The Boring Photographs of the Group

These two photographs from the same trip in 1958 are pretty boring. However, I like to show the entire grouping so you can see how the photographer saw Disneyland during their trip. And of course, there is never a bad photograph of vintage Disneyland and one can always see something fun or interesting. First up is a fairly bad photograph of Sleeping Beauty Castle that also is damaged and the developing seems off with a gray cast to it. What is cool about this image is the waste receptacle right in the middle of the picture. Disneyland has always had the nicest trash cans.

The next image is an almost great image, but the photographer did not elevate the camera and we end up with half the image being a blurry picture of the interior of the Skyway. The Rocket to the Moon is nice and I like the signage on the building.

Sleeping Beauty Castle From Frontierland's Entrance

Two views of Sleeping Beauty Castle taken in 1958. The original photographer liked the castle as there will be some more views of the Castle coming up. The first is very artistic with the water feature in the foreground, Carnation Gardens on the left hand side and the castle off in the background.

The second view is a closer shot of the castle from the same side. This view is more common.

Souvenir Friday- Disneylander December 1956

One of the largest auctions of Disneyland items was held last month by Van Eaton Galleries. The auction was of one collector's collection and featured many items including several Tiki Room birds, Monorail pieces, attraction posters, SOPs, Costumes and a Pirates of the Caribbean skeleton. I am sure most of my readers either heard of the auction or participated. There were some lots that I was interested in and this copy of the Disneylander employee magazine was high on my list of wants. Luckily, I won the auction. I believe this may be the first issue, at any rate it is the earliest dated Disneylander I have seen. The focus of the magazine is the annual employee and family Christmas party.

Only at Disneyland

Could you take a picture of a stagecoach and then a Home of the Future! Two more 1958 photographs from Disneyland. The first picture shows the young guest waiting for her chance to ride the stagecoach. The cast member definitely looks perfect for the role. And Major, she is just starting to fold the guidebook here...and it looks like the 1957 guidebook.

The next image is of the wonderful Monsanto House of the Future. I really like the light fixture that can be seen in the window.

Adventureland Entrance

Looking like a schoolgirl carrying her books to school, this guest was photographed at the entrance of Adventureland in 1958. The first view is of the back of the elephant tusk arch looking out towards the central plaza. The large shrunken (I guess that is an oxymoron!) is facing towards the camera and into Adventureland.

The second image shows the shields and skulls used to decorate the entrance and set the mood for the land and the adventures awaiting guests. It looks like the item she is carrying is a 1958 Disneyland guide book.

Red Wagon, Pendleton and Casa De Fritos

Two more black and white images from 1958. First is unfortunately a soft focus image of the Red Wagon Inn. This structure still looks great as the Plaza Inn.

The second image is a sharper focus featuring Casa De Fritos and the Pendleton store. I have always liked this perspective of Frontierland.

Two Frontierland Forts

Two views of two Frontierland Forts in 1958. First up is the Frontierland stockade entrance. In the background can be seen the A-frame for the Adventureland entrance. It appears there is an interesting banner hung on the Frontierland entrance.

The second image is of Fort Wilderness on Tom Sawyer's Island. This appears to have been shot from the Mark Twain.

Souvenir Friday- Disneyland Print Shop Golden Horseshoe Poster

For many years on Main Street there was a print shop that sold posters and Disneyland news that could be personalized for guests. The print shop used an old moveable type printing press to print names for the headlines on Disneyland News and also on souvenir posters. This is for the Golden Horseshoe Review allowing the guest to be a part of the show! The reverse of the poster shows the other three posters available at this time. There have been some recent posts showing the employees working in the shop. Note I have whited out the name that was printed on the poster.

Frankenstein's Photo Gallery at Movieland Wax Museum

One of the highlights of the Movieland Wax Museum in Buena Park, California was Frankenstein's Photo Gallery. Visitors could pose with the lovable large monster created by Dr. Frankenstein. The wax figure was a great likeness of Boris Karloff in his famous role. The first image is a black and white shot of two kids hanging out with Frankenstein's monster. Frankie looks so happy in this shot.

The second image is a nice color image and an older visitor. She really loves Frankie or is she choking him? Luckily for us, Frankie was undead and could not die due to choking. I wonder where this wax figure ended up during the auction of items from this tourist attraction?

Jungle Cruise At Dusk

Today's photographs are somewhat meh, but still interesting none the less. The first image is a view of a rarely seen part of the Jungle River Cruise. Unfortunately the image shows just the landscaping, and not any scenic element. Though I do have to say that is a nice log.

The second image is of the hippo bathing pool. I think the hippo is about to attack. I hope the skipper is ready for the charge.

Disneyland At Dusk

Three nice views of Disneyland at dusk in 1958. The images were taken during an early evening cruise aboard the Mark Twain. First up is Tom Sawyer's Island and the Old Mill. The boys are having fun on the island although I think it is time for the last raft to leave the island.

