Souvenir Friday- Halloween Souvenirs

We are now in the haunting month of October so it is time to feature my favorite holiday- Halloween. Like many others, vintage Halloween items and graphics are a favorite of mine. The first item is a cloth trick or treat bag with some wild graphics. The ghost looks like it is a ghost giraffe, and the two humans are very scared with one literally jumping over the other person.

Next up is a paper decoration that is still in the original bag. The cat is a common paper decoration and appears in many sizes. This one is a smaller size and the header card has wonderful graphics.

King Louie and Aunt Jemima Oh My!

King Louie is one of the characters that comes out every once in a while. And when he is out, he is always a fun character to spot and to get your photo. This time it appears the King was by the Haunted Mansion and there is a crowd ready for their close up with the King.

The second image today is from the Aunt Jemima restaurant located in Frontierland. In the background is the Mark Twain and also Walt's Anniversary Present to Lilian, the large petrified tree. Some interesting guests are also in the background.

Costumed Characters at Two Parks

Two photographs from two different parks featuring costumed characters. The first image is from Disneyland where there are many costumed characters running around. These characters are two of my favorites, two-thirds of the three little pigs. It appears they are truly running around the park. I like the reaction of the blonde to seeing a walking pig.

The second image is of Frankenstein at Universal Studios. Frankie is a character that brings to mind Halloween and October. Once again another interesting reaction captured on film by a guest to a costumed characters.

Goofy and Souvenirs

Two images of cast members at Disneyland. The first image is a badly composed photograph with Goofy and children. The kids are shown, but poor Goofy has his head cut off. The guest in the upper right background is having lots of fun.

The second image makes up for the bad composition of the first, the second image is a cast member at one of the news stands poses with the kids. Of course my eyes are drawn to the shelves filled with the Marty Sklar Disneyland book, Pirates of the Caribbean guidebook, 1968 wall map, postcards, coloring books, and souvenir slides. Also the cast member is wearing one of the gray colored name tags at her throat.

Natives of Two Different Worlds at Disneyland

Two snapshots of natives as seen from two different attractions. First image shows the natives doing a war dance at their village on the Jungle River Cruise. I have heard several jokes about this, the most common being the natives are dancing the Hokey Pokey, the natives are singing Wimoweh (The Lion Sleep's Tonight) or that someone had locked the bathroom.

Next up is a picture of the natives found at the Submarine Voyage. Although a lovely shot of the coral, I believe the photographer was trying to capture a picture of the giant sea bass swimming by.

Souvenir Friday- you're on stage at Disneyland training name tag

In 1961, the University of Disneyland developed and delivered a training with the title you're on stage at Disneyland. The training reinforced the stage presence and show for which Disneyland is famous. For those who want to read the training, I posted it several years ago as SOP you're on stage at Disneyland. This is a name tag worn either by a participant or one of the trainers. The graphic is the same as for the training booklet.

Burning and Nature in Frontierland 1967

On August 3, 1967 (when Disneyland was open from 9 AM to 12 AM and the high was 82 degrees and the low was 66 degrees) the photographer spent some time in Frontierland. First up was a trip on the Mark Twain and a look at the burning settler's cabin with the dead settler. Now the cabin has been renovated and leased out to the river boat baron Mike Fink. Riverfront beach property is very expensive now.

Next up was a trip on a Mine Train Through Nature's Wonderland. First up is a view of battling elk. Note the other elk are ignoring the two boys as they always wrestle each other at family gatherings.

Last image for today is of the painted pots and geyser seen in the living desert. As a kid, I was always amazed at how the train engineer could time the trip so each time the train passed the geyser, the geyser was shooting water. Now I know better.

African Veldt and Trapped Safari 1969

The Jungle River Cruise has fun vignettes featuring animals and sometimes humans interacting. The first image is of the African Veldt featuring a gathering of animals on the grasslands. Most guests now think of the Lion King when they see this vignette.

