What a great shot; you couldn’t even shoot this view today, as you’d have to walk onto the train tracks to do it. The ABC cameras are rolling to the left on July 17, 1955 as Art Linkletter talks to a few guests. I am assuming they are waiting for Walt to pull up in the E.P. Ripley. What an exciting day this must have been. The caption on the back of the photos says “OPENING DAY DISNEYLAND with Art Linkletter (far right)(black and white shoes)—LOVEBIRD AND W7. 1955. Wilson and Betty Lou are standing under white stars and behind Flemings is star, Robert Cummings, combing his hair, looking in glass which covered one of Santa Fe Train ads. We had already had handshakes with Art Linkletter.”
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Too cool! Very nice picture. Thanks for sharing! :D
ReplyDeleteGreat shot! Where did you get it?
ReplyDeleteThe Disney archives have this shot, as well. Saw it while doing research for a story. Great photo!
ReplyDeleteAnonymous - any idea of who the people (The Flemings) mentioned in the handwritten caption on the back?
ReplyDeleteThat may be Ronda Fleming ('50s TV and B movies), was in THE VIRGINIAN with Doug McClure. Not sure what happened to her. Not much on the web. The young blond looks like it might be her. Anybody out there know more?
ReplyDeleteSorry, but after some research I found that it could not be Ronda Fleming of TV and movies. Spoke to soon. Unless the dark haired woman in the dark dress behind the boy was her, but I don't think so.
ReplyDeleteYou can check out the same shot as seen from the TV angle on the Disneyland opening day program available on the Disneyland U.S.A. DVD. Art is just about to ask his son what he thinks about Disneyland and his son replies that he's just "...here to see Bob Cummings..." Bob was one of the co-hosts of the opening day program along with Ronnie Reagan (as Art referred to him). Art's son commited suicide many years later, unfortunately...
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