Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Sleeping Beauty Castle Large Format Photograph

Another large format photograph of Sleeping Beauty Castle all decked out in Christmas cheer.

Friday, March 27, 2009

Souvenir Friday- Fantasyland Patch

One of my favorite patches is this Fantasyland patch. Worn by the cast members who worked the attractions and shops.

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Another Mark Twain Large Format Photograph

Pulling another of the large size photograph from my collection, this time another shot of the Mark Twain. It appears to have been a favorite image of the talented amateur photographers who were competing in the various camera club events of the 1950s. This one is a nice view with the stern wheel paddle and the edge of the dock at Fowler's Harbor.

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Dwarfs Mine Ride Concept Art 1970s

I purchased this piece a while ago from Howard Lowery. It was listed as an imagineering concept piece from the 1970s or 1980s. I believe it was created during the development of the New Fantasyland in the late 1970s for the Snow White's Scary Adventure ride. I do like the characterization of the dwarves, and the mine scene and the song "Heigh Ho" has always been my favorites in the movie.

Monday, March 23, 2009

Mark Twain Large Format Photograph

Another large format photograph of the Mark Twain leaving the dock. Sorry about the reflection of the flash, it does make it look like the sun is breaking through.

Saturday, March 21, 2009

Frankenstein's Photo Gallery Movieland Wax Museum

A great idea in the early years of operation of the Movieland Wax Museum was to have lucky kids pose with the Frankenstein monster and have their picture taken. The Frankenstein monster wax figure looks dead on to the Boris Karloff characterization of the 1930s. I am sure kids then took the picture home and put them with their Aurora monster models. The reverse has nice advertising for the attraction. One of my favorite tag lines is Actual Movie Lights-Scenes- Props. Movie lights being the first and most prominent item.

Friday, March 20, 2009

Souvenir Friday- Disneyland DateNiters Patch

The band to listen to on a Saturday nite date at Disneyland. The patch can be seen on the band members suit coats in numerous photographs.

Thursday, March 19, 2009

The Sailing Ship Columbia Leaving Dock

Another large format photograph, this time of the Sailing Ship Columbia. It looks like a very crowded day on the banks of the River of America.

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

African Veldt Jungle Cruise

I have always been a collector of large format photographs of Disneyland. This is one of my favorites, the African Veldt on the Jungle Cruise. I like the reflection caught in the still water. I believe this was taken on a Monday or Tuesday when the park was closed. All of the creatures here found different positions over the years as the Veldt scene was changed.

Monday, March 16, 2009

A Couple of 1958 Snapshots

Two nice views from September of 1958. One features the Astro Jets, which later became the Rocket Jets. I love that each of the ships was named for a different star.

The second image is from Carnation Gardens and features an afternoon band concert.

Sunday, March 15, 2009

It was a dark and stormy day at the Castle

The companion photograph to the Yellowstone coach posted on Thursday is this very dark and stormy day at Sleeping Beauty's Castle. Destined for the office which is Fantasyland.

Friday, March 13, 2009

Souvenir Friday- Disneyland Band Patch

I got the scanner to work at least for a while and was able to scan this classic patch. Seen on many postcards and images of the band is the large triangular shaped patch with Sleeping Beauty's Castle as the main motif. I like that the shape echoes the perimeter of Disneyland and works so well when seen on the Band's snazzy marching uniforms.

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Yellowstone Stage Coach

Since the move, my scanner has refused to work consistently. So, I pulled out one of the large format photographs that is framed. This photo and another one came together and are fairly large, being 16 by 20 inches. Great image of the layering that also happened in Frontierland with the stagecoach, the Mark Twain, and Tom Sawyer's Island in the background. This photograph is destined to be hung in our TV loft which is designated as Frontierland.

Monday, March 09, 2009

Viewliner and Tiki- What A Combination

Another couple of pictures from Stereoviews. The first is a nice view of the Tomorrowland Viewliner in the Station. I still do not understand the reasoning that the Tomorrowland traion was Pink and the Fantasyland train was blue. Maybe it was the fairy godmothers from Cinderella?

The next image is a favorite of mine. I wonder where this tiki is living now?

Sunday, March 08, 2009

The Two Fantasyland Autopias

A nice skyway view of the Junior and Midget Autopia from the Skyway.

Taken from a Realist Stereo View, for those who enjoy such things, here is the stereoview.

Saturday, March 07, 2009

Knott's Berry Farm October 15, 1948

A very nice image of the Mules and Horses for Hire display at Knott's Berry Farm in 1948. I have included a close up of the Steak House directional sign. I can't wait for Chris' book to be published.

Friday, March 06, 2009

Souvenir Friday- Cast Member Club Patches

Like any other large employer of the time period, Disneyland had (and still has) an active recreation department. The department sponsors sports teams, dance clubs, trips and more. Here are some patches created for some of the various cast member clubs. The first is one of my favorites.

The next is a more modern patch for the Maintenance Division.

Another favorite and one I have had for many years is the Disneyland Ski Club. I love the Castle and Matterhorn on the patch.

Thursday, March 05, 2009

A Trip With John, August 1959 Part 2

Sorry for the delay- got busy moving and did not post. Here are the rest of the images from the trip. My favorite is the last one, with a special extra for Cox Pilot!

Tuesday, March 03, 2009

A Trip With John, August 1959 Part 1

A quick post between painting and moving showing a trip with John in August 1959. More pictures from the same trip tomorrow.

Monday, March 02, 2009

Nice to Meet You, Mr. Rabbit

Another quick post featuring a young guest meeting the White Rabbit in front of the Matterhorn.

Sunday, March 01, 2009

Crash Corrigan and His Theme Park

Once a lovely movie ranch, Crash Corrigan decided to open up a Western theme park. Open on weekends with gunfights, horse rides, saloon girls and more, the park was a quiet competitor to Disneyland and Universal Studios. Outside the Berm has a nice write up on the history and some now and then images. Here are some then images, featuring the proprietor and movie star, Crash Corrigan.

I like the third photograph with Crash signing one of the park's brochures. And the last photograph is fun with the posse being formed to take out after the bad guys who are probably hiding in one of the many caves on the property.