Blurzles™, Etc

Happy Easter! I remember those carefree childhood days of decorating eggs (always messy but fun), and anxiously awaiting the chance to hunt for plastic eggs full of treats out in the backyard. And if one kid didn't find very many, mom had some spares to make up for it. Oh, and there was church for us too, but I looked forward to the post-service donut and comic book (or issue of MAD magazine).

Sue B. generously supplied two vintage scans from Easters of yore (the name of my band), because that's how she rolls. These are not from her dad, Lou Perry, but from her own collection. First up is this picture of a family, all ready to go to church (I am assuming), with the gals all in lilac. Dresses made by mom? They even have bonnets, which is awesome. As always, I wish I knew more about these people.

Next is this fun photo of three nice ladies, all dolled-up for the special day. More shades of pink and lilac/lavender, perhaps inspired by the first blooms of Spring? They also have corsages, as if going to the high school dance, so I assume that they were on their way to some special event. Perms were given! I love the classic paper decorations on the wall, as well as that awesome lit sign with the logo of the Masonic Order of the Eastern Star.

Thank you for these scans, Sue!

I admit that I forgot about Easter until Sue came to the rescue, so the next two are what I already had prepared. Blurzles™ this time. 

See what I mean? I couldn't tell that this was out of focus when I looked at the slide on my light table, so it was a real letdown when I scanned it. Not as traumatic as when I did not make it into NSYNC, but almost. Incidentally, both of today's pix are dated "June, 1962".   

This next one is even worse, a view as seen from the Monorail platform at the Disneyland Hotel, but this is how things look when I am not wearing my glasses. I'm happy to see the red VW bug though, since I just scanned some other slides and was amazed at how many VWs were in the parking lot. Stay tuned for those!

Flying Machines

I used to buy random boxes of slides, because it was fun to dig through them and look for especially good or interesting photos. Sometimes it was a bust, all photos of the Grand Canyon, babies, and high school graduations. Other times one could get really lucky and find some neat stuff!

Check out this first amazing photo, dated "11-1958", showing an Air Force pilot posing with a super-cool jet. I believe that it is a North American F-100 Super Sabre, but am prepared to be corrected! Wikipedia tells us that the Super Sabre was the first United States Air Force (USAF) fighter capable of supersonic speed in level flight. They were introduced in 1954; the USAF continued to use them until phasing them out in the early 1970s.

Next is this undated (1950s?) photo of a Lockheed Constellation which is a propeller-driven, four-engined airliner built by Lockheed Corporation starting in 1943. The Constellation series was the first pressurized-cabin civil airliner series to go into widespread use. Its pressurized cabin enabled commercial passengers to fly well above most bad weather for the first time, thus significantly improving the general safety and ease of air travel. Love that cool triple tail!

Notice that this Constellation has "Military Air Transport Service" (or MATS) on the side: ...it was a now-discontinued part of the Department of Defense Unified Command. 

Of course Midway Island (roughly halfway between the continental U.S. and Asia, as the name implies) was an important strategic location for U.S. armed forces in WWII, and the "Battle of Midway" in 1942 was considered the "beginning of the end" of the Japanese Navy's dominance in the Pacific. 

Perhaps this photo was taken on Midway Island?

I hope you have enjoyed today's Flying Machines.

Pirate Ship, 1956

Let's start today's Fun Friday (working title) with this nice photo of the Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship, gleaming in the last warm rays of sunlight. I could do with a little less empty pavement, but it's still a pretty shot; I like the way the Jolly Roger is waving in the ocean breeze!

I zoomed in a bit because we can see that unusual view of some construction going on to the left behind the Pirate Ship; being 1956, this must be the building that would hold the spectacular Rainbow Caverns scene from Frontierland's Rainbow Caverns Mine Ride. Once covered with dirt and planted with grass and shrubs, you'd never know the building was there.

