The Horn That Matters, May 1960

I admit that today's scans are not that exciting (to put it mildly). When I placed them in front of my "Snoozometer" (built at Cal Tech), the numbers were high. Do you know what I say? Dang the numbers! DANG THEM TO HECK! This particular photographer took no less than six photos of the Swiss cheese mountain, so you know that he was impressed, and maybe even gobsmacked. 

Even in this somewhat murky and too-blue image, we can see that the stone of the mountain is much darker than we are used to; as I've posited in the past, I'll bet that somebody decided that a lighter tone would impart more of an "aerial perspective" effect, and I have to agree with that person. BOBSLED ALERT! Bet all your money on the lottery today! (Editor's note: don't actually do that). 

This next one might be 1.3% more interesting, and only because of the umbrellas (and that one orange tree full of fruit). Oh alright, the portion of the House of the Future is OK too. There's no bobsled in this one however (or can we see the tippety-tip of a bobsled in the same place as in the previous picture?).

A Birthday, And Some Randos

Hey! It's GDB friend MS's birthday! And you know what that means - Sue B. found another great vintage birthday photo to share. I'm worried about the boy at the end of the table, he's trying to blow up that balloon, but it looks like the balloon is stronger. Will his little brother do any better? That's a pretty low bar. Mom is wearing a party hat, but is thinking about wearing another one. When else will she have the chance? NEVER! It's exciting to see that there is an actual Van Gogh "Sunflowers" painting on the wall, bought at a thrift shop for only $2. Smurf cups, plates, and a table cloth assure us that this will be the party to end all parties.

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Meanwhile, howsabout some randos? From July, 1960 comes this photo of three young girls posing in front of Storybook Land with the Piper Pig and the Practical Pig. All three girls wear the same style of souvenir hat, though one has gone rogue and went with the blue scarf rather than the red one. 

Next, from June 22, 1965 we have this nice view of the Indian Dance Circle as seen from the new-ish amphitheater-style seating; obviously the crowds could be considerable on a Summer day. Younger children were still encouraged to come down and sit on benches nearer to the action. On the river, two Canoes embark on their journey through a very convincing Frontier.

Snoozles, 1970s

The International Committee For the Glorification of Snoozles (or ICFGoS) has notified me that today's first photo might be the Snoozliest of all Snoozles. It's quite an honor just to be considered, and I'm already airing out my powder-blue tuxedo for the ceremony in Geneva. 

Just look at this beauty! It's practically a photo of nothing. Sure, there are plants. Even shrubs! But nobody likes shrubs, according to a 2011 Gallup Poll  (an astonishing 0% of biker gangs - the target of this study -  said that they approved of shrubs). But let's look a bit closer! Is this Frontierland? Hmmm. One might think so, until the horns of a shy black rhinoceros are just visible. So it's Adventureland! 

The next one isn't so bad - I can't ever be too disappointed in a view from the old Submarine Voyage. A pair of loggerhead sea turtles (notice the one to the extreme left) are dining on some delicious seaweed, which is full of nutrients such as Vitamin L and potassium. Bone app the teeth, fellas!

 

Knott's Berry Farm

Let's all sit back, open a can of creamed corn, and dig in while enjoying today's very nice photos of Knott's Berry Farm, 1950s style.

You may recognize this boy and his mom, they've appeared in other GDB scans in the past. They loved to travel! See a few of those photos HERE, HERE, and HERE. 

This first one is unusual, a very nice look at the exterior of the legendary Pitchur Gallery, where visitors could pose for pitchurs against a variety of painted backdrops. You've seen many examples on GDB (look HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE, for a taste)!

Next, the two brothers pose next to some sleepy burros, who went to college (the burros, not the boys) so that they were qualified to operate an arastra (used for grinding up ore). They made big money, let me tell you. Any idea what that cabin in the background was? Besides a cabin, I mean (I'm trying to stay one step ahead of Chuck's shenanigans). 

And finally, here's a wonderful picture of the mom and her two boys with locomotive #40, the GOLD NUGGET. The entire loco was made of gold. Behind the train is a tall light fixture (also made of gold), which I believe was used to illuminate the horse arena, where feats of equine fahrfegnügen were performed (I admit that I don't know what fahrfegnügen means). It wasn't terribly popular, and was removed with the addition of the Calico Mine Train. 

Two From July 1963

July, 1963. America was abuzz because of the introduction of ZIP codes! Folks threw parties, dressed as Mr. Zip, who briefly became as popular as Spuds MacKenzie did years later. What a time.

