Disneyland October 1965, Pt. 2

Very few batches of vintage Disneyland slides are without views of the Chicken of the Sea Pirates Ship Restaurant. I get especially excited when they include views of Skull Rock Cover. I truly believe that this area was a masterpiece of artistic rock work and set design.



A view of the Matterhorn taken from below the Monorail track:



Alice doesn't seem too popular on this day.



The October 1965 photographer took a journey on a Skyway bucket towards Tomorrowland and captured Storybook Land on the left...



The Castle & the top of the Carrousel on the right...



back to the left for Monstro and more Storybook Land:



The top of Alice:



And the Monsanto House of the Future:



I had to zoom in to see what the tent on the left-side of the photo was; any ideas?



Back on terra firma, here's a shot of the buckets themselves:



As well as the House of the Future:



closer...



closest...



One more installment to go!

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

Disneyland, October 1965, Pt. 1

1965 marked the first decade of Disneyland, and despite the many early detractors, it continued to thrive. This set of images is from October, when the temperatures begin to get comfortable and the crowds become more manageable. Remember, this was before the days of Mickey's Halloween Party! Here, Mickey takes the baton from Vesey Walker as he leads the band through Town Square.



At first glance, this shot just looks like your typical run of the mill view of West Center Street, plastic flowers at the Flower Market, and the Carnation Cafe mobile.



Upon closer examination, you can see the way cool fixture outside of the Upjohn Pharmacy, which is now the Fortuosity Shop.



Another seemingly ho-hum view of Main Street, facing Town Square:



Becomes a tad more exciting when I zoom into the west side of the street, which affords a look at the Sunkist Citrus House and a genuine Disneyland Tour Guide!



Rounding out this portion of this set are three views of the Castle, which now sports a crest above the entrance.







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

Wacky Sunday: Fiesta on the Submarines

This September 1961 image stands alone. For those of you who love to play "caption this," I can think of no better image for that game than this shot of the young boy in a straw sombrero. I wonder if the hat fit through hatch? I wonder if Casa de Fritos was holding a special catered event below the hatch? I wonder if the guy with the tousled hair ended up being a Yippie? These are the kinds of things that keep me awake at night. How about you?

See more vintage Disneyland Submarine Voyage photos on my Submarine web page.

The Coral Club at The Disneyland Hotel

It is difficult to believe that the Disneyland Hotel pictured in this vintage publicity shot gave way to what is on the same location today. No towers...no bling...just a family-friendly place to stay with great service and...well, how about I let the publicity blurb take it from here?

Disneyland Hotel, the Official Hotel of Disneyland Park, numbers the Coral Swim Club among its many outstanding attractions. Designed and priced for family fun, the Disneyland Hotel features private patio or sun deck for each room, free TV, parking at your door and modern spacious guest rooms designed to accommodate 1 - 4 persons each.

I'm not sure of the year of this particular photo, but judging by the swimsuits and poolside apparel, I would guess late 50's/early 60's.



Frequent Daveland contributor Cox Pilot shared his memories about the Coral Club at the Disneyland Hotel some time ago:

An additional amenity at this time was the Coral Club which included a huge 45'x 75' completely tiled and heated swimming pool, wading pools for children of all ages, fountains, sandlots, and a cabana area. The pools were surrounded by lounge furniture for guests’ relaxation and so that they might acquire a Southern California tan. One-day laundry and dry cleaning services were available, and a physician and nurse were on call. An 18-hole putting green and shuffleboard courts were also early inclusions at the Disneyland Hotel Coral Club.



Shuffleboard? Do people today even know what that is?



From Wikipedia:

Shuffleboard, more precisely deck shuffleboard, and also known as shuffle-board, shovelboard, shovel-board and shove-board [archaic], is a game in which players use broom-shaped paddles to push weighted pucks, sending them gliding down a narrow and elongated court, with the purpose of having them come to rest within a marked scoring area.

An activity that doesn't require a TV or computer screen...outstanding!

