Dancing Haunted Mansion Ghosts Celebrating Halloween

The photograph is another opening year publicity photograph of the Haunted Mansiion. This time it is the ballroom scene where the ghosts are celebrating Halloween. I like how you can see the painted detailing and the Trompe L'Oil work on the railing on the second floor walkway and on the wall. The back tag reads: Every "body" loves a waltz in the Grand Hall of Disneyland's very Haunted Mansion, which has just scarefully welcomed first mortals to its cobwebbed interior. In the Hall, just one of 11 main rooms and areas in the Mansion, some of the more permanent residents enjoy a birthday party.

Happy Halloween everyone and Trick or Treat!

Haunted Mansion is Open

Today's view shows the Mansion exterior the first year it was open. I can just imagine the excitement of the people waiting in line to see this new attraction in this house that has been sitting there for years. The back tag states Ghosts Welcome- Disneyland's new "Haunted Mansion" is now open with 999 ghosts, goblins and ghouls of every description. The stateley looking mansion is finished with cobwebs, creaking doors and even a murky graveyard== just the kind of unearthly atmosphere that high spirited ghosts enjoy.

Haunted Mansion is Coming

Today's image is taken from an early 1960's publicity photograph showing kids waiting in line to see an empty Haunted Mansion. I think all they got to was to the door, to find out that no ghosts or attraction was inside. Here is the tag line from the back of the photograph:

Look for more Haunted Mansion images on Monday and Tuesday.

SOP Saturday- Tour Guides

This week's SOP as promised is "it's been my pleasure." the SOP for Tour Guides of the 1960s. This one has some pretty cool images and even better instructions. So without further ado, I present the SOP:

Souvenir Friday- A Mixed Bag

Taking a concept from Daveland Blog , today I am posting a mixed bag of souvenirs. The first is a candy dish featuring the Global Van Lines Truck. This one is a lot smaller than the large ashtray that usually features a local Global Van Lines company logo. I like the graphic of the truck with all the Disneyland information on the side. The next piece is a first flight cover for Japan Airlines with a postmark of 1959. The simple graphics of Dumbo, Sleeping Beauty Castle, Skyway and happy guest just really speak to me of great 1950s design.

The final piece is an artist rendering by Bruce Bushman of a theme park that once was planned for Los Angeles, Bible Land. I first heard about this years ago when I attended a talk given by Ward Kimball at the San Diego Comic Convention and he described this park and showed this image. Years later there was a show at a small gallery in Los Angeles that was actually the front of a paint your own ceramic shop where many of the concept pieces for the park were being shown. It appears that a person stumbled across the drawings as part of the architecture office and framed them and put them up for sale. Unfortunately, the prices they were asking were rather steep, more along the lines of cost for Disneyland concept pieces.

Hallmark Communications Center Main Street 1960

The Hall Brothers company who later became Hallmark have a long history with the Walt Disney Company. In the 1930's they were the license holder to manufacture the Disney character greeting cards and other stationary. In 1960, they gained the license to be the provider of greeting cards, postcards and other items at Disneyland with this large store. Some of the most unusual views ever sold as postcards are from the famous PDL series. The story goes they were named PDL as they are Pretty Darn Large. The realist in me believes they were named for Postcards Disneyland. I like this image with the worker welding the crown and getting ready to paint. The holiday scenes in the window are nice as well. Hallmark was at this shop until the mid to late 1980s if I remember correctly.

Swannee Lady Jungle Cruise Boat

Continuing yesterday's discussion of what a Jungle Cruise skipper wears, here is another image of another boat. The shirt the skipper is wearing is one I have in my collection, a three quarter cotton Hawaiian shirt with lots of flowers. Taking a look at yesterday's, the shirts are cut the same with the odd three quarter sleeve so they must have been issue items. I like his Mexican huarechees as well.

