Friday, March 30, 2007

Souvenir Friday- Tinkerbell Pencil Case

This is another one of the pieces purchased from the estate of one of the major suppliers of souvenir items to Disneyland. During the 1960s Vinyl kids wallets and pencil cases were all the rage. here are examples of other vinyl wallets featuring Disneyland along with other cartoon and television characters. This one is nice with the Tinkerbell and Sleeping Beauty Castle graphic. I like the back of the case best with the extra pocket where you could store Disneyland Ticket books, postcards, school lunch tickets, photos, hankies and notes. The original price tag is still adhered.

Thursday, March 29, 2007

More Photos From a Blog Reader

Continuing from yesterday with more photos from James Ramey of his visits to Disneyland growing up. These are some of the best underwater shots from the Submarine Voyage I have seen.

A daring photo of the Dinosaurs taken from the Train. If you use a flash, you will receive a scolding and I can guarantee your photo will just be a bright circle of white light.

A nice image from the end of the Bear Country Jamboree showing Buff, Melvin and Max. It is comforting to know these characters are still hanging around at Disneyland.

The Haunted Mansion in its opening year, 1969. Take a look at the crowd waiting to go in.

The old Jungle Cruise attraction sign. Very heavily detailed and well painted. This is one part I do miss with the new structure and signs.

Wednesday, March 28, 2007

One Blog Readers Photographs

In late December of last year, a loyal reader of this blog forwarded to me some images from his childhood trips to Disneyland. I am happy to show some of them to all of you. My thanks go to James Ramey for scanning and sending the images to me.

Two underwater shots from the Submarine Voyage. I like the shark fighting the octopus.

A nice image of Tangaroa from the pre show to the Enchanted Tiki Room.

Meeting Captain Hook and Peter Pan by the Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship.

Speaking to Donald Duck in the old Bell Telephone Circlevision theater post show area. The last one is my favorite as I have fond memories of listening to the phones and placing a call on the speakerphones. Thanks once again to James for allowing me to show these photos. I will post some more tomorrow.

Tuesday, March 27, 2007

Fantasyland Gift Fair

Two more images of souvenir shops in Fantasyland. This is the Fantasyland Gift Fair, once located next to the Mickey Mouse Club Theater. The shop appears to be similar in concept to the Adventureland bazaar. More of an open air shop filled with a variety of items. The first photo shows the stuffed animals in the right hand corner. If you look closely on the carrousel, there is a nice shield with a two key logo. In the second photo, the window shows purses being marketed.

Monday, March 26, 2007

Two Fantasyland Gift Shop Locations

Here are two different Fantasyland gift shopping locations. Both of them are open air markets. The first shows the Information booth that doubled as a souvenir stand. Most of the information booths not only dispensed information but also doubled as souvenir shops. The selection of merchandise includes the giant lollipops, licorice ropes, Little Miss Disneyland charm bracelet on the counter, hats (of course), Pennants, Viewmaster reels on the right hand side and behind the licorice ropes are postcards. It looks like the little girl is making a tough decision on what to purchase.

The other image is of the Fantasyland annex to the Art Corner. Unfortunately the photo was taken before the shop opened. I believe the shelves would have held all the animation cels. At this time in 1966, the cels would have cost arond $10.00 to $15.00 each. Additionaly the store had created dye transfer prints of the most popular characters including Snow White, Winnie the Pooh and Tinkerbell.

Sunday, March 25, 2007

Tomorrowland Ticket Booth

A view of the rare Tomorrowland Ticket Booth. I believe this one was located near to the Rocket to the Moon. I have added a close up of the window so everyone can read what tickets were available. Enjoy!

Saturday, March 24, 2007

SOP Saturday- Profile New Orleans Square

Straying a bit from the straight Standard Operating Procedures is this Profile of New Orleans Square done by the WED Publicity department in 1966. Great information and detail on the stores and restaurants in the land in 1966, before Pirates of the Caribbean or Haunted Mansion opened. Booklet was given to select members of the press for the opening of the land in 1966. Enjoy!

