A Trip to Disneyland 1958

A series of snapshots taken by a young family on their trip in 1958. It appears the boys, like all boys, were obsessed with cars and driving cars. The dad was a good photographer and took some nice unusual shots. The first is of the Jr. Autopia over in Fantasyland. The striped tent queue is very nice with the cartoon lettering for Jr. Autopia on the side. The boy is just so happy!

The second shot is also of the young boy in a Midget Autopia car. He sure enjoyed driving the cars.

The final shot is of both brothers starting an Autopia car in Tomorrowland. The driver is listening intently (and probably gunning the engine) while the passenger is happy to ride his third small automobile of the day.

Staying in Tomorrowland are shots of the Skyway with the great sign and the desk chairs on the right hand side. The other image is of the TWA Rocket, but the photographer managed to get a picture of the ticket booth sign. (For all of you signage fanatics, I have added a close up of the sign.)

The next image is of Trader Sam on the Jungle Rivers. It appears his offer of two for one is still being held. (That is two of his heads for your head!)

The final image is of the stately Mark Twain Riverboat (as described in the brochures) from the Chicken Plantation patio. It looks like the perfect way to end an exciting day at Disneyland, watching the boat and dining on fresh fried chicken with all the fixings.

Yale Lock Shop Main Street 1960s

Another image from the long series of photos taken of Main Street Stores. This time it is the Yale Lock shop that featured a giant key outside. This style of advertising is a well known and highly collected category folk art called trade simulators. The folk art consists of giant representations of the merchandise or tools used by the proprieter. Some of the classic examples are giant teeth for dentists and giant glasses for an optician. The Yale Lock shop featured a display of locks and keys from ancient times to modern times. Additionaly a guest could get a souvenir key with the Disneyland castle on one side and Yale logo on the reverse. Yale is still at Disneyland as all the doors use Yale and Towne locksets.

A close up of the window on the second floor of the building to the right.

These two windows represent Disney attorneys. Gunther Lessing was one of the studio's first attorneys, representing them in a case for profits for the Skeleton Dance. Younger and Leopold were both partners in the firm Youngman, Hungate and Leopold who represented Disneyland in early contract negotiations. (Information comes from Laughing Place List of Windows on Main Street.)

Living It Up at the Disneyland Hotel 1961

I love these shots showing two boys and stylish mom standing in the parking lot of the Disneyland Hotel showing off their bottles of Soft Drinks as if they were expensive wine. The family is quite stylish with the suspenders on the youngest and a button up sweater on the older. The top photo does show the old Disneyland Hotel Tram with its great 1950s World's Fair Styling in the background. The new trams are nice but not quite as stylish as the old trams. The final shot shows the family waving to the brave Monorail Pilot as he rounds the corner. Life was so much easier back in the early 1960s!

Kidding Around at Disneyland

These pictures prove that everyone is a kid at Disneyland. It looks like they had fun at the Magic Shop and the Mad Hatter. I think I like the lady sitting there non-chalantly the best.

SOP Saturday- Retlaw History of the Viewliner

Although technically not a SOP, this is a wonderful document on the beloved Viewliner train. Produced by Retlaw (Walt's own company that was started to run the railroads at Disneyland) in 1965, the document details the ride including operating requiremnts. Although only lasting for a little over a year, this train was the blueprint for the more ambitious Monorail. So for all those train fanatics:

Souvenir Friday- Frito Kid Mug from Frito House

I think I have written before about how my family would always eat at Casa De Fritos, or in later years when the name had changed to Casa Mexicana, for lunch every trip to Disneyland. Based upon these memories some of my favorite things are souvenirs from Casa De Fritos. This one is rather nice a drinking mug with the Frito Kid on the front and a decal on the back stating from the Frito House in Disneyland. I believe this may be from when Casa De Fritos was on the other side Frontierland next to Aunt Jemima's. That location eventually became the Silver Banjo Barbeque restaurant. I have only seen one other in a friends collection. By the way, the family ate at Rancho Del Zocala last time I was at Disneyland and have to say the food has improved from when the restaurant first opened.

