Souvenir Friday- New Orleans Square Coffee Cup Sample

A great piece of sample merchandise is this early New Orleans Square coffee cup. Featuring graphics of the buildings and wrought iron work as seen on other New Orleans Square merchandise, the cup has a nice shape. I do not believe this ever made into production. The cup has a label on the inside for the Sanko Tsusho Company of Nagoya Japan.

Alice, Main Street and Matterhorn Christmas 1959

A set of three snapshots from December 1959. The snapshots are all mounted on one page in the posted order. First up is a nice overhead view of Alice In Wonderland with several caterpillars out on the track. In the background is Fantasyland prior to the addition of skull rock.

A quick stop for a portrait shot in front of the Main Street Cinema with the glory of Main Street decorated for Christmas in the background. The Cigar Store Indian looks especially proud in this image. Note the sandwich board advertising some silent film starring comedian Mack Swain.

Last image is from the Skyway again featuring the new Matterhorn mountain with the Monorail station off to the right and the Yacht Bar on the right.

The Backside of Donald

Last week I posted several photographs of characters at Disneyland. Here is another set, some with rather interesting poses for the characters. First up is the Alice in Wonderland characters interacting with guests. The Alice is very engaged with the guests while the Walrus and Mad Hatter are looking for other guests.

Next up is the Mouse that started it all, and he is surrounded by adoring fans. Be sure to note the Santa Fe Disneyland conductor coming in to work. Also in the background one of the guests is wearing a neat souvenir hat.

The final image is an interesting pose with the backside of Donald. Check out the stroller and the bag with some great souvenir.

Early Frontierland Circa 1956

Two views of early Frontierland. First up is the newly constructed Fort Wilderness up on the hill overlooking the Rivers of America. I wonder what happened to the gate sign? I believe the new version of the Fort has a different sign.

The next view is of the friendly Indian village. Note the 1890s telephone and power lines in the background. Also notice how close the railroad tracks run to the village.

Two Disneyland Docks

Two snapshots of different docks at Disneyland. First up is a nice view of the Frontierland dock with the Mark Twain arriving. It is interesting that a guest is out on the dock close to the Mark Twain. The photograph shows a nice view of the workings of the Mark Twain.

Next up is a view of one of the jungle launches arriving back from the perilous three month tour of the jungle. The launch is fully loaded with guests. Oh how I miss the striped canopies.

Souvenir Friday- POP Souvenirs

Today's post features part of my collection of Pacific Ocean Park souvenirs. First up is an employee badge, a costume patch which went on the striped jackets worn by employees, a 1963 season pass that admitted the owner and a guest, a ticket scrip book for the games of chance and skill, and a neat hand colored postcard of the Octopus, Sea Dragon and theming for Mystery Isle. Collecting POP items is interesting as there are hoards of tickets out there. This is due to the final auction included the tickets and other items that were left over.

A Mouse, Duck and a Pig Hang Out At A Park

Yes the start to a joke...a mouse, a duck and a pig are hanging out in a park. However, I do not know the finish to the joke, but I can show photographic proof of the characters hanging out in a park. The first image shows Practical Pig meeting his fans. Quite a ruckus is surrounding the Pig and he better be careful or the Big Bad Wolf may get him.

Next up is Donald Duck meeting his fans in front of the Main Street Bank. The kids are so excited to meet Mr. Duck.

Of course the most famous character is Mickey Mouse. Even the photographer was a little excited and shaky upon meeting Mr. Mouse so the photograph is a little out of focus.

Ms. Beret Posing at Disneyland

Two more images of Ms. Beret posing at a couple of spots in Disneyland. First is another view of Sleeping Beauty Castle, this time on the drawbridge. This area looks like a bit more crowded than the other photographs.

The second image is of Ms. Beret posing in front of the closed Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship. Note the rope she is standing against. Note the lovely palm tree and the giant's floral quilt in Storybook in the background.

Beret and Scarf Visits Disneyland

What better way to visit Disneyland then wearing a stylish beret and scarf? This lady is quite dapper posing in front of the Sleeping Beauty Castle. First up is this view from the western side standing on the verdant lawn. It must have been a chilly morning as she is holding her jacket.

Next up is an eastern side view a little further away. Note the ice cream vendor in the background and Ms. Beret is holding a souvenir guide book.

Guest Photograph Day- July 23, 1963

You never know who may have memories of Disneyland or great images that they will share. This set comes from a new friend who I met through work. Her dad, David Deifik visited Disneyland on July 23, 1963 and loved Tomorrowland. David kept a dairy and noted the date. For those without Jason's Almanac, Disneyland was open on this Tuesday from 9 AM to 12 AM, the high was 82 and the low was 61 and the attendance was 35,431 guests. The first image shows the Matterhorn mountain in the early sun as taken from the front of the Monorail. A nice selection of signs can be seen including the Motor Boat Cruise yacht sign and the Richfield Autopia sign.

Next up is a portrait of Patrick Henry, not the patriot but the Disneyland Submarine. It appears that it is a little too early for the mermaids to be out and about.

Final image is of David on the most thrilling and exciting ride at Disneyland...the Motor Boat Cruise. There is so much goodness in this image....

Thanks to my friend Gabrielle and her Dad David for allowing me to show these images.

