FIFTH ANNIVERSARY!

Today marks the FIVE YEAR ANNIVERSARY of Gorillas Don't Blog. I can hardly believe it, especially since my original goal was 1000 posts - something that was achieved over two years ago. I've scanned the majority of my collection, with only a relatively small amount remaining. It seemed like it would last forever, but sadly that is not the case. However, this will give me an opportunity to share my vast collection of beanie babies, Hummel figurines, and items from the Franklin Mint. You'll love it!

Hey, guess what? I saved a few especially nice images just for this occasion; let's take a look.

The wonderful, short-lived Viewliner (aka "The Train of Tomorrow") sits at the station in Tomorrowland (there was another station in Fantasyland, y'know), about to embark on a wonky figure-eight trip around the northeast section of Disneyland. In case you care, this slide was carefully dated "July 20 1957"; the Viewliner had only been operating about a month. It eventually closed in September of 1958.

You don't see too many photos taken aboard the Viewliner! Here's one as we round a curve right next to the berm. I believe that the Viewliner was in the northeast corner of the park, and making the turn to head west.


I love this picture of the Pack Mules as they return from a trip through the Rainbow Desert (this was a few years before Nature's Wonderland). The brave and resourceful guide looks like an undercover FBI agent.


And here's a terrific early photo of the TWA Rocket to the Moon! Cherry-blossom pink must have been an "in" color for ladies in 1955. Over to the left, a side entrance to the park - for employees only - is open, but I assume that's a security guard making sure nobody thinks about sneaking in for free. To the right, you can see that the Flight Circle is just a muddy hole in the ground at this point.


There's Vesey Walker and the Disneyland Band (circa 1956) performing at the old bandstand in "Magnolia Park" (which was about where the Indiana Jones attraction is today). Is the band playing classic Disney songs, or olde-timey songs from yesteryear? Either way, the guests seem to be enjoying themselves.


Well, that about does it for today. Thanks as always to all of you Junior Gorillas (i.e. readers) out there, especially those of you who take the time to comment - your encouragement keeps me going. I'm not sure I'm going to be able to meet my revised goal of 2000 posts, but I'll do my darndest!

Freedomland, July 1962 - Part Dos

Freedomland, continued!

That's not the Mark Twain, it's "The American". I believe that there was a second steamboat, called "The Canadian". I like the two curved staircases on the fronty bit. Notice that this boat only has two levels on which guests could stand, rather than the 3 on the Twain. When I think of sternwheeler steamboats, I think of the Mississippi. But at Freedomland, you took a tour of the Great Lakes. If you look to the right, you can see two smaller sidewheeler tugboats, which were (as far as I can tell) the equivalent of the Keelboats at that other park.

Another view of The American, with one of the Santa Fe steam locomotives passing by in the background. The small trestle bridge over the water is a nice touch, I'd like something similar at Disneyland.


Also visible from the Great Lakes was this shell of a building in Old Chicago, which caught fire several times a day. Folks are gathered to watch as firemen extinguish the blaze, often helped by small children from the audience.

Stay tuned for more Freedomland!

More From Expo 67

Let's go back to August 1967, and take a visit to Montreal's Expo 67! I have a lot of pictures from this fair, but my knowledge of the thing is not very deep, and the references that I have aren't especially helpful. But I'll do the best I can, and any smart readers can feel free to pitch in.

This first photo was taken on the Ile Notre Dame (the Fair took place on three islands in the Saint Lawrence River). Up above us is the Minirail (not a monorail!), which would have been a great way to get the lay of the land. The building in the background with the diamond-shaped lattice work is the Steel Pavilion, while the stylized green "trees" were part of the Canadian Pulp and Paper Industry building. What could be more exciting than pulp and paper? Nothing, that's what.


Looky, a boat ride! That's some boat, it appears to be built from PVC pipe and tarps. You won't see any animatronic hippos or elephants on this river (animatronic elephants are extinct in Canada).


And another boat ride... this time it's a strange outrigger thing with a sail made out of an old wool baby blanket.


In the foreground is a "giant size molecular abstraction that gleams in the sun by day and takes on an aura of mystery by night" - part of the Polymer exhibit. Behind it is the Pavilion Du Telephone: "Canadian telephone companies tell the story of Canada and communications within the context of Man and his World". In the brown cylindrical portion of the building, guests could view "Canada 67", a thrilling Walt Disney film in "Circle-Vision 360˚".


Over to the left is what I believe to be the "Man the Producer" pavilion. The exhibits were divided into three sections, "Resources for Man", "Progress", and "Man in Control?". Expo '67 was the most successful World's Fair of the 20th century, with over 50 million visitors. Most photos don't look particularly crowded...


.... but just look at the queue waiting to get in to see the Circle-Vision 360˚ film!!

Century 21 Expo, September 1962

Today I have 4 more images from Seattle's "Century 21" Expo!

Part of the "Boulevards of the World and Food Circus", the Million Dollar Display was available for fans of money everywhere. There was a cylindrical wire-mesh cage containing some 30 tons of silver dollars, just like the one I have in my rumpus room. The coins were offered for sale after the Fair.


