Three Amusement Parks Across the United States

Three postcards featuring various amusement parks across the United States. We start in New Jersey at the Playland Wildwood by the Sea amusement park. A classic seaside park filled with rides on a pier. The park was sold, altered and eventually succumbed to fire in 2002.

The next postcard features Lincoln Park located in North Dartmouth, Massachusetts. The park features an 18 Hole Miniature Golf Course and Kiddie Wonderland. The train sure looks like it would be fun to ride.

The last postcard is of the Tio Viva in Taos New Mexico. The Viva is the oldest merry go-round in the United States. It is a must see at the Taos Festival. A constant delight to young and old alike.

Views of Adventureland 1959

The final three photographs taken during a trip to Disneyland in September 1959. All three are views of Adventureland. First up is the entrance area with the great decorations on the fence.

Not a good shot, but still interesting for the features on the dock. I do miss the striped canopy jungle cruise boats.

Last image is from one of the striped top boats and is a blurry image of the restless natives.

Castle and Monorail September 1959

Two different views of Disneyland in 1959. First up is the visual center of the park and one of the most photographed buildings in the park, Sleeping Beauty Castle. Note the ice cream vendor on the right hand side and also the glimpse of the back of the Horse Drawn Trolley.

The second photograph is of the newly opened attraction: the Monorail. I like the head on shot of the futuristic Monorail with the crowd under the beamway.

Two Views of Frontierland 1959

Two lovely views of Frontierland in 1959. The first image was taken while riding the Disneyland and Santa Fe Railroad. The image shows the friendly Indian chief waving to the river traffic and in the background is a Keel Boat.

Next is an image of the Rainbow Caverns Mine train attraction. The balancing rocks are hanging in there and if you look closely, you can see one of the Hopi houses on top of the large butte.

Souvenir Friday- Disneyland Marshall Head Shot

After finishing his job as Marshall Lucky at Disneyland, the actor Dwight (Doc) Wood featured the job on his head shot. Head shot's would be sent out to agents to obtain film roles. Although it states on the head shot that Dwight was a Television and Movie Stunt Man, there are no credits for him on IMDB. This is a great shot of Doc in his Marshall outfit.

In this image, the badge he is wearing is for Dodge City.

Here is a similar badge marked for Disneyland.

Two Different Views of the Friendly Indian Village

Two views from two different angles showcasing the Friendly Indian Village on the banks of the Rivers of America. First snapshot was taken while riding on the Disneyland and Santa Fe Railroad. In the middle the men are working on a dugout canoe. I like the blurred trees showing how fast the train was moving and the large corn stalk in the foreground.

This snapshot is from the vantage point of the Mark Twain or the Columbia and shows the waterfront view. The men are still working on the dugout canoe. You can also see the boy fishing with his faithful canine companion.

Columbia and One Unlucky Settler

A couple of more days of posts from this set of snapshots from 1959. Today features a nice view of the Mighty Columbia coming into the loading dock after the long journey through the Rivers of America. Get ready to go aboard and voyage on the three masted sailing ship.

The second image is of the poor settler who was attacked by Indians. His cabin was set afire and he was shot with arrows. In the 1950s most of the Western lore and films featured Indians who attacked settlers as a villain. Of course, history shows that the settlers were just as likely to be the aggressor and now this space has been re-themed to the cabin of Mike Fink. Mr. Fink is now being visited by Davey Crockett.

Santa Fe Disneyland Railroad At Main Street Station 1959

Today's post features the Santa Fe Disneyland railroad at the Main Street Station in 1959. The first image is an unusual view from outside the park. Note the chain link fence in the foreground, the delivery bicycle on the right hand side, the souvenir stand, and the great Disneyland 1959 banner hanging over the west entrance tunnel. The train is engine number 1 the C. K. Holliday pulling into station.

Next image is from the entrance looking at the station head on with the Mickey topiary in the foreground. It appears the train set is a mixed train, and there are no posters and no guests posing in front of the station. The bunting on the train adds a festive, Americana touch.

Main Street Views 1959

Some views of Main Street in Disneyland in 1959. First up is a view of the Flower Market with the Upjohn Pharmacy to the right and to the left outside of the picture is Carnation. Note the lovely lamp post sign plaque hanging over the street.

This snapshot view is of the Main Street Station with Town Square in its festive American bunting. The horse drawn wagon is a nice touch in this image.

Souvenir Friday- TWA Rocket to the Moon Script Circa 1955

Today's post is for the Tomorrowland fanatics. The post features the narration script for the original 1955 attraction TWA Rocket to the Moon. A simulated trip flying by the moon and seeing several sites along the way including satellites, manned satellites, the dark side of the moon, the light side of the moon, an archeological site on the moon and a look at the sun. The return trip included a view of a clear Southern California with smog having been removed about 15 years ago and a trip through a meteor shower. One of the advances noted is the ability to render hurricanes and storms harmless. Enjoy your trip on the TWA Rocket to the Moon.

