Scenes from Nature's Wonderland, September 1968

How many of you thought that "Nature's Wonderland" was a ride all about nudists? Raise your hands. Well, I did too, and at first I was disappointed... not a volleyball court to be seen. But eventually I appreciated the attraction for what it was. Let's take a look at two scenes, shall we?

Like this familiar vignette from along the shores of Bear Country. They're scratchin' their butts, they're filching honey from the hive, fishing for trout, and reciting Shakespeare. As I've probably mentioned before, this scene changed in subtle ways over the years, sometimes there were more bears, sometimes fewer, and sometimes they even changed color. I have a photo you'll see someday in which there is only a single bear. Stay tuned! Meanwhile, drink your Ovaltine.


Everyone points in wonder at the battling elk, but they aren't battling, they're STUCK. It's not funny! How are they going to explain this to the boys back at the office?

3 From Fantasyland, June 1975

Welcome to June, 1975! "Roller Boogie" wouldn't be released for another three years, but guess what? Life was still worth living.

I like this early-evening photo of Captain Hook's Pirate Ship. It's positively crepuscular! The last rays of sunshine have back-lit the jolly roger, which you have to admit is pretty cool. Admit it, darn you!


And now, from above CHPS ("Captain Hook's yadda yadda...") we get a bird's eye view of Skull Rock. The restaurant looks empty, let's eat there! Could you get hot food at the pirate ship?


And lastly (because it's blurry), a look at It's a Small World. That façade us huge!

Cheap Camera Blues, January 1963

Today's photos are from a photographer who either had a cheap camera, or else suffered from the whim-whams. You know, the jitters, the shakes, the quakes! Whatever the cause, there were about a dozen photos with various degrees of blurring. I decided to choose the best of the lot and post them all at once. Incidentally, they are from January 1963, so... 47 years ago, give or take a few days!

Town Square is bustling with guests, as we enter Disneyland through the western tunnel. I don't really like crowds when I'm in the park, but they add a touch of life and energy to these photos.


Here's another busy shot in Adventureland, kind of an unusual view. The fading sunlight is just touching the tops of the buildings for just a little while longer. Notice that the boys in the lower left all have their souvenir pinback buttons from the Golden Horseshoe Revue (with the Pepsi logo).


Yet another unsual shot (WHY did it have to be blurry?) as this couple approaches the tunnel that leads to the Indian Village. You can just make out some crude pictograms that have been carved into the rock. That poor woman was caught in an unflattering moment, but hey, that's how I look in most photos.


And here they are in the Indian Village itself. I like the Northwest Indian additions, even though I also miss the more traditional "TV western" village that was there before.


And finally, one last fuzzy look at a Horse Drawn Streecar. Man, those horses can draw!

Random Souvenirs!

Souvenirs, getcha souvenirs here! Today's selections are admittedly a bit odd, but that's life.

In fact, this first item isn't even a souvenir, it's... well, I don't really know WHAT it is. It's nicely printed on coated 9" X 12" card stock. Clearly the design is related to the artwork on this poster, although it must date from around 1966, since it features "It's a Small World", but not "Pirates of the Caribbean". Perhaps this was used for in-house for announcements such as "Company picnic this weekend!" (or whatever). Anyway, I think it's neato.


Erasers, huh? That's right, and they're MIB too! That's Mint In Box for you non-collectors. This is the kind of souvenir that a kid might buy for his pal back home. Call me crazy, but I find the crude graphics very appealing.


And lastly, how about this postcard? I've never seen another one just like it with the wavy red border, though I'm sure they are out there. It is one of many "unofficial" Disneyland postcards, and a lot of those were aerial views. Hire a guy with an airplane to fly over the park, snap a few photos, get an artist to enhance the color to be as garish as possible, and voila! You can see the Carousel of Progress building, the Peoplemover, the Skyway, and old Fantasyland.

3 From September 1968

Let's start with a mystery! If this slide is indeed from September 1968, how can the Christmas tree already be up? That wouldn't even happen today. So perhaps the slides are in fact from muuuuuch earlier in the year (like, January, daddy-o), and somehow the film wasn't developed for another 8 months. It could happen!


Looky, a flock of delicious, crunchy barracuda! I can't think of anything else to say about this picture. Blue?


The "African Veldt" tableau from the Jungle Cruise resembles the opening scene of "The Lion King" - except that the lions have killed a zebra. Don't feel bad, that zebra was really annoying, always borrowing money and playing his harmonica. Trust me, he deserved to die. All of the other animals are watching the show, just like drivers who enjoy a crash on the 405.

