Vintage San Francisco

It's time for another visit to Sam Frank's Disco! Vintage style.

I love this first picture, from 1949, with what I assume are three generations of women (well, two women and one baby) standing in front of their very cute house with a thriving flower garden. I sure wish I knew where this was exactly - it would be fun to see if the house still exists.

Everyone loves the cable cars in SF; are there other cities in the U.S. that have similar cable car systems? These venerable conveyances helped people navigate San Francisco's considerable hills. This boy (in a photo from June, 1956) is about to hop on. He is wearing one of those change holders on his belt, but the cable car workers wore caps and uniforms, while this kid is wearing a jacket that he must have purchased in Chinatown. I wonder if he was involved in the Beat movement? Let's all go to a coffee house for folk music and poetry.

Speaking of Chinatown, here's a storefront featuring what appears to be Chinese fashions - I could almost see a Hollywood starlet wearing some of those outfits. Lots of silk! The colorful paper lanterns overhead must have looked lovely at night.

I hope you have enjoyed your visit to San Francisco.

Just a reminder that I will probably not be able to respond to comments much (or possibly at all) today. Thank you for your patience! Happy Saturday, everyone.

Parking Lot, August 1966

I forgot to add a note before, but today and tomorrow I will probably not be able to respond to comments as per usual. Sorry! I look forward to reading everybody's thoughts on Sunday. Thanks!

Photos of Disneyland's parking lot are always surprisingly popular. I mean, it's a parking lot! But those acres of cars and asphalt became associated with so many good things to come. Today's scans are not so much of the parking lot as they are from the parking lot. Fun with prepositions.

My goodness, what a sight! The yellow Monorail scoots along the beamway toward the Disneyland Hotel. At first I thought that maybe our photographer just arrived late in the afternoon for a visit - it happened more often back when the park didn't cost an arm and a leg. But you can see that the gentleman is holding a Donald Duck cap, the kind with a squeaky bill, so he is on his way home. I have one of those hats from my own childhood, still in good condition. 

I wonder if our photographer had just been dropped off by this tram that is heading away from us? We can see a female CM on the back, in her red and white striped shirt, blue skirt, red cap and red stockings. Notice the row of oleanders, flowering in alternating pink and white. Much nicer than chain link.

And it's kind of neat to see the wonderful Anaheim Convention Center, resembling a large spaceship, under construction in the distance. It would open on July 12, 1967.

Snow White's Scary Adventures, and more

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to two GDB friends, Zach, and Mike Cozart!

Here are two more photos, from a fun June 1963 batch. First up is this nice view of Snow White's Scary Adventures. You probably recognize some of the gals in line... two others are just about to start their journey in a little mine car. Sure, they're laughing NOW...! I love that we get a pretty decent look at the beautiful mural that graced the front of this attraction. Those two vultures appear to be looking right at those ladies, and licking their lips. Vultures have lips, right?

I zoomed in on part of the mural, and lightened it up a bit. In other photos, we've seen a CM dressed as Snow White manning the controls, but today it looks like Fred The Mechanic had to do the honors. Those mysterious buttons and lights! It's like playing the mighty Wurlitzer at Radio City Music Hall.

You know me, I like a sunny, bright photo of any location in Disneyland. But the gray, cloudy sky somehow suits this lovely shot of Skull Rock. My favorite mermaid is there too, as is Casey Jr. I sure would like to have been there when some genius announced that both of these features were slated for demolition.

More Stuff From The Box

Everybody loves the Stuff From The Box!

Item #1: another souvenir bookmark from the 1939 New York World's Fair, on its original card. I've never felt the need to own a fancy bookmark, any scrap of paper works just fine. Even a piece of beef jerky will do.

Item #2: This souvenir compact, complete with powder puff and traces of the original powder inside. This is a fairly cheap and common example (I bought it because it was so inexpensive), some folks will pay big bucks for fancy ones though; they can be very nice, with silver or gold, and real enamel, and sometimes even jewels. JEWELS!!

Item #3: A plastic pin of Jiminy Cricket himself. "Ta da!". I bought this in a junky antiques shop in Pasadena. All of those junky antiques shops are long-gone as Pasadena turned the area into a more high-end shopping and dining area. I miss the real Old Town, though.

Item #4: McKinley for President! He was in office from 1897 to 1901. As some of you may recall from history class, William McKinley was assassinated by an anarchist at the Pan American Exposition in Buffalo.

Item #5: a small advertising badge (about 1/25" long from top to bottom) advertising Lifebuoy soap - the coral-colored soap that Ralphie had to endure in the movie "A Christmas Story"!

