Fantasyland Friday: Storybook Land Changes

Storybook Land, like other attractions at Disneyland, has seen a number of changes over the years since it first opened in 1956. One such change included the move of Toad Hall so that Agrabah could be added to the attraction. This 1950s image shows the original location of Toad Hall:



Look at all that movement! Casey Jr. circles Storybook Land while the Canal Boats journey through the water. Two different views of the same attraction; a photographer’s dream!



Flash forward to the addition of the Aladdin tableau where Toad Hall once lived, showing the bustling city of Agrabah. In Storybook Land, you will not see any bustle, as it is purely architecture and landscaping; no people or characters. You have to use your imagination!



Fortunately, Toad Hall was spared and put in another area of the attraction. See the Windmill in the lower portion of the frame? Keep that in your brain for a second.



Ratty’s house was also moved:



In October, the Disney Parks Blog excitedly announced the addition of a “Tangled” tableau to Storybook Land;

One of Disneyland’s original rides has reopened after an extended closure for refurbishment and the addition of a modern movie setting: Rapunzel’s tower from the 2010 film “Tangled.” The Storybook Land Canal Boats reopened on Friday, once again taking guests on a journey past the miniature villages of Disney classics like “Pinocchio,” “Alice in Wonderland” and “Cinderella.”

When making a change to Walt’s original Park, Disney Corporation typically tries to justify it by trotting out his famous quote, “Disneyland will never be completed…as long as there is imagination in the world.” If only true imagination was used in some of those changes! Some of the historic info the blog gives about the attraction includes these tidbits:

Walt long had a fascination with miniatures, which he collected for many years. His love of these petite creations was an inspiration for the creation of the attraction that would become the Storybook Land Canal Boats. The attraction reopened as Storybook Land Canal Boats in June 1956, inviting guests to tour a tiny wonderland of fantastical realms. Residences from some favorite stories were painstakingly recreated at 1:12 scale and surrounded by impressive works of horticulture. Today, tours through the peaceful waters are narrated by expert cast member guides who point out landmarks from some favorite Disney stories, like the castle from Cinderella perched high on the hill and the humble workshop where Geppetto carves his wooden masterpieces. Over the years, the attraction has evolved to introduce iconic scenes and sounds from Disney Animation stories such as Aladdin, The Little Mermaid, and Frozen. On the opening day of Disneyland 70 years ago in 1955, Canal Boats of the World debuted as a serene boat ride. The attraction underwent a transformation months later to bring beloved, small-scale fairytales to life along the banks.

What they failed to mention is that in order to make room for “Tangled,” they removed the Windmills from “The Old Mill” (1937). If you want to honor the history of Disney, why would you rip out that significant scene?!? “The Old Mill” was one of the Silly Symphonies animated shorts produced by Walt Disney, and was the first use of his multiplane camera, which was instrumental in the look of “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”(1937), released a month later. Below is a shot of said camera on display at the Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco:





In 2015, The Old Mill joined the Three Little Pigs as a Silly Symphonies short selected by the United States Library of Congress for preservation in the National Film Registry as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.” Below are a poster for the short as well as concept art by Gustav Tenggren:



This May 2007 image shows a good overall view of the area where Toad Hall exists, along with Gepetto’s Village and the Three Windmills. Hopefully, you were able to enjoy them before they were removed!



Faded closeups of two of the windmills from 1969:





Was there not enough imagination to figure out how to keep this historically significant scene?
 
See more Disneyland Storybook Land photos at my main website.

The Hotel del Coronado: Reality vs. Set

The Hotel del Coronado in San Diego has proudly heralded its association with the 1959 Marilyn Monroe movie, “Some Like it Hot.” Many scenes were actually filmed at the hotel and the nearby beach. When Sweet Sue’s band arrives in Florida, the bus is actually dropping them off at the Hotel del. Above Marilyn is on the porch with Tony Curtis (in drag) and below, Jack Lemmon (also in drag) gets assistance from an older wealthy millionaire (Joe E. Brown):



The shot below is also from the entrance area to the del, circa 1959, with Tony & Marilyn.



You can try to match up the shots at the hotel today but it would be difficult as the building has gone under many renovations since the 1959 movie. This was how it looked under construction during its most recent remodel in 2021:



How the hotel looked in 1950, pre-Marilyn:



Compared to this 2021 remodel shot:



One brilliant comic bit between Lemmon, Curtis (doing his best Cary Grant imitation), and Marilyn was shot on the beach behind the hotel:



This trio of July 1962 gals were on the very same beach. Wonder if they realized they were standing exactly where Lemmon, Curtis, and Monroe had been?



Tony and Marilyn share a kiss on the steps of the hotel when he drops her off after their first date. In real like, Tony’s infamous quote about kissing Marilyn when asked how it was replied, “It’s like kissing Hitler.” Years later, he attempted to say he had no malice towards Marilyn, but was making a joke. Whether that was true or not, his remark fell flat.



Towards the end of the movie, Curtis and Lemmon attempt to escape the mob by running through the Hotel’s lobby, which was shot on a soundstage:



How the lobby looked in March 2008:



…and August 2012:



…and this year:



Have you been to the del?

See more “Some Like it Hot” photos at my main website.

Sonny's Pizza in University Heights

When I moved back to San Diego, I lived in the University Heights neighborhood for about a year. It’s still one of my favorite hoods around. I don’t spend as much time there now as I used to, and a lot has changed there since 1999. A number of high-rise mixed used buildings have sprung up, changing the quaint skyline, and some of my favorite haunts have been replaced by soul-less brewpubs. So…I was happily surprised on a recent visit when I saw this neon sign just off Park Boulevard (the main drag) on Madison. When did Sonny's Pizza go in?!? It wasn’t long before I checked it out for myself.



According to my sources, it is part of the Consortium Holdings collection (the group that renovated/runs the Lafayette Hotel). From the attention to detail and interesting art featured there, it doesn’t surprise me. Notice the TVs in the window, all playing vintage movies. The TVs are marked “Sonnys” instead of “Sony.” Brilliant.



While less than a year old, when you walk inside, the place feels as if it’s been in the neighborhood for decades. The design and decor are spot-on for an east coast pizza joint. Not a restaurant…a joint.



LOVE the high ceilings.



A bright orange pizza oven dominates the interior, along with the cool Swiss-chalet styled staircase up to the second level.



Unlike most of the Consortium Holdings ventures, this place has food that is worth going back for. Typically, their restaurants are high on the Instagram factor, but “meh” on the food offerings. The Pepp (as in Pepperoni) Rolls are a fave of mine.



The pizzas are good, but they also have other fare that I really enjoy, like the Tagliatelle Bolognese:



…and the Chicken Francese, a pan-fried cutlet in lemon-butter sauce.



Besides indoor dining, there is a vibrant outdoor patio:



 Reservations are suggested, even for a joint - especially on the weekends. My one caveat to this place would be the service - the staff is fairly friendly, but don’t go expecting the staff to go overboard for you. When you are seated, using the QR code on the table to order for yourself is suggested vs. ordering from the wait staff. Food is not brought out at the right time either; typically entrées arrive much earlier than the appetizer. The wait staff is hip, young, and don’t seem to really be concerned by what they SHOULD be doing. And yet…at this place it doesn’t bother me. It goes along with the east coast vibe. I highly recommend it!

See more University Heights neighborhood photos at my main website.