SoCal Motels

By sheer chance, I have a few vintage slides featuring two motels in the Disneyland/Knott's Berry Farm area. Everyone loves motels! Air conditioning, heated pools, TVs in every room, and maybe even an ice machine near the office (ooh-la-la). Here we see the Pioneer Motel, which was located at 7851 Beach Boulevard. A number of local motels featured a large figure on the signs, I wonder if they were all made by the same company? 

Here's a vintage postcard, obviously taken years earlier.

Another vintage postcard...

And another!

A screen grab from Google Maps shows that the building is gone, though a sign remains. My guess is that this image is a few years old, but it's the latest from Google. Notice the rides from Knott's Berry Farm nearby.

Next I have two photos from the Lucky 7 Motel (at 435 West Katella Avenue) in glorious Anaheim... you can tell it's lucky from the shamrocks on every door, and the horseshoes against the far wall. 

I sure love the "Luckymobile" (my name for it), presumably used as shuttle service to Disneyland and back. "Be lucky, stay lucky". 

Perhaps this is the next morning, and grandma and grandpa are checking out. Maybe they'll visit the Grand Canyon on their drive home!

You know I love me a vintage postcard:

The Lucky 7 is Where the Price is Right!

It looks like the Lucky 7 has been replaced by the Hotel Indigo, which is, in fact, brown.

I hope you have enjoyed visiting these vintage motels!

Muffler Man at the Disneyland Hotel! June 22, 1965

I have a fun pair for you today! Starting with this wacky photo from out in front of the Disneyland Hotel. That's no giant! Well, I guess in a way, it is... it's one of those fiberglass muffler men that used to be seen all over the country. He is rugged, but friendly, welcoming guests  to an event. But what event?

It's hard to be sure, but it looks like the sign says, "Welcome to the 3rd Annual M.I.A. Show". I don't think "M.I.A." stands for "Missing In Action" in this case...

And even when zoomed in, I can't quite decipher the lettering at the bottom of the sign. "National..."; and maybe something to do with automobiles. Any ideas?

Meanwhile, over in Tomorrowland... folks of all ages love the Autopia. Those Mark VI vehicles are pretty cool, even though they do look kind of angry, as if they might eat us. Notice the man with the red windbreaker in the background holding a "SLOW" sign. Slower than 6.5 mph??

Monorail and More, December 1979

I never can seem to get enough of Disneyland's Monorail or Peoplemover. Today we get a little of both! 

Let's start with this nice (if a little dark) image of what I believe is the green Monorail. "Ol' Greenie"! It's scooting toward the Disneyland Hotel at Mach 1,000,000. I know, amazing! Notice the attraction posters affixed to the beamway columns, name them all (there's six, I believe). 

Meanwhile, over in Tomorrowland, this skewed picture was probably taken from the Skyway. It didn't move at ANY Mach. Not even one. What a ripoff! But the slow pace allowed our photographer to get this picture of the blue Monorail as it sat at the station, while a very turquoise Peoplemover train trundled past on thousands of tiny centipede legs. I did my own research.

More Stuff From the Box

Have you missed the STUFF FROM THE BOX? Well it's back! New and gluten-free.

First up is this neat item, a 1949 “Andy Pafko” score-keeping ring, given away as a premium from Muffets Shredded Wheat (a Quaker product, I believe). Andy was a member of the Chicago Cubs (1942-1951) and he also played for the Brooklyn Dodgers and Milwaukee Braves. He was also a five-time All-Star and World Series champ in 1957. 

As you can see, the ring has three small dials, and cut-out windows so that the wearer could keep track of balls, strikes, and outs during a game. My ring is kind of worn (you can see traces of the original red paint where the stitches are), but I love it just the way it is.

Next is this tin-litho badge, date unknown (but maybe 1970s or even 1980s?), declaring that the possessor of this item was a member of the BIG BOY CLUB. As in Bob's Big Boy. Not Shoney's, not Elby's, Marc's, none of that malarky, it's BOB! If I'd received one of these as a kid, I would have been very happy. Now I'm craving a double decker burger and a chocolate milkshake (with the extra milkshake served in the separate metal cup). 

This next one is a bit odd... a stickpin advertising Gorton's Fish Foods. Not food for fish! You can still buy Gorton's fish sticks, and I think you should. Put some on a toasted bun with tartar sauce and pickles, and maybe a slice of American cheese; a meal fit for a king! I don't know the date of this item, but stickpins generally seem to come from the early 1900s. 

