When the Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship Restaurant first opened in Fantasyland, there was barely enough time to put paint on the structure itself. In fact, painting wasn't even completed until after Opening Day.
Five years later, Walt decided to "plus" the area around the ship by adding a larger body of water and the amazing Skull Rock Cove. These first two photos show the construction walls and some of the work that occurred in 1960 for this expansion.
Walt sure seems happy watching the Chicken of the Sea Mermaid prepare to crack the ceremonial bottle on the ship during the unveiling festivities, December 23, 1960:
The ship may have been sponsored by Chicken of the Sea, but Walt also managed to get his own tie-in by branding the Peter Pan characters to the area as well. Here Captain Hook, Peter Pan, and Mr. Smee exit out the back of the Ship towards Skull Rock Cove, August 1966:
A sharp-eyed Daveland reader sent a link to an auction from PBA Galleries featuring a thank you letter from Walt related to the opening of the Monsanto House of the Future:
Here's a shot from Opening Day, with an accompanying detailed view:
If you have a spare $500-1000, you might want to bid!
See more vintage Disneyland Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship photos on my Chicken of the Sea web page.
Love the HOF letter. I remember those pocket radios as a child back in the day. My prized possession was my little Jade transistor (pocket) radio. I loved that thing.
ReplyDeleteActually, a letter like that would be a bargain if you could get it for under $1000. Still, $1000... too much for me!
ReplyDeleteInteresting to note the Fantasyland Skyway terminus building in the picture...I wonder how many buildings that were there on opening day are still being used and essentially unchanged...this one is and not being used!
ReplyDeleteHmmm...I wonder if someone could do a post on before and after pics of buildings still around and basically unchanged...perhaps other than main street.
- Darryl
Darryl - I am sure you realize that the Fantasyland Skyway building didn't appear until a year after opening which is when the Skyway was installed. Either way, it is still a bit sad to see such a charming structure go to waste.
ReplyDeleteMy mind is racing on the Opening Day vs. Now Building photos; that pretty much rules out Tomorrowland which was completely overhauled in 1967; Fantasyland also got an overhaul in 1983; if you rule out Main Street, you're pretty much left with New Orleans Street (where Riverbelle Terrace is), The Golden Horseshoe, The Castle, and a few of the buildings towards the front of Frontierland.
True...Maybe I should have included attractions...what about the entrance to Frontierland (the stockade), Tiki Room, Bazaar, Mark Twain, maybe the Frontierland Arcade, "The Rocket" (ex TWA), Carrousel.
ReplyDelete