“A” is for Adventureland

When you have no idea what to post, this is what you do. Vintage Disneyland by the alphabet. This random assortment begins with a July 18, 1955 shot of Adventureland showing Casa de Huespedes (which stands for “guesthouse”) in the background.



My most recent corresponding shot is from 2011 (yikes!); it appears the thatched roof took up too much space and was eliminated at some point.



In March 1958, the Disneyland Bandstand had been moved from Main Street to Adventureland (approximately where Indiana Jones now resides).



One of the many events held there was this Ken-L-Ration dog show with Sergeant Preston of the Yukon.



An earlier shot of the Bandstand sans landscaping.



I wonder if this guest took the opportunity to serenade with a song while enjoying the Bandstand all to herself?



Adventureland was full of Tiki sculptures, as evidenced by this May 1961 photo:



Have to zoom in for this one to get a closer look at the base, which was sculpted to look like a palm tree trunk.



This tired and tatted gent proudly displays a brochure and ticket book in his pocket.



I’d show you what the 1961 brochure looks like, but then I’d be encroaching on the “Bs.”

See more Disneyland Adventureland photos at my main website.

1950’s B&W Details: Adventureland Gate

This photo is so perfect it almost seems like a setup shot for the set of a movie; the type of shot used for continuity or record keeping. Barely a soul to be found...nor a Tiki Bird to be heard. Like the others, this one is most likely from the initial years of Disneyland.

Here’s a color shot from a similar vantage point from July 18, 1955 also showing the Casa de Huespedes (guest house/boarding house):



A few fun closeups of the lettering on the building and signage:





I’d never noticed before the cattle-head detail visible in this detailed view:



It appears that the skulls had either been temporarily removed or not installed yet:



Today, with how the landscaping has grown in and the addition of the Tiki Room, it is next to impossible to get a similar shot. This is about as good as it gets:



See more Disneyland Adventureland photos at my website.