Rainbow Ridge, July 7 1961

If you wanted to see Nature's Wonderland, whether by mule or by choo-choo, you had to visit Rainbow Ridge first. Founded by Sir Albert Rainbow Ridge (that joke never gets old), the little town originally catered to prospectors and homesteaders; but times change, and eventually fortunes revolved around tourism. Thousands of greenhorns in stiff new dungarees, checkered shirts, and red kerchiefs around their necks paid top dollar to see the sights. Look carefully and you'll see the pack mules among the pines.


The desert was blazingly hot, and full of sand that got into everything, and there were hairy spiders and kangaroo rats and scorpions and snakes and wild pigs and coyotes and mountain lions and chupacabras. But the fantastic rock formations - the product of millions of years of wind and sand and flash floods - made the trip worthwhile.


There are those sneaky mules again! There's nothing more dangerous than a sneaky mule.

Two From 1960

Check out this first photo, a beautiful view of the Monsanto House of the Future! It looks so great with the blue sky, lush plants, and even the warm reflections from the pond. I wonder how many people walked through that attraction and thought, "You know, I could see myself living in one of these!"? But it was not to be. (Frowny face)


From a different lot, but also from 1960, comes this view of a sleepy lagoon that just happens to be home to a fleet of nuclear submarines. Are they atomic? Yes, VERY atomic! I keep staring at this picture waiting for something to happen.

Stagecoach & More, Knott's - June 1960

Here are two very nice photos from Knott's Berry Farm!

We'll start with the great picture of the Stage Coach as it heads towards us, pulled by four spirited horses. It took two men to operate a stage coach... one to control the horses, the other to randomly swear and spit and shoot at pedestrians. That's the job for me, I do those things anyway! I love the view of the old parking lot (because I'm weird), looking suitably rustic.


Elsewhere, we see the Ghost Town Express ("Lightning Delivery"), pulled by two mules in ornate harnesses. A suitably crusty old-timer drives the thing; here he is visiting with the local dude, who looks like he just stepped out of a TV program. I wonder if guests could ride on the Ghost Town Express, or if it was strictly for show?

Secret Entrance! November 1970

Whenever I go to Disneyland, I enter the park through the front gates just like any other shnook. But the folks in this first photo are getting in via a mysterious side entrance! What gives? Is this where people with hand-stamps could re-enter? Did you need a special pass (perhaps something from the Magic Kingdom Club)? Why hasn't the Los Angeles Time's torn this scandal wide open? You can see a sliver of plaid skirt to the left, so the tour guides were involved in this ignominy.

Hey! what's that on the postcard rack?


Among the fold-out postcards, and the souvenir guidebooks (still with Walt on the cover, four years after his passing), you can just make out the preview guidebook for Walt Disney World!


Here's a better look at the cover; today, we're all accustomed to Disney parks being located all over the globe. But in 1970, Disneyland was IT. The news that a gigantic new Disney World was being built in Florida (with Walt's brother Roy overseeing the project) must have been pretty incredible to fans. It wouldn't open for almost another full year at this point.

Horse Drawn Streetcar, June 1968

One of the many wonderful things about Main Street USA is the presence of a variety of old-fashioned vehicles. Fire engines, Horseless Carriages, the Omnibus, and Surreys (though they are no longer at the park). But the Horse Drawn Streetcars (or "HDC" because I am lazy) are arguably the most famous; internal combustion engines are present on this Main Street, but reliable horses are still around, clip-clopping on the pavement. Hayburners, I calls 'em.

Here's a nice shot of one HDC (the ol' #3) heading down the street. Disneyland's horses always seem so wise and calm! This fellow isn't bothered by the hubbub all around. Looks like that little girl is thinking about hopping on board while the streetcar is in motion.


It's later in the day, but HDC #3 is still out and about, with the same horse as earlier (is he a Clydesdale?)! I think I've read that the horses don't work more than something like 3 hours a day. This is an unusual angle, looking back from in front of the castle towards Tomorrowland. I like the kid with his Donald Duck hat (just like mine!), and his sister behind him with the large shopping bag. What could be in it?

Merry Christmas!

Feliz Navidad, my homies!

I wasn't really sure what to post today, but finally decided to scan my 1955 Walt Disney Studios Christmas card. The studio has a long history of producing colorful, appealing Christmas cards to send to employees and other lucky recipients. Some of them are quite elaborate, with multiple pages and beautiful illustrations, usually featuring characters from the most recent significant Disney movies.

