Vintage Disneyland Ephemera
Paper! Vintage Disneyland paper, that is. It's some of my favorite stuff! Let's take a look at two more examples, shall we?
First up is a bag from the Gibson Greeting Cards shop on Main Street, an opening-day lessee that was there until sometime in 1959, when they left and Hallmark Greeting Cards moved in (opening on July 1, 1960). I'm only aware of a few items that are specifically from the Gibson shop - some of which I am still looking for. But a nice shopping bag from the store is pretty cool! I love the very 1950s look of this item, which is actually a bit generic if it wasn't for the added "Disneyland Card Shop" bit.
Greeting cards are the "miracle medicine", in case you didn't know. My mom still has a "birthday list" and dutifully sends cards to what seems like hundreds of people a year, including relatives that I have never met.
If this next item looks familiar, you may be remembering Nanook's example, which he shared with us long ago. You have a good memory, because that was 13 years ago! Well, I have an example too, and it won't kill you to look at it, so here it is. As you can see, You're Invited to DISNEYLAND DAY at Holidayland, the now largely-forgotten picnic/play area to the west of the main park, taking up much of what is now New Orleans Square (including the Haunted Mansion show building area). This event was for the 81st Annual Meeting of the American Bar Association on August 27, 1958.
Get there at 2:00 PM, and enjoy some BBQ and "special entertainment". I wonder if that meant that the Strawhatters or the Disneyland Band might perform? Or maybe attendees could go to the big striped circus tent and watch Professor George Keller and his FELINE FANTASTICS. Favorite line: "Will wonders never cease: NO SPEECHES!".
The back cover has a typical map telling folks how to get to Anaheim from as far north as Santa Barbara and as far south as San Diego. Not to mention bus schedules, info about ticket books, and don't forget... Holidayland is a "no booze" zone.
I hope you have enjoyed today's Disneyland Ephemera!
13 comments:
But MAJOR : it says FREE BEER (and soft drinks) will be served in HOLIDAYLAND!!!
Major-
"Sick-a-bed blues"; boy, that's a new one on me-! (And this from a greeting card company).
I think that Holidayland A.B.A. 'special entertainment' consisted of mock trials, but with Disney characters in the roles - including the menacing judge from Mr. Toad's Wild Ride. Comparing the list of activities of the American Bar Assoc. and Farmers Insurance Group back in June - it sounds like the Farmers folks [potentially] had more fun.
Thanks, Major.
Make a year 'round remembrance list, then you'll remember birthdays, anniversaries, and those who are ill. That seems odd to include "those who are ill" on that same "list" as the other two special events. How are you going to list the ill people, if you don't know if or when they will even be ill? Major P., can you please let me know when you plan on being ill, so I can mark you down for a "Get Well Card" on my list.
Thanks for sharing more of your vintage DL ephemera with us, Major.
"The miracle medicine"... I guess we should've all sent (and received) Gibson Greeting Cards during the COVID years. Problem solved!
My mom didn't send birthday cards, but she did send Christmas cards to dozens of relatives and friends. And yes, some of whom I never heard of.
The American Bar Association... Great. I wonder how many lawsuits resulted from that get together? It would be like walking on eggshells in a room full of armed mousetraps. The colors and artwork of this invitation look like a bag you'd get from the Candy Palace.
I think the line art illustrations around the border are the same ones that we see on other Disney paper ephemera.
Yer right, Major. It didn't kill me to look at it again! Thanks.
Well, of course there’s free beer. It is called the American Bar Association, after all.
Sadly, I haven’t been admitted to the bar in years, not since that unfortunate incident in Oxnard. Still, I regret nothing.
The Gibson Greeting Card souvenir bag is wonderful. You are so good and collecting rarities or unusual Disneyland ephemera.
I remember "get well" cards being used for those who were hospitalized with a major health issue.
Thanks for sharing, Major.
