Cruising at Disneyland, April 1958

A few colorful shots from April 1958 showing two gals enjoying a leisurely spin around Fantasyland's Motor Boat Cruise. This "B" ticket attraction was about a year old at the time these shots were taken. Note the red trimmed boat on the right is named "Alice."

Dig those yacht-club inspired outfits of the cast members!



Looks like this could be a Lucy & Ethel situation! I wonder if they knew that the boat was on a track?



See more Daveland vintage Disneyland Motor Boat Cruise photos at my main website.

Adventureland Sign Changes

Some time between July (image #1) and December of 1961 (image #2), the marquee over Adventureland lost the canoe-paddles that once hung from it. I can only surmise that they provided too much of a temptation for guests trying to yank on them. Again…only a guess.



This previously unposted shot from April 1958 gives a better look at the paddles and the head that originally graced the Adventureland sign:



Creepy!



A comparison shot of the sign today, which is now stationary. No more rotating creepy head!



See more Daveland vintage & current Disneyland Adventureland photos at my main website.

The Pontiac GTO

If you were at Disneyland on June 16, 1966 for Grad Nite, you could have been the winner of America's #1 Automobile, the Pontiac GTO. To save you from scratching your heads, "GTO" is the Italian abbreviation for Gran Turismo Omologato ("Grand Tourer Homologated") which means officially certified for racing in the Grand tourer class.

For all you gear heads out there, here's a closeup of the car:



And for you vintage sign geeks, a closeup of the Grad Nite decal on the side of the car?



The prize drawing was held at 3:45 a.m. at the Prize Headquarters, the 20,000 Leagues Exhibit in Tomorrowland. The winner had exactly 20 minutes to claim the prize, or they'd lose it to another entrant.

Where were you in '66?

See more Daveland vintage & current Disneyland Railroad photos at my main website.

City Hall Fashion

This August 1959 shot gave me 4 (count 'em) detailed views worthy of a closer look. This trio of guests is standing near City Hall in Disneyland's Town Square. I was hoping that the lady in the center was a total Disneyland kook and that her dress was a homemade concoction with a Disney-related pattern.

No such luck. Still, it's an interesting vintage pattern.



The signage in front advertises the Disneyland Band, the Golden Horseshoe Revue, the Frontierland Indian Village, and The Gonzales Trio.



Parents must schlep on up to Central Plaza to East Plaza Street to find their lost kiddies.



Another dashed hope with detailed view 4, as there is always the possibility of seeing Walt around the Fire Department as he leaves his private apartment.



See more Daveland Disneyland City Hall photos at my main website.

A Spin Around the Carrousel

Disneyland's King Arthur Carrousel typically gets the shaft when I visit Disneyland. Even though it's smack-dab in the middle of Fantasyland, I typically don't pay much attention to it as I rush to get in line for one of the dark rides. Today's post is a tribute to this beauty with a mix of new and old images, some previously unpublished, such as this 1959 shot below. I love it when there is a band or music group playing on the Carrousel. It adds an extra element of fun to this attraction that makes you feel like you're a kid again.



An undated image of the Carrousel:



and the obligatory detailed view of the signage:



This March 1956 photo is one of my favorites from my collection, showing a refurbishment in progress less than one year after the park was open.





From September 1958:



The band takes a spin around on August 7, 1957:



with a flash forward to the Pearly Band in a recent view:



I hereby solemnly swear to ride the Carrousel when I visit next month…as long as it's open!

See more Daveland King Arthur Carrousel photos at my main website.

1959 Disneyland Celebrities Arrive

These 1959 images are unmarked, but using my powers of deductive reasoning, I am assuming that they are showing celebrities being welcomed for the gala June 14, 1959 new attraction unveiling at Disneyland. The first shot shows scary Mickey & Minnie deboarding the Pan Am plane, with conductor Vesey Walker front and center. On the right of Vesey is actor Jock Mahoney, who played the title role in the TV western series "Yancy Derringer" on CBS from 1958-1959. Next in the lineup are Mouseketeer Roy Williams and on the far right is Dick Simmons, who played Sergeant Preston of the Yukon on CBS from September 29, 1955 to September 25, 1958.

In today's second image, John Smith is signing autographs for his adoring fans who loved watching him play Slim Sherman, the lead role on "Laramie" from 1959–1963.



See more Daveland Disneyland Behind-The-Scenes photos at my main website.

Disneyland's Miniature Horse Corral

When Disneyland first opened, Frontierland had a Miniature Horse Corral.



Lasting until July 1957, this area had miniature horses, ponies, and donkeys that guests could view and pet. On the right of this detail shot, you can also see the Frontier Trading Post:



Another 1956 image of the same area:



Very rarely do I see shots with the animals; maybe they were resting.



A few previously posted shots of the Corral:



In the background you can see one of the Conestoga Wagons:



An overhead shot from July 18, 1955:





I wonder how a petting zoo would go over in the Park today?

See more Daveland Frontierland photos at my main website.

Indianapolis: Then and Now

A few vintage 1955 images of Indianapolis, starting with this straight shot facing north on Meridian Street. Monument Circle towers above the skyline, but looks to be closed.

The placard says, "For A Better Indianapolis." On the northwest side of the circle, you can see the Indianapolis Power and Light Building.



Today, Monument Circle is still there, although many of the buildings and tenants surrounding it have changed.



Farther up Meridian is the Scottish Rite Cathedral.



Back in 1955, the automotive industry was still King in the midwest; note the Ford Motor Company building and signage.



This 2003 image shows the Scottish Rite Cathedral, which survived much better than Ford in the downtown area!



I first saw the Cathedral when one of my friends got married there.



Can you imagine climbing up there in a wedding dress?



See more Daveland Indianapolis photos at my main website.

Shirley and Gluten

This vintage photo of Shirley Temple was seen by the public when it graced the cover of LIFE magazine in the July 11, 1938 issue. It marked the first of three times that she was featured on the cover. Here's the caption that accompanied the vintage photo in my collection:

SEEING AMERICA WITH SHIRLEY

"My, it looks just like an ocean," exclaimed Shirley Temple as she swished her hands through ripening wheat in a field near Junction City, Kansas, June 14. The young film star is on a motor tour across the United States.

What the actual magazine looked like:



And a version I recreated using my publicity still and redoing the masthead and footer in Illustrator:



See more Daveland Shirley Temple photos at my main website.

Tomorrowland, April 1973

The little tyke seems to have forgiven his dad from the Carrousel episode yesterday…or else he is attempting to drive him crazy by crawling over his head and back. Note the other Carousel behind them…the Carousel of Progress.

This family must have REALLY loved the Autopia, as they took 4 consecutive shots.



Imagine taking three photos of the same attraction and then having to wait about a week to see if they came out ok.



Hey…is the dad standing up in his Autopia vehicle? Somebody better talk to this maniac!



This looks like a real Los Angeles freeway…all backed up. Dad's crazy driving must have caused a pile-up.



See more Daveland Tomorrowland photos at my main website.