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 you 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. A 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!
8 comments:
Major-
So many variations - so much fun.
What struck me, though, is just what sort of "friendly, helpful service" was afforded to 'non-licensed' customers who happend-by the "... more than 4,000 Richfield stations throughout the West". Were those unlucky folks required to 'fill-er up' themselves; clean their own windshields, etc.-??!!
Thanks, Major.
"called the "white castle" version by some (though nobody knows why)". Well obviously it's because these cards must've been sponsored by White Castle burgers... Duh! I wonder what "every courtesy" entails? A naughtier mind than mine could get quite creative!
I am in a quandary. I like the darker yellow of the "white castle" card, but the castle is kinda hard to see. I like the dark castle on the other examples, but the yellow isn't as pronounced... What to do?
I'm guessing these cards are right up your alley, Major. Lots of variations to collect but they don't take up any room! Thanks, Major. (Sometimes it strikes me as odd that we Jr. Gs refer to you as "Major", Major. It's a strange world we live in.)
I've always wondered how far back that "Castle" logo goes, so I guess this answers my question. It was used all the way back to within the first 30 days of the park, if not opening day.
Major, I have one of those later licenses that you mentioned, on the "ticket" paper. I think it even has the "Globe" ticket company logo on it. A friend of mine who I met in junior high school (and who was just as "into" Disneyland as I was), had an extra one of those "ticket" licenses. And I had an extra "Child's" ticket for Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln, so we did a trade!
Thanks for sharing these with us, Major!
The Major's house is a utopia of Autopia licenses!
These are fun, the variations are interesting. I do like that little castle logo. Was the castle part of the TV show intro then? Did the castle emblem become synonymous with Disneyland over time, or was it so from the start?
Just FYI, I carry my Autopia license in my wallet next to my real Drivers License, proving that I am a huge dork.
Thanks Major!
JG
Nanook, I decided that I don’t need a driver’s license, so I would be one of those “non-licensed” customers! They’d better treat me like a king.
JB, do we even have White Castle in CA? I’ve been curious about those little steamed burgers, they sound strange, but hey, they’ve been around for decades. I find the first version to be the best looking, but the later versions only required blue ink on yellow paper, so it probably saved them a lot in the long run. I’d love to learn of other Autopia license variations that I don’t know about! A friend has one that I have looked for ever since, and so far, no luck.
TokyoMagic!, yes, that logo has been there since the very beginning, surprisingly. It kind of makes me like it that much more! I think you did a good trade for your ticket-paper license, ESPECIALLY if you got one that still has the stub attached, those are worth a lot of money.
Steve DeGaetano, I need to get t-shirts printed with that slogan!
JG, I haven’t watched the opening of the original black and white “Disneyland” show for a while, but I do remember a dreamy painting of a castle that resembles the one at the park more than that logo does. “…proving that I am a huge dork”… JG, long ago I became at peace with being a dork for Disneyland!
I'm assuming these were done by one or more outside printers; each time they had to restock it was an opportunity to tweak the art and/or text. Wonder who paid for them -- Disney or Richfield?
Major-
"... but I do remember a dreamy painting of a castle that resembles the one at the park more than that logo does".
That 'more-dramatically lit' castle was seen under the end credits.
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