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

Back Home Again In Indiana: Indianapolis

In between trips out to BFE to partake in our family reunion, I did my best to explore Indianapolis and put my camera to work. One of my favorite things about this progressive Midwest city is its downtown.



Any city that has an identifiable hub/center gets immediate thumbs up from me. Dubbed Monument Circle, vehicles and pedestrians coexist in the roundabout that contains The Indiana Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument at its center point. Completed in 1901, it stands an impressive 284' over the buildings that surround it.



I love the sculpting on it; the contorted faces and stoic expressions just seem to leap out of the stone.







Amazingly enough, the sun was out until almost 10pm, allowing to me shoot for much longer than I normally can here on the coast. Here, the moon can be seen facing the monument:



Indianapolis really is a hidden gem, often overshadowed by the neighboring city of Chicago. It boasts more than enough high caliber theaters, great restaurants, classic architecture, nightclubs, and fascinating museums to enjoy.



If you enjoy a good steak, then St. Elmo's is a must.





The former Union Station enjoyed a brief flurry of activity in the late 1980's when it was converted to a mall, but as of late, it is mainly used for office space and event rentals.





The Vogue Nightclub in the neighboring community of Broad Ripple:





The Indiana Historical Society Museum is located on the scenic canals that flow through the downtown area:



The Depew Memorial Fountain, with its playful statuary surrounding it, has always been a favorite. Created in 1919, it is located in an area called University Park.







Besides the typical things that would attract visitors, Indiana also has its low-key side, which is what makes it so appealing to me. The people are sincere and friendly, and there are plenty of rural areas nearby that make it easy to forget the typical stresses that so many of us get caught up in during our day-to-day dealings. Best of all, where else could you have your fortune told for only $10?



See more vintage and current Indianapolis photos on my Indianapolis web page.

Back Home Again In Indiana: The Canterbury Hotel

I wasn't born there, nor was I raised there, but I would say that I definitely "grew up" in Indiana, where I spent four glorious years in college plus an extra 13 years after graduation. It holds the golden glow of nostalgia for me, despite the fact that my last visit was over five years ago. So many times I hear the oft used phrase, "You can never go home again," and yet with each return journey to Indiana, I feel that it is the exception to the rule.

A family reunion near Indianapolis was the reason for this trip, and also gave me a good excuse to stay at one of my very favorite hotels: The Canterbury. I first discovered it back in the 90's, thanks to the recommendation of a good friend. Ever since that first visit, it has always been my hotel of choice for Indianapolis. It began its life as The Lockerbie Hotel in 1928, and from 1936 through 1973, operated as The Hotel Warren. The first two illustrations here are from a vintage postcard.



Renovated in 1983, it was transformed into The Canterbury Hotel, shown here in a contemporary photo that I shot during my last stay.



I would classify it as an historic boutique hotel. Just large enough to have the amenities desired, but small enough that the staff recognizes you and can give the warm, friendly, and genuine customer service that keeps me coming back. From the doormen to the check-in staff to the concierge to the waitstaff, all are friendly and extremely accommodating.



Tastefully appointed, it appears historically classic without feeling too stuffy or creeky. It is also kept immaculately clean.







Plenty of cool details, heralding from its Art Deco origins still remain.



The ever-changing art collection on the walls never fails to catch my eye (in a good way!).



The rooms are comfortable, roomy, clean, and stocked with Gilchrist & Soames bath items. Typically, when I see those in the bathroom, I know the hotel is of a higher caliber.





The restaurant and bar are warm and inviting.



With the awful heat spell in Indiana while I was there, I slipped in for a cool beverage one night...



and after a 3 mile run one early morning, I enjoyed a healthy (and tasty!) breakfast in the restaurant.



Best of all, the Canterbury is a primo location. It contains a private entrance to Circle Centre Mall and is only a few blocks from Monument Circle itself. Plenty of theaters, parks, and museums within walking distance as well. The Canterbury Hotel is definitely a Daveland favorite!

UPDATE: The Canterbury has been closed and reopened as Le Méridien.

See more vintage and current Canterbury Hotel in Indianapolis photos on my Canterbury Hotel web page.