Wednesday, March 10, 2010

April 1956 Slow Day in Frontierland Which Means a Great Time to Build

Continuing with the series of photographs taken on a slow day in April 1956. Frontierland was also empty of people, but was a buzz with construction activity. First up is a nice image of the Old Mill and dock area on Tom Sawyer's Island. Check out all the buildings being built!

What looks like a normal view of the Mark Twain, shows a large mound of dirt in the background. The dirt would become Rainbow Caverns Mine Train ride. You can also see some of the construction on Tom Sawyer's Island.

Finally the photo at the end of the roll, which cut off the rest of the sign. The sign advertises and promotes the new ride being built in 1956.

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8 comments:

  1. Thufer7:06 AM

    Very nice and appreciated.

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  2. Major Pepperidge7:37 AM

    Really neat, any time I get to see early construction-related photos is a treat.

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  3. Big Thunder8:01 AM

    Great shots! But I think the first one is flipped. The waterwheel should be on the west side of the old mill.

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  4. Matterhorn19598:40 AM

    Big Thunder- the original mill the wheel is on the east side of the mill. When Fantasmic came in and ruined Tom Sawyer's Island with the ugly stage, the wheel was flipped to the east side.

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  5. Andrew8:52 AM

    Even a bare mound of dirt at Disneyland was magical.

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  6. Connie Moreno9:31 AM

    Didn't someone ask a while back when the wrought iron fence was put up along the Rivers of America? Looks like it was 1956. Very cool photos.

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  7. Big Thunder11:53 AM

    Well, now I learn something new everyday! Just looked at my 1968 park map and you are indeed correct - the waterwheel is on the east side. Funny I never noticed the change before. Thanks for the info!

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  8. Big Thunder11:59 AM

    Actually, now that I look even closer, it looks like the waterwheel stayed in one place and the mill was actually moved to the other side of it to make room for the Craptasmic!® stage. Could that have been easier than relocating the flume and waterway?

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