For a while I was picking up old employee pins of various kinds, and these two are very nice examples from the Hughes Aircraft Company. They are about 5/8" in diameter, with attractive gold and enamel, and tiny "gems". A ruby for a fifteen-year employee, and a diamond for twenty years. 

In spite of the fact that I generally don't collect political pins, I've still wound up with some. It just happened! Here's a small tin-litho badge for fans of Dwight D. Eisenhower.

And finally, a plastic puzzle in the shape of a Shmoo. What's a Shmoo? A Shmoo is a fictional cartoon creature created by Al Capp; the character first appeared in the comic strip Li'l Abner on August 31, 1948. One surprising detail about them is that they are delicious to eat, and are eager to be eaten! These came in a variety of color combinations, and yet I have somehow wound up with two that are just the same. Sure, I could take this puzzle apart and put it back together. I could do it blindfolded! I just don't want to.

There is lots more STUFF FROM THE BOX!

Universal Studios With Sue B.

GDB friend Sue B. scanned some very fun photos from her October, 1967 visit to Universal Studios. I'll share three of them today, and the rest on another day. 

I wish I could remember where this scene was located - the Prop Plaza? Guests could stand against a painted backdrop, while a rotating mesh cylinder full of artificial snow turned overhead (when a button was pushed). Sue was mesmerized by the magic of the movies! This was especially fun on a 95º SoCal day.

Oversized furniture was a popular feature of the Prop Plaza, it makes Sue appear to be three feet tall. Part elf! You can see a giant table to the right.

This one's a little blurry, but I wanted to include it anyway. I think Sue is sitting in a rickshaw, I wonder if it was a genuine movie (or TV) prop? Sue is cute as a button. 

MANY THANKS to Sue for sharing these scans! Stay tuned for the rest.

 

Snapshots from 1965

I realized that I'd neglected some scans of some vintage photo prints from 1965 - the last time I shared some was back in March of 2023. I might as well use some of them! Meanwhile I just acquired another batch of old snapshots, I still need to scan those.

This first photo must have been taken from the Monorail platform, giving us an elevated vantage point that was not from the Skyway, for a change. We're looking toward the Astro Jets and the Douglas Moonliner, and even the Flying Saucers if you look closely. This area would undergo massive change starting the following year, for the fabulous "New Tomorrowland".

Hmmm, what do you think, was this one taken from a Monorail? Once again, we are looking at the "Old" Tomorrowland, including the Art Corner building in the distance, with its colorful Matisse-inspired panels. Kirk Douglas's rocket appears to the left, and a few workmen can be seen at the bottom of the frame - it seems that the Autopia was closed for maintenance.

Cinderella Castle, Storybook Land

As castles go, Cinderella's Castle is pretty nice. Good views, close to good schools, convenient access to a nearby Walmart, a 7-11 (for Lotto tickets and Slurpees), and Costco... what more could anybody want?  

This first picture (from August 1969) gives us a comprehensive view of the the castle and its surroundings.  It was quite a move up for Cindy, who'd been scrubbing floors and... well, mostly scrubbing floors. So much scrubbing. Maybe the wicked stepsisters needed to remove their shoes when inside the house? Even at this distance, you can see the you-know-what. The trees make for a pretty backdrop.

This next one is from just two months earlier (June, 1969), and the June Gloom gives this one an ominous feeling. Something bad is going to happen! Not real bad, just sort of bad. "I dropped my ice cream bar" bad. But still! From this angle we can see the tunnel that went right through the mountain and beneath the castle. Cinderella had to move her dungeons off-site, which was a pain. And hey, there's the you-know-what again!

Knott's Berry Farm, July 1964

Let's all go to the farm! Knott's Berry Farm, that is. In beautiful Buena Park - the Paris of the West. I'm continuing to share a large batch of Instamatic ("126 format") slides, circa 1964. 

Look out! That train is heading right toward us! Oh right, it's just a picture, heh heh, I was just kidding. Yes, I still faint at the movie theater. I suppose the train was stopped for loading and unloading, and for the gathering of all the squashed pennies near the track (may I have one?). It still boggles my mind that guests were allowed to just walk in front of a real narrow-gauge locomotive in the middle of an amusement park.