Golden Horseshoe Revue 1955

Before Betty Taylor took the role of Slue Foot Sue, Judy Marsh was the singing and dancing saloon owner. This is a nice early image in color of Judy and the Golden Horseshoe Girls dancing the Can Can on stage. The early program lists the girls as Shirley Towers, Gloria Watson, Glenda Guilfoyle and Susan Reed. All of the box seats are filled, even the ones on the second story that are now closed. If you look closely at the tables you will see the card tent menus which featured Pepsi and Frito Lay chips. Also all the cups are marked Pepsi. This image came from the collection of the stage manager Ralph Adams.

Carnation Ice Cream Parlor and Flower Mart

Nice view of the side street and entrance to the old Carnation Ice Cream shop and restaurant. The street is there but is now an outdoor restaurant called appropriately enough the Carnation Cafe. Although if you ask cast members will tell you it was named after the flower and not the previous tenant (copyright issues and such.) I do like the Flowers on display and the cart used to sell flowers. Now a similar cart is used to sell water, soft drinks and fruit on the other side of the street. It takes away the illusion of small town life in the 1890s to see modern plastic soda bottles and overpriced fruit. For those who like the window painting, here is a close up of the window for Niagara Magic Lantern Slides. I believe this window still exists, anybody want to check it out and let me know next time you stop by the park?

Coke Corner Disneyland 1960s

Just a nice shot of the Coke Corner at Main Street in Disneyland in the 1960s. The restaurant has not changed much since this photo was shot. Some things at Disneyland should be like that.

Swifts Market House Side View

This is a nice side view of the Swifts Market showing the windows filled with Swifts Premium products and displays of the time period. You can clearly see tins of lard as well as other products. Above the display windows are a series of other windows, the famous Windows on Main Street. For those interested (and who among you are not interested?), I have posted close ups of the window. The information on each honoree can be found on the Laughing Place Website.

Robert Washo is the same person as Robert Wiskey (as the window reads now.) Robert was head of the Staff Shop that created most of the plastering and concrete work.

Bob Mattey was head of Disney's Underwater Special Effects department and later worked on Jaws. His window is not on the list and I assume no longer on Main Street.

All three of these individuals, Ivan Martin, Jack Rorex and Cash Shockey, worked on the construction of Disneyland. Jack Rorex was construction manager for the Walt Disney Studio in the 1940s and 1950s. He was the one in charge of building the large tank for 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.

For Bee Keepers, unfortunately the name cannot be seen or was never painted in honor of a person.

George Whitney was a member of the original Disneyland team and once owned an amusement park in San Francisco called Whitneys-at-the-Beach. George was in charge of Fantasyland.

This window is not on the list either and I cannot find any Larry Smith involved in Disneyland. Anyone out there know of a Larry Smith who would have been involved in Disneyland?

Views of Insurance Company of North America Disneyland

More views of Main Street in the early 1960s. The Insurance Company of North America was one of the main sponsors of Disneyland, holding this site from 1956 until 1982. One of the reasons most people remember the company at Disneyland is that they sponsored the give away guide books you would receive when you entered the park. They also published some of the most colorful images on their series of ads in Life and Look in the late 1950s. Their strongest tradition at Disneyland was to have visitors sign a book for each state the visitor came from. The books had millions of signatures.

For those who love signage and the Windows on Main Street, here is a close up post for the Plaza School of Art honoring Herbert Ryman, John Hench and Peter Ellenshaw.

Two Views of Main Street 1960s

Busy weekend so I will not be able to scan an SOP. I promise to start back up next week. To keep all of you occupied are a couple views of Main Street, the Fire House with Walt's apartment above. Unlike Major Pepperidges view, I do not think Walt was in the apartment when this was snapped. It is a nice early morning shot. The next image is my favorite store on Main Street, the Emporium. Think of all the souvenirs that sat on those shelves over the years and were purchased by excited guests (and are now purchased by excited collectors!)

