Cindy's Village, July 1964

I have a pair of damaged slides for you on this Snoozer Sunday; something (probably moisture) affected the color, leaving violet blotchy areas. Whenever I see this issue, I imagine that the slides were stored in a basement. 

So... we are looking at some of the buildings of Cinderella's village, perched on the rocky cliffs that are eventually topped by a magnificent castle. This first shot was likely taken from a Storybook Land Canal Boat, and admittedly it does not show much evidence of the blotchiness that I referred to earlier. One detail that's fun is the little wooden cart on the pathway, near the center of the image.

Now you can see those areas where the emulsion was affected, it makes the photo look like a piece of bruised fruit. This image was taken from a Casey Jr. Circus Train, giving a slightly more elevated view. I've always loved the arched roadway that resembles a Roman aqueduct. And the miniature buildings are full of all sorts of impressive detail. Notice Cinderella's pumpkin coach!

 

Vintage People

Say, what should I share on today's "Anything Goes Saturday"? I know! How about some Vintage People? 

From February, 1961 comes this photo of a mother (?) and son, enjoying some tunes from the electric organ. Mom likes to play opera, and luckily her son has a rich tenor voice reminiscent of Placido Domingo. My Aunt Florence (who is 101 years old!) used to play the organ for us in her Minnesota basement. Her husband (Leonard) had some very cool old toys down there too, I wanted to play with them but was afraid I'd break them.

This first one is so dark and weirdly-colored that you might wonder why I wanted to share it. But the slide mount had the words "First Paycheck" written on it.

June 30, 1940! From The General Fireproofing Company (in Youngstown, Ohio). Karl Brant was paid the princely sum of $30.33. Adjusted for inflation, that is the equivalent of about $640.00 now (believe it or not). Was that for one week? Or two? My guess is two weeks. But we can infer that Karl was awfully proud of this occasion. Way to go, Karl!

And finally, here's an undated photo of two ladies posing next to an Indian teepee, presumably part of some roadside attraction - I wish I knew where. The woman with the flowered dress is worried that she might get bopped by that rolled up paper thingy. What could it be? 

Two Nice Ones, 1960s

Here's a pair of beauties for your Friday! Starting with this 1960s view of a parking lot tram (it's a full load!), complete with the capable attendant in her peppermint-striped outfit and red equestrian-style hat. Tally-ho! She's holding a microphone, so I'm sure she's reminding everyone to keep their extremities inside the vehicle at all times, and possibly offering the guests who have just boarded a reminder about where they are parked. "You're in section B, that's B for 'Bugs Bunny'". Chaos ensues!  

I love photos like this next one, showing people in line at the ticket booths (and WOW, look at those long queues!!); I can't help imagining that I am right there with them, mentally planning the first part of my day. Do I go straight into Fantasyland? Or right into Tomorrowland? Or do I ride the Disneyland Railroad first? Or... or...! I think I'm getting woozy. If the clock is to be believed, it is 10:30, I'd think that the mad rush of first-arrivals would have dissipated by this point. 

Notice the beautiful Flying Saucers poster to our left.

There are two girls who are not twins, but they are dressed identically, so I had to zoom in on them for Melissa. Notice that the Kalamazoo Handcar is under a protective cover, they're probably adding a loop to it or something.

Rejects... UNREJECTED!

Are you ready? Ready for some rejects... UNREJECTED?? Please wear protective eyewear. 

Here's a slide scan dated "July 12, 1958". As you probably know, I always love it when we have an exact date, because I can refer to "Jason's Disneyland Almanac" for some fun info. For instance, July 12 was a Saturday, and a "Date Nite". The park was open from 9:00 AM until 1:00 AM, and the high temperature was a balmy 81 degrees. Attendance was 32,679. Thanks, Jason's Disneyland Almanac!

This scene probably mystified me when I first viewed the slide many years ago, but now I know that the waterfall and mysterious bridge are one of the first things you might see from the Rainbow Caverns Mine Train.

As you can see from this screen grab from the 1956 featurette, "Disneyland U.S.A.", the brave and crunchy little mine train is just emerging from the tunnel (Rainbow Ridge was at the other end). We can see Pack Mules crossing that bridge too. Notice how scraggly everything looks in 1956 compared to the first photo, which is a mere two years later!

Next is this scan from October, 1962. At first I thought this showed part of the building that housed the Enchanted Tiki Room, but that attraction did not debut for another eight months or so. Which means that I am discombobulated. And I much prefer to be bobulated. It's a pretty scene though, don't you think?

