One of the most enjoyable parts of watching the opening day ceremony on the Disney Treasures DVD is the performance of the Firehouse Five Plus Two. The band was Ward Kimball's baby who recruited other talented animators such as Frank Thomas, Harper Goff and soundman Jimmy McDonald to play classic Dixieland Jazz. For many years the band was a fixture at Disneyland and appeared every year at the Dixieland at Disneyland events. Last year Ward's famous train collection was auctioned off along with a couple of the Firehouse Five Plus Two fireman hats. The hats were sold for very good money, one ending up at the Walt Disney Barn in Griffith Park. I wish I could find one of those hats....maybe one of these days.
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5 comments:
I am amazed at these slides. I am so used to seeing the grainy kinescope from opening day that when you see bright color photos like this, they just truly come to life. Where in Griffith Park is the Disney Barn? I need to check it out on my next LA trip.
I had the catalogs to the auction of Ward's train collection, and foolishly thought that I would try for one of the FIrehouse Five's hats. Both auctions brought in a total of over five million dollars!
Man these are amazing shots!
Dave- Walts Barn is in the area for the Los Angeles Live Steamers, right next to Travel Town. It is open only on certain weekends. Google it and there should be a website with information. It is a cool place to visit.
Major- I tried to buy some of the toys from Wards collection and got outbid quickly. I liked the hat in the second auction more than the one in the first.
WOW what a photo! I like the kids hanging on in the window to look over the crowd across the street. And there appears to be a barbershop quartet on the balcony above the Emporium. And what's this?! - The letter R is not lit up on the Crystal Arcade? Finally I wish they would return the street signs to the lamppost seen on the nearside of the street.
Oh - and another trivia point from my side of the park (West). The Firehouse Five + 2 played the Dixieland music heard in the spiel as the Mark Twain leaves the dock and arrives back at the dock.
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