Gonzalez Trio & Rainbow Ridge, April 1962

Here's a fun, lively portrait of The Gonzalez Trio in Frontierland (where else?). I never got to see 'em in person, but they radiate happiness. There's nothing much cooler than a girl with a guitar! Were these three musicians siblings? Or did they just like the sound of "The Gonzalez Trio"? In any case, they add a dash of early California flavor to the Land.


Now for a view of the same general area as seen from the deck of the Mark Twain... there are rustic shady areas for guests, whether they want to sit and rest or wait in line to ride a Pack Mule. Rainbow Ridge and a bright yellow Mine Train dominate this panorama, while the shopping area known as the Zocalo Marketplace is beneath the trees to our right.

Hail to the Chiefs! Knotts & Disneyland, August 1963

From a small group of August 1963 slides come these images of a group of adorable kids posing with Indian Chiefs at Knott's Berry Farm and Disneyland.

The Chief at Knott's doesn't look too happy, but inside his heart is as warm as a fresh blueberry muffin. I think I have the same shirt that he is wearing. Those kids are probably enjoying cups of ice cold boysenberry juice - man, do I remember how good that stuff tasted, especially on a hot day! In the lower left you can see a rack that held extra war bonnets in case guests wanted to get into the spirit of things. In the background some folks are peeking into a building... any idea what the scene was inside?


Same kids, different day, different park, different Chief. He is smiling in spite of the fact that one little girl appears to be standing on his toe. In the background, one of the dancers visits with other children, while a shy boy in his Donald Duck squeaky hat waits his turn to meet the the head honcho.


This photo was really dark, and I lightened it up as much as possible without it getting too grainy. The littlest girl has that pasted-on smile familiar to so many photographers. The Indians performers seem to be enjoying their celebrity status, and the lady to the left thought that the tent was el baño.

Streetcar & Castle, June 1975

It's a lazy sunday here at the Gorilla Compound, so today's photos are appropriately ho-hum. Yawning is encouraged!

Yep, Horse-Drawn Streetcar, Matterhorn, and one or two hippies. That's about it!


The crowds are about to reach critical mass - - if you add only a few more people, spontaneous cannibalism will occur. Yum! In an effort to take a nice photo of the castle, one desperate guest risks life and limb. And all he got was a good picture of that cloth banner. Sucka!

Adventureland, September 1968

I love Adventureland, but admit that it doesn't get the attention that it deserves on this blog. But today I have two nice photos for you!

The original Swiss Family Treehouse was one of my favorite destinations, and I have the feeling that a lot of other kids (and adults) felt the same way. Just looking at this picture makes me wish I could step into the picture and climb those steps up into the branches! Is it just me, or is this a very convincing man-made tree?


This could be a photo from one of the dusty old National Geographics that were piled high in my granparent's attic. Or a picture taken during the filming of "Apocalypse Now". Never get out of the boat! Like the last photo, this feels just right; I love the sunken, crumbling ruins, especially the serene face of the statue that is on the verge of drowning. Ganesha is just visible through the foliage, unconcerned with earthly matters.

Tomorrowland 1957

Happy New Year, homies! Welcome to the futuristic world of 2010. Finally, we have flying cars, wisecracking robot butlers, and silver lamé jumpsuits, just like the movies predicted! Things can't get any better.

And because we are living in the "World of Tomorrow" today, it seemed like a good idea to see the world of tomorrow circa 1957. Work with me!

I never get tired of these vintage views of the entrance to Tomorrowland, and I've seen a few. I tried shaking a stick at all of them, but just couldn't do it. Kodachrome magic has made the sky bluer than blue, fading from cerulean to cobalt to ultramarine to Windsor. The Rocket to the Moon gleams with an atomic intensity, while the rest of T-land reflects the warm sunlight. Another detail that I never tire of is Old Glory with a mere 48 stars! I'll probably stop for an ice cream sandwich before heading over to the "Satellite View of America", what will you have? A Horse Drawn Streetcar passes in front of us... somehow it all works at Disneyland.


Here's a neat view of the Astro Jets; are guests embarking or disembarking? And what's with all the barking? You can see the WenMac windsock over the Flight Circle. I wear windsocks every day for that new-sock feeling that reminds me that everything is swell.


I hope that everybody has a happy, healthy, prosperous New Year!