Christmas-themed Parks

I have some slide scans featuring Christmas-themed amusement parks for you today, starting with this great shot of two kids in an antique auto (presumably built by Arrow Development?), circaJuly, 1964. Looking at the buildings and giant mushrooms in the background, it's pretty clear that this photo was taken at one of the "Santa's Village" parks. But there were several in the US, so which one is this?

I found this postcard featuring what appears to be the exact same antique auto ride, from the Santa's Village in Skyforest, California (near Lake Arrowhead). It closed in 1998.

Next is this scan from a slide dated November, 1965. It's another Santa's Village! Or maybe the complete name of this place is "Santa Claus Village", as seen on that yellow sign to the left. Either way, I can find no other photos of a park with this entrance and with that statue of Santa holding his book listing the Good Boys and Girls. So for now, this one is a mystery to me!

Christmas Parade, December 1965

Christmas and parades at Disneyland go together like salami and grape jelly on a sandwich (a gourmet delight)! Today I have four photos of a holiday parade; the slides are dated "January, 1966", and thanks to my razor-sharp intellect, I have deduced that the parade was from the previous month. 

An odd little calliope is accompanied by a two pantomime horses. It looks like they took pieces (or castings of pieces) from the various circus wagons that Walt had purchased for "Toby Tyler", and applied them to this float for a bit of that old-world look. It's interesting, but even more interesting is the fact that the buildings of New Orleans Square are under construction beyond that wall! I can't wait to visit the Parfumerie.

A horrible irradiated caterpillar terrorizes guests, eating them in a single slurp (and two burps), while a mutant half-human, half insect taunts people; they will be next! Jeez, Walt, this parade is messed up.

Donald Duck drives by in one of Mr. Toad's antique motorcars, along with his nephews, Huey, Dewey, and Louie. I wonder where that drivable version of the Toad car is today?

Same parade, slightly different angle; a group of magnificent knights on horseback trot by the Frontierland Ticket Booth in the brilliant late-afternoon sunshine. What non-religious Christmas song are they playing on their authentic medieval instruments? "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town"? "Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer"?  In the distance, the Matterhorn is crowned with its seasonal star.

More Magic Kingdom Shop Windows, December 1983

After moving "part one" a bit, I am sharing the second installment of photos of shop windows from the Magic Kingdom, as taken by Lou Perry, and scanned and shared with us by his daughter, Sue B. 

I don't believe that this figure was for sale, but... maybe? Mickey's wearing his famous costume from "The Band Concert", in which he bravely conducts a ragtag band during a tornado.

I had one or two glazed ceramic figurines of Mickey that looked almost exactly like the style seen here. Some vintage Disneyana appears to been display too, like those bisque (?) figures of the Dwarfs. Or maybe they're brand new! 

Donald Duck appears to be singing, with his quacky voice, I can almost hear it!

Uh-oh, Minnie's standing beneath the mistletoe!

"The Sorcerer's Apprentice" is one of my favorite Mickey Mouse films (it's right up there with "The Brave Little Tailor"), so I'm always happy to see Mickey in his robe and pointy hat! 

Music boxes! They're nice, but I'm glad I didn't start collecting those. Same with cookie jars.

Nothing says "Christmas" like a rat in an old-fashioned costume! Perhaps this was a shop that sold ceramic goods, though it's hard to be certain.

Mickey is popping and locking, he got into hip-hop street dancing before most people had even heard of it. He could do that thing where he spun around on his head, which was much harder to do with those ears.

And hey, it's another Christmas rat. But I admit that she's cute. Maybe I need more rats in my life!

THANK YOU SO MUCH to Lou and Sue! Stay tuned for the third and final part of this series.

Magic Kingdom Shop Windows, December 1983

GDB friend Sue B. sent along a folder full of photographs taken by her dad, Lou Perry, way back in 1983 (42 years ago!), featuring images of various shop windows in the Magic Kingdom in Orlando. There will be three installments, and I admit that I am saving the best for the third part! 