Next is another view of the Pirate Ship as seen from the Skyway; unlike many similar photos, I like the way you can clearly see the guests aboard, including the man looking up at the sails (unfurled here, unlike in the previous image) and rigging, and the woman holding her 1956 souvenir guidebook.

River Views, 1960s

Happy Birthday to GDB friend Dean Finder!

I love Frontierland's Rivers of America, no matter how many photos I've seen of that feature. It's so convincing as a BIG RIVER, smack-dab in the middle of Anaheim. Today's photos are undated, but probably from the very early 1960s, or perhaps even the late 1950s (it's so frustrating to not know for sure). 

Here we are, standing on shore, looking across to Ton Sawyer Island, with one of the rafts loading up with guests who are ready to come back to the mainland. They're all a little sweatier, and maybe even a little more tired, but it was well worth it. The masts of the Columbia can just be seen above the treetops, so we know that this is from at least 1958.

Next is this image showing the little bandstand that jutted out into the River; the Strawhatters are performing for seated guests. I believe that the bandstand was removed in 1962 during the many big changes to Frontierland, including the closure of the Plantation House, the very earliest work on the Haunted Mansion, additions to the Indian Village, and the closure of the Mineral Hall.

Up In Da Treehouse, March 1963

The original Swiss Family Treehouse was a wonderful mini-adventure for kids of all ages. Was there a height limit? I honestly have no idea. "You must be as tall as this lemur to experience this attraction".  It's kind of nice that we have a revamped Adventureland Treehouse (debuting on November 10th of last year), I hope it makes guests happy and brings peace to the world. 

Today's post features a nice shot taken up in the breezy branches of the SFT, while the Robinsons were out in the wild making "jungle pancakes". They are made with mashed-up grubs from a sago palm. Dad holds his two sons, who wear souvenir beanies. Notice the red leaves and blossoms in the tree, those apparently did not last long (the photos are from less than a year after the Treehouse opened). 

Next is a view looking down on the Rivers of the World, including some mysterious ruins of a lost civilization (I told them to buy a map, but you know how some people are), as well as some crocodiles that are looking for a hand out. 

Vintage Disneyland Ephemera

You know that worthless paper thing that you got at Disneyland years ago that you threw right into the nearest trash can (after finishing your hotdog)? Well that thing is now worth hundreds of dollars, you fool! I'd laugh at you, but I still have a bite of hotdog in my mouth and there's nobody nearby to perform the Heimlich Maneuver. 

First up is this rare paper bag from the old Swift Market House. It was the fastest market house in America, something that Walt often bragged about. Swift also sponsored the Red Wagon Inn, and that's why we see the reddest wagon in America. Swift also sponsored the Plantation House, but it can go to HECK! Swift ran quickly out of Disneyland sometime in 1968.

Next I have a scan of a 1955 flyer, telling guests all about the TICKET PLAN. The World's Greatest Entertainment Value! And that's not hyperbole either. I defy you to find a better value in the world of entertainment. Notice that students and servicemen still get a special deal, though the clergy (mentioned on earlier flyers) is out of luck. Sorry, Padre, you should have taken an extra 50 cents out of the collection plate. Maybe Knott's Berry Farm will have you.

 I'm weird, so it's fun to look at the list of attractions. There is no mention of the A, B, and C tickets (D and E tickets weren't introduced until years later). Also, as a former pasteup grunt, I am amused by the crooked line of text mentioning the Phantom Boat Ride. The word "ride" is used liberally, contrary to Disneyland lore. 

Questions. I have questions! There was a time when people just didn't understand those crazy ticket books. For one thing, it was highway robbery. The city dump is free, and hours of fun. The ticket books are also very complicated. You mean I can't turn in my unused tickets at the end of the evening for an appropriate refund? Where is the ticket to Walt Disney's house? Why has Mickey Mouse been following me for months? Thank goodness this flyer is here for every contingency. 

I hope you have enjoyed today's ephemera.

