1956 Flyer
Today's piece of Vintage Disneyland Ephemera may look humble upon first glance. But it's pretty hard to find - I'd been looking for one for many years (after seeing an example in Mr. X's collection), with one or two failed "close calls", until I finally got the one you see today.
There it is! The Rainbow Caverns Mine Ride was ALL NEW! As you know, this attraction was not on the list of "opening day" options, in spite of the fact that some pre-opening artwork depicted canyons and appropriately "frontier-ish" landscaping in the general area where the ride eventually went. It took almost a year to get it ready, debuting on July 2nd, 1956.
The pre-Nature's Wonderland Mine Ride had the Rainbow Desert, with its buttes and natural arches, balancing rocks, crazy cacti, culminating in the spectacular journey through RAINBOW CAVERNS! They knew that this was the main event that dazzled guests. After the ride, why not head over to the Mineral Hall for more fun?
The other side of the flyer advertises Professor Keller's Jungle Killers - 13 killers, each deadlier than the last! And there was the brand-new Jr. Autopia, by popular demand.
Many years ago I shared a series of black and white photos of some nice folks. Aren't they swell?
The lady in the middle is holding some flyers, and one of them is the Rainbow Caverns Mine Ride piece! I believe that the one closest to her is one of these Tinker Bell brochures, and the outermost piece (FOLDED!) is a 1956 ticket plan flyer, I have five or six variations that I still need to share with you.
2 comments:
Major-
Pretty swell to have that Rainbow Caverns Mine Ride brochure, also plugging [the all-too-short-lived] Mineral Hall, closing in December, 1962.
As for the Bertha Mae image, I'm thinking the woman on the right could easily BE Bertha Mae-!
Thanks, Major.
I understand that this flyer is 'early Disney', but it seems underwhelming to talk about "multi-colored waterfalls and such, and have it printed on very bland paper with black ink. Maybe the dull presentation acts like a teaser to see the colorful marvels in person.
The Jungle Killers 'attraction' seems like a really weird thing to include in the "Happiest Place on Earth". "13 of the world's most deadly killers!" Maybe instead of lions and tigers, etc., they could just have pedestals with small vials of Ebola, Yellow Fever, and the like, sitting on top. Now THOSE would be deadly!
Wow, that B&W photo sure is crisp and clear! Is it a large format slide?
Re-reading my comment, it sounds like I'm being grumpy. Not sure where that came from... I don't feel grumpy. Maybe a little Dopey, but not grumpy. Thanks, Major.
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