Major, this is an interesting little bag, most people would just toss it as soon as their cards were mailed. I think you’re right, it’s a generic bag with a custom imprint, probably used in many shops.
My Mom was a big card-sender, she maintained a special calendar of birthdays and anniversaries. I know she brought a lot of happiness doing it, but it seems to be a generational thing, I don’t know anyone who does it like this anymore.
I’m surprised there’s no alcohol in the Bar Association meeting. Yes, it’s a tired joke, but no worse for having been done before. Having a big picnic seems like a nice low-budget way to have the meeting, and more fun than some over-refrigerated hotel ballroom.
Chuck, I remember that time in Oxnard, the Incident with the Prawns…. When I write my memoirs, I will tell all, beware.
Thanks Major!
JG
Mike Cozart, ha ha, you know I can’t read!
Nanook, “Sick-a-bed-blues”, is that better or worse than “sick-a-car-blues”? Don’t read a book while riding in the passenger seat! Mock trials, that actually could have been fun if they really went all out. I would just want to leap up and shout, “I object!” every few minutes. I have to admit that the farmers probably had more fun. But… no free beer!
TokoMagic!, life is so much easier if you can schedule the days you will be sick. Just so you know, I will have a sore throat on December 12th of this year, you still have time to buy me a card!
JB, my mom used to like to go to Papyrus stores, where the birthday cards were extra fancy and extra expensive. I’d take her there every few months to stock up, and she’d spend well over $100 on cards. When she found out that they were going to close, she was devastated! Now I take her to Target. I’d like to think that the attorneys in Holidayland would be able to relax, but maybe not. Many years ago, I made a corny joke about lawyers, thinking that everybody made similar jokes, but got a comment from somebody who was pretty upset at my rudeness. I did feel bad, but thought, “Jeez, I’d think a lawyer wouldn’t be so sensitive!”.
Chuck, you make a good point, as usual! An unfortunate incident in a bar is always bad, but in Oxnard?? Forget about it!
K. Martinez, I just got lucky with that bag, it was on eBay and I thought, “Well, here’s something that I won’t win”. But I did win it! My card-sending activities have lessened over the years, though I do still send a few Christmas cards, and I like to send “Thank You” cards when somebody has done something nice for me.
JG, even though the bag is a barely-modified, generic bag, I’m still happy to have it! For collectors of Disneyland paper, some scarce bags can go for a lot of money, and there are a few that I’ve only seen once. My mom has a special “birthday book” with the names and birthdates of literally hundreds of people. I’m ashamed that I didn’t make the ABA/“bar” association, and will be contacting Carrot Top later today to turn in my rubber chicken. I sure would love to find photos from somebody who attended an event in Holidayland!
Major-
Since it's common knowledge asbestos is the Miracle Mineral, I wonder if it is related to this 'Miracle Medicine' being touted by Gibson-?? (Perhaps these are special Get Well cards containing asbestos...)
So cute. Almost makes a day at Holidayland a little less disappointing if you weren’t actually making it inside. FREE BEER, how could any weekend dad resist? He’ll need to buy a stiff drink at the Hotel .
MS
Ha! - TokyoMagic, you're nicer than I am. When I first read that bag--about adding the "ill" to your remembrance [date] list, I thought: How do you pick just one date? Celebrate them everyday? -- referring to some folks I know who are definitely "ill." ;o)
Major, I'd love to hear the joke you said about lawyers. I've found that humble lawyers all make jokes about themselves. Only the pompous grumpy ones get offended. If the shoe fits.... :o)
Thanks, Major, for sharing some fun stuff.
I wonder if a sick-a-bed is anything like the slug-a-beds Mr. Burns complains about in the Treehouse of Horror episode where he makes a robotic worker with Homer Simpson's brain.
A few days behind, but that Gibson bag is great! As you noted, even though it was around for about 5 years, early Gibson items are not easy to track down. Thanks again for sharing!
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