As Seen On Tom Sawyer's Island

More signage from the same collection I have shown in the past. I believe the photographer of the signs was an employee at the Kodak shop on Main Street. He was obviously struck by signage and took many pictures in April 1966 of the signs throughout the park and even in the parking lot. I will continue to show them sporadically until I am through the entire box. Today's are more signs from Tom Sawyer's Island including directions to another secret cave. And also ambush rock which now has a watch your head notice painted on the rock.

Tom Sawyer Island Fort Wilderness Signs

Veering back to the signs up on Tom Sawyer Island, here are four signs that are now long gone. The imagineers and designers could make anything themed. Now that Fort Wilderness is now a modern interpretation of a frontier outpost, I doubt these signs will make a return.

For those who needed to dial for help when the Indians attacked.

Saturday Visit to 2719 Hyperion Avenue Walt Disney Studio

Well it's Saturday again and time for another visit to the Walt Disney Studios located at 2719 Hyperion Avenue in Hollywood. It looks like we arrived at lunch time. Let's join our friends in the Ink and Paint Department outside on the lawn. The first image shows a group of the ladies enjoying the warm California Sun. In the building behind them, a couple of animators are enjoying the view as well.

The second image shows Betty Ann Gunther (at least that is what is marked on the back) in front of one of the entrances. It looks like a busy day at the studio with lots of coming and going.

The next image is a group shot of the ladies of Ink and Paint. Identified on the back, they are Ann Esplund, Ivy Carole, Van Horne, Margaret ?, Mille Minnette. They are quite stylish with their bobbed and curled hair and gorgeous outfits. No wonder the animators were always trying to visit the Ink and Paint Department.

The next two are images of the buildings at the studio. The first shows the large windows of the building for the Ink and Paint Department.

The last image appears to be one of the sound stages.

Souvenir Friday- Pendleton Woolen Mills Frontierland Exhibit Letterhead and Clothing Tag

Continuing on a Frontierland excursion, the souvenir for today is a nice fully illustrated letterhead from the Pendleton Woolen Mills store that once was the mainstay in Frontierland. The engraving on the letterhead shows a vignette of the store with a list at the bottom of the various types of clothing and blankets made by the company. I have also included an unused clothing tag. The clothing tag was attached to the shirts, jackets and other items sold through the store. According to information I have read, the store would sell the item and ask for the purchasers hometown so the hometown Pendleton outlet could be paid a portion of the sale price. Both pieces were found at the bottom of a drawer when the Pendleton store was closing in 1990. Many of you may own these pieces as they were included with an issue of the E-Ticket magazine in 1990 as a bonus.

As a special for the readers of the blog, I have extra pieces of the letterhead. The cost for a sheet will be $5.00 (including postage.) E-mail me at Matterhorn1959 at Yahoo.com and let me know if you are interested.

Tom Sawyer's Island Signs Part Two

Continuing the exploration of Tom Sawyer's Island and the various signs on the island. The first shows the rarely used (and no longer marked) Huck landing. I believe this was used only on busy days to allow greater guest capacity. In the foreground is another cleverly camouflaged trash can.

Here is another sign also removed, but only more recently. Once hanging outside of the large wooden gates made out of tree trunks, it alerted guests that an unfriendly Indian attack could occur at any time and the gates may close.

Here is the actual exit from the secret tunnel.

Like any intriguing area for kids, there are other secrets as well. This sign points out one (I guess it is not that secret.) The imagineers definitely knew how to engage not only kids but also adults. How many of us want to explore secret areas? It is the lure of the abandoned building, calling to us to explore and not knowing what one would find.

The most intriguing area for me as a kid and playing on the island was behind this fence. I have always wanted to go back through this gate and look at what was hidden in the trees. Now it is used for storage for Fantasmic.

Tom Sawyer's Island Signs

One of the attractions with the most signage is the Tom Sawyer Island play area. Since there is no linear story as in most rides with a set beginning for all visitors and a specific ending, the island had to have lots of direction markers in order to tell a story for someone who may start at one end of the island, opposite another person on the other side of the island. The rough story was known by most visitors in the 1950s and 1960s, that of Tom Sawyer, Huck Finn, Becky Thatcher, Aunt Polly, Injun Joe, Jim and the adventures of the two young protagonists. Recently with the change of the island to a pirate themed, there was lots of online discussion regarding the general public knowledge of the Mark Twain stories. However, let's take a look at the past and the various signs on Tom Sawyer Island. The first shows the directions for many of the "natural" features of the island.