Flower the Skunk, March 1963

I have two slides - a bit dark, but not a total loss - featuring two boys enjoying an encounter with Bambi's friend Flower. He's a skunk, but don't let that concern you. Just don't make any sudden moves, OK? I've never seen Flower at the park, in fact I wonder if they even have a costume around for special occasions these days. Anyway, the boys are as pleased as can be to be meeting this new furry friend. 

It would be sort of fun if the park had all sorts of obscure (by today's standards) classic characters. Lucifer the cat! Stromboli! Basil of Baker Street! Or how about the early long-billed Donald Duck? The list could go on and on. It'll never happen, but a boy can dream, can't he?

Meanwhile, I'm always happy to see the posters, even with bad color. Especially the 20,000 Leagues example! 

SNOOZLES™

You are getting sleepy... sleeeeeppppyyyy.... now go wash my car! Dang, it didn't work. Today's photos will induce drowsiness in even the most coffee-addicted readers. Starring with this June, 1962 shot of one of Disneyland nuclear submarines. The focus is a bit off, and the gray sky is oppressive. A few lights are on, which made me think that perhaps the sun had sent, but I think it was just overcast. Yuck!

Next, from July, 1960 comes this too-dark and weirdly-composed photo. What was the photographer pointing his lens at? "Rocks! What will they think of next!". Once again, the focus is two ticks off of where it should be. But at least we can see a bobsled, and the red Monorail!

Amusements

While going through a batch of Disneyland slides, I had a momentary thrill. "This must be some rarely-photographed corner of Disneyland!" (it's dated "June, 1962" by the way). But alas, it's not Disneyland at all. Notice the parking lot, seen just past the dining area. Just look at all those trash cans! You could barely take one bite of a hotdog before encountering a receptacle. Could this be Knott's Berry Farm? If so I don't recognize it at all, but it's not unusual to find Knott's photos mixed in with Disneyland photos. Please chime in if you know!

Next is this fun photo from Bemidji, Minnesota. There's Babe the Blue Ox, friend to Paul Bunyan, the giant lumberjack who can partially be seen to the left. According to Wikipedia, the Paul and Babe statues are "the second most photographed statues in America," surpassed only by Mount Rushmore. Did you know that Minnesota's many lakes were formed by the footprints of Mr. Bunyan and Babe? IT'S TRUE.  The Rotarians of Bemidji commissioned the statue of Paul Bunyan during the Great Depression as a tourist attraction. It was unveiled on January 15, 1937, to kick off a Winter Carnival that drew more than 10,000 visitors. I saw these statues when I was a child, and they left an indelible impression on me.

Here's a vintage decal!

Aerial View, February 1966

While searching for a particular photo scan from the Mysterious Benefactor, I found another that I'd planned on saving for a "special occasion", and then forgot about. Hey, today's special enough! It's a wonderful aerial photo, dated "February, 1966". I love all aerial views of Disneyland, and this one is a pip. I'll share the entire photo, and then zoom in so that we can all appreciate some details.

There it is; we're above Frontierland and the Rivers of America, with Fantasyland at the top of the image. Wonderful! But let's take a closer look.

In the upper left, lots of earth-moving is taking place; I know that "it's a small world" debuted in March of '66, and this construction probably had something to do with that - I'm assuming that that attraction is nearly ready to open (though it's out of frame) and all that dirt is just further development of some kind. It's nice to get a look at the Rainbow Desert from the air. Is that an old tunnel for the Disneyland RR just to the left of the desert rocks? Or is it just a passage for maintenance vehicles? Also, I never thought of Storybook Land as being that close to Nature's Wonderland, but it was really just a stone's throw away.

Next we see Sleeping Beauty Castle and the dark ride buildings, along with the castle courtyard. In the lower right, the red slurry of Frontierland, along with Rainbow Ridge and Casa de Fritos. At the top right, the House of the Future!

Here's part of the Rivers of America, with treacherous rocks that will rip the bottom out of passing boats - unless they are piloted by experienced river men. Notice the canoe, the Friendly Indian Village in the upper center, and the Burning Settler's Cabin in the lower right (we can even see the Dead Settler's red shirt). 