Mickey and Minnie are dressed in their traditional holiday outfits. I'm not sure if the style qualifies as "Dickensian". Anyway, they are talking about what they are going to buy for me, which is awfully nice.

I wish there was lots of information about how these windows were created - maybe old issues of "Disney News" had articles about the sculpting of the figures, the sewing of the outfits, choosing the props, etc?

Lou liked this scene!

I have no idea which shop had this window - if I had to guess I'd say that we were in one of the Center Streets, but I really don't know.

Minnie is in her nightgown and nightcap (where she keeps a single donut for later); she's knitting a scarf in very 80s colors.

Meanwhile, Mickey decorates the tree, he likes to do it by himself because he's a little bit OCD. There's nothing wrong with wanting perfection! 

Yet another window, this time Minnie is standing on a ladder, I guess she's arranging the merchandise in the shop?

These scenes remind me a lot of the Disney Stores, but I was surprised to learn that those didn't come along until 1987. Remember when Disney Stores were fun? I'm not sure what happened, if they over-extended themselves or what. Eventually they seemed to carry only clothing and toys for little girls and boys, before they went away. I have no idea if there are any left!

OK, that's it for PART ONE; stay tuned for PART TWO in about a week, and the third and final installment shortly after that. THANK YOU, Lou and Sue!

New Orleans Square Signage

GDB friend Mike Cozart sent me some scans of photos that he acquired from a former Sign Shop employee. All of today's signs are from New Orleans Square. One of my favorite squares! This is "Part One", there will be a "Part Two" eventually.

First up, a sign for The Royal Courtyard. Know what? I'm not sure what (or where) this is (was?)! Probably because the Royal family always kept me out of the loop. You know how snooty they are. This sign is elegant, and appears to be hand-painted in the finest pin-striping tradition. There are no flames, but you can't have it all. 

"Le Gourmet", where they probably sold hot-air popcorn poppers and "Veg-O-Matics". For into about these photos, Mike said: At one time the Disneyland sign shop would send a photographer out approximately every 5 years and photograph EVERY sign and graphic in the park over a few days . These were from one of those “sign safaris” by the sign shop in 1973 (although some are dated 1972) the sign shop photographer always got the main signs and marquees but also managed to shoot images of flags, posters , banners, plaques , vehicle door and safety tags and even directional arrows painted on the walkways.

Hey, wait a minute! This sign is way fancier! At first I thought I saw a Pocket Fisherman in this painting, but it's just a standard scoop. This is certainly more elaborate than most of the signs we see in these pictures. Mike had more information about these photos: The images were done on slide film and photo prints were made for quick reference . These images are from those reference prints. Besides the sign shop , the graphics department at WED and the studio archives would be sent albums of these reference prints. Disneyland would also send a set to Walt Disney World’s sign shop as “this is how we did it at Disneyland“ reference.

"Le Grand Court", where you had to go for jury duty every few years. Florida in kind also sent similar albums to Disneyland. When things at Disneyland were being re-arranged in the late 90’s, the slides were sent to WDI for storage while the reference photo albums were tossed out. My set was saved by a retired WED graphic artist who started at the sign shop. Although now passed, many of my signs and posters in my collection came from his 25 years with WED and Disneyland. VERY COOL, and thank goodness Mike saved these. 

And lastly (for today), Le Forgeron. Not "Le Frogeron", where you could buy frogs (unfortunately). "Forgeron" means "blacksmith", so I assume you could buy all sorts of hand-wrought iron doo-dads. Need cast iron shoes? They had them! Le Forgeron was located back near the train tracks, and apparently closed in 1974.

Stay tuned for PART TWO! Many thanks to Mike Cozart for sharing these cool photos with us.

Christmas on Main Street, 1976

I have a folder with quite a few Disneyland-Christmas scans; but some are less exciting than others. Today's two examples are perfectly nice, with a family posing on Main Street, with the big Christmas tree reduced to colorful bokeh dots. In photography, "bokeh" refers to the aesthetic quality of the blur in out-of-focus areas of an image, especially the background, often characterized by soft, smooth, and pleasing visuals. It's derived from the Japanese word "boke" meaning "blur" or "haze". 

