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.
Major-
ReplyDeletePretty 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.
ReplyDeleteThe 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.
Dazzle they did! Loved Rainbow Falls. The music alone was so cool. We Disneyland nuts remember when their creation was the leading tale of 'making the magic'. If I recall correctly, the coffee is just starting to kick in, the rainbow colors are what Walt is talking about when he said "it's kind of fun to do the impossible" ...that is, have flowing waters retain separate colors. Fabulous.
ReplyDeleteMS
JB, perhaps if you use a 1950's mindset, these brochures and fliers were amazing for their time. The artwork alone would entice me, even as a kid. I personally love these any day over current promotional materials at Disneyland.
ReplyDeleteNanook, so if the woman on the right is Bertha Mae, does that make the man on the left Gullywhumper?
Great stuff today, Major. Thanks!
One more thing about old Disneyland ephemera. As a kid, I absolutely loved the attraction illustrations inside the INA Disneyland Guides in the "A thru E coupon" attraction listing inside the INA Disneyland booklet.
ReplyDeleteAttractions like Rainbow Caverns and the Mineral Hall were a big part of what I loved about the park in the '50s and '60s - unique attractions and features that weren't necessarily related to Disney intellectual property, but were just very cool in themselves. While the whole Nature's Wonderland attraction - almost a land in itself - was tied to the studio's "True Life Adventure" series of films, Rainbow Caverns was its own special feature, and brought real some real Disney dust to the project.
ReplyDeleteThere are fewer and fewer of these things left, but I still have my memories of how it was, and how the place sparked my imagination.
Plonking the New York World's Fair's dinosaurs along the rail line right after the simulated Grand Canyon created another inspired and unique feature - the fact that this surreal machinery is still running 60 years later pleases me very much.
I miss the Mighty Microscope...
Mr White is loaded with cigars. I hope the cigars aren't loaded! I think he exceeded the daily cigar recommendations of the day. Another one of my favorites of Yesterland.
ReplyDeleteThat brochure looks suspiciously like one of the very few pieces I have from very early visits to DL. I must look. I don't remember anything about Prof. Keller, though, so probably not.
Thank you, Major,
Zach
I believe my first visit to Disneyland was in 1957 when we packed into the '53 Plymouth and drove from Lancaster. We made it a full day trip, which almost seems impossible considering the distance. It was a long day to say the least but so much fun for us. Imagine going thru Rainbow Caverns and then exiting into Mineral Hall seeing those rocks under blue light. It was dazzling for this 7 year old.
ReplyDeleteIt also got me to thinking that, fast-forward some 15 years or so, I'd be running that train thru the Caverns. I got an unusual perspective of them by looking down between the engine and the tender I sat on, seeing those color pools literally under my feet. I never tired of it...it always was magical. Even more when you saw it with the house lights on and the magic disappeared instantly. Made me appreciate how clever the designers were. KS
Nanook, I wonder why they closed the Mineral Hall? Was it not profitable? Was it replaced by… nothing? Ha ha, her name is either “Bertha Mae” or “Ethel Merman”!
ReplyDeleteJB, I know what you mean… I actually mocked up a version of this flyer with colors (just for fun), but decided that it looked tacky! As you said, this was a nice hint without going overboard. In those early days, death was a part of Disneyland, in the Jungle Cruise and in Frontierland… I think they’ve removed a lot of those references over the years, possibly due to overprotective moms. The B&W photo is from an oversized negative, so it really does look clear compared to your usual photo prints!
MS, interesting, I did not remember that Walt was talking about Rainbow Falls when he made his famous comment about it being fun to do the impossible. My memories of Rainbow Caverns are pretty faded by now, but it was my favorite feature on the Mine Train ride, and I still have a love of glowy things!
K. Martinez, as a die-hard collector of vintage Disneyland paper items, I agree with you! I love the graphics and the strong, simple designs. I acquired a Flying Saucers item, and it’s almost *too* simple! And that’s Mr. Gullywhumper, if you please.
K. Martinez, I loved those spot illustrations too, and once made custom rub-down transfers (because I had a lot of space left on a page) using those.
Hogarth, I couldn’t have said it better myself, I miss the days when rides and attractions didn’t have to be tied to the latest IP. As we know, some of the best stuff was original to the park, even if they later made movies of varying quality based on those. It’s pretty amazing to look at old aerial photos to see just how much land was used for the MTTNW, it was huge! And yes, those dinosaurs - another thing that I always looked forward to seeing as a kid.
zach, ha, I know, imagine standing near that guy when he decided to light up a stoagie. Whew! Of course some folks enjoy that, so what do I know. I’m very curious about the early brochure you mentioned!
KS, wow, a drive from Lancaster was quite a haul! Was there even a freeway that would take you most of the way at that time? SoCal was building those as fast as they could but it would take a while. I think about how I wish I’d been on the Mine Train at night, and how amazing Rainbow Caverns would have looked when one’s eyes were a bit more adjusted to the dark. Wow, your description of being a Mine Train operator is (dare I say it) magical!
I also miss the Mighty Microscope, and wouldn’t it be great to see Keller’s Killers under the Mighty Microscope. Presented by Monsanto and “Zappitt” bug killer. The Killers were in Fantasyland? I’m confused. Was it next to the tiny AutoTopia? Like Care Bears or whatever those cardboard things were when the Motor Boat Cruise completed and amazing rehab? Was there a flyer for that? Weren’t those bears on toilet paper commercials? Am I mixing metaphors? That’s all I got…but having Bertha standing next to the Bertha Mae is epic! Thanks Major!
ReplyDeleteAm very late to the party, but am enjoying today’s comments.
ReplyDeleteKS, I love the details you share about your Disneyland experiences. (We can’t get enough of your stories—from you AND our other Jr. Gorillas who worked in Disneyland.) I know I’m repeating myself, but you were probably one of the folks who made my childhood trips memorable.
Nanook, I’m surprised you [or someone else] didn’t mention the lack-of-proofreading skills, regarding the backside of that brochure. It’s usually the current items and signs that have mistakes—not the vintage ones. :op
Thanks, Major.
Also late, delayed by travel.
ReplyDeleteAnother classic GDB post, come for the pictures, stay for the comments!
Happy you got this brochure, Major, and loving everyone’s memories. Thank you!
JG