Skyway Views, November 1974

Before we get into our regularly-scheduled scans, it's time to wish our friend Peter Bondante (aka DrGoat) a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Sue B. has provided a fun scan of a vintage birthday party from September, 1973. You know things are starting to get pretty wild when everyone piles into the empty kiddie pool. And once the cake and ice cream get them sugared up, anything can happen. I know Peter would love to hear from the Junior Gorillas!

Meanwhile, here are two photos taken from the Skyway, circa 1974. We're headed right toward the Mighty Matterhorn, on a warm November day. Howard Johnson paid me $1,000 to make sure that I only featured one turquoise gondola and one orange gondola, and I was happy to take his money and spend it on candy. The yellow Monorail (Mark III) passes by. And there's a bobsled, you know what that means (it means you will have good luck all day).

Next we've passed through the nostrils of the Matterhorn and are almost at the Skyway terminal in Tomorrowland. But first, let's take a quick photo (or a slow one?) looking toward the Rocket Jets and Peoplemover. The jets are in the "down" position, but I will try to be brave and not cry. There's something very cheerful about the primary colors of the Peoplemover trains. As is often the case, we can see the Populuxe Anaheim Convention Center in the distance, looking like it might lift into space at any moment.

1963 Spring Fling

You know how much I love vintage Disneyland paper ephemera, and I also have a fondness for any item mentioning the "Spring Fling" events that they used to do in an attempt to draw more guests to the park in the months when attendance was not as robust as they might have wished. The example I am sharing today is the only one of this sort I've ever seen, though I have no doubt that there are others floating around out there in Regularland. 

Not too long ago I visited a person who happens to be writing a book bout Walt's Disneyland, and he had some rare photos of some windows on Main Street; the scenes all had some silly rabbits in them. This person was mighty puzzled, but thanks to this flyer, I could tell him that the windows must have been decorated to tie in with the 1963 Spring Fling event. 

So what is this Spring Fling anyhoo?  Order your $4 ticket in advance (at several handy locations), and get unlimited usage of all Disneyland rides and attractions, not to mention special musical acts and dancing for those so inclined. It looks like KFWB radio (with DJ Gene Weed) was a sponsor of Spring Fling. Gene worked in Dallas, Omaha and Miami before joining KFWB. The "Weedy One" worked weekends at KFWB at the age of 23 while assigned to Armed Forces Radio and Television Service in Hollywood. He worked at KFWB during its glory Rock years and went on to an enormously successful directing and producing career with dc (Dick Clark) Productions.

As if that wasn't enough, there were prizes. Over $7,500.00 worth of them! Including a fully-restored 1946 woody station wagon. Cool! There were also surf boards, waterskis, the world's smallest sailboat, tires, Pendleton shirts, a Columbia tape recorder... so much good stuff! 

I hope you have enjoyed this SPRING FLING item!

Monday July 17 DISNEYLAND BIRTHDAY

Happy Birthday to Disneyland! 68 years young. I admit that I would have forgotten (I always forget), but Sue B. reminded me. Unlike some bloggers, I don't have any opening-day photos (I had some taken by Walt himself but I traded them so that I could invest in Beanie Babies). So I'll just have to go with a couple of early photos - this is from a batch that might be from 1955, though it's hard to say for certain. 

I generally think of Main Street (and Town Square) when I think of the opening-day festivities; Town Square is where Walt gave his famous dedication speech ("To all who come to this happy place, welcome...."), and Main Street had a fantastic parade that included the Mouseketeers, Davy Crockett and Georgie Russell, the Tomorrowland Spaceman, and even the Autopia cars scooted their way up toward the Castle.

So... here's a very nice shot of the Motorized (and sanitized) Fire Truck putt-putting past the Main Street Cinema and the Yale Lock Shop, with the Tobacco Store Indian in the foreground. I wonder where Disney got their prints of films like "A Dash Through The Clouds" starring Mabel Normand? I love the familiar sponsors such as Swift, Carnation, Upjohn, and Kodak (you have to look carefully for that one).

In case you were curious, A Dash Through the Clouds is a 1912 short American silent comedy film directed by Mack Sennett, written by Dell Henderson and starring Mabel Normand. It has the distinction of being somewhat of an aviation film as Sennett employed the services of real life aviation pioneer, Philip Parmelee, a pilot for the Wright Brothers.

Let's take three steps forward and take another picture! Unsurprisingly, the view isn't that different, but now a Horse Drawn Streetcar is oozing toward us. Hey, there's a box next to that trash can! And incidentally, that's what I consider to be the familiar Main Street style of can, even though this photo is likely from within the first year of the park's operation.