Friday, March 23, 2007

Souvenir Friday- Indian Village Drum

Staying in Frontierland for the end of the week, this is a nice souvenir drum probably purchased at the souvenir shop in the Indian Village in the late 1950s. Designed as a Native American drum with leather top and bottom with great graphics of the various lands and a wonderful purple Disneyland script across the body accented by stars. Drum is fairly big, measuring about 10 inches tall. The graphic piece of the drum is a thick cardboard/paper. This was found by a friend who was a vintage clothes dealer many years ago when he was out looking for stock for his shop.

Thursday, March 22, 2007

More Frontierland, Now 1956

Three views of Frontierland and the Rivers of America circa 1956. The first view is a nice shot of a Keel Boat on a very lonely river. It appears there is some construction going on in the background on shore. I believe there is a stack of logs for Fort Wilderness. The second shot shows the original Indian Village. The village would go through many changes in figures and the boy fishing would be added eventually. The final shot is of the arched rocks and mesa's in the desert. This is almost the same shot as yesterday's Mine Train shot. I still like the Hopi Pueblo's on top of the table rocks.

Wednesday, March 21, 2007

Four Pictures From 1958 Frontierland

From a Disneyland vacation in October 1958 come these four pictures of Frontierland. The first image is of the Disneyland Stage Coach entering one of the tunnels as part of the desert for The Rainbow Caverns area. In the foreground are the paint pot geysers with their colored sand and minerals.

The second image is of the newly opened Columbia ship docked at Fowler's Harbor. In the background is the striped circus tent of Holidayland. Almost an incongrous site as you cruised around the Rivers of America looking at western landscape and then suddenly a circus tent. I believe the image is taken from the deck of the Mark Twain.

The third image is of the Mark Twain taken from Tom Sawyer's treehouse on the island. This is a very nicely framed shot with the leaves in the foreground adding a dimension to the image.

The final shot is of the arch rock in the Rainbow Caverns area. One detail I had not noticed before are the Southwest Pueblos up on the mesa rocks.

Tuesday, March 20, 2007

Entrance to 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea Attraction

This is one of the attractions I never got to see and have always wanted to explore further. The E Ticket magazine many, many years ago had a wonderful article with the best maps and images of the ride. The author was obssessed with the ride and took images of the ride every time he went to Disneyland whent he ride was open. In addition, he recreated the Nautilus interior in his apartment. It was one of the best documentations of any ride or attraction I have seen. The images are from the end of the attractions run in 1966. In less than 6 months, the site would become a construction site and this attraction was gone. The two signs below show the attention to detail at the time. The admission sign is on a steel deck with rivets mimicing the outer skin of the Nautilus. And the polish on the wooden door and entrance sign would do any Navy sailor proud.

Monday, March 19, 2007

Monsanto Hall Of Chemistry

Two nice views of the edutainment attraction sponsored by Monsanto. The Monsanto Hall of Chemistry was one of the first attractions opened in Tomorrowland and lasted until the new Tomorrowland in 1967. The shot is of the remodeled attraction featuring Fashions Through the Ages with gowns and dresses of antiquity to modern times. The modern gowns used Monsanto synthetic fibers of course. The second shot is a close up of the No Smoking, No Refreshments and No Strollers sign. Through the doorway can be seen the large liquid filled test tubes. And in the window is reflected the Time Clock of the World.

Sunday, March 18, 2007

Adventureland Tiki Shield Fence

While going through photos recently, I rediscovered this great image of the Tiki shields on the fence opposite the Tiki Room. I have no idea why any one would take this image as the people are rather low and their backs are turned. Also I did not get any other photos with this image so I do not know what other shots were taken. All I do know is that it is a great document of the shields up on the fence. I especially like the one that is slanted with the rope mustache.