Burning Frontierland in Color

Both of these photographs are quite red in color with bad film stock. However, both came back to color fairly easily. The photographer took most of the pictures when on the Mark Twain. First up is the friendly Indian Village with a couple of elk drinking water from the Rivers of America.

Next up is everyone's favorite Frontierland attraction which is the burning cabin. You can see the unfortunate settler in front of his cabin.

Souvenir Friday- Vulture

One of the main reasons for my trip to California was to pick this guy up and bring him home to the collection. The bird is one of the vultures who used to watch Jungle Cruise skippers and guests pass under him. The vulture was installed in the Jungle River Cruise from 1955 until about 1961. He was then removed and used as the model to cast the body and details for the vultures seen on the jungle plain. A great addition to the collection and he will fit in well in the Halloween room.

Mexican Folk Dance 1969

While looking through a slide grouping I noticed a set of slides. Looking at them, I thought they looked like the Indian Dance circle in Frontierland. However, when I scanned the slides, the pictures are of a Traditional Folk Pole Dance from Mexico. The pattern on the circle surrounding the pole is very reminiscent of the Dance Circle in Disneyland. Since I had already scanned them, I thought I would post them as they are interesting images. The slides are dated 1969 and I believe the stage was in San Diego. Maybe my readers know the location?

First up are two images of the Folk dancers from the stands.

The last two images are of the Pole dancers (not that type of pole dancer!) high up on the pole and the dancers twirling. It would have been cool if this was at Disneyland.

Christmas Jamboree At Disneyland

One of the nice Christmas touches at Disneyland is the Christmas Jamboree at the Big Thunder Ranch and the old Festival Of Fools stage area. One of the interesting aspects is the use of the Country Bear walk around characters for this added attraction. First up is a general view of the Jamboree.

The stage set up with Big Al.

Liver Lips playing with a kid. There was lots of interaction with the characters and in many cases, no kids running towards the characters. Rather, there was a bunch of older guests all running and wanting to hug the Country Bears.

Wendell having fun with a guest who remembers the Country Bear Jamboree.

A stuffed hound dog graces the stage.

A Christmas goat having fun on a barrel.

Final image is of the vintage attraction sign on the surrey parked at Big Thunder Ranch.

Christmas at California Adventure

The revised California Adventure has become my second favorite Disney park. This is mainly due to the Buena Vista Street set in one of my favorite eras of history, the late 1920s and early 1930s. Many fantastic items were created during this time period, the V8 Ford, the rise of Marx toys, Lionel Toys, and the rise of Comic Strips and Animated Cartoons (in color!) For the Holiday Season, California Adventure gets decked out in tinsel, holly and trees. The Christmas Tree has some nice reproductions of classic ornaments. First up is a general view of the tree.

A nice red trolley ornament and a nice Santa Claus head ornament.

Great giant size Noma lights from the 1930s, with the graphic being Donald in his 1930s version.

The windows on Buena Vista Street also receive the Holiday treatment. These windows feature graphics from the 1933 animated short The Night Before Christmas. Though difficult to photograph, the windows are bright and colorful. This one had some limited motion.

And this one also featured motion of the toys going into the sack to be delivered on Christmas.

Disney also does live entertainment well, including a great group of carolers and bell ringers on the street. The outfits, hair and make up are great with some nice details and appear to be contemporary to the 1930s.

Happy Holidays At Disneyland 2013

It has been a while since I have updated the blog. The main reason was that I took a week long trip to Southern California to visit family and Disneyland. Disneyland in Christmas mode has always been one of my favorite times of the year with the lovely decorations throughout the park. In recent years, the decorations and special overlays for the attractions has increased. But first, let me tell my thoughts on one of the more permanent changes. The change is the addition of Starbucks at the Market House on Main Street. There were some rumblings about the commercialization of Disneyland. That does not bother me as several coffee companies had sponsored restaurants in the park. I was worried that part of the ambiance of Main Street would change. However, I was pleasantly surprised to see that the addition had lots of wood and included a fuax book shop where the pot bellied stove and checkers board have been placed. The location was busy all day long, even more so during the evening. I only took one image of a design that pays homage to a previous tenant.

