Flower Mart & Matterhorn, September 1959

The Flower Mart on West Center Street would not have enticed me at all, as pretty as it was. But there were bathrooms at the end, and those would have enticed me. Mr. Handyman is in the foreground, complete with his high school wood shop toolbox, his spirit level, and a handful of stakes (for vampires!).


Here's Christopher D. Miller's window; he was Walt Disney's grandson (born in 1954), and Walt was obviously pleased as punch. I'm guessing that he had visions of his grandson playing little league baseball and Pop Warner football, which made the gym an appropriate location for the tribute. I want my name on the massage parlor! How can I make that happen?


A daring climber can be seen at the peak of the Matterhorn; I am reminded of the Grinch lurking atop Mt. Crumpit. The structure in the foreground hid the boat storage area for Storybook Land; since this view was visible from the Disneyland Railroad, I am surprised that the powers-that-be seemed OK with the jumble of ladders and scaffolding.

Anything Goes Saturday - Pleasure Island

Today I have four photos (from October 1968) Pleasure Island, in Wakefield Massachusetts! This park opened in 1959; and who gets the credit for designing it? None other than C.V. Wood, the same man who helped Walt build Disneyland, and then tried to take most of the credit for it!

Pleasure Island was even billed as "The Disneyland of the Northeast" - Walt must have loved that. The park was 80 acres, and offered such things as a Space Rocket ride, a Pirate ride, a Moby Dick ride, a Western Land (complete with the "Diamond Lil Theater", sponsored by Pepsi - sound familiar?), a narrow gauge railroad, and best of all, Monkey Island. I defy you to name anything that isn't improved with the presence of monkeys! Can't do it, can you?

This first photo shows the fun (but modest) entrance, including a sign informing visitors that state law prohibits the park from opening until 1:00 PM on Sunday.


Here's another shot of the entrance, and ticket booths. Notice the giant rocket... I wonder how similar that attraction was to Disneyland's "Rocket to the Moon"?


Unfortunately, the pix I have from inside the park are not great. Sorry! This looks to me like it was the equivalent of Town Square, only there's nothing there. Except for the Shutterbug Shoppe which I guess sold bugs.


This wonderful attraction featuring a barn with a slide is called "Barn and Slide". BAM! Fun Fact: some scenes from the Cliff Robertson movie "Charly" were filmed here? Check out all of the orbs in this photo, each one is a real ghost. All buildings over 2 stories should have a slide (on each level) for emergency evac. Who's with me?

You know what's funny about Massachusetts? It has long, cold winters, which makes it hard to run an amusement park and stay profitable. Sadly, Pleasure Island went belly-up in 1969, to be replaced with an equally fun office park.

"Fantasy" Shop, April 29 1956

Happy friday the 13th, everyone! You've got time to spend a minute or two in Fantasyland, circa 1956, haven't you?

Walking through Sleeping Beauty Castle puts you right in the thick of Fantasyland. The three guests in the middle of the picture are wondering which direction to go, since they've never been to Disneyland before! I've always liked the way the building in the background jut out from the castle walls (just like in real medieval towns, apparently). Notice that the shop is called "Fantasy of Disneyland" - eventually renamed "Tinker Bell Toy Shop".


Here's a closer look. First of all, that lady is rockin' the head scarf or babushka or whatever it's called! I wonder if she is Russian Orthodox? The shop window has three creepy mannequins, modeling tasteful fashions for girls. "Marsha"!


You know it, you love it, it's the Chicken of the Sea pirate ship! I call chickens "fish of the land", which is weird and annoying.

Entrance & Main Street, June 1968

The Mickey Mouse floral portrait is one of more famous icons of Disneyland, but it's looking pretty bare here... apparently it had just been freshly planted. Give it a week or so! What, you're not coming back in a week? The fence looks sad and naked without the colorful attraction posters that used to adorn it; I guess that they stopped displaying those around 1967.


