Blair and Storm

Today's first image is of the North side Mary Blair mural that once graced the entrance to Tomorrowland. The theme is creativity by children. The image shows a group of children singing and making music. I like the bees and flower in the lower left hand side of the mural.

The second image featuring the Mark Twain and river traffic on the Rivers of America reminds me of the dark and stormy weather that Southern California has been seeing the last few days. I hope everyone who lives in Southern California are surviving.

C.K. Holliday at Main Street Station

A nice portrait of the C.K. Holliday (Disneyland Railroad engine number 1) sitting at the Main Street Station. I love the dramatic steam release. On the train engineers hat is the iconic Disneyland and Santa Fe Railroad patch.

Souvenir Friday- Hallmark Museum In Kansas City

I have been in Kansas City (Kansas and Missouri) on a work trip for the last several days. I did get a chance to visit the Hallmark Visitors Center and Museum in downtown Kansas City while I was there. Hallmark has a long and strong relationship with Walt Disney, the Disney company and Disneyland. The museum highlights this connection on a timeline, but also with a whole display case featuring Hallmark Disney cards and historical information including several letters from Walt to JC Hall, the president of Hallmark. Of course my interest is drawn to the store that Hallmark had on Main Street. Several of the historical artifacts are a nice picture and interior picture of the Hallmark store as well as a letter from Walt asking JC to look at the information about Disneyland and wanting to know if Hallmark would operate a store. Also some of the great pieces for art are the watercolor rendering used on Hallmark Postcards. The museum has on display the art for the Sleeping Beauty Castle card. If you are ever in Kansas City, there are several sites to visit that are connected to Walt. The building where his first studio was located is still standing as well as one of his boyhood homes. Also the TWA building has had a version of the Rocket to the Moon placed on the building. And of course a stop at the Hallmark museum.

Winnie and Monstro

Two unrelated photographs for today's blog. First up is a little girl posing with Winnie the Pooh at what looks like a gas station. The costume appears to be one of the official Disneyland characters, but the background appears very rural. This may have been part of a promotion from when the Winnie the Pooh films were in the theater.

The second image is of a guest being swallowed by Monstro the whale. Unfortunately it is on the mid 1970s color stock that fades bad and has the funky pattern. Still a fun pose for this older guest.

Chicken of the Sea and Jungle Cruise

Two more images from 1957. First up is a nice view of the Chicken of the Sea restaurant in Fantasyland. Unfortunately the mermaid is obscured by the sail. In the background is the now extinct Fantasyland Skyway Chalet.

The next image is of the great early Jungle Cruise ticket booth. This is a nice shot showing the extent of theming for the ticket booth. My favorite is the painted shield over the top of the booth. Also the amount of palm fronds covering the queue as well.

Two Boats in Black And White from 1957

Two shaky snapshots focusing on a couple of boats at Disneyland. The photographs are date stamped for Aug 1957. The first image shows the Keel Boat Bertha Mae with a large group of guests on board. Many are sitting in the open air top but many are also in the cabin. I wish they could some how bring this attraction back as it was always a fun ride. In the background is the Chicken Plantation restaurant.

The second image may qualify for the worst composition ever. The photographer managed to get the top of the Mark Twain, a lovely lamp and lots of sky.

Two Souvenir Slides

Today's post features two early souvenir slides. Unfortunately they have turned very red. I tried color correction but I am still learning the new version of Photoshop and they both came out a little different. First up is the rafts to Tom Sawyer's Island. Two rafts are moving with the large hill with Tom's Treehouse at the top in the background.

The second image is of the Red Wagon Inn with a group of lovely ladies picnicking on the grass. I wonder if the group was actually cast members taking a break?

Souvenir Friday- Sign From New Orleans Square

A fun little sign that was found on counter tops in New Orleans Square to promote package delivery. I believe there has been a change in policy for package pick up in that they now charge for the service to the front gate or hotel room (if staying on Disney property.) I wished they would have dressed Mickey in a more New Orleans style outfit.

Pooh, Tigger and Phillip Too

We now have to say goodbye to Phillip. I leave you with two images of Phillip posing with two of my favorite characters. First up is Mr. Winnie the Pooh. The location is just inside the front gates. Phillip looks rather stiff as if dad told him to pose and smile.

The second shot is a bit distant, as if dad did not want to interfere in Phillip meeting Tigger. Tigger is definitely a more popular character. In the background is the stroller shop.

Phillip Meets Mickey and Goofy

Like most kids, Phillip enjoyed meeting the costumed characters. First up he got to meet Mickey. Mickey is in his formal outfit and shanking hands in front of the Bank of Main street. Note the ticket book being held by the lady in the background.

