On the Pirate Ship, September 24, 1958

Here's a group of fun-lovin' folks aboard the Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship, from two slides dated "September 24, 1958". You know how much I love to refer to Jason's Disneyland Almanac when I have a specific date! The 24th was a Wednesday, the park was open from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM, the temperature ranged from a high of 81º to a low of 59º, and attendance was a mere 8,327! If you think that's amazing, just two days later, attendance was 4,039. On a Friday!!

Ya scurvy swabs! If I can locate our plank, yer going to walk it. Backwards! You can tell that the young lady (?) to the left is not looking forward to her dip in the ocean, but there are no sharks today, so how bad  could it be?

Maybe the photographer was standing on that blue bench to the right? He'd still need a zoom lens to get that "close up" view, I would think.

Fantasyland in the Fifties

Today's slides were strangely faded, but Photoshop was able to bring them back to life. They both feature views of Fantasyland, from "sometime in the 1950s".

This first one is kind of an unusual view, looking across the pre-1960 "swimming pool" ocean that held the Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship (striped sails visible to the right). I'm guessing that the photographer was in some sort of dining area, though I don't recall seeing stands of bamboo in that general vicinity before. Across the way is the Mickey Mouse Club Theatre, and a little bit closer to water's edge, guests rest their feet beneath the shade of umbrellas.

Nearby, a canal boat loads up with a fresh serving of guests for Monstro. "Why are you sprinkling salt on us?", the girl asks the Cast Member. "Oh, you know, for your safety. Or something". Monstro loves salty snacks! I like the hats on the CMs - not sure what style that is - a trilby? I looked online and saw something similar that was just referred to as a fedora, a variation I guess.

 

Disneyland Hotel Ephemera

Here's a selection of vintage paper items from the Disneyland Hotel. Where I never stayed. I also never got a pony for Christmas. This unassuming item is only about 4" X 5" when in its fully-folded state. "Why, this small item is hardly worth my time!", one might say while polishing one's monocle.

Flip open one fold, and you get some general info - lots of impressive numbers. 1,000 deluxe rooms!  30,000 square foot exhibition room! 25 conference, meeting, and banquet rooms! 80 feral cats!

Further unfolding reveals artwork that is so great that the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel looks like poop by comparison! Just look at those sweet spot illustrations. And for some classic Hotel amenities, such as Dancing Waters, Water World Shows, Pedal Boat Rides, Miniature Golf, real golf, and yes, even a Game Room. There is also an assortment of restaurants to suit your mood, from a cantina with dancing and cocktails to the "Top of the Park" (cocktails, but no dancing). And there's the Monorail Bar (not cafe)! 

Flip the thing over, and there's a handy map so that you won't get lost and cry. While this brochure (or is it a pamphlet?) is undated, the Bonita Tower is not on the Hotel site yet, and that opened sometime in 1978.

Hotel doily, well hotel doily, it's so nice to see you back where you belong! I'm sorry, Melissa, I could not resist. 

I couldn't think of a song to accompany this cocktail napkin, but you have to admit that it's the greatest napkin in history.

Leftuggies

Hooray for Leftuggies, they really hit the spot. This first view is from March 1962, and man-oh-man, Town Square is virtually deserted except for the four folks in the foreground. At first I wondered if this was taken when the park first opened, but lights are on in the distance, so it must be late afternoon/early evening. Imagine being there when it is this empty! Notice the Moonliner sneaking in (though the "TWA" had been removed at this point).

Over at the Opera House,  the "Babes in Toyland" sets were on display. I'm not sure if this drummed up much of an additional audience for the film (which I have not seen, but am told that it is a tough watch). Still, the idea of seeing actual movie sets must have been somewhat exciting, and it was a way to provide an inexpensive exhibit.

Next is this photo from April, 1964, looking North on Main Street. The Horse-Drawn Streetcar is heading back to Town Square, I'd love to know how many people take that vehicle Northward as opposed to Southward? To the right, the Eastman Kodak shop. I'd go in and order a hamburger just to make them mad. The lady with the stroller is wondering if she can outrun the Streetcar. 

 

Blurzles™

It's always a letdown when I find slides that I think will be "better than usual", only to find, when scanned, that they aren't in focus. It ain't fair! I pay my taxes! But here we are. 

Both of today's photos are dated "August 14, 1958", and feature the Suspension Bridge on Tom Sawyer Island.  That was a Thursday, the park was open from 9:00 AM until midnight, and attendance is listed at 25, 633 guests (thanks to Jason's Disneyland Almanac, as always).

A conga-line of guests crosses the swaying bridge - even in this blurry state you can see some smiling faces, so everyone's having a good time. With Summer coming to a close, it seems that folks were taking advantage of the few weeks they had left to enjoy the park before school was back in session.

Arg! Blurry! Otherwise this would be a nice portrait of a young girl (watched by Mom nearby) - Dad must have crossed first so that he could look back and capture this view.

