Nice Randos

I have some random scans for you today, but that doesn't mean that they aren't fun.

I find this first scan to be pretty amazing, though it might not look very special at first glance. The slide is date-stamped "August 1963", and we are looking at some of the topiaries (presumably visible from the Disneyland RR) that would eventually grace the exterior garden area of "it's a small world" in Disneyland. You all know that IASW originated at the 1964/65 New York World's Fair at the Pepsi Cola pavilion; the first season ran from April 22, 1964 thru October 18th, while the second season ran from April 21, 1965 thru to October 17th. The ride would not debut at Disneyland until May 28, 1966.

Not only had the ride not yet opened in Flushing Meadows when this photo was taken, but I think that it's incredible that they were already working on these topiaries nearly three years before the ride would open at Disneyland. I wonder how complete the design for the Anaheim version was at this point?

I started to doubt myself, so I dug out the slide and double-checked the date! I know that I have another photo of those topiaries in the same place, too.

Next we have this undated photo of the French Market's outside dining area; I would guess that it is from around 1970-ish, since there are folks waiting in the queue for the Haunted Mansion in the distance (that ride debuted in August of 1969, of course). The lamps are all lit, so it's possible that it was much darker to the eye then to the camera. I think that the Royal Street Bachelors are performing for the diners. And I love seeing the female cast members in the doorway in their costumes.

 

Scenes from March 1962

It seems like March, 1962 would have been a wonderful time to visit Disneyland. March was probably the "off-season" (remember those?), with cooler weather and shorter days, but that just means you got more "Disneyland After Dark".

We'll start with this view of the Autopia as seen from the Monorail platform... just look at all those Mark III cars! Dozens are parked off to the side, waiting for busier days. We can also see the Richfield Eagle, bravely guarding the Autopia from mountain lions and wild boars. In the background, the Space Bar, where guests ate in zero gravity, and also zero oxygen. And there's the Skyway!

In this photo, I have the feeling that "Gramps" walked right in front of our photographer just as he/she was about to snap the shutter. Gramps, if you weren't so adorable, I'd give you a piece of my mind! Lucky for you, I don't have any pieces to spare. The other gramps (to the right) has figure out that from his vantage point, he will be able to get a dynamic shot of a bobsled as it splashes down through that icy Alpine stream.

Jungle. Cruise. 1950s

A lot of Sunday Snoozers involve photos of the Jungle Cruise; let's face it, a lot of  "meh" images have been taken of this legendary attraction. Neither of these is bad, to be honest. Just a bit lackluster.

Right near the loading dock, guests could see a small hut across the river, the inhabitant must have stepped out for a moment. "Who ate the last Zinger??". Ordinarily, it's fun to see the stuff inside the hut, but this photo has gone a bit dark; it also has a antique, golden hue for some reason. Mom's outrigger is still parked, it makes me think what it must be like to live right on a tropical river like that. The river provides everything, including electric eels to power your iPhone.

There's just something about the ruins of lost civilizations. Who were these people? Why did they leave? This small shrine is guarded by three crocodiles, and (at later times), a giant poisonous spider, and a swaying cobra. They've been tasked with protecting the sacred treasure inside the shrine. Hey, I don't need it all. Just a few rubies and emeralds. Is that too much to ask?

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk

Today we're going to visit the famous (and historic) Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. It was founded in 1907, and as Wikipedia tells us, it is California's oldest surviving amusement park and one of the few seaside parks on the West Coast of the United States. Pretty cool! Fred W. Swanton formed the Santa Cruz Beach, Cottage, and Tent City Corporation in 1903 and the following year, the City of Santa Cruz granted permission for commercial buildings to be built. On 14 June 1904, the Neptune Casino opened with an arcade, grill and dining room, and a theater. Now you know.

I'm starting with the best image, this fantastic photo of a mom and her two sons posing in front of the amazing entrance to the Fun House. You can read an excellent article about the Fun House HERE, but in short it opened in 1925 - however the clown entrance wasn't added until sometime in the 1940s. The linked article states that kids would try to steal the teeth, and I've seen black and white photos that do not have the dark teeth here, so maybe they were successful! Incidentally, you may remember these boys from some Disneyland pix.

It seems as if 99% of all boardwalk and carnival rides go in circles, and this tiny car ride is no exception. I swear it looks like that kid is sitting in a large shoe, he barely fits. But hey, he's happy! 

I don't have the foggiest idea what this ride is called. It's kind of goofy looking, but maybe those vehicles are supposed to be stylized airplanes? I know YOU guys will know.

