Square Dancing at the Long Beach Pike 1949

Two more images from the Long Beach Pike in 1949. These images focus on a kid's square dancing group who visited the park. First up is a nice shot of the group dancing in front of the Mother Goose Garden. The kids are wearing their best western outfits, the boys dressed up as cowboys. I wonder what happened to the wonderful sign. Note that in the background is a miniature train ride.

The second image shows the same group visiting a petting zoo at the Pike. Check out the airplane ride in the background.

Long Beach Pike 1949

A visit to the Long Beach Pike in 1949. First up is a spectacular night shot showing part of the midway. Many attractions can be seen in this image. Some of my favorites are the Auto Skooter building, the Fish and Bowl game, and the carousel in the middle. Also the great neon signage.

Next image from 1949 is the winner of the Easter egg hunt. I can't decide what I like better, the brand new wagon in the box or the two cute bunnies and one very frightening bunny.

Rivers of America Scenic Elements

Two slides featuring the scenic wonders on the Rivers of America. First up is an image of Cascade Falls with quite a flow. It must have been after one of the rare Southern California rain storms.

The next image is of the old mill on Tom Sawyer's Island. This is one of my favorite less visited spots in the park. I love watching the wheel and the grinding mechanism on the inside of the mill. Both of these elements are part of the Disneyland waterways and help to aerate the water keeping it clear of growth.

Burning Cabins and Santa Fe Disneyland Railroad

Two nice slides taken from the Mark Twain of the scenes along the Rivers of America. The first image is of the iconic burning settler's cabin. If you look closely, you can see the poor settler in front of his cabin with arrows sticking out of his body.

The next image shows a nice view of the C.K. Holliday pulling the excursion train through the forests of Frontierland. The bright red color of the engine and tender show nicely in the image.

Souvenir Friday- Pirates of the Caribbean Snowglobe

A fun bottle shaped snowglobe featuring the dunking mayor scene in the Pirates of the Caribbean. Originally sold when the attraction opened, this example is now dry. The inside is a great little diorama of one of the major scenes in Pirates. The Pirate ship and burning city in the background add to the feeling of being on the ride.

Night Disneyland 1966

Three photographs of Disneyland at night during the Christmas Holiday season in 1966. First up is Main Street USA with the nice popcorn lights. Note the large Christmas Tree at Town Square and also the bell decorations and Christmas lights across the street. The lit Sunkist sign is a rare sight.

The photographer was very daring, attempting to snap images of the attacking hippos on the Jungle River Cruise. First photograph is of the hippo preparing to attack.

Next image is of the attacking hippo.

Santa's Village 1962

It has been a while since the kids were packed into the Station Wagon and driven up to the mountains to visit Santa's Village in Lake Arrowhead. The first image shows the man of the park, Santa Claus, posing with a guest. Check out the man hanging out in the trees...

Next is my favorite part of Santa's Village is the North Pole. Basically a frozen pole kids could touch and say they had seen the North Pole. Note the elf on top of the pole.

Final image is of the Fire Engine that kid's could climb on and imagine they were responding to a call.

Saucers and Cinderella

This nice image was taken while waiting for the start of the Flying Saucer attraction at Disneyland. The photographer was on one of the Flying Saucers in the boom loading area. Quite a nice you are there look.

Next up is not Disneyland related, but still a great image of how pervasive Disney merchandising has been throughout the years. On Halloween, little girls could dress as their favorite princess and go out trick or treating.

Souvenir Friday- Send A Disneykin From Disneyland

Three rare postcards featuring the Marx Disneykin figurines being sent from Disneyland. Though sold at Disneyland, the graphics are not specific to any attraction. Still the artwork is fun, the Disneyland font is correct and of course the postcards are almost impossible to find.

The Steel Frame of Space Mountain

Two more great images of Space Mountain during construction. First image shows the steel girders of what I think is the walkway.

Next up are the main steel girders for the building.

Tomorrowland Construction Walls

A quick post today showing the construction walls around Space Mountain. The photo captures the great Rolly Crump ticket booth along with the neat Space Mountain advertising poster on the wall.

Hard Hats Required

Even more Space Mountain construction photographs. The first image shows the construction fence around the site and a peak into the interior as the walls are being installed.

