1964 New York World's Fair

Hey! Let's go back to July, 1964 to visit the New York World's Fair! What, you have something better to do?

I always love shots of the wonderful Tower of the Four Winds, outside of "It's a Small World" (sponsored by Unicef and Pepsi Cola). In spite of the overcast sky, it was probably hot and humid.  The luminaires are red, white and blue in this area, and they look great. Notice the Kodak Picture Spot sign - just like Disneyland.

In order to get to General Motors' "Futurama" (the most popular exhibit at the Fair), guests had to cross a bridge that spanned the Grand Central Parkway. On the other side one would have found the pavilions sponsored by Ford (the "Magic Skyway"), Chrysler, Sinclair Oil's "Dinoland", U.S. Rubber (the Ferris Wheel that looked like a giant tire), the Antique Auto ride, and more. Well worth the walk!

It might surprise folks to learn that the Vatican's pavilion had some of the highest attendance during the run of the Fair. The biggest draw was Michelangelo's "Pieta"; even now I can't believe that they risked transporting that priceless work of art across the Atlantic, but what the Vatican wants, the Vatican gets. 

I'll have more images from the Fair in many future posts!

Some Castle Views

In spite of the fact that I have seen approximately 13 gazillion photos of Sleeping Beauty Castle, I still love this first photo (from March, 1960) more than I love my three kids (apologies to Sandy, Becky, and Mongo). Just look at it? What's not to love? The color leans toward cyan rather heavily, but the yellows and reds still *pop*. Look at the way the castle's pennants wave perfectly in the breeze. And we can't ignore those awesome 1960 people.

The gentleman with the hat is my hero! He's got swagger. The lady to the right is carrying her souvenir guidebook in a most undignified manner. Two devil children are crossing the castle bridge. And while there are a few other kids in the distance, the crowd is largely adults. 

I almost didn't post this one because it looks so odd. It's a vintage slide, but it is a duplicate, and like most image dupes, it has started to lose some subtlety. On the other hand, it's got that holiday spirit, and I like the tableau of the two ladies having their picture taken; it looks like it's right out of an old Kodak ad.

Rescans For Gifted Children

It's time for some rescans of old slides that deserved a second chance. Like this first one, originally posted in 2008. My restoration efforts were OK, but not great.

This new version looks so much better! What an amazing shot, as seen from the Tomorrowland Skyway station. I love the way the buckets diminish in the distance, with Holiday Hill and the Yacht bar. Way off to our right is the site of Frontierland Station as well as the home of the Junior Autopia.

Whoo-ee, this one (first posted in 2007) is so grainy! And it still shows traces of the magenta tone that overwhelmed it before I attempted to fix it.

Here's the new version - much better. I have some fancy Photoshop filters to reduce grain, and now the water looks greenish-brown like it's supposed to. This is the only photo I've seen showing what appears to be a tiny tilled plot of land, ready for some corn to grow.

Steve Stuart in Disneyland, April 1962

It's time for some more great Disneyland images from Steve Stuart's family photos! What a wonderful record of what can only have been very happy times for Steve. Here he is with some commentary:

BACK TO 1962 DISNEYLAND:

Here’s Gary [editor's note: you remember Gary! See him at this post] with his dad, sitting next to my mom.  And sitting next to them is a bearded guest, intently thumbing-through what I believe to be a 1960 or 1961 guidebook.  (Let’s just say the back cover is definitely from the guidebook with a 1960 copyright – although the front cover appears to resemble something else).  So maybe it’s not a guidebook at all…  Unfortunately, the center “column” of the Astro-Jets is doing a terrific job of obscuring a nice view of the base of the Moonliner.  Oh well.

Another editor's note - that's me! I think that the bearded gentleman might be looking at a 1962 guide book, though the front cover looks too dark. It's just hard to tell. just to the right of his guidebook we can see one of those squeaky Donald Duck hats in a stroller.

Evidently standing on the Stephens-Adamson Speed Ramp as it moves up to the Tomorrowland Monorail loading platform, is my mom and me, in a rather sweet pose.

Many MANY thanks to Steve for sharing these fun photos!

Beautiful Autopia, 1999

My friend Mr. X gave me some more photos that he personally shot back in 1999 - a mere 17 years ago, and yet the park has undergone so many changes in the intervening years. I believe that he knew that the Autopia was going to be altered, which is why he wanted to take these pictures.

This one gives a good idea of how lovely the landscaping was; with all of the flowers and greenery, it looks like a nice place  to throw down a picnic blanket, eat some cold chicken and leftover chocolate cake, and then lay down for a little snooze. If you can sleep through the incessant "putt-putt-putt" of the Autopia vehicles passing nearby! Note the Peoplemover track in the distance.

