Two Beauties from August, 1963

I just scanned a group of slides from the summer of '63, and wanted to share two especially nice examples with you on this Friday! 

First up is this very cool shot of the yellow Mark II Monorail as it glided along the beamway; it left the Tomorrowland station not long ago, then paralleled Harbor Boulevard, and then curved to the right, now on its way to the Disneyland Hotel (behind us). In the distance is Melodyland; I thought perhaps that it had only just opened a month or so earlier, but keep reading! I now believe it might still be under construction - it's not gleaming white the way I usually think of it.

SO! I thought I knew what was going on when I initially viewed this slide on the light table, but upon scanning it I see some interesting details. Notice that the Moonliner in the distance still has the TWA paint scheme, though it is lacking the actual "TWA" lettering (since Trans World Airlines ended their sponsorship sometime in 1961). BUT... by 1962, it had been repainted with the  Douglas paint scheme. What the heck! Somebody must have kept this roll of film in a drawer for many months (hey, my mom did that sometimes). Meanwhile, notice that the people (not many of them, either) are all wearing cool-weather clothing, definitely not August attire. 

Matterhorn From the Skyway, August 1970

Many of you travel via Skyway every day, to work or to the haberdashery, or to that place that serves Oxnard-style cuisine. But there was a time when you could only ride skyway-type transportation at amusement parks or World's Fairs! Isn't that crazy? Today we are experiencing the novel sensation of facing backward in a gondola as our vehicle headed to the charming Swiss chalet behind us. "Wouldn't you rather face forward, Marjorie?". "Nuts to that!". We've already passed through the nostrils of the Matterhorn, and it wasn't as bad as you might think based on that description. It's cool that our Margie caught the red Monorial as it curved 'round the bend. I'm sure somebody will give you $1,000 if you can spot details such as HoJo's or the Rocket Jets.

Well, our backwards journey is almost over, we can smell the chalet at this point, (it's like pine trees and chocolate with hazelnuts). I think we should walk over to that pirate ship and see what's doing. Meanwhile, enjoy a look at Classic Fantasyland. 

Along Main Street, September, 1968

You all remember the song from the classic album, "Walt Disney Takes You to Disneyland": Main Street, Main Street, something something, Main Street. Beautiful! I used to have the album, "Walt Disney Takes You to Tijuana", but it got lost in a move, durnit. 

I don't have any slides featuring Tijuana today, but I do have some Main Street views. Like this lovely look at the Beaux Arts (?) Opera House. "Reginald, let's go to the opera tonight!". Reginald: *heavy sigh*.  Most operas don't feature robots, in fact "Carmen" only has one android in a minor role. But Disneyland's opera house has the best robot of all, Abraham Lincoln, who moved in during the 1965 season. His robotic twin was still performing in New York at the World's Fair! 

Speaking of Abraham Lincoln, here's an Omnibus, either parked or conked out at the curb, who can tell the difference? They probably forgot to lubricate the 2-cylinder engine with whale oil, and you can only get away with that for so long. Those people on the top level are in for a surprise. I've never noticed the three amber lights on that "Town Square, Main Street, Plaza, Fantasyland" (Fantasyland?) sign before, probably to prevent Wright Fliers from gently colliding with it.
 

Frontierland, July 1960

Here are two slides from Frontierland, from July 1960. They are almost Snoozles, but not quite. This first pic was taken from a Mine Train Through Nature's Wonderland as it traversed the mysterious Rainbow Desert (named after Sir Albert Rainbow). What the...! There's water squirting out of the ground! Or is it beer? I've never heard of a beer geyser, but a good scientist has to do the work. You understand. If this attraction was still around, they could have snuck in a chupacabra along the tree line. 

Here's a cozy tepee (tipi?) over in the old Indian Village, it looks very authentic to my uneducated eyeballs. Tools/implements lean against the outside, I believe one is a giant fly swatter, and the other is a whammy stick. 

