Knott's Berry Farm Souvenir Slides

I got to the end of one box containing vintage Knott's Berry Farm slides (don't worry, there's more), and found a series of souvenir slides - the kind a visitor might buy at the gift shop next to the chicken restaurant. As a rule I avoid souvenir slides, but these were old enough to have a certain charm. Of the dozen, I scanned the three that I thought were the most interesting.

Inside the Saloon, the bartender sizes us up. Greenhorn? Trail-hardened cowpoke? Yellow-bellied rustler? Frontier priest? Humorous signs make the bar look like a theme restaurant on La Brea Avenue. The "No Whiskey Sold to..." sign is probably historically accurate, unfortunately. Hopefully you wanted boysenberry punch, because that's all they served. Well, maybe root beer too.

If you walked out of the Saloon and glanced to the right (northward), this is a scene you might see, with the beautiful narrow-gauge Ghost Town and Calico Railroad. Marilyn and Cecila relax in the shade to our right (they look pretty lifelike here!). This photo seems to predate the addition of the Calico Mine Ride.

Here's an unusual night view, streets apparently freshly hosed down for the evening. I believe this is looking west on Main Street, we can just see the Livery Stable in the distance.

 

Tomorrowland, August 1960

Let's start your week out on a high note with a few nice Tomorrowland views from August, 1960. I should be more impartial, I suppose, but vintage Tomorrowland is the place that I love the most. Just like when I was a kid.

A mother poses with her two boys (in identical outfits) next to the Astro Jets, which was truly a generic "off the shelf" ride (I've seen photos of others just like it at different parks), but I know how undeveloped Tomorrowland was in the early days, and how Walt and his Imagineers needed to provide more attractions. It did look great in pictures, too! Overhead, the Skyway, and to the right, the Monorail, which had just begun taking guests to the Disneyland Hotel this year.

All of the slides in this bunch have a warm color cast for some reason, but it gives them a kind of nostalgic look. I don't want to be rude, but Screechy the Iggle looks like he needs to do a few sit-ups. Stop eating those dropped hotdogs, Screech. I'm noticing the group of girls to the left, all wearing the same style of souvenir hat. They instantly became a gang! 

Snoozle Cruise, August 1970

I apologize in advance for today's Mega-Snoozles. They might not even be safe to view for some people, due to their soporific effect. If you are viewing this blog while driving a commuter train, please stop reading! 

If I'm not mistaken, this hippopotamus was photographed in mid ear wiggle. And that means something. BUT WHAT? He's hungry? He wants you to scratch his chin? Is that how hippos show that they are happy? I've forgotten.

Yes, you knew there would be another picture, either of elephants, or of crocodiles. These three scaly fellows guard a temple with an idol (a monkey-god). Thinking about trying to steal the idol? Think again! There's also a yucky spider, he'll bite you GOOD.

Beauty Contest - Venice Beach, CA

We're right in the thick of Summer, and I thought it would be fun to look at some photos from Venice, California, from sometime in the 1950s (I would guess roughly 1955) - a beauty/swimsuit contest! You can practically feel the sunshine, hear the nearby ocean, and smell the Sea and Ski.

Look at that crowd! This was quite a popular event; and I can see why. There were many fabulous beauties, such as this lovely lass. I noticed the words "Joey Baker: Real Estate" on the building to the left, and discovered that Joey Baker was "a pioneer in Venice Real Estate for over 50 years". He passed away in 2013.

The first one is my favorite. No, wait, THIS one is my favorite! I wonder if any of these young ladies went on to fame and fortune?

In searching Google to try to figure out the exact spot where this event took place, I found that distinctive brick building in the distance, I'm pretty sure it's the same building as seen (partly obscured now) in the newer view. This is the famous Muscle Beach part of Venice, named after Sir Albert Muscle.

Seriously, how can you choose a winner? They are all winners in my book.

As Shaggy from "Scooby Doo, Where Are You?" might say, ZOIKS.

One could argue that this cutie in pink is the classic "California Girl", but it's not nice to argue. There is a woman playing piano accompaniment, what song would be appropriate? To the left, an officer of the law and a military man keep everyone safe.

Well well well, we know who won. I tried to figure out what year Venice Beach had a Surf Festival that went from July 10th through to August 14th, but had no luck.

