Taliesen West

Having first discovered Frank Lloyd Wright in Chicago, my 2nd Wright experience was in Arizona. Taliesen West is a school of sorts for architects, and what a fantastic campus to learn from! The final project is to actually build a structure on site that will later be torn down. Wright was a genius, and it’s way cool that there is a place for others to learn his concepts.







For more Taliesen photos, visit my main website.

Disneyland Main Street Commissioned Painting 10

Getting there...getting there...the faces will be last, but I’m getting closer to that part. A lot of color mixing going on here.

See more of my art at my main website.

Fantasyland Concession Stand

Another undated photo, this one is from the late 1950’s and shows the concession stand. Hey Major—just to put in perspective what a $1.00 would have bought you back then, you could scarf down 2 cheeseburgers and STILL have 10¢ left (add a nickel and you could be enjoying a Carnation Milk to wash it all down with!). If you look to the rear of the photo, you can see the Chicken of the Sea Ship’s sails. This makes a nice segue to this 1950’s overhead shot of the COTS:



Check out more Disneyland Fantasyland photos at my main website.

Rivers of America and Fowler’s Harbor

This undated slide and its companion close-up are undated, but obviously from the early days of the park. Tom Sawyer’s Island has no Tom Sawyer and the River looks pretty sleepy. Telephone poles in the background definitely do not help the ambiance!



Check out more Rivers of America photos on my main website.

Disneyland Main Street Commissioned Painting 9

The flash is not good for photographing a canvas, but at 5:30 in the morning, the sun is not in the mood to cooperate. So, as you can see, there are a few more details emerging. Most of the large flat color areas are taken care of; now it is just a lot of details left to do.

See more of my art at my main website.

Vintage Subs

From August 3, 1959 (not the 4th, but the 3rd!) is this view of the original Submarine Voyage. Other than the monorail, with the gray of the subs and the uniforms of the cast members, this could be mistaken for a military zone! I prefer the 20k theming that Disney World used for their Sub ride, as shown in this Oct. 1972 view:



3 view from June 1964, starting with a closeup of the Patrick Henry (I wonder what kind of reception they get with that little antenna up front?)







Last one for today is from January 1968:



Eagle-eye reader Mr. Mouse Monthly noticed a cast member on top of the Monorail track in the previous photo. Let's zoom in!



For anyone interested in an update on my Main Street painting, here is a shot I took this morning:



And just out of curiosity, is anyone else out there doing the Disneyland Half Marathon this Monday?

See more vintage Disneyland Submarine Voyage photos at my main website.

More Town Square

Just when you thought you were done with Town Square, this brilliant (but undated) image pops up on my blog. Aren’t these two gals a pair and a half? Slide 2 is from July 1961, and it appears that the poor horse is wearing a rather unfortunate looking hat. As if carting guests around all day wasn’t bad enough...



This shot was taken from the steps of the Main Street Station, circa August 3, 1959. I have also included a detailed view of the Bekins area. Apparently attraction posters used to go in this area as well.





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

Disneyland Main Street Commissioned Painting 8

Got quite a bit done last night; looking somewhat good for a 9/1 finish.

See more of my art at my main website.

Town Square Banner

Although there is a good amount of nighttime long exposure blur, this is still a cool one, from June 1960. You can see the banner promoting Nature’s Wonderland, America the Beautiful in Tomorrowland, and the Art of Animation. I have also included a closeup from the righthand side; there is a Disneyland Vehicle (logo on the door) that is not part of the regular Main Street fleet, as well as some large unidentified wheels; any of the experts know about these?



While we’re in Town Square, here’s one from November 1963 that shows Vesey Walker leading the band, with Christmas Decorations draped over Main Street.



Check out more Disneyland Town Square photos at my main website.

Disneyland Main Street commissioned painting 7

Lotsa details added; working from left to right.

See more of my art at my main website.

Stuck in Tomorrowland

January 1968 is the date of this beauty showing the PeopleMover (rather the no-people PeopleMover in this shot) and the Rocket Jets. For those who prefer their PeopleMover vehicles in Red, here’s a second view:



From the same batch is this interior view of Adventures Thru Inner Space, one of my favorite cheesy extinct attractions.



Leaving the future and going back to the old Tomorrowland, here is one from October 1965 (even if it wasn’t dated, I’d know by the hair that it couldn’t be the new Tomorrowland):



Check out more Tomorrowland photos on my regular website.

The New Tomorrowland

This is one of my favorites; althought I don’t know the year, I know it’s around Xmas (the star on top of the Matterhorn is a great clue!). You get a good idea of the “New Tomorrowland” in this shot; the Astro Jets were moved on top of the PeopleMover platform and rechristened the Rocket Jets. What a great vantage point! Soaring around in a circle high above the park! You can also see a lonely yellow Skyway bucket on the righthand side.

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

Disneyland Main Street commissioned painting 6

Just a little rooftop action; almost hard to notice.

See more of my art at my main website.

Main Street, undated

Today I will start posting a batch of larger size negs that are undated, but most likely late 60’s/early 70’s. The Keystone Kop was a nice touch to Main Street, and I don’t believe I’ve seen one in recent years. Here’s a view of the same area from 2006; can you believe I took a shot with a stroller in it? What was I thinking...



Here’s a Doublemint moment, as two Horse-Drawn Trolleys pass each other (control yourself, Amazon!).



See more vintage and contemporary Disneyland Main Street, U.S.A. photos at my main website.

Exit Sign & Ticket Booth

First shot today shows the exit sign from July 1961. Moving onto the blue ribbon shot for today is this view of the Ticket Booth from January 1968. Whoever this photographer was, today I am their number one fan! And please, sign me up for a $6.50 guided tour!



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

Disneyland Main Street commissioned painting 5

Creeping along...

See more of my art at my main website.

Lotsa’ Main Street

Tobacco? At Disneyland? Who’d ’a thunk it? Here’s a nice clear (albeit undated) view of the Tobacco Shop, which is now 20th Century Music. I have also provided a recent comparison shot for you to check kout as well:



Next up is an undated and somewhat blurry 1950’s view of the Horse-Drawn Trolley and the Gibson Greeting Card Shop.



I am actually in the process of painting this same area of Main Street.



Next up is a June 1964 view from Town Square, showing the INA Carefree Corner, currently the Kodak Photo Supply Shop. January 1968 gives us this view of the East Side of the street, just a little further down.



See more vintage and contemporary Disneyland Main Street U.S.A. photos at my main website.

House of the Future, 1965

It’s 1965, the year of the Tencennial, and this gent is standing in front of the Monsanto House of the Future, with 2 of the state flagpoles visible. The flags were a nice touch to the entrance of Tomorrowland, adding to the type of Fair Exhibit atmosphere that originally permeated Tomorrowland. You can check out more House of the Future photos on my regular website.

Pompeii

Having the opportunity to visit Italy was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. One of the cities I visited was Pompeii. Whoever the contractor was for the this place, they should have left a manual behind for today’s less-than-stellar home builders. Even the ruins left behind were amazing.





And yes, I was posing.



See more Italy photos at my main website.

Disneyland Main Street commissioned painting 4

Got a fair amount done over the weekend.

See more of my art at my main website.