Souvenir Friday- Theme Park Pennants

Pennants have been one of the mainstays of amusement and theme park souvenirs since the early 1900s. They have been sold by the millions and decorated many a kids room. At the swap meets I still see stacks for other tourist attractions and always go through the stack to see if there is an amusement park pennant hiding in the there. Disneyland still sells pennants as do other theme parks. Today most of them appear to be like thick paper and very brightly printed, not the cool old felt style with vibrant printing and even on some of them are flocked letters. The true oldies have sewn on letters spelling out the attraction. Here is a nice selection of pennants from mainly Southern California amusement and theme parks, with one very nice Story Land pennant thrown in.

Midway at Seattle World's Fair 1962

Two slides of the Midway area at the 1962 Seattle World's Fair. In the background can be seen the large Aquacade stadium where daredevil speedboat pilots and water skiers put on a show. Overhead is the Union 76 Skyway ride. The Seattle fair seems to have been slighted by historians and collectors, overshadowed by the New York Worlds Fair in 1964. However many of the fair buildings still remain, especially the Sky Needle and the Monorail. Several are now museums and some have been moved offsite and repurposed. Here is a nice website history of the fair and what remains Seattle Post Intellegience 1962 World's Fiar

Once again mining the amusement park slide collection purchase, this is a nice overhead view of what I believe to be Hershey Park, but I am not sure. It certainly does look from the East coast but it may even be in Ohio. I do like the spinning ride in the foreground and the wide expanse with the nice canal in the middle.

Yesterday was a nice visit to Disneyland and California Adventure. The Haunted Mansion was down as was the Mark Twain. I did ride the Rockin Space Mountain and it left me kind of wanting. The light effects were on too long, showing too much of the track. And the Red Hot Chili Peppers tunes was not one of their best....

Setting Up Carnival Rides Early 1960s

This was also in the collection of amusement park slides. I believe this gentleman is setting up carnival rides as he is working on a Roman Chariot to go on a caroussel. In the background can be seen a Ferris wheel and a small circular car ride. The carnival is held in a very scenic parking lot, overlooking some great mountains. This is one of the most dramatic shots I have seen, especially with the clouds in the background.

Flintstone's Float at a Homecoming Parade 1960s

This is a very fun slide of what appears to be a homecoming float for a college parade. Barney and Betty Rubble are aiming their prehistoric missile while Fred is at the back ready to launch the missile. I know this is not Disneyland or even amusement park related, but I saw this while going through a collection of slides that had amusement park slides and thought it was way too fun. I hope you enjoy it as well. I promise some more theme park goodies to come...

Clown Painting at Carnival Fun House 1960s

Wonderful image of a lady posing in front of a large clown mural outside of a fun house at some carnival or amusement park. It looks like the end of the fun house was a mirror maze. This one is for Chris and his love of clowns. By the way the blogging may be spotty as I am in California. If any of you are at the National Fantasy Fan Club show tomorrow I hope to see you there.

Souvenir Friday- Martin Musical Instruments Ad 1955

This was an ad that ran in a musical instrument magazine with the title Instrumentalist in 1955. Ad copy features the display at the Wurlitzer store of various musical instruments. The instruments were supplied by Martin for the display. The German Band musicians depicted in the drawing were also part of one window display. I love finding these items for companies that were at Disneyland tied their advertising to that fact.

Another image of Main Street, this time the side door to the Emporium. It is still before park opening for the day and a tired janitor is exiting the door. Growing up I do not remember the giant castle being over the door, I wonder when it was removed. I know the sign on the window is still up there, a nod to Walt's dad and his construction work at the 1893 Columbian Exposition.

Overhead View of Disneyland Early 1959

It is now early 1959 and the Matterhorn mountain steel framework is dominating the skyline of the park. Lots of other construction can be seen in Tomorrowland. Several things have been circled, the Dominquez house, the gazebo over in Adventureland and the rarely used Holidayland entrance gate. Anaheim itself is still a sleepy little town.

Another view of the stores along Main Street, this time the Timex and Silhoute shop. Think of all the Mickey Mouse watches that were sold through this shop and how many families then went next door. The kids would pose for mom so she could get her silhoutte cutouts of them. I am glad that the silhoutte shop is still there and you can still get your profile cut out. It is one of the reminders of a main street in the 1890s.