I hope you have enjoyed this vintage beauty contest!

Tomorrowland, September 1983

Here's a nice set of Tomorrowland photos, taken by Lou Perry and shared with us by his daughter, Sue B. You know how much I like Tomorrowland! These are from 1983, in case you didn't see the title of today's post.

This first one is not an uncommon view, but it's still one of my favorites. The Rocket Jets are way up above everything, and the Peoplemover slightly below that - iconic. One of my biggest gripes is that this was taken away from us years ago and replaced with... nothin'. Well, we have the Astro Orbiter I suppose, but come on. Lou caught the Rocket Jets with the rockets in flight, which is always ideal. And I like that the Peoplemover cars were still in their original colors.

Hey! Lou took TWO pix of the Rocket Jets, and I'm not complaining. 

What I wouldn't give to be able to enjoy one more ride on the Peoplemover. I know that the Magic Kingdom still has theirs, the lucky ducks. Better than nothing, but not the same.

Ah, the days when Tomorrowland was TOMORROWLAND! The Mary Blair murals were still on display, and Adventure Thru Inner Space was waiting for me. Wow, can you imagine bringing a six month-old (?) baby to the park? Whew. I'll bet they went home early.

I don't see a lot of pictures of the Mission to Mars façade, for some reason. That attraction was there for 17 years, so it's not like people didn't have the opportunity! I took one myself when I was a teenager, so I guess I am pretty cool. Just like Lou! 

THANK YOU, Lou and Sue!

Tom Sawyer Island Bridges

Hear ye, hear ye! I've always wanted to say that, preferably ringing a large hand-bell. Today I have another selection of Frontierland scans, courtesy of the Mysterious Benefactor. All of these feature the two bridges on Tom Sawyer Island.

First up, the Pontoon Bridge, named after Sir Albert... no, I can't do it! It's too cruel! The Pontoon Bridge provides a bouncy, undulating experience, kind of like walking on Jello (I think). That girl in the cornflower-blue shirt is thinking about jumping up and down, you can just tell. Don't do it, little girl! I'll report her to the authorities.

Like so many of the MB's scans, this one looks like it could be in a souvenir guidebook or magazine ad. The mother and son have almost the same hairdo, clearly they go to Monsieur Jacques in Beverly Hills. Fun fact: he hates frizzies. 

The next three photos feature the Suspension Bridge, which is mere yards from the Pontoon Bridge, but higher (of course). Tom, Huck, Joe Harper, and the rest of the gang showed a real talent for frontier engineering. They considered the tensile strength of the materials available to them, as well as high winds, floods, and possum attacks.

It seems like such a simple thing, but guests clearly enjoyed crossing the Suspension Bridge! Not a trestle bridge though, they hate those. (Full disclosure: this blog is sponsored by the Pittsburgh Cable and Wire Company).

And finally, here's one last look at the Suspension Bridge. Hey, is that Brooke Shields? There are so many details in this one small corner of the island, the steps (which I believe were used by people who'd just crossed the Pontoon Bridge), the little waterfall, and "Lillian's Apartment" (lower right). 

THANK YOU, Mysterious Benefactor!

Frontierland, July 1958

Here's a pair of perfectly good photos from July, 1958. They're fine! If I hear one word, I will turn this blog around and head home. 

The man to the right wanted his photo taken with the magnificent Mark Twain. This batch of pictures has a number of images of him and his wife having a swell time, so he's OK in my book. You'll see his wife in future posts! Do they still adorn the Twain with patriotic bunting around the 4th of July these days? It seems like they always did, long ago. I was trying to make out the design of that banner between the stacks of the steamboat, but the angle is all wrong. It might have a castle on it?

Here's a pretty pic from Tom Sawyer Island, guests are climbing and exploring; you can see a line of people going up the right side of Castle Rock, and coming down the left side. After visiting Fort Wilderness, they can walk along the trails and cross the Supension Bridge and the Pontoon Bridge, and then go spelunking in the system of caves.

The Dumbii

I have two 1956-ish slide scans for you - not the most exciting things ever. But you have to love the classic Dumbo ride (I mean attraction) from the early days, before everyone had one in their driveway. You DO have one in your driveway, don't you?? It's pretty clear that a parent was trying to capture their daughter as she circled around in her flying elephant. You have to have a steady hand, and a quick shutter finger! This first one is just a fraction of a second too late, but you can still see the red sweater and pony tail.

