July 1955 in 3D, Pt. 2

Welcome back to these July 1955 3D images showing Fantasyland. The Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship Restaurant was still under construction after the opening of Disneyland. Look at those workers toiling away while Guests go casually about their business!



My genuine FauxD© process makes you feel like you are standing right there!



Note the early Tournament Festival style façades of the Fantasyland Dark Rides. Mr. Toad can be seen in the background. On the far right it looks like a tot in a stroller is in imminent danger of a time-out!



A nice juicy closeup of Dumbo!



At this stage, the ears were still on hinges and they were able to flap. Well, sometimes at least. That was the theory.



Storybook Land was but a dream at this point; the banks were nothing but mud.



An overview of Fantsyland for the final shot today, featuring King Arthur Carrousel and the Snow White dark ride.



Still a few more to come!

See more vintage and contemporary Disneyland photos at my main website.

Temple Tuesday: Heidi Set Design

In my collection I have a number of photos documenting the sets for Shirley Temple’s 1937 classic film, “Heidi.” Directed by Allan Dwan, the art direction was by Hans Peters and set decorations were by Thomas Little. The first photo shows Delmar Watson, Marcia Mae Jones, Shirley, and frequent Temple co-star Helen Westley. In this movie her role was Blinda Anna. Set #11 was her home:



Zooming in you can see the shadow of a worker:



…and the set lights:



Set #26 was the interior of Anna’s home:



Only one scene made it into the final film showing this interior. Here, Blind Anna explains to the new Pastor (Thomas Beck) why Heidi’s Grandfather became a recluse.



Set #99 shows the train station at Mayenfeld:



A lot of time and money went into the planning and creation of these sets, and yet many were only viewed for a few seconds. This is about all that we see of the station as Heidi’s wicked Aunt hustles her off to Frankfurt:





Set #112 shows the village of Frankfurt:



Two detail shots:





Set #113 also shows Frankfurt, but mainly the Marionette Theater that Heidi and Klara attend on Christmas evening:



A closeup of the entrance:



Because of the long exposure we have a blurred worker in this detailed view. Note the unidentified woman and what appears to be at least two other pairs of legs adorned in stylish shoes.



Heidi’s Grandfather (Jean Hersholt) waits outside the theater for her to exit after the show:



Unfortunately, she is too short to see him.



Set #128 is the interior of the theater; MANY thanks to Melissa (aka “The Colonel”) for sharing this still with me!



...which is only visible for a few seconds as the children are leaving the show.



On a side-note; all three of the costumes Shirley wears that are shown here still exist!







I hope you enjoyed this brief behind-the-scenes post!

See more Shirley Temple photos at my main website.

July 1955 in 3D, Pt. 1

This set of 3D images may or may not be from opening day, July 18, 1955. In order not to be crucified by the nitpickers who overlook the coolness and decide to focus on the veracity of the date, let's just say they’re from July 1955, okurrrrr? These photos are presented in genuine FauxD©.

The camera on top of the temporary tower would let us know that these shots are either from that historical PUBLIC opening day of July 18 or shortly thereafter. And how about those vintage cars in the Parking Lot?



The Colorado Rockies Passenger Car awaits you at the Main Street Train Station:



This barren landscape is the entrance to Frontierland, complete with tree stumps. Sleeping Beauty Castle is quite a contrast!



The crane in the background is most likely part of the Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship construction which was still going on when the Park opened.



A nice closeup of the Castle:



…and a detail shot of the onlookers on the drawbridge. Check out that tiny stroller! How did people get by without the huge monstrosities that they bring to the Park now?



More to come from this amazing set!

See more vintage and contemporary Disneyland photos at my main website.

TGIF-rontierland

Just because...a medley of previously posted Frontierland shots that were intended to get us to that 5 o’clock weekend bell...but as usual, I was running behind yesterday morning. All are from March 8, 1956.

Zooming in for a closeup of the Miniature Horse Corral sign:



And an early drinking fountain:



I wonder if trading was actually done at the Trading Post?





I love the way the lamp shadow was caught in this photo of the Assay Office exterior:



For those who want to weave a reproduction of the blanket, here’s a closeup:



In a pure case of nepotism, Walt put his father-in-law’s name as the Sheriff on the signage in Frontierland:



Sorry; no Pack Mules today!



Care to buy a trick rope?



I wonder who painted the art on this sign? Painted...as in brush and paint. Yes. It used to happen.



See more vintage Disneyland Frontierland photos at my main website.

Judy Garland and the Wilshire Ebell

On a recent trip to LA I discovered the Wilshire Ebell Theatre on Wilshire (naturally!) Boulevard. In continuous operation since 1927, the Wilshire Ebell Theatre (originally called the Windsor Square Playhouse) opened with the west coast premiere of Sigmund Romberg’s successful Broadway operetta “The Desert Song.”



At some point I'd love to go back and explore the inside, as I’m sure the interior is even more interesting than the outside!



...and I HAVE to get a nighttime shot of the signage!



At the Judy Garland News website I discovered that Judy Garland and her sisters, Mary Jane and Virginia, appeared here on December 8, 1934.



According to legend, this is the appearance that MGM director George Sidney saw Judy and got her a screen test at MGM.



W.E. Oliver of the “Los Angeles Evening Express” raved about Judy’s performance:

12 Year Old Girl Is Sensation At Frolics

“Little Frances…sang in a way that produced in the audience sensations that haven’t been equaled in years. Not your smart, adult-aping prodigy is this girl, but a youngster who had the divine instinct to be herself on stage, along with a talent for singing, a trick of rocking the spectators with rhythms, and a capacity for putting emotion into her performance that suggests what Bernhardt must have been at her age. It isn’t the cloying, heavy sentiment her elders so often strive for, but simple, sincere feeling that reaches the heart. The three girls together are an act anyone would want to see. Frances alone is a sensation, and last Saturday’s audience realized it by the way they encored. Much of her individual style of singing was culled by the little girl from her parent’s old act, although she must have the divine spark to be able to sing as she did…she would make any show.”

See more Wilshire Boulevard photos at my main website.