A Pair From June 1962

I have two perfectly fine, totally OK, non-Snoozles for you today! They're the mashed potatoes of slide scans. 

How often does one see a bus with a second story?? If you happen to live in London, or work at Disneyland, the answer would be "often", but for mere mortals like the rest of us, the sight was rare and exciting. All the cool kids immediately headed toward the top level, where they could smoke cigarettes and generally misbehave. The good kids stayed below, where they would avoid the harsh rays of the sun. The air looks rich and thick, the Matterhorn is only half-visible.

Over in Frontierland, a red-shirted Cast Member latches the door to the yellow mine car - at least that's what I think he's doing. NOW THEY'RE LOCKED IN! Don't you wish you could be there, just about to journey through Nature's Wonderland? To the left, it looks like a few folks have gathered to watch the trains as they depart, I can think of worse ways to spend five minutes!

Two From August 1961

Unlike many Snoozles™ of the past, today's photos don't really have anything terribly wrong with them. But they are kind of dull, and because they were taken on a gray, overcast day, they feel a bit gloomy. 

First up is this view of the Sub Lagoon, complete with Submarine (sold separately). I can't quite read the name on the Sub, but I think it says "Grump Murphington" who, as we all know, invented toast. There's not much else of interest - we can see the Matterhorn Chalet to the left, and the tip-top of Fantasyland Station. Oh, and Screechy da Iggle. 

Being 1961, the Matterhorn is still looking darker than we are used to, though it actually appears to be tinted slightly purple here. Probably left over from Easter, that makes sense. Even the waterfalls look blue-violet. The gray skies make me surmise that these photos were probably actually taken in June. I won't mention the meteorological phenomenon that happens every late May and into June, because I know you are sick of it! 

Vintage Amusements

I always enjoy looking at old slides of amusement parks or related subjects, and I have two nice examples for you today. This first one is dated "October, 1968" and seems to be from a carnival or fair - location unknown. Two tow-headed boys - not twins, but dressed alike (which makes me think of Melissa) - ride a "lifting body"-type aircraft, surely a prototype developed by Northrop. In the background, another "vehicle going around in a circle" ride appears to be buses or vans. A clue in the upper part of the frame is a sign that says "Re-elect John P. Quimby". Eureka! John Quimby was a California state Assemblyman  (from 1963 to 1974) for the 72nd District, which encompasses mostly of coastal communities Orange County. 

I'd hoped it was THIS Quimby, but no such luck.

Another minor detail is that partial sign in the upper right of this closeup - I just happened to be looking at old logos for NBC, and I'm pretty sure that the sign must be advertising an upcoming program of some kind.

Notice the logo from 1958-1975, it's a perfect match!

Next is this fun photo of a lady posing next to an old-fashioned hearse - the lettering on the building behind her helpfully tells us that this was at Rockerville, South Dakota (founded in 1876). It was a tourist town in the 1950s and 1960s because of its key location on US Highway 16 between Rapid City and Mount Rushmore National Memorial. It had a variety of tourist attractions, including a "Mellerdrammer" (Melodrama) live theatre, a "Ghost town" of various buildings with tourist shops and small amusements, "It's a Small World" Museum (featuring an 1880 Tiny Town model and other miniature collections), a motel, campgrounds and RV parks. Like many of these smaller parks, Rockerville fell on hard times: In the 1990s, the town virtually died, as a lack of visibility to tourists zipping down the highway at 55 miles per hour sent the local economy into a nosedive from which it never recovered. The only remaining business within the generally accepted city limits is the Gaslight Saloon, which was recently rebuilt after a devastating fire. Virtually all the older tourist-era businesses have long since closed, fallen into decay, and been demolished.

 

Nite Pix, August 1970

I wasn't sure what to share on this Friday, so I opted for more night views from August, 1970. I can't say that they are great photos, but I like Disneyland at night. That's all I got. 