Second Overhead View of Disneyland January 13, 1955

A closer view of Disneyland from the West side, showing the Rivers of America and an almost complete Jungle Cruise. In the background can be seen Main Street taking shape and all the way in the background is the new administration building made from the Dominguez House and another house moved and put together. The caption for the photo reads: 1/13/55- Development of Frontier Land river and Main Street. The Opera House (completed building) is being used as a Wood Mill for the manufacture of the facades for Main Street and Fantasy Land. All underground facilities for Tomorrow Land have been installed- construction of buildings will start this month.

For your enjoyment is a nice view of the Penny Arcade early in the morning before Disneyland opened for the day. The curtain door across the doorway reminds me of the pull down gates seen at shopping malls.

Overhead View of Disneyland January 13, 1955

Disneyland is just 6 months away from opening and the park is still looking very skeletal. No paving and just the framework for the buildings. Here is a close up on just Disneyland, note I have circled the Dominguez house.

Caption on photo reads: 1/13/55-DISNEYLAND and the surrounding territory with snow-capped Mt. Baldy in the background. To the left of the bottom half of DISNEYLAND is the thirty acre plot on which the $5,000,000 DISNEYLAND Motor Hotel will be built.

A Main Street view of the Wurlitzer shop. This is where the Disney Showcase is now, which is a retail store but in the 1970s was the place to look at models and artwork for coming attractions. I am willing to bet that many readers of this blog started their fascination with Disneyland and the Imagineers by visiting this shop. This was also the home to Dee Fisher who released a record album titled Echos of Disneyland. The album was organ interpretations of classic Disney songs and sounds very funeral like.

Overhead View of Disneyland December 17, 1954

The property is eight months away from opening and structures are starting to appear. One of the first buildings was the Main Street Opera house as it served as the lumber mill and was needed for the construction of the other buildings. Also Main Street is taking shape as well as the ride buildings in Fantasyland. I have circled the camera tower where all the overhead time photographs were taken (and which Walt climbs in one of the Disneyland TV shows) and also circled the Main Street tunnels in blue. Here is a Disneyland Satellite View image from the Disney Pix website for comparison.

To finish off today's post an image of the Main Street Cinema when it showed true silent films including such stars as Mabel Normand and Fatty Arbuckle. I have heard a story that Jimmy Starr, who was a movie and entertainment reporter in the 1920's to the 1960's, lent a bunch of early cinema items to Disneyland for their use. Jimmy also ran a store right next to the Main Street Opera House selling Hollywood souvenirs. When he was evicted along with most of the other small businesses, Disneyland did not return the cinema items. Jimmy in turn sued Disney and received a nice settlement for the items. In later years, the early cinema items were dumped when the Cinema went to showing just Mickey Mouse films.

Overhead View of Disneyland November 17, 1954

Time has progressed and it is now November 17, 1954, eight months before opening. You can see grading has really taken place and the Main Street tunnels are being built out of concrete, looking like drainage control channels. I have circled both the right entrance tunnel and also in the background the white house. Caption for the photo is 11/17/54- Development of Adventure Land and Frontier Land. Also, you can see the fifteen foot embankment that runs around the Park.

A nice view of the Carnation Gardens area with the sign and archway entrance. Many a wonderful band played on the stage to the left. This was also a place to get burgers, fries and ice cream, especially the Fantasia ice cream. I miss the quiet of the stage and the 1890's Ice Cream parlor outdoor ambience of the Gardens.

SOP Saturday- Spring Tonics of '61

A long standing Disneykand tradition was a cast member event gearing everyone up for the hectic summer season. I believe in a slightly changed form (the managers and senior leaders now just talk, and do not make fun of themselves and Disneyland) it continues today. The Management Development Team I believe was Van France and his University of Disneyland staff and of course funny man Wally Boag assisted with some of the jokes. Even Joe Fowler was part of the cast. The program was designed and the art is by Disney Legend Charles "Chuck" Boyer. I love the fun feeling of this program.