Three sporty little speedsters in primary colors zip along the roadway at an impressive 6.5 miles per hour (or so I've been told). Fuzzy red blossoms adorn the bottlebrush tree in the foreground - it looks just like the one in my mom's backyard.

Given the lack of real estate in Disneyland, the Imagineers did an amazing job of creating the illusion of a rolling countryside - one that happens to have a futuristic Monorail running  through it.

Leftuggies - The Plaza

It's a Hub, it's a Plaza... it's two thingies in one! After your walk up Main Street U.S.A., you are presented with a dilemma - where to go next. Do I want to see the World of Tomorrow? Brave the wilderness? Step into a land of fantasy? Give me a minute.

I like this first view of Sleeping Beauty Castle (circa 1972), seen from the site of the "Partners" statue, more or less. I can almost imagine stepping into this scene, with the sights and sounds (and smells) of a warm July day.

The fashions aren't quite as crazy as one might expect for 1972. Subdued colors, for the most part, and where are those hippies? Hiding, I'll bet. Always hiding.

Next is this shot from 1966, with two sisters posing in front of a Horse Drawn Streetcar. The youngest has a stylish "Moe" haircut. The girl to the extreme right had better be careful... that green balloon might just get away from her, since she's not holding the string. It happened to me, and I'm still scarred by the experience.

Christmas Castle, 1956

I have two shots of Sleeping Beauty Castle, taken during what looks like a chilly Christmas season, 1956. The decorations are so minimal that it's kind of refreshing. A few wreaths, some garlands, maybe a bell or two; that's it. 

Spot the Skyway buckets!

Talk about the "off season"! Even the swans were lonely. But I love seeing Disneyland in its early, less polished form, when the landscape was constantly being refined, and there was probably some real doubt as to whether the park would last more than a few years.

Expo 1970, Osaka

In 1970, a World's Fair was held in Osaka, Japan, between March 13th and September 15th. It was called "Expo '70", and its theme was "Progress and Harmony for Mankind". 13 Japanese architects developed a plan that included some stunningly futuristic buildings. While this is a World's Fair that is not well-known to most Westerners, it appears to have been an amazing event.

And while the scans that I am sharing today are very nice, I'm afraid I know basically nothing about what is pictured. Unlike other Fairs, there does not appear to be a ton of info out there. So... just enjoy the photos!

This reminds me of "Logan's Run" for some reason. Only better. Except that it doesn't have Jenny Agutter. If anybody has any info to add regarding these photos, I would appreciate it!

There's something comforting about a Habitrail for humans. All I need now is a handful of food pellets and a bottle that dispenses water. And maybe a few wood shavings. 

The future is here! As designed by Willy Wonka. I have more slides of Expo 1970... I think it's time to find a book or good website so that I can provide some information!

A Tale of Two Indian Villages

Here are two beautiful views taken on a lovely May day in 1958, featuring two contrasting Indian villages in Frontierland. 

Let's start with this shot of one Indian Village - one that guests could access and explore by walking through a tunnel that ran parallel to the train tracks. Teepees are clustered near the shore, where the canoes appear to be out of commission on this day. Just a smidgen of the Dance Circle can be seen to our left. A lone human being (a cast member?) is to the extreme right. Hard to believe that the park was so empty on this spectacular day.

As the Mark Twain continued on its journey, it encountered a second village; the "Friendly Indian Village". Was this a new feature in 1958? Clearly those teepees were made of raw canvas, and had not yet been painted and aged to resemble tanned buffalo hides like the ones in the previous photo. Most of the inhabitants are still there, though more were added over the years. 

Fort Wilderness & The Mark Twain, 1959

Who knew that a pile of logs like Fort Wilderness could be so beloved? For many years the rustic structure was one of the main attractions on Tom Sawyer Island. Guests could explore it, climbing up to the upper level to peer over the battlements, "firing" guns from the sentry towers, clanging the big triangle, tossing a penny into the well, or checking in with Andy Jackson, Davy Crockett, and Georgie Russell. And when you were tuckered out, you could sneak out the secret escape to a remote trail. The fun was perhaps low key by today's standards, but if you used your imagination, it was just the thing.

Big wheel, keep on turnin'... when I build my private theme park (I'll call it "Neverland"!), I will definitely have a big river and a genuine sternwheeler. And it will be a thing of beauty, just like the Mark Twain. Sometimes I think I could ride that thing all day. I love the father and son on the middle level, with the kid so interested in what is going on!