AND NOW... to sweeten the deal, Sue B., generous as always, sent me some fun vintage photos of kids, apparently fresh from a trip to Disneyland. Mouse ears for days. Dig those 1970s fashions! I appreciate the fact that the boy to the right is wearing a coat with one plaid pattern and color, and pants with another plaid pattern and color. BE NOT AFRAID. The littlest boy to the right has an owie on his nose, probably werewolf-related.

If you aren't going to wear your mouse ears, put them on the windowsill to cool, like a pie. The boy to the left is having an attack of the whim-whams! It happens at that age. The girl in the overalls looks like she might weep. She's missing "Welcome Back Kotter!". I wish we knew what these kids did on their trip to the park!

THANK YOU, SUE!

Sunday Snoozles

Here's a trio of Snoozles from July 1964, from some murky 126-format slides. They all feature the Disneyland Band, and that's not a bad thing. They're marching up past the Wurlitzer store. Folks in the background have stopped to watch, most of them looking rather serious, including the fellow with the pink ostrich feather in his hat.

It occurs to me that many of these band members look a lot younger than I might otherwise imagine. Were there different Disneyland Bands depending on the day, or shift? Dorothy Gish is appearing in a movie at the Main Street Cinema.

The woman in white (to the left) is a real marching band groupie, she'll follow these guys all over the country. Well, up and down Main Street, anyway (and maybe even over to the Mark Twain). If one of the trumpet players catches her eye, she'll give them a wink that will make them blush. 

Angels Flight, Los Angeles

I hope you are OK with my occasional forays into L.A. history - a subject that fascinates me. Today we're going to be revisiting one of the most beloved landmarks of the city, the Angels Flight funicular railway, which opened in 1901. I wish today's slides were dated, but no such luck. Do the cars help with a general year? They look 1940's-ish to me, but we'll need an expert like Nanook (the pressure's on, Nanook!).

Built in 1901 with financing from Colonel J.W. Eddy, as the "Los Angeles Incline Railway", Angels Flight began at the west corner of Hill Street at Third and ran for two blocks uphill (northwestward) to its Olive Street terminus. Angels Flight consisted of two vermillion "boarding stations" and two cars, named Sinai and Olivet, pulled up the steep incline by metal cables powered by engines at the upper Olive Street station. As one car ascended, the other descended, carried down by gravity. An archway labeled "Angels Flight" greeted passengers on the Hill Street entrance, and this name became the official name of the railway in 1912 when the Funding Company of California purchased the railway from its founders.

Angels Flight closed in 1969 as part of the massive development of the Bunker Hill area, but happily the trains and other paraphernalia had been saved, and the railroad opened one half block south of the original location in 1996, mid-block between 3rd and 4th Streets, with tracks connecting Hill Street and California Plaza. It closed again after a fatal accident, but is now operating, with a one-way ticket costing $1.00. (Sorry this next photo is so dark!).

Main Street Scenes, 1955-ish

I have a pair of very early Main Street views for you today - maybe from 1955? We’ll start with this photo taken right at the intersection of Main Street and East & West Center Streets, with the Carnation Ice Cream Parlor dead ahead. It's a little early in the morning for ice cream. OR IS IT? Looks like a couple is posing in the Carnation truck, with a lady taking their picture. Presumably the Horse Drawn Streetcar is in motion at this point, I wonder what the cast member is doing, to the right? Maybe some darn kid put a penny on the tracks. You know how kids are. Also notice the Sunny View Farms "Jellies and Jams" shop, only there until October 12, 1957. 

A female cast member in full Gibson Girl clothing is headed... somewhere. I guess she could have worked at almost any shop on Main Street. To the right of the Jellies and Jams shop is the Puffin Bake Shop (you'll just have to take my word for it), another relatively short-lived business, it closed on July 31, 1960. 

Town Square somehow looks much smaller than usual, the young trees are still a bit spindly. But I love it!

Zooming in, we have all kinds of transportation options, from the Horse Drawn Streetcar to the Chemical Fire Wagon, and even a Surrey. Oh how I'd love to see what was offered at that little souvenir/information booth to the right. And at the extreme right of this image, the Police Station.

Scenes From October, 1981

I have a quartet of photos taken by Lou Perry, scanned (as always) by his daughter, Sue B.  These feature the Plaza area.

Like many before him, Lou was mighty taken with the sight of a Horse Drawn Streetcar as it made its way around the central hub. I want to jump on board while it's moving! Sort of an 1890s version of Tony Hawk (or some daredevil). But that's probably frowned upon. Notice that Smitty has forgotten to open the umbrellas... we'll have to give him a talking-to. That Smitty!