Souvenir Friday- Eleanor Welborn Sleeping Beauty Castle Ribbon Plate

The earliest manufacturer of Ceramic souvenirs for Disneyland was a little company located in Monterey California, Eleanor Welborn Art Productions. Started in her garage like so many California ceramic companies of the time period, Welborn in 1955 secured the license to produce souvenir ceramic plates, tea cups, salt and pepper shakers, ashtrays and other souvenirs for the new Disneyland park. Not only are the items with the Welborn mark definitely from the first couple of years of Disneyland's operation, the souvenirs also used the imagineering pre opening artwork for the transfer and graphics. This plate has the Welborn mark on the back, some also have a stamp for ASI (American Souvenir Incorporated) which seems to have been created just to supply souvenirs to Disneyland. Within a couple of years, Walt Disney was able to bring the merchandising into the company and under his control. And when that happened, Welborn lost the license.

The next overhead map in the series is this one showing Disneyland in relationship to the still sleepy Orange Grove town of Anaheim. Not much is around the park and the city of Anaheim is east of the Santa Ana Freeway. Caption for the photo reads: Relationship of DISNEYLAND to Anaheim and the general surrounding area. Photo is dated November 17, 1954.

Overhead View of Disneyland October 20, 1954

It is now October and the dirt work is really starting to happen. The Rivers of America have been carved out and work has started on the Jungle River Cruise ride area. The Dominguez house has been moved and can be seen on the far right of the photo and the stand of trees used as a windbreak show the line between Main Street and Adventureland. Caption for photo reads: By this time we had installed most of our underground facilities, sewer, gas, water and electrical.

A nice shot of the most underutilized building in Disneyland. I like the color seen in the umbrellas. I wish they would bring the Pavillion back as a restaurant instead of just the current empty shell of a building.

Overhead View of Disneyland September 22, 1954

It is now September at the Disneyland property and grading has started for the Rivers of America. The caption for the photo reads: The beginning of our cut and fill for the river boat ride in Frontier Land. I have circled the Dominguez house as well as the what I believe is the white house where Van France worked (and on opening day was center of operations for the CHP.)

A nice image of Ruggles China and Glass Shop in the early 1960s. The scary figure of the grandmother seen in Jordan's Perky Pickle and my pin up posts has been removed and the porch now has wicker seating and a table on the other side. Some early windows on Main Street can be seen for a painless dentist with no name and eyeglass shop for Nat Winecoff who was an early member and promoter of the Disneyland project who later tried to open Bible Storyland designed by Bruce Bushman and also opened Apacheland in Arizona. The Nat Winecoff window is no longer in existence from what I can determine from an online listing of all the current windows. Also there is the wild tree shaped horse ring sitting in front of the China Shop.

Overhead View of Disneyland August 20, 1954

The land has started to be cleared and shaped into Disneyland. The caption for this photo reads: The white spots are the burning of the trees that had to be removed. With the removal of the trees, it is easier to spot the various houses that were on the property. I have circled the Dominquez house on the image. Some other interesting areas are the remaining trees for a windbreak that are still in existence between Main Street and Adventureland and another set of trees out in Tomorrowland area.

Here is another Main Street Store view, this time of the Pen Shop. Located on Center Street, the doorway that is to the left of the shop now goes into the kids clothing shop.

Overhead View of Disneyland July 16, 1954

I am starting a series of postings showing the evolution of Disneyland from purchase of property to January of 1955. The description for the photo is: 7/16/54- date property was purchased. The solid white line shows the 160 acre area allocated to DISNEYLAND. The dotted lines show the 100 acres to be used for our pony ranch, 400 unit Motor Hotel, and overflow parking. The road running diagonally from the upper left hand corner is the Santa Ana Freeway and the road down the right hand side is Harbor Blvd. Note: after a request I have circled what I believe is Ron Dominguez's family home in the left hand middle side of the photograph, to the right is another circle with the Dominquez palm location.

To brighten up the site since I have been posting a lot of black and white photos is this nice shot of the Security Office on Main Street. It appears this was located across the street from the Gibson shop.