I also think the first costume company was located in Hollywood but was not Western Costume, but another supplier. Somewhere in my collection I have a dress used by the Janitorial staff or at Pablum baby Station with a tag for the costume company and it is not Western. I also have read that the lessee's had their own costuming made and used specifically for them and that the lessee employee's took the costumes home.

Nile Princess Jungle Cruise Boat

Today's image is one of my favorite rides at Disneyland, the World Famous Jungle Cruise. This image shows a man taking a photograph which is neat, but I want to focus on the two Jungle Cruise employees. The boat loader is wearing a Hawaiian shirt with a bamboo pattern and huarachis for shoes. I am sure these gave lots of protection when the guests would step on his feet. But the theming is right on. And of course these days, the State of California requires the wearing of proper personal protective equipment (full work shoes, they may even require steel toe shoes in case the employee gets his feet between the dock and the boat!)

The boat skipper is also wearing a Hawaiian shirt, this one composed of an abstract pattern. In either case, it appears they just wore a shirt they had from home and were not issued specific shirts as part of a uniform. But also look at his arm as it appears he has a visible tattoo. Now how cool is that, your Jungle Cruise boat is being skippered by a real Sailor who received a tattoo at some foreign port! Talk about appropriate theming.

Attempting to Drive the Carnation Truck

For years this C-Cab design Gurrmobile was parked next to the Carnation Ice Cream Store on Main Street. And I am sure many young guys would climb up into the seat, grip the steering wheel and push the gas pedal, hoping the truck would start and they could drive it right down Main Street and out into the real world.

I have also shown a close up of the windows to show that the windows were initially just set pieces and it was not later that the practice of creating a window to honor a retired employee was started.

Antique Autos Main Street 1960

Today I just want to say this is one nice view of the Antique Autos on Main Street. I miss the days of ticket books where guests would ride these cars to use up their A Tickets instead of waiting in line for the big new ride all day long....

SOP Saturday- Tahitian Terrace

One of my main collecting interests has been trying to find the various SOPs and Guides for Host and Hostesses published by the University of Disneyland over the years. Most have very unusual images of the park and some great spot illustration art. Since I had this one scanned (and some of you may have seen it on Tiki Central), I am starting this series with The Tahitian Terrace Touch... A Guide for Hostesses and Hosts. The next one I will show will be the Tour Guide SOP that I showed the cover. I have received a request to show that SOP. So enjoy and look forward to many more SOPs.

Souvenir Friday- Tinkerbell Disneyland T Shirts

Today's souvenirs are two different Tinkerbell T Shirts sold at the Emporium. What is neat about the shirts is that on the end of her wand is a little metal piece that kind of glows and catches the light. I believe the bottom shirt is actually older from 1955 or 1956 and the top shirt approximately from 1959. T shirts are a very unique collectable from the early days of Disneyland. I have seen a couple of different ones that are not in my collection. One T shirt is of the native from Adventureland that Gorilla's Don't Blog showed with a kid wearing the shirt as his first post, and there is one that is a shield design as seen on some of the pennants from the late 1950s. I would almost think there is a T shirt with the spaceman or the Rocket to the Moon from Tomorrowland. A great source of information are the various gift catalogs printed. But the trouble is that the gift catalogs are collectables in their own right.

Castle Rock Tom Sawyers Island 1960s

With all the news and rumors of a Pirate Island makeover for Tom Sawyers Island, I decided to post this image taken from the Mark Twain of the old Castle Rock with the flying flags. Even this element has now disappeared becoming part of a more interactive element. I am wondering, since Tom Sawyer is no longer on the island, are they going to rename the Mark Twain to the Black Pearl to theme a river boat traveling around a pirate island?

Walt Disney World Fantasyland

On a quick look, both of these slides look like Fantasyland in Disneyland. However, upon closer examination they are slides of Walt Disney World's Fantasyland. Looking at the slides it is amazing the imagineers did not do something different and try at the time to make Fantasyland in Florida more of the medieval town setting seen at Disneyland with the 1983 reconstruction. Still I guess the flat shields and blocky buildings worked in Disneyland and money was still tight for the construction of Walt Disney World. I know they have made some changes especially with It's A Small World in Florida, but they could do more and make some more changes to make Fantasyland a little bit more magical. The slides are from 1980.