Ah, that one is a bit better, and the composition is a little more dynamic as well. I've pointed this detail out before, but you can always tell when a photo of the Casey Jr. ride (in the background) is early, because the track is just sort of "out there", without the attractive "stone work" added later. 

Golden Horseshoe, December 12, 1969

It's not difficult to find photos of the outside of the Golden Horseshoe, but interior photos are considerably scarcer. I have two of them for you today!

First up is this general view of the area where the audience would sit and enjoy Pepsi, Lays potato chips, and perhaps a ham and cheese sandwich. It's clear that a performance has ended and the crowd has cleared out, the perfect time to take a quick picture. Do you need longhorn steer horns on your wall? This place is pretty impressive for an amusement park. 

Speaking of performances, you can't go wrong with a picture of beautiful dancing girls. The one on the left is looking directly at us and now I am flustered! 

Snoozles™

Have you ever had the misfortune to eat a stale cookie? Today's photos are like stale cookies! Think about it. 

Seeing this not-great picture of the plaque at the base of Town Square's flagpole makes me imagine that familiar low-fi recording of Walt reciting the dedication. "To all who come to this happy place...". I think Daveland had a number of photos that showed that this plaque had been replaced a few times over the years. Did people wear it down? Too much rubbing.

Vermin have gotten bold at Disneyland, there's a skunk and a rabbit, strolling along without a worry in the world! Is there a Disney raccoon character? I kind of think there is, but I can't pin it down at the moment. If there is, you know he had knocked over a trashcan and is feasting on the contents.

 

Amusement Parks Again

You know me, I love collecting adorable Hummel figurines, and I also love photos of amusement parks. 

This first example is from June, 1971, from the extinct Lion Country Safari park that was in Irvine, California from 1970 to 1984. I lived in Huntington Beach in 1971 (roughly 20 minutes from Irvine), and remember TV and print ads, they almost always featured a car stopped in the park because a Lion had jumped on the hood (I felt disappointed when no lions jumped on our station wagon). Here's a very nice picture of a bloat of hippo paddle boats, I wonder if any of those survive in somebody's collection? "You know what, Charlotte? Paddle boats seem like fun, but they're actually a lot of work!". 

I shared this photo many years ago, but here's my sister, little brother, and Mom on one of the hippo boats from sometime in 1971.

Next is a photo (dated "August, 1959") that was a mystery to me. There were clues like the mention of Paul Bunyan, but that didn't help much. Then I noticed that the lettering on the stagecoach said "Dells Fargo Stage". Aha! This is from Fort Dells, Wisconsin. This amusement park opened in June of 1959, and featured rides, characters, train rides, a paddlewheel steamboat, animals, live shows, and much more fun for all ages. Sadly, Fort Dells Theme Park officially closed back in 1985 and was completely demolished by 1997. 

I'm still at Disneyland! Hopefully I will be riding the non-"Nightmare Before Christmas" Haunted Mansion multiple times, since I haven't done that since 2008. I can't wait!

A Nice Pair From January, 1960

Here are two good photos from January, 1960. Happy New Year! You know what we should do now that it's "THE SIXTIES"? Go to Disneyland, that's what. 

It's a little before 10:00; on weekends and holidays the park often opened at 9:00, but it's possible that these folks are just waiting to get in - I'm not even sure anybody has passed the turnstiles yet. All traces of Christmas decor are gone, it's "back to normal" so to speak. 

Auntie Alice is having a swell time, she's yucking it up with her friend, who probably told a saucy joke. "Match Game '77" saucy (probably involving the word "whoopee"), not truly naughty. To the right, some folks are lingering near the pay phones, they need to call their bookies. It's happened to all of us. 

Next is this nice view presumably taken from a speeding Monorail as it passed above what I believe is part of the Motorboat Cruise waterways, as well as the Fantasyland Autopia (starring Screechy!). What a great day to be at Disneyland!

FYI, I'm going to be away from my computer for the next two days, because I'll be at Disneyland! Yes, the authorities have been notified. Maybe I'll even write a trip report. 