The second shows directions to three of the fun elements on the island. Sadly the elements were removed years ago as unsafe. In the background can be seen the Northwest Pacific Coast Indian part of Indian Village.

In order to keep the illusion the island is wild, even the trash cans are themed to be as natural as possible.

I will continue with some obscure Tom Sawyer Island signs tomorrow.

A visit to the Keelboat Gullywhumper

A ride that unfortunately is now part of Yesterland is the Mike Fink Keelboats. Due to a series of incidents and the high cost of labor to keep the boats running, the attraction was closed. One of the boats was auctioned off and now sits in a private collection. The other keelboat is slowly rotting, half sunk by pirates on the back side of Tom Sawyer's Island. But today we can relive the attraction via photographs. The first image is of the entrance with the welcoming sign. Be sure to pull out that B ticket.

The second image is of the thrilling adventure of riding the Gullywhumper. Careful of the Indians rowing the canoes!

The ride is now finished and we have to disembark from the boat and walk out the exit.

Sleeping Beauty Castle Model KABC Channel 7 Promotion

In order to promote the Disneyland Television show and also Disneyland the theme park, the model for Sleeping Beauty Castle and the first Herb Ryman drawing were taken on the road, so to speak. I believe this is an image from the Los Angeles County Fair in 1954 prior to the first Disneyland Television show broadcast. KABC channel 7 is the local ABC affiliate in Los Angeles. I wonder how many people saw the model during its stay at the fair? Or if I am totally off base and the model was only shown at a smaller event such as those that used to happen at the Pan Pacific auditorium? Anyone have a history of the Los Angeles Fair or even a 1954 guide to see if KABC 7 is listed as a participant?

Knott's Berry Farm Calico Log Ride Models

Today we head over for a visit with Bud Hurlbut and Walter Knott on the occasion of the groundbreaking for the new Calico Log Ride in 1969. The first shot shows the attraction model of the mountain and log flume ride. The ride was the first log flume ride in the world and still draws many visitors. It is a nicely themed ride set in a sawmill.

This is the accompanying press releases.

The second image is of Bud Hurlbut, Walter Knott, Don Koll looking at the attraction model at the ground breaking for the ride on July 29, 1968. The ride opened in the summer of 1969 with great fanfare. The first family to ride the attraction was the John Wayne family and Tony Baxter from WDI was there that day also. (There is a publicity shot showing Tony in line while the Wayne family is riding the drop.)

Here is the accompanying press release.

Another Visit to the Ink and Paint Department, Walt Disney Studio

It is saturday and time to take another stroll to the Ink and Paint department at the Hyperion Avenue Walt Disney Studios. The first image is of an inker and painter by the name of Eve Gerstad. I could not find any information on her...but the talented ladies of the department never did receive much publicity. I like the details in this photo, the light, the coat rack with the fur coat, the film vault and the cabinet with all the animation cels stacked on it.

The second image shows one of the inkers working on a cel. Unfortunately I cannot tell what the artwork is.

The third image shows the paint laboratory where the colors and paint was mixed. From what I have read, the paints were mixed slightly different each day depending upon the humidity and the animation cel stock. Unfortunately this image is not named, I wish it was.

The last image is of a fish ready to be inked onto the cel. The animation is the old style five hole animation sheet.

Souvenir Friday- Ward Kimball Grizzly Flats 1946 Steam Up Broadside

One of the influences on Walt Disney to build Disneyland was his love of trains. The love was rekindled and stoked by Ward Kimball who had his own narrow gauge steam railroad in his back yard. In several of the Disney biographies there are specific stories of Walt attending steam ups at the Kimball house. This may have been one of the times Walt was at the steam up as the date is August 25, 1946. This may have also been one of the first steam ups for the train. The broadside is printed as a circa 1880s railroad advertising sheet with the appropriate over the top hyperbole. The drawing of the train is by Ward Kimball with a sly nod to the fact his house was in the middle of orange groves. The item was signed in the 1990s by Ward and his wife Betty. If you would like to see Ward's train, go to the Orange Empire Railway Museum in Perris, California as his train is now there in a specific car barn.