Take a look at this first picture, presumably snapped by a guest walking from the tram drop-off zone toward the ticket booths. It's too bad there aren't beds full of beautiful roses anymore. The curve of the Monorail track reminds me a bit of the columns in St. Peter's Square in Rome. Probably designed by the same person.

Looking at the attraction posters, I noticed one just beyond those Servicemen - a yellow poster featuring the Mickey Mouse Club logo - certainly tied to the Mickey Mouse Club Headquarters, which was in the Opera House in 1963; the show had gone into syndication in the Fall of 1962.

This is the only halfway decent photo I have of the entrance to the MMC Headquarters, notice the poster to the left. It's a bit different from the one on the Monorail pylon, but close enough. Presumably it was a silkscreened piece, what a find one of those would be! Too bad there's no mention of Disneyland on the poster.

Daveland has a much better look at one of the posters outside the Opera House (image used with permission).

Next is this wonderful look from the Skyway into the classic Fantasyland, with long lines for the Peter Pan attraction even back then. The Carrousel is drawing them in as well. In the distance, you can see the side of the Opera House, with two large "barn doors".

Pontoon Bridge, Frontierland

There are probably plenty of Disneyland guests who have no idea that they can take a raft from the shores of Frontierland over to Tom Sawyer Island for fun and frolicking. Go through spooky caves! Climb up Castle Rock, spin on Merry-go-round Rock, or teeter on Teeter Totter Rock (in other words, don't miss the rocks)! Cross the perilous Suspension Bridge! OR... cross the undulating Pontoon Bridge, which is what we will be looking at today. These photos are courtesy of the Mysterious Benefactor, by the way.

It's a real parade crossing the bridge, just one person after another. The boy in front does his best Michael Jackson impression. HEE-hee! I tried and tried to decipher dad's t-shirt, but couldn't do it. The "vicious fishes" shirt on the boy a ways back will just have to do.

Why can't these people be more ridiculous so that I can make fun of them??

I thought that the guy with the backwards baseball cap (the ultimate in coolness!) was smoking a cigarette, but now I think he has the stick from an ice cream bar sticking out of his mouth. Just don't trip and fall on the bridge, or that stick will go out the back of your head. I've seen it happen! 

Another day, another donut. Crossing without hanging on is something only one person in 50,000 can do, so that kid has my respect.

Even hockey fans from Canada enjoy crossing the Pontoon Bridge, and all they usually like is hockey!

If you zoomed in, you would see the beads of sweat on this fellow's forehead, his concentration is off the charts. The only other time he looked this serious is when he was in that hotdog eating competition (which he won, 67 dogs).

MANY THANKS to the Mysterious Benefactor!

It's Hip To Be Square

I have two random square-format slide scans, why not put them together? Maybe they'll turn out to be the peanut butter and chocolate combo we've all dreamed (dreamt?) of. 

Let's begin with this undated example, I assume it is from sometime in the 1960s. It's a nice view from aboard the Disneyland Railroad, I honestly can't think of another slide in my collection that actually shows the seats and guests sitting on them. A mom and her two kids (with dad at the camera) have boarded at Main Street Station for the Grand Circle Tour. The railroad is a perfect ride for a family with young children, though perhaps the dinosaurs are a bit scary.

Next we'll go back to the 1950s (probably 1956) for a view from the original, non-jokey Jungle Cruise. Headhunters used to be prominent in the attraction, and here we can see a group of hunters/warriors celebrating a successful hunt - or are they happy to see a new crop of heads to harvest? I'm not upset that the headhunters are gone, even though I miss that childhood memory.

Frontierland, 1970s

Let's take a look at a pair of wonderful Frontierland views from the early 1970s. Starting with this look at the Burning Settler's Cabin. There's the settler himself, in his Arrow shirt. He's taking a short siesta. Or maybe a long one. This seems to be pre-Energy Crisis, which began in 1973, because those flames are blazing fiercely. The woods on Tom Sawyer Island had matured to an impressive degree, it looks like a real wilderness.

Next is this very nice photo of three fishin' bears as seen from the rickety trestle bridge on the Mine Train Through Nature's Wonderland. I've noticed that most of my pictures of these bears don't necessarily show them in full sunlight, so it's nice to know that the bears are warm and happy, with bellies full of trout. Seeing this tableau really makes me wish that we still had the MTTNW!

Fantasyland, July 1958

It's time for some CLASSIC FANTASYLAND, brought to you by Pall Mall Cigarettes. "Wherever Particular People Congregate" (now that's a slogan!). When I think of Disneyland, I think of a flavorful Pall Mall. Doctor recommended, too. It's July, 1958. The kids are out of school, and we have to do something with the little devils. And they don't let kids into the OTB for some reason. 

