A Pair From 1963

Here's a somewhat random pair of images, both from May of 1963, though they are from different photographers. I had no idea two different people went to Disneyland in the same month of the same year! 

This first one isn't mind-blowing, but it is unusual, and that makes it special on some level. A Storybook Land hostess in groovy pink (seems like they normally wore blue?) sits patiently, holding her lucky cushion. It gave her confidence! I wonder how long their shifts were? Imagine a 90-degree day in that Anaheim sunshine, trying to sound chipper and engaged for hours at a time! Not an easy gig. 

In the background, another hostess struggles to control her canal boat as it careens out of control! It's the Titanic disaster in miniature. Were guests unloaded at that green platform to our right?

John Ford brought his Speed Graphic camera to take a portrait of one of the Native American performers over in the Indian Village. Imagine how good those photos turned out! Unfortunately, this photo was very VERY dark, and this was about as far as I could go in lightening it before it became a grainy mess.

Horse-drawn Vehicles

Today's photos are from a lot that was generally very dark for some reason. I never know if they had a roll of film that had been mishandled, or if they had the wrong aperture settings on their camera, or what. In spite of their flaws, they're still nice to look at.

I'm always happy to see the Surreys, with their bright yellow wheels. This one is so glossy and black that it could be used as a hearse in a pinch. Notice the couple standing on the little step at the rear of the Surrey! I've never seen that before. Either their party was too big, or they were being punished for snapping their gum. I prefer the second explanation.

The Horse-Drawn Streetcar is one of the most iconic sights of Main Street. The ride is one of those low-key, old-fashioned experiences that had never been enjoyed by most people in the 1950s. But it's the kind of cinema version of a small-town Main Street that Disneyland was meant to evoke. 

Ticket Booths & Turnstiles, June 1963

We've all talked about the "pre-show" excitement of arriving at Disneyland, parking your vehicle in the giant lot,  and taking a tram to the ticket booths. But the pre-fun isn't over yet! 

This group of ladies pause for a group photo while waiting in a fairly long line at a ticket booth (maybe they got there just before the park opened). Will they get the "Jumbo 15" books instead of the "Big 10"? They look like sensible (but fun-loving) gals, let's just assume that they spent the extra $1.00!

These slides are date-stamped "June, 1963", but judging by those coats, I wouldn't be surprised if the photos were taken months before that. Maybe February.

And there they go! Their day at Disneyland officially begins the moment they step through the turnstiles. The lucky ducks. Think of all the wonderful things they can do in 1963! The older gentleman is with the gals, we'll see him with his wife in future posts. 

Snoozers

It's Sunday, and that means it is time to use up some less-than-wonderful scans. It's a GDB tradition!

Here's a somewhat unusual Frontierland view, looking toward Casa de Fritos, with Rainbow Ridge to our left. It's strange to see that fenced-in grassy area right in front of us! Who wants grass at an amusement park? Not me, it tastes terrible. I think if we looked directly behind us, the load area for the Mark Twain would be there (a little ways off). 

Dig the harlequin pants on that girl!

Next is this view from the deck of the Chicken of the Sea tuna boat, looking toward Storybook Land, with a single canal boat going by, and Casey Jr. trying like heck to get up that hill. I think I've read that they eventually reduced the grade of that hill, but perhaps I am mistaken. I'm wondering what that little "Greek temple" is in Storybook Land... any ideas?

Amusement Parks

I have some random amusement park pix for you today! Let's start with this June 1973 photo from Canada. It's the midway from the Canadian National Exposition in Toronto - basically the equivalent of a State Fair, dating back to 1879, and lasting 18 days. 

I noticed that there is a "Laff In The Dark" attraction, and thought some of you (Andrew?) would be interested in a closer look. Notice the neon "Vegas Vic" in the upper right, what's he doing in Toronto?

