2017: Leaving On A Jet Plane

Although not quite as hectic as last year, 2017 saw me get on and off a plane way too many times. I am plum tuckered out. Still, nothing like a little travel to open up your eyes and broaden your horizons with new experiences. Here's the Reader's Digest version of 2017. First up in February was Nashville, Tennessee for a Board of Director's meeting. Despite a ton-o-meetings I had a whirlwind tour of Music City that included the Ryman Auditorium and Union Hotel.



In March, a quick trip to Las Vegas introduced me to the Neon Museum Boneyard...



and the Cosmopolitan Hotel. What a view from my balcony!



One month later it was off to Greenville for a Design Conference I was chairing.



May found me back in Vegas for one night to shoot the wedding of my barber at the Little Church of the West.



What a blast!



I had a slight break until September, when I boarded a plane (again) for a whirlwind trip though Virginia including Richmond:



Colonial Williamsburg:



and Charlottesville:



One month later, another conference and Board of Director's meeting for UCDA took me to Baltimore:



with a detour to Philadelphia, the City of Brotherly Love, to see Mom:



November was fossil hunting in The Berkshires:



with a one day excursion to San Francisco in December:



None of this post documents the many additional trips to LA, Palm Springs, and other semi-local areas to which I had a number of fun photo shoots. So thankful for a week off to catch up on rest...and figure out where 2018 and will take me! Hard to believe, but not once did I set foot on a Disney property in the entire calendar year. Will that trend hold? Who knows.

See more Daveland photos at my main website.

Vintage Disneyland Railroad

A few vintage shots of the Disneyland Railroad today. I am going to hazard a guess that this first shot is from late 1955/early 1956, as it appears that some of the scenery is being staked out along the Rivers of America. Shouldn't they shut that door from the Combine Car while the train is in motion?!?



This early black and white image is probably from 1955; not much growing along the River yet.



A detailed view of some people standing along the banks while the E.P. Ripley rides by.



And a closeup of the Colorado Rockies Passenger Car:



From the same batch of negatives comes this shot of the C.K. Holliday:



A closeup of the cab; anyone able to identify these men?



Last one shows the Ripley again:



Loving that moose in the foreground!



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

Disneyland Aerial December 1963

Somebody flying in a plane back in December 1963 captured this aerial view of Disneyland. This is my kind of traveler! As you can see in detailed view #1, the Haunted Mansion exterior is pretty much done, whereas construction of New Orleans Square is just barely beginning.



Behind Town Square, it's obvious that neither Edison Square or International Street are going to happen! Nothing but backstage!



Tomorrowland is still the original 1955 design, with the addition of the Flying Saucer attraction. Three years later, it will be a whole "New" ballgame.



See more Disneyland aerial photos at my main website.

Disneyland Hotel and Monorail Lounge, August 1962

With it being the holidays, seems like the perfect time to stop by the Monorail Lounge at the Disneyland Hotel for a cocktail. Oops...it's not there anymore. Enjoy this August 1962 peak at the vintage signage.

See more vintage and current Disneyland Hotel photos at my main website.

Merry Christmas 2017!

For all those who celebrate, Merry Christmas! This is definitely my favorite photo from 2017, showcasing my little angel asleep at the Chateau. He and I have the same tastes!

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Vintage Crystal Arcade at Disneyland

Here's a collection of vintage images of the Crystal Arcade, located on the west side of Disneyland's Main Street, U.S.A. The first shot is from August 1955. What Daveeland post would be complete without a few detailed closeups?!? Certainly not this one! I am digging the art deco chairs inside the Crystal Arcade. Wonder what happened to them?



Next up is a dusk shot from the 1950s.



The Matterhorn image in the window makes me think this was probably around 1959.



June 1960:



Zooming in to see the merchandise and the stained glass of the Upjohn window at right:



August 1962:



So cute to see the back of the little boy just staring into the shop:



A semi-contemporary shot of the Crystal Arcade today:



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Temple Tuesday: Joan and Shirley

This 1938 publicity photo shows Joan Crawford on set with Shirley Temple during the filming of the title musical number from "Little Miss Broadway." Alternate shots show the reason for Joan's visit: she had brought Shirley a box of Austrian Chocolates. Years later, Shirley would describe Joan as "...a beautiful and incandescent person, picture-postcard perfect." The collage below is from the Love, Shirley Temple auction by Theriaults.



The back of the photo has the publicity blurb that Fox wanted released with the photo:

"Joan Crawford visits Shirley Temple on the set at Fox. Of course Joan really called on George Murphy and had lunch with him - but of course that was only a cute trick to get to meet Shirley."



Cute trick or not, Joan did seriously consider Shirley for the role of Veda in "Mildred Pierce." Oh how I wish that would have worked out!

See more Shirley photos at my main website.

Bewitched

When I take a sick day, I'll typically transform into a couch potato and watch reruns of Classic TV shows. My most recent bout with a cold had me watching "Bewitched," the 1960s sitcom about Samantha, a witch, who marries Darrin Stephens, a mortal man. The supporting cast was phenomenal; who could forget befuddled Aunt Clara (Marion Lorne) or the meddling mother-in-law Endora (Agnes Moorehead)?



The heart of the show was the two original leads played by Montgomery and York. You believed their love for each other which always triumphed over their differences. While it is seen as a situation comedy, "Bewitched" was very much a statement on equality and prejudice. Samantha may have been a witch, but you could very easily substitute any group that suffers from discrimination for her character and see how she successfully battles with kindness her detractors and always comes out on top. Sure, there are times that she seems subservient to her husband (you have to watch the show in the context of the times it was created), but there's never a doubt as to who truly runs the household: Samantha. Seen below the two leads are with Dick Wilson, who played a drunk in almost every sitcom of the 1960s, but is probably best known as Mr. Whipple.



By making the discriminated/minority group witches, "Bewitched" was able to do much more social commentary than they would have been allowed otherwise.

See more classic Movie & TV photos at my main website.

More Ice Cream for Nixon

Some of the mysteries were solved when I acquired this second batch of negatives of Vice President Richard Nixon and family at Disneyland from June 14, 1959 sharing an ice cream sundae at the Carnation Ice Cream Parlour on Main Street, U.S.A. This envelope gave the name of the waitress (Louise) and the two gentlemen in the back. At left is restaurant General Manager Mr. Knowles and standing next to him is Charles Cowling. I do not know any other information about these two (or charming Louise for that matter).



A closeup of the carnation on the menu cover:



I wonder what's in that toast from Mr. Knowles?



On the negative for this shot, the kids had an "X" through them; I guess the intention was to crop them out when the photo was published. I rectified the situation with a simple swipe of the cloth. Nixon's mother, Hannah, didn't make the frame. You can barely see the edge of her face at left.



See more Nixon at Disneyland photos at my main website.

Hump Day on Tom Sawyer Island

It's Wednesday, and you've hit hump day, that marvelous day when you're half-way through the work week and the weekend is quickly approaching! Here's an October 1959 view of the Tree House on Tom Sawyer Island at Disneyland. The next undated image is most likely from 1956/1957.



And this is how I know...Case de Fritos is still in its original location on New Orleans Street:



This black and white image of TSI yields a few interesting detail shots:



Some fishing action:



and the tent for Holidayland:



This December 1959 image shows guests waiting for a raft so that they can return to the "mainland":



A detailed view:



Hope you enjoy your Hump Day!

See more Disneyland Tom Sawyer Island photos at my main website.