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!

Mega-Snoozles™

Boy oh boy, today's Snoozles are truly disgraceful, only a sociopath would share these on a public forum. But I spoke to the sociopath, and he was insistent! 

Here's a view of the shore in Frontierland, as seen from a river craft (the lowest level of the Mark Twain?). No wonder the photographer was so excited, they've spotted two female elk of the rare Cervus fiberglassius species. Magnificent! If they look a little guilty, it's because they were playing with matches.

Well.... gosh. If you like random trees and shrubs, then this one is for you I guess. To the left is a smooth-ish gray shape, perhaps the back of an American rhinoceros. 

A Pair From The 1950s

Stop whatever it is you are doing! Unless you are flying an airplane. It's Stu's Birthday today! And Sue B. has provided a vintage scan, just for Stu. It was a bit on the magenta side, and my color-correction turned out not-so-great, but it's still a fun picture. Two boys wait in front of the whitest cake ever made, it might even be producing its own light. It looks as if one boy's head is springing directly from the cake. "Er, no, I don't want any cake, thanks anyway". The other boy has his arms crossed as a tribute to his favorite professional wrestler.

OK, you may resume whatever you were doing. Though you should look at these two pictures. I'm not the boss of you, but there is such a thing as courtesy. Both of today's photos are from sometime in the 1950's - this first one shows a Skyway tower in the distance, and Rainbow Ridge is looking pretty good, so... 1956 or later, at any rate. Check out the wide open spaces and lack of crowds! It's like heaven. Was the Mine Train operating that day? We'll never know. 

Next, a nice view from out front, with the Disneyland Railroad's yellow passenger cars at rest; an employee in white coveralls makes sure no hobos are on board (it's for their own safety!). The E.P. Ripley looks great as always. I read that the Ripley was Walt's favorite locomotive, I wonder why? In the distance, a  souvenir stand, where you could buy the latest issue of The Disneyland News. And it would not be GDB if I didn't comment on the wonderful posters stapled to the fence near the Mickey floral portrait! Gimme that "Rocket to the Moon". 

Golden Horseshoe Revue, December 1976

I have a batch of slides with somewhat scarce views from the old Golden Horseshoe Revue. Cool! You'll see half of them today, and the other half in THE FUTURE. What about the third half? I'll never tell. 

Oh boy, scantily-clad dancers, 1890's style. I love a good can-can performance! This slide was partially damaged, which explains the cropping.

Here's Wally Boag, making a balloon animal for a little girl. Wally had been sent to Walt Disney World to perform at the Diamond Horseshoe Revue in 1971, but had returned to Disneyland by 1976.

The young girl is the daughter of our photographer, so that must have made things extra fun! I hope she had her balloon animal bronzed - it could still be on her mantle, gleaming under a spotlight.

7,000th Post!

Greetings and salutations to Junior Gorillas all over the world! Today marks the 7,000th post on GDB. For perspective, that's 653 posts more than 6,347! Makes ya think. Now that I am a famous blogger, I am used to hobnobbing with celebrities and fending off the paparazzi (two words: fake mustache). But I still have time for the little people.

I didn't have much of a plan for this occasion, so I decided to dig through some old boxes of previously-scanned slides and look for some better-than-average examples to share. It was hard to select which ones to use, and I admit that it's kind of a random batch. Sure, you've seen them before, but you've probably seen "Casablanca" more than once too. Anyhoo, sit back, relax, sip a frosty beverage, and enjoy the show.

First up is this very nice image taken from the Happiest Parking Lot On Urf, as a line of classic  automobiles makes its way into the park, beneath a picturesque sky (this one is dated January 5, 1957).  

Next is one that I've seen all over the interwebs. Facebook, Instagram, Gruntlog, you name it. We're right near the Monorail station at the Disneyland Hotel - two ladies (and one man?) seek shade on this presumably-hot September 1961 day while admiring the sleek yellow Monorail train. That yellow really pops against that blue sky.

This next one has always been one of my favorites, it's just a fantastic look at Main Street from the south end of the Plaza, with some great vintage people to add to the fun. The woman with the stylish hat appeared in one or two other photos, but this is the best example.

This next one is undated but certainly from the 1950s; it's a fascinating shot of a woman in a dazzling silver outfit, she represented the "Cole of California" shop on Main Street - they sold swimwear until the placed closed at the beginning of September, 1957. It seems clear that the dazzler is contrasting modern beachwear to grandma's old-fashioned wool atrocity. I'm wondering if the girl wearing that outfit was plucked from the crowd? It's also interesting that this is in the heart of Fantasyland, rather than in front of the Cole of California shop (which was next to Coca Cola Refreshment Corner).

We can't forget Adventureland! I love this wonderful "POSTCARD WORTHY" look at the load area for the Jungle Cruise (this is another from January 5, 1957). It really is astonishing to think that this area was just orange and walnut groves two years before this picture was taken.

