Entering Disneyland, July 1958
I have a pair of pretty views of the entrance to Disneyland, taken at the peak of Summer, 1958.
Ya gotta buy your tickets before you go in. I don't like it any more than you do, but it's just the way things are. It looks like there's a pleasant breeze so that this July day doesn't get too stifling. Main Street Station has its patriotic bunting from earlier in the month. I'm assuming that the guy in the suit is a guest, but... come on man, relax! Near him is a family with three excited boys, just about to go through the turnstiles.
A sailor is buying tickets while his pal waits for him. It looks like each of them has a pretty girl to accompany them.
Next is this beauty, full of color! Could the sky be any bluer? The E.P. Ripley is chugging into the station, where it will pass the Kalamazoo hand car. And oh boy, the posters. Oooh-la-la, as they say in Paree!
11 comments:
Major-
I'm really enjoying the 2nd image - with all the 4th of July bunting, and those lovely AP's. I also appreciate the 'cuffs' on Mom's pants - matching back to her blouse... and her 'mom' purse.
Thanks, Major.
Wow! These photos are so bright and clear and colorful. They exude happiness and fun!... Which makes them kinda messy, but worth it!
1) Mr. Graysuit doesn't like us... Doesn't like us at all! He's obviously with the CIA. Probably keeping tabs on those sailors, who are just looking to have some fun at the Happiest Place On Earth. Graysuit is thinking, "Loose lips sink ships!"
2) The photographer probably took this picture to capture the train entering the station. But he/she managed to capture all those attraction posters as well. They're all perfectly legible except the leftmost one, behind the teen. It looks familiar but I can't place it.
No 'meh' photos today, Major. Thanks.
@ JB-
That's the Frontierland poster with the Mark Twain and an Indian War Canoe (whoops-!)
^ Thanks, Nanook. I was thinking it was showing something in Frontierland, but it didn't occur to me that it was Frontierland, in general.
I'd like to see the Disneyland USA version of "On the Town": which these sailors remind me of...you used to see a lot of guys in uniform in the park...and nuns. "Satellite View of America" and "Jungle River": posters probably worth fortunes now...Looks like gramps is deciding if Jungle River is for him...There is something charming about the rust stained concrete: I suppose if you have guests focusing on that here at the Main Gate with so many other distractions: you have bigger problems. Don't know why they had to paint-TRE the train station: this one looks great. Grey suit looks like he is up to something. What a calm and peaceful day approaching noon in Sunny Anaheim. No wonder the oranges and walnuts liked it. Speaking of the Walnut groves: It was Ron Dominquez' matriarchal side of the family that owned the small piece of property now the Jungle Cruise AKA Jungle River: which is why if you look at old (very old) property plots you do not see the name "Dominquez" and see "Knowlton". For those wanting to go down an OC rabbit hole: the Anaheim Public library will keep you busy for hours. Thanks for the morning Gate Major! owned by the Knowltons, and half by the Umsteads: with the Neff's owning the best attraction of all: the parking lot: the plot nearest the gate...
Splendid shots today, Major!
I’m going to assume that the chap in gray holding a dart is ex-military, and I shall call him… …Major Gray. He struck it big later with his eponymous brand of chutney.
“Satellite View of America” is an attraction I never experienced and wish I had. Was it a big model? Too early for projections? “Jungle River”? It took a few years for the name of this attraction to settle in. Is this before the famous shake-up of the program by Walt?
I can hear the announcer’s voice and the train bell. I wish I were heading into the Park on this day with my best gal.
Thank you, Major!
JG
Man, I just love the E.P. Ripley. It pretty much exudes Victorian steam locomotive character!
I'll just say "thanks, Major!"
JG, Satellite View of America was actually a Pete Ellenshaw painting rather than a model.
@ Chuck-
My sources also credit Claude Coats in the creation of that painting.
Nanook, I wonder if Mom made those pants? The matching cuffs feel like a home-made thing.
JB, the guy in the gray suit doesn’t like us because we are beatniks. It’s too early to be hippies! Our berets sicken him, and our facial hair is a disgrace. I never know if a photographer wanted a picture of the Train Station, and a locomotive just happened to roll in at that very moment? Talk about a win!
Nanook, I call them Hugs and Smiles Canoes.
JB, you need to be like me, you can generally tell which poster is which based on only the tiniest fragment!
Bu, I was going to try to do a “Melissa” and add Disneyland references to “New York, New York (It’s a Helluva Town)”, but then I realized that I have no talent for such things. I’ve never seen a real “Satellite View of America” poster, there was one in a recent auction, but it turns out that the wealthy collector bought a “Space Sation X-1” poster and hired somebody to create their own Satellite View of America poster. I think it still fetched over $4,000 at auction. Interesting about the Dominguez family, I remember meeting a Disneyland fan who hoped to find fruit crate labels from Anaheim with the Dominguez name on them. Well, maybe now they can look for “Knowlton” lables?
JG, I had no idea that ex-military folks wore suits like that guy, all the time! They’re so disciplined that they have to look neat and tidy, no matter what. I know I’ve seen a grainy photo of folks looking down upon the Satellite View of America, in my memory it was bout 15 or 20 feet across. I assume it was mostly a painting, but I don’t know if there were sculpted relief details (i.e. mountains) or tiny lights for when the scene changed to nighttime. I’m afraid I don’t know when the Jungle Cruise acquired its name permanently.
Steve DeGaetano, you are so right!
Chuck, as I said to JG, I do believe that the Satellite View was mostly a painting, but I would assume (perhaps wrongly) that the painting was on a relief sculpture. I really don’t know, though.
Chuck, I’m going to have to stay out of this one, I could see both artists achieving the Satellite View!
The Vintage Fashion Award definitely goes to the lady with the matching shirt and cuffs. I wonder if she found that outfit as it was or if she was just handy with a needle.
Oh, and hellooo, sailor!
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