Aw, mom and dad look as cute as two bugs. Besides the ride seen in the previous slide, there is something to the left that may or may not be another attraction? Some sort of Ferris Wheel variant? The star of the photo is the Giant Dipper roller coaster, built in 1924, and reportedly one of the most popular wooden coasters in the world. A 2016 estimate says that over 60 million people had ridden the Giant Dipper, and in 2023 many millions more have been thrilled by it.

I hope you have enjoyed your visit to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk!

New Orleans Square and Tahitian Terrace, 1973

It's time for a few more beauties courtesy of Mr. X, circa 1973. We're getting down to the last of this batch, I'm sorry to say. Meanwhile, let's enjoy today's offerings. 

I don't have nearly enough photos of New Orleans Square, so I was happy to see the first two examples. Mr. X was obviously taken with the wrought-iron details of NOS. Or maybe he wanted a view of the exterior of the Blue Bayou restaurant, where it's always night. Or he liked that "Stroller Parking" sign. Yeah, that's probably it. There's some great 1973 fashions to enjoy, too.

Taking random photos will get you some looks from the passers-by, apparently. A sweeper is dead-center, I wonder if anybody will be able to ID him? 

Next we shimmy on over to Adventureland for this very nice shot of the sign over the Tahitian Terrace - home of Polynesian-inspired food and an exciting show featuring fire dancers and plenty of pretty ladies. I see at least one "tiki baby" hangin from the eaves. Whoever that guy is in the lower right seems to think that HE is the subject of this photo. He's so vain!

 THANK YOU, Mr. X!

Entrance & Town Square, 1956

Oh boy, more photos from 1956! The year that Doris Day recorded "Que Sera Sera". We'll start with this very nice image showing Main Street Station, with the passenger train at rest. I love the grassy area with the rose bushes, such a nice touch before guests officially entered the park.

While the ticket booths are mostly out of frame to our right, the exit is right in front of us. At first I thought that the yellow shape under the "T" of EXIT was the blacklight for viewing stamped hands, but I realized it is actually a woman in a yellow dress. Sorry, lady! Some folks are already heading home, which is a crime according to the Geneva Convention. 

Ah, Town Square as it oughta be! Relaxed, uncrowded, gluten-free. It's always nice to have any view showing the little Police Station (to the left), it rarely shows up in photos. And you have to love those Main Street vehicles.

Is this photo "POSTCARD WORTHY™"?

The embossed gold foil sticker makes it official!

Tomorrowland, March 1962

Hey-ooooo! (That's my Ed McMahon impression). If you are a fan of warm biscuits with butter and honey - so am I. I can't give you those, but I have the next best thing: scans of Tomorrowland! 

We are in a Skyway gondola, gliding smoothly on an enchanted cable toward the World of Tomorrow. What's that over there? A rocket! I guess it's true, everyone will have their own moon rockets in the future (six or seven years from now). If you want a Slurpee from 7-11, a rocket will get you there in seconds. And you can visit Clavius Base in two and a half hours. Be sure to check out the Monolith. 

We can also see the outdoor seating for the Yacht Bar (lower right), and the Astro Jets, named after Sir Albert Astro. Beyond that, the Space Bar, and to the right of the rocket, we can see the ringed awning surrounding the Flying Saucers.

In Tomorrowland, there's Outer Space, Inner Space, and (seen here) "Liquid Space". Sure, it's a stretch, but that's what the attraction poster says, and you're not going to argue with the attraction poster, are you? For one thing, it's an inanimate piece of paper.  Even though the day was cloudy, the lagoon still manages to look inviting. Volcanic vents kept the water at a pleasant 70 degrees. The Seawolf not only has a cool name, but it's the only one of Disneyland's subs that had flames painted on it. They're below the waterline, so you are going to have to trust me on this.

Night Shots, September 1971

Today marks the beginning of a series of rare night photos, courtesy of Lou Perry, and (as always) scanned for us by Sue B. You all know that Disneyland at night is a special thing, and with today's digital cameras, people can get remarkable results. But in the days of film, your average Joe was lucky to get anything other than a dark blur. Of course, Lou was above average! 

Check out this beautiful photo of the Penny Arcade, aglow in the warm lights that outline the buildings and signs. Being September, it was probably still pleasant (not cold); I can imagine hearing the "area music", and  all of the usual sounds of Main Street, since they operated some of the vehicles into the evening. The Sunkist Citrus House beckons, a frozen lemon bar sounds amazing.

A bit further south we can see the Carnation Ice Cream Parlor. Main Street was really bustling that night! Perhaps it was a week or so before school was back in session, and all the locals were out for some fun.