And finally, here's a photo sure to strike terror into the heart of some GDB readers. Sorry, JB! Those swans may look harmless, and maybe even delicious, but WE KNOW THE TRUTH. You know how nervous you get when you are transporting a cargo of nitroglycerine to South America? Well that's how I feel just looking at this photo. My phone just rang, and I jumped about two feet in the air and let out a shriek.The calm water and beautiful flowers don't fool me.

I hope you have enjoyed today's rejects... UNREJECTED!

Knott's Berry Farm, November 1972

It's time for another batch of Knott's scans from a batch of 1972 slides. See part one HERE.

First up is this nice look at Fiesta Village just a few years after it opened (which was in 1969) - the sun was down, it was getting dark, and the lights had come on. That's Linda on the little bridge, she might be singing a song about boysenberries. 

Over at the Gold Trails Hotel, two people sit on the porch, ready to play requests - as long as the requests are on that list in front of them. "Can you play anything by Captain & Tennile?". "Sonny, they won't be famous for a few years! How about 'Goober Peas?'". 

Ah, Goldie's Joint, a place where memories are made. It's apparently fun for the whole family, though you might not think so. The leg sticking out the window is driving me mad with passion! Meanwhile a young lady looks out the window to see if any likely customers are on their way.

The Calico Mine Train is a true work of art, as thrilling today as it was when it debuted in 1960. This attraction was a major advancement in what was offered at Knott's, and I personally have never experienced anything as wonderful. You can see two of the little mine trains if you look closely, and one of the large narrow-gauge locomotives is just peeking in to our right.

Details like the little side waterfalls and pieces of equipment predate Disneyland's "Big Thunder Mountain Railroad", though I believe that similar elements were used on amusement park rides dating back to the scenic railways from amusement parks of the 1900s.

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Mark Twain, 1950s

I have more scans from a large lot of 1950s slides, of which about 90% are from Frontierland. The photographer just loved the wild frontier, Disney-style. 

We'll start with a standard (but pretty) look at the Mark Twain at the dock, with no Cascade Peak to our left (perhaps it would have been out of frame anyway, I'm not entirely sure). To the left is the fishing dock, with plenty of anglers hoping to land a big ol' catfish or trout or swordfish. "Here ma, put this fish in your purse, we'll eat it tomorrow when it has had a chance to age". In the foreground is a raft, and to the right of the cast member in red is the "Canteen Shack", where you could go and buy a canteen I guess?

Just look at the number of people waiting for their turn to ride the Mark Twain! Impressive. Bales of cotton and barrels of... lard? Whisky? Molasses? are waiting to be loaded to go up river. The crates are full of Slinkys, only in those days they were made of horsehair. Way more fun! There's a prominent palm tree in the distance, but I believe that the famous Dominguez Palm is harder to see against those dark trees to the extreme right. The Golden Horseshoe is bedecked with holiday garlands. I wonder if the show acknowledged Christmas at all? 

Don't worry folks, it won't be too much longer!

 

Special Guest Scans!

Today I am happy to present two fantastic scans, courtesy of our buddy David W., and his friend Tim L.! David and Tim were high school classmates, and cast members together, and have remained friends for all of these years, which is pretty neat. These scans were sent to David by Tim, and we are lucky enough to get to enjoy them here on GDB.

Let's start with this wonderful shot of five pals posing for a picture in a Peoplemover vehicle. SO FUN. David says from left to right in back-  Arlene C., Jim V., Juan, Craig V., with Tim L. in the front.  Tim is the photographer that took most of the other photos, but I don't know who took this one.

Next is this photo, here's David's description; Tim L. again (I don't know who took the photo, but they must be standing on the dock between the main line & the storage area).  He is working the forward position at the front dock & he just removed the securing line to allow the sub to start the trip thru liquid space.

I'll bet it was hard work and Tim went home at night more than ready for a good night's rest! But I'll bet he would not have missed the opportunity to work on the Subs for anything.

THANK YOU, David W. and Tim L.!!

Jungle Critters 1960

The Jungle Cruise shows up on Snoozer Sundays an awful lot. I feel like I should send it a pan of brownies as an apology, because I really do enjoy the ride. It's just that the photos from guests often turned out to be less than great. You know what I mean! 

Do skippers have nicknames for all of the hippos? I'd call this one "Stinky", just because that name amuses me. But then I'd make sure that his breath was minty fresh. Tic Tacs or something. "They'll never expect it!".   Stinky could probably use some Crest whitening strips too, if I'm being honest. Or perhaps a Waterpik. Hey, that's three products mentioned in a single post, if only I was an internet influencer. I could start every post with "Hey Guys! What's UP?". You'd love it.

