signs, one for the Grand Canyon Diorama, and another for the new Alice in Wonderland ride.

Thanks so much to Keith Schad!

Sunday Snoozles™

It's SNOOZLE TIME! You know what that means. Both of today's Snoozles come from April, 1974. 

You can barely see most of Fantasyland in this way-too-dark photo. What the f-stop happened?? Why did this picture turn out so terrible? Who can I blame? How can I turn this into some sweet, sweet cash? Through the murk we can see that there is quite a wait for the Mad Tea Party, this must have been from that time when they put hundred-dollar bills in each teacup (I forget why they did it, but it's all true and not made up at all).  

This one, from the same batch,  turned out OK; it's just kind of "meh" as photos go. The old Jungle Cruise problem, where all of the photos look very much like others that we've seen. Just left of center we can see the mommy lion and the daddy lion protecting that sleeping zebra; all of the other animals just love to watch such warm parental behavior.

Long Beach, California

On today's "Anything Goes Saturday" I have two scans with a "Long Beach" theme. Just because!

We'll start out with this shot of the RMS Queen Mary as she nears the end of her 1,001st (and last) voyage; she reached Long Beach Harbor on December 9th, 1967.  As you can see, many locals turned out to witness the event. Be sure to see Nanook's family photos (taken from aboard a boat!) HERE; just think, he was not too far away when this picture was taken! As most of you know, the Queen Mary has been a tourist draw in Long Beach for decades now. Time and the elements have taken their toll, and the boat is in need of many expensive repairs. Let's hope that it gets the TLC that it deserves!

Next is this artistic October 1960 photo from The Pike, an amusement zone that started way back in 1902. I remember it well! The Pike had its ups and downs, and was re-dubbed the "Nu-pike" in the 1950s in an attempt to clean up its reputation and hopefully make it more palatable for families that might think of heading to Disneyland or Knott's instead. This long exposure makes the Ferris Wheel a blur of light. To the right we can just see one of the diving bells. To the left is a Tilt-a-Whirl, and behind that might be the "Laff In the Dark" attraction. I'm unsure about what the structure to the extreme left could be.

I was reminded of this vintage postcard!

I hope you have enjoyed your visit to Long Beach, California.

Nice Leftuggies™

I have a nice pair of Leftuggies™ for you today, served up with mashed potatoes and a crisp salad.

First up is this undated (but probably from 1956) photo showing the Mark Twain passing by; I just kind of love this picture! Where do you think our photographer was standing (and don't say "Disneyland"!)? I'm guessing that he/she was somewhere west of the Plantation House, but there doesn't seem to be a lot to go on. Is the little boy to our right wearing a coat and tie? Folks are dressed nicely, and for cool weather. The Twain's pilot is glaring at us!

If you look to the left of the Mark Twain's headlamp, I believe we can see part of the old viewing platform that was there before Tom's Treehouse was added. Wasn't there at least one small cascade of water that originated from Tom's Treehouse? I don't think I've ever really noticed that small bridge halfway up the hillside. 

Next is this undated and horribly pink photo (from the 1960s I think) showing the entrance to the park. Why yes, I'd still like to go in, even if Disneyland will only be open for a few more hours! Somebody has abandoned that poor baby in the stroller, but I'm sure they had a good reason for doing so.

I did a bit of color-correction, and played around with various shades of blue (it's a judgement call when using Photoshop for such things) and guessing how dark it needed to be, and I finally settled on this example. It sure looks inviting! Where would you go first if you didn't get to the park until just after sunset?

I hope you have enjoyed today's Leftuggies™.

Main Street 1950s

I scanned some glass-mounted slides, those always present unique problems. Trapped air and dust are there forever; and sometimes (like these), they aren't as sharp as I'd like. I'm always so tempted to remove them from the mounts, but that feels so wrong.

Anyway, here we are in the Plaza; it's an unusual angle, I don't have another like it in my entire collection. We're somewhere on the east side of the Plaza. Notice the back of the Monsanto sign to our right, dating this to "after 1958". All that grass is taking up space when a cart could be selling bubble-blowing toys. This is why I hate grass! And trees! We can also see two Horseless Carriages and one Horse Drawn Streetcar, not to mention the Carnation Plaza Gardens.