The next view is of the Indian Village with the canoes docked for the night. The hills are a nice background to this scene.

The last image is a spectacular view of the burning cabin. The poor settler is spotlighted in front of the cabin. In the background the TWA Rocket to the Moon glows radiantly.

Cindy's Dream Castle and the Viewliner

Finishing this set of photographs with the best. First up is a nice view of Cinderella's Dream Castle in Storybook Land. The view is from the Skyway so the background shows the undeveloped Anaheim area.

The last image is of the Tomorrowland Viewliner just leaving the station. In the background is snow mountain and the Omnibus making the round trip around the mountain. The station has some fantastic signage, I wonder if any of this stuff survived.

Souvenir Friday- Disneyland Premiere Gold Parking Pass

A new addition to my collection is this rare gold parking pass for the opening of Disneyland on July 17, 1955. The gold passes were handed to the press and to dignitaries in the film industry. The gold pass is more rare as less were distributed. I like the size of the pass (which is surprisingly large) and also the color combination of red and gold, especially the red star.

Views of Fantasyland From the Sky

Two Fantasyland views as taken from the much missed Skyway in 1958. First up is an overall view of Fantasyland as the buckets come into the home stretch to the Fantasyland station.

Next image is a closer view of the Mad Hatter Tea Party attraction. Looks like it was a very busy day!

Unusual Mark Twain

Not that Mark Twain the author is that unusual, or even the paddle wheeler Mark Twain but these two images are definitely unusual. First up is a nice view of the Twain at dock with the Gullywhumper coming right toward us and lots of guests waiting to be taken off Tom Sawyer's Island. The unusual part of the image is in the background with a red and white Skyway tower in the background.

The next image is of the back of the Mark Twain taken from an elevated part of the Rainbow Caverns attraction area, most likely from the top of a Stagecoach. On first glance it almost looks like the Twain is off track and floating. Lots of interesting buildings in the background including Tom Sawyer's Island, Golden Horseshoe and the Plaza Pavilion.

Two Interesting Views of Frontierland

Two interesting pictures of Frontierland in 1958. The first shows a nice close up of the short lived Disneyland Stagecoach. Looking at the ride vehicle with kids and adults riding on top of the coach, I can see why this ride was short lived. This looks like an accident just waiting to happen every ride. It looks like there is quite a discussion between the two cast members.

The next image is from Tom Sawyer's Island towards Indian Village. There is quite a crowd of guests waiting to come over on the rafts, but it looks like it is dusk. I always assumed that the island closes at dusk. What is even better is the Indian War Canoes and a Keel Boat in the frame. This area of Frontierland has changed quite a lot since this picture was taken.

Matterhorn Loading On the Fantasyland Side

A nice view of the load area for the Matterhorn. I love the old multi-color bobsleds that remind me of the GT and Le Mans race cars of the time period. Quite a crowd of guests and I like the orange shirt on the cast member loading the bobsleds. In the background a caterpillar car is coming down the ramp on Alice In Wonderland.

Souvenir Friday- Red Wagon Yummy Weenies Candy

For those who know me, know that I love the most ephemeral items. And this package of candy from the Swifts Market House is amongst the most ephemeral. The packaging is fantastic and is based upon a package of hot dogs. The graphic of the Market House on the wrapper is great. Who could resist Yummy Weenies?

The back of the packaging is the classic wax coated cardboard of the 1950s.

Casey and House of the Future

Two nice images featuring two of my favorite attractions. First up is an image of the Casey Junior in station. The flowers in the foreground add a nice scenic element. I also like how close the Chicken of the Sea restaurant is to the station.

The next image is of the Monsanto House of the Future. The kid in the photograph is posing in the garden. I love the twilight lighting.

China Closet and Fort Wilderness 1958

Two more views from January 1958. First is a nice view of the China Closet porch. The family is posing for a photograph and all the other guests have stopped on the sidewalk to allow the photographer take the image. Also it looks like the grandmother figure is not on the porch.

The second image is the interior of Fort Wilderness on Tom Sawyer's Island. This image is filled with so much goodness, the kid is holding a Tom Sawyer's Island map, another young guest is wearing a yellow Keppy Kap, the lovely clothing worn by all the guests and the escape tunnel from the fort.

Christmas On Main Street

With Denver receiving more snow and Orange County having a hale storm that looked like snow, I am in a Christmas Holiday mood. These two images are from January 1958 according to the handwritten information on the box of slides. First up is a nice view of Main Street with all the pedestrians walking or posing on the sidewalks. I really like the two boys posing in blue on the corner. It appears there was a recent Southern California rainstorm.

The second image shows the Disneyland band marching down Main Street. The fire wagon has pulled off Main Street and is parked on East Center Street.