Next up is the trapped safari which just happens to be the next scene on the attraction. This vignette always makes me chuckle even though I have seen it hundreds of times.

Posing at Knott's Berry Farm

Two more snap shots of a young family posing at Knott's Berry Farm. First up is a shot taken by the cemetery of Mom and a son and daughter. I am trying to place the white house in the background and what was in the house...

The next image is posed on the rock work as part of the Calico Mine Train ride. I believe this is the entire family.

Knott's Berry Farm Snapshots

Two views from Knott's Berry Farm circa late 1960s. Knott's was in full swing at this time, a worthy competitor to Disneyland. One of the major lands for Knott's is Ghost Town. Two residents of Ghost Town is Handsome Brady and Whiskey Bill who hang out on a bench. The two residents love it when female visitors sit a spell with them. Note the nice signage in the background, one of which is no longer in place.

Next is a nice image of engine 41 which was once part of the Denver and Rio Grande railroad. The engine is still a narrow guage, but significantly larger than the Disneyland and Santa Fe Railroad engines.

Souvenir Friday- Ceramic Trinket Box and Trays

When I first began collecting Disneyland items back in the late 1980s, this souvenir was one of my favorite items. In fact, now that I look at it again, it is still one of my favorite items. The cover to the box features a great graphic with Tinkerbell and Sleeping Beauty Castle. I like the blue color used as the background.

The neat thing about this souvenir are the two trays to hold things like rings and other items. Both features the Disneyland logo in the classic font.

The back of the pieces are all marked with the mid-1960s style Disneyland logo in the berm.

More Movieland Wax Museum Buena Park, California

More images from Movieland Wax Museum in Buena Park California. The first image is outside the museum featuring the gold Rolls Royce and white neo-classical building. Unfortunately the camera was slightly out of focus (all right, almost totally out of focus) when this photograph was taken. The Rolls Royce was featured on many souvenirs including postcards, wallets and also decals.

The second image is of the Marx Brothers from their classic 1930s film Animal Crackers. I like the posing of Harpo with the Harp and Groucho with his golf clubs.

Two Exhibits Movieland Wax Museum Buena Park

Taking a detour north on the 5 freeway to Buena Park to the Movieland Wax Museum. Opened in 1962 and sold to Six Flags in 1970, the attraction closed in 2005 with a giant auction of the wax figures and sets. The first image for today features Bela Lugosi and Helen Chandler in a scene from Dracula. The set design is really interesting and gives the tableaux a creepy setting.

The second image is not really from a movie, but from a famous historical scene. The picture shows John F. Kennedy and his PT 109 during World War 2. I like the wet effect seen in this diorama.

its a small world Topiary

When its a small world was recreated based upon the original attraction in New York, the designers wanted to add to the visual excitement for the entrance. One of the methods was to use topiary, lovely bushes cut into animal shapes. The topiary outside of the attraction is one of the elements I remember most as a kid.

Mark Twain and Views

Three color snapshots of Frontierland. The first image features a great overhead view of the Mark Twain with the Disneyland band on the deck. The bright red color really attracts the eye and stand out against the white of the Mark Twain. The crowd is a very groovy collection of guests.

The next two images are ones taken during a trip on the Mark Twain. First up is one of my favorite now gone sights, Cascade Peak with the Three Sisters falls.

Final image is of the burning settler's cabin. This image shows the vibration of the engine when riding the Mark Twain, making the image appear almost like a Key painting.

Souvenir Friday- Wurlitzer Advertising Sign

When Disneyland opened, Wurlitzer sponsored a shop on Main Street and was the official music of Disneyland. The company used this connection to advertise their musical instruments, mainly organs and keyboards used in the house. Wurlitzer created signs that could be placed on their instruments at their stores, promoting Wurlitzer's connection to Disneyland.

Kiddie Car Rides

Two different snapshots of kiddie car rides at unknown carnivals or fairs. The first image is of a nice ride with classic 1930s style cars with a very rustic track and rustic piping to move the ride. The main kid in his sailor hat is very cute.

