Happy Friday! This image of Disneyland’s Main Street, U.S.A. is most likely July/August 1955. The Ruggles Glass Shop AND Hollywood Maxwell’s Intimate Apparel (aka “The Wizard of Bras”) along with the patriotic bunting help clarify the time period. The poor White Wing at right has a full shovel, and he obviously needs to make another trip to pick up the remaining piles of horse poo from the horse-drawn streetcar. Zooming in to the front of those two shops also reveals a young man with his shirt completely unbuttoned. This is a bit of slobbery you would not typically see at Disneyland circa 1955!
At the Main Street Cinema, Gloria Swanson is on the marquee.
Shifting gears, I was saddened beyond belief to see the recent KTLA news article on the DCA Red Car Trolley on Buena Vista Street:
The Red Car Trolley attraction at Disney California Adventure will be discontinued in early 2025 due to an expansion of the Avengers Campus. Due to the anticipated construction, some backstage locations in the area will be impacted, including the backstage Red Car Trolley barn. “We will discontinue operation of the attraction in early 2025 and will share a specific date later this winter.” Disneyland officials told KTLA.
The Red Car was one of the most exciting additions to the Buena Vista Street project that opened in the summer of 2012. It added a sense of motion and purpose to DCA that was previously missing. Guests could take the journey on the Red Car from the DCA entrance all the way to the Tower of Terror attraction.
From the Disneyland website when they originally debuted:
Roll down Buena Vista Street and Hollywood Land from inside a vintage street car on the Red Car Trolley. Watch as the fabulous sights and sounds of Disney California Adventure Park pass by as you sit back and relax in stylish comfort. It's a whole new way to experience the park!
Stops: The Red Car Trolley offers 4 convenient stops. You can board or disembark at any of the following locations: • Buena Vista Street near the Main Entrance • Carthay Circle across from Carthay Circle Theatre • Hollywood Boulevard near the Disney Animation building • Sunset Boulevard next to The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror The Cars: Inspired by the Pacific Electric Railway trolleys from the 1920's, the 2 cars are slightly different, including paint schemes that reflect different eras. Similar to the original "Hollywood Car" trolleys, the new cars are entirely powered by electricity and are emissions-free vehicles. However, unlike the original trolleys, the Red Car Trolley vehicles run via batteries. The overhead wires are just for show!
Be sure to check out the amazing details both outside and inside — there are even retro-styled advertisements for the businesses on Buena Vista Street. History: A vast network of electrical trolleys operated in Southern California from 1887 until 1961. By 1925, the Pacific Electric Railway was built by tycoon Henry Huntington into one of the largest electrical railways anywhere in the world with over 1,000 miles of active track. This incredible transportation network gave way to the automobile, but electrical trolleys are back and rolling down the street once again at Disney California Adventure Park!
Disney has yet to reveal their fate; I guess they could pop up someplace else, but nothing has been stated yet.
Am I surprised about this? Not really. Once the Tower of Terror became Guardians of the Galaxy and was removed from the 1920s/30s Buena Vista theme, I realized that any hope of Hollywoodland being revitalized and expanded was gone.
Just one less reason for me to return to DCA, as the Avengers are of zero interest to me. The Disney Corporation moves closer to a demographic that I no longer relate to.
UPDATE: Thanks to reader Bryan for sharing this excellent video with me. Former Disney Imagineer makes an extremely compelling case of why The Red Car Trolley needs to be saved. Unfortunately, it does come down to money, care, and creativity, so I have little faith that the Disney Corporation will take action on his plea.
See more Disney California Adventure photos at my main website.
10 comments:
Maybe our hirsute-chested friend was feeling a bit 'naughty' after walking past the Hollywood Maxwell’s Intimate Apparel shop. That is truly out of place for the 1950's at Disneyland - or just about anywhere else in public, besides the beach.
Sad indeed, to hear about the upcoming disappearance of the Red Car Trolley. Thanks, Dave, for your photo-documentation of that swell look back at the past - your images will now need to stand-in for Disney's re-creation in the future.
Nanook - I wonder what Walt would have said if he'd seen this guy?
Walt: "Someone get that damned hippie out of my park! ....wait, is that Roland? No, never mind. Get that damn hippie out of here."
One of my friends from the Jurassic Park Motor Pool has been a Disney CM for about 30 years now. His assignment for the last few years was the Red Car Trolley. He was truly in his element. I haven't heard his thoughts on it but I'm sure it's not good. I tried to make an argument for it online but wasn't as succinct as you. I prefer your verbiage better, about a sense of motion and purpose. I tried explaining that even if empty, it was the same kinetic energy the People Mover brought to the entrance of a 1967 Tomorrowland. Like you, I had hoped they would lean into the 20's/30's theme more. Less "Toon" and more "Town". The moment Disney bought Marvel I recall my first thought being "great, one more massive IP to shoehorn into the park" and boy was I right. It fits nowhere. Open a Marvel Park or something.
Man, as someone who saw DCA being built from the ground up while my Wife and I were dating, this is just another sad nail in the coffin of the once incredibly unique theme park. Agreed, leadership at Disney is literally bastardizing everything they gobble up and purchase ie: Star Wars, Marvel, and now apparently the theme parks.
The only thing this does is attract more blue and pink haired weirdo's clamoring for more and more comic and anime garbage, which I guess is their aim these days. Really sad to see, shocked they haven't renamed the park yet, I'm sure it's coming as anything "California" is sadly missing at this point pretty much. Can't wait to hear the laughable name they choose.
I'm with Brian, 100%.
I might add that DCA is mirroring the sad state of California these days.
They absolutely are, I got out of there 2 years ago and moved the family 2200 miles east!
Sad but true for sure...😔
You’re not alone in stating this company is moving away from a demographic you no longer relate to. Some will say it’s my age, but my wisdom thinks they are discarding timeless thematic attractions for the trendy, popular flavors of the day with limited life spans. Universal Studios always seemed dated to me, with attractions based on last year’s movies while Disneyland was magical and transported you to another time and place. Similar to the end of the trolleys, the removal of the Rivers of America from WDW’s Magic Kingdom is the nail in the coffin for me.
You captured it, MB! Very well stated.
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