A Bunch of Knott's Pix, July 1974

Welcome to Knott's Berry Farm, homies! July, 1974 - a great time to visit Ghost Town. I had a bunch of Knott's slide scans, and the six you'll see today are perfectly fine... I decided to share all of them in one go. There's nothing too extraordinary, but you still get that laid-back, summer day feeling that evokes memories of my own childhood visits.

A covered wagon? There's something you don't see every day! Unless you work at Knott's, in which case they are as common as Teslas in L.A. It looks like guests could climb inside, which is kind of fun... that couple is trying to decide if they will do it.

The General Store has everything a miner could need. Unless that miner needed a Duncan yo-yo, in which case he might have to whittle one out of a log. But they'll have everything else! Pickaxes, pans, lanterns, hats, gloves, shovels, knives, and maybe even some penny candy.

We're at the end of Main Street, and Goldie's Joint is to the left; it's odd, I thought that Goldie's name was painted (bigly!) on the front of the building, but looking at my old blog posts, it was only on a little sign at the entryway. If you turned left down that alley toward the Town Jail, you could visit Sad Eye Joe. He might even talk to you!

The photographer pivoted to the right toward the Post Office. Knott's was festooned with wagon wheels, grindstones, and even whole wagons for kids to climb on. Is that the Catawampus, partly visible in the foreground?

Guests are milling around the entrance to the Gold Mine, where they could pan for real gold! The thrill of panning your own flakes of color was real. To the left, a grandma and her grandson look at some gentle, patient burros. They would appreciate some nice scritches! The burros, I mean.

And finally, we're in some corner of the Ghost Town that I don't recognize; there's another nice wagon, and a building adorned with skulls and antlers; I'm sure at least one of you knows exactly where this is.

That's it for this KBF installment!

Disneyland Pics, September 1983

It's GDB pal Bu's birthday! And thanks to Sue B. (and her dad, Lou Perry), this has turned into a kind of mega-post. Or maybe a "mini-mega post"! 

We'll start with this fun photo from Sue's collection (not a Lou and Sue image), from a vintage birthday party. The birthday boy appears to be named "Larry", and he is very particular about his hair, as Bu was in his Tour Guide days. That Ace comb was worn to a nub by the time he was 20! But it was all worth it. In the middle, a little boy looks displeased. "I wish it was MY birthday!". Sorry kid. Next to him, the little girl can barely see what's going on. 

Next, Sue shared three photos from her father's collection, all dating from September, 1983, which is around the time Bu was working at the park. First we have this excellent picture of a trashcan. Oh, and a Horseless Carriage and the Matterhorn too.

Next, the Main Street Cinema, where we can juuust see that Harold Lloyd was among the stars to be seen inside, making this from before it was "all Mickey Mouse, all the time". 

Here's a nice view from inside the Frontierland gate, looking out towards the Plaza. The lady in blue appears to be arguing with her friend, who worked as a basketball referee. 

And I'm always happy to see the Swiss Family Treehouse. Let's go up to the top level and hopefully we will feel a nice tropical breeze! 

And now for something completely different! Sue scanned a 1985 issue of the "Disneyland Line" employee newsletter; as you know (and can see), '85 was the park's 30th year. 

As part of the celebration, one of those "great" television specials was fired, including celebrities such as Drew Barrymore and John Forsythe. There is also a mention of the "brand-new shooting arcade", as well as another Gibson Card Corner (Gibson had been a 1955 lessee, but were replaced by Hallmark eventually).

It's fun to see some familiar names, such as Dick Nunis and Ron Dominguez. I'd hoped that Fairuza Balk (from "Return to Oz") was in that upper right photo, but it's just a bunch of meddling kids! And look at that lucky toddler who became Disneyland's 250-millionth guest. He received a lifetime supply of mayonnaise.

I wonder if Bu knew Melissa Tyler, the Disneyland Ambassador for 1985? If he did, I hope she was one of the nice Ambassadors, and not the snooty sort.

Here's a mini-history of Town Square Christmas trees.

"Park News", I always get a kick out of the "Golden Ears", cast members who announced their retirement, sometimes after decades at the park. I hope that Thelma enjoyed traveling with her husband, and Don got his eldest son's house remodeled!

Cast Activities are fun, I don't know if the company still offers things like a basketball league, aerobics classes, or even a computer club (1983 is before many of us had any computer experience).

And finally, the back page classified ads. How about $295 a month to share an apartment? Or a '77 Toyota Celica for $2,995? Give blood too, what do you need 8 pints for anyway?

If you'd like, you can download a PDF of this Disneyland Line issue HERE. Happy Birthday, Bu, and many thanks to Sue B. for providing all of these scans!

It's a Small World, December, 1973 - Part 2

Here is the continuation of a series of photos taken inside "It's a Small World". I like to use the classic "Walt Disney Presents - It's a Small World" album (narrated by Winston Hibler) as my guide; I listened to that album so many times when I was a kid! 

Weirdly the album seems to entirely skip the African scenes, not counting Egypt, so I can't quote Mr. Hibler's descriptive text. But we see some two boys, one sitting on the back of a goofy lion, while another plays a sort of harp. the giant glowing blossoms are cool! 