Skyway at Seattle Worlds Fair

Inspired by It's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow blog, here is a nice image of the skyway at the 1962 World's Fair in Seattle with the neat mid century modern station and the large orange Union 76 sign. Even though not as collected or appreciated, the 1962 Fair did create some unique buildings and icons. And as with most Fairs in the 1960s had a great design and forward looking ideas.

The Three Old Mills in Storybook Canal Boats

Very nice early morning shot of the Three Old Mills from Storybook Canal Boats. Based upon the 1937 Silly Symphony animated short The Old Mill, where a terrific storm comes up and all the animals take refuge in the mills from the storm. One of the best animated scenes is where one of the mills actually starts to work and there is a birds nest in the gears. The gears start moving and the nest appears it is going to be crushed, but the opposing gear is missing the cog where the birds nest is at and the nest is saved.

One of my favorite memories was a time at the park right at closing in the summer. We were the last boat and the sound effects were all turned off. As soon as the sound effects were off, the girl giving her spiel totally lost it, forgot her lines and went from being the breathless sort of voice you hear to her normal voice. My brother and I had to help her finish the spiel. (Yeah, I know I am a geek and knew most of the lines! And we both laughed so hard as the girl would have been a success as a phone sex line operator.)

By the way, there is a new blog out focusing on the Tomorrowland part of theme parks. It is Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow. Check it out as there is a nice piece on the 1933 Chicago Worlds Fair and also slides of the 1964 New York Worlds Fair.

Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship

Just a wonderufl image of the full Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship located in Fantasyland. One of the iconic structures at Disneyland that was reduced to rubble in 1982 for the New Fantasyland. As Major Pepperidge states today on Gorillas Don't Blog just a great image that makes me want to be there. No comments are really necessary.

Tiki Dolphin Show Sea World 1970s

I found a somewhat large collection of slides that was comprised of several amusement park and theme park visits. When I received the slides, I was stunned to see these images. This is the Sea World of my childhood. I vividly remember this part of the park and the dolphin show that took place in the theater. Growing up in San Diego, I would go to Sea World about four of five times a year including visits when in school as a field trip. It was always a fun park but a bit lacking in the rides. Now looking back at the park, it was a great themed park. The image below is amazing showing the tiki themed stage with an Olympic tie in! Oh these images are for Tangaroa, as I am sure he will appreciate them!

Souvenir Friday- Knott's Berry Farm Mailing Box

This souvenir Friday I decided to showcase another park with this wonderrul illustrated mailing box from Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park. This appears to be from the early 1950s before most of the rides and expansion of the park. The scenes are focued on the Ghost Town and I like the Panning for gold shot. Also what is neat is the tag line on one of the sides that the attraction was owned and operated by the founders Mr. and Mrs. Walter Knott and family. So for all those folks out there who appreciate the quiet charm that Knotts once had, I present this box.

Main Street Trolley at the Hub

First off, sorry for the lateness of this post. I was having difficulties with blogger today. From the same series of slides of the Horse Drawn Fire Wagon is this nice image of the Horse Drawn Trolley at the hub. I like the hat on the horse which is a nice touch and the fare sign is great. Also, you can see Tomorrowland in the background. This image is just so evocative of the nostalgia of Main Street. And yesterday's post was really bemoaning the fact that Main Street is not nostalgic anymore, but rather one big shopping mall!

Horse Drawn Fire Wagon In Front of Main Street Cinema

This is what Main Street was about, nostalgia for the past with the Horse Drawn Fire Truck going by the old Main Street Cinema showing real silent films on the screen. I do not think this would work for today's market as not that many people even remember Rudolph Valentino or Vilma Banky. Sponsors were also a significant part of Main Street. By the time I started going to Disneyland, most of these attractions and exhibits had been removed. But I can imagine going into the Yale lock shop and seeing their historical exhibit, Upjohn with its old time apothecary shop and live leeches in their container. However there are places that still exist with these displays. One of the best is the Henry Ford Museum and Greenwood Village in Detroit Michigan. Walking around the museum you can see where Walt would have been influenced for his Main Street.