This first picture is fascinating because it was taken before they replaced Sleeping Beauty Castle with that iconic giant head in the likeness of Bob Iger. Walk into his open mouth - if you dare. Man, his hair is always so perfect! Hey, real gold fillings?! Classy. Some people preferred the castle, but I don't even want to know those folks. Don't they know that Disneyland is never finished?? As is often the case, children are not plentiful - there might be one or two youngsters, but it's mostly grown adults.

Next, the Mad Tea Party ride; two CMs are hosing out the teacups, because... well, never mind. That stiff breeze (look at the sails on the Pirate Ship) will dry them out in no time. Check out the Pepperidge Palm! Some say it still lives, on a private estate in Palm Springs. 

I zoomed in because I wanted to see what that girl in the yellow dress was up to. Perhaps she's trying to imagine what it would be like to walk the plank. In a word, it would be "planky". I then noticed that Captain Guy, the pirate with the genuine wooden leg, is seated at the rail, drinking grog and singing sea shanties.

 

Two Snoozles, September 1968

Today's Snoozles™ aren't that bad compared to some, but they're a little boring. 

How about a closeup of faux flowers at the Flower Market? It's almost like looking into a tide pool full of anemones. A tide pool with a spinning wheel, right? That candelabra thingy is interesting, I wonder if that was for sale too? "I must have it! I'll give you one million dollars for it!". "I'm sorry sir, we don't care about money here in Disneyland". "Aw, sauerkraut". 

Next is this perfectly-OK shot of Sleeping Beauty Castle. The lamps in the foreground would have done wonders for a stereo photo, but this is a dang mono photo. Meanwhile, there's THE STAIN, but we can't see THE DENT.

Wildwood, New Jersey - 1955

For many years, I've had a small batch of slides, one of which bears the hand-written notation, "Wildwood, 1955". Wildwood, New Jersey, presumably. They are kind of fun! In this first one, we see crowds of people walking from a parking lot, ready to cross the tracks. They are drawn to the ocean like moths (moths who love the sea)! Howsabout that red taxi cab?

The moths are getting closer and closer to the shore. It's nice to get a look at what is presumably the little mining town of Wildwood. I had my doubts though, so I did a bit of research... 

... and found this scan of a C.C. Murphy Co. (or "Murphy's" if you are cool) postcard. It's a match!

The Boardwalk. Where visitors can find everything they need! Sunglasses? No problem! Saltwater taffy? Puh-leeze! Hot showers, hot dogs, and other hot things are also available. One fellow is carrying his inflatable water... thingy, with another partly visible next to him. 

This tram gizmo is the type of thing that you might find at many tourist destinations, so that guests will pockets full of cash can save their energy for spending. Only chumps walk! Look at those chumps, point at them and laugh! Boy the ocean sure looks far away here.

It wouldn't be a boardwalk without some classic seaside amusements. The Ferris Wheel is OK even if you've had too much to eat. Nice and gentle! That windmill hints at a miniature golf course. And I don't know what that ride to the extreme left is called, though I've seen them at carnivals. Don't go on that one! Overhead, three airplanes tow advertisements. The first banner reads: FEELING FINE? HAVING FUN? The second one is partly obscured: REMEMBER THOSE (*something*). And finally: SEND OR TAKE HOME DOUGLASS CANDIES.

Whaddaya know, Douglass Candies can still be found for sale at Wildwood By The Sea! I could only find this teensy jpeg, sorry. You've got an assortment of fudge, with or without nuts, vanilla fudge, peanut butter fudge, and whatever that mysterious orange stuff is.

And finally, a view of the beach itself, it looks like some of that early morning fog has burned off and it's going to be a swell day! Sorry about the weird color on these, they all had a grayish-cyan cast that was hard to eliminate.

I hope you have enjoyed your visit to Wildwood By The Sea!

Vintage Tomorrowland

Whoo-hoo! Tomorrowland. Or, when I'm in a hurry, T-land. Time is money. I just like classic Tomorrowland, OK??

First up (from August, 1961), our photographer was still in the Plaza, which is technically part of Main Street. But the view of THE FUTURE looks just fine from here. Dare we step in? The rows of flags from every US State ground us in reality and keep us from losing our minds. It's fun to note the similarities between mother and daughter to the left. The Clock of the World and the Moonliner beckon us forward, and a selection of fabulous attraction posters dazzles with bold mid-century graphics. There's a scarce Flying Saucers poster to the right, I wish I had one of those.

