Spring Fling Items
Oh boy, vintage Disneyland paper ephemera, or VDPE! Not the greatest acronym, I admit; just don't think about it too much. I love any items having to do with the Spring Fling events, which ran from 1962 until 1974. Why? I just do. My first Spring Fling-related post was way back on November 2nd, 2008; you'll see a rare 1967 flyer for that year's event.
First up I have a flyer for the 1968 iteration, featuring a character wearing mouse ears who resembles Roy Williams - the Big Moosketeer himself. He's credited with coming up with the mouse ears, among other things!
Here's Roy, in case you didn't know what he looks like.
Spring Fling was largely about music all around the park, similar to the old Big Band and Dixieland at Disneyland events. Bobby Vee (with The Mustangs)! I'm mostly familiar with his song, "The Night Has a Thousand Eyes", but according to Wikipedia, he had 38 "Hot 100" chart hits, with 10 of those reaching the Top 20. You could see Disneyland stalwarts such as Bill Elliott, the Clara Ward Singers, The Royal Tahitians, and The Young Men From New Orleans. But you could also see The Moods, The Californians, and the Levee Loungers.
Oh boy, that '68 Mercury Montego looks like a honey. For all I know it was a lemon, you car nuts can tell me whether it was any good. Lots of other prizes were available, including a trip for two to Rapid City, South Dakota. THE DREAM! (Just kidding, Rapid City, I love you).
Next, I have two scans of a ticket from the 1963 Spring Fling event, courtesy of Lisa Sage, who kindly shared them with me, and gave me permission to share them with you. She saw my blog post featuring the flyer for that event, with those same silly rabbits. A $4 ticket is the equivalent of about $40 today - still a bargain with all of the goodies included.
Luckily, inclement weather was not an issue, the day had a high of 71º, with a low of 47º. I'll bet it was a fun time for all!
THANK YOU to Lisa Sage for sharing scans of her ticket!
3 comments:
Major-
Based on that drawing of Roy Williams, he clearly missed his calling as a prima ballerina-!
There's a nine-minute recording from WED containing a ton of early Disneyland promos, and included on it is the radio spot for the 2nd Annual Spring Fling [from 1963], with Paul Frees delivering the narration. Obviously, it has different performers providing the musical entertainment and different prizes - one of them being a party for 50 of your friends. (There's no specifics on a location or what the 'party' includes - not to mention...just how many 1960's teenagers had 50 friends-??
Thanks, Major.
That's um... a strange cover for the Spring Fling Program guide. I suppose that IS supposed to be Roy on the cover? I also suppose that he's some version of the Roman god, Bacchus?
"(except shooting galleries)" Well that settles it; I ain't goin' unless'n the shootin' galleries are free! [Ptui!.. JB spits tabacky juice into a spittoon.]
I was wondering why Rapid City, SD, until I read that it's for that Disney movie premier. I don't think I've seen that particular movie, and if I did, it didn't leave any impression on me as I don't remember anything about it. Although, now that I think about it, it may have been serialized in the newspaper's Sunday comics over many weeks.(?)
I like the ticket with the rabbits on it. Colorful, amusing, and eye-catching.
Thanks for sharing, Lisa. And thanks for the VD, Major. ;-)
Of course THE ONE AND ONLY ORIGINAL FAMILY BAND teamed up John Davidson and Lesslie Ann Warren again …. And it’s famous as the film Goldie Hawn ( The Giddy Girl) met her future husband Kurt Russel. Walter Brennen makes his last big screen appearance and Eddie Munster -Butch Patrick makes his first musical appearance . The musical was also Walt Disney Productions last feature film musical - until Pete’s Dragon … as musicals were quickly falling out of favor in the late 60’s as SWEET CHARITY, HELLO DOLLY and other big musicals were bankrupting the major studios.
The big dance number tune from FAMILY BAND ; “West of the Wide Missouri “ plays in the loading building for all the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad attractions. The tune “Dakota” was recorded as well for big thunder , but was left off the final attraction soundtrack.
THE ORIGINAL FAMILY BAND film also is historic for Disneyland fans as it is the VERY FIRST film represented in the long line of Emporium Windows vignettes … however they were done in 1968 as painted wooden flat dioramas … as mechanical animated sciences would be be done till later.
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