A Two For Friday- Universal Jaws and Souvenir Friday

After traveling home from New Orleans yesterday, I was not able to post...so you are in luck today with a two for posting. First up are two more images from Universal Studios on April 20, 1980. First up is a view of their old west street with the Sherrif's office, dental office and General Store in the background.

The next image is of poor Bruce from Jaws sitting on a trailer.

Continuing the Universal Studios theme is this item for souvenir Friday, a Castle Dracula snow globe. In a great bottle shape, the Universal Monsters frolic at Dracula's Castle. See if you can name all the creatures portrayed in the globe?

And for those curious, here is the backside of a snow globe!

Glamor Trams at Universal Studio April 20, 1980.

Two nice images from a visit to Universal Studios on April 20, 1980. The images feature the main attraction at Universal, the Glamor Trams. First up is a shot of two trams in the New York section of the ride. I am sure the tram tour guides are describing the New York set and how movie and television sets are constructed.

The next view is one of my favorite views with the Glamor Tram with Frankenstein. I believe this is at the load station.

Universal Studios 1980 Part 1

Two nice images of Universal Studios on April 20, 1980. First is the poor tourist locked into a set of Colonial stocks. I like the Universal Studios signboard on the stocks. Note the bare feet.

Next up is a nice shot of a the display seen along the route of the Glamor Trams...A Cylon and vehicle from Battlestar Galactica. This was seen in front of the Battle of Galactica where guests would be deposited in the middle of an epic laser beam battle. The attraction was open 1979 to 1992.

1939 New Yorks World's Fair Views

Changing up for a little bit and exploring the 1939 New York World's Fair. The first view is from an upper balcony on the Trylon and Perisphere with the statue of George Washington in the background. In the foreground is Paul Manship's Sundial titled the Moods of Time and the Federal Building is in the distance in the background.

Next up is a view the front entrance of the Communications building with the statue titled Speed in the courtyard.

Souvenir Friday- Cast Member Invitation to Space Mountain Previews

Continuing the Space Mountain theme of the week, this is the invitation that was sent out to Cast Members to the premiere in 1977. Interesting to read that part of the program was a Disney History presentation along with entertainment as well as food. The finale of the evening was a ride on Space Mountain. The invitation is nicely designed and I like the die cut shape.

Space Mountain Under Construction Part 5

Continuing with the photographs a cast member snapped of the Space Mountain attraction under construction. The first image shows the trucks hauling out the dirt and debris from the ride area. I am not sure where the photographer was standing, probably on the second floor of one of the administration or locker buildings.

Next image is taken from the Rocket Jets attraction and shows the construction from the Tomorrowland side. Note the great sign for the original sponsor of the Space Mountain attraction, McDonnel Douglas. The company had also sponsored the Rocket to the Moon when TWA left in 1961. I am digging the groovy artwork on the construction fence, very 1970s and I would think something like that would be painted on a van.

Space Mountain Under Construction Part 4

Continuing with the set of photographs chronicling the construction of Space Mountain in 1976. The first image is shot from backstage with construction trucks and a security guard checking the parking lot. The roof is quite nice in this image.

Next is an onstage shot of the construction site. This was taken prior to park opening with two cast members in the picture. I believe this was taken from the Peoplemover track. Note the great Rolly Crump designed ticket booth, the Character Shop in the background, the lift for the Rocket Jets and the nice construction wall graphics. Unfortunately the photograph is not close enough to get a good image of the construction wall graphic.

Space Mountain Under Construction Part 3

Two more Space Mountain construction photographs from 1976. First up is an elevated view of the structure featuring the great roof and also the open sides. Note the great modern design on the top of the roof and you can see the ribbed design.

Next up is an interior image with the amount of dirt work for the infrastructure. In the background is an Administration building and an America On Parade float parked.

Space Mountain Under Construction Part 2

Continuing with pictures of Space Mountain under construction in 1977. The first is a view of the construction project showing some of the backstage structures. I believe the building under construction is either an administration building or one of the large chiller plants that were built to keep the attraction cool in summer. Those with a better idea of backstage will know. Note the cast member in costume standing at the entrance to the administration building.

Next image is from the inside of the building under construction. You can see the large panels are open and these were filled in and also some of the infrastructure for the attraction. Also the trailer for the construction company Zapata Diversified Builders. From a quick search, the company is no longer in existence but they did a lot of large scale construction projects.

Souvenir Friday- Disneyland Film Series 1962 Third Man on the Mountain

In 1962 the Disneyland University presented a film series to orientate Disneyland employees about some of the films that influenced the attractions and lands of their workplace. This film Third Man on the Mountain influenced my favorite Disneyland attraction the Matterhorn. This nifty little program features a story synopsis, some background information on the film and also the influence of the film on Disneyland. Some great films were shown as seen by the list on the back page. Enjoy the read...

Space Mountain Under Construction Part 1

Today I am starting a series on Space Mountain under construction. The scans are from a set of wonky color negatives so some of the color may be a little off. The pictures were taken by a cast member during the construction of Space Mountain in 1976 and 1977. First up is a view of the construction site with what looks like one of the administrations building under construction in the background. There are lots of dirt and supplies ready to be used.

