Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Bank Of America Main Street Branch

One of the many innovations of Disneyland was a true working branch of the Bank of America. Visitors to the park could cash checks and purchase souvenir money orders. Walt Disney and the Bank of America had a long relationship all the way back to Snow White and The Seven Dwarves. B of A was the bank from which the loan was secured for completion of the film. Additionally, a real working bank added to the concept of realism, allowing visitors to really feel they were in a small town of the early 1900s and a helpful banker was available to assist them. In the corner, almost out of view is a section of attraction posters.

11 comments:

Vintage Disneyland Tickets said...

When did B of A leave? Since the doors have always seemed to be opened I never noticed when it disappeared?

Boy does that corner look different today, there's another door and the ATM machine where there appears to be a "night deposit drop" type hatch in your old photo!

Great vintage photograph, Thanks!

Major Pepperidge said...

v.d.t. answered my question, which was "what is that metal hatch at the side of the building?". A night deposit drop makes sense...what a great detail!

Jason Schultz said...

That's a great photo of the Bank! I'm not sure I've ever seen such a nice photo of the vertical "Bank" sign.

VDT: I think the Bank left in January 1993.

Anonymous said...

I can verify that was a night deposit box and NOT an ATM. Great pic. Since it was a working branch, the bank was a great convenience for the employees too.

Vintage Disneyland Tickets said...

Anonymous, I meant to say it's an ATM now in that location, I don't think they had even had ATM's when this photo was taken.

The Viewliner Limited said...

Hi Matterhorn, The Viewliner Limited is back on track and will start posting tomorrow. I have gone through all your posts that I have truly missed for the last couple of weeks and as always they are excellent. Glad to be back. Richard.

Fuck You NBC said...

I used that Bank many times.

Amazon Belle said...

I read an older copy of the Disneyland Line that the bank was authentic even down to a spittoon that was kept in the corner. One teller explained she had to clean it out once after a customer used it. Now that's detail! Great photo Matterhorn… keep it up.

CoxPilot said...

I cashed my check from L.M.Cox Mfg. Co. every week at B of A. They would cash any check of any employee with their I.D. AND, if you opened your checking account there, it would say on the checks "Disneyland branch of Bank of America." Now that would be a collectors item.

Anonymous said...

Wasn't this for a time the only bank that was open on Sundays?

Matterhorn1959 said...

Anonymous- I believe you are correct. The B of A brochures touted this, the only bank open on Sundays.