Finally, all those other family members have continued on, and mom can pose with her daughter. The kid that she likes! OK, now I feel guilty, what if the now-grown boy sees this post (I'm sure he's a fan) and I make him sad? I'm sorry, kid!

Snoozles™

I have a pair of Snoozles™ for you today, but they aren't that bad. Think of them as "Snoozles Lite", with a lemony flavor. Both of these are from May, 1960.

This is one of those familiar views that we've seen over and over; perhaps there was a Kodak Picture Spot sign on shore? In a way I can understand why somebody would want to take this photo; "Would you believe that this is an amusement park??".  The Old (and Haunted!) Mill looks convincingly antique, as does the Keelboat. Why the Keelboat is moored at the raft landing, I can't say. Is it possible that Tom Sawyer Island was closed? Up on top of the hill to the left; is that Tom's Treehouse? It looks to be too low, but I don't know what else it could be.

I'm sorry that this next photo is a bit blurry, because the headhunter scenes from the Jungle Cruise are now gone. You can see some warriors dancing in a circle. Are they celebrating a successful hunt (note the sleeping lion hanging to the right)? Or are they looking forward to a successful hunt - FOR YOUR HEAD?!

Vintage Mystery Locations

Scanning vintage slides is usually a fairly mundane chore; and in most cases I know the location of the photo pictured. But, sometimes, I'll have to do some research. That can be fun - unless the search is fruitless. Today I have two scans that are "mystery locations". 

This first one is undated, but probably from the 1950s. It shows a street in an unknown town - someplace with nearby mountains. "Stanley's", to the right, has a faux-adobe look, which makes me think that this could be somewhere in New Mexico. Perhaps Santa Fe? But that store is the only real clue, and I could not locate a "Stanley's" in NM (though there is a city called "Stanley" just east of Albuquerque). 

I dug this slide out of a box of random slides. For some reason, I thought that these steps could be in Boston, but doing a search, could find nothing that looks like them. They aren't those darn "Joker Steps" in  the Bronx! I realize that there is almost nothing to go on, but perhaps one of you recognizes this place.

Tomorrowland Beauties

Here's a pair of TOMORROWLAND BEAUTIES. My favorite! This first one is from June 1, 1961. Thanks (as always) to Jason's Disneyland Almanac, we know that June 1st was a Thursday, the park was open from 10:00 AM until 6:00 PM, the high temp was 70º, and it dropped down to 55º later. Attendance was a mere 7,903!! Our photographer must have been using a better-than-average camera, this photo is particularly sharp and clear. The color has shifted a bit, but it's still pretty, especially with the puffy white clouds and blue sky behind the Clock of the World. The flags of all 50 States lead out toward the Plaza - the sails of the Columbia can be seen in the distance!

Next is this not-uncommon view of the TWA Moonliner as seen from the Skyway, but this example captured the entire rocket (it's often cropped at the top) and it's nicely-centered. While undated, this must have been taken on a busy Summer day, there were certainly more than 7,903 people at the park on that day! The Art Corner is to the right, with those "Matisse"-like panels. In the distance we can see that the buildings along Main Street were actually large industrial sheds, artfully disguised.

NEWS BULLETIN: I happened to be looking for some information about some Disneyland tickets, and went to the old Vintage Disneyland Tickets blog (naturally) - one of my favorites from the good old days when there were many good Disneyland blogs.

Much to my amazement, I found that there were some new posts! In fact, since July, there have been six new blog posts, after an eight year hiatus. COOL!

So be sure to check it out, and leave a comment! 

In Loving Memory

LOUIS PERRY

1929 - 2025

Sleeping Beauty Castle, November 28, 1973

It's December (in case you didn't know) and I think it's time to start sharing some Christmas-ish pictures. I've saved up a bunch over the past year, and Sue B. has some related pix that you'll see as well, so there will be no lack of Yuletide spirit here on GDB. 

