Today we travel ahead 3 years in time to spend a little time in May 1959. This batch is one of my favorites; not only is the color wonderful, but I also like the family that is shown throughout. They are totally retro and seem to be having lots of fun. The first shot is The E.P. Ripley pulling Retlaw 1 into the Main Street Train Station; you’ll also note the Kalamazoo handcar on the right; this is one of my earliest shots of it being here. Hey Progressland, do you have a date on when it made its first appearance? I’m really into retro, and this next shot is a total classic; the application of the lipstick, the boy in the Mexican hat (purchased at Davy Crockett’s perhaps?), the leather camera bag, and the perfectly dressed children waiting in line to enter the station. Truly a classic!
Working our way up to Central Plaza, we have two images to round out this morning’s post:
Jetting forward to last weekend, here are two views of the Toy Soldiers that are promoting the recently opened Toy Story Midway Mania attraction at DCA; I would have hated to be these guys in their costumes and heavy face paint with the sweltering temperatures that hit Anaheim on Sunday!
See more vintage and current Disneyland photos at my website.
I don't have a date offhand, but I think Steve DeGaetano's book on the Disneyland Railroad has information. I'll check it when I get home. In the meantime, somebody call Custodial about the Code H in the Fire Engine shot!
ReplyDeleteThose first two pictures are especially nice. Like you said, great color! And I agree, sometimes it's the people that really make the picture.
ReplyDeleteThe second photo is such an unusual angle, I don't think I've ever seen another picture remotely like it.
“Truly a Classic” Boy it that the truth. The is the essence of the late 50’s, you could nt duplicate that look no matter how hard you try. What a great find, thanks for sharing these precious gem! Oh yeah, I saw the Code “H” in the fire engine shot also, watch your step.
ReplyDeleteSteve says the handcar arrived sometime during Disneyland's first year of operation.
ReplyDeleteI meant to also comment on how unusual photos of the landing outside the Main Street Station are. They must be in the hundreds of millions of photos that haven't turned up. :)