This next photo is from 1961 - "somewhere in Hawaii". I bought the slide after being told it was from a place called "Castle Park", but Castle Park did not exist in 1961, so... my guess is that this is another fair or carnival. If anybody out there has any info, I'd love to hear it!

Frontierland Shop Interiors

Most of us have seen more than a few Disneyland photos in our day; it's hard to find anything new to get excited about. But any photos of shop interiors are as scarce as hen's teeth. Maybe scarcer! I used to have a bag of hen's teeth. All of today's photos are from the Mysterious Benefactor.

I couldn't tell you which shop this first photo is from, but it sure is jam-packed with stuff. The man at the left has just discovered a tag with the name "Mittens" on it (because it was made from a cat, see? Keep up with me, son)! I think I've read that the original "coonskin" caps were made from rabbit fur. They have a stack of animal pelts right there on the counter! I'll bet you'd never see that today. Meanwhile, check out those wacky hats to the right.

These shop interiors are so dark that I assumed the photos were taken at night, but we can see through that doorway that it was broad daylight outside. 

"You should buy this one, it goes with your eyes". "Ma'am, my eyes are brown". "Listen kid, I got such a headache, and my break isn't for 45 minutes. You gonna buy it or what?". 

Well well well! A shooting gallery! Could this be the one that was toward the back of the Davy Crockett Arcade? If not I am very mystified. 

It's the same counter as we've seen in the first two photos, only the grumpy lady's attention has been diverted. We can make a graceful getaway. Unlike pictures from earlier decades, the fashions from 1978 are nothing to write home about.

Thanks as always to the Mysterious Benefactor for sharing so many great photos with us!

The Columbia, January 1961

Here are two photos of the Columbia from January, 1961. It's winter, California style, so the trees on Tom Sawyer Island look a little bare in places, and that milky sky casts a diffused, cool light over the scene. We can just see the end of a yellow Mine Train car 'rounding Cascade Peak as the Columbia comes toward us.

Perhaps ten seconds later, our photographer grabbed another shot, and who can blame him. The Columbia is a thing of beauty. I guess I never noticed the strings of nautical flags on the Columbia - we know that similar flags in Tomorrowland don't seem to be sending any secret messages to savvy guests, but I wonder if the flags on the sailing ship are telling us to buy more Ovaltine?

I always love to see the bighorn sheep frolicking atop Cascade Peak - they were only there about two years. And while photos of them are not common, consecutive photos showing their movement are even less common. I've created an animated gif so you can see them wiggle back and forth!

Salute To Veterans

Today's post went through a bit of an evolution - it was originally going to contain a bunch of Knott's Berry Farm photos from Lou Perry and Sue B., with a brief tribute to Lou at the end. But then Sue sent me a series of photos from Lou's time in the Army (1948 to 1954). These were so great, and I am wanted to do a tribute to our Veteran's anyway, so what better way than to salute Lou, and by proxy, all of the men and women who have served our country? 

Using my incredible powers of deduction, I have concluded that Lou was on board a ship in this photo! Unless the buildings in Korea typically have life preservers on them. Hey, I don't get out much, maybe that's the case! He looks like a pretty cool customer here. I told Sue that he looks like a tough guy in a movie who would play some poker, drink some whisky, and punch somebody in the face!

Lou's on the horn to HQ! I guess there's just something about a military work space, this reminds me of my Dad's Navy office. Sue says that Lou was "Chief Troop Movement Specialist", headquartered in Yokohama (Japan).

"Prison Office"? Sounds like my kind of place. Lou and a buddy are goofing around on the steps of this building. I hope Lou knocked before entering. Sue found some more info about Lou's service: "He went in the army in 1948; Corporal Louis F Perry was inducted February 19, 1951, during the Korean War; then transferred to the Army reserves in 1953.  He should’ve made a career out of it; he was an excellent leader - very organized and everyone loved him". I believe it!

I wonder if this was taken "stateside"? I have no idea of course, but it could be the Midwest for all I know. Any idea what that vehicle is?

