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?

Souvenir Friday- Disneyland Hotel Keys

Today's souvenirs are of Disneyland Hotel Keys. I have managed to acquire several different versions of the keys. An interesting fact is that the keys are all Yale and Towne keys. Yale was the official lock shop of Disneyland. Of course these days, the locks are all electronic and the card has cute Disney graphics.

Since it is February 29th, I would like to wish you all a Happy Leap Year. This is a postcard from my collection celebrating the same event 100 years ago! I believe the tradition is that girls can propose to guys on the day.

Esther's Photo Album #24 Final Pages

At long last, the two final pages from Esther's photo album. She definitely saved some of the best for the last. For those who wanted a close up of the Book and Candle shop sign, here it is:

The first image on the last pages is captioned Lou Miller Wardrobe. The sign in the window reads Madame Lulu Miller and Associates. Exclusive Tailors for Men and Women since 1955.

The next three images are captioned Employees Harbor Gate Entrance.

I am sure some of you have gone throught that gate many, many times in your life. The final image shows one of the photographs in the album with the handwritten caption by Esther.

For those keeping track, there are 105 different images in the photo album plus a couple of more postcards. All in all a pretty amazing document of what it was like to work on Main Street in the late 1950's. I hope you all enjoyed it.

Esther's Photo Album #27

Today Esther shows off the Emporium with several shots of the building. The first is captioned Ann Salisbury Emporium.

The next three show various angles of the Emporium. I like the view with the Crystal Arcade and the hanging Sleeping Beauty Castle. I also like the Disneyland Livery vehicle out. I rarely find any photos with that particular wagon on Main Street.

If you have not heard yet, Don Ballard the author of the definitive history of the Disneyland Hotel has a new blog. Take a stroll over there to check out the history and items from the Hotel. The Original Disneyland Hotel