Next, a classic popcorn cart, with a boy trying to make up his mind, even though the cart only offers one thing (I don't see any signs mentioning peanuts or Fritos brand corn chips). The sweeper looks like he's about to perform a song and dance routine. Anything can happen at Disneyland! The popcorn vendor spends most of his time looking at pretty girls, or his shoes, depending on the situation. 

Here's a random thought: are the "crenellations" on top of the popcorn cart a sort of anti-pigeon measure?

Birthday time!

Hey, did you know that it's our pal Stu's birthday? Well it is! And Sue B. provided us with yet another great vintage birthday photo (date unknown). Presumably the boy wielding the fork is the honoree, and judging by the candles he is turning 39. A great time in any boy's life! The kid to the right is upset that it isn't his birthday. Too bad, clone, you don't even have a birthday! The name on the cake appears to be "BOA", which, let's face it, is a pretty badass name.

And now, onto some LEFTUGGIES™! There's always room for them. First up is this nice photo of Main Street Station. It's undated, but Daveland has a photo or two with those same flags of the world on display, and he says his date from August, 1959.  Just a month or so after the "New Tomorrowland" made its debut, though I don't know if the flags had anything to do with that.

Next is this beautiful shot looking north on Main Street as people relax on benches in Town Square. Bunting courtesy of The Bunting Boys. The Castle is sort of hidden behind a few strategically-placed leaves, you'd hardly know it was there. Why this could just be an exceptionally neat and tidy real main street! 

O little drinking fountain, dost thou dream? For whence and whyfor? Man, I'm poetic as heck. I enjoy seeing those 48-star flags on the lamp posts. Why would any country need more than 48 States, I ask you? Notice the three men in white shirts in ties heading toward us as if they were meeting up with the other Reservoir Dogs. 

 

Disneyland Ephemera

You know how you sometimes crave certain foods? Potato chips? Vanilla ice cream? Ritz crackers? Well I suddenly had a craving for vintage Disneyland ephemera. Not to eat (that would be crazy!), just to look at and appreciate. 

First up is this rather scarce flyer; this side advertises Disneyland After Dark, "Where the night is bright with the glitter of lights and live entertainment". The Royal Tahitians! The Space Men with Kay Bell! The Ward Gospel Singers! Yes, I know you can read too, but I like to show off. While I assume that Disneyland After Dark ran for most of the busy Summer months, this flyer specifically mentions mid-July for Music Made Famous by Glenn Miller.

The other side advertises the Starlite Ticket Books, special books for guests arriving after 6:00 PM, with two admissions so that you can bring your sweetheart with you to dance the night away. Happily, the text on this side helps to date this item to 1963. Meanwhile, a "Deluxe 15" book for adults was $4.95 - which sounds incredibly cheap, but adjusted for inflation, it was the equivalent of nearly $50. A bargain by today's standards, but perhaps a bit much for your average high school or college student. You could just pay for general admission after 6:00 and go see all of the live performances at no additional charge!

Next is this unusual envelope (why did somebody save this for over 60 years??) from Pacific Telephone with a fun stamp as part of the postmark. "See the BELL SYSTEM Exhibit at Disneyland". By golly, I'll do it! 

And finally I love this clever mailer from the Disneyland Hotel. Were they free as a courtesy to Hotel guests? That would be my assumption, but I don't really know. In any case, what you are seeing is the side with printing, including color photos of the Hotel. As you can see, there is a space where this mailer could be addressed. On the other side, you could tell your friend or loved one all about your exciting and fun time at Disneyland (and your side trip to Knott's Berry Farm). Then.... just fold it, add your stamp, and drop it in the nearest mailbox. I think this is from the 1980s, but perhaps one of you knows for sure.

I hope you have enjoyed today's selection of Disneyland Ephemera!

Super Skyway, May 1960

You probably haven't seen a photo of Disneyland as taken from the Skyway in at least 20 minutes, so here are two to keep you from going bananas. They're from May, 1960, when the Skyway was less than a year old.

I'm not sure why, but I always like photos where we get a feel for what it was like to be way up in the air, with so much to look at down below. Meanwhile, gondolas heading the opposite direction pass by close enough so that you can hand a jar of Grey Poupon if you wanted to (yes, you'd have to stretch). Our photographer was facing back towards the Tomorrowland Skyway terminal (where the line is considerable), and was heading backwards. The Autopia is beneath that red gondola, and the Space Bar is to our right. The berm does a great job of blocking the outside world.