Oh no, another yellow-bellied outlaw has robbed his last payroll. When will they ever learn? I guess it's hard to learn lessons when you are pushing up daisies. The undertaker has arrived with his wheelbarrow, which is inelegant, but better than when he would put the corpse on six skateboards.

He looks so peaceful, I almost feel sorry for him. The boy with the striped shirt and hat doesn't... he enjoyed the whole gruesome thing.

Surrounding the Covered Wagon Camp was a series of... well, wagons. I wanted it to be a surprise, but I kind of ruined the setup. If you were lucky (or willing to get there early), you might be able to claim one of the covered wagons in order to watch the Wagonmasters as they played music in the sunken amphitheater in the evenings. "Ma, I just love fiddlin'!" "Hush, boy, I can't hear the yodeling" 

Folks in Boot Hill pause to watch old #40 (the Gold Nugget) as it passed by. Chuck likes this train!

Yessiree, there's more Knott's Berry Farm to come.

Two Beauties From the 1950s

I always enjoy photos taken from outside the turnstiles - presumably taken by a new arrival, excited at the prospect of a day at Disneyland. Although in this first example, the picture was taken in the afternoon. "We'll just go for a few hours, and then get home in time to watch Perry Mason". Pardon me, but your priorities are all wrong! Red Christmas bells and some modest garlands adorn the train station, but it was warm enough for the Short Sleeved Family. The clock tells us that it wasn't even 3 o'clock yet - in December it would be dark by 4:30 or 5:00. 

From a different 1950s batch comes this pretty photo of the Pirate Ship, with the Skyway overhead, and backed by floofy white clouds. The sails on the ship are missing completely, but you can see from the pennants that it was a breezy day. When the sails were there I wonder if they would be furled because wind stresses would be too great?

Vintage Disneyland Ephemera

Oh yeah, more paper ephemera from Disneyland! My favorite.

Let's start with this unusual item, an advertisement for "Papotin's Revue" - a puppet show that was performed in the Fantasyland Theater. "Incomparable puppet-master" André Tahon was in Disneyland in the Summer of 1963; this unusual attraction even appeared in the ticket books, requiring an "E" coupon. For a puppet show! I don't know about you, but puppets scare me. Those staring eyes, you know? I'm not crazy! I'm not sure if these cards were handed out at the front gate (they are about the size of a large postcard), or if they were displayed, poster-style, in the windows of the ticket booths. Either way, I've only seen two or three in my many years as a collector.

Next is another scarce and unusual item, a single-sided flyer encouraging guests to RIDE THE MONORAIL TO DISNEYLAND. Which implies that this was handed out to folks who were staying at the Disneyland Hotel. Don't walk like a sucker! And trams are so old-fashioned. There's no date printed, but Monorail service to (and from) the Hotel began in 1961. Yes, the discoloration bugs me, but so far crying loudly has not changed a thing.

I hope you have enjoyed today's vintage Disneyland ephemera!

The Plaza, June 1962

Well, I screwed up, and today''s blog post was a little late. But some of the Junior Gorillas were on it and let me know! Luckily I got up very early and fixed it, so hopefully it did not inconvenience anyone too terribly.

Today's photos from the Plaza area kind of remind me of the Town Square images we saw two days ago... only these are from eight years earlier. The photographer took more than a few shots that (at first) seem kind of random, but once you are on his wavelength, there was a method to his madness. And it's always fun to look at the people.

This first one must have been taken in an attempt to catch that Firetruck as it was apparently taking on more passengers. It looks completely full already! Maybe if you stack the people like cordwood they will all fit. The little girl in the foreground is looking both ways before crossing the street, she has learned well from Jiminy Cricket. 

Unlike many vintage Disneyland photos, this one has several groups that include kids. It was June, and everybody was out of school. There's the dad and his boy to the left, and the little family walking in the street. There's also the group of four gals, unencumbered by niños. I assume the Matterhorn was the intended subject, while the House of the Future got in there too.

 

The Mine Train, June 1969

I have three scans featuring Nature's Wonderland, the all-nude ride that ran from 1960 through to January of 1977. 

While this first image is not the greatest, I still enjoy the "you are there" quality as the train took a jog to the left; I'm not certain, but I think it was about to cross the rickety trestle through Bear Country, where dusty old bears swam, scratched, and dreamed of pic-a-nic baskets.