Next is this impressive view from a year earlier (August, 1960), with a crowded Yacht Bar dining area nearest to us (I love the flag with the coffee cup overhead!), then the blue Monorail swooping by, and the mighty Matterhorn, somehow looking especially stately here.

 

In The Plaza, April 1973

Here are two nice photos from The Plaza, enhanced by a beautiful Spring sky, blue with puffy white clouds. We'll start with this shot looking toward the castle, the Disneyland Band is in their red livery, and playing "Outa-Space" by Billy Preston. John Hench requested it! The trees and benches to our right are where the "Partners" statue now stands.

Just past the INA Carefree Corner on Main Street, our photographer looked to his/her right, to snap this picture of... well, I'm not sure what was so interesting. The Motorized Firetruck has chugged by, probably honking its olde-timey horn. We can just see Rolly Crump's swirling purple and yellow flower beds at the entrance to Tomorrowland, along with the yellow and white-roofed souvenir stand that used to be behind the Monsanto House of the Future. 
 

Train Station Adjacent, July 1963

Today's photos might be fun for some, boring for others. But I kind of like them, in spite of the fact that they are not super exciting! A mother and daughter pose in front of the Mickey floral portrait and Main Street Station (population: 53,000,000). The mass of pink flowers is quite pretty! Sadly there's no train at the station, but the Kalamazoo Handcar is always there.

What did I say about there being no train?? Moments later, a locomotive (the E.P. Ripley?) pulled in hauling the classic yellow cars. This one is the "Painted Desert", not only a Disneyland feature, but a real place that a Santa Fe train could take you. In style. 

Old Snapshots

I have two old snapshots (i.e. "photo prints") for you today, starting with this first example, a nice one taken inside the Penny Arcade. It's a rare view, but we only get the tiniest of glimpses at some of the vintage "games of skill", such as that mysterious thing with Uncle Sam to the left. Maybe you clutched two brass knobs, and Sam would determine whether you were true American? If not, a red lightbulb lit up, and you would be pummeled by passers-by. Through the draped doorway to our right, I think we are looking into the shop next door. 

Once again, I tried applying one of Photoshop's mysterious "Neural Filters", and it did sharpen up some details, increase the contrast, and reduce some of the grain.

Here's a lesser photo print, taken from the Skyway. The Junior Autopia is down below, but otherwise it's a whole lotta nothin'! Acres and acres of Wookie-less land. Amazing.

Yet More Bupix!

It's time for another selection of BUPIX, photos taken and shared with us by our friend Bu, who (as you probably know) was a cast member back in the 1980s. As usual, Bu was nice enough to provide some text to go along with the images. First up is this picture of pretty Kara, who we've seen before; Kara Pix: yes: She was a “top 4” Ambassador finalist in 1985 and a fellow GR Lead.   When the Guided Tour prices went up (I think from $4 to $7..) they thought that leads should follow TG’s on a complete tour to ensure guests were getting the quality that they were paying for.  We posed as guests: hence these photos.

The one of me in front of the Capitol model: I’m not sure if this was one of the commonly referred to as “Tour of Tears”… I think it was a random day and random time. I remember that white Swatch watch when Swatches first came to the US. $40 any style. I went through a lot of watches as I’d bump them on everything, and still do. I swapped out various Mickey watches in between the “cool” Swatches. Ray Bans in that style were very popular… maybe it was Top Gun or something… sunglasses at DL tended to not last long: lost, broken, etc.

My hair in the (next) photo was actually not even regulation: I’m sure if I was in costume, hair spray would have fixed some things. Visible chains on boys was also not allowed, but I suppose when wearing a suit, it’s not seen. Interesting factoid about the white shirt: I got that from the OLD OLD Banana Republic when it sold things like safari clothes and army surplus. It had an interesting drop shoulder. It wasn’t cheap: however I think now it looks that way!

In the Small World photo you can see the TG we were inspecting: don’t remember her name… Holly?  The TG’s were NOT fond of these inspection tours, and made poems about their anxiety around them.   We gave them a few chances after feedback if they didn’t “pass”.

This inspection program didn’t last long if I recall. I think in today’s world it would have be fraught with HR issues: there was a lot of subjectivity around what was “passable” and what wasn’t. In digging into my memory bank, I don’t have particularly good feelings around these tours.  It must have been Summer as the River stage is up, and the Columbia is out and about.

MANY THANKS to Bu for sharing his personal photos and memories!