As you can see, November 28, 1973 was a beautiful day, with brilliant sunshine, and the bluest of blue skies. Cobalt blue, perhaps. (I probably should have mitigated the off-kilter angle, but I didn't, and I will sleep like a baby tonight). The Christmas decor is tasteful and minimal, just a few humble garlands and a single wreath purchased at Zody's. Flocked trees are in the moat, too, the ground crew keeps cutting them down, and they keep growing back like weeds. Being a Wednesday, there are not a lot of people - just imagine being there on a day like this! 

I hope the lady to the right was not supposed to be having her portrait taken, she's practically lost in the shadows.  Beneath the portcullis, a woman is wearing orange-brown checkered bell-bottoms. It's 1973, folks! Quite a lot of ivy has covered the right side of the Castle, doesn't that stuff do damage?

**********************

I wanted to let folks know about an upcoming book from Don Ballard, who wrote an incredible book about the Disneyland Hotel. Don (a friend of GDB) is about to release a followup that will concentrate on the years 1960 thru 1964... I will let him tell you about it!

Step back into a remarkable era of growth, glamour, and mid-century modern sophistication at the Happiest Hotel on Earth. Disneyland Hotel 1960–1964 unveils a vivid, meticulously researched portrait of the hotel’s most transformative years—when clean lines, bold architecture, and modernist design shaped a new vision of resort luxury.

Packed with rare photos, forgotten stories, authentic ephemera, and newly uncovered details, this book brings to life the hotel’s restaurants, shops, guest towers, celebrity visits, and unmistakable mid-century aesthetic. Discover how the Disneyland Hotel expanded, modernized, and embraced cutting-edge style long before “mid-century modern” became a beloved cultural revival.

Whether you’re a Disney historian, vintage-era enthusiast, architecture lover, or someone who cherishes the classic modern look of the early 1960s, this volume opens the door to a world that hasn’t existed for decades—yet still shimmers with timeless design and Disney magic.

One of the crown jewels of this book is an extraordinary, never-before-published section devoted to the remarkable photography of Lou Perry. A frequent visitor to the Disneyland Hotel throughout the 1960s, Perry captured scenes, angles, and locations that no other known photographer documented at the time. His images reveal rare corners of the property, fleeting architectural moments, unique mid-century modern details, and historically significant views—some depicting things even I had never seen before encountering his photographs.

Presented with beautifully restored images and thoughtful accompanying text, this special section offers an intimate, almost time-capsule glimpse of the Disneyland Hotel during some of its most dynamic years. Lou Perry’s work is not only visually stunning but historically invaluable, providing a fresh and deeply authentic perspective on the hotel’s evolution, charm, and spirit.

Books will be shipping in early to mid January. 1,000 copies are being printed with almost 600 already accounted for. I am taking pre-orders now. If this is good for you knowing this, you can place an order through PayPal and I will offer free shipping for these initial orders. Details are: send $76.30 (book $70.00, tax $6.30) to Don@magicalhotel.com and again, shipping is free once we ship in January. Book is approx. 300 pages, hardbound with over 1200 pictures and special sections.

If you are on Facebook, you can read more about the book HERE. I have preordered my copy of Disneyland Hotel 1960-1964 and you should too!

Snapshots

Let's continue to look at a group of vintage snapshots - they were all in one stack, but clearly were from a number of different trips, so dating them is difficult. 

It's nice to see the Carnation Milk Truck, especially knowing that it still exists, warm and cozy at the Carnation Farm up in Seattle. It is Simonized twice a week, and is only given organic gasoline. The oval windows were a common feature on old delivery trucks, so that the drivers could make hand gestures to cars right next to them.

When I first flipped through the pile of photos, I noticed this photo of the old Bandstand that used to be in Frontierland, right on the River. It was removed sometime in 1961 when early construction for what would become New Orleans Square began - so much for all of these being from 1965. You can see the Strawhatters are performing for guests in the Bandstand.

 

Main Street Vehicles, September 1968

Oh boy, the Horseless Carriage, one of my favorite Main Street vehicles. To be honest, I like them all, but there's just something about this "Gurrmobile", a completely convincing "antique" automobile that is not antique at all, first going into service in 1956 (though this yellow vehicle was first used in 1957). It has a  two-cylinder, 4-horsepower engine that will take the car up to 400 miles per hours! Hard to believe. 

