Richfield Autopia Driver's Licenses

Hooray for more Vintage Disneyland Ephemera! This time I am featuring some souvenir driver's licenses, given out to riders of the Richfield Autopia. I'm sure many of you have seen at least one of these, but there are some variations that many might not be aware of. 

This example is called the "white castle" version by some (though nobody knows why). I believe that it is the first driver's license handed out, these are pretty hard to find. If the holder desired, a CM  stamped the day's date on the back, and as you can see, this one was stamped before the park was even one month old. An license much like this sold for around $160 on eBay recently!

The next two are much easier to find, though anything of that age is harder to locate in mint condition. The white castle is gone, but it is fairly similar, otherwise.

Also very similar is this version - notice that the back says "Junior Identification Card", leading some people to assume that these were given out to riders of the Junior Autopia.

However, I have one that is stamped "August 30 1955" (only 17 days after than the white castle example, leading me to assume that those were discontinued shortly after that period) - the Junior Autopia did not debut until July 23, 1956.

This next one was a surprise to me, I did not even know that it existed until relatively recently. Once again, it all looks pretty much the same as the others (the corner cuts are not such smooth tangents, for some reason). Notice that the text on the front says This certifies that the undersigned has successfully passed the Safe Driver's Test for the Richfield Autopias at Disneyland. Not just one Autopia, but at least two. I love the variations!

There are other souvenir Autopia licenses from later years, including a tear-off "ticket" variety (I'm hoping to get an unused example of that someday), and versions from sponsors Honda and Chevron, but those are for another day. I hope you have enjoyed today's souvenir Autopia licenses!

Beautiful Rivers of America & Canoes

It's time for more scans, graciously shared with us by the Mysterious Benefactor!

Here's another pretty picture of the Rivers of America, looking south (or southwest-ish?). The old fishing dock is to our right, and I believe that the shack might have been restrooms (not sure though). In the distance, New Orleans Square.

The next four photos feature the Canoes, including two from the early-morning cast member races. "Paddle! Paddle for your miserable lives!". Hey, they take this stuff seriously. I like the look of the sunlight through the misty morning air. "I'm sorry I said your lives were miserable, you are all very special to me and I love you!".

Whoa, look at that wake, the canoe is going Mach 2 at least. Did the cast members get to practice before the event? Did they all drink large glasses filled with raw eggs first? The fellow in back looks like he's got the arm muscles to propel this canoe to VICTORY!

Next is this very colorful photo with a canoe, caught perfectly with Cascade Peak right behind it. The purples and pinks make me think "1980s", though it is just a guess. I'm always amused at photos like this, there are the troupers who do their best (even a few grannies), and the people who just sit there and enjoy the ride.

And one last canoe pic for the day; one vessel is well underway in the distance, while the one closest to us has just launched. The CM in front is giving everyone a lesson in how to operate the thing; he's about to tell them what to do in case the little oxygen masks deploy. There's Chief Wavy in the distance, I don't remember him ever being that close to the water's edge. But there's photographic proof!

 MANY THANKS to the Mysterious Benefactor!

EXTRA! EXTRA!

A GDB friend who seems to wish to remain anonymous saved this red shirt, a souvenir from 1986. "Gee, Major, that's a swell shirt, and looks to be 100% cotton, but... what's so great about an old shirt?". 

When you look at the back, you can see what's great about it! This is a souvenir from the 1986 Cast Member Canoe Races! Definitely not something you see very often (if at all). The art was done by Jeff Lee, and it pictures two Tour Guides, a woman with a mostly-traditional plaid outfit, including the hat and riding crop (maybe the skirt is a bit short!). The male TG is displaying his right to bare arms, which apparently caused something of a stir. Anonymous says Obviously, the name of the Canoe team was a take on the “Totally Minnie” promotions/parade etc. going on that year.  Girl Power before her time!  The shirt was a bit of a scandal at the time: how silly…shirtless TG’s: so very scandalous… I am outraged, I tell you!

THANKS to Anonymous, and artist Jeff Lee!

Lunch Breaks, 1950s

I find most photos of Disneyland from the 1950s to contain a secret blend of herbs and spices that makes them especially tasty (to be honest, the blend is 50% salt). FOR INSTANCE! Here's a nice family, enjoying lunch (at the Fan 2 Snack Bar). No big deal, right? And yet... I love the 50s-ness of it. Younger sis rehydrates with healthful Pepsi (sugar gives you all the energy you need!) in her persimmon red/orange dress. Gramps is mighty amused, in his day he enjoyed Moxie (which one gentleman described to me as tasting like "old socks"). Big sis is looking very put-together in her outfit, I like the bold mid-century print on her skirt. 

The guy to the extreme right bonked his head. I'm sorry, buddy, I've been there. Hopefully it won't leave a mark.

This next photo might be near the first photo’s location, though it appears that the Junior Autopia is in the distance... would we be able to see that from Fan 2? Looking at an aerial photo from 1958, it is definitely possible. Pee-paw and Mee-maw are clutching hamburgers - the most delicious hamburgers ever made! Some faces are lost in the shadows, but that just lets us imagine famous movie star visages. The man to the left? A John Barrymore twin! The woman to the right? Myrna Loy's doppelgänger. 

 

Blurzles™

Well, it's Blurzle™ time, and you folks know what that means. Maybe I should rename it "Astigmatism Theatre"? Both of these photos are fuzzy, like Mr. Fluffers (my kitty). They're from August 1961. 

Here comes the Monorail! Like a strange biomechanical creature (as opposed to regular biomechanical creatures), it moves past us without a care, because we are too tiny to be of any threat. Plus it has lasers! Bob Gurr never mentions it in interviews, but it's true. Giant, scary lasers that will fry anyone to a crisp in the blink of an eye. They haven't fried anyone since 1970 when some Yippies tried some funny business. And yes, the lasers sounded just like the heat rays from the George Pal movie, "War of the Worlds". 

They tried putting lasers on the Submarines, but that just resulted in fully cooked fish floating to the surface. A little dill, a little lemon butter - delicious!