"Hey Dave! Don’t you mean Square?" No, dear readers...I mean Street. Walt’s affinity for New Orleans was present in the park from day one. This small strip of restaurants in Frontierland was known as New Orleans Street. I have included a closeup shot from this early construction shot.
New Orleans Street was also the original location for Casa de Fritos:
Closeup included at no extra cost:
Here is a color shot from July 18, 1955:
In addition to Casa de Fritos, New Orleans Street also featured Quaker Oats’ Aunt Jemima Pancake House. The side seating area shown here had more of a rustic look, due to the fact that it was bordered by Adventureland.
This February 1956 shows a young lassie in her Mouse Ears, pleased as punch because she’s probably just had a tasty serving of The Golden Horseshoe Special (4 buttermilk pancakes).
By 1957, Casa de Fritos outgrew their space and Don DeFore’s Silver Banjo Barbecue moved in until 1961. The building was changed from green to pink:
Today, this area is best known as the Riverbelle Terrace Restaurant, which gives excellent views for the Rivers of America show Fantasmic.
EXPERT HELP DEPARTMENT: A reader sent me these photos yesterday and was wondering the origin of this Jungle Cruise boat replica. It looks a little home-made to me, but on the oft chance it’s a souvenir, I am posting it here. Anyone seen one of these before?
See more vintage & current Disneyland New Orleans Street photos on my Aunt Jemima Restaurant web page.
yet another out standing series of pictures. thank you.
ReplyDeleteWow...
ReplyDeleteTremendous shots!
I have no idea where the collectible came form.
I find it interesting that the Casa de Fritos sign said "Spanish" food. A euphemistic term used at the time for Mexican? Or did they really serve Spanish Food?
ReplyDeleteLee - I believe "Spanish Food" was a politically incorrect blanket term used. From what I've seen on the menu, it was definitely an Americanized version of Mexican Food. You can view it here: Casa de Fritos Menu Link
ReplyDelete"This small strip of restaurants in Frontierland was known as New Orleans Square."
ReplyDelete"Hey Dave! Don't you mean Street?"
;)
Neat photos!
Great pics Dave. Notice that it does say "Authentic Mexican Food" on the building.
ReplyDeleteReally nice post.
ReplyDeleteThe boat looks like folk art - and a pretty interesting example, at that. Certainly worth preserving.
The boat is a souvenir item that was made for Disneyland and sold there. I have an example I purchased from the daughter of the owner of the import company that made them for Disneyland. A very cool souvenir item and not many were sold.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the information, Matterhorn. It looks so primitive!
ReplyDeleteIt would be great to compare the two. Can you post a photo of yours?
Dave, thank you for answering anyway in the previous post. :)
ReplyDeleteCool! I enjoyed these too! It's doubly wonderful that we can enjoy how that area was in these vintage pics and see that most of it is still around in some form today. New Orleans Square is such a favorite of mine, and it's great how it's added in - like a mega-plussing making it more like Walt wanted all along.
Wow, I was sure that the boat was a home-made item!
ReplyDeleteAn upper window in the first Casa de Fritos pic is open. I've never noticed that before. It looks like it's open in some of the other pics too. I believe they have office spaces up there- maybe they were airing them out?
ReplyDeleteLove the sign close-up, btw.