I scanned several nice photos of the old Stagecoaches, but this one is ultimately my favorite. The be-whiskered driver looks like he's seen it all. Blazing sun, sandstorms, alkali watering holes, packs of hungry wolves, you name it. Nobody is sitting on the top level, maybe those guests were all picked off by giant vampire buzzards?

From September, 1961 we have this wonderful "you are there" shot from aboard the Nature's Wonderland Mine Train as it crossed the wooden trestle bridge. Below (out of frame to the right) was a group of bears, fishin', sleepin', and scratchin'. It looks like two guests (kids?) are inside the cab, while the Redshirt pilots the train from his seat on the tender. Love the purple ostrich plume on the souvenir hat! Too bad there are no pack mules crossing the natural arch bridge to the left.

This one is interesting to me, it must have been shortly after the Astro Jets were (was?) added to Tomorrowland (on March 24th, 1956). Notice that the central column has multicolored vertical stripes; I assume that this is how it looked "as delivered" (since this was an "off the shelf" attraction). Soon the stripes would be gone, replaced with a red and white checkerboard pattern that evoked early rocketry (and Tintin). 

I wasn't sure whether to reshare this scan, but ultimately decided that this Skyway view was worthwhile because of the miles and miles of undeveloped farmland just beyond the berm. And (incredibly) this was from March, 1958, Disneyland had already been around for nearly 3 years. Harbor Blvd. still appears relatively sleepy and free of motels and restaurants. There's just that lone gas station to the left. Note that the new Administration Building is under construction to the right.

I rescanned nearly 40 slides, but only 10 arbitrarily made the cut today. Perhaps I'll share the others at another time! Meanwhile, here's a rare 1957 photo taken aboard the blue Fantasyland Viewliner train as it was about to pass the pink Tomorrowland Viewliner train (somehow pink seems more "Fantasyland" to me). It's a great view of a short-lived attraction, the precursor to the Monorail.

That's it for today! I hope you enjoyed all 10 reruns. If you haven't seen them before, they're new to you! Thanks to everybody who reads GDB, and a special thanks to those who participate in the comments, and even those who sometimes email me with kind remarks. I still have over 1,000 slides that I have not scanned, so if all goes according to plan, you'll be stuck with me for a while longer.

Two From November 27, 1968

I have two nice scans from November 27th, 1968 for you today. It was Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving! "Jason's Disneyland Almanac" tells us that the park was open from 10:00 AM until 6:00 PM, the day got up to a pleasant 71º. Sorry, no attendance numbers are available.

First up, we see the stately C.K. Holliday as it returns to Main Street Station, hopefully no dinosaurs snuck on board to wreak havoc on Anaheim later that evening. Could the man in the overalls be an employee? He doesn't look very official, and it doesn't seem like he should be standing on the platform. Seize him! "But who will take care of my grandchildren??". "They will become wards of Disneyland". Could be worse. I believe that the head to the extreme left is a Tour Guide. In the distance... Denny's!

Next is this pretty late-afternoon view in Tomorrowland, with Rolly Crump's stylish Central Ticket Booth right in front of us; it looks like it was designed to slot together as if made of pieces of card stock. The Carousel of Progress has its embedded lights on, which is cool. Overhead, a yellow Peoplemover is about to enter the building, where riders could preview the giant model of Progress City.

August 1961

Hooray, it's BIRTHDAY TIME! We can send our best wishes to KS on his special day. Sue B. has been scouring the internet for vintage birthday photos, to the point where they have become rare and valuable. In today's example, you can see a curly-haired boy blowing out the candles on his cake, while Gramps (?) holds him so that he doesn't fall and suffer an icing injury (happens all the time). Snoopy, or some other random dog, holds a red candle, which means something. BUT WHAT?

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

When I've posted all the slides in a batch, but have two left over, you can usually count on them being mismatched. But it's OK! My socks are mismatched and they are just as comfy anyway. 

I rarely get very excited about Jungle Cruise photos, just because they tend to be views that we've all seen before. But this first scan is historic, if nothing else, because it shows a group of dancing headhunters as the celebrate something that has happened, or something that is going to happen. All of the were removed from the attraction in 2021 because they were deemed insensitive; I admit that they might not have aged that well over the past 70-ish years. The scenes that replaced these generally had rampaging monkeys, and they are fine, if not amazing.

Next is this a nice photo of the Mark II Monorail zipping along its beam as it returned to the park from a stop at the new station in front of the Disneyland Hotel (visible in the distance, as is the iconic Disneyland sign). Bubble dome! I guess the photo isn't that nice, but the subject matter is. Too bad the sky is so gray, but what can you do? I enjoy seeing a rare "Art of Animation" exhibit poster affixed to that Monorail pylon nearest to us.

The Disney Look - PART THREE

Here is the third and final post featuring scans from Sue B's 1987 copy of "The Disney Look", where long hair, long fingernails, long earrings, long mustaches, and other long things are VERBOTEN! 