Phillip also got Goofy to sign his autograph book. Miss Grumpy Shorts in the background is not very happy she has to wait...

Phillip and His Tour Guide

So Phillip was not only lucky in getting a feathered hat, but he also went on a guided tour. His Tour Guide is a cute (aren't they all cute) and friendly Japanese American. Unfortunately I cannot make out her name badge in either photograph. One of her pins is a Japanese Flag. I hope Phillip kept his tour tag as a souvenir.

In this image the guide and Phillip pose at the front entrance to Tomorrowland in mid-tour with the great Mary Blair tiles and the rest of Tomorrowland '67 in the background.

Phillip and His Feathered Hat

Rarely do I find images where a fun souvenir is so prominently featured. In the late 1960s, one boy named Phillip went to Disneyland and convinced his parents to purchase a souvenir hat. This hat featured a nice graphic of Sleeping Beauty Castle and was embroidered with his name. But the best feature was a long yellow feather.

The feather was so fun that Dad could not resist it when posing for a family portrait. The feather even matches Mom's fabulous outfit.

I hear that Phillip wore this hat to his first job interview and got the job. I know Major Pepperidge is very jealous of the hat!

Mega Post- April 1962 Trip to Disneyland in Black and White

It has been a while since I have posted any new images. I have purchased a new computer which should help with some of the connection problems I have been having. In addition, I have now upgraded my Photoshop elements from version 2 to version 15. This post features all the snapshots a family took during a trip to Disneyland and the Disneyland Hotel in 1962. The photographs are marked April 62 but I believe they may have been taken in February. The family photographed some unusual views as well as some of the normal views. First up is the Santa Fe and Disneyland Railroad and Main Street Depot. Two Railroad employees are discussing the operation of the train or maybe the fun they had at the cast party on Saturday night. Note the Santa Fe travel poster in the background.

Here is the car the family will be riding for the Grand Circle Tour of Disneyland.

The view of the Main Entrance from the station. Mickey and Minnie are posing for photographs. This is a rare view showing the backside of the attraction posters.

A view of the Rivers of America from the railroad. Nice to see Fort Wilderness in all it's glory and a nice glimpse of Cascade Peak.

Exiting the Main Street Station and walking towards the hub, the photographer decided that the entrance to Frontierland was worthy of his film. I like the colorful umbrellas.

Heading into Fantasyland, the family ran into Alice in Wonderland and her friends the White Rabbit and the Mad Hatter. Amazingly enough, they did not pose with the characters but just took their pictures.

They also met the fearsome Pirate hanging out at the Chicken of the Sea ship. They decided to pose with him, maybe he coerced them with his flintlock pistol.

One attraction they enjoyed (and photographed) was Storybook Land. I always enjoy riding the canal boats when I can. First up is Pinocchio's village.

Also Practical Pig's house made out of brick.

The old mill where the animals took refuge during the storm. Oops, wrong mill, as noted in the comments section this is the mill seen in the Alice In Wonderland section.

The family also jumped on the Skyway and took this nice photograph of the Skull Rock and Pirate ship.

Also a nice view of the end of the Matterhorn ride.

A mistake image is this double exposure of the Submarine Voyage load area and something else. The Subs was one of their favorite attractions.

Using the porthole, the photographers snapped multiple shots of the mechanical sea life. First up is the shark and octopus fight.

Next is some kelp and fish.

A very crusty crab, maybe from SpongeBob Squarepants?

A lovely fish swimming by...

The last two images are from the Disneyland Hotel. First is the great sign mimicking the sign at the entrance to Disneyland.

Final image is the young son standing on the steps to the Monorail with a Cocktails sign for the Monorail Café in the background.

Real Photo Postcards of Disneyland

Two recent purchases from the last Van Eaton Gallery auction are these two personal real photo postcards. The first is a nice view of the Mark Twain. The date on the back appears to be November 4, 1959 which was a nice day reaching a high of 70 degrees Celsius and an attendance of 5,711 guests.

The back side of the postcard with the date.

The second postcard is of a family portrait with one of the dancers from the Indian Village with the Mark Twain in the background. I enjoy the man standing on the deck. This card was mailed from Copenhagen in 1959. I wonder if one of girls pictured is the one who sent the postcard.

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Statues of the 1939 NYWF

Two different views of some interesting statues at the 1939 New York World's Fair. First up is a modern family inside a pavilion. The mural in the background features a bicyclist. I was not able to determine the Pavilion if anyone can let me know, I would appreciate that information.

The second image is a rear view of the Time and Fates of Man by Paul Manship. The sculpture is a giant sundial.