Item #6 is a fun, hefty cereal premium from Quaker Puffed Rice and Puffed Wheat, a Gabby Hayes (Roy Rogers' sidekick) giveaway circa 1951. "Quaker Puffed Wheat and Puffed Rice are shot from guns!" was the famous slogan, and with this ring, you could pull back a spring-loaded "firing pin" and load anything into the barrel - hopefully something harmless like puffed rice. This one is made from aluminum, but there is a brass version too, I have one of those somewhere. Notice the Quaker Oats man on the side of the brass ring.

And finally (for today), item # 7: a Tom Mix "Straight Shooter" magnifier, with built-in compass, circa 1939, a premium from Ralston cereal. If you have this on you in the wilderness, you will always know how to get home. And if the sun is out, you can start a fire with the magnifying glass. It could literally save your life!

 I think I need to start taking more pictures of STUFF.

Special Guest Post!

 Here's something a little different! GDB friend Mark Raymond sent me a fun account of his attempt to get a job as an Imagineer at Disneyland, back around 1988. In fact, he sent it long ago, and I either didn't see it initially, or I forgot it (which seems unlikely to me). Anyway, I asked Mark if it would still be OK to share his story, and he graciously said yes in spite of my extreme lameness. In a separate email, he'd sent me a bunch of scans of snapshots that he'd taken in 1977; obviously they are not related to the text in any way, but it felt like this would be a good time to share some of them (the blue text is provided by Mark). So, sit back and relax!

The Disney Job.

To start, I was born in Whittier in 1961.  Family photos show me at Disneyland in 1965 but I don't remember it.  My memories, of anything back then, is in bits and pieces.  The first visit I recall with clarity is 1968, right after the opening of the New Tomorrowland and the POTC.   As a fan, I was hooked.  I read everything I could find on the park, Walt Disney, etc.  I knew I wanted to be an Imagineer.

The Main Entrance taken from the Monorail. Mickey was feeling a little colorless that day.

In the days before the internet, when we still sent smoke signals, we didn't know when our favorite attraction was being removed until we saw these signs.  The Mine Train was one of my favorites and this sign greeted me.  Not a good omen for my day.

I'm feeling like I need a tuna sandwich and a Root Beer.

Back then, in a time before APs, we went to the park at least twice a year.  I always enjoyed myself but my mind always wanted to know how things worked.  I would look backwards to see the secret actuators, lights, or the backside of a prop.  In the early 70's I took up photography.  My parents would shrug their shoulders at the amount of gear I took to the park.  And yes, I was probably the guy shooting flash photography on rides because I wanted to see what was hidden in the shadows.  I also took tons of natural light photos; if YouTube had existed back then I would have been all over it.

Ephalumps and Woozles.  Oops, wrong ride.

The Baboon family in their original location near the African Veldt.  There's momma Jean and baby Fred.

Dad is trying to decide if he likes light meat or dark meat.  Yes, they are in there.

In 1979 I graduated from Sierra HS and made a beeline to Disneyland and applied for work.  I didn't get a job so I went to my second passion, the USAF.  I enlisted in 1980 and left California.  My parents still lived in Whittier so I would come back on holidays.  If someone wanted to go with me I headed to Disneyland and just enjoyed a day out.

These Matterhorn shot are pretty dark but they were taken with a simple camera.  The exposed scaffolding always seemed a bit sketchy.  I hope they beefed it up when Harold was added or he'll fall straight to the bottom.

I feel sorry for this family, they zip through the mountain only to be blinded by a flash cube.

I like this seating arrangement so much better than what we have today.  Riding with your girlfriend was so much fun.

In 1988 I wanted to do something different.  The USAF had trained me as an electrician and I loved the job, but I missed being around family.  So, prior to reenlisting, I took all of my leave and headed home for an extended leave.  I pieced together a resume and headed to Disneyland and Knott's.  At Disneyland I filled out an application, attached my resume, and handed them to the person at the counter.  She told me they weren't hiring at that moment but my application would be reviewed.  As I turned to leave she was scanning my resume and stopped me, she said she thought I was applying for general employment.  She disappeared with my resume then returned with another man who directed me to a small break room.  I wish I could remember his name but we talked for about an hour, he was asking very pointed technical questions so I knew I was being interviewed.  In the end he told me that I would receive a card in about four weeks, regardless of hiring status.

Top of the lift hill took you outside and to a great view of Main Street.  A Skyway car passes overhead and notice the brilliantly disguised speaker in the pillar on the right.

A nice view of the pinkish Matterhorn with a Skyway car passing through.

Monorail Red viewed from the Kodak Photo Spot.  How many people have a picture like this?