And finally, this portion shows Cascade Peak - look at those pools for the cascades! I can't help wanting to wade and relax in them. A raft is crossing to Tom Sawyer Island at the bottom of the image, where we can see part of Fort Wilderness to the left, and Castle Rock to the right of that.

 This is one of my favorite photos from the Mysterious Benefactor, and I am grateful that he shared it with all of us!

Parade in The Plaza, June 1962

I have three "just OK" photos featuring a school band as they marched through The Plaza in June, 1962. By June I would think that school would be out for the Summer, but perhaps the pictures were actually taken a month or so earlier. The ice cream vendor to our left has no line, now's our chance.

I can't tell if these are high school kids, but I assume that is the case. I wish I could tell which school they represented, but there are no clues. Maybe the colors of green and silver will be a hint to somebody? Whittier's "Fightin' Leprechauns"? 

There they go, I'm gonna miss those crazy kids. I don't get enough Sousaphone in my life, to be honest. We see some scaffolding on that Adventureland building, perhaps work was being done on the Enchanted Tiki Room, which would open about a year later. There's also a crane, possibly related to some massive work being done in Frontierland (including early work on the Haunted Mansion exterior building).

Adventureland, The Magic Kingdom, September 1972

It's time for more wonderful, early photos from The Magic Kingdom in Florida; these were taken by Lou Perry and shared with us by his daughter Sue. The park had only been open 11 months at this point. All of the images are from Adventureland; maybe Sue has similar batches from other lands!

We all know how skulls brighten up any space, and add interest. Possibly even more interest than throw pillows (hard to believe!). I think that these skulls, spears, and shields were part of the decor outside the Tropical Serenade (Florida's version of The Enchanted Tiki Room) though I could be mistaken. I'll let the experts tell us!

The next two are definitely from outside the Tropical Serenade; there's something about those anthropomorphic torches that remind me a bit of the candelabras in the Haunted Mansion. It's a stretch, I realize. I'm a little surprised that the flames are not lit, maybe they didn't ignite until late-afternoon.

I love the incredible attention to detail, from the painted and carved mural on what I am calling the "pediment", though I'm sure that does not apply to Polynesian architecture. The stylized bull's heads are pretty cool too, and probably a lot larger than they look from ground-level.

"Traders of Timbuktu", I'll bet there was some pretty cool stuff in this shop! Not that we can see any of it here, expect perhaps for a postcard rack just inside the door to the right. The carved masks that flank the entrance would look great in my home.

 There's more to come from Lou and Sue!

Photos From the Dream Team

It is somehow comforting to still be able to share photos from our friend Irene (along with her brother Bruce and his friend James). I admit that at this point I am kind of drawing them out so that they will last longer, but of course, nothing lasts forever.

In any case, I have four photo scans for you today - none of them dated, which is always a bit frustrating, but I believe that these are all from the mid-to-late 1990s. 

First up is this shot of a blue Mark VII Autopia vehicle, a CM appears to be leading the little car over to the guide rail, where the driver can race without any worry about collisions. You'd think that the cars would already be on the guide rail - unless they were adding more cars to the rotation? The Mark VII cars were replaced in 1999, so we know this photo was no later than that year.

Next is a fun picture showing dastardly Prince John from “Robin Hood” (1973), pacing the entry courtyard. He is striking a Shakespearian pose! A few guests look like they want to approach him... but maybe not? Inside the east tunnel we can just see a poster...

... this one! "Wonders of China" was originally from EPCOT, but played in the Circle-Vision Theater from 1984 through 1996. 

The last two photos were taken on an overcast day, and feature Cascade Peak. It was already in a state of decline, but still made for an impressive "natural wonder" on the Rivers of America. It's weird how the top cascade appears to be falling at a strange angle. But at least all of the falls were on - never a guarantee in those days. As you can see, this is the side of CP where the old Mine Train would have run right past these falls...

