Skyway and Advertising Sign 1956

One of the neatest methods of advertising new attractions in the early days of Disneyland were giant billboard with great graphics. I have seen them for the Rainbow Caverns Mine Trains, Disneyland 1959, Nature's Wonderland Railroad, Flying Saucers and this nice one for the Skway to Tomorrowland. The photographer managed to squeeze most of everything into the image.

Black Bart at Rainbow Ridge

A nice image of the Frontierland villian Black Bart hamming it up at Rainbow Ridge. The people in the background in line do not seem very interested in the character and are not even facing them. The excitement of riding Nature's Wonderland Railroad is just overwhelming.

Souvenir Friday- Story of Walt Disney

This is a fairly recent addition to my collection. It is the Diane Disney Miller and Pete Martin book The Story of Walt Disney. The book was available through all bookstores throughout the world, but this one does have a Disneyland connection. When the book was published, the Disneyland Mail Order division convinced Diane and her Dad Walt Disney to sign copies of the book and make them available for sale. This is one of the books autographed by Walt and Diane and sold at Disneyland.

A friend of mine found this at an estate sale and then sold it to me.

Interior of Wurlitzer Music Shop

Where Dee Fisher played and made wonderful music, the Wurlitzer shop on Main Street in Disneyland. Not really a store where one could purchase a musical instrument, but rather a showcase where interested customers could look at the instruments and then their names and addresses would be taken down and sent to their hometown stores. A lot of the early lessee's worked the same way.

Pele in Enchanted Tiki Garden 1966

A nice image of Pele in her original colors. Now all those people who purchased the knock off version from Big Lots a couple of years ago can now paint their Pele in the appropriate colors.

North Pole Colorado Christmas In June

With the hot weather (almost 100 degrees here on Sunday) I thought I would cool off with two 1960 dated images of Colorado's Santa Claus themed land: The North Pole. Located on the slopes of Pikes Peak this park is still in existance and remains remarkably intact. Some of the rides seen in other Santa's Villages are still operating like the Christmas Tree ride, the frozen North Pole, and of course a visit to Santa.

I promise to return to Disneyland soon.

Knotts Berry Farm Visit 10-15-48 #3

Three more photographs from the visit to Knotts in 1948. The last one was taken in the Ghost Town Pitchur Gallery at Knotts Berry Place. Enjoy!

Knotts Berry Farm Visit 10-15-48 #2

Second set of four black and white photographs from a visit to Knotts Berry Farm and Ghost Town in 1948. The first image that caught my eye is the Mule and Horse barn. I may be incorrect, but I think the sign changed over the years. I also like the first image showing the character photo shot, but with the view of people taking photos of the characters.

Knotts Berry Farm Visit 10-15-48 #1

A series of black and white snapshots showing the Ghost Town at Knotts Berry Farm in 1948. Some of the best shots I have seen for Knotts for this time period. All of the images show how crowded the Ghost Town would become while patrons waited for a Fried Chicken Dinner and a piece of pie.

Souvenir Friday- Disneyland Masonic Club Badge

Here is an esoteric employee piece, a name badge for the Disneyland Masonic Club. Back in the late 1950s, there were many clubs and organizations for the employees of Disneyland. They were all organized by the Disneyland Recreation Club. The DRC published the employee magazine The Disneylander and featured many of these clubs. The clubs included bowling, basketball and softball teams, shooting club, skiing club, knitting club and the Masonic club. There was also organized trips that an employee could take. I like the use of the Disneyland blue and yellow and the traditional Disneyland logo.

Boats From Around Disneyland

The photographer of these images really liked to take pictures of the boats. Some very nice and unusual views. I think my favorite is the view of the Storybook Canal Boats and Monstro the Whale. The Mark Twain does look awful nice with the red, white and blue bunting. And of course the Jungle Cruise launch is always a welcome sight. This appears to be a fairly unusual day as the Ucayali Una was not used often. (Note for trivia fans- the Ucayali is a river 70 miles from Lake Titicaca and is a branch of the Amazon river.)

Small World Interior September 1971

A bit later than the other slides in the collection but still from the same family comes this series of five images of the interior of It's A Small World. Some nice shots, I especially like the Hippo and the sun. Enjoy!

A Disneyland Parade and Noah's Ark

A slide dated 1971 from a later trip by the same family features a moment of a parade. By this time, the costumes are fairly sophisticated and actually appear like the characters.

The second slide is undated but circa early 1960s of what I believe is Children's Fairyland in Oakland California. The color on the slides is amazing!

A Scenic Trip to an Amusement Park

More slides from the family that poses at Disneyland and went to POP, this time a local or small amusement park. It appears to be a park where carnival rides have been permanently installed. If anyone has any idea where, let me know. It could be California, or Arizona or somewhere in the west.

This last image is my favorite, the happiness on the face of a child while riding a roller coaster.

The Family That Poses Together.....

Continuing with the same family as they visit Disneyland and the requisite group poses at various locations. All I can say is that in every photo someone is doing something different. Some definitely Vogue and strike a pose, others just seem to be in the space and not really paying attention to the photographer. I do have to say that the gold lame purse is quite fashionable as is the ticket book.

And here is the family in front of another amusement park. I like the Popeye Mattel Geetar.

Have a fun Sunday and if you are anywhere near family, go ahead and pose for a picture with the family. Just make sure you smile and say cheese. Oh and look at the camera!

The Family Visits Disneyland

A couple of more images from the same family that visited POP. Now, they are at Disneyland. The family was able to make it to Disneyland because Dad's company had a party at Holidayland. Here they are waiting to get their free drinks before heading into the large striped tent in the background to eat some scrumptious picnic food- hot dogs, hamburgers, corn on the cob and more. I really do like how the lady is checking out her fingers. She just does not seem interested in being photographed.

After their picnic lunch, they decide to go spinning on the Tea cups. The lady stil does not look that interested...and I am getting dizzy just looking at the picture.

Souvenir Friday- Kim Irvine Color Painting Storybook Canal Boats Light House

This is a painting done by Imagineer Kim Irvine for the 1983 Fantasyland rebuild showing the colors to be used on the iconic light house for the Storybook Canal Boats. I love the way the building is just depicted with no other visual distractions. For comparison, here is a shot of the lighthouse taken in January of this year.

A very pretty light house and a definite draw to the serene ride.

One More POP Slide

Here is the last POP slide from the family. The slide is dated January 1962. At this time, POP was having financial difficulties and had started using "off the shelf" carnival rides to help boost attendance. The bumper cars are nicely painted and have a cute look to them, but don't really fit into the South Seas and Ocean theme of the park.

A Visit to Pacific Ocean Park in Santa Monica

The family is so happy to pose in front of the specatcular fountains at the entrance to Pacific Ocean Park. I can almost hear them all saying- Dad! If you take one more photo we will never get in the park before it closes. I am also wondering what is in the Gallenkamp shoes bag...picnic?

Two views of the exit from the Enchanted Forest Ride. The theming at the park was all scrunched up, but seemed to work okay. The little helicopter ride is cute, but somehow does not fit the story book theme of the ride everyone is exiting.

The Flying Carpet ride on it's outside track. Notice the employee sitting on the front seat piloting the ride. There are many days when I wish I could have at least visited this park once, and Freedomland and Pleasure Island...

Speedster on the Midget Autopia

The little girl driving the car on the Midget Autopia is pressing the pedal to the metal causing her to speed and making her very blurry for her dad's photograph. She must have hit just the right spike in electricity from the center rail. I hope she learned her lesson and is not a speedster now.