Water is scarce in the desert, so an oasis like this will attract critters from miles around. Like these pronghorn antelope. Move it along, boys! Please observe the various plant species, and write a 1,000 page essay about them. I don't want to read the essay, I just want you to feel the satisfaction of having accomplished something so academic.

The Saguaro Forest - a strange place full of those odd cacti that look like they are being robbed at gunpoint. "Take my wallet - but can I please have my Baskin Robbins birthday club card?". "Shut up, you!". I think we can just see a bobcat atop one of the saguaros, but he looks kind of blobby here, so I'm not sure. Maybe it's a blobcat? In the distance, the spray from a geyser shoots into the air. Maybe it's "Old Unfaithful"!

Town Square, 1970-ish

Here's a pair of "OK' photos taken in the Town Square area - they are kind of interesting in their non-specific views. 

As far as I can determine, our photographer was standing somewhere near the Bank of America building, perhaps they'd just entered Town Square through the east tunnel. I understand the impulse to take a picture immediately! Two handy drinking fountains await, I'll bet smaller kids liked having one that was just right for them. No more humiliation being held by dad while trying to quench one's thirst.  In the distance and to the extreme right we can see a sign for "Walt Disney: A Legacy For the Future", which debuted on January 15, 1970. It featured a display of Walt Disney’s awards and other memorabilia from his offices at the Studios in Burbank. It took the former space of the Wurlitzer Music Hall shop along Main Street, U.S.A.

Like a wary squirrel, our photographer has taken just a few more steps into the park. You can't be too careful. What's that! A thingy pulled by a horse? I can't believe my beady eyes! Speaking of thingies, what is that green metal object to the extreme left? It doesn't exactly look like a trashcan (with those odd handles on the side), but it doesn't exactly look like an ODV cart either.

Snoozles™

Gosh, it's a great day to be bored! I'm so tired of excitement and thrills. Give it a rest, am I right? 

This first picture certainly fits the bill - it's a real snooze-fest. The bell is a bit too shiny for my taste, but other than that, nothing about this image is interesting. You're welcome.

"But Major, how can flying saucers be boring?". Well Timmy, they just can, that's how. Boring, and a little  blurry. Look at that kid in the foreground, he is overwhelmed by ennui. And I love it!

Amusement Park Choo-Choos

As I've mentioned before, whenever I see a locomotive pass by, I point, jump up and down, and yell, "Choo-choo! "CHOO-CHOO!". It's adorable. Today's "Anything Goes Saturday" post features two amusement park trains.

Let's start with three pictures from 1981. "1981?? That was something like two years ago!". I don't know how to break it to you, but 1981 was over 40 years ago. I checked the math on my Texas Instruments Nixie tube calculator!  The pictures were taken at California's Great America in Santa Clara, California. That park was built by the Marriott Corporation, but it is now owned by Cedar Fair.

Here we see the Great America Scenic Railway (there is another Great American Scenic Railway at Marriott's Great America - later Six Flags Great America - in Gurnee, Illinois). The Great America Scenic Railway trains were supplied to Marriott’s Great America by the Custom Fabricators company of Johnson City, Tennessee. Each park had two trains: one red and one blue. The Great America Scenic Railway had stations in Hometown Square and County Fair.

The train’s routes circled (the) park, providing a relaxing sightseeing tour. The GREAT AMERICA Scenic Railway also served guests as an easy means of transportation between the front and back of the park. During typical operation, guests could remain on board for as long as they liked.

The Santa Clara Great America Scenic Railway was removed after the 1999 season. The Hometown Square station was demolished. The Fairgrounds Junction station was converted into a queue house for the Psycho Mouse roller coaster.

Here's a nice vintage postcard.

This next slide was hand-labeled "Toonerville Trolley 1957" - which doesn't make a lot of sense, but OK. "Toonerville Folks" was a popular newspaper comic strip by Fontaine Fox (great name!), running from 1908 to 1955. Central to the strip was the rickety little trolley called the "Toonerville Trolley that met all the trains", driven in a frenzy by the grizzly old Skipper to meet each commuter train as it arrived in town. But this train doesn't seem to have any connection to Toonerville.

But I digress! This little locomotive has "H & CR RR" painted on the tender, but I could not figure out what those letter stood for (well, I got the "RR" part!), or where this cute little train operated. Since I have the smartest hu-man readers, I would not be surprised if one of you solves this mystery!

 I hope you have enjoyed today's amusement park trains.