You don't want to mess with this fella! Here's Lou walking down a street in Yokohama. I would imagine that this street has changed so much that it is unrecognizable.

Just another day on the job for Lou Perry!

I assume that this is Yokohama again, with Lou and another friend.

And finally, here's Lou today, in front of a memorial to Korean War vets in Illinois. He's proud of his time in the service, and who can blame him. I'm glad he's still with us at the age of 91 - he's lucky to have Sue as his loving daughter.

THANK YOU to Lou Perry and to all servicemen and women!

Mark Twain, 1955

I have a Twainaganza for you today! Not that you have been clamoring for such a thing, but don't you worry, old Major P. knows best.

Let's start with this photo, taken from the bandstand that used to adorn the bank of the Rivers of America. It's from August 13, 1955, when the park was less than a month old. It's almost shocking to see how little is along the shore; those hills are bare and weedy, with only the dock to the right (and the mostly-hidden "ice house") to compete with the ornate steamboat. 

Right above the nose of the Twain is a cleft in the hills, I believe that the Stagecoaches and Conestoga Wagons used to load near shore and head back into the "wilderness". Could that white shape be the top of a Conestoga Wagon? Maybe it's just a rock!

I chose a few previously-shared photos so that we can compare the first photo to how the same shore looked later. This one is from December of 1960. With the addition of Nature's Wonderland and the improved Rainbow Ridge, it feels a lot more like a prosperous little town.

This Twainless view from 1963 gives a better look at what was going on by the shore. 

And... here's a colorful and lovely shot from July, 1966. So much going on, it's hard to beieve that it's the same area as photo #1!

From the same photographer (as the first photo) comes this shot of the Friendly Indian Village as seen from the bow of the Mark Twain. This one is dated "August 14, 1956".

The Last Disneyland Paris Pix From Huck

Today I'm wrapping up the last of the photos from Huck's 2016 visit to Disneyland Paris. They were fun while they lasted!

Many of these are Casey Jr.-related, and that's OK with me. Folks are boarding one of the circus trains - the "Poneys" car looks much more roomy than Disneyland's old "Wild Animals" versions. And I need plenty of room to flail my arms around.

Here's an intimate, not ready for prime time look at Casey's firebox. He runs on churros and popcorn. That sticker is no bueno.

Ooooh! The Beast's Castle is pretty impressive, and on this gray rainy day (I'll bet France has a lot of those) it looks especially glowering and uninviting. For some reason I find myself looking for a tiny pumpkin coach on that ramp (probably stairs), even though it makes no sense at all.

Well, at least in this section you can't accuse DLP of not being pretty! All that rain has lead to very lush green landscapes. In the upper left there appears to be a hedge maze, is that part of Storybook Land? Or is it part of an "Alice in Wonderland" scene?

I appreciate that they went to the trouble of making that wall that flanks the tracks wavy instead of dead flat, which would undoubtedly have been a lot cheaper. We can see the unusual "Return to Oz" scene. That movie is so strange! That's why I like it. Notice the "ticket booth" depot that appears to be a fraternal twin to the one in Disneyland.

Here's another nice general view. I don't really see a track beneath the water, I wonder how the boats are guided? Those guys in the pinkish-orangish boat are craning their necks to see... something. What could it be? It's funny how the Dwarf's cabin (upper right) is such a familiar shape that it is instantly recognizable even when it's 1/4" tall. 

Now we've left the park proper and are outside the "Hotel Santa Fe", which I was completely unaware of. The official Disney website describes it like so: Discover this oasis of comfort on Route 66, where a Santa Fe-themed Hotel delivers classic Disney value and hospitality. It's just a 20 minute walk away... I could do without the billboard featuring Lightning McQueen and Sally, but that's just me.

I'd like to thank our friend Huck for generously sharing so many wonderful photos over the years, including these photos from France - a place I will likely never see with my own eyes. Thanks Huck!