Lou continued southward toward Main Street Station; the Crystal Arcade looks so inviting. I wish I could see the window display, I think I can make out Mickey's ears, and possibly a bit of Pluto's noggin, but it's hard to say for sure. The Emporium is to our left, we'll see more of that in future posts.

MANY THANKS to Lou and Sue!

Disneyland Band

I have a nice pair of scans for you, from a lot of slides that may or may not be from 1955. Early 1956 at the latest!

The sun has set, but it isn't too late for Vesey Walker and the Disneyland Band to do one last march up Main Street. Did they play gentler music at this time? I was going to suggest "Chim-Chim-Cheree", until I realized that Mary Poppins would not be released until about 10 years later. The band is followed by a Surry, and "Cole of California" (purveyor of bathing suits) can juuust be seen beyond the two men at the extreme right (it was only there until September 3, 1957).

The man with the camera almost looks like a "streetmosphere" plant, with his turned-up hat brim and goofy expression. 

I wish this one was a bit sharper, but it isn't easy to take a well-focused picture while walking backwards. Vesey's smile is pretty infectious. I sure love this early, early Main Street.

Snoozers

Here's a trio of Snoozers for your Sunday. Let's start with this 1950s shot of the Mark Twain, adorned with patriotic bunting (and lots of it). A Canoe passes in the foreground. This would be a perfectly acceptable photo, if it wasn't for that double-exposed portion to the right. 

No flash photography, do you hear? I'm not kidding! And it's for your own good too, because those flash photos aren't going to turn out very good. Like this one, taken on one of the drops on Pirates of the Caribbean. 

I wish this picture of Br'er Bear hanging out in the Pirate Arcade was in focus, because it would be another good one, otherwise. Oh well, you win some, you lose some.

Winter Scenes

I wasn't sure what to post on this day, but had some wintery scans in a folder, and it just felt like a good time to share them. Maybe it would have been smarter to put them up in August? Oh well, what's done is done.

The first two feature a nice lady we've seen before, she lived somewhere in the Chicago area, so I can only assume that the icy scene is from somewhere along the shores of Lake Michigan. Every surface is covered in ice, and that jumble of ice crystals to the left is interesting. The lady looks cute as a button in her outfit, and that's all that really matters.

Here she is again, in another fashionable outfit, about to bean us with a snowball. And it's not a light, fluffy snowball either, but one made from slush and gravel. It's going to leave a mark. In spite of the wintry weather, the bright sunshine somehow makes everything look pretty cheerful.

I like this undated, unlabeled photo overlooking a frozen pond that has been scraped of the snow so that the local kids can use it as a makeshift skating rink. Very "Saturday Evening Post". I can't help thinking of the song "Skating" by Vince Guaraldi (from the "Peanuts Christmas Special"). 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kn4Y3sHyfsg

Speaking of the "Saturday Evening Post", illustrator John Falter (who painted 120 "Post" covers) did this illustration in the 1950s, "Winter Fun in Bucks County". I just had to include it today!

And finally, here's a scene  that is familiar to many; it might have snowed last night, but now the sun has come out , the sky is blue, and that snow is going to start turning to mush. But there's still time for Ma to build a snowman (assuming that she doesn't have to do any perms today).

Wherever you are, I hope that you are warm and comfy!

Terrific Tomorrowland

I love vintage Tomorrowland. There, I said it. And I have two excellent photos to share with you today, starting with this neat view of a helpful sign that would point you in the direction of anything you might wish to see. The Crane Bathroom of Tomorrow? That's to your right. The American Dairy Association Dairy Bar? That's to your left. It appears to be topped with a kinetic sculpture resembling an anemometer; appropriate, since the Flight Circle is just beyond that lovely chain link fence. 

I wonder if the "scoops" on the wind sculpture are repurposed Army surplus bowls (or something like that)?

You might think that I'd be tired of the Monsanto House of the Future, but you'd be wrong! I'm happy to see it, every single time. There it is, looking fresh and new (not that it ever looked old and tired), the plants surrounding it are still pretty new and could use a few years to mature. I like this angle, with the HOF juxtaposed with the Castle.

How about a nice zoom-in? A man snaps a photo of his wife and mother-in-law beneath one of the cantilevered "wings" of the futuristic house. 

Fotos From Frontierland, 1979

It seems like it's been a while since we've seen some scans from the Mysterious Benefactor. My fault! But hey, the waiting makes it all the sweeter.