The drawings look like men you might see in an old Sears catalog. Which is probably essentially the appearance they were going for, neat and tidy, appealing to middle America. I'll miss my big mutton chops, but hey, I can always grow them back when I become President.

Oh-oh! I don't like the looks of these guys, especially Lex Luthor. He's no good! I can hardly imagine a cast member with a full shaved head at the park, and yet... it might be acceptable today. 

If you were lucky enough to work in an office rather than "onstage" you still had rules to follow. The pink jacket on the lady in the lower photo is a little too daring, if you ask me! What's wrong with gray? Or brown? I'll accept ecru in a pinch. I guess 1987 was a bit late for me to wear my Nehru jacket, but it would have slayed. Bu, did you know any of the people on this page or the next?

I guess Smiley Guy is an ad man. "We'll tell folks that United Air Lines is the best way to come to Anaheim! Is my grin trustworthy?". I'm relieved that the ladies are not wearing earrings that dangle; think of the children!

I suppose that a place like Disneyland that regularly employs many hundreds of people a year (and thousands over a limited span of time) has to establish hard and fast rules so that there can be no argument or discussion. "This is how it is. If you don't like it, you can work at Knott's Berry Farm, where it is Hell on Earth!". Because people like to see how much they can get away with! Especially young people, am I right? And maybe they appreciate the discipline on some level, since it applies to everyone. 

Is that a Sklarquote?? Or did Walt really say that?

I was going to omit this nearly-blank page, except that it shows that it is from 1987, in case you needed proof.

Many thanks to Lou and Sue for scanning all these pages (and doing such a nice job, I didn't have to crop them or anything!), I hope all of you enjoyed reading about The Disney Look.

Main Street at Night, December 1976

I don't know about you, but on September 7th, I'm already decorating for Christmas. It's only 3.6 months away! (I have to confess that I never took off my ugly Christmas sweater). So this seemed like a good time to share some Christmas Snoozles™. Both are rare night shots  from 1976; while I admire the sheer audacity of somebody trying to capture the sparkle and glow of Main Street at night, the results were only partially successful. It's clear that the photographer set his (I'm pretty sure it was a guy) camera on a handy trashcan, set the timer and shutter speed, and hoped for the best. We're looking from the Plaza southward, there's the Christmas tree, and Main Street Station, if only he'd place the camera farther forward on the trashcan so that there wasn't so much reflecty metal.

This next one is only marginally better, there's still the reflections taking up 1/3 of the image. But we're a bit closer to Main Street proper, and we can glean a few more details, such as the INA Carefree Corner to the left, and the Coca Cola Refreshment Corner to our right.

Miniature Locomotives

It's Melissa's birthday! As I write this, many months before you are reading it, Melissa has been absent for a while, and we all miss her. I hope that by September of 2025, she will be back with us. In the meantime, Sue B. provided some vintage scans for the occasion. A young girl is having a birthday party at what appears to be a Ferrell's, or something Ferrell's-adjacent, anyway. Straw boaters! Red flocked wallpaper! Leg garters! Etcetera. The birthday girl seems to be very happy to be the center of attention.

I'm guess she is around seven years old, and let's face it, that's right in the sweet spot of maximum birthday fun. The girl is enjoying a Coke, and the sugar and caffeine are kicking in big time. It's like she's touched an electric socket.

It looks like there's a snare drum behind her, just the thing to bang on when the employees wanted to make a scene. Such as when a customer ordered (or consumed?) one of their bigger offerings. I seem to remember one at Farrell's called something like "The Trough", and you would get a certificate verifying that "I made a pig of myself at Ferrell's". 

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

Little Locomotives! Tiny Trains! Walt Disney liked them, therefore you should too. I have three undated (1970s? 1960s?) slides from an unnamed location, but there are at least some clues to point us in the right direction.

First up is this swell steam loco, the Peshastin Great Western, carrying the brave engineer and three unashamed adult men. And why should they be ashamed, I ask?? No reason at all! I'm sure the aroma of coal exhaust was like Hai Karate to those guys. Peshastin is a small unincorporated community in central Washington, about 80 miles (as the crow flies) east of Seattle.

Next, an even smaller locomotive, belonging to the Spokane Falls Lumber Co. It is hauling logs from grand old trees that were at least 20 feet tall! Spokane? Hey, that's in Washington too.

And finally, another tiny locomotive, it appears to be of the same scale as the previous one, though it sports and old-fashioned diamond stack. It bears the name "Elk River Lumber Company". Well, there are a number of Elk Rivers around the nation, but there is one in Washington State, near the west coast. So I'm assuming that these live steam enthusiasts were located somewhere in the 42nd State of the Union. Beyond that, I have no idea. Perhaps one of you can narrow it down. Follow these exciting clues: houses. A hill. Dirt. Trees. Those should help!