Fantasyland Souvenir Stand 1960

Another Fantasyland image is this souvenir stand situated between the Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship and the Storybook Canal Boats. Some of the items for sale include the souvenir plastic hard hats in white and yellow, sun hats, guidebooks, and on the circular rack are postcards including the rare oversize postcards on the bottom. I like the castle graphics on the bottom of the circular rack and of course all of the pennants adding color to the simply designed booth. This shot is pre skull rock.

Sleeping Beauty Castle Walk Through Entrance 1960

Another great view of Fantasyland circa 1960. This is the entrance to the Sleeping Beauty Castle Walk Through attraction, now long closed due to supposed security concerns. There is a great E-Ticket magazine article about this attraction and its wonderful Ken Anderson designed flats and displays. Some of the details in this shot are amazing, on the left hand side is the ticket booth continuing the royal joust theme and right in front of the entrance is a trash can which also mirrors the theming. And the 1950s salmon pink turnstile is stunning. From the collection of large format slides.

Fantasyland Railroad Station 1960

Another rare shot of Fantasyland, the Railroad station that was removed for the construction of Its A Small World. Be sure to look at the sign that included Disneyland Santa Fe Railroad and the ticket booth window with the great crown design. Even though located somewhat away from the center of Fantasyland, it still has the paint scheme of the joust with the checkerboard and flags. From the same collection of large format slides.

Mad Tea Party Spinning Tea Cups Ticket Booth 1960

Continuing on the Fantasyland tour, this is the rare image of the old ticket booth and ride exit for the Mad Tea Party Spinning Tea Cups from 1960. Check out the signs in the window and the edge of the Mickey Mouse Club Theater on the left hand side. From the same collection of large positive slides.

Exterior of Snow White Ride Fantasyland 1960

The old style Fantasyland was a very festive and colorful place. The buildings were not much to look at, but the imagineers did try to conceal them with bright painting, wonderful attraction designs and drapery. The concept was that the castle was decorated for a jousting tournament. The shield designs on each of the attractions helped to further the concept. And the murals by the load area were the best renditions of the characters. From a large size positive slide taken by an employee.

Metropolitian Bus Station Disneyland Parking Lot 1960s

A very obscure image, the bus station that was located in the parking lot. Back in the 1950s and 1960s, the bus was a much more common mode of transportation and many Disneyland visitors arrived at the park via local bus service. They would get off at this stop decorated with Attraction Posters. Of course, not too many people ever thought of taking a picture of this structure.

Concrete Dinosaurs Rapid City, South Dakota 1960

Heading north of Disneyland quite a bit today to show three slides of the wonderful concrete dinosaurs in Rapid City, South Dakota. Sculpted and built in 1936 as part of a WPA project for the city of Rapid City, the dinosaurs have a definite cartoony look about them. This is evident in the three slides. The slides are from a trip a group of recently graduated nurses took across the country in 1960, visiting several sites including Disneyland and Pacific Ocean Park. However these slides were an unexpected find and are a joy to look at. For those interested, the concrete dinosaurs are still surviving in their park in Rapid City.

Frontierland New Orleans Area Restaurant Row 1960

View of what I like to call restaurant row in Frontierland, and at the time the New Orleans themed area of the park. View shows the Malt Shop and Don Defores Silver Banjo Restaurant. The Malt Shop sells Pizza and other quick foods, not really themed well but I guess it probably workedl. These buildings are still standing although now used for backstage storage. Rumors are swirling the area will be totally renovated and a new larger restaurant constructed on the site.

Main Street Magic Shop Before Opening 1960s

Several years ago a dealer in Disney items offered to me a box of large format positive slides. From what I can tell, the photographer was an employee of Kodak. In the slides are some great shots such as this one showing the Main Street Magic Shop and Tobacconist with Main Street being worked on. Several of the shots are sans people and of items and places I have never seen photographed. I want to thank Tangaroa for scanning the slides for me.

Indian Trading Post 1971

Great shot of a 1970s outfit in front of the Indian Trading Post in Frontierland in 1971. This structure still stands today as the B'rer Shop once filled with B'rer Animal plush, but now full of hats. I absolutely love the outfit and the crowning touch is the Mickey Mouse Balloon. Photograph is written on the back Me at Disneyland my After Prom and date stamped June 23, 1971.