Here's a lovely shot looking north. As much as I love the olive trees in the hub (especially at night, with their twinkling lights), they are obscuring most the castle here. The shadows are getting longer on this summer afternoon.


Turning to look south towards Main Street Station, the clock tells us that it is almost 5:30. I wonder what that banner over Town Square was for? I'm going to guess that it said "Disneyland Welcomes Major Pepperidge". Notice that the gas streetlights are already lit though it won't be dark for hours. Let's go to the Main Street Cinema and watch Lillian Gish do something old-timey.

Calico, California - March 1963

Today we'll drive about 2 hours, headed northeast to San Bernardino County (way out in the Mojave Desert) to Calico Ghost Town! I've blogged about it before, but as a reminder I'll mention that Walter Knott purchased Calico back in 1951 (having worked there as a laborer back in his youth) and began restoring the former silver-mining town; it attracted tourists for miles around.

I love this sign!


Here's a picturesque shot of the parking lot. And I know how much you all love photographs of parking lots.


There's silver in them thar hills! Or at least there used to be. Just imagine being here in the middle of the summer, digging in a mine all day. Sweaty? You bet! I would've opened a Slurpee stand and watched the money come rolling in.


This appears to be some sort of little funicular railroad that I wasn't previously aware of. It used to shuttle people from the parking lot up to the ghost town, and I'm pretty sure it's no longer in operation.


This kid is getting in touch with his inner Munster by sitting in the driver's seat of an old-fashioned hearse.


Stay tuned for more photos from Calico Ghost Town!

Family Snapshots, 1958

The old black and white family snapshot... my mom has boxes full of the things! None from Disneyland though, boo hoo.

Here are two nice images from some other family, circa 1958. Let's start with this photo of the Midget Autopia - one of the few strictly kid-sized rides at Disneyland. The genius who thought of putting two steering wheels in each car should have been made honorary President of the United States. It must have been kind of exciting for small children, taking this winding drive through picturesque countryside while leaving mom and dad behind.


The Astro Jets prove that everything is better with the prefix "Astro" added to it. It's a scientific fact. This slightly blurry picture shows - mom and daughter? - big sis and little sis? - aboard the "Capella". The other rockets were named Arcturus, Altair, Antares, Canopus, Castor, Pica, Procyon, Regulus, Rigel, Sirius, Spicus, and Vega.

Knott's, October 1964

More vintage Knott's Berry Farm...

A prospector has washed his clothes and hung them out to dry. Notice the little cabin says "Roy's Castle". Who was Roy? The happy couple are standing in front of the entrance to the mine tunnel. I remember worrying about that dark, potentially scary tunnel! But as it turns out, you just walked through and that was that. No undead miners were in there waiting to eat your brains.


There's Calico Mountain, home of the Calico Mine Train of course. Bud Hurlbutt designed this attraction, and developed the notorious "hidden queue" that became a standard theme park trick. Sure it looks like it's a walk-on, but much of the line was not visible until you were in it. Walt Disney himself was mighty impressed!


No Knott's post would be complete without a look at Handsome Brady and Whiskey Bill. Does anybody know the significance of that "17 Miles to Sodaville" sign?

Matterhorn, May 1964

Considering how many times I have seen photos of the mighty Matterhorn, it might surprise you to know that I still get a bit of a thrill, remembering those childhood days when you could see it from the freeway. And 50-some years after its debut, it is still a terrific ride! 2 tracks, abdominal snowmen (they do 500 situps a day), glittering ice crystal caverns, and a free cookie for everyone at the end (OK, no free cookie, but wouldn't that be awesome?). I wish I could ride it RIGHT NOW.


Another look from the northern Fantasyland side....

Anything Goes Saturday, Giant Muskie!

