Movie Palaces: The Balboa

I love the old movie palaces; the ones that were even more fantasy-oriented than the movies they used to show. Unfortunately, many have gone into disrepair or faced the wrecking ball. Fortunately, The Balboa in San Diego was recently restored, and unlike the North Park Theater, this one was a first-class job. Even the curtain will take you back to yesteryear:









For more Daveland Movie Palace photos, visit my regular website.

Pre-1959, Pt. 1

This short set will only rate a 2-parter. Undated, it most likely hails from late 1958/early 1959. Where better to start than the front entrance?!? #2 is a great view from the Main Street Train Station overlooking Town Square.



Moving on to the obligatory castle view; a contemporary shot has been added for comparison.





2 Fantasyland views to round today’s selection out; one of Chicken of the Sea, the second hails from Storybook Land showing (what else?) Cinderella’s Castle.





If you’ve never seen ol’ Cindy’s place up close, here is a contemporary view; the details are way cool–and even though it’s daylight, it’s always midnight here.



To see more vintage & current Disneyland photos, visit my website.

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Black & White, 1956

Throwing in a few short one-day posts before I start another series. This one is probably from 1956, and gives a nice little taste of the early days. Shot #1 is the entrance, with chicken wire still protecting the "landscaping." In #2, we have two Horse-Drawn Streetcars passing each other, and a few guests on Main Street wearing those paper hats. Any of you souvenir fiends know when they stopped selling those?



“More paper hats, and this time, they’re storming the castle.



Very apropriate to have chicken wire outside the Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship.



2 Knotts shots to finish out this set:





To see more vintage & current Disneyland photos, visit my website.

Welcome to Disneyland, February 1963!

Daveland presents a one-day trip to Disneyland, circa February 1963. You’ve just stepped of your Disneyland Hotel Tram and can’t wait to enter the park! The Flying Saucer & Autopia attraction posters whet your appetite even more. Not much to see today in Town Square, so we'll just board the Omnibus and keep on going.



“Hi! We’re having a great time today!” entering Adventureland; and it will only get better! Sadly, it’s too early in the park’s history for a Dole Whip!



Choices, choices...the Columbia or the Mark Twain? For Daveland, 9 times out of 10 the Mark Twain is the vehicle of choice on the Rivers of America. Now if those Keelboats came back, that’d be a different story.





Over near the Autopia, it’s practically a mob scene for one of the 3 Little Pigs; do they even circulate anymore at the park?



Saving the best for last; totally loving the Skyway moving gently over the Monorail, as guests view down into the Submarine Lagoon.



So ends our tour of 1963; hope you enjoyed! To see more vintage & current Disneyland photos, visit my website.

ANOTHER 1956 Series, Pt. 4

We have stayed too long in 1956, so today we will wrap things up for this set. This blurry Fantasyland shot sure captures what it feels like to be on the teacups...urp. Mickey Mouse Club Theater and Welch's Grape Juice Bar in background. #2 shows Dumbo from the Skyway, and a very barren berm.



Chicken of the Sea before the Skull Rock makeover:



Only one Tomorrowland shot in this bunch; this one features the Moonliner. Back then space travel was a big deal, and the Moonliner must have been a might symbol to those who visited this land.



Here are 2 Knotts shots from the same batch to finish out today’s post:





See more vintage and current Disneyland photos on my Disneyland photo web pages.

ANOTHER 1956 Series, Pt. 3

FRONTIERLAND, 1956: We see the Floating Wedding Cake (aka The Mighty Mark Twain) heading back to the dock for another trip around the Rivers of America. In shot #2, one load of guests is disembarking while the Disneyland Marching Band waits patiently to board.



This lucky young lad got to ride on top of the shortlived Stagecoach attraction! Rainbow Ridge visible upper right.



Pan that camera over to the right and you get a better view of some of the other Rainbow Ridge buildings as well as the Mine Train:



To see more vintage & current Frontierland photos, visit my website.

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The Hitchhiker

A few years ago, I was on a Madonna kick and painted this shot of her from Vanity Fair, where she was doing a Marilyn inspired layout. Not a typical Madonna pose, which is why I liked it. Why paint what has already been captured over and over again? When I was recently asked to exhibit my Madonna work in a Hollywood Gallery, I decided to do a second one for the show, since the other one that they requested sold many years ago:



Here is the sketch for my upcoming creation:



As before, I decided to do a lesser known pose of Madonna, choosing one from her book, “Sex.” I will use my favorite shade of blue, and I also want to do a little Tamara Lempicka styling to the background. To see more of my art, visit my regular website.

ANOTHER 1956 Series, Pt. 2

We couldn’t take that newfangled Horseless Carriage up Main Street; the driver actually talked to people who smoked. So, we went with the conventional Chemical Wagon and were dropped off at Central Plaza. I have included detail shots of the entrance to the Circus Tent and the sign promoting Professor Keller’s Kitties. By this point, the Mickey Mouse Club had already “left the tent.”





No trip would be complete without a Castle shot:



Our first land today is Adventureland, and this shot shows you the ALand side of the Pavillion.



Watch out for that Rhino! He could charge your Jungle Cruise boat at any time!



And that is all for today; come back tomorrow for more 1956 goodies. To see more vintage & current Disneyland photos, visit my website.

ANOTHER 1956 Series

Families everywhere are scouring their attics & basements for 1956 slides, and YOU are the lucky winners as I present to you another colorful series from the park’s 2nd year of operation. First view is a proud young lad showing off his Disneyland pennant, with the E.P. Ripley & Retlaw 1 slowly pulling out of the station towards Frontierland. View #2 features the Disneyland newstand at the entrance (no package hold available yet, folks!) with the Ripley back at the station for another Grand Circle Tour. I have included a closeup of the newstand for you souvenir geeks! Mom & daughter appear to be wearing matching dresses.





Let’s take one of those new-fangled horseless carriages down Main Street; what’s this? Does the castmember talking to the driver actually have a cigarette dangling from his mouth? Sorry Sir, you will have to go under the Monorail pylons by the Submarine Voyage with the rest of the reprobates. Oops...that area isn’t there yet...what’s a smoker to do?!?



Hey all you "Saludos Amigos/Three Caballeros" fans; click here for a contest to win a FREE copy of the upcoming Disney DVD! And that is all for today; come back tomorrow for more 1956 goodies. To see more vintage & current Disneyland photos, visit my website.

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Early Disneyland, Pt. 3 & Knotts

Just two today from the 1955 grouping, beginning with Casey Junior crossing a trestle over the Canals of Mud. Shot #2 is (duh) Tomorrowland, featuring the TWA Moonliner surrounded by the State Flags before they were moved to the entrance area.



For all you Knott-heads, here are some 1955 shots for you; Disneyland wasn’t the only park with Indians.



Don’t let the life-like appearance fool you; this guy is a plaster fake:



Knotts even had its own train:



If I were crass and rude, I would say that it appears that the little girl on the left just cut the cheese under mother’s disapproving eye...however, since this blog is 100% above board, I will refrain from saying anything of the sort.



How about a “Happy Birthday” for Shirley Temple Black who turns 80 today; the actress/diplomat who gave Walt his Snow White Oscar statuettes and also christened the Sleeping Beauty Castle Diorama during its dedication. Apparently, she suffered a broken arm last week and will be taking it easy.



And that is all for today; who knows what Daveland will have in store for tomorrow; you’ll have to come back and find out for yourself. To see more vintage & current Disneyland photos, visit my website.