Did Lou run ahead to catch the same Streetcar at a different point on the Plaza? Or did he patiently wait (while whistling "She'll Be Coming 'Round the Mountain") for it to come back around? Everything is so green and lush. Even the guests.

There's a popcorn vendor, I think that we've heard that this particular location can be the busiest (and most profitable) during busy days. Did you know that they won't give you free popcorn, even if you tell them that you are Walt Disney's son? The nerve!

I admit that this one is a bit of a cheat... technically Lou might be standing on Adventureland pavement, though he has not yet stepped beneath the arched sign. It's nice to see Uti (goddess of fishing) in her canoe overhead. According to an article on the Re-Imagineering blog, Uti and her canoe collapsed onto the ground due to negligence (i.e. wood rot) on January 8, 2000). 

 THANK YOU, Lou and Sue!

Main Street Station, January 1964

If you're like me, you love Main Street Station. While one could argue that there are other landmarks that qualify as the "first thing you see", somehow, MSS feels like the real deal. It is both comforting (it has been welcoming guests since 1955!) and exciting (this is where we catch the train!). 

This first look is from an unusual angle, beyond the ticket booths and a bit to the east (for some reason more photos are taken looking from the west). I lie the planters filled with flowers (and tree), with some benches for those that need them. Look at the flags and banners, it was a breezy January day - I don't mind a bit of chill, but I do dislike the wind. How many attraction posters can you ID?

Now it's later in the day (the sun seems lower in the west), and unfortunately MSS has shows up too dark. But just imagine running (OK, walking carefully because I am a good boy) up those steps. It looks like there wouldn't be much of a wait for the next train (I am partial to the C.K. Holliday, though I love them all). I can't wait to see the Grand Canyon Diorama (though the dinosaurs would not be added for over two years). 

Fantasyland In the Fifties

It's Birthday Time again, this time we are celebrating Mark Raymond's big day. Happy Birthday, Mark! I have two pictures from Sue B. (thank you as always, Sue). This first shot shows another birthday party, with the boy to the left about to pass out from attempting to blow up that balloon. You can do it. Mom wants her coffee cup to be in on the festivities, so she's about to put a party hat on it. Any idea what that white thing is to the left of the cake?  The "Smurfs" tablecloth is the same one that Queen Elizabeth liked to use. I'm impressed that this family owns an original Van Gogh!

Here's another party. Mmmm, chocolate cake. The cake says, "Would.... (something". I'm guessing it says "Would you loan me $200?", because that's what I would put on a cake. Mom bustles back into the kitchen through swinging saloon doors, she's probably going to get a bottle of redeye (whatever that is). I'm interested in that mural on the wall. Was it wallpaper? Was it stenciled on? Note to self: buy sparkly red chairs.

I generally like any photos of Disneyland from the 1950's, and these two are very nice examples. Here's a good view of the Mad Tea Party  (aka "The Teacups") attraction as seen from the Skyway. The swirly design on the turntable is very groovy. At first I thought that maybe the ride hadn't started yet, but some folks are definitely working hard to spin their teacups, while others just sit back and relax. 

Next is this pretty picture of a Casey Junior Circus Train as it chugged through the crazy-quilt landscape of Storybook Land. For those of you who are fans of telephone poles/wires, this one's for you! 

Two From Frontierland

First thing's first: Happy Birthday to our friend Andrew! And wouldn't you know it, Sue B. has provided a scan of a vintage photo for the occasion. It almost looks like a combined grownup cocktail party AND child's birthday party. "Hey kid, want a sip of bourbon? Try a puff of this Chesterfield, too!". I wonder where the custom of wearing funny hats at parties started? I'll bet it was Leonardo DaVinci's idea. I like the expression on the woman who is watching the kid open his present. I also like those Meyercord decals on the back of that little girl's highchair. Hanging on the wall is a display of magic potions.

Let's visit Frontierland, circa July 1964, shall we? This first view is presumably taken from the Mark Twain as it passed the Friendly Indian Village, with the Canoe landing in the foreground. It's sort of fun to look for details, such as the bin full of paddles, or the various "Indian" guides hanging around. Not sure what that "shack" is (center right, behind the trees), not sure I've noticed that before. It's interesting to consider that there is not a trace of this village remaining (well, some of those totem poles were moved to WDW, but I don't know if they are still there in 2023).

Next we're on Tom Sawyer Island, attempting to summit Castle Rock without supplementary oxygen. Cowboy Kid waves at us while clutching his ticket book and his sunglasses. Daniel Craig (pre-"Bond") will make sure that those boys come to no harm.