A wet and rainy view of the roof of the ride with the walls open. Cast members are walking by into work with their umbrellas.

Gepetto's Village and Jungle Cruise

Another nice set of two photographs from different attractions in Disneyland. The first one is of Gepetto's Village from Storybook Canal Boats. The village is well themed with great little touches such as the design on the side of the large building, the horse trough and the cobblestone streets. I like the snow capped mountains in the background.

Next we head to the Jungle River Cruise and the native hut with outrigger that is seen from the loading dock. The hut has lost some of its accessories over the years and is now less visible. In the 1950s it was filled with shields, spears and fruit.

Rocket and Dumbo

Two views of early Disneyland featuring great views of the TWA Rocket to the Moon and Dumbo the Flying Elephant. First up a portrait of the TWA Rocket standing proud in Tomorrowland. Note the scientific marker at the bottom of the rocket and of course the fantastic Googie style Skyway sign in the background.

Next is a view from the Skyway of the Dumbo the Flying Elephant. This is a different view than the usual of Dumbo as most are taken from the ground. The motion is very well done in this image.

Dapper at Frontierland

Two very dapper dressers posing in Frontierland. First up is Mr. Dapper wearing his yachting cap and smoking a cigarette. I believe he is on the steps at the Old Mill.

Here is Mrs. Dapper with her classic camera and nice moccasin style shoes. She is standing at the Tom Sawyer Raft landing located by the channel from Adventureland leading to the Rivers of America. Take notice of the crowd in the background.

Traveling Sales

Souvenir Friday- Hollywood Bowl Program 1958

On a Friday night August 1st, 1958 at the Hollywood Bowl, the program was a visit to Disneyland. The program was quite the spectacle with Native dancers, Boy Scouts, Mousekeeters, Zorro and Antique Automobiles. The guest conductors were Buddy Baker, George Bruns and Paul Smith, all Disney composers. One section featured the Mousekeeters singing including Annette and Karen as well as Clarence "Ducky" Nash. Another section was a selection of the animated film Sleeping Beauty which would be released in a year. The costumes were borrowed from the Ice Capades and are most likely the same ones used for opening day at Disneyland three years earlier. I wish I could have attended as this seems like a very fun night with Walt doing some emceeing for the event.

An interesting article in the program is this one promoting Pacific Ocean Park and the rides at the newly opened theme park. I am wondering if the story about the chimpanzees drinking the perfume is true or just a publicity story.

Three Views of the Castle

Three views of the Castle. In each grouping of slides, snapshots and other photographs, there is usually one or more images of Sleeping Beauty Castle. Here are three different views. First up is a view from the Frontierland side showing the moat and drawbridge. Note the garden lights in the foreground.

Second view is a front view of the Castle from the hub. Off to the right is the ice cream vendor and in the middle through the Castle is a view of Fantasyland.

Saving the best for the last, here is a view of the Castle from Fantasyland. On the right hand side is the neat clock that was at Tinkerbell's Toy Shop. Some details are the lady out on the patio on the second floor of the Castle seen in the left hand side of the photograph. Also the number of adults and kids enjoying their ice cream.

Two Spectacular Frontierland Images

These two images are similar to yesterday's images of the Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship. All four shots are from the same photographer and are large format color slides. The first Frontierland view is of the Mark Twain coming in to the dock. What makes this nice is that the photographer was on Tom Sawyer's Island and framed the shot with the vegetation. Also, captured is a pretty full Keelboat. Almost hidden but still in the background is the Golden Horseshoe Review.

Next up is a lost view, the inside of Fort Wilderness. The building is the Regimental Headquarters where Davey Crockett and George Russel met with Andrew Jackson. The lady on the left is holding either a 1956 or 1957 guidebook.

Glamour Shots Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship

Two fantastic and glorious color images of the Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship circa 1959. The first photograph features the rear end of the ship. Note the fantastic carved Mermaid and Chicken of the Sea logo, the umbrella over the dining tables, and the skull and crossbones flag flying. This is prior to the construction and theming of skull rock.

The second image shows the ship featuring the poop deck. You can see the Chicken of the Sea logo where yesterday's photographs were snapped. There is also a peak of Cinderella's Castle from Storybook Land in the background.

Nautical Couple on the Pirate Ship

A fun set of three color slides featuring a couple of guests dressed in nautical clothing visiting the Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship. At first glance, the couple looked like they are cast members for the restaurant. First up are portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Yachtsman standing at the wheel with the Chicken of the Sea sign in the background. Check out all the great lights and details of the ship.

The last image shows Mrs. Yachtsman posing near the rail. Notice the electrical outlet and also the faucet for hosing down the deck. Also check out that fantastic light and the large football field style lights in the background.

Souvenir Friday- 1981 Corn Dog Wrapper

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Disneyland used a very distinctive graphic of Sleeping Beauty Castle and fireworks. The graphic showed up on paper cups, paper plates and other food service items. This very ephemeral item is a corn dog wrapper. Luckily the guest wrote on the reverse that this was purchased (with a corn dog in it) in 1981 from the Stage Door Cafe. The bright orange and blue colors make me happy.