Vintage Disneyland Paper
Vintage Disneyland paper? Yes please!
First up is this somewhat scarce brochure, undated but surely from 1955. We all know that Santa Fe sponsored the Disneyland Railroad, you'd see their distinctive logo on Main Street Station as you walked into the park. It only made sense that they'd advertise this new park in order to get the most out of their investment. Perhaps the sepia-tone ink was supposed to evoke and olde-timey look, but I admit that I wish this one was a bit more colorful. It's nice to see that shot of the C.K. Holliday and the E.P. Ripley side by side in Frontierland.
The fact that they mention the opening date is a clue that this brochure was released before then; notice that admission for adults is a cool $1.00! An "elephant train" will transport guests from the parking lot to the main gate. Minimum walking distance, 1.4 miles? I mean, OK. Last year I walked over 10 miles (according to an app on my phone) on one particular day! I'm also noticing a mention of buckboards as a ride option - other than seeing opening-day use of buckboards, I'm not sure that they were used, otherwise.
Next is something perhaps a bit more mundane - a flyer that I believe is from the 1970s - possibly 1973 - with advice to new (and not-so-new) guests on the best way to see Disneyland. "With your segmented eyes", would be my answer. Professor Ludwig Von Drake is the character used here, very unusual.
Note to graphic designers: red type on a pink background is hard to read! But oh well. Here are your ticket book options. Go on, get the Deluxe 15, it's only one additional dollar! What a value. Are there really "more than 25 fine restaurant and refreshment centers"? I had no idea.
Most of the advice on the inside is perfectly reasonable. Though even if I had a room at the Disneyland Hotel, I'd have a tough time taking an afternoon break, as nice as it sounds. How about a dip in the Olympic-size pool, followed by a light lunch and maybe even a nap? Return in the evening to watch the fireworks, dance to the top-notch musical acts around the park, and catch the late performance of the Main Street Electrical Parade. Not a bad way to spend a day!
5 comments:
Major-
The Santa Fe brochure is pretty swell. I found it amusing how the number of ride 'conveyances' was called-out for each attraction, where applicable: cars; horses; galleons; boats; trains; seats; cups; stages; packs; and even Dumbos-!
(My eyes are still recovering from the red on pink-!) Whew.
Thanks, Major.
"Perhaps the sepia-tone ink was supposed to evoke and olde-timey look". Orrrr, maybe they had a boxcar-load of squid they didn't know what to do with.
The "Pleasure Dome" sounds interesting. I'm picturing travelers lounging on plush floor-cushions, being fed grapes by scantily-clad young ladies, ancient Roman-style.... but probably not.
Looking at the Main Street "Rides and Amusements", Disney missed a bet by not including horse-drawn horses.
Seems odd that they state a specific number of Autopia cars available: 32, plus 4 police cars(?) and one 'Special' car(?). I just assumed that they used whatever number of cars was needed, based on how busy the Park was on a given day. Then again, they also give specific numbers of cars, trains, mules, teacups, etc. for all the other rides and attractions. "8 cups" for the Mad Tea Party? Perhaps they meant 18?
I couldn't read the entire "Best Way To See Disneyland" flyer. My eyes started to hurt and I got a headache. (Not really, but like you said, it was too difficult to read.) What were they thinking? I guess they chose these colors because it was the psychedelic seventies... and the graphic designers were on an acid trip.
Thanks for the 'vintage paper', Major.
Wow!! For a brochure from 1972-1973 it looks very very “1962-1963”!! …. The use of Ludwig Von Drake also harkens back to the early 60’s… ironically the 1974 “Best Ways To See Disneyland” brochure is hand scribed by Monks from The 1200’s.
There's that listing for the Shooting Gallery, inside the Main Street Penny Arcade. I need to see a picture of that! You hear me, I NEED to! :-)
Thanks for sharing your "vintage Disneyland paper" with us, Major!
I forgot to mention that I like that little drawing of the Main Street Electrical Parade's original dragon, before it was replaced by "Elliot" from Pete's Dragon.
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