... while this side is where the Mine Train would have run behind the falls. Cascade Peak was demolished in the Fall of 1998, my guess is that these photos were taken shortly before that sad event.

MANY THANKS to the Dream Team!

Posterpalooza

Today is Mike Cozart's birthday!  

All of today's scans were provided by Sue B., including this first, a classic vintage birthday party pix (not a Lou and Sue image):

Another special Sue photo - a Matterhorn macaroon! 

And, a late addition - a photo of Mike at the controls of the Monorail!

Next, Sue B. has provided some wonderful photos (taken by her dad, Lou Perry) that feature some of Disneyland's beautiful silkscreened attraction posters.This first gorgeous shot is from September, 1961, looking at Main Street Station on a bright sunny morning. Just a few whips of cloud in the sky, but I'll bet it was warm and pleasant. All the posters pictured are great, but it is interesting to note that the Matterhorn example is one of the rare variety that has only one bobsled. And to the right of that is a Flying Saucers poster, designed by Rolly Crump.

The next one was taken in November, 1959 - when the Submarine Voyage attraction was still brand new. I still remember an auction house referring to this poster as "the Cadillac of attraction posters", and I have to agree. Notice that this is an early example that mentions General Dynamics.

The next two are from September, 1961 (just like the first image). Tomorrowland had a number of these tripod contraptions that could display three attraction posters. Here's the poster for Fantasyland rides such as Peter Pan, Snow White, and Mr. Toad, with that nice image of a pirate ship flying through the starlit sky.

Is this the same tripod display, only from a different angle? Only my hairdresser knows for sure! By 1961 the Disneyland-Alweg Monorail transported guests to the Disneyland Hotel and back. First in America!

Many thanks to Sue B. for these amazing photos.

SNOOZLES™

It's time for another selection of vintage photos that get a "C" grade from the International Consortium of Slide-Grading Fellas and Ladies, or ICSGF&L. And they were in a good mood that day, too! Both of these  images were taken in 1956.

First up, we see the Tahitian Lanai from the Jungle Cruise dock. So far so good, but... it ain't so clear. It ain't! The sun seems to already be in the western-ish part of the sky, and yet there is not a single diner. What the hey?? It's always kind of fun to be able to see some of the ornament from the Plaza Pavillion, which shared the same building - something I'm sure I first learned from "Disneyland: The First Quarter Century". 

Next, another somewhat fuzzy slide, taken from the hurricane deck of the Mark Twain. I like the lady's flannel shirt (or coat?), it would look good today. Beware the giant slug, just entering the picture from the  right!

I Love a Parade

There's just something about a home-town parade. They used to have an annual parade in the town where I spent my high school years, but it went the way of the dodo a long time ago. But I can still enjoy old photos of other parades!

This first image is from November, 1977, so perhaps it was a Veteran's Day parade? I was having some trouble figuring out where this picture was taken (I thought it might be Calgary, Ontario) , until I saw the Hotel Fontenelle in the distance (you can just read the sign beneath that kooky tower to the left). That means that this is Omaha, Nebraska!

I tried to find a contemporary view using Google Maps - the previous parade went along South 18th Street. Boy oh boy, does it look different! In the distance you can still see the"Century Link" telecommunications center tower, though it is now dwarfed by many taller buildings.

Next, we are in Atlantic City, New Jersey. I've seen lots of photos of parades along the A.C. boardwalk, so I can only assume that they were a daily occurrence. Or perhaps they did them often during the tourist season. However, the overcoats on the folks in the background tell me that it was a chilly day. I love the "classic Americana" feeling of this photo.

And finally, here's a photo of a military parade, from a slide labeled "1955 Stockton" (that's in California). "I don't know but I've been told - Otter Pops are mighty cold!". I tried pinpointing this location using obvious clues such as Martinson and Dervin Army Surplus, or the ABC Hotel (in the distance), but had no success. But I didn't cry! Much.