Davey Crockett's Keelboat Bertha Mae Circa 1958

This shot of Davey Crockett's Keelboat Bertha Mae appears to have been taken from the Deck of the Columbia. The other Keel Boat was owned by Mike Fink and was named the Gullywhumper. The Disney history is that when the attraction opened in December 25, 1955 the boats were the actual ones used for filming the Television show and subsequent film. The boats did not last long and had limited capacity, so new ones were constructed with a fiberglass hull and three windows. The boats ran until the early 1990s, were quiet for a couple years and then brought back. In 1997 the Gullywhumper capsized and a couple of guests were slightly injured and the keelboats are no more. This boat was auctioned and now sits in the backyard pool of a prominent Disneyland collector as seen in a issue of The E Ticket Magazine.

Old Red Monorail Going Over the Falls

Taken from the overlook to the Submarine Voyage is this nicely posed shot of the old red Monorail descending the hill with the falls from the Submarine Voyage in the foreground. The falls created the effect of surfacing with all the turbulence and bubbles. And even though it is in the center of the image, I do like the light fixture.

Cinderella's Dream Castle Storybook Land

One of the best shots I have seen of this landmark in Storybook Land. Cinderella's Dream Castle is towards the back of the ride and rises majestically. In the shadow is the Tremains castle with its one lonely tower where Cinderella is kept. Rising up to the castle is a road filled with houses and sitting on the road is the pumpkin coach. I have always liked the castle and the pumppkin coach. This appears to be taken from one of the Storybook Canal boats. Casey Junior goes through the tunnel as one of the last elements of the ride before the end and the sudden circus stop.

Fantasyland Skyway Station 1960s

Nice image of one of my favorite structures in Fantasyland, the Skyway Chalet. Notice the signage in front of the walkway up to the load area, and the buckets are the old style buckets so this slide dates pre-1965. As I have said before, I miss the skyway due to the nice aeriel view one could see from up there. And don't start on all the other things you could do up there as I am sure most of us probably did a couple of them.

Souvenir Friday- Tour Guide guide and Tour Guide Doll

Today's souvenirs are two fold. The first is the Disneyland University created guide for Tour Guides. This is the manual I have been taking quotes from every day. It is a fascinating look at what tour guides were exepected to do, to look like and everything else when representing Disneyland.

The second item is a doll that was sold at Disneyland in the mid 1960s. I have seen a brunette, redhead and blonde hair versions of these dolls. I love the hang tag with the Disneyland Tour Guide badge and that the uniform is an accurate representation. I am sure many girls loved these dolls, but I wonder how many guys purchased this doll?

Tour Guide Julie Reihm and Mickey Mouse

Another shot of Tour Guide Julie, this team leading Mickey Mouse on the start of his guided tour. From the look of the costume for Mickey, I would say this is mid-1960s when the costumers developed a look that was closer to the true animation and not quite like a big head. Julie does seem to be most represented amongst Tour Guides in images.

Here is another quote from the Tour Guide guide "it's been my pleasure.":

One of your important assignments may be at the Main Gate...which is really the outer lobby for our Disneyland show. As is the case in your other duties, here you must be a counselor, psychologist, information expert...and mind reader.

Even though things are slow, you should not chat with other tour guides, hosts, or hostesses. Guests with a question might be hesitant in asking two people who are talking together. As a Main Gate walking information booth, all thoughts must be for the guest.

