Cute in Tomorrowland, March 1962

It's time to visit Ginny again, with only one photo this time - there she is, at a Kodak Picture Spot with the Sub Lagoon behind her. She's actually wearing her hat, so it was possible! Did her hairdo survive? Who knows! 

She is holding two items in her hands - a 1962 souvenir guidebook, and a rather neat "Coming Attractions" brochure that is one of my favorite pieces of Disneyland ephemera.

I truly thought that I'd already shared scans of this item on GDB, but apparently it was all a dream (I also didn't study for the big test!). So here we go:

This brochure is laid out in an unusual way - it's really only two pieces of paper, but staggered in a way that... well, it's easier to just show you. 

Here it is in its unopened state, with a Marc Davis drawing of pachyderms in the Sacred Elephant Pool. Each colored strip (and text) indicates another page and hints about what's featured.

Say, did you know that Disneyland will never be completed? Walt was spending $7 million dollars to "plus" his park, including the aforementioned Elephant Bathing Pool, and the "Stouffer's In Disneyland" restaurants, which included what would become the Enchanted Tiki Room. I love the attempt at making the construction a feature and not a bug! Be a "sidewalk superintendent". Do I get a badge and a gun?

Let's flip the page to learn about "A Brand New Adventureland Area", that included the Swiss Family Treehouse, the Tahitian Terrace, the new "Safari Shooting Gallery", and the fabulous "Bird Room" - still a restaurant ("by reservation only") at that point.

And finally - "1963 New Orleans Square and the Haunted Mansion". The text mentions the "Blue Bayou Mart" (apparently NOT a restaurant at this point?), and the "Thieves Market", which would of course eventually evolved into "Pirates of the Caribbean". So exciting, I can't wait to visit the Haunted Mansion in 1963! I wonder if this was the first time the public saw the now-iconic Sam McKim artwork (on the left) - based on a Ken Anderson sketch?

I hope Ginny saved her brochure, maybe I own the very one she was holding!

TV Special at Disneyland, 1979

Here's a fun series of photos (courtesy of the Mysterious Benefactor) from 1979. As usual, they are from Frontierland. The interesting thing about these is that some sort of TV special is in the process of being shot, right in the middle of a busy Disneyland. 

Let's follow along, maybe we'll see somebody famous!

Following, following....

By gum, it's Annette Funicello! Arguably the most beloved of the original Mouseketeers, not to mention the star of many classic beach party movies. She's talking to a pigtailed young girl, probably explaining the history of Disneyland, or maybe the Mark Twain, which they are about to board.

It's kind of amazing how informal this shoot seems to be; if you happened to be standing in the right spot at the right time, you might have wound up on the program with Annette.

Looking on Google and IMDB, I could find no record of Ms. Funicello appearing in a Disneyland special in 1979 - part of me was hoping that whatever this show was might be on YouTube. No such luck. Maybe YOU can figure it out!

Many thanks to the Mysterious Benefactor!

Mickey and Kids, November 1966

If you have kids, and you take them to Disneyland, and you happen to find Mickey Mouse standing around with nothing to do, you might as well have the kids pose for a picture with Mr. Mouse. The little girl looks adorable, and the boy is ready for a flood; it's always wise to be prepared. Is he holding his glasses in his hand? "Take off your glasses, Joey, we don't want you to look like a nebbish!". Hey, I'M a nebbish. 

Might as well take another one, and in fact this one is a little better. Fewer people nearby, and sis's tongue isn't sticking out (something she does to sense the heat of potential prey nearby).  

Storybook Land Canals, November 1974

Good old Storybook Land, a classic Fantasyland ride if ever there was one. I have a trio of scans for you from this venerable attraction.

This first one might be my favorite, there's something about emerging from a darkened tunnel into a world of miniature fairy tale and fantasy scenes. Is this first one the view as you emerge from Monstro's... er... "tunnel"? Looking at a current video, I can say "yes". Immaculate little gardens, and tidy stone homes with slate roofs and multiple chimneys put us in the mood. What is that strange alien creature looming up above the trees?!

There's Cinderella's "dream castle" (as it is referred to on an old postcard). I build all of my castles atop rocky promontories to keep the peasants away. 

Geppetto's Village always looks great, but the late-afternoon sunlight makes it a little spooky as well, as if ghosts and undead things will wander the cobblestone streets when the clock strikes midnight. Lock your tiny doors!

Snoozers

It's SNOOZER TIME! Maybe if I shout it, it will seem like more fun. This first scan is from March 1962, and shows the most charismatic dead settler of all time. You can't really tell but he's taking a break from being dead, and is merely resting. As most of us know, he set his cabin aflame while roasting marshmallows. When will he ever learn?

Next is this snooze-tastic view of the Columbia (from July 1967) as it rounded the end of Tom Sawyer Island. It's not a bad photo. It's not a good photo. It's just there.

Roadside USA

I picked two random "Roadside USA" scans for you today, hopefully they will be fun!

First up: this giant wheel of cheese - The Cheese House (scan from August, 1971). Kind of eye-catching, I'd say. And the giant mouse on the roof is the *chef's kiss*. At first I did a little research and thought that this example of "programmatic architecture" was in Meredith, New Hampshire. BUT... it turns out that there was a chain of 18 Cheese Houses in the New England area. Well, dang!

Here's a Cheese House postcard from a store in Moody, Maine. One online article warned that postcards can't be used as any sort of guide, as they often used the same photos regardless of the location. D'OH.