The second view is a broader view of the construction site with many construction vehicles on the site.

Security at Space Mountain Construction

Continuing with photographs of Space Mountain Construction. The first image shows a Disneyland Security Officer observing employees and the construction. Based upon the smiles on the construction workers it is quitting time.

The next image is a great image of the dirt work required for the attraction. I like the background with the Matterhorn and Rocket Jets in the background.

Souvernir Friday- Hand Painted Adventureland Snow Globe

The companion piece to last week's souvenir Friday snow globe is this one featuring the Jungle River Cruise in Adventureland. The graphic is hand painted and based upon an original WED pre-opening concept painting featuring the Jungle boats at the dock and station.

A Trip to New York in 1939

Three black and white snapshots from the New York World's Fair in 1939. First up is the entrance to the Works Progress Administration building. Designed by architects Delano & Aldrich, Mr. Licht and featured exhibits showing the American Way of work. The mural is a fantastic example of Art Deco artwork showing Americans at work.

The next image is what I believe is part of the mural for Man and His Clothes building. The mural showed the steps to create clothing beginning from the growing of cotton to the finished product.

Last image is of the Astronomer with the Perisphere in the background. Look at the crowds walking up the ramp to visit "The City of the Future" model.

Even More Space Mountain Construction

A couple more views of the iconic Tomorrowland structure under construction. The second image is neat with the cement truck getting ready to pour the slab.

Backstage Views of Space Mountain Construction

Two views of Space Mountain Construction at Disneyland in 1976. The photographs show some of the backstage infrastructure and cast members. The first photograph shows the construction of the roof and ceiling for Space Mountain. In the foreground is the Bank of America branch for cast members. According to one website, the branch was called Mickey's Mint.

Next is a similar image showing the parking lot for the security carts with a couple of Main Street cast members looking at the carts. In the background is the large construction site.

Space Mountain Construction- Slow Keep Right

Two more construction photographs of Space Mountain in Disneyland. Both are an early golden morning with lots of construction activity on the roof. I like the sign in the first image...I hope the cast members did keep to the right and go slowly.

The second image shows a large construction crew working on the roof. An interesting look at how the ribs on the roof were built over the steel structure.

Souvenir Friday- Main Street Station Snow Globe

Today's souvenir is a one of a kind, hand painted snow globe featuring Main Street station. The globe is made out of glass and the bottom is from a shell. The bottom has a paper label from the Japanese manufacturer. I purchased this years ago from the estate of the owner of one of the companies that supplied Disneyland and other amusement attraction Souvenirs. Unfortunately photographing such an item can be difficult. The first view is off to the side but you can see the faithful painting of the Mickey topiary.

A view from the front with light obscuring the globe.

Image showing the reverse of the globe.

Steel and More Steel- Construction of Space Mountian

Two images showing lots of steel girders being placed for the new Mission to Mars building next to Space Mountain. These images show lots of activity and construction employees. Note the same white truck in both images.

Space Mountain Under Construction Steel and Crane

Continuing with the photographs of Space Mountain under construction in Disneyland. The first image shows the steel girders being installed for the Mission to Mars building. I am digging the El Camino parked on the construction site. The different colors of the steel create a great pattern to the picture.

The second image shows Space Mountain top with the giant crane in the background. The crane is placing steel girders for construction. The palm trees in the foreground are fantastic.

Four Views of Space Mountain Under Construction

A hectic Monday precluded me from posting yesterday, so to make up for it I am posting four images of Space Mountain during construction. First up is a dark view of the interior of the ride when it was still dirt prior to the installation of any infrastructure. It is neat that the roof was the first thing finished and then the track installed. I guess doing construction this way there were less rain delays.

Next up are two slightly more distant shots of the construction site. The first is taken from an overhead area such as the Rocket Jets gantry or the PeopleMover track or load area. Note the guests reading about the new attraction under construction and character shop. Also note the top of the Rolly Crump designed ticket booth.

Another view of the construction site from the same location. This shot shows the McDonnel Douglas Mission to Mars sign. The attraction itself was under construction at this time. In the far background you can see the top of City Hall.

The last view for today is this view of the girder construction of the Mission to Mars building.