Welcome to beautiful Nevis, Minnesota (sometime in the 1950's)! Minnesota is the "Land of 10,000 lakes" (actually closer to 12,000), so fishing is a big part of life there. My dad was born in Austin (home of Spam), and I spent plenty of wonderful summers with my grandparents on various lakes angling for perch, walleye, bass, and northern pike. But I never caught a mighty muskellunge (aka "muskie")! If you have ever seen one of these large, fearsome fish in person, you will know just how forbidding their appearance is - and at up to 5 feet long for truly huge specimens, they are an "apex" predator... humans are the only threat to an adult muskie.

This wonderful display of a "Tiger Muskie" (a cross between a northern pike and a muskellunge) is a piece of Americana that really appeals to me. Who wouldn't love a giant muskie as long as a bus? "Come on honey, any jerk can see Niagara Falls, let's go to Nevis!". You'll find similar oversized fish in other towns throughout the state.


This lady looks like she's all ready to spend some quality time at the lake. I hope she got to catch fish, and not just cook them. She should definitely prepare for "skeeters". Leeches are an added bonus, there's nothing like wading in a lake and finding a couple of leeches stuck to your legs.

Happily, the giant tiger muskie can still be found in Nevis, although he has had a facelift (or paint job, or whatever you want to call it), and he now has a roof over his head.


I hope you have enjoyed your visit to Nevis, Minnesota!

2000th POST!

That's right homies, today is post # 2000 here on Gorillas Don't Blog! I remember, long ago, when I planned on quitting after 1000 posts (see the 1000th post here). What a fool I was! The comments and participation by the readers of GDB are what make this project fun and keep me going when I am in danger of burnout. So thanks to everybody who has taken the time to comment, imparting wisdom and humor to my hastily-written posts.

On rare occasions I've even had a chance to meet a few of you, as well as my fellow bloggers. Patrick (Matterhorn1959) Dave (Davelandblog), Tim (Vintage Disneyland Tickets), Chris (Meet the World), Jason (Disneyland Nomenclature), Connie (Life Is A Journey), Kevin (Kevin Kidney), Ken (Outside The Berm), and oh jeez, I'm probably leaving somebody out. There are so many other great blogs out there that I read on a regular basis... too many to mention, but they are all appreciated. The Disney blogger community is made up of some wonderful people!

I have a few images that I have been saving for #2000... photos that I consider to be extra special. Hopefully you'll agree! Like this first picture (undated, but probably 1956 or 1957) in glorious Kodachrome; Black Bart - the scoundrel! - hams it up for a photographer, robbing a group of five girls in front of a colorful Rainbow Ridge.


Here's a closer look. If this picture doesn't make you smile, nothing will! Skinny black pants were "in" for girls that year, apparently. I love the look on Bart's face, and the pure joy on the faces of the girls.


The lovable (and, I am legally obligated to add, "short-lived") Viewliner was a spiffy little train that ran between Tomorrowland and Fantasyland for about 15 months before its demise. Sure, we love the Monorail that replaced it, but if only the two could have lived together in peace and harmony. This terrific shot shows the "fastest miniature train in the world" as it crossed the bridge over Tomorrowland Lake. The ducks are not impressed.

Here's a nice photo of the old bandstand (circa 1955), from the short period when it was just to the west of Sleeping Beauty Castle. I think that the orange roof didn't stay that color for very long, either! A small group of guests has gathered to listen to the Disneyland Band; the small flags and the patriotic bunting might be leftover from the opening day ceremonies.

This is really the only decent photo of a Phantom Boat that I have... but it's a doozy! Calling Batman... somebody stole your boat. I love the big fins and the "jet engine" cowlings, combined with the prosaic outboard motor. Those motors were notorious for overheating and conking out, leaving guests stranded. Eventually a cast member sat in the back and piloted the boats for them. Lame! From this angle, it's as if there was nothing but miles of grassy meadow in the background; just imagine if this attraction had survived to see beautiful mature landscaping.

Well, that about does it for today! I am sorry to say that there definitely won't be a 3000th post, because I am very nearly out of slides, and will almost certainly run out sometime this year. At that point... who knows. I've got some thinkin' to do. Meanwhile, thanks once again to all GDB readers for your support!