New York Worlds Fair 1964

Being on the West Coast of things, I do not usually find much from the New York Worlds Fairs. I do find some 1939-1940 fair pictures, but not much from the 1964 version. The following images are all from one family album and shows various trips to the Worlds Fair. I do not know the relationship between the various people. The first image is from the German Beer Garden with the Sinclair Dino Land and US Royal Tires ride in the background. Nice cold Lowenbrau served by a German fraulein...a nice day!

The next two images are of the dinosaurs from the Sinclair Oil attraction. This is one of the attractions I would have loved to see since I have a dinosaur obsession since I was very young.

The next shot is a cold day with the Unisphere in the background.

And this image is from the lagoon in front of the GE Carousel of Progress building.

The final image is from the World of Nations exhibit with the distinctive architecture of the German Beer Garden in the background. The lady looks like she has her own security detail.

A 1956 Trip to Two Southern California Theme Parks

The photographs were pulled from a photo album with the date of 1956. The photos show scenes from two Southern California amusement parks. The first are from Disneyland showing the TWA Rocket to the Moon, Frontierland, Mike Fink Keelboats, the Indian Village from the Rivers of America and jungle plants from the Jungle River Cruise.

The next two images are from Knott's Berry Farm. The first shows the Old MacDonald's Farm area with a unique playground merry go round. The second is of the Knott's version of the Indian Village.

Disneyland in Three Dimensions June 1956

Continuing on with the collection of Stereo Realist 3-D views are these two from Main Street. Both are dated June 1956. The first shows the surrey with a full load heading past Coke Corner and Plaza Pavilion with the gates to Frontierland in the background.

The next image is of Sleeping Beauty Castle in its glory. It appears that they just replanted the Pavilion.

The final image is for those who love the 3-D images and want to create your own. I have put the two stereo realist slides together for you.

Knott's Berry Farm Visit Including a 3-D View

It has been a while since I have visited Knott's Berry Farm of years ago via slides. The first image shows a nice view of what could be considered one of the main plazas- the Ghost Town Railway and Calico Mine Railway. I really like the overhead view of the scene.

The second image is taken from the top of the Ghost Town Hotel (if I placed the items in the correct orientation) showing the street with the red school house in the background.

Finally here is a single image from a 3-Dimensional stereo view showing a "dead" body being removed by the Ghost Town Undertaker after a gunfight.

And for those who want the whole 3-D view, here are the stereo images.

The3-D view is called a Stereo Realist view and use 35mm film size and special mounts to acheive the stereo view.

And I would be remiss to not wish everyone a Happy St. Patrick's day today. Remember to be wearing the green and raise a nice stout (or black and tan) tonight.

Disneyland Indian Dancers 1955

A nice stereo view of the original Indian Dancers. I am showing a single image so you can clearly see the small stage and hill in the background.

Here is a scan in stereo (say it with lots of echo and overdubbing):

Finally here is a scan of the slide with the date and title.

These stereo views are usually very nice and shot on Kodachrome stock. It was a definite fad in the 1950s. One of the most famous people into 3-Dimensional photography was Harold Lloyd. Several years ago there was a nice book published of his images featuring Hollywood stars in his backyard and at his pool. The cameras today are pricey, but there are lots of photographers out there still taking 3-Dimensional images.

At The Walt Disney Studio Ink and Paint Department 1940

My new Saturday feature for a while is highlighting a photo album kept by a member of the Walt Disney Studio Ink and Paint Department in 1940. The pictures were all taken while the studio was working on Pinnocchio and other films. The studio is the Hyperion Avenue studio. The first image shows two of the supervisor's of the ink and paint department, Leota Richards and Helen Nerbovig, playing with Charlotte Clark Donald Duck. Helen Nerbovig was the person in charge of animation cel setups and worked with Guthrie Courviesier to set up the cels for sale.

For some more information, check out this post from Cartoon Brew.

