It's a Small World, January 1975

It's a world of laughter, a world of tears. You said it, Sherman brothers! "It's a Small World" makes some of us smile, and brings some of us to tears. It makes me itchy, but I like being itchy. In 1975, Bank of America really needed you to know that they were the sponsors of this attraction. I can understand why some folks find the sign to be a bit much; at the same time, it's a detail that takes me back to the years before I became jaded and cynical and full of ennui. I especially remember the signs as your boat exited the ride. "Bank of America" = a ride I love at Disneyland.


It's so bright and sunny that the jackets and hats look a bit out of place. Check out the teenager, he is clearly NOT keeping his hands and arms inside the vehicle at all times. Mere seconds after this photo was taken, his finger was ripped off when it got caught in a crevice and the boat kept on going. We warned you, punk! So much for your career as a concert pianist.


Not many people realize that this is a topiary of a balloon giraffe. The ears are a dead giveaway. I still love the topiaries, especially the sea serpent (not seen here, unfortunately).

Posterama 19

Avast, ye swabs!

Today I'm sharing a photo of my Pirates of the Caribbean poster. Arrrrr! If you compare this example to the other original silkscreened posters, you'll see that it is quite different, stylistically. Instead of the bold, simple shapes and colors of the 50's and early 60's, this poster appears to mimic the style of Marc Davis' pen and ink sketches. Perhaps it was supposed to look like an old engraving.

The background has an interesting gradation from dark amber on the edges to a lighter orange in the middle. Not sure how they achieved this effect via silkscreening, since I don't detect any kind of dot pattern; it's as smooth as can be. Some examples of this poster are quite a bit darker on the edges. Notice the subtle gray map in the background as well. The fearsome pirate holds a cutlass and a flintlock pistol - all the better to defend his treasure chest.

That chest strongly resembles one seen in Howard Pyle's famous "Book of Pirates". The WK stands for William Kidd (aka "Captain Kidd"), one of the most notorious pirates in history (or an unjustly persecuted privateer, depending on who you believe).

Along the River, January 1960

The Strawhatters perform in the little bandstand that used to be right on the river in Frontierland, and a respectable crowd has gathered to hear the jazz & dixieland tunes. For some reason I find the little dirt trails along the bank to be kind of interesting; obviously maintenance crews walked those areas enough to wear a path away.


I wonder if Tom Sawyer Island was closed? The rafts all seem to be out of commission. Injun Joe was probably seen skulking around with a knife in his hand! The Plantation House is out of the frame to our left, and the Columbia is in Fowler's Harbor as usual.

Two From '57

Here are two sorta random images from 1957.

First up, Zorro and some dude (Captain Monastario?) are fighting it out on top of the Mark Twain. Zorro thinks Superman could beat Batman, and Monastario thinks that Batman would beat Superman. It always ends in violence. Is that guy to the right filming the fight?


A simple flower bed grows in the middle of the hub where the "Partners" statue now stands. As some of you already know, I prefer the flowers!

Dumbo, 1957 - Part two

The simple pleasures of whirling around in a circle continue to please new generations of Disneyland fans to this day. I'm occasionally mystified by the long lines, but I guess it is a "must do" for parents with small children. In 1957, the attraction was a mere two years old. Here's a Dumbii high over head...


... and now he's taxiing for a landing...


... safe and sound back on terra firma.

"Anything Goes" Saturday - Reno, 1960

This week's "Anything Goes" installment takes us to Reno, Nevada, in 1960. Also known as "The Biggest Little City in the World", Reno is famous for its casinos. Before 1950, it was the gambling capitol of the United States (and the place to get a quickie divorce).

The photo was taken along Virginia Street, and shows the modest scale of the casinos, even when compared to the Las Vegas casinos of the 50's. However, the signage is awesome! I love the li'l cartoon prospector who has struck it rich at The Nugget (notice the shiny golden nugget hanging over the entrance!). On your way to Club Prima Donna, you can stop by Tiny's and get a plate full of waffles. Mmmmm! Nothing like a night of gambling to help work up an appetite. I also like those tri-color taxis.