The last time I went to Disneyland in August (a long time ago!), it was extremely hot and very crowded. But it's easy to imagine the sky darkening, the temperature cooling, all of Disneyland's lights turning on, and we might even hear some Big Band music wafting from the Plaza Gardens. Ahhh, that's better! Let's go into the Penny Arcade and get gently electrocuted by the Electric Shock machine. Just like grandma and grandpa used to do. 

I'm not sure I've ever seen a night photo of the Flower Market, though the sepia tone robs the faux flowers of some of their brilliance. Guests still enjoy the novelty of the place, though.

Maybe we can grab a bite at the Plaza Inn. It looks very fancy, and yet inviting for slobs like me. 

Knott's Berry Snoozles

Before we get into the main blog post, I wanted to let SoCal locals (or any other interested parties!) know about another presentation about Knott's Berry Farm and especially the ride "Knott's Bear-y Tales", by Chris Merritt and J. Eric Lynxwiler! It will be this coming Sunday, January 26th, at the LA Public Library (downtown), in the Mark Taper Auditorium. The presentation is scheduled from 2:00 to 4:00 PM. I saw the one a few weeks ago, and it was informative, and a lot of fun! If you can make it over there, I know that Chris and Eric would love to see you.

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Speaking of Knott's Berry Farm... we (King Charles and I) love it. However, I scanned a bunch of vintage Knott's slides, and as usual there were some that were "meh". I've been skipping them over and over, but finally decided to just share five Snoozles and be done with them! 

This first one is dated "January 1967";  a cute burro is the power (and brains) behind a contraption known as an arasta. The sign hear the burro says: The arasta was built and used for 20 years by “Desert Jim” at a mine far back on the desert near Death Valley. Dragging the large rock crushes the ore, so gold can be extracted the (indecipherable) to Cal in 1840). Behind him is a mine head, and to the right, a tunnel entrance to the Gold Mine, where guests could pan for REAL GOLD.

The remaining four scans are all from the 1950s (I believe). I'm not sure precisely where this scene was located, though the picket fence at the bottom of the frame is probably part of Boot Hill. A spring of fresh water gushes from the rocks, and an Indian watches for trouble (can you blame him?). 

Next, a woman relaxes next to the Chapel, I believe this was where the "Transfiguration" show could be experienced. I could never set foot inside because I would burst into flames. Nobody knows why! 

The same lady now poses next to a prospector who is panning for gold. You'd think he would be concerned about the erupting volcano right next to him, but his single-minded pursuit of GOLD is all that motivates him. 

Next is a scene that is similar to the one in photo #2, only the Indians echo the Night Watch tableau - read more about that HERE. 

I hope you have enjoyed these Knott's Berry Farm Snoozles!

Two From Fantasyland, June 1969

Today's photos are not super-exciting, but they feature a Disneyland that is from around the time that I fell in love with the place, so they get a star sticker and a smiley face. 

As you know, Sleeping Beauty Castle will be replaced with Tiana's Bayou Starbase (cleverly combining two IPs), and I am not sure how I feel about that. Look at SBC! It has ivy and everything. This has some choice people-watching, like the lady to the right who is from outer space. She is analyzing us to see if we have enough nutritional content for her home planet. "Ugh! Too much sugar!". We're safe. FOR NOW.

After walking through the Castle, you'll find yourself in a courtyard. There's a Carrousel directly in front of you, and to the right, Merlin's Magic Shop. One of the few Fantasyland buildings that was given the full treatment, not the "medieval faire" look with painted plywood. And of course Merlins contained magic tricks, practical jokes, and rubber monster masks (perfect for any anniversary).

Canoes & More

We're continuing our look at a series of scans (generously shared with us by the Mysterious Benefactor), mostly featuring the Canoes, along with two additional views. Hopefully you've seen the previous installments!

First up is this view through the reeds along the shore; the little girl in the middle looks surprised because she has spotted the photographer, who dressed like a mallard duck in an attempt to blend in. But, you know, a six-foot tall duck is hard to ignore. Mom's paddling technique is admirable - the three girls behind her, not so much.