The next two images are of the animation stand used by our photographer. It is amazing to me to see the location where the works of art were inked and colored. It is also amazing to me that there has been so little recognition to the great artists who accomplished the delicate task of creating animation cels to be in full gorgeous color. The art on the table appears to be from the color remake of Orphan's Benefit featuring Goofy and Clarabelle in a circus strong man act.

Souvenir Friday- Matterhorn Coin Purse

A companion piece to last Friday's souvenir is this coin purse in the shape of the iconic Matterhorn bobsled decal. Nicely done in tooled leather with bright gold and silver colors. This is a sample that was created in Germany in 1959 for possible sale by Disneyland. It is one of my favorite coin purses with a richness a camera just cannot do justice.

Fishing on Tom Sawyer's Island

A final view from the viewmaster photographer is this image of the fishing dock and Old Mill on Tom Sawyer's Island. I am trying to figure out the reason for the large crane behind Fowler's Harbor. Was it for the Columbia which can be seen in dock? Or was it for the Haunted Mansion building?

Tom Sawyer's Island

A post to make everyone sad...to compare Fort Wilderness of yesteryear to whatever is in its place now. The secret escape tunnel from the fort to the caves brings back a flood of memories of running around Fort Wilderness and trying to escape my brothers through the tunnel. I was bummed when the tunnel closed and I don't even want to talk about my feelings for the new Fort Wilderness.

The barrel bridge was also a sentimental favorite of mine, especially when the barrels would sink when stepped on. I remember jumping up and down on the barrel along with my brothers to make the barrels sink and then pop back up. I like the picture with the idea of adults having fun on Tom Sawyer's Island, acting like kids.

Monsanto Glass House (At Least That's What the Photographer Titled the Picture)

Another rare view from the Viewmaster reels is this shot of the Monsanto House of the Future and a lady posing on the exit steps. You can see how open the house really was with walls made out of glass. A definite Mid-Century Modern masterpiece. If Disneyland would reconstruct this on the bottom floor filled with the new technology, they would be able to save Innoventions.

A Trip On The Skyway With a Viewmaster Personal Camera

Our intrepid Viewmaster photographer used his B Ticket in 1958 and climbed aboard the Skyway. Along the way he snapped a couple of images, the first being a nice view of the Yacht Bar and the roofs of the Tomorrowland structures. In the distance can be seen Sleeping Beauty's Castle.

The next interesting object that caught his eye was the Viewliner in station. If memory serves me correct, the blue train was the Fantasyland train and the pink train was the Tomorrowland train.

For those who want the true 3-D effect, I have posted the two images of the Viewliner for you viewing pleasure. Do not sue me or even blame me if your eyes get cross-eyed and you have to go see your optometrist.

Two Views of Main Street

A close up view of City Hall from 1958 taken form a personal Viewmaster reel and a speeding red taxi from the same reel. Where is a Keystone Kop to pull over the speeder?

Rob F. I am working on the stereo posts for a couple of the views. Just bear with me....

Pinocchio Maquette 1939 and a Fun Photo

From the photo album of a Walt Disney Studio's employee in the Ink and Paint department in 1938 working at the Hyperion studios are three images of the Pinocchio Marionette maguette. The maquette was created by the model shop at the studio. The employees in the model shop under Joe Grant created many fantastic maquettes for Pinocchio. Fantasia, and more. Once the film was completed, the head of the Pinocchio puppet was given to Bob Baker. Walt Disney knew and admired Bob's puppet work and shows and gave Bob the head in honor of his work. Bob Baker is the master puppeter of Los Angeles and still presents shows in his theater. Disney Shopping Online has recreated the maquette with Bob Baker and Master Replicas help and you can now own an exact replica of the marionette for $300. I believe the lady holding the marionette was a lead in the Ink and Paint department. I can't quite make out which cels she is currently working on. The cels may be from Pinocchio but it is hard to tell.

The last image is a fun image I picked up with the Worlds of Wonder images I posted a while ago. The shot shows the Parade of the wooden shoes at the Pella Iowa tulip festival in May 1967. For those traveling through Iowa this spring, the Pella Tulip Time will be held on May 1, 2 and 3rd this year. Most of the events are free and city turns into Holland for the three days.