Old Smiley, that's what they call this fella; he should have a little bird cleaning his teeth, since crocodiles will never buy a Waterpik. Plus the bird could talk to us in a Brooklyn accent, and maybe even encourage us to spend money once we get off the boat. I have more great ideas, if you want them.

 

Magic Mountain, January 1979

It's time for the last of my Magic Mountain slides - I'd love to find more, but they are not that common. Check out some other views HERE and HERE. 

First up is this photo of a roller coaster train on the "Revolution", or as I just learned, the "Great American Revolution" (how did I not know it had that longer name until now?). With the opening of Great American Revolution in 1976, Magic Mountain became the first park in the world to have a modern, 360-degree steel looping coaster (though previous roller coasters with loops had been built and dismantled elsewhere due to safety issues). When it was built, there was very little in the way of surrounding brush. Now, the tracks are surrounded by trees and bushes, which prevents the riders from knowing the track layout beforehand. Universal then filmed a major movie at Magic Mountain with the Revolution as its centerpiece called Rollercoaster in 1977.

This looped 'coaster sure seemed amazing to those of us who experienced it back around the time it originally opened! While it has undergone some changes, it is still at Six Flags Magic Mountain to this day.

The Galaxy was a double Ferris wheel with cable pulley that looked like a V-shaped beam. The ride was removed and was located where Buccaneer and Swashbuckler are now sitting. It was there when the park opened in 1971, and provided many wonderful views. When it was removed in 1979, it was scrapped. Notice Colossus in the distance.

Here's one of those views! You can really get a sense of the way that Magic Mountain was built on a combination of flat ground and hillsides. A bounce house that resembled one of the troll mascots ("Bloop", in this case) is to our left, and the Revolution is in the distance.

And here's another view. "Wizard's Village" is below us, a series of shops and activities that might be compared to Tom Sawyer Island. Notice the suspension bridge in the upper right quarter. To be honest I'm not sure what was beneath that tent-like structure, but I know one of YOU will know!

Fantabulous Tomorrowland, March 1964

During one of my childhood visits to Disneyland (perhaps 1971 or 1972), the Submarine Lagoon had no water in it. And while I was disappointed that we couldn't enjoy a "voyage through liquid space", the budding Disneyland nerd in me was fascinated to see how it all looked! I would have stared a lot longer except that my dad got impatient. Parents just don't understand, am I right? 

Anyway, here's a neat March 1964 photo from the Skyway looking across part of Tomorrowland, with Fantasyland in the distance. Near us is the red Monorail, while "old Bluie" is near the Fantasyland Autopia. There's a bit of the Motor Boat Cruise, and even some of the Monorail Chalet.

Some lucky folks got to get a sweet view from their Unirail. The rock work is so red, but all that color gets absorbed by the water. In the dark shadows, we can see what I believe are bleached-out seashells. Or maybe they are golf balls.

Next is this very nice photo with Big Red once again, this time with the Richfield Fantasyland Autopia sign in case you were discombobulated (which I usually am). Just look at all those unused Autopia cars to our right!

A Terrific Trio

Today I am sharing the last of Mr. X's wonderful 1973 photos of Disneyland. There's been some great stuff! But as Charles Dickens observed, "What can you do?". 

If this first one looks familiar, it's because it was part of a troika of images that X took as he stood in the parking lot, gazing toward the ticket booths and entry gates. I posted the other two way back in May of 2022. I love that parking lot tram, and of course the red Monorail zooming by. "Say, this Disneyland place is pretty cool!". Charles Dickens said that too.

The next two might look familiar as well. Both appeared on a January 2018 post, scanned when all I had was some photo prints. Thanks to the original negatives, you can really get a good look at this pirate's disgusting teeth. He's got some serious sun-ravaged skin - hasn't he heard of paba-free sunscreen and a nice  moisturizer? And his hair, talk about "the frizzies". Some Wella Balsam shampoo and conditioner will help make his hair manageable, and it will bring back the bounce and shine that all pirates admire.

Next, we a better look (thanks to the negative again) at the Pirate Arcade and those cool customized games. Most pirates I know prefer pinball, but "times change", as a certain Chucky D. said. "Freebooter Shooter", "Cap'n Black", and "Pirates of West Hollywood" games, all good fun, and only a quarter!

 While this is the last of the 1973 photos, I still have more from Mr. X!