Town Square Benches 1959

Two snapshots from 1959 showing the park benches at Town Square. I have seen lots of photographs, but I have not seen two images like these that focus on the park benches. The first bench is the one that faces Main Street Station. In the background is the Horse Drawn Trolley and the Omnibus. I believe the Omnibus is loading passengers.

The second park is located on the opposite side of the Town Square and faces Wurlitzer and the Hills Brothers Coffee House (you can see the Hills Brothers sign.) Also notice the small town touch of a small cannon in the park. A nice catch is Trinidad the White Wing working his job.

Happy 100th Birthday Ward Kimball

Yesterday was the 100th birthday of my favorite Disney animator, Ward Kimball. Kimball was definitely a renaissance man with varied interests. His interests included modern art, animation, music, trains, costumes, antique automobiles, antique toys and more. He influenced Walt Disney and the creation of Disneyland, re-igniting Walt's love of trains and traveling to the Chicago Rail Fair and Henry Ford's Greenfield Village with Walt in 1948. Ward created some of the most popular and innovative animation to be released from the Walt Disney studio including Toot, Whistle, Plunk and Boom and the Man in Space TV series. He also directed the Academy Award winning animated short "It's Tough To Be A Bird." Over the years I have posted several items related to Ward. One of my favorite items is a set of postcards that Ward purchased at Greenfield Village. The note to himself speaks of Ward's sense of humor.

Another favorite postcard is this color view of Ward's home train. Not content to have a toy train set, Ward was one of the first private owners of a steam powered locomotive. This train set can be visited at the Orange Empire Railway Museum located in Perris California.

Here is a broadside for an early train steam up. This may have been one which Walt would have been invited and learned to drive a train.

Ward was the founder of the Firehouse 5 Plus 2 Dixieland Jazz band. One of their important gigs was to march in the opening day parade on July 17, 1955.

The band also played the Dixieland at Disneyland events for many years. This is a copy of a poster that once was on display in Ward's train barn (from Chris.)

Happy centennial Ward and thanks for all that you did. I miss your wacky sense of humor at Disney events and your animation.

Frontierland Buildings on Tom Sawyer's Island 1959

Two more snapshots of buildings in Frontierland taken in 1959. First up is the fishing pier and shack on the island. This structure still stands as a restroom with a shortened pier so you can view the Mark Twain and Columbia around the bend.

Next image is one of my favorite buildings on TSI, the Old Mill. The original location was more rustic but now with the Fantasmic stage, the structure is not as interesting. Note the treehouse in the background.

Frontierland Street 1959

Some nice views of the Frontierland street from 1959. First up is the Frontier Trading Post with the cigar store Indian standing guard in front of the store. A place to purchase cap guns, cowboy souvenirs and other items. Captured in the snapshot is a guest walking by with crutches.

This image shows the guard block house at the entrance to Frontierland. I like seeing the spires of Sleeping Beauty castle in the background.

Souvenir Friday- 1980 Disneyland Ambassador

The Disneyland Ambassador program was started in 1965 to help promote Tencenniel and the park throughout the world. Chosen from the cast members, the ambassador would travel the United States and the World to publicize Disneyland. Many of their visits were with costumed characters to hospitals as well as to new station interviews. The program continues today and includes all Disney Theme Parks throughout the world. This brochure was given to Disneyland cast members in 1980 to meet the Ambassador for tea and conversation. I like the back showing the various Ambassadors since 1965.

Guest Transportation on Rivers of America Part 2

Continuing with two nice September 1959 snapshots showing guest transportation on the Rivers of America. The two pictures are one of Disneyland's most photographed attractions, the Mark Twain. The first image shows the Mark Twain coming in to the dock. Check out the Frontierland forest in the background.

The next image shows the back end of the Mark Twain passing by a loading dock for the Tom Sawyer's Island rafts. This is an unusual view as it shows not only the Adventureland canal but also an eating area that was once located at the edge of the Rivers of America and is now paved walkway.

Guest Transportation On the Rivers of America Part 1

A couple more snapshots from the same guest who snapped the pictures from the Skyway. The first picture shows the Indian War Canoes being paddled by guests in the foreground and a Keel Boat docked at Fowler's Harbor off in the distance. Photo dates from September 1959.

Next image is of the now gone Tom Sawyer's Island raft landing that was located next to the Frontierland dock. In the foreground is the canal that used to allow the flow of water from Jungle Cruise to the Rivers of America. Off to the side is an interesting set decoration with a mast of a ship with some boxes. In the background is another vehicle, the stately Mark Twain.