The photographer's trout costume didn't work any better than the mallard costume, but it least it gave grandma a laugh. 

As you can see, a river trip in a canoe could provide some lovely views. At first I thought that the CM at the back of the Canoe was wearing a t-shirt rather than the standard frontier-style garb, but realized that a guest is eclipsing the actual cast member from this angle.  

As I write this, news (now old news to you folks in January of 2025) was just dropped about the removal of the Rivers of America in the Magic Kingdom in Florida. I am crossing all of my fingers and toes in the hopes that such a thing never happens in Anaheim! It would hurt too much.

Perhaps those reeds along the river's edge are the same ones that our giant mallard hid behind in the first picture! I appreciate the beauty and theming of our river more than ever before, and that's saying something.

THANKS SO MUCH to the Mysterious Benefactor!

 

Two From January 1974

Here are two scenes from Disneyland from the first month of 1974. The old Fantasyland Skyway chalet was yet another example of the creativity and artistry of the Imagineers. This could have been completely utilitarian, and it would have been fine, but... what if it looked like a charming Swiss chalet? With carved beams, homey flower boxes, and folksy painted details? Here we see it as two guests walk down the steps to ground level; a turquoise gondola (empty!) is entering the station, but otherwise there are not many signs of activity. It looks great surrounded by those beautiful trees, though I admit that they do obscure the chalet to a degree.

Over in Adventureland, you'll find Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room. Before the main show, guests are treated to a pre-show in the outside courtyard, which includes a variety of tiki idols who represent things like the sea, the wind, the Earth, and so on. Before us is Pele, who tells us: I am Pele, goddess of fire and volcanoes. Some say I torment poor Ngendi, the earth balancer, for when my violent temper rises, the earth trembles at its foundation!

 

Snoozles™

It's a SNOOZLE SUNDAY, and that means it is time to unload a few "meh" pictures. Starting with this example from 1967 (I think). We're off to the side of the Tomorrowland Terrace stage, and even a bit behind it, so our view is not ideal. But I guess I can confidently state that I don't have another view quite like this one in my collection, so that's something! Some cute gals with pigtails, yellow tops and short orange skirts are rocking out. I'd bet that they are The New Descendants, which is an odd name that I like.

Next is this photo that I believe is from the 1970s - it was oddly faded, and my attempts at color-correction were not entirely successful. But it's good enough! We're aboard a Storybook Land Canal Boat, either we have just completed our journey through the land of Stories, or we are just about to depart. That cave is the entrance to "Never Never Land", where guests never go. We can just see part of the It's a Small World facade, as well as that colorful souvenir stand that really doesn't seem to fit in to that area (in my opinion).

Miniature Railroads

Everybody loves a train! Except for that lady that is always getting tied to the tracks, and I guess you can't blame her for her negative bias. Miniature railroads have been popular attractions at many zoos as parks around the country, and they still are. 

This first slide is dated "August, 1971" and features a locomotive - the Mini-Train - at Gage Park in Topeka, Kansas. Notice that this train is the Cyrus K. Holliday. I've heard that name someplace before! Makes sense, since Cyrus was the founder of the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad. The mini-train has been an integral part of the sights and sounds of Gage Park for over 45 years. Follow a mile-long scenic course through the heart of the park, as the engineer enlightens you on the history of Gage Park. The locomotive below is diesel-powered, but Gage Park replaced the diesel locos with electric versions from Chance Amusement in 2023.

Next is this nice photo of the "Zooliner" at the Portland Zoo. a miniature version of the General Motors "Aerotrain" (which was not a success, but boy did it look cool). The Zooliner is a 5/8-scale replica of the diesel-powered Aerotrain, which is famous for its unusual shape that was influenced by automobile designs of the period when it was built, considered futuristic at the time. The Zooliner was built in 1958... It first carried passengers in June 1958. The Zooliner is powered by a 165 horsepower (123 kW) diesel engine with hydraulic transmission, which is WP&ZRy locomotive No. 2. The brakes are pneumatic, the same as on its full-size namesake. The train includes four or five streamlined passenger coaches pulled by matching locomotive No. 2. The rearmost car was rebuilt in late 2005 to resemble a dome car, in connection with installation of a larger and more powerful wheelchair lift.  Track gauge is 30 inches, 2'-6".

