Friday, December 05, 2008

Disneyland in Glorious B&W, 1955



Obviously, I own a friggin' huge amount of Disneyland photos & slides, so it is difficult to single out my faves. However, this particular set definitely ranks amongst my best. They will be presented in the order that they were shot. This family started their picture taking in Santa Barbara, as can be witnessed from the first shot of the Courthouse there. I can only assume that the no-tell-motel in shot #2 is/was also located in SB. For purposes of this blog, I will dub the lady in this shot Millicent; it just seems appropriate. Not sure if the cat is part of the trip or just a stray who wants to hitch a ride to Disneyland.



Our first shot inside the park was taken in Town Square, and features the Horse-Drawn Streetcar. Other than a handful of guests on the Streetcar, the park looks like a ghost-town.



Up on the platform of the Main Street Train Station, guests wait anxiously as the E.P. Ripley pulls into the loading area, ready for another Grand Circle Tour around the park.



Sorry, but I plan on being stingy with these images in the hopes that you will savor and enjoy each little detail. See more vintage & current Disneyland photos at my regular website.

10 comments:

Vintage Disneyland Tickets said...

Super new series Dave, these B & W photos are extra sharp. What's with the kitty? Looks like a Siamese, hardly a stray, but who travels with their cat and lets it walk free in a parking lot? Can't wait to see more, be stingy its ok, anticipation is half the fun!

Katella Gate said...

Of course the cat is looking to hitch a ride to Disneyland. It's where they keep the mice.

BTW, the view in the Main Street Station is particularly nice.

Major Pepperidge said...

That cat photo is hilarious, and I love the one with the girls waiting for the train!

TokyoMagic! said...

Okay, I'm enjoying every detail.... I wonder what that round object is hanging from the taller girl's neck at the train station? I LOVE the cat pic. Maybe the cat was just a friendly stray or perhaps it belonged to the owner of the motel?

Anonymous said...

that darn cat!

Daveland said...

I will attempt to zoom in on the object around the girl's neck tonight and post it tomorrow morning. Thanks for the nice comments...the photos get even better!

Vintage Disneyland Tickets said...

"that darn cat" LOL!!!

Hey Dave, since you are doing some zooming in, what is that tall pole doing in the parking lot in the train station picture? It looks like a telephone pole with nothing attached to it?

Can wait to see the next installment. - THANKS!

Daveland said...

Tim - I would guess that it was probably a leftover from the opening day festivities and from all the cameras, tvs, etc...but that's just a guess.

Anonymous said...

This photographer knew what he was doing. Look how he framed the Santa Barbara and Disneyland RR shots. Looking forward to seeing the rest.

Anonymous said...

The girl in the station looks like she belongs in the '20s. Remarkable.