The second picture is of a more modern kiddie car ride with more streamlined cars. The mechanism to run the ride is hid under the planking and the fence is definitely more sturdy. The kids in this picture are just as cute.

Storybook and Dumbo Circa 1956

Two fun snapshots that border on the artistic. First up is the Storybook Canal Boats and Casey Junior with the landscaping reading Story out front. The little circus train always cheers me up.

The second photograph is a great abstract style photograph featuring a dream like image of Dumbo flying high over the park. The movement of the attraction is captured in this image.

Storybook Canal Boats Circa 1956

Two black and white snapshots from Storybook circa 1956. First up is Monstro the whale who not only swallows the boats guests ride on, but also swallows the Chicken of the Sea Pirate ship. Check out those big teeth.

The next image is of guests leaving from the dock on one of the boats. In the background is the circus tent left over from the Mickey Mouse Club Circus and now used by Professor George J. Keller and his trained lion and tiger act. Note the cast member who is running the boat and narrating is male. For many years in the 1960s to the 1990s, the Storybook boats were operated by female cast members.

Cool Jungle River Cruise Images August 3, 1967

Two more images from an August 3, 1967 trip to Disneyland. The day was warm, but the Jungle River Cruise is always nice and cool. First up is a momma elephant protecting her baby from a crocodile. The crocodile looks a little albino.

The photographer liked waterfalls and snapped this image of a small waterfall on the Jungle Cruise. If I flipped the photo, everyone would recognize the back side of water.

Souvenir Friday- Disneyland Special Train Painting

From the mid 1950s, a lovely gouache on board painting of a train at Disneyland for either a coloring book or a story book on Disneyland. A nice colorful painting of a train engine with guests and an engineer with the Main Street Station in the background. Painting measures 9.5 by 8.5 inches. If any of my readers know which publication this image was painted for, please let me know.

Nature's Wonderland Railroad and Three Sisters Falls August 3, 1967

August 3, 1967 was a lovely Thursday with a high of 82 and a low of 66 and Disneyland opened at 9AM and closed at 12AM. The photographer took a lovely cruise on the Rivers of America and snapped these two images of a Mine Train passing by the Three Sisters Falls coming down Cascade Peak. I really do miss the wonderful understated attraction and the lovely yellow trains.

Santa's Village Structures

Two more black and white snapshots from Santa's Village. First up is what I believe is the Toy shop with a lovely toy soldier sentry on a drum out front, a water wheel and a small bridge over the stream. I love the angry looking steam vent on the side of the roof.

The second image is of the small castle gate over a water feature. The castle acted as a gate to the rest of the park. Many years ago when I was a small boy, I fell into one of the ponds and had to wear wet jeans for the rest of the visit. Luckily it was a warm day.

Santa's Village Lake Arrowhead California

Two black and white and slightly out of focus black and white snapshots of Santa's Village in Lake Arrowhead California. A fun park that opened before Disneyland and featured the typical Santa Claus attractions including meeting Santa every day of the year, a toy shop, and a frozen north pole. The first snap shot is of the entry building as seen from the parking lot. I like the great directional sign out front and the fake snow line on the peak of the A-frame.

Next up is the home of the big man himself, Santa Claus. Note the countdown clock until December 25th.

There are rumors that an investment group is working to re-open the park in the future.

Coney Island Memories

Since Labor Day is the unofficial end of summer, I am posting two nice early postcards of Coney Island. Coney Island is a mecca for summertime fun and has featured many fun rides over the years. The first postcard from this wonderland by the sea is the Wonder Wheel at night published by the owner and manufacturer of the ride, the Eccentric Ferris Wheel Company. The postcard is dated 1920.

The second postcard is earlier and features a fun house attraction, the Noah's Ark. The ride would slowly rock back and forth while guests would see vignettes of Noah and the animals. This postcard features the great background of roller coasters and advertising. I like the giant open mouth of the Whale.