Coming to Main Gate on the Tram 1960

Another parking lot view, this time from the old parking lot trams. Image shows the Main Gate of Disneyland where the tickets were purchased. And of course, the towering structure of the Matterhorn mountain can be seen. A great feature of the driver is his racing helmet as if he was speeding towards the park. Image is dated November 1960.

Skyway View of Fantasyland Junior And Midget Autopia 1958

Photograph taken from the Skyway showing the line and start areas for Junior Autopia, Midget Autopia, Motorboat Cruise, Fantasyland Viewliner station and the old Fantasyland Train station. And in the very background can be seen the adult autopia, otherwise known as the 5 freeway (well at that time it was listed as the 101 highway.) Photograph is dated September 1958.

Amazon Belle at Jungle Cruise Dock 1968

I like this photo for the intense color and look of the Jungle Cruise boats. It was one of the darkest days when the boats were rethemed to fit in with the more realistic look of Indiana Jones. I liked the striped canopies and the wonderful names. Now, the boats just look drab. But I realize Disneyland must change and grow, but sometimes it is not for the better. Photo is dated January 68.

The Tomorrowland Space Couple Late 1950s

Most likely snapped from the Skyway, a great image of Mr. and Ms. Tomorrowland standing in front of the Autopia. It must have been during the summer as there are lots of guests sitting under the shade canopies. I like how no one is mobbing the space couple. If this were taken today, there would be a crowd of people around them trying to get autographs or their picture taken with them.

Walt Disney and King of the Leprachuans 1959

One of the other kind of photos I collect are vintage photos of Walt Disney at Disneyland, the studio or promoting a film. This wonderful St. Patrick's day themed photo is of Walt Disney, Pat O'Brien and Brian Connors promoting the Disneyland TV show I Captured the King Of the Leprechauns. The ABC tear sheet states: Pat O'Brien (left) shows a leprechaun pipe to Brian Connors, king of the leprechauns and a skeptical Walt Disney, in this scene from "I Captured the King of the Leprechauns," on "Walt Disney Presents" Friday May 29 (ABC-TV, 8-9 PM, EDT)

Happy St. Patricks Day everyone and may the luck of the Irish be with you!

Pablum Baby Station Main Street January 1958

Great image of the Pablum Baby Station on Main Street. This was the First Aid and Baby Care center, sponsored by Pablum baby foods. The scene is just amazing, many strollers parked in the Stroller Parking area, the nurse in the doorway, the signs, the teenager in her poodle circle skirt and the map on the circus striped wall. Photograph is dated on the reverse Janaury 22, 1958.

Check out this great Haunted Mansion photograph of the old cemetary and gravestones on Jeff's website. http://www.athenamama.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-tb.cgi/272

Bakerland Brochure- Auto Advertising Mimicing Disneyland 1950s

When I first saw this in a stack of paperwork, I thought it was the most unusual Disneyland brochure I have ever seen. Then I picked it up and looked at it, and noticed it was for an auto dealer cashing on the popularity of Disneyland. The card would be personalized, in this case sent to a family with the name of Baker, to promote sales of new cars. The graphics are just amazing especially the rocket and the Mark Twain like steamboat. The advertising on the interior is also very cool. Size of the brochure is 18.5 inches in height by 3.75 inches in width.

Color Photo of the Viewliner Train Tomorrowland 1958

Wonderful color view of the Tomorrowland Viewliner in station at the Tomorrowland station. Great view of the front of this train powered by a V8 engine and replaced by the Monorail in 1959. This is one of the earliest extinct attractions I learned about from the Janzen brothers early E Ticket magazines. It is still a visually stunning train and ride. Also, be sure to look at the Skyway buckets overhead.

Wild Animals Cage Casey Junior Railroad Fantasyland 1955

Great image of a rather prim and proper Grandmother type sitting in the Wild Animals cage on Casey Junior train. I have had this photo in my collection since I began collecting Disneyland items way back when. I love the juxtaposition of her in her classic suit sitting in a cage and her great big smile as she is really enjoying herself. Photo is dated October 1955 and is unfortunately a little out of focus.

Native Arts and Crafts Jungle River Cruise 1958

One of my favorite scenes in the Jungle Cruise, the Native canoe full of skulls. I like the jokes told about this scene, such as "look...some native arts and crafts, the one on top, that is Art." or "Look there is my last crew. They must be having fun as they are still smiling." This scene is not usually photographed so this is kind of scarce. Photo is dated January 1958.