More From Keith

Before I get started with today's regular post, I wanted to let anyone in the SoCal area know that GDB friend Chris Merritt will be giving a presentation about Pacific Ocean Park on Friday, May 5th, 2023 at 7:00 PM. Chris says: Hi all - for everyone who is a fan of Mid-Century modern, Los Angeles culture and how NOT to design and run a theme park, have I got the event for you! On Friday, May 5, 2023 60s pop-culture expert Domenic Priore and myself are going to be doing a rare live presentation created back in 2014 for our book on Pacific Ocean Park. See scarce footage from the heyday of P.O.P., learn about the oddball attractions they created in an ill-advised attempt to take on Disneyland, and watch as it all crumbles into bankruptcy within less than ten years - only to have the local denizens of Dogtown reclaim it as their own. Tickets are an astoundingly low $15, and all proceeds go to benefit the Philosophical Research Society in Los Angeles. For those unable to make it in person, a Zoom link can be purchased to watch from the convenience of your preferred modern electronic communication device.

I saw the original presentation back in 2014 at the ESPN Zone in Downtown Disney, and it was fantastic. I'd recommend it to anybody who is interested in amusement park history, beachside amusement parks, and... just history in general! Take a look at the website (where you can order tickets) HERE! I'm going to try to go again if I can.

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And now, on to our regular blog post!

I have another terrific selection of scans from Keith Schad... from 1958. A great year to visit Disneyland! First up, Keith's wife's Grandfather pointed his camera southward from the Plaza to take in all of Main Street. You can see a banner at the far end, which I believe heralds the debut of the Columbia sailing ship. A little girl poses with the popcorn cart next to her, which is pretty cute.

I'm glad we got at least one photo in Tomorrowland - it's surprising how many guests seemed to be uninspired by the World of Tomorrow. We're looking at the Skyway gondolas, with the Moonliner to our right, and the Flight Circle to our left (the sound of tiny buzzing engines!). 

And how about this great picture of the Monsanto House of the Future? It's like a Martian igloo (and I should know). All of the guests who have exited are dreaming about ultrasonic dishwashers and microwave ovens! To the right, behind that scraggly tree, I can see... something. It looks like it has a green tarp on it. Any idea what we're looking at?

THANK YOU, KEITH!

Disneyland Souvenirs

It's been too long since we last looked at some Disneyland souvenirs. So let's go!

I'll start with this unusual item, a box of "Vanity Fair Toilet Soap" from Swift's Market House on Main Street. There were not many souvenirs that were specific to the Market House; I can think of a spun-metal tray with a lithographed photo of the interior (you'll see one of those someday), and some gross candy "wieners" (at least they look gross after 60 years in their cellophane), and maybe one or two other items. Historically, animal fat was used to make soap, so it makes sense that you would find this in a shop sponsored by Swift's Premium Meats.

The soap has a pleasant aroma! Years ago somebody had a bunch of these boxes of soaps on eBay, and I was happy to be able to get a couple. I haven't seen any before or since then.

Back in 2016, Davelandblog shared a photo of the interior of the Market House (photo used with permission)...

...and behind this buckaroo we can see a stack of boxes of "Old Time Toilet Soap" on the counter. Cool!

This next item isn't exactly a souvenir per se, but more of an artifact - a 1974 employee sales receipt from the Rock Shop that was a part of both Adventureland and Frontierland. A ring was purchased for $58.40 (quite a deal after the 20% employee discount!). With tax, a total of $61.91. Shockingly, when adjusted for inflation that ring would cost around $374.00 today! 

And finally, here's a fun little folded "table tent" card from the Coca-Cola Refreshment Corner. The menu was limited, but chances are good that there was something for most people. Gotta picky kid? A cheese sandwich should do. Ham and cheese is for those with more of an appetite. And a classic tuna sandwich is always a good option on a hot SoCal day. Thanks to a collector friend, I now know that there are three different variations; I only have this one.

I hope you have enjoyed today's souvenirs.

More From the Mysterious Benefactor

Let's continue the series of many (MANY) photos of the Columbia, from the large collection of scans shared with us by the Mysterious Benefactor. These are dated "May, 1979".

The Columbia was slowly passing by, and the photographer snapped several pictures in quick succession. I skipped a few because I figured you didn't need to see every tiny advancement, but I still appreciate the thinking. You never know which image will be the best one. This first one might be rejected due to those ropes and pulleys right in the middle of the crowd.  

Come on people, smile! You want to appear in an issue of "Vacationland" magazine, or "Disney News", don't you?? This could be your big break! Spielberg is on the phone right now.

The girl in the white sweater and red shorts has got it, but now Stretch has decided to adjust his glasses, and now he won't be playing Indiana Jones in two years. Way to go, fella. Now we're stuck with Harrison Ford.

Hey Melissa, there are twins at the rail!

And finally, a change of pace (sort of) with the Mark Twain heading away from us. I've never wanted to stand at the back of the Mark Twain, but maybe it would be an interesting perspective. 

Thanks as always to the Mysterious Benefactor!