Hard to believe but today is my 500th post...oh yes, and also Christmas Morning! Merry Christmas to all of my readers who celebrate this awesome season, and to those who don’t, Happy Holidays for however you do choose to celebrate (because life should be celebrated). In the spirit of the season, I am releasing this little gem of a series from August 1955. Our female photographer never names herself on the back of the photos (but she looks like a Betty, so that's what I'll call her), but her honey is named Bob. I am presenting these in the order that they would have most likely been taken. However, I am starting off with a mystery photo. Betty’s inscription says, "Exhibit of Disney Studios.” Photo 2 is a model of Main Street; note that the Band Stand is located in Town Square, where it was originally placed until Walt noticed it blocked the sight of the Castle. Interesting to see the original intended design for the Mickey floral as well; guess Mickey didn’t care for this profile shot!
Starting out in Town Square, Betty got a nice shot of this Surrey Ride.
Last one for today (but more to come): Betty and Bud in front of the Tobacco Shop. She writes, “Our Indian friend on Main Street.”
As you know, I love seeing and collecting these rare images, but it also makes me a little sad and more than a little curious. Whatever happened to these young, vibrant people who seem to be having so much fun in the park? And what made them give up these photos? Weren’t there any relatives who would cherish them and pass them down to other generations? I’ve had one instance so far of a relative contacting me to identify a person in the photo. It would be great to have that occur with these 2. And as for my 500th post, big thanks go to: Matterhorn1959 who had the first Disneyland vintage photo blog that I still devour each morning; and Chris Merritt, whose snippy comment on that blog encouraged me to start posting these (and he turned out to be a really great guy, too!). Thanks to their inspiration, you now have 500 posts to savor and hopefully many more to come. Thanks to the readers who leave all the great comments, and let me also say how cool it is been for me to meet so many awesome people because of this blog. The Disney fans and collectors are second to none!
See more vintage and contemporary Disneyland photos at my main website.
15 comments:
Snippy? How dare you sir...
Seriously though - I was just shocked/horrified by how much you guys are willing to spend on Disneyland slides!
But as far as I'm concerned, you guys are doing the Lord's work - sharing these rare private slides from long-gone family visits to the park is very generous. It certainly would be easier to "hoard" them away like some collectors do. This way everyone gets to see them. Thank you for that!
I feel the same way you do, Dave. What happened to these people? Why did they (or their relatives) let these slides out of family hands? I have slides my grandfather took in Dec. of 1955 - and I would never put them up for sale! But I've always wondered about these folks, ever since seeing my first Charles Phoenix slide show...
Anyway - congratulations to all of you and the others who work so hard to put these images up, every single day in most cases!
Happy holidays, and thanks again for sharing...
Congatulations on your 500th post. It is quite an accomplishment finding, preparing and posting that many times and the tremondous number of images. As far as the top image, it appears to be from a convention or meeting of the Motion Picture Art Directors society.
Congratulations, Dave!
It has been a joy reading your blog and getting to know you as a friend.
Keep representing the West Side!
Merry Christmas Dave, and Congratulations on number 500.
I'm so grateful to have found your web site and blog. And, it's been a great pleasure to contribute a few little bits and pieces to it. Preserving history is a good cause, but means little if no one can enjoy and learn from it. You have done as much as any library or museum. Even more because you've mad these images, and the information that goes with them, readily available to anyone who has just a bit of interest. Your links and friends are also on my "every day" list of things to do in the morning.
Your right on when you talk of sold photos. So many times I've seen 100 year old family photo albums in antique shops and malls, and felt the pain of sadness over those discarded people. The legacy of the modern age man will be in images, and as much as possible needs to be saved and shared.
Thank you again for all your very hard work. It is a joy.
°O°
PS: Notice the employee badge on the surrey driver's hat. Look familiar?
Great series Dave. I'm with you, I have often looked at these photos of happy families and wondered how the slides wound up for sale. The kids might be in their 50's nowadays...maybe their lives weren't as nice as they appear. But they are still a great window into another time!
Oops, and I forgot to say CONGRATULATIONS on your 500th post...it's pretty cool that it happened on Christmas day!
Thanks Dave for all your efforts! Your site is a true treasure in Disney blogdom and an incredible resource for us Disney fans and historians.
CoxPilot - that badge looks might like the Disneyland one you emailed to me that I posted on the Tomorrowland page! Is that correct?
I am back fro Uganda and want to say CONGRATULATIONS Dave! Keep up the great work.
Dave, congratulations on your 500th post. I think I've seen every one!
Let me echo the thanks of those many others to you (and Matterhorn and the Major) who indeed spend way too much on Disneyland slides (I've watched those auctions) and then are SO very generous to share the wealth with all of us. You've brought the joy of the Disneyland of my youth back to life!
And speaking of finding relatives in photos... Years ago, my cousins found themselves in the River panorama foldout (pp 183-185) of the wonderful August 63 National Geographic article on the Park. They're the kids at extreme right, with my late aunt facing away from the camera.
Meanwhile, I keep watching for myself in your daily posts. Hey--you never know!
Hey Olddisneylandfan: I also look for myself in those photos - another DLand holy grail would be to find me and my brothers in someone else's photos from my first trip in 1970. Anytime you want to contribute some memories/stories to my regular site, just let me know.
Old DL Fan and Dave,
I scour every picture I come across (albeit from the East Coast) if it is in the same time frame.
I have so many pictures of other people's vacations in my shots...I have got to be in other people's photos!
Congrats on your historic post and the continued top-notch content. Love it!
Keep up the good work, Dave. This is an especially good series, and another fine example of why your blog is a daily habit for me.
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