I also had not noticed a menorah in one of the windows on Main Street.

The other new change is the Jingle Cruise overlay of decorations at the Jungle Cruise. Although not as immersive as either the Haunted Mansion Holidays or the it's a small world overlay, the minor touches are fun. I can see an increase in decorations in years to come. My favorite addition was one I was not able to get a picture, but it is the tiger with one of the jungle skipper Holiday hats. The additions are cute especially those in the waiting line.

Cave Of The Winds Pikes Peak Colorado

Another tourist attraction in the Pikes Peak region of Colorado is the Cave of the Winds. A great little cave filled with wonders. The first shot shows the homey entrance to the attraction. The cave looks very home spun and charming.

Next up are two interior images showing the nice geological features.

Luckily this cave is still open and is on my list of things to see and do.

Buckskin Joe and His Automobile Collection

Three more pictures from Buckskin Joe in the early 1960s. First up is another view of the vignette of a prospector panning for gold. It appears his pan is full.

Next up are two images that I believe are from Buckskin Joe. However, when I visited the park before it's closing, there was no collection of antique automobiles. However during the late 1950s and early 1960s there was a movement for people to collect and restore the automobiles of the 1900 to 1920s era. In fact, the start of the Horseless Carriage and Antique Automobile clubs was in full swing. A couple of neat cars in the pictures. Note the mannequin in the first image to add a touch of life.

Buckskine Joe Early 1960s

One of my favorite places that no longer exist in Colorado is Buckskin Joe. The park was a western themed attraction that started out life as a movie set. Over the years, the park added many historic buildings and vignettes. First image is a black and white image of the entrance. Tied to the park was a zoo style railroad that transported visitors to the edge of the Royal Gorge.

One of the attractions was a daily gunfight. The original photographer titled this snap shot Draw.

Final image for today is of one of the vignettes showing a miner panning for gold. In fact, the title of this snapshot is Pan for Gold.

Souvenir Friday- Pastoral Symphony Storybook Signed by Walt Disney

A favored item in my collection is this nice copy of the Pastoral Symphony book. The book is part of a series published featuring a selection from Fantasia. A scarce book by itself, this one is made much more special with an inscription and autograph by Walt Disney. Featuring his classic 1940s style signature and written in fountain pen, the autograph is large and readable. As far as the recipient, all I know is that she was born in 1915, lived in the San Diego area since 1939 and passed away in 2011. I do not know her connection to Walt Disney. However, the sentiment is a nice inscription.

Happy Birthday Walt

Today is the 112th Birthday for Walt Disney. In order to celebrate, I am featuring some of the images of Walt Disney I have posted throughout the years. The first image and one of my favorites is Walt Disney with one of his new toys, the Monorail.

Next is a candid shot of Walt at the studio at an art show. I believe the gentleman in the striped shirt is John Hench.

Walt proudly poses with the 1965 Tour Guide of the Year Suzanne Fuller.

Although not a fantastic image of Walt, a very historic snapshot of Walt Disney on Disneyland's openining day on July 17, 1955. He is seen here with Governor Goodwin Knight before the first official run of the Santa Fe and Disneyland Railroad.

From the same set of snapshots, Walt Disney riding in the opening day parade. He looks satisfied in these pictures.

Walt was proud of his new attractions. In this photograph he poses proudly with a model of the Matterhorn.

Walt would visit the park and one of his favorite attractions was the Railroad. Here he is exiting the cab of the C.K. Holliday engine.

The last image for today is a rare shot of Walt Disney at ease. This time Walt, Lillian, Diane and Sharon are on the SS Lurline to Hawaii in 1948. I love the amount of leis on the group.

I hope you all can make it a Walt Disney day and also remember Diane Disney Miller.