Disneyland, July 18, 1955

Disneyland Opening Day is typically celebrated on July 17, 1955. While it is true that the Park was open on that day, that was more akin to a soft opening. The actual date where Walt Disney’s innovative theme park wasn’t open to the general public until the following day, July 18. Below is a guest taken shot showing the Sleeping Beauty Castle drawbridge being lowered for guests the second time.





See the guests excitedly “storming the castle”:



A closeup of the still-blank plate for the Disney family crest:



With crest, as seen in this March 1968 image:



Back to 7/18/55 and the recently lowered drawbridge. Note the distinctive salmon colored roof in the background:



Originally, this bandstand was located just off of Central Plaza. It was too big for Town Square (it blocked the view of the Castle) so this is where it landed first:





The Mad Tea Party teacups were a popular attraction from the beginning; the Mickey Mouse Club Theater in the background was replaced by the Pinocchio dark ride in 1983:



The Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship restaurant was not ready for business just yet:



If you look closely, you can see that the windows and other details are not yet complete:



This photo from the collection of Michael Black was also taken on July 18, when scaffolding and work was taken place in plain view of guests:



The Dumbo attraction still had flapping ears at this point; they are now molded in one-piece; much easier to maintain! Note the plywood sitting in this particular Dumbo seat:



The Jungle Cruise attraction:



The Mark Twain was filled with guests, as these were pre-Columbia days. Behind the boat is the Chicken Plantation restaurant:



An unobstructed view of the restaurant:



Next to the Golden Horseshe Saloon was a row of dining establishments, including The Oaks Tavern, Casa de Fritos, and Aunt Jemima’s Pancake House:
 


Tomorrowland got the shaft for Opening Day; there simply just wasn’t enough time to get everything completed in time. An easy fix was to have the 20k League Show, which recycled some of the set pieces from the 1954 Disney classic live-action film:





Were any of you there on that magical day?

See more Disneyland Opening Day photos at my main website.

Friday at the Edison

Back in 2018, I stayed at the Hotel Edison in New York City with Christy (aka Little Miss Sunshine). According to the Hotel’s website, it “…has been setting trends in New York City’s Theater District since January 17, 1931 when Thomas Edison turned on the marquee lights.” Interestingly enough, Edison turned on the lights remotely from his home in Llewellyn Park, Orange, New Jersey by pressing a telegraph key. The inventor was 86 at the time and passed away later in the year on October 18. The Hotel Edison has been used as a location for “The Godfather” (1972), “Bullets Over Broadway” (1994), and “Birdman” (2014).



The photo below is from 1939 and shows the lobby seating area:



What appears to be a sculpture of sorts of Thomas Edison himself hung at the back of the lobby:



The bones of the lobby looked about the same when I visited, but Thomas was nowhere to be found. I wonder what happened to the piece?



A view of the check-in area from 1939:



There is no corresponding shot in my collection; I guess that’s a bucket list item on my next trip to NYC! For those younger readers out there, you might have a difficult time identifying the contraption that Christy is touching in the hallway:



See more Hotel Edison in NYC photos at my main website.

More Marilyn at the Academy

We’re back at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles to see more of the Marilyn Monroe exhibit that is currently being featured until February 28, 2027. I was truly impressed by the display, but also knew enough to carefully read the accompanying small placards to learn whether the item was authentic or a repro. In the deleted scene below from “The Seven Year Itch” (1955), Tom Ewell, Marilyn, and Robert Strauss vamp it up:



This particular William Travilla outfit appears to be mostly original. From the placard:

Monroe wore this “cellophane effect” gown in a scene that was cut from director Billy Wilder’s “The Seven Year Itch.” In the scene, Richard Sherman (Tom Ewell) dreams of Monroe’s character styled like early Hollywood star Mae West. Designer William Travilla micked key elements of West’s typical costuming, which often featured boas and her signature cigarette holder. Monroe admired West in real life, often emulating her sassy persona and irreverent humor for blonde bombshell roles. Synthetic eyelash fabric; non-original boa, jewelry, shoes, and cigarette holder.



Next I saw the famous “subway dress.” Could it be original? Or was that too good to be true for the outfit that was auctioned off for a cool $4.6 million in 2011? The answer is a little muddy; not original, BUT...it was still made by Travilla himself. From the placard:

This replica was made by the original costume designer William Travilla. He often made close copies of his most iconic film looks for publicity purposes. This version has the belt secured in the middle. For the original costume, Monroe tied the belt to the side. Rayon crepe; non-original shoes and jewelry.



 Last one from “The Seven Year Itch” is this silk pajama outfit. From the placard:

One of Monroe’s most successful roles was as The Girl in director Billy Wilder’s “The Seven Year Itch,” a comedy about a restless husband left to his own devices for the summer. These silk pajamas mark a pivotal moment in developing Monroe’s girl next door character: when her scheming neighbor invites her over for a drink, he imagines her arriving in a sexy ensemble. Instead, she appears in casual attire, selected by Travilla and made by Jax—one of Monroe’s favorite clothing brands. Silk; non-original shoes.



 What’s your guess on this one? Real or replica? From the placard:

Director Howard Hawks’s comedy “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” was the third of eight film collaborations between Marilyn Monroe and costume designer William Travilla. In the movie, showgirls Lorelei Lee (Monroe) and Dorothy Shaw (Jane Russell) are introduced in matching red sequin gowns for the opening song and dance number, a performance that catapulted Monroe from up-and-coming starlet to icon. Travilla used a mix of beige and red sequins that give the costumes extra shimmer on camera. Rayon crepe, sequins, and silk chiffon; non-original hat, shoes, and jewelry.



The jewelry was re-created by Kathleen Lynagh Designs; the hat by Robyn Simms Johnson.



Below you can see Marilyn wearing the costume (sans hat) with Tommy Noonan, who played her nerdy but wealthy suitor:



More Monroe memorabilia to come!

See more Academy Museum photos at my main website.