Golden Horseshoe Thursday

Two more interior shots of the Golden Horseshoe. Many thanks again to all the help with identification of people and objects in these photos.



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Golden Horseshoe Wednesday

Here are 2 more from my 1963 batch of Golden Horseshoe photos. I always think of Wild West or Hillbilly entertainment when it comes to the GH, but as yesterday’s post of Charlie Barnet and today’s photo of dancing shows, the GH was apparently sometimes used as a nightclub. Disney Dutchman identified the band as the Elliot Brothers Orchestra, with Lloyd on trombone and Bill on sax. I also love this second shot taken before opening, with the bartender just waiting and an unidentified gent enjoying a cig.



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Golden Horseshoe Tuesday

Just recently received a batch of BW photos from the Golden Horseshoe Saloon and will be posting them over the next week. Great shot of the façade, and in anticipation of the request, am including a detail of the sign. UPDATE: I turned over one of the photos I was scanning for this batch and saw the year 1963 written in pencil, so most likely all of these photos are from that year.



I am also posting this second picture of Jazz Legend Charlie Barnet.



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Tomorrowland Clock of the World, July 18, 1955

Here’s one of the famous Clock of the World on the day after opening. This is a different view than what is normally shown. I hope to be back on track with postings now; please send some visine after my debacle with the webserver change.

See more vintage and contemporary Disneyland photos at my main website.

Buffalo in Frontierland, August, 1956

Yesterday’s post by new blogger Jordan inspired me to dig up this shot of a buffalo in Frontierland. Not the best quality, but still cool subject matter. Sorry about the spotty posts the last few days, but my changing of webservers has been a trip to Hell-Land; if you see any website errors or notice missing files, please let me know.

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Storming the Castle, July 18, 1955

This photo shows the aftermath of when the drawbridge was lowered. Although slightly blurry, I love the fact that everyone is rushing to cross over into Fantasyland, not knowing what they might encounter.

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Return of the Dapper Dude, Part 3, July 18, 1955

Just when you thought it was safe...the dapper dude with the cap and cool shirt is back, this time at the entrance to Adventureland, standing near the assorted skulls and other tribal goodies.

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General Lee’s Bamboo Alley, July 18, 1955

Never heard of this place before, but by the design of the nearby building, I would place this slide as Adventureland. Any of the experts care to give commentary on this one?

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Dapper Dude, Part Two, July 18, 1955

The jaunty dude with the white cap is hanging out at Casey Junior today. Note the bare landscaping in the background, and the ticket booth on the right.

See more vintage and contemporary Disneyland Casey Jr. photos at my main website.

Dapper Dude, Part One, July 18, 1955

I normally prefer my DL photos without people, unless they are wearing something interesting and vintage. This guy who is in a few of the slides I have definitely qualifies as a character. Oh, yeah, and dig the building and newly planted landscaping.

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Frontierland, July 18, 1955

This shot gives a nice overview of what is now the River Belle Terrace Restaurant and seating area. In the lower left-hand corner, you can also see a sign for the Oaks Tavern, which is now the Stage Door Cafe. This building adjoins the Golden Horseshoe Saloon.

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Tomorrowland, July 18, 1955

Here’s a barebones shot of Tomorrowland, with a sign advertising the 20,000 League Show. Anybody know what that consisted of? In case you were wondering, the next show is at 12:30:



Today’s entry will be the last until Sunday; I am taking a little hiatus.

See more vintage and contemporary Disneyland Tomorrowland photos at my main website.

New Orleans Square location, July 18, 1955

Does this area of Disneyland look unfamiliar? It’s a shot from Frontierland over the Rivers of America facing the area that is now New Orleans Square. The Building you see is the Chicken Plantation Restaurant, which closed in 1962. Lots to see in this photo: sailors gazing over the water, pickup trucks parked near the banks of the River, plenty of brightly colored umbrellas to shade diners from the July heat, and what appears to be unsightly power lines.

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Lowering of the Drawbridge, July 18, 1955

Here’s one you just don’t see very often: the lowering of the Sleeping Beauty Castle drawbridge. This one was taken on the 2nd day that the park was open. You can bet that there was a mad rush across it moments later! NOTE TO YESTERDAY’S ANONYMOUS BLOGGER: Photoshop does a great job of enlarging these photos. If that’s not good enough, donations always help!

See more vintage and contemporary Disneyland photos at my main website.

Tomorrowland, December, 1955

The other day, The Major had a posting of Tomorrowland, and today I thought I’d tack onto that one with this rather empty view from 1955. Of course, the most SHOCKING thing about this view is all the trash! Even today, you rarely see this much stuff on the ground. Once again, must be December: check out all the coats in Southern California!