As I've mentioned before, a very large percentage of the hundreds and hundreds of photos in this group feature the Columbia, and many details of that ship. And today continues that trend - with the exception of this first image, showing the Frontierland Shooting Gallery. Plink away at moving targets; Buffalo! Jack rabbits! Giant sloths! And other typical critters from the Wild West. There's a string-tied cast member to the left who appears to be heckling the two boys. "Aaaaa, ya shoot like my grandma!". Kind of mean, the boy closest to us is trying to hide a tear.

Signage! We love signage! And this one is pretty nice. Off the top of my head, I don't remember noticing it before, though I would think that it would be over near the load area for both the Mark Twain (seen here) and the Columbia. But the sign mentions "Fowler's Harbor". I don't know! Notice the pretty (but poisonous) oleander - it used to be everywhere in SoCal, but of late it has been decimated by a pest called the "glassy-winged sharpshooter". I'm not making that up!

Here's a nice shot of the ornate clock above the sailboat/steamboat landing. Things have to run on time, or else the world will fall into chaos. Elgin had taken over the sponsorship of timepieces at Disneyland (from Timex), as you can see. Some of that black paint is peeling, but otherwise things look well-maintained. 

How about another view, showing more details? It took me a second to figure out what the bright-colored objects are beneath the word "Columbia"... it's clothing!

I thought I'd zoom in for a look at that nice sign, telling us to tear out one "D" coupon. No cash accepted on Ride (why is "Ride" capitalized?)!

For some reason the Columbia had a figurehead in the likeness of Britney Spears. I just report the facts.

I know that this thing looks like an anchor, but it is actually a fish hook, used to land some giant groupers, or even the occasional white shark. The crew would bait the hook with some cheese, and believe me, they'd catch more than they could eat.

 THANK YOU, Mysterious Benefactor!

Two Leftuggies From October 1962

I found two scans out in the snow, shivering and lonesome. I brought them in, gave them some stew, and now they are ready to be shared with the world. 

So... this is kind of an odd photo, but I like it for that reason. You know what I mean! At this point anything different is a novelty. The photographer must have been sitting on one of the Disneyland Railroad's passenger cars, facing into the park (as usual); it's possible that the train has just gotten underway after loading up at Frontierland Station. 

Just beyond the station is a green lawn, so inviting that a few people are stretched out in the sunshine, enjoying the warmth. To the right... a construction wall. For Galaxy's Edge! A raft is on its way to Tom Sawyer Island, and the Mark Twain is taking on a new load of passengers. 

Meanwhile, over in Fantasyland, we have this view across part of the moat, with the Snow White Grotto almost lost in the shadows. Who doesn't like crossing an inviting little bridge? 

Stuff From the Box

Hooray for Stuff From the Box! Let's start with a few random pins given out to bowling participants after particularly good games. Like this first little example from Bellingham's Park Lanes. There are several Bellinghams, but this is likely from Bellingham, Washington. Somebody bowled 201, which is not too shabby. I once bowled something like 180 (a perfect game is 300), and that felt like I could practically do no wrong, so 201 must have felt great.

I like the design of this pin, admitting you to the 200 CLUB, with all of the honors and benefits implied. Private restroom. Free fries once a month (French fries and ketchup go great with bowling). A monogrammed piece of terrycloth for random wipings. And this pin!  I'm not sure why the popularity of bowling has declined in the US, I still think it can be a lot of fun. Maybe it's the idea of renting those shoes? Maybe the scoring is too arcane, though now the machines do all the work for you. No idea.

Whoa, somebody bowled 250! Impressive. San Marcos Lanes is in California (though there is a San Marcos, Texas, too). I love these little artifacts celebrating a highlight in somebody's life, and I know I have more in another box. Stay tuned for those someday!

I had hoped that this little "RSMA" pin (about an inch high) was a license to kill, but it turns out to be from the Railroad Supply Manufacturer's Association. They apparently met in Atlantic City every year for decades, because variations on this pin are not hard to come by. I'll bet they had some wild parties, those railroad guys were crazy.

Oh boy, check out this little beauty! From RCA's Missile Test Program and the Management Club. The design is simple, yet elegant; a V-2 style rocket in red enamel stands out against a golden grid and oscillating waves. I can practically hear a theremin ululating! 

And finally, another favorite of mine, an employee badge from the Sherwin-Williams paint company. When I was a small child I vividly remember passing a store with a neon version of the Sherwin-Williams logo ("We Cover the Earth"), and instantly loving it. I'd look for it every time we passed that way (which wasn't that often). So I was happy to find this well-worn badge from Chicago (the company's headquarters are in Cleveland, Ohio, which Chuck will agree is within walking-distance from Chicago).

I hope you have enjoyed today's STUFF FROM THE BOX.