Let’s travel back in time with this assortment of vintage images showing Christmas at Disneyland through the years, beginning with this December 26, 1955 image. It almost boggles my mind to see the simple decorations that initially hung on Main Street. In this December 1956 image, we see the area that is now Indiana Jones Adventure. Once known as Magnolia Park, it had a bandstand in the center that featured the Christmas Bowl show, which eventually morphed into the Candlelight Celebration.
Dancers, musicians, and a choir were all part of the show:
The Y’s Men was the name of the band; get it?
This family shot inside the INA Carefree Corner from December 1959 looks anything but carefree.
Three lovely carolers in the Park, from December 1960, are standing near Aunt Jemima’s Pancake House:
The legendary Matterhorn Christmas Star, as seen in December 1961:
This December 1969 Town Square shot has me perplexed; the area where the white Christmas tree is located appears to be backstage. Was it moved out into the Park after it was decorated?
These ornaments aren’t going to hang themselves!
From my first visit to Disneyland on December 27, 1970, my oldest brother’s photo shows the Sleeping Beauty Castle decorated for the season:
I’m on the right, sitting in front of the Castle with my Grandmother and my cousins, wearing those damn “corrective” shoes which didn’t correct a damn thing. Just made me look goofy.
The white Christmas tree in the background has a few barely visible ornaments hung on it:
Since the 80s are now vintage (yikes!), here’s one of the Castle from December 1980:
Merry Christmas to all who celebrate!
See more Disneyland at Christmas photos at my main website.
6 comments:
Merry Christmas everyone! Dave, your posts are a a true gift given all year long. Thank you for sharing them with us. Wishing everyone a happy and prosperous 2025.
These are fantastic! They really capture the heart warming feel that could only be Disneyland at Christmas. Thanks so much!
I looked through the pics before reading the text and immediately recognized you in the 3rd-to-last photo. The decorations may seem simple compared to today, but even back then that was a huge effort consistent with any town's main street, or better. ( Heh, Y's men.... )
Thanks, Dave, for these wonderful Christmas images. I especially love the Matterhorn star, and the picture of you with some of your family.
Merry Christmas one and all!
"Was it moved out into the Park after it was decorated?"
Indeed, it was. In the 'darkness of night' it was moved into its place of honor in Town Square.
As Fifthrider has expressed - those "simple" decorations are 'just right' then - as they would be today, in spite of what many so-called decorating "experts" seen on-the-loose these times might say. To the contrary: Too much really IS too much. Good taste knows no bounds.
Thanks Dave, for reminding us how 'perfect' Disneyland can be.
(That was me, above).
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