Many moons ago, I posted a photo of this very same Organ Grinder. Organ grinding is a noble and proud art dating back to the Dark Ages, and frankly this man is embarrassed by the guests and their silly hats. They'd never know it, because he's a trouper!
I couldn't find any Disneyland slides that made me think of the Fourth of July...so I decided to break with tradition.
This image is from 1955, and was taken in Sheridan, Wyoming (thanks for the correction from a reader!). It's not even an Independance Day parade, it's the 3rd Annual "All American Indian Days" parade (set in August). But a finer picture of 50's Americana would be hard to come by! I think that Walt Disney definitely managed to capture some of this nostalgia on Main Street U.S.A.
Notice the movie theater, showing a double feature: "This Island Earth" (with the veiny-brained Metalunas), and "Tarzan's Hidden Jungle" (starring Gordon Scott as Tarzan, and Vera Miles as..."Jill Hardy"?)
Here's a dramatic shot looking up at the Matterhorn. Great clarity and color, and it's an unusual angle as well. What else is there to say?
MINUTIAE CORNER: The "Alice in Wonderland" attraction poster that is on top of the mushroom is interesting to me because it says "Fantasyland" at the bottom. Most of the vintage Alice posters that you'll find have nothing at the bottom, and the theory was that those posters were put on top of the mushroom (as opposed to those seen throughout the rest of the park), since most people wouldn't be able to even see the bottom anyway. So much for that premise!
Most of us know that Davy Crockett killed him a b'ar when he was only three. Luckily, Disneyland had lots of b'ars in the old days (no pooh-bears though).
How many people know about this ferocious grizzly (from a 1955 slide)? He's partially hidden by the trees, but you can see him standing on the hillside above the Stagecoach trail. I've never seen a photo of him before; is this anywhere near the bear that ran around in circles and growled at passers-by?
Just for yucks, here's another look at Bear Country, with all of them lazy bears fishin' and scratchin'.
It's time for another Sunday of random images!
First up is this early view from Frontierland looking towards the Golden Horseshoe Revue. There are two strollers in view, sorry stroller haters! The Disneyland Band is performing right out front of the Golden Horseshoe, maybe they will head over to the Mark Twain next.
And speaking of the Mark Twain, here is a lovely 1956 image as the riverboat is coming 'round the bend.
Here's another look from 1958. This was a very faded slide, and this was the best I could do with the restoration (oh alright, I could have spent more time on it). The interesting thing is that this is during the brief time when the Twain and the Columbia could sail side by side.
Here's a nice interior of the Golden Horseshoe Revue during a show. That looks like Wally Boag/Pecos Bill to me, or is it one of this stand-ins? I never had the pleasure of seeing this world famous show in person, but from what I understand it was the rootin' tootinest!
The slide was quite scratched and faded, so I am fairly pleased with the results after investing lots of TLC, even if it is a bit grainy.
Here's something a bit different. I decided to try to get the best scans that I could from the scarce souvenir Frontierland Viewmaster packet (1956). Considering that the transparencies are only about half an inch square, I think they turned out pretty good! Today I thought I'd concentrate on the Stagecoach.
Looks like the sheriff showed up just in time to stop a bunch of thievin' coyotes from robbing the stage. That kid in the coach doesn't look too worried, probably because he knows he's in good hands. Our hero!
It's amazing to see the way Disneyland guests could sit on the very edge of the top of the stagecoach, feet dangling off the back. Too dangerous in today's litigous world. I blame society!
Here's a neat view of the old load area, you can almost read that rustic sign. Standing on a fence rail is a li'l muleskinner in a buckskin coat (inspired by Davy Crockett himself, I'll wager). In the background is a small group of teepees...nobody appears to be home, though. They are over on Tom Sawyer Island setting fire to a cabin. Or something.
If I was really ambitious I would scan the more common "Vacationland" Frontierland images, you would see very similar but slightly different pictures. However, I thought I'd do the rare packet first, for those of you who don't have one handy! Let me know if you'd like to see more of these, and I'll get to work.
I always get nervous when flying saucers are around. You'd think that beings from another galaxy would at least have the courtesy to warm up those metal probes. Is that too much to ask?
Disneyland's Flying Saucers were one year old at the time this picture was taken...no probing going on here (as far as I know). Some of the astro-nuts are smiling, others are concentrating on making the thing go where they want (they were notoriously tricky to control). Personally, I'd want to glide around and avoid crashing into the other guests. But this was a fancy version of bumper cars, after all...the more sadistic you were, the more fun you had, I suppose.
Music is so important on most Disneyland attractions; does anybody know if there was music that played during this ride? Maybe a nice Buddy Baker theme for Matterhorn1959?
There are two kinds of people in this world. People who believe that there are two kinds of people, and people who don't. Wait, I mean there are people who love "It's a Small World", and then there are the commies who loathe it. You know who you are! To this day I'm still a little bit shocked when I hear somebody say, "Oh, I hate that ride".
This first photo is from the year It's a Small World opened at Disneyland (after its smashing success at the New York World's Fair, of course). In spite of the brilliant sunshine and blue sky, it is obviously a chilly winter day. "IASW" has one of the most whimsical, joyful exteriors of any Disney attraction, in my opinion. You've got the ticking clock, and the marching dolls every 15 minutes, and even the Disneyland Railroad gets in on the act. Mary Blair (colorist extrodinaire) considered white to be the most festive of colors, which sounds odd at first. But when I see this attraction I have to agree.
Here we are two years later (with warmer weather), in a "postcard worthy" image. Two boatloads of folks have just completed their happy cruise...how many of them will have that song stuck in their heads for hours to come? Somehow I was never bugged by the song...there were too many other diversions at Disneyland.
From now on, when I think about "It's a Small World" I will always remember how excited my 8-year old niece was to finally experience it last year. She already knew the song by heart because they sang it at her school. I sat with her in the front seat of the boat, and she commented on how AMAZING the ride was. And she sang along, as happy as can be. What could be better?
Tomorrowland is bustling in this great image. The Skyway is so low at this point it almost looks like you could jump up and touch one of the buckets. Michael Jordan could, anyway. I love the color and activity (and brilliant sunshine) of this photo...this qualifies as a picture that I would like to step into.