This psychedelic hippo has always been one of my favorite parts of the attraction, the way he bobs his head, his sleepy eyes, and the fact that he is lit from within (did he swallow a flashlight?). He's dark green here, but I've seen other photos of a pink hippo, and maybe even a blue one. Maybe those are from other parks?

Friendly llamas climb the peaks of the Andes mountains as we start up the South American continent. We hear a little Chilean boy playing on his reed flute.

I believe that these last two photos are from the big "grand finale" (correct me if I'm wrong!). Scores of the world’s children, who we have just visited in their homelands, assemble to sing us a friendly farewell. Still in their national costumes, they join in a universal rendition of the song.

With the finale, all boundaries have been removed. Our hosts on this tour were simply children of the world, who share the common bond of friendship, imagination, purity, and understanding. It’s a small world - and a happy one, after all.

MORE Bupix!

Hooray, it's time for more BUPIX! That is, pix from our friend Bu. Today's examples are all Polaroid prints, all taken Jan 1 1979.  I had been to the NYE party the night before.  My partner in crime got violently ill on Space Mountain…so we went to the Park the next morning. The photos are fun, but Bu has provided some fun memories to accompany them. Let's GO!

The castle is the castle: however: there is the horseless carriage back there…decor is subtle and appropriate.   We don’t need drippy von drippy globs of icing on anything please.

Whoa, look at that kid! Yes: I was very young…looking like a hippie with all that hair! I loved that particular Mickey Mouse shirt and wore it until LITERALLY it was rags going into the early 2000’s.  I had cut off the sleeves and one point as age and my weightlifting regime outsized me: but I continued to wear it even after the top by the neck became pretty much two strings tied together with a knot.  The shirt was unique as it was Mickey “coming and going” the back was a screen printed “the back side of Mickey” with the same pose.  If anyone finds a version of this shirt please let me know.  I’m tempted to make it myself.

I do remember very small crowds on NY Day…it was warm enough for skinny ol me to wear a T shirt with no coat: and if I remember correctly: I think back then I didn’t even own a coat.

I particularly love this photo, and was baffled as to where Robert was standing when he took it: The hotel was the Wrather-owned “Inn at the Park”.  The Disneyland Hotel had no availability.  In retrospect, and knowing more now…I would have probably opted for Hojo’s or something closer. The hotel had the most out of place themed “Olde West” steakhouse…the meal was actually REALLY good…and back then I liked “Golden Horseshoe Chic”…with its red velvet/gold tassel drapes and waitresses in very spartan “olde timey costume and plumage”…now I figure that the target audience was more for convention guys and less Disneyland families.  A few steps away on Harbor Blvd more active pursuits were taking place and that is for the “Tony the Tigers Don’t Blog” blog….

I always thought that photo of the Matterhorn was from Tomorrowland not from Fantasyland: you can see the rocket jets there.  I thought I had a photo too of me with a yellow balloon in the bucket…and with my NYE hat on.  I was always a wee disappointed that the hat and noisemaker were not branded.  So they got thrown away.  There was no distinguishing thing on them other than me knowing where they came from.  The NYE ticket I saved…but now gone to someone somewhere.  I think the entertainment was Kool and the Gang (?) Maybe perhaps.  I wasn’t remotely interested in wasting time watching shows…there were rides to ride!

 Hope everyone enjoys these photos: what a big blast from the past: in Polaroid no less.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, Robert! I know the Junior Gorillas enjoyed these. And don't worry, there are more BuPix to come!

I Love a Parade, 1984

Today I have the pleasure of sharing more slides from Lou Perry, scanned for us by his daughter, Sue B. These are from 1984, a mere 40 years ago (gulp). I assume that the "5" on the date stamp means May, while the "G" stands for Golf. 

I have the  feeling that Disneyland sometimes let high school bands march on Main Street? I do know that they let schools come to visit and perform, my niece and nephew did it for several years. Though they did not march! They just walked up to people and made a noise on their respective instruments as loudly as possible. It seemed like a good idea at the time. 

Anyway, here's the Mountain View (El Monte) marching band. El Monte is east of downtown LA, if you must know. 

Thank you for your service, ladies! I'm imagining a marching band version of "Let's Go Crazy" by Prince and the Revolution. I'm sure Prince was a big fan of marching bands! You can just tell. 

I guess the school colors were (are?) blue, white, and gold; Mary Blair would approve. 

My friend told me that people in marching bands wear those tall hats because they can keep an ice-cold 2-liter bottle of Mountain Dew stored for especially hot days. Why did I never think of that? 

Not being an expert on marching bands, I'm not sure what you would call the group of young ladies following the band. Majorettes (not to be confused with Raisinettes)? The Color Guard? 

Why, my school spirit is soaring! I hope the team murdalizes the opposition! But in a scholarly fashion, I'm not a barbarian.

 THANK YOU, Lou and Sue!