Wednesday, August 31, 2016

Twainapalooza, Pt. 2



This Twainapalooza post takes place in the 1950s, beginning with this early shot of the Twain. Most likely 1955...perhaps even before the park was open. Wonder what the D.L. Kissell Refrigeration Company was doing here?



1956:



I can't read the sign board; perhaps for the Indian Village?



A great shot of the dock, also from 1956:



A closer look at the guests, most wearing matching red sweaters:



Two shots from March 1956:





Two undated shots:





How about this gorgeous night shot from 1956?



Even in closeup it's a beauty!



May 1956:



Tom Sawyer Island appears to still be under construction; it opened one month later.



October 27, 1956 yielded the next three:







Is that an engineer or just a nosey guest?



More shots of everyone's favorite riverboat at my main website.

5 comments:

Chuck said...

Oh, wow - lots of goodness here!

The night shots are simply spectacular, and the woman in the yellow dress in the Oct 27th, 1956 photo looks so happy. And why shouldn't she be - she's at Disneyland!

Looks like a passenger raft is being used to ferry logs over to Tom Sawyer Island in the construction photo. Note that the safety rails haven't been installed on the raft yet, probably to facilitate easier loading and unloading of construction materials.

outsidetheberm said...

Dave, I believe that's the 'Mike Fink's Landing' sign. Rare view!

swafun said...

I'd bet, dollars to donuts, the refrigeration company was there for the Mint Julips once served aboard the Mark Twain. They would have to have had some form of refrigeration if that's the case.

Unknown said...

Twainapalooza indeed! Since no one has mentioned it I have to ask: what the heck are those chairs doing up on the texas behind the pilothouse in the first shot? They're not the chairs used an the foredeck and elsewhere, and they sure don't look like something construction workers would have brought up to employ during their lunch breaks. I'm imagining Walt and some sponsors up there enjoying the views of the growing Park. That's all predicated on the shot being taken before opening day, of course. If they were up there afterwards, well I WANT TO SIT THERE!

swafun said...

I'd bet, dollars to donuts, the refrigeration company was there for the Mint Julips once served aboard the Mark Twain. They would have to have had some form of refrigeration if that's the case.