I waited.  Six weeks later, no card.  I called Disneyland but they said I would just have to wait.  Running out of leave, I returned to the USAF and reenlisted. Two weeks after that, my dad called me and said a card had arrived, I WAS HIRED.  I can't remember the exact wording but it was for Technical Services.  I went to the AF Retentions office but they would not release my reenlistment.  DAMN!  I called the number on the card and talked to the guy that interviewed me.  I told him my situation and that I was sorry for wasting his time.  He told me that the cards had been delayed when they were filed instead of mailed.  So, I don't know where I would have been working but it was technical.   I was angry for a bit but I got over it.  I ended up staying in the Air Force for 20 years, I met my wife, and now live in San Antonio, TX.  

Skyway over the Monorail Station.  No Peoplemovers today, Space Mountain construction shut them down.

My second time riding in the front and in the bubble.  So much fun until we hit a truck.  Yes we did.  

One of the driver's control panels in the Monorail bubble.  We are sitting only a few feet from the Hotel Monorail Station but not close enough to get off.  A delivery truck had entered the front parking lot of the hotel instead of the delivery entrance.  He had wedged himself under the flashing that is mounted under the Monorail beamway.  As we entered the station, the monorail hit the raised flashing which damaged the monorail.  We sat there for about 40 minutes until the tug came to pull the monorail into the station.  The wreck damaged some fiberglass on the monorail as well as its electric pickup so we weren't going anywhere.  We got a free tram ride back to the main gate.

I still love Disneyland and I would like to come back but I don't have family in California any more.  We're saving up for a big trip.  For now, I get my Disneyland fix on GDB, Micechat, and on Youtube.  There are some really good Tubers out there and I've even uploaded a handful of videos from a trip in 1992.  On a sad note, all of my pictures and 8mm film from the 70s was lost during a military move when one of the boxes disappeared.  I still have a few pix that weren't in the box but over 300 Kodachromes are gone.  I would share them all if I could get them back.

Space Mountain still under construction.  It opened only a few months later.  This is the reason the Peoplemover was closed, maybe they didn't want the riders to see any Disney secrets.

Another construction photo, notice there isn't a construction wall in the way?  I guess they are putting some finishing touches on the Speedramp. 

Many, MANY thanks to Mark Raymond for sharing this story! I'm sure he wonders "what might have been", had the timing been just a little different. But it sounds like he had (and has) a nice life in San Antonio with his wife, so it all worked out. It kills me that all of Mark's photos and films vanished, ouch. By the way, thank you for your service, Mark. I hope you all enjoyed today's post.

Two Nice Ones From 1956

I have a pair of pretty nice scans for you today, from 1956. The early days!

Check out this pretty image of the approach to the entrance to Adventureland. This sure doesn't look like your Grandpappy's amusement park. I've always been fascinated with that bit of thatched roof to the right of the sign, sort of hovering there in a way that doesn't seem to make much sense. And yet... it manages to evoke strange and rustic architecture from exotic lands. 

To the right we can see part of a map, the sort that was placed at the portal to each "land", in case a puzzled guest had no idea what "Adventureland" would offer them. Wouldn't it be neat to have one of those in your collection?!

I wanted to zoom in for a closer look at Grandma and her three Grandkids (two girls and a boy). The girls have what appear to be paper "coolie" hats, while the boy wears a cowboy topper. Even at this not-very-great distance, everything is tinted slightly blue, it must have been a smoggy day. But it looks nice here!

Next we have this great shot of the façade of the Peter Pan dark ride. To the right of the central shield, on the "tent", it looks like Peter's shadow is out for a little adventure, without Peter! A sign tells us that admission is 35¢. No mention of "D" tickets, much to my surprise. Could you actually hand the ride operator a quarter and a dime to ride?

Leftovers

Like the title of today's post says, I am using up some leftovers today. Do they also qualify as "leftuggies"? The difference is subtle, and only the scientists at Cal Tech can truly know.

This first one is strangely pretty - a view of Storybook Land as seen from the Skyway Chalet, from a gondola that has either just launched or is about to return to Earth. The patchwork landscape is lovely, and there is enough landscaping to block the outside world pretty effectively, even from this elevated vantage point. We can see two Casey trains, one Canal Boat, and even the adorable Fantasyland train station. Just to the right of that station I can see the rectangular sign for the Market Basket store that used to be in Anaheim.

I admit it, this next one is pretty dull. It's nice, but it's dull. Like a Buick from the 1980s. 

Universal Studios, June 1987

I have a series of photos from Universal Studios (Hollywood), dated "June 1987". Nothing too amazing, but I always love a look at this park that I was so fond of when I was a kid. I relied a LOT on a wonderful website called thestudiotour.com, a well-organized, well-researched, very informative site with tons of history regarding USH. 

This first photo, taken from a tram, shows a backlot area known as "Denver Street". Here's some history from thestudiotour.com: "Medicine Bow Wyoming" in the studio tour guide book maps was the first  Denver Street on the Universal backlot. It was built by Revue Studios shortly after MCA purchased the Universal Property (1959).  Three western streets existed when the studio tour opened in 1964, namely: Six Points Texas, Denver Street, and Laramie Street. 

