Mickey Mouse Club Theater

A single view of the Mickey Mouse Club Theater. The theater is decked out with fantastic signage. Also on display is the rare poster for Pecos Bill and Goucho Goofy. One of the selling points for the theater was that it was air conditioned. Notice on the left hand side is the Welch's Juice Bar.

Coin Operated Model T Rides

Two different snapshots of a similar coin operated ride at two different locations. The ride is a coin operated Model T car. The kids in each image appear to be enjoying the ride. Unfortunately there is no marking of the location on either photograph.

Disneyland August 1966

Quick post of two pictures of Disneyland dated August 1966. First up is an action shot of the Disneyland band marching onto Main Street. Note to self- If you want to be seen at Disneyland wear yellow.

A rare shot of Story Book Land with no guests in sight. I like the nautical theming on the lamp post.

Panoramic Views

Two interesting panoramic views of Disneyland. First up is a view of the Mad Tea Party attraction with Skull Rock and some Pirate Ship in the background. I love the Chinese lanterns from this view.

Next up a view of the aft of the Columbia. I like the camera caught in the photograph.

Souvenir Friday- More French Postcards

Two more of the fun French superimposed postcards sold at the Art Corner. First up Donald and Goofy rocket through the Champs Elysese. The expression on Goofy is a classic look.

Next up is a shot of the Moulin Rouge with Goofy as Don Quixote. I like the idea of Goofy playing the man from La Mancha.

Disneyland 1980 In Color

Three views from 1980, the 25th Anniversary of the Opening and the theme was Family Reunion. The day looks to be a nice summer day with a great crowd of guests. First up is a view of the parade. Note the neat 25th Anniversary logo.

Next up a view of the Matterhorn from the hub at the end of the parade.

Last view is a nice shot of Harbor Boulevard with the old gate sign. This is the era that I have strong memories of going to the park.

Last image is a close up of the sign with the Family Anniversary sign on the bottom.

Happy Hollow Streamliner National City, California

A small zoo train at a park in south San Diego in 1947. Quite a fun train. I believe this still exists and is at Rohr park, although in a different paint job.

Row, Row Your Boat

Growing up the Canoes was one of my favorite attractions. My entire family including cousins and grand parents would board one boat and paddle away. Though probably not as fast as the canoe racers, we would circumnavigate the Rivers of America in a quick time. These photos are circa 1959 or 1960.

Knott's Berry Farm Visit 1959

Two great images of a visit to Knott's Berry Farm in September 1959. First up is a view of Calico Square with lots of activity. In the background is the Ice Cream shop, the train is in station and the Native American chief is speaking to a couple of guests. The guest in the middle is channeling Johnny Cash.

Next up a nice view of School House lane when they allowed guests up on the second floor. One still photographer and a movie photographer are in the scene. p>

Souvenir Friday- More French Postcards

Many years ago I was fortunate to acquire 8 of the French Art Corner postcards for a very low price. Here are two of my favorites. First up is a cute image with a rarely seen character, Black Pete as the Gendarme.

Next up a great image featuring the characters from Sleeping Beauty. This card works well with the background.

Unknown Amusement Park 1960s

From the same family that visited Yorktown and Colonial Williamsburg, a visit to an unknown amusement park. The park was most likely in Virginia but I am not sure. It looks like a small but fun park. First up is an image of the carrousel with some nice carved horses. The boys sure look like they are having a good time.

Next up is a rocket from one of the swing rides all nice and shiny.

A view of the small Ferris wheel in action. I always like the open Ferris wheels more than the large enclosed rides.

Last image is my favorite of the roller coaster with the entrance shining in neon in the background. The eagles look very nice. The coaster looks like it was a small ride, but still every one is having fun.

Yorktown and Williamsburg Virginia 1960s

A fun trip to the tourist attractions located at Yorktown and Williamsburg Virginia in the mid-1960s. Taking a page from Disneyland and theme parks, many historical locations started building recreations of the settlements and towns to attract more families to visit. The first image shows one of the cannons and the British flag as seen at Yorktown.

Next up are images of two of the ships seen at Colonial Williamsburg. The ships are recreations of the ships that brought settlers to Jamestown.

Last image is of the kid sitting at a pillory. However, it appears he has the wrong body parts in the stockade.

Ladies Who Lunch at Disneyland Circa Early 1970s

Before the Red Hat ladies, there were groups in each town of various ladies who would go to lunch. These mavens of society would not only socialize but also help the community. Although I am not sure if this was a lunch group, it appears they are. Plus you get to see some great and groovy outfits. First up two ladies sit on the bench outside of the Plaza Pavilion.

Next up another shot is a pose in Tomorrowland with the Carousel of Progress in the background.

Frontierland is next with a pose on the dock while smoking a cigarette.

Final spot is Adventureland with a shot at the exit of the Enchanted Tiki Room. I love the sign and wonder where it is now?

Belmont Park San Diego 1961

Once upon a time the area around the Giant Dipper Roller Coaster in Mission Beach in San Diego there was a small amusement park with some fun rides. These photographs are from 1961 and feature a grandmother and grandfather taking their grandchildren to the park. The older boy liked trains, getting close to the engine in this picture.

Then he boarded the train for a ride around the park.

I love these off the shelf carnival rides like the helicopter seen in the background.

Last image is a rare view of the small western themed area at the park. I love the sign for the jail, Poker Flats Jail. Plus check out that stroller.

Battlestar Galactica at Universal Studios

In 1979, Universal Studios unveiled a new attraction to the tram ride, the thrilling Battle of Galactica. The attraction featured audio animatronic Ceylon's battling with live actors. The interior was black light with lots of lasers. The building was located where the Simpson's ride is now located.

Souvenir Friday and Autopia Fun

I missed yesterday's posting of Souvenir Friday, so here is a rare postcard from the Streets of Paris in the Tomorrowland Art Corner. Disneyland themed the store to a Paris street scene and published a series of postcards with the animated characters superimposed on various French scenes.

Today's post is a nice set of two images of the Autopia from January 1957. At this time there was no center guide rail and each car had a true wraparound bumper to reduce damage to the vehicles.

Main Street Backstage Alley 500 Block Polaroid Shots Part 3

The last two images from this proposed construction project. The first image actually has a cast member working on the lovely doors. Check out all the ladders being tested for the new ladder land attraction.

Next up another shot showing the entrance to Main Street. As Mike has mentioned in comments, this is now Main Street Lockers.

Main Street Backstage Alley 500 Block Polaroid Shots Part 2

Three more images from the proposed construction project. The first shows a close up of one of the buildings seen in part 1. I like the dirty linen hamper in the middle of the image. The arrangement of the ladders is also interesting. I wonder where the tall mounted ladder goes to, especially with the small door.

The next two images are from behind the Plaza Inn (Red Wagon Inn) kind of where the First Aid building is now located. Looking at the images, it appears this is where the Beagle Boys would hang out in their double wides. I love the last image with the VW bus parked backstage.

Main Street Backstage Alley 500 Block Polaroid Shots Part 1

The next couple of days I am featuring a set of Polaroid photographs taken showing the alley behind the 500 block of Main Street. It appears at some point in the 1970s there was a plan to build some structure behind the Tour Guide Gardens and City Hall.

In this photograph there are some pencil marks showing a proposed structure.

A view of the gate to Onstage.

Frontierland in Black And White Circa 1957

Two views of Frontierland circa 1957. First up is the E.P. Ripley steaming into the Frontierland train station. Note that at the time, the station was a full building with the telegraph office.

The second image is of the Mark Twain with the background of the Old Mill on Tom Sawyer's Island.