Happy Halloween- Bushman Concept Art For Haunted Mansion

Happy Halloween all. Taking a quick break from the model photographs with a bewitching and early concept for the portrait gallery. The art is a brown tone print featuring a young Disneyland guest walking the hallway. It appears he feels he is being watched by the portraits. The artwork is signed Bushman and titled on the reverse portrait gallery. I would say this is one of the earliest renditions and designs for the Haunted Mansion dating to 1956. Not too soon after Bruce Bushman left WED and started to work on other parks for other companies.

Have a wonderful Halloween! May your trick or treat bags be filled with candy and your house not egged!

Two Sides of the Main Street Model

A single image showing two sides of the Main Street Model. It is amazing how the actual stores and buildings remained the same, with even the same sponsor and store name.

City Hall and Fire Department Model

A nice close up image of the City Hall and Fire Department model. This one also shows Walt's real apartment.

Town Square Pre-Opening Artwork

Vintage Disneyland publicity image showing the detailed model of Town Square filled with people. Some nice touches include the Mickey Mouse flag on the railroad station, a sweeper and a cub scout as figures. Also note the location of the gazebo band stand as well as statuary in the square.

Disneyland Pre-Opening Art Photograph

Starting a series of 1955 Disneyland publicity images showing art and models of the park. The first is the Main Street Station with Disneyland spelled out instead of the Mickey Mouse head topiary. The image is most likely a colored photo of the model.

Souvenir Friday- Disneyland Winnie The Pooh Fan Card

Today's souvenir is a newer piece than most of my collection. The front is a fan card that was handed out by the handlers of the Winnie the Pooh characters. The back however features the opening of the Walt Disney Story during Easter of 1973. Underneath is an advertisement for the new Bear Country (not Critter Country) featuring a graphic of Big Al. Even though not a fantastically rare piece, it does document the advertising and growth of Disneyland in the 1970s.

Walt Disney and the Monorail at the Disneyland Hotel 1961

Today's image is a press photograph of Walt Disney with one of his big toys, the Disney Alweg Monorail. The photograph was taken at the Disneyland Hotel during the opening ceremonies for the extension to the Hotel by the Monorail. I really like the Alweg logo on the door. The press release on the back reads: Let's Go to Disneyland! Standing on the new station platform at the Disneyland Hotel. Walt Disney makes it an open invitation to all, as he steps into the new Disneyland-Alweg monorail train for the initial trip on the 1961 expansion of the Monorail system. The new $2 million addisiotn to the system covers 2-1/2 miles, races out of Tomorrowland at speeds up to 45 mph, races along Harbor Boulevard, a major highway, curves west across the half mile parking area, crosses West Street to the Hotel and returns to Disneyland. New system will be open to the public on June 12.

The Land EPCOT Center 1982

Two early views of the Land Pavilion at EPCOT center in November 1982. Fondly remembered for the Kitchen Kaberet show featuring audio-animatronic food and kitchen items. The pavilion also featured a great and gentle ride through on flat bottom boats through a large green house showing the various parts of the earth.

A Couple of Random Images

For today just two random images. One shows the Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship in a typical shot. What is nice is the lack of theming and landscape around the ship. The photo is circa December 1956.

The second image shows a street scene. The cute factor is the dad taking a picture of his daughter standing on the back of the trolley. The daughter is holding Mickey Mouse balloons and in front of dad appears to be a Christmas present. If you look closely, you will also see another lady taking a photograph of the scene.

More Japanese Deer Park Images

Here are some more photographs from the Japanese Deer Park in 1968. There was a whole bunch of images of the deer, but I only posted one. Enjoy.

Souvenir Friday- Disneyland Magic Slate 1964

A very unusual Magic Slate is this Disneyland one for 1964. I like the early rendition of the Haunted Mansion in the upper part of the slate along with the modern style tiki pole and Tiki Room bird. Some very cool graphics on this, rendered in a mid century modern illustration style.

Japanese Deer Park Buena Park 1968

About a month or so I posted images of the Fuji Folk at the Japanese Deer Park located in Buena Park, California. Here are some more pictures of the park, before the marketing team needed to create characters. The original park idea was to emulate the world famous Nara Deer Park in Japan. The Nara park is centuries old and features tame deer who will eat out of your hand, located in a rural setting near some of the most revered shrines in Japan. Japanese Deer Park showcased the culture and arts of Japan in a nice quiet way. The biggest draw was the deer, but there were other draws including Koi ponds, Japanese garden and feeding doves. The first image is of the gated entrance with a Tori gate.

The second image shows the popular Koi fish pond filled with fish.

The third image shows some of the garden, pools and architecture found in the park. It also shows how close it was to the Nabisco factory.

The final image shows one of the employees feeding a dove.

A Trip On the Skyway 1960

Three nice images taken by a photographer riding one of the old style circular buckets. The first image is actually the last image of the trip, the descent to the Fantasyland station. A pretty nice view of this area which is basically unchanged.

Workding backwards is the second image. A nice overview as you make exit the Matterhorn and cross over into the castle courtyard. Directly below is the Alice In Wonderland ride and in front of you is Fantasyland with Dumbo and the Chicken of the Sea Pirate ship.

