Friday, July 31, 2015

Souvenir Friday- Dixieland at Disneyland1966 Poster and Carnation Menu

Two items for souvenir Friday today. First up is another great purchase from the Disney show. This poster was placed at local stores where guests could purchase advance tickets for the 1966 Dixieland at Disneyland show. The show featured Louis Armstrong and a plethora of Dixieland bands, including my favorite the Firehouse Five Plus 2. This was most likely printed in the Disneyland print shop like the various posters for Nite at Disneyland parties and Magic Kingdom Club advertising.

Next up is a post to add to a post on Major Pepperidge's blog of May 29, 2015 on a Kids Carnation Menu. This is the version I have of the same kids menu. The front featuring the Carnation Milk truck and the back on mine features the Carnation Bunnies Pete and Harry. The prices for the kid's meals are slightly different. I believe this was not a Disneyland Carnation menu but rather a menu from the chain of Carnation restaurants.

Thursday, July 30, 2015

Miniature Horse Corral 1957

Another dark photograph for the Miniature Horse Corral. The corral was located next door to the Frontier Trading Post and featured a display of miniature horses. The sign has the same hand painted look as the Frontier Trading Post sign. The corral features a neat rustic look with the knobby wood used for the supports. This looks like it was moved directly from Knott's Berry Farm.

Wednesday, July 29, 2015

Frontier Trading Post

Today's post features a nice image of the hand painted Frontier Trading Post sign. Unfortunately the picture is very dark and has some interesting shadows. I like the touch of frontier with the pelt nailed to the wall and the great hanging lantern.

Tuesday, July 28, 2015

Adventure Land Bazaar Sign

Another small sign found in Adventure Land (note the spelling of Adventureland at this time) hanging on a wall in the bazaar. Note the great details of the bazaar and also in the right hand corner is where hot coffee and donuts could be purchased.

Monday, July 27, 2015

Signs Along the Walkway

In the early years of Disneyland, the walkway between Frontierland and Adventureland featured minimal theming and landscaping. The walkway led to a small bridge over a stream that connected the Jungle River Cruise with the Rivers of America. In order to advertise the new attractions, Disneyland used small signs as well as a large cloth banner promoting the new Tom Sawyer Island, Keel Boats, and the War Canoe. In the background is the Chicken Plantation restaurant.

Friday, July 24, 2015

Souvenir Friday- Freedomland Employee ID Badge

Today's post features a very rare employee ID badge for Freedomland. The theme park was located in the New York City borough of the Bronx and was built by C.V. Wood. Wood was originally one of Walt Disney's closest employees who built Disneyland until he was fired by Walt. Wood then went on to create other theme parks similar to Disneyland across the United States. The parks include Magic Mountain in Denver, Pleasure Island in Massachusetts and Freedomland. In this case, the ID badge even resembles the early Disneyland ID badges.

Thursday, July 23, 2015

To Adventureland

A nice view of the signpost for Adventureland in 1957. Disneyland during this time period used lots of these multiple sign posts listing the various attractions in each land. This sign extols what a guest would see when riding the Jungle River Cruise. On the left hand side are attraction posters to add color to the scene. The white picket fence seems a little incongruous.

Wednesday, July 22, 2015

The Junction of Adventureland and Frontierland March 1957

Continuing with the vintage Disneyland sign documentation, this time from a contact print sheet of images dated March 1957. The location is the junction of Adventureland and Frontierland. On the left side is Adventureland as the nice painted sign directs you, and on the right side is To Frontierland featuring many rides such as Western Freight Train, Steamer Landing and Keel Boat Rides. A nice touch is the Letter box in the lower left hand corner.

Tuesday, July 21, 2015

Mr. Toad's Wild Ride Entrance and Ticket Booth

A favorite ride is Mr. Toad's and this view of the front entrance and ticket booth is spectacular. In fact, so spectacular, I am speechless. Just note the lovely admission signs and the fantastic waste can.

Monday, July 20, 2015

Casey Junior Ticket Booth Fantasyland

One of my favorite attractions and ticket booth is this nice cartoon version of a depot for Casey Jones Junior Railroad. This ticket booth has been maintained and is now the building used by the ride operators to store their stuff. I absolutely love the schedule sign with the price written over the schedule. The details are nicely oversized and carictured.

Friday, July 17, 2015

Dumbo the Flying Elephant Ride Ticket Booth and Entrance

A lovely image of the entrance and ticket booth for Dumbo. The circus theme is well executed and the large sign is nice. Let's pull out a quarter and ride a flying elephant!

