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.

Souvenir Friday- New Orleans Square Coffee Cup Sample

A great piece of sample merchandise is this early New Orleans Square coffee cup. Featuring graphics of the buildings and wrought iron work as seen on other New Orleans Square merchandise, the cup has a nice shape. I do not believe this ever made into production. The cup has a label on the inside for the Sanko Tsusho Company of Nagoya Japan.

Alice, Main Street and Matterhorn Christmas 1959

A set of three snapshots from December 1959. The snapshots are all mounted on one page in the posted order. First up is a nice overhead view of Alice In Wonderland with several caterpillars out on the track. In the background is Fantasyland prior to the addition of skull rock.

A quick stop for a portrait shot in front of the Main Street Cinema with the glory of Main Street decorated for Christmas in the background. The Cigar Store Indian looks especially proud in this image. Note the sandwich board advertising some silent film starring comedian Mack Swain.

Last image is from the Skyway again featuring the new Matterhorn mountain with the Monorail station off to the right and the Yacht Bar on the right.

The Backside of Donald

Last week I posted several photographs of characters at Disneyland. Here is another set, some with rather interesting poses for the characters. First up is the Alice in Wonderland characters interacting with guests. The Alice is very engaged with the guests while the Walrus and Mad Hatter are looking for other guests.

Next up is the Mouse that started it all, and he is surrounded by adoring fans. Be sure to note the Santa Fe Disneyland conductor coming in to work. Also in the background one of the guests is wearing a neat souvenir hat.

The final image is an interesting pose with the backside of Donald. Check out the stroller and the bag with some great souvenir.

Early Frontierland Circa 1956

Two views of early Frontierland. First up is the newly constructed Fort Wilderness up on the hill overlooking the Rivers of America. I wonder what happened to the gate sign? I believe the new version of the Fort has a different sign.

The next view is of the friendly Indian village. Note the 1890s telephone and power lines in the background. Also notice how close the railroad tracks run to the village.