Souvenir Friday- Late 1960s Ashtray

Coming from the late 1960's is this neat ashtray. The colors are different than any other ashtray I have seen and the castle is a great modern stylized design. The back has the older style hallmark. I call this stamp the berm mark as it looks like the shape of the Disneyland berm. I see this mark from the late 1950s until the early 1970s. In the early 1970s, Walt Disney Productions took over distribution of their own souvenirs and the hallmark is the classic Disneyland D and the more modern Walt Disney World D intertwined.

Lost Parents On Main Street

Two black and white snapshots from Disneyland circa late 1950s. The first image shows the City Hall with some great signage out front including a nice map of Disneyland, Lost Children, Disneyland News and a great Trolley advertising sandwich board. This City Hall is based upon one close to my home in Fort Collins, Colorado.

The second image shows the Disneyland Band performing in Town Square. Quite a nice crowd sitting and relaxing to the music. I wonder if there are any lost children in this image?

Dans and a Viewliner

A final shot of the Dapper Dans on Main Street. In this photo, the Dans are posing with one very dapper guest. The Dans look like they had a blast while they were working. For the sign fanatics, note the lamp post sign for the new 1960 attraction America the Beautiful and the banner for Nature's Wonderland.

The second snapshot is of an earlier date, showing the Viewliner, Yacht Bar and Snow Mountain from the Skyway. This image is full of goodness so I will just let you the reader peruse the image.

Dans Are Very Dapper at Disneyland

Two nice snapshots of the Dapper Dan's singing group at Disneyland in 1960. The first shows the group mugging for the camera. The members are John Borneman (tenor), Roger Axworthy (lead), T.J. Marker (bass), Ted Nichols (baritone.) The group sings in a modified barbershop quartet style entertaining guests with some slapstick comedy and dancing.

A more formal pose is the Dan's hanging out in the Upjohn pharmacy. Interior shots of Main Street shops and exhibits are rare and this one shows the old pharmacy display quite nicely.

The cast member information comes from this website on Dapper Dan's.

Alice and Dapper Dans Early 1960s

Two images featuring very colorful attractions at Disneyland. First up is a nice view of a caterpillar car making the trek down the leaf pathway to the end of Alice in Wonderland. The Matterhorn in the background is very nice. This attraction has recently been rehabbed to meet the safety requirements set by Cal-OSHA for fall protection.

Next up are the Dapper Dan's riding their multi seat bicycle down Main Street. Unfortunately a little blurry, this image still shows the Kodak signs nicely. Tomorrow there will be more Dapper Dan fun.

Souvenir Friday- Westways Magazine July 1955

Westways is the magazine of the Automobile Club of Southern California. Now part of AAA, the magazine has featured Disneyland over the many years of publications. Of course the July 1955 issue features the opening of Disneyland with a great description using the pre-opening press release. The article is illustrated with construction photographs that were most likely press photographs, although the article does state the photographs were taken by the author. A fascinating look at Disneyland in 1955.

Disneyland Band on Main Street

Today I feature more snapshots of Main Street in Disneyland circa late 1950s. The first image shows the Disneyland band marching from Sleeping Beauty Castle to Town Square. Note the Gibson Card shop and the Eastman Kodak shop in the background. Gibson was at this location from 1955 until 1960 and Kodak stayed in this location from 1955 until 1970.

The second image is the band performing in Town Square. The guests are relaxing while listening to the rousing sounds of the band. Note for all those going to Dapper Day to check out the clothing and dresses worn by the female guests.

10 Cents or One A Coupon

At least that is the price to ride any of the vehicles found on Main Street in these images. First up is a busy day at Town Square with the horseless carriage waiting for guests while the conductor on the Main Street Trolley and the chauffeur for the car discuss the weather. The hand painting at Disneyland at this time is just spectacular.

The eventual destination for the vehicles is the hub. Here there is more congestion with one horse drawn vehicle the Fire Wagon and another Horseless Carriage. The guests look happy as they step of the Fire Wagon, luckily there was no fires found on Main Street.

Snapshots of Frontierland 1956

Two nice snap shots of Frontierland in 1956. First is the entrance to Frontierland with the rustic gate. In the background can be seen the Main Street with Davy Crockett Arcade and the Pendleton exhibit. In the far background, the stately Mark Twain is sitting at the dock. Check out the lovely outfits everyone is wearing.

The second image is of the fine Keel Boat the Gullywhumper gliding past the construction on Tom Sawyer Island. Several items to notice in this image are the small cannon at the bow of the boat, the costume of the cast member standing at the stern featuring vest and bowler hat, and the construction of the dock on Tom Sawyer island. The day must have been warm as there are no guests in the cabin.

Hooping It Up At The Indian Village

Two views of the long gone Indian Village in Disneyland. Located where Splash Mountain sits, the Indian Village celebrated the American Frontier and featured displays from various Native American tribes as well as a performance stage where tribe members would showcase their traditional dancing. The first image shows a hoop dance mid-performance, the dance originated in the Manitou tribe and is now found in many tribes.

The second image features an eagle dance. This is another dance found in many tribes across the United States. The dance depicts the life of an eagle. The eagle is a supernatural being able to move between heaven and earth and to help control the weather.

Souvenir Friday- Early Ceramic Sleeping Beauty Castle Trinket Box

Today's post is a nice early souvenir ceramic trinket box featuring Sleeping Beauty Castle. Although not marked as an Eleanor Welborn piece, the decal does have a small EW in the artwork. My guess is this was made right after Welborn stopped manufacturing ceramic items for Disneyland and the new manufacturer was using up the stock of decals. The red bottom sets off the white lid quite nicely.