But the best view is the last, moving backward to right as the Skyway exits the Matterhorn. The picture shows the ever popular Motor Boat Cruise, the boarding Chalet for the Bobsleds and of course the Monorail track and a nicely posed red Monorail. Man I miss the Skyway!

Mark Twain and Columbia At Dusk

Picture number 1 shows a nice shot of the Mark Twain approaching dock at dusk. In the background almost obscured by the Mark Twain superstructure is the construction site and wooden forms for Cascade Peak. The photograph was taken in 1960 when construction was finishing on the new Nature's Wonderland Railroad.

The second image is a moody, backlit photograph of the Columbia sitting in Fowler's Harbor. Although not showing much detail, I like the moodiness and composition of the image.

Cinderella's Village Storybook 1960

Taken from the vantage of one of the Storybook Canal boats is this dramatic image of Cinderella's village as seen in miniature. One of the best three dimensional representations of the various lands and structures from the animated films, Storybook Canal boats are sometimes overlooked. The artistry of the model makers from WED (and now WDI) are evident in the detail of the structures and how the buildings and scenes all mesh together.

Two Shots of the Submarine Voyage 1960

Two nice and very different images of the Submarine Voyage from the same trip in 1960. The first shows the lead submarine Nautilus entering the falls. The surprising fact is no barrier to the lagoon, just a clear shot.

For the next image, the photographer boarded the Skyway in Tomorrowland and focused his camera to the submarine pens. There is quite a number of subs in the dock not being run.

Souvenir Friday on a Saturday- Grad Nite 1963

Delayed due to a business trip to Utah, I now present souvenir Friday on a Saturday. This is the souvenir from one of the first Grad Nites held at Disneyland. Basically a way for the park to make more money and to celebrate graduation from High School. In the 1960s most adults graduated from High School and then went into the work force, so High School graduation was a high point. And what better way to celebrate than spend a night at Disneyland with the park just to yourself and several thousand other 18 and 19 year olds. The bands playing were quite a mix. So relive your youth (or pretend you are from the 1960s) and imagine yourself at Disneyland for Grad Nite.

Main Street Outdoor Vending Carts 1965

One of the long standing traditions at Disneyland is the Popcorn vendor and Ice Cream vendor in the Plaza on Main Street. The Popcorn cart is on the Frontierland side and has quite a crowd. I like the bobby soxer with her haircut and the older couple enjoying their popcorn.

The next shot is of the Ice Cream Vendor on the Tomorrowland side, right in front of the Monsanto Home. The lady with the Enid Collins purse is a nice touch. The photograph is date stamped June 22, 1965.

Thunderbird Midway Car Ride

This slide also comes from the collection of various locations. I believe it is somewhere in California. I remember going to various school carnivals as a kid and even as a teenager, but never saw any ride like this one. A fairly elaborate car ride with great Ford Thunderbird style vehicles. Also the operator has added realistic touches with the broken down vehicle as well as gas station signs.

Two Extinct Views from 1983 Walt Disney World

From a large collection of slides that included various theme and amusement park come this modern slides of Walt Disney World. The first is an image of the Harpers Mill water wheel with the woods and growth.

The second image shows the best version of Tomorrowland. This shot was taken looking towards the entrance with Mission to Mars on the left and Carousel of Progress on the right and Rocket Jets and the Peoplemover in front. I love the visual chaos of the slide with all the motion and lights, something Tomorrowland at both parks is currently missing.

Two Views of Main Street Transportation Late 1950s

Two nice photographs showing a couple of ways to get down Main Street in the late 1950s. The first is the Horse Drawn Fire Enging stopping to let some passengers off at the Main Street Cinema.

The second image is from the Plaza Hub showing the Horse Drawn Streetcar. The car is filled with riders, so many that they are even hanging off the back of the car. Cost to ride one way was a dime, with proceeds going to purchase the horse a decent hat!

Two Fun Photos for Sunday

Here are two fun photographs for a Sunday. The first is the usual image of visitors at the floral Mickey Mouse. I would date this slide to 1967 with the freshly printed Pirates of the Caribbean poster on the fence.

The second image is from the same time period showing the funky Mark VI Autopia car design that was in use at the Fantasyland prior to the introduciton of the sleek Mark VII Autopia Cars that were in use at the Tomorowland Autopia in 1967. I don't think I will ever get tired of looking at the various Autopia, Junior Autopia, Fantasyland Autopia, Tomorrowland Autopia and Midget Autopia photographs that are out there.

1963 Trip to Disneyland

Three images of a 1963 visit to Disneyland. The color and movement of Fantasyland is very nice, Midget Autopia is running and Gideon the cat is a rare costumed character. The back of the image with Gideon reads Taken July 20, 1963 at Disneyland Rex-6 years. Enjoy!

Souvenir Friday- Monorail Magic Slate

One line of merchandise that was sold early in Disneyland's history are Magic Slates. Created so kids could draw pictures over and over and clear the slate with the pull of the magic covering, the slates were sold as generic but also as character approved pieces. Disneyland did have a whole series, and in 1959 when the Monorail and the Matterhorn Mountain came into existence, a Magic Slate was created to capitalize. With one of the best illustratioins of a sweeping Monorail this Magic Slate is one of the tougher versions to find.