Next, the familiar (but still beloved) Horse Drawn Streetcar - although it looks like our photographer was more interested in the Main Street Theater, which was showing (among other things) Harold Lloyd's 1917 film, "All Aboard", all of nine minutes long. The synopsis: A father takes his daughter on a trip to Bermuda in an attempt to separate her from a suitor. Little does anyone know that the suitor has stowed away on board. When he is discovered, he is credited with catching a crook. The hapless hero receives a reward, and also the girl.

 

Snoozles™

It's that time again - SNOOZLE SUNDAY! This first scan is from July, 1962. It's not too dark, and is in focus, so it has that going for it. It's just kind of an odd image - one that somebody aboard the Skyway took as they neared the Matterhorn. Is it just me, or is the water actually dyed a pale greenish-blue? In fact it looks like the water has colored the "rocks". Maybe they put a Ty-D-Bol tablet in the alpine stream, I hope the little man in the boat was OK. For some reason I'm fascinated by the molded in "pots" where stunted trees are planted. They are fed a diet of beer and junk food to keep them small, because (I hate to tell you) TREES HAVE SCALE.

Next, from 1970s is this not-so-bad photo of a family of Triceratops, as seen in the wonderful "Primeval World" diorama. Little Tricerapups are hatching out of their eggs, and they are doing a pretty embarrassing job of it if you ask me. No wonder they went extinct. Still, they are cute, and I wish I had a pet baby Triceratops. When it got too big, I'd release it into the sewers. I've always liked the smiles on the faces of the parents, and the "querking" noise that the babies make.

New York World's Fair, October 1964

Deciding what to share on "Anything Goes Saturdays" is always vexing. It's like trying to decide what to have for dinner. Lobster thermidor? Yuck, not again. Filet mignon? Eh, not in the mood. Kraft mac 'n cheese? EUREKA! And so, I somewhat randomly chose to select some slide scans from the 1964 New York World's Fair, from October, 1964.

First up is this nice shot looking across the Pool of Industry (not to be confused with the Puddle of Ennui) at the Bell Systems pavilion, with a jet from La Guardia passing by. To the right, the Fountain of the Planets can be seen. Man's speediest communication was once by drumbeat and smoke signal. Now he sends messages around the world by bouncing them off satellites in space. The story of this breathtaking advance in communications is told visually in a 15-minute armchair ride in the giant "floating wing" that comprises the upper story of this pavilion. The wing itself, 400 feet long, is covered with lightweight Fiberglas and rests on just four pylons.

As for that tower, it was one of the tallest structures at the Fair, a 140-foot microwave tower through which TV shows originating at the Fair are transmitted.

Next, the "Festival of Gas" building. A huge white umbrella-roof on two columns shelters a restaurant and exhibit areas set amid landscaped gardens. A giant elevated carousel carries visitors on a tour of the World of Gas, from the gaslit streets of yesteryear to a futuristic City of Tomorrow.

Inside that semicircle we can see a blue-uniformed tour guide. Up above is a giant carousel, 12 feet off the ground, slowly revolves within the exhibit area and permits riders to view the displays they are about to visit. A complete turn takes about five minutes.

A surprising number of photos were taken of the Mormon Church's pavilion, which resembled the temple in Salt Lake City. Guides from the first year of the Fair's operation mention a white cloud, visible for a great distance, hovers around three towers. I'm not sure I've ever seen a photo of this pavilion with the mysterious cloud! By 1965, the guides no longer mention this feature. 

And lastly - mama mia! Just look at that crowd gathered near General Electric's "Progressland" pavilion! The Fair's first season ended on October 18th, and I can't help wondering if this is from that date, or possibly from right before? I do have some other slides from the Fair's final closure in 1965, and they resemble this one. As most of you already know, Progressland contained (among other things) Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress.

I hope you have enjoyed today's photos from the 1964 New York World's Fair!