Souvenir Friday- Leather Coin Purse and Esther Update

One of two different leather coin purses I own that were made in Germany. I believe this purse was made around 1959 to coincide with the opening of the Matterhorn attraction. The leather is hand dyed and tooled and the image does not do justice the fine work and pastel colors for this purse. An unusual souvenir that did not last long, although the plate with the same artwork is relatively easy to find.

And thanks to Chris from O.C. History Roundup here is a little bit of more information on Esther.

Esther F. was born on Nov. 20, 1908 and grew up on her family’s farm in Willow Springs, Kansas. She came to Southern California in about 1936. Sometime during or soon after WWII, she married Loren S., a carpenter from Los Angeles. They made their home just north of Echo Park.

Loren was born in Oregon in 1899, but later came to live in Los Angeles. He spent the war working in Vallejo – probably at the Mare Island shipyard – before returning to L.A.

Sometime between 1948 and 1950, Loren and Esther moved down to Garden Grove, where they would live for the rest of their lives.

I have a document that shows that Loren worked for “O’Neil Construction,” but I think that may be an error. The scrapbook’s 1954 photo of the castle under construction suggests that Loren actually worked for McNeil (rather than O’Neil) Construction Co., which had the contract to build Disneyland.

Obviously, Esther later worked at Disneyland herself, (from at least 1958 until at least 1960,) but it seems that most of her married life was spent as a homemaker.

Loren died at home at age 82, in Oct. 1981. Esther followed, the day after her 81st birthday, in 1989. They are both buried at Westminster Memorial Park in Westminster, California.

- Chris Jepsen, local historian

Here is a photo from McNeil Construction company, who had the contract to build Disneyland.

Thanks Chris for the information. And the McNeil Construction photo is from the Anaheim Public Library.

Noontime Band Parade Main Street USA

The photographer with the Viewmaster camera really roamed the park. This nice shot of the Disneyland Band in their bright red uniforms are marching down Main Street at exactly Noon. I miss the band being able to march in a full parade down Main Street as you would find in any small town of the early 1900's. Now they just break into smaller groups and entertain.

Dumbo and Casey Junior Train Station

A fourth view from the viewmasters is this angled shot showing the exit sign from the Dumbo attraction with both the Casey Junior Train station and the Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship in the background. The photographer knew how to use the 3-Dimensional aspects of the images to make the images "pop."

Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship

Another unusual image from the personal Viewmaster reel is this shot of the Pirate ship restaurant. I like the angle and the way the ship takes up the image with the black sides and red top and bottom. Also there are a lot of people on the boat, it must have been lunch time.

For Tim at Vintage Disneyland Tickets, the reels look like regular viewmaster reels but are printed in green. Sawyers sold the mounts, a camera and photo splitter. The camera uses 35mm film to take the images, but the images must be cut and mounted into the reel. Many of the nude girl reels are home made in the same way. For more information about Viewmaster cameras and personal reels, check out The View-Master Resource

Fast Food Stand Fantasyland 1958

Opposite of the Chicken of the Sea Pirate ship was this round structure that featured fast food items. In the foreground can be seen a touch of the pond where the Pirate Ship was moored. In the background can be seen snow hill (without any snow) and the Fantasyland Lagoon area where the Viewliner ran. And in the very left hand side appears to be a parked car. Another image from the home shot Viewmaster reel from 1958.

Omnibus In Front of the Candy Palace

From a collection of personal Viewmaster reels comes this expertly framed image of the Omnibus in front of the Candy Palace. The Omnibus is great with the advertising signs on the side of the bus. On the lampost in front of the candy shop is one of the Hortie Van advertising signs for the Grand Canynon Diorama opening.

The Walt Disney Studio Ink and Paint Department 1937

One of the other categories of items I collect are items related to the history of the Disney studio. I enjoy the employee publications along with pictures of the studio and production facilities. The next three photographs are from a photo album kept by an employee in the ink and paint department. The first shows the Disney Minneapolis Club. The club was made up of ex-Minneapolis residents who were working at Disney.

The next image is of the Ink and Paint department circa 1938 when the studio was in full production of Pinocchio.

The final image is of Kay Kamen when he was visiting the studio. Identification on the back is as follows from left to right: unidentified, Kay Kamen, unidentified, Dorothy ?, Julius ?, unidentified and Ray Lamb. Any Disney historians want to take a stab at identification?