Another postcard, supposedly from Arlington, Vermont. I don't trust you anymore, Cheese House.

Next is this scan from a slide date-stamped "January, 1960". There are some old houses, and some patriotic bunting, but what's the deal? Where am I? Are you my mother?

Zooming in to that sign in the background, we can see that it is the "Lincoln Inn Cafe". Home cooked food! So it wasn't a big leap to assume that the white clapboard house next door had something to do with our 16th  President, Abraham Lincoln. Maybe you've heard of him? 

Meanwhile, I wonder if the cafe served Abe's favorites, such as Beefaroni, or a tuna sandwich with potato chips and a pudding cup?

Why, it's the Lincoln Museum, in Springfield, Illinois! Here's a vintage postcard. I tried to find a contemporary view of this building on Google Maps, but had no luck. In 2004, the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum was opened in Springfield, it's massive. You can find the home that Abe lived in during his time in Springfield, but it is not the building pictured above. Maybe this was torn down? Seems hard to believe.

Two Leftuggies

I have a pair of Leftuggies™ for you today, but they are particularly tasty examples.

First up is this nice shot of the wonderful Motor Boat Cruise (from May, 1960). Sure, everything looks placid and peaceful now, but at the end, the hair on these two will be swept straight back, permanently. No comb will ever tame it. This picture makes me miss this calm, relaxing ride through beautiful "backwater Fantasyland".

Just for fun I am reposting another Motor Boat photo that is also from May, 1960. So it's not a leftuggie, but rather a re-uggie. 

At first I thought that this next photo (dated "August, 1969") showed the Alpine Gardens, where the Monsanto House of the Future used to be (but the ponds and waterfalls remained), with pathways leading to the entrance to Tomorrowland in the distance. But now I'm thinking that it might not be? It seems awfully far from Tomorrowland proper. In any case, it's a pretty view. What are those flowers, snapdragons? 

I zoomed in because I thought I spied the red vests of Disneyland Tour Guides, but it appears to be a group of school girls who just happen to also wear red vests. And maybe even plaid skirts?

Alice Snapshots, 1965

Looking through various folders, I realized I'd forgotten about some scans of some 1965 photo prints. These all feature the Alice in Wonderland ride's exterior... part 1 was published over a year ago! Admittedly those first examples are nicer, but I have to share the rest, as per the Geneva Convention.

The Alice ride is trippy and weird, which is why it's so great. But one of the most unexpected features is when our snooty Caterpillar emerges from the madness out into the clean, refreshing Anaheim air. How'd we get up so high? Maybe one-a them crazy mushrooms? You can just see the Caterpillar through the Mary Blair leaves.

Ah, there's a better look. I was going to eat that Caterpillar, but those false eyes on the side startled me. I guess I'm not much smarter than a bird. Hello, Skyway.

I also loved the simple-but-wonderful sensation that our ride vehicle might just plummet off the side of our leaf ramp. Ingenious.

Our little family has survived their trip through Wonderland, but they might have flashbacks when they least expect it. 

New York World's Fair, September 1964

It seemed like a good time to delve back into the folder full o' 1964 New York World's Fair images (these are all from September). I hope you agree.

Sure, you've seen the U.S. Rubber Ferris Wheel (or "U.S. Royal Giant Tire") before, but if you're like me, it's always worth another look. It lifted guests 80 feet up, presumably for some sweet views of the Fair. It just occurred to me that I don't recall ever seeing any photos taken from one of the gondolas, which is a bit surprising. 

If you waited in line for General Motors' "Futurama" exhibit (and why wouldn't you?), you would have gotten a look at the company logo, mounted on the giant angled canopy. Futurama was one of the most spectacular - and popular - exhibits at the Fair.

Not far from the Eastman Kodak Pavilion (just visible to the right) and Pepsi pavilions (and the Schaefer Center, where you could get a cold beer) you would have found one of the giant inflatable "moon berries" (that's what I calls 'em, anyway) where a Brass Rail restaurant could be found. It was hard to eat food off of a brass rail, but in 1964, Americans were game for anything. Notice the arched area, the "Pan American Patio".

And finally, you know it, you love it, it's the New York State pavilion, with its "Tent of Tomorrow" roofed with stained glass (colored plastic), and the two observation towers. It was very considerate of them to provide a ladder on the outside of that one tower, in case King Kong wanted to climb to the top. 

I hope you have enjoyed your visit to the New York World's Fair! 

Town Square

I chose two very early scans from Town Square. Early as in "possibly from 1955", but I don't want to say for sure because I don't want to go to prison again. 

It's late in the afternoon, and the shadows are getting longer. Pretty soon, all the lights will come on, the air will cool off, and maybe we'll even hear some soft music (was there "area music" in those early days?). For many people that is the best time to be at Disneyland. Notice that we have a familiar style of  trash can in the foreground, but over by City Hall there is an early yellow version that says TRASH so that you don't accidentally put your Fabergé Easter eggs in it. 

Panning a bit to the right, we see the firehouse, with a group of people gathered around the Chemical Wagon (perhaps they are about to board for a ride). It looks like the window is open up in Walt's apartment (I think?), which always makes me wonder if he was up there, eating a bowl of chili. 

I thought I'd try to merge the two photos into a panorama, without much hope for success, but it mostly worked, though the little arched arcade behind the couple got a bit jiggered. I'll still sleep like a kitten tonight!