Sadly, due to a number of factors, Reno's casinos have fallen on hard times, and many of the most famous (Harold's Club, the Nevada Club, and the Horseshoe Club, to name a few) have folded - only to be converted into condos.

Freedomland, July 1962 - Part Three

Here is the final installment of photos from New York's Freedomland, circa 1962.

This park's aerial tramway was known as the Tucson Mining Company Ore Buckets; by 1962 they had been painted in cheerful "Lifesaver" colors, but they were originally a rusty red. (See another old image here).


Gliding on the ridge of that hill is Danny the Dragon, a trackless sort of train ride (I've been told that the vehicle followed some sort of magnetic cable that was underground, but don't really know). It looks great! There is still a working Danny the Dragon ride at Happy Hollow in San Jose (only that dragon is green)... I was lucky enough to experience it when my niece and nephew were tiny tots.


This is not the most exciting picture, but I find it interesting anyway! Look at that crude landscaping; nothing like you would have seen at Disneyland by 1962. Perhaps the harsh New York winters kept the trees and other plants from flourishing. I wonder what that kid is doing... fishing? He's holding a line that appears to be dangling in a small pond. Any guesses?


This one is for the ladies!


We'll see more of these hunks in a few future posts... but not at Freedomland.

Haunted Mansion, October 1975

I love the exterior of Anaheim's Haunted Mansion almost as much as the interior. Walt Disney famously did not want his "haunted house" to be a broken-down hulk of peeling paint, crumbling chimneys, and crooked shutters. Instead, it is clean and sturdy, with graceful columns and wrought iron, manicured gardens and beautiful magnolia trees. You can just make out the weather vane that is in the form of a sailing ship.


Here's another photo, obviously taken mere moments after the first one.

Jungleland, Thousand Oaks - March 1963

Jungleland is a Southern California amusement park that many readers of this blog are not familiar with. Which is understandable! It was little, and off the beaten path - Thousand Oaks was really "the sticks" in those days - and it's been gone for over 40 years. But I have fond memories of the place! Here are a few photos from 1963.

Hey, there's an old lady in that cage full of tigers! It's none other than Mabel Stark, who was 73 years old by this point. She had performed with big cats since 1916, and was, for a time, one of Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus' top acts. She survived numerous maulings, and spent her last years at Jungleland.

In another arena, a sure-footed goat walks up a narrow plank. For some reason I have a vivid memory of watching a squirrel cross some wires overhead when I was sitting in a similar audience years later. In the background you can see the long row of enclosures...

... kind of like this one. I don't like seeing those amazing animals cooped up in that tiny cage, but folks were not as enlightened as they are now. Perhaps Jungleland closed at the right time, as much as I miss it.

Fantasy On Parade, January 1975

Parades go with Disneyland like mashed potatoes go with turkey. Since the earliest days - even opening day, yea verily - there have been marching bands and costumed characters of one kind of another. "Fantasy on Parade" made its debut December 1966, and it continued on for many years. Here are some photos of the 1975 version (or maybe it's the late 1974 version).

There's the McDonald's All-American Band. Hopefully no Russkies have infiltrated it, sending all of our top parade secrets to the commies. Did they put seats or bleachers along Main Street for this parade?

It's shameful that these guys are parading in their street clothes. Don't YOU dress like that every day?

Sorcerer's apprentice Mickey leads an army of bucket-bearing brooms. Trippy.


Fantasia must have been recently re-released! Here are ostriches, a hippo, and an alligator, as seen in the "Dance of the Hours" segment of that movie.


Characters from "The Aristocats" (one of my less-favorite animated features) ride in a splendid blue buggy. There's Madame Bonfamilie waving, while the cats themselves are represented by itty-bitty dolls.