Perhaps the guest did a round trip, because now they are headed backwards towards the Tomorrowland terminal. There are no visible bobsleds on the mountain, so don't buy a lottery ticket today. As always, I love those original metallic gondola colors!

Adventureland Snoozles™

You should know by now that Snoozles™ are generally problematic. Not offensive, just flawed. Which is why they have been relegated to a slow Sunday.

Let's start with this way-too-dark phot of the Swiss Family Treehouse. I'd like to tell myself that the silhouetted tree is artistic, but... who am I fooling? Nobody! It does look pretty spooky though, which makes me think that it could make for a fun Halloween overlay. Tasteful, not dumb, please! Perhaps the walkways are too confined and the elevated platforms would be too risky to have ghost monkeys (See? Tasteful!) jumping out at guests.

I know that Swiss Miss makes great hot cocoa. "Zambesi Miss" also makes great hot cocoa, only it has those little marshmallows. See what you learn here on GDB? I don't want to go into that jungle, it is way too dark and scary. Vampire Elephants and Zombi Giraffes might leap out at any moment! 

Birthday and Sub Lagoon (March 1965)

Before we get to the Disneyland photos, let's wish our buddy Ken S. a very Happy Birthday! He and his friends will be going to a laser tag place, and then they will get pizza at Shakey's, and then it's home for cake, ice cream, and hours on the Nintendo. Sounds pretty good, eh? 

As usual, Sue B. has kindly provided a vintage birthday pic, complete with Mickey Mouse paper cups and plates. Could this be around the Bicentennial? They seem to be in a restaurant, which is unusual. The kid to the extreme right is on his fifth cigarette and his fourth cup of coffee, so he's pretty jumpy. I'm assuming that those paper bags contain party favors of some kind (more cigarettes?). Favorite detail is the girl to the right, I'm sure she would be thrilled to know that this picture is being seen by at least nine people on the Internet in 2023. 

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Next I have two photos of the old Sub Lagoon, just the way I like it! I don't hate the way it is now that it has been "Nemo-fied", but it's a lot smaller, which is not great. However I admit that when you are in one of the subs on a bright sunny day, the lagoon looks very pretty. Plenty of color and some fun gags. 

Meanwhile, look at the line snaking around the Matterhorn - Fantasyland looks pretty crowded. We can just see the tippy-top of Fantasyland Station, as well as the pylon with the international traffic signs in front of the Fantasyland Autopia.

Our photographer panned to the right a bit to capture the Skipjack. Be sure to capture my ABC movie of the week, "Capture the Skipjack!", starring Ernest Borgnine and Ava Gardner! The Motor Boats can be seen beyond that "sea wall" that separates the"clear water" system where the Submarines cruised, and the "dark water" where the Motor Boats putted (yes, they played golf, leave me alone). 

Well, I had to do it. I photo-merged the two pictures into one, but I had  to do a little bit of cheating in the lagoon (lower right) and in the sky (upper left), since I didn't want to leave big white blanks. I don't feel too guilty about it though! 

Tahitian Terrace, July 1964

The Tahitian Terrace is one of those Disneyland features of which few people have memories - it was open from June of 1962 through to April of 1993, so it has been gone for 30 years. At the time, I don't think I was really aware of what went on inside (and sadly I never experienced it). Order yourself some Ko'aia Haia Kahiki, l'wi'ao'ao; or maybe the Kuke Ka Moa Momi, and while you're eating, enjoy a show with singers and beautiful dancers.

Nothing is happening yet, but our photographer must be focused on that waterfall for a reason. Perhaps the guests were told to expect... something. 

The water magically parted to reveal a beautiful - and scantily-clad (for Disneyland, anyway) dancer, while to her right is a woman on a microphone. Singing, I presume. I'm kind of shocked at how nobody in the audience appears to be paying the slightest attention!

I love me a hula dance. Pretty women in grass skirts! What's not to like?

Oops, I forgot to eat and now my food is cold. WORTH IT.

If I'd been a cast member at Disneyland in 1964, I would have spent all my spare time hanging around the Tahitian Terrace!