And finally, another photo I threw in because why the heck not? It shows a mysterious miniature locomotive, location unknown, though the slide mount is labeled "Zoo train, June 1963". Beyond that, I got nothin'.  

Two Beauties

Here's two more selections from a nice batch of 1950s color transparencies. We'll start with this great shot of a woman posing next to an Omnibus, clutching her souvenir guidebook. "My precioussss!" she said, getting weird looks from those around her. Speaking of souvenir guidebooks, I could see a photo like this being used in a guidebook. Is the rest of her family on the upper level ("omni-balcony")? Perhaps there is no relation. The hard-working driver can be seen heading back toward the driver's seat, possibly holding a cigarette. 

This next must have been from a year or so later (I believe that the first one is from 1956), since it shows the House of the Future, looking (and smelling) brand-new, in fact the pond has not been filled with Moon water yet, and the shrubs have that "just planted" look. It's a pretty sweet picture! The HotF opened on June 12, 1957, bringing tears of joy to wood-hating Americans everywhere. Notice that the Skyway is still gliding over Holiday Hill.  

More New Orleans Square, August 1983

It's time for more great photos from New Orleans Square, circa August 1983, taken by Lou Perry and shared with us by his daughter, Sue B. When NOS debuted, it was a stunning example of the Imagineer's skill and artistry - and it still impresses today.

This first one is an echo of a photo that we saw in part one (I'd link to it, but as I write this it hasn't published yet), showing some mystery restaurant. In the previous Lou and Sue NOS post, I postulated that this could be the "Royal Street Veranda", though it might also be the "Grunt and Chew". 

Speaking of Royal Street, there's one of the iconic lampposts. "Iconic? Major, what the he** are you talking about??". Yes, for years lamps like that one were used as a sort of graphic representation for NOS. I have no idea if there are lights like this in the real New Orleans.

Two guests stroll toward "Le Gourmet" (which is French for "The Lizard", I believe), where you can find all sorts of kitchenware - the finest available! Do you need a corkscrew made of rhodium? Or a frying pan carved from a nickel-iron meteorite? They have both, but you can only buy one of them. To the left is the entrance to the Blue Bayou restaurant, where all the food is blue. You get used to it.

Lou took only a single photo inside "Pirates of the Caribbean", but it turned out pretty good! It's one of the early scenes (before all of the animatronics) in those moody caverns full of skeletons. This particular pirate died doing what he loved - sitting on a pile of gold.

Just a few years later, the exterior of "Pirates of the Caribbean" changed drastically to accommodate the long lines that could form on a busy day - you know, the whole bridge thing. I like seeing it in its original non-bridgey form, 

THANK YOU, Lou and Sue!

Casey Jones Junior, 1956

Here are two more scans from some oversized (120 format) transparencies - both featuring Casey Jones Junior as he pulled the colorful circus train through Storybook Land. I've always loved the way Casey looks just like his cartoon counterpart. The driver sees us taking his picture, and is frankly sick of the paparazzi. "Don't they understand that I am a person, with feelings and needs like the shmucks I look down upon?". He's a work in progress.

A second photo reveals that the canal (for the Storybook Land Canal Boats) is empty for some reason - a worker of some sort is partly obscured by a fence pole to the right. Could this be from the early days before all of the charming miniature vignettes were added to Storybook Land? After two months of operation, the Canal Boats closed while Storybook Land was constructed and the muddy banks were landscaped with miniature plants, including a bonsai tree planted by Walt Disney himself. It seems very possible!

Hey, why not zoom in, since these large-format transparencies are high-quality? We can see the fearsome Wild Animals, both wearing pink dresses.