Thursday, July 16, 2015

Fantasyland Skyway Ticket Booth

A very lovely ticket taker counts her drawer at the Fantasyland Skyway Ticket Booth. The painting mimics the design seen on the Chalet used for the Skyway roundhouse. It appears the turnstyles received a lot of usage and wore pretty fast.

Wednesday, July 15, 2015

Jr. Autopia Ticket Booth

A very rare image of the Jr. Autopia ticket booth. This attraction was open from 1956 until 1958 and then was rehabbed into the Fantasyland Autopia. The lettering is nice with the white shadowing.

Tuesday, July 14, 2015

Mad Tea Party Fantasyland

This photograph is of the lovely ticket booth and sign for the spinning tea cups of the Mad Tea Party. The couple appear to be arguing, maybe she wants the purple cup and he wants the yellow cup!

Monday, July 13, 2015

Main Street Cinema Ticket Booth

A ticket booth still seen in Disneyland today is this booth for the Main Street Cinema. I wonder if this mannequin is the girlfriend of the mannequin seen in the Satellite View of America ticket booth. I like the movie stills in the booth and the turnstile.

Friday, July 10, 2015

MIckey Mouse Club Theater Ticket Booth Fantasyland

A great and obscure image of the Mickey Mouse Club Theater ticket booth with a fantastic sign for Pecos Bill cartoon being shown in the theater. Note the ornate bench sitting in front of the theater. So far every booth has had the shield shaped sign for ticket books.

Thursday, July 09, 2015

Astro Jets Ticket Booth

One of the fun attractions in Tomorrowland was the Astro Jets. A sleek ticket booth in gleaming steel, blue graphics and colored fabric panels, the booth calls out to several guests. The little boys hat is a Donald Duck squeaker and his sister's pants look right at home in Tomorrowland.

To answer Major Pepperidge's question, this series of ticket booth images are all dated 1958.

Wednesday, July 08, 2015

Stagecoach Ticket Booth in Frontierland

A really rare view of an obscure ticket booth, the ticket booth for the Stagecoach ride. The theming matches the nearby Casa De Fritos restaurant. Of course the booth is closed as this ride would soon be. I wonder where the closed sign is today.

Tuesday, July 07, 2015

Tom Sawyer Island Indian War Canoes Ticket Booth Close Up

A close up of the Frontierland ticket booth I posted yesterday. The admission prices for each attraction is clearly marked for both adults and children. Note that the large sign lets all guests know that Tom Sawyer Island closes at dusk, although the placement of the pricing obscures part of the sign. I love the yellow light bulb and the discussion amongst the ticket seller and two of the Indian War Canoe guides.

Monday, July 06, 2015

Rafts to Tom Sawyer Island Indian War Canoe Ride

Another favorite large sign for a ticket booth is this one for Rafts to Tom Sawyer Island and The Indian War Canoe Ride. Yes, the Canoes were a ride and not an attraction. Note the Indian War Canoe driver speaking with the ticket taker. This is also another great example of the theming of all structures at Disneyland.

Friday, July 03, 2015

Storyland Asbury Park New Jersey

The first thing that comes to mind when most people here Asbury Park, New Jersey is Bruce Springsteen and beach boardwalk. However in the 1960s, it was home to a small Fairy Tale and Western park called Storyland Village. The park closed in the late 1960s as far as I can tell and was redeveloped into a Sear's store. The park sold this small set of souvenir postcards featuring images of the various scenes from the park. I will let the postcard booklet describe each of the scenes found at this cute park. The sets and buildings were designed by cartoonist and illustrator Russell Patterson. Russell was an illustrator including designs for Broadway, covers for College Humor, Judge and Life, window displays for Macy's and the comic strip Mamie. First up is the cover with a nice die cut feature showing the entrance to the park.

Next are 10 views of the park along with the descriptions. (Make sure to click on the image for a larger scan.)

Thursday, July 02, 2015

Rainbow Caverns

One of the coolest ticket booth signs is the sign for the Rainbow Caverns Mine Train Ticket booth. The booth is a modified Frontierland themed building, but the sign on top is a plethora of color accenting the Rainbow part of the ride. Another nice detail is the lantern shaped light at one end of the booth.

Wednesday, July 01, 2015

Mark Twain Ticket Booth

On the shores of the Rivers of America sat the Frontierland ticket booth for the steamboat Mark Twain. The booth has a great sign in the middle of a life ring with a gorgeous painting of the Mark Twain. I wonder if this was saved? The many different United States flags creates a very colorful and kinetic draw. This ticket booth was removed and the landing area for the dock has been opened up in the front.