There's A Tour Guide in Primeval World

If I had known that the guided tour allows you to get into the attractions like the diorama for Primeval World, I would have taken it years ago! Today's image is of tour guide Chris Bishop with a very lucky guest. Photo was used to promote the new Primeval World diorama. The press release on the back reads: "This little triceratops went to Disneyland--Walt Disney's new "Primeval World" adventure takes passengers aboard the Santa Fe and Disneyland Railroad back 200-million years to the age of Dinosaurs. One little Disneyland guest gets a rare treat, actually going into the "Audio-Animatronic" scene to count the little babies. Mama waves her three horns nervously but still maintains a friendly smile. Disneyland Tour Guide Chris Bishop explains the strange creatures which are among 46 "Audio-Animatronic" three-dimensional monsters in the new attraction." Wow that is quite a release with several different plugs written into it.

And here is todays quotes from "it's been my pleasure":

It's all right to point, unless the subject is Walt Disney. We respect his need to travel the park without interuption...

And then comes the friendly parting. Point out that you have enjoyed the group...hopefully, you've already told them that it is one of the nicest groups you've ever been priveliged to take on the tour. Show that you too have had fun...And, when they leave and thank you..."It's been my pleasure" will come out honestly and happily.

Connie Swanson the Second Disneyland Ambassador

Here is the second Disneyland Ambassador Connie Swanson. She is standing in front of the construction of It's A Small World holding a record album. It must have been tough being the second Ambassador, no cool TV show with Walt, no cutting of the Tencenniel Cake with Walt or just the knowledge you are the first. Rather she was flown around the world to spread the happiness of Disneyland. And then was asked to sign this photograph for a security guard. Still being an ambassador is quite an honor and she looks rather giddy in this photo.

Of course she is following the SOP for Tour Guides "it's been my pleasure."

Use your eyes to keep constant contact. Have fun...and show it. Know your facts and share them. Vary your routine...constantly work to improve.

Never...never...ridicule a guest or make fun of any question. Also, in the never-never world of a tour guide...don't giggle...make up answers to questions...wear sun glasses...or stand in the shade while your group perspires in the sun.

Tour Guide Julie Reihm Off to Exotic Somewhere

This is Julie Reihm who is most famous for appearing with Walt Disney on the Tencenniel show. She receives a personally guided tour from Walt of the all the new attractions in development for Disneyland at WED. The show was the first introduction to Imagineers for me when it aired in repeat many years later on the Wonderful World of Disney. She does strike a nice pose in front of the old United Airlines jet at the airport. Her distinction is she was the first tour guide ambassador in 1965.

Here is another quote from "it's been my pleasure" the guide for tour guides:
Your Costume...created by our Disney artists and the Disneyland Wardrobe Department...was designed to fit the role you play in our Disneyland show. It's essential that you wear it as the designer planned it.
We take it for granted that you know the importance essentials of good grooming and etiquitte. But perhaps a reminder about eye shadow or eye liner is essential. When off stage... outside Disneyland...you may handle your makeup as you please. But as a tour guide, you must have a wholesome, natural look and this lines out eye shadow or eye liner.

Walt Disney and Tour Guide of the Year Plus Bonus

Today's image is another press photo form the Garden Grove Daily News newspaper archive showing Walt Disney with Tour Guide of the year for 1965 Suzanne Fuller. The previous tour guides of the year for 1962 was Iris Umemoto, for 1963 was Reiko Cox, and for 1964 was Dianne Darnell. The photo of course was taken at the Walt Disney Studio. Walt and Suzanne do look very happy.

The bonus is this wonderful color photo of an early tour guide wearing the rarely seen first costume with the Disneyland Hostess patch on the front. And it appears she is standing on one of the Plantation Inn restaurant patios. The outfits were made by Pendeleton Woolen Mills, one of the first lessees of the park. The plaid is a unique plaid design made for the tour guides. This image comes from Dan at A Sampler of Things. If you have not visited his site, I highly recommend it. (It is the first blog I read in the morning.)

Finally a quote from the training booklet for tour guides "it's been my pleasure":
This guide for guides is designed to help you orient yourself in your role in our Disneyland show...an introduction to your training program which will be an easy and pleasant experience...like boot camp in the Marines.