The studio moved into television in a big way in 1955, and in October, the Mickey Mouse Club debuted, becoming a smash hit - to the point that it was honored by being featured on the cover of the Christmas card. I absolutely love the graphic style of the illustration, with flat areas of color and minimal shading, much like you would see in the Golden Books of the day.


Naturally, the opening of Disneyland in July was a monumental event in the company's history. The card opens up to reveal this wonderful (and unique) map of the park, along with "Santa Mickey", Tinker Bell, and Donald Duck. Some fun details: the bandstand (shown just in front of the Castle), the Phantom Boats in Tomorrowland, little Frontierland Station, and the Flight Circle.


And we couldn't leave out a nod to Davy Crockett, Walt Disney's other television sensation! Jiminy Crickett doffs his coonskin cap while helping a boy fetch a Christmas tree. He was enjoying his renewed fame as the host of various animated segments on the Mickey Mouse Club.

Santa's Village, Lake Arrowhead - October 1961

I have just a few more Santa's Village images for you before the big day tomorrow!

There's one of the famous giant mushrooms. If you eat one you turn into a Matango (that's "mushroom person"), and then you have to buy a whole new wardrobe. A giant Jack-In-The-Box looms menacingly in the background; whoever built the props for Santa's Village did a better-than-average job. So many parks were crude by comparison.


Blurry! BLURRY? Come on! This is my only slide with a view of my favorite Santa's Village attraction, the lovable Bumblebee Monorail, and it's blurry. I can barely type because of the tears in my eyes.


Did you know that the hamburgers at Santa's Village were made from prime cuts of lean reindeer? Delicious and nutritious. And have you ever seen a live reindeer? You just want to eat them.

Knott's Wagons, May 1960

If you're gonna have a western-themed amusement park, there are going to be wagons. And Knott's Berry Farm had a bunch of them!

Here is the huge, strange-looking contraption that was apparently used to haul logs hither and yon. It counts as a wagon, doesn't it? Sure it does (*hands the judge a 20-dollar bill*). They didn't want you to climb on this thing, but provided sturdy ladders so that you could climb next to it, which is mighty neighborly. This wagon is still there, by the way.


This wagon is decaying in a pleasingly picturesque manner. It was abandoned here by frontier teenagers who stole it for a joy ride. They were hopped up on buttermilk and cornbread!


The Wagon Camp was where you would find a circle of authentic-looking conestoga wagons around the rim of a stony amphitheater. Lucky guests who arrived early could sit in one of them to watch the Wagonmasters perform, or to watch square-dancing and jello wrestling. Yeee-HAW!


I will be out of town for the next several days, but never fear, there will be new posts every day. I'll try to check in and respond to comments whenever I can.

Hand-picked Honey, June 1962

There's just one photo today, gang. But it's a fun pic!

Here's a charming and helpful Disneyland Tour Guide, as she recites some facts about Tomorrowland. Another guide is in the background, maybe she was heading to the administration building on the far side of the park (where there were employee lockers, from what I've read). It looks like it was a chilly "June gloom" morning; Tex needs his coffee, even though he is used to sleeping on the prairie during a blizzard. You can just see a bit of the Monsanto House of the Future, not to mention oodles of attraction posters.

It's An Itty-Bitty World, June 1968

"It's a Small World" was only 2 years old in June of 1968. Most of us have seen it so many times that we forget how unique and amazing the façade of this classic attraction is. But the photographer of today's pictures was blown away, taking many MANY photos. I'll share four of them today, and save the rest for some other day.

Approaching the attraction, one can't help but be impressed, especially back in the days when there weren't additional structures (like the gift shop that is there now, or the parade lights and speakers) to partially block the view. By the way, it's 1968; where are the long-haired hippies? Everyone looks like they stepped out of a Sears catalog.


Closer! Besides the variety of fanciful shapes and twirling gizmos, I love the use of textured areas and relief elements to cast shadows for additional interest. It's funny, the building really feels like a foam-core model that has been enlarged to a massive scale. Everything that you see that appears to be gold is covered in real gold leaf, which will remain gleaming and nice for years.


This shot is very similar to the last, only the mechanical clock with its many dolls is right in the middle of the "show". Every 15 minutes, folks! If there's any kind of line, you will get to see this feature.


As an added bonus, the C.K. Holliday makes an appearance. I like the trash can as well, and how often does anybody say that?