I don't have much to write about this photo other than pointing out the obvious - the Alweg Monorial, the Ferris Wheel. Does anybody have anything interesting to add?


The Bell System Pavilion contained displays that showed the advancements in communication over the history of mankind, as well as the many (space age!) technological developments that were improving our lives. Like transistors! Love the "Fairliner" tram in front.


The Nalley's Pavilion; Nalley's was a locally-based food manufacturer. The building was designed without any straight lines or sharp angles, instead using curving shapes. Ain't that sumpthin'?

If you are interested in more information about this wonderful fair, I would highly recommend Bill Cotter's new book from the "Images of America" series, "Seattle's 1962 World's Fair", which was very helpful to me in researching this post.

Casey Jr. - 1957

Everybody loves the charming Casey Jr. Circus Trains! Except for commies, of course.

Here's a great view of Casey as he pulls his train of whimsical circus cars over a Romanesque bridge (a simple and elegant design).


Here's a better look at Casey, with the calliope car right behind him. The ornate decorations from one of these cars was up for auction from Profiles In History last December!



This would look great in my living room.

Busch Gardens, Van Nuys

Before there was a Busch Gardens in Virginia and Florida, there was only one park in glorious Van Nuys California. I always point out that I regularly drive past the site where the park was, now completely taken over by brewery facilities. And I cry uncontrollably. And then I go get a Tommy's chili-cheeseburger at the very dicey hamburger stand nearby.

Busch Gardens had a water flume ride, and some very slow boat rides, and a monorail that went through the factory (think "Willy Wonka" only with beer). You didn't go there for thrills; rather, you would go to enjoy the beautiful ponds, plants, tropical birds, and metal buckets of beer (no kidding).

See? Parrots. Can you feel the excitement yet?


I came for the ponds, but stayed for the fountains. And man-eating swans.


Delicious flamingos and crunchy mallards...


Brown pelicans and a lovely waterfall. I know, it really doesn't look that amazing, but it was a unique place for families in SoCal to spend a few hours. I miss it!

Zorro Parade, 1958

Swish swish swish! That's the sound of Zorro's rapier as it slices the letter "Z" in your puffy shirt!

Walt Disney's "Zorro" television program was a smash hit from October 1957 through to June 1959. In 1958, lucky fans of the show could see Zorro (played buy Guy Williams) and a host of colorfully costumed characters in a parade down Main Street U.S.A.

Here's a wonderful shot, with Vesey Walker and the Disneyland Band at the start of the festivities. This photo reminds me of a genuine small town parade that I posted on this blog years ago. Notice the sign in the distance heralding the opening of the Grand Canyon Diorama.


This parade could only be improved by using the music to the Main Street Electrical Parade!


And there he is, the man himself.... ZORRO! At least I think that's him. Black clothing and a black horse made him a mere silhouette, perhaps fitting for this man whose identity was a secret.


I wanted to include this close-up of this group of young boys who are obviously thrilled to see their hero!


I have a few more photos from this parade comin' up soon.

Castle and Entrance to Tomorrowland, 1956

I have a small bunch of slides that I am guestimating (for a variety of reasons) as being from around 1958. However, the two you'll see today must be from a few years earlier. Sometimes it can be hard to tell, but in each of these you can see the short-lived signs that showed guests the layout of the "land" they were about to enter.

First up is Sleeping Beauty Castle. Nary a hint of Barbie pink or baby blue to be seen! Even the medieval banners are a soft shade of gray; looks classy if you ask me. Today we apparently need to be bludgeoned with a rainbow. There's the sign I mentioned earlier, over to the left. Check out the kid in his cool checked jacket. A few tasteful Christmas decorations are the only hint we get to let us know roughly what time of year this was.


I would be unable to resist this entrance! I have a friend who told me that he never went into Tomorrowland in the 50's because there was practically nothing to do. ZOIKS! I can think of at least a dozen things I would want to do!!

Autopia at Dusk, 1960

I always love a good vintage photo of the Tomorrowland Autopia. Today's examples are a bit different, having been snapped just as the sun is moments from disappearing below the horizon. This model of Autopia vehicle sported headlights, but they aren't lit yet - assuming that they lit up at all.


Look at the line of cars backed up behind that lady! On a busy day the attraction truly resembled real Orange County freeways, with gridlock that would make a grown man cry.

Big River, 1957

Both of today's photos were taken near the load area for the Mark Twain, looking slightly east towards Tom Sawyer Island (one of Huck Finn's rafts has just arrived), and beyond that the western edge of Frontierland, which, in 1957, was mostly empty except for the train station. Notice the open-air "cattle cars" full of passengers, just visible to the left; and of course the huge Holidayland tent peeks up over the trees.

Lucky us, the photographer lingered long enough for a Keel Boat to glide into the frame. I never rode the Keel Boats - something I regret! - thinking that they would always be there to ride "next time". There's a lesson there somewhere.