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The Viewliner, August, 1958

I had a request the other day for any shots I might have of the shortlived Viewliner, so todays’s post is honoring that request, and my apologies ahead of time for the fact that these aren’t the best of shots. However, hopefully their rarity will make up for that fact. These were taken from one of the Disney Railroad Trains, and I have included a shot of the one they were most likely taken from; anybody able to identify which one this is? Also—fun to notice the Train’s awning in the left-hand corner of the first picture.





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Construction on the Rivers of America, December 26, 1955

Just recently noticed that this beautiful shot of the Mark Twain also includes some cool construction going on.

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Frontierland, December 26, 1955

Flannel in Los Angeles? Yes, it must be December. Here’s an early shot of Frontierland, complete with themed trashcan. You can also just barely see the top of Sleeping Beauty Castle. On a separate note, I already have blogs on The Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean; any requests for blogs/photo pages on other Disneyland attractions?

See more vintage and contemporary Disneyland Frontierland photos at my main website.

Tea Cups and Chicken of the Sea Ship, December 1955

This colorful slide shows the Alice in Wonderland Tea Cups of Fantasyland in their original location, with the Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship Restaurant looming in the background.

See more vintage and current Disneyland Mad Tea Party photos on my main website.

Dumbo and Casey Jr., December 1955

Here’s one in all its Technicolor Glory: the original Dumbo ride with Casey Jr. puffing away in the background. Note the cool ticket booth on the right (one of my fave ones) and the trashcan in front; same shape as the ones today, but without the bling.

See more vintage and contemporary Disneyland photos at my main website.

Skull Rock, August 1966

Calll me crazy, but I think Skull Rock was way cool. Sure, it’s a little eerie, but I sure do miss this cool rock formation with the waterfall.

See more vintage Disneyland Chicken of the Sea & Skull Rock photos at my main website.

Rainbow Ridge Pack Mules, 1956

Before Thunder Mountain Railroad, you could ride these Mules for a scenic tour from Rainbow Ridge through the Rainbow Desert. The Mule Rides ended in 1973, and in 1979 the roller coaster opened. I do miss some of these quaint types of transportation that used to grace Frontierland; no reason that Main Street should hold the monopoly on that.

See more vintage Disneyland Pack Mule attraction photos at my main website.

Retro Parking Lot, 1960’s

Back before California Adventure and Downtown Disney, there was the Parking Lot. For all those nostalgic about this “lost” area, this one’s for you. Once again, the date of this slide is unknown but I would guess early 60’s. Thanks to the decor on the Main Street Train station, it’s easy to deduce that it’s the Christmas season.



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Circarama, 1960’s

In response to Tangaroa’s missing of the Attraction Posters at the entrance to the park, here’s another group of them in Tomorrowland outside of the Circarama Theater. The date of this slide is unknown but I would guess early 60’s.

See more vintage and contemporary Disneyland photos at my main website.

Entrance to Adventureland, July 1956

Here’s an often seen shot, the entrance to Adventureland. I love this sign; one day, I will make a craft project out of it for my Tiki Bar. I've said it before: it always amazes me to see shots of the park with virtually no visitors. Something you just don't see anymore.

RANT OF THE DAY: For years, Disney has refused to release “Song of the South” on video, because of its supposed racist content. Rumors of a 60th Anniversary DVD release were recently publicly squelched by Bob Iger, stating the same reasons of not wanting to offend. So, if this is the case, why is Disney's online store now rolling out “Song of the South” merchandise in the Collectibles section of the website?!?

See more vintage and contemporary Disneyland photos at my main website.

Entrance to Disneyland, July 1958

Back at the Main Street Train Station...this shot is from July, 1958, and has all of the attraction posters affixed the gate in front of the station. Time to get off my duff and start scanning, as I am getting down the bottom of the barrel here.

See more vintage Disneyland photos at my main website.

Adventure Thru Inner Space, 1960’s

Probably one of the most-missed “extinct” attractions is this one, Adventures Thru Inner Space. I still remember how cool it was as a kid to think you were being “shrunken” and then seeing the plastic tube that showed how small some of the other riders had become.

See more vintage and contemporary Disneyland photos at my main website.

Inside the Tiki Room, 1960’s

Not the greatest quality shot, but still a rare one. This shot from the inside of the Tiki Room is even more rare since they admonish you not to use flash photography during the show (might frighten the birds).

See more vintage and contemporary Disneyland Enchanted Tiki Room photos at my main website.