Main Street Views, July 1958

Here's a pair of nice Main Street views from the summer of 1958. We'll start with this shot in Town Square, with the train station (covered in Fourth of July bunting). The lamp posts on either side of the steps appear to have signs advertising the new Alice in Wonderland dark ride and the Columbia sailing ship. A Horseless Carriage is completely full, those two ladies walking toward it are just going to have to wait for the next vehicle. A teen tries to imagine what mayhem he could create if only he could fire that cannon, while a father and son enjoy popcorn and talk about what they will do next.

Further up the street, a Surrey rides past; sometimes you'll see it pulled by white horses, or black horses, but these are brown. I know my colors! JEALOUS? There's a sign to the right of the entrance to the INA Carefree Corner indicating that "First Aid", "Lost Children", and the "Baby Station" could be found nearby. 

Two From February, 1965

Sometimes I acquire slides one at a time, sometimes I get lucky and get 20 or 30 at a time. But today's lot consisted of only two slides. They're pretty good though! 

First up is this view that I assume is from the Disneyland Hotel, up on the Monorail platform. Or was this somehow taken from the Monorail itself, with no motion-blur in the foreground? We're looking across West Street (named after James West) toward the vast parking lot. Yes, that's it, even though it's hard to see through the smog. If you look real hard you can see Wilbur Clark's Crest Hotel, and to the right of that, Melodyland. Main Street Station is also barely visible.

This one is extra-fun, with the Tomorrowland Space Girl (I've actually never known if she had an official moniker), posing with a cute little girl who hopes that she will someday live on the Moon. They are near the entrance to Tomorrowland (the Plaza is behind us) and the America the Beautiful attraction. 

Meeting Mickey

Here are two photos from different batches, each showing guests as they got to meet their favorite tuxedo-wearing mouse! 

This first one is from sometime in the 1960s; a young boy is taking Mickey's pulse ("You might have hypertension and should go on a low-salt diet"), while Mickey wears a top hat as a tribute to Fred Astaire, who'd gone to the dentist that morning. So respectful! Meanwhile, the area in front of the floral portrait is undergoing some sort of mysterious construction, I think this is from the brief period when a stage with go-go dancers was out front. It was Joe Fowler's idea. Where are all the other guests??

Next, from "sometime in the 1970s" comes this photo with a group of people crowding around Mickey, just in front of the Hills Bros. Coffee Garden. Is the lady with the hat a teacher? Maybe the lady with the burnt-orange shirt too? There are a lot of kids, including the smallest girl who escaped from Ringling Bros. in an attempt to live a normal life. You'll often find Mickey or Minnie in more or less this same location today.

 

Cast Member Extravaganza

I'm always happy to be able to share more Frontierland scans, generously contributed by the Mysterious Benefactor! These are undated, but I'm guessing that they could be from the 1980s (?). I wonder if any of the Cast Members seen here will be familiar to some of the Junior Gorillas? 

This first one looks like it could be in a souvenir guidebook; a CM interacts with a pair of adorable kids as smiling parents look on. "Hey kid, I like strained carrots too!". I'm assuming that the little girl is wearing the CM's hat? 

Would you buy a used car from these two? Of course not, they aren't selling cars, they're herding guests on (and off) of the rafts! They are holding cudgels, but they're hidden. "Mike" looks like he's guilty of something, though. Maybe he has a still on Tom Sawer Island.

"Oh Robin, Robin, run away with me to Par-ee! We'll stroll on the Bois de Boulogne, visit the Mona Lisa at the Louvre, and drink absinthe at a sidewalk cafe on the Left Bank". "You sure talk pretty, mister, but I like it here in the U. S. of A!". Heart broken.

Not many people know that, on the old Frontier, the gifting of hats was commonplace. "Now you are responsible for me for the rest of my life". "Wait, what? I don't even like this hat! Plus I'm two years old!". "Too late!". Happened all the time. 

It actually does get chilly at Disneyland occasionally, as can be observed here - a scarf and a comfy plaid coat (from the Pendleton store?) help to protect this woman from the harsh elements. That raft is absolutely packed with guests who want to explore Tom Sawyer Island!  

A Cavalry officer drops some hot gossip on that kid. "See that guy over there? He once ate so much popcorn that he barfed". "Gee, really, mister?". "I said it, didn't I??".

THANK YOU, Mysterious Benefactor!