Denver Street as it stands today was constructed around 1967 following the devastating fire that year, south of the Tower of London set. As Universal is a working studio, set locations often change completely over the years. Denver Street has moved at least twice since it was first built. 

Here's a photo from thestudiotour.com showing what the street looked like not too long ago:

Say, what's the deal with this house? Thestudiotour.com has got us covered: Originally located on old Colonial Street the house was originally known as the Keller House and was built for ‘All My Sons’ in 1948, before being moved to Colonial Street in 1950. It later appeared in the Humphrey Bogart movie ‘Desperate Hours’ in 1955. Later on it was seen in ‘Lucas Tanner’ (1974-75) as the residence of the title character (played by David Hartman).

Until Desperate Housewives took over the street, this building was named after, and based on the design of, the Frat house in ‘Animal House’ (1978). However, that film was shot entirely on location in Eugene, Oregon (mostly at the University of Oregon), and NOT on the backlot at Universal. The real-world location for the frat house was demolished in 1986. 

The Delta house on the backlot was created in 1978 by converting the Keller house. The Delta House has one legitimate claim to being used in the ‘Animal House’ universe though… it was used in the ‘National Lampoon’s Delta House’ TV Series (1979) which was a short-lived (15 episodes) watered-down sitcom sequel to the film.

MORE THAN YOU EVER WANTED TO KNOW!

Next is this house, with a billboard out front featuring Jerry Mathers, Barbara Billingsly, and Tony Dow in "The New Leave it to Beaver" (1985-1989). Once again, thestudiotour.com was a huge help: Built for the 1996 Leave it to Beaver movie, this house replaces an almost identical, older property which was known as the Paramount House (it was originally built for Desperate Hours 1955) and was best known as the home of the Cleaver family from Leave It To Beaver.

The 1955 house is located in a remote place on the backlot and is not visible from the Studio Tour tram.

On Desperate Housewives, it was 4352 Wisteria Lane; the home of the Young family (1990–2006), Shepherd family (2006) and Bolen family (2009).

We're away from the backlot now, and in the shopping & dining area. Four cute kids pose with the scary (but friendly) Phantom of the Opera in front of the 1-hour photo store. For me, one of the biggest thrills was seeing Frankenstein's monster or The Phantom. Frankie appeared in many of the commercials and ads.

This fellow is my favorite. Which person is "real" and which one is the character? The pretty woman might be dressed for the "Conan" stunt show, I couldn't really figure it out. She's got herself some abs! And some '80s hair. I also couldn't figure out what that place is in the background. "....OTON". Any ideas?

The guy, in that red shirt and jacket, with the gold chain... he is my hero. What have I been doing with my life? He's got it all figured out. His swagger and confidence is something to which we should all aspire. I think I see a resemblance to the kids in the previous photo.

And here he is again, yucking it up in the stocks. There's nothing funnier than a device designed for torture and humiliation! I've seen other photos where the feet appear to have been painted with hot tar, for added hilarity.

That's all from this lot from 1987, but I have more Universal Studios Hollywood photos for you. Stay tuned!

At the Disneyland Hotel, 1960s

I have an interesting pair of scans for you today - something a little different from the usual stuff! And that's a good thing.

Let's start with this photo of folks waiting at the curb in front of the Disneyland Hotel, sometime in the mid-1960s. If you've had just about enough of Disneyland, and want to check out neighboring Knott's Berry Farm, there was a convenient (and free) jitney bus that would take you there. In the distance... familiar and somehow comforting signs for Western Airlines and Richfield, and there's the populuxe Convention Center to the left. I love the signs for the Kiwanis Club and the Lions Club, I guess the Hotel was a regular meeting spot for those organizations.

Nearby (and upstairs) was the Monorail Station, where you could take a sleek, futuristic mode of transportation directly to Tomorrowland. Love those "erector set" beams. Here comes Big Red as we speak! I'm so excited I could plotz. 

 

Entering the Park, September 1968

I have two crisp, clear beauties for you today (circa 1968)! Starting with this nice photo, as we approach the ticket booths. I guess those barriers might have helped prevent guests from being flattened by inattentive drivers looking for a parking space. The Monorail beamway passes overhead, and the support pylon is decorated with genuine attraction posters ("Nature's Wonderland" and the Peoplemover). If we hurry, maybe we can board the train waiting at the station.

This next one was actually taken hours before the first one - it's only 10:38 in the morning, we have a whole day ahead of us! Where to go first? Are you one of those folks that sticks to a tried-and-true formula, such as always walking down to the Plaza and going counter-clockwise? Or are you a free spirit who goes where the wind takes you?