Sapphire Room at The De Soto

This March 1955 image shows the Hotel De Soto in Savannah, Georgia. Opening in 1890, it was a stunner! From the Historic Hotels of America website:

Called “The DeSoto,” it opened with 300 magnificently equipped guestrooms, as well as a swimming pool, a solarium, a barber, and a soda shop. The hotel even had a lighted miniature golf course! Architect William G. Preston oversaw its design, which featured a wonderful blend of Richardson Romanesque and Queen Anne-style architecture. Regarded as the pinnacle of his work, Preston’s unique design for The DeSoto made it one of the area’s most recognizable landmarks. Soon enough, many throughout the city began to refer to the building as the “Dowager Empress of the South” and became the center of all social life in Savannah.…Many illustrious guests began to arrive at The DeSoto, too, including Hollywood superstars, renowned musical entertainers, and powerful political leaders. Names like Katherine Hepburn, Gregory Peck, B.B. King, and Elvis Presley soon became synonymous with The DeSoto for the people of Savannah. Even U.S. Presidents—such as William McKinley, William Howard Taft, and Woodrow Wilson—stayed at the hotel at one point or another.



This detailed view shows a neon sign (if only the shot had been taken at night!!) for the Sapphire Room. Below is a vintage postcard showing the interior:



“A Southern Paradise.” Where do I get a ticket?



The type treatment on this vintage matchbook matches the neon sign:



I love how the matches are sapphire colored! Great coordination and attention to detail.



I also found this matchbook; a different logo for the nightclub, but not sure if it was earlier or later than the one previously shown. My guess would be earlier, as it looks a bit more Art Deco to me.



The hotel closed in 1965 and was completely remodeled. Here’s what they placed the original structure with.



Yuck. Apparently they salvaged pieces of terra cotta, some wrought iron details, a crystal chandelier, and a fountain featuring the head of a lion with water flowing out its mouth.



The lion looks sad. I don’t blame him. They should have the water flowing from his eyes.

See more Savannah, Georgia photos at my main website.

1950s Main Street: The Test Wall

This 1950’s shot of East Center Street at Disneyland shows a very interesting spot in the Park: the test wall. Zooming in, this little faux brick wall was apparently a test to see which type of brick would look best. It has also been suggested that this wall was not a test, but meant to be a transition into the never-constructed colonial area, “Liberty Street.”



This contemporary shot from 2008 shows the different types of “bricks” tested and also that this test lasted for quite some time. Anyone know if this wall still exists? On a Disneyland tour I took, I was told that Main Street was built with zero actual bricks; everything was done with paint as if it were a movie set.



This detailed view shows the window of Imagineer W. Dennis Cottrell as it originally looked:



…and how it looked in 2009 when I shot it:



W.H. Cottrell was the first president of the newly formed Walt Disney Imagineering when Disneyland opened. Better known as Bill or Uncle Bill, Cottrell headed the group from 1952-1964. Cottrell started as a camera operator for Walt Disney Studios. He directed the Evil Queen & Wicked Witch sequences in “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” and wrote for “Pinocchio,” “The Three Caballeros,” “Alice in Wonderland,” and “Peter Pan.” 

See more Disneyland Main Street, U.S.A. photos at my main website.

Steve Allen and Casey Jr.

More from Steve Allen's December 1957 trip to Disneyland. The accompanying publicity blurb for their spin around Fantasyland aboard Casey Jr. was as follows:

Steve Allen's three sons, eleven year-old Brian; Steve Jr., 13; and David, seven, leave Fantasyland for Frontierland during a recent visit to Disneyland.

I think the reporter was a little mixed up, or just not familiar with Casey's journey.

Apparently actress Donna Reed was also there that day.



I won't even try to connect the dots on that one.



Meanwhile, Happy St. Patrick's Day to all who celebrate, especially my friends in Savannah where they need a year-round headquarters for today's parade.



More photos and pop culture fun at my main website.

Vintage Town Square

Let's celebrate Disneyland's Town Square, circa 1950s. Our first image hails from 1956, and shows the back end of the Horse-Drawn Trolley. Detailed view shows a young girl wearing a Keppy Kap Hard Hat. Lucky!



This 1957 shot shows the announcement of Liberty Street.



Sadly, it was not to be. Sounds like a pie crust promise to me.



Same vantage point, March 1958, along with the same trickery.



Oh Liberty Street...if only.



Vesey Walker and the Disneyland Band would surely lift your spirits...if only we could hear them.



Finally, a different viewpoint. This one is from 1959:



One of each, please.



Last one today is a gloomy undated shot.



The Chemical Wagon was the most interesting thing to zoom in for. Ho hum.



More Disneyland Town Square photos at my main website.

Main Street, U.S.A.: Bringing Back The Fun

It has been rumored that the back of East Main Street will be developed and open to the public, functioning as an overflow path to help move foot traffic during peak times. Although not a new idea (it goes back to at least 1957, when Liberty Street came this close to becoming a reality), it's a great opportunity to re-think Main Street, U.S.A. and to restore a healthier balance that is not so heavily focused on retail.

Suggestion #1: Expand the Main Street Magic Shop.



Who doesn't love magic? Sure, the sleight of hand tricks that cast members currently do in the Magic Shop are fun, but why not expand the shop a bit and have a performance room, similar to the Magic Castle in Hollywood? Main Street could use more pizzazz, and what better way to perk it up by adding to the showmanship with some very talented magicians? How about forging a relationship (aka sponsorship) with The Magic Castle and allowing the Main Street location to be a testing ground for new magicians?



Suggestion #2: Revamp the Main Street Cinema.



The Orlando version has already been removed; it wouldn't surprise me if Anaheim's was eventually changed into a retail shop as well. Currently, Disneyland's Main Street Cinema is like a mini-multiplex, with a number of screens that show Mickey Mouse cartoons in black and white. There is no seating; instead, guests walk around or stand still, typically walking out only a few short minutes after their entrance. What to do? Restore it back into a real (albeit small) theater with seating that shows real silent movies (in shortened versions) like it originally did. At Halloween, they could show excerpts from silent horror classics like "Phantom of the Opera" or "The Hunchback of Notre Dame," and have cast members in costume as the characters from the film, just like they did back in the early years. Once again, a little showmanship that heightens the excitement of the guest experience.



In non-holiday periods, the park could show edited versions of the silent movies that inspired Walt in his early years to make "Peter Pan":





And "Snow White":



Cast members dressed as the Disney versions of those characters could hang out by the theater acting as barkers, enticing guests to see what inspired the Disney animated classics. By doing this, you would satisfy the old-school purists while creating a memorable experience for the young who would be introduced to something they may not be familiar with. Wasn't that what Disneyland was supposed to be about? Sharing experiences across the generations?

Suggestion #3: Bring back characters to the Market House



Although it's wonderful that the stove, checkerboard, and party-lines were retained in the conversion to a Starbucks location, Imagineers relegated these items into mere props. Why not bring back some Keystone Kops or create new characters that could challenge guests to a game of checkers? Have a sign-up sheet and let guests challenge their favorite Disney character to a short game.



Use the "barker" function to show guests what the party lines are for; why waste these cool items that can actually provide some entertainment value? If you're going to call the old Disneyana a book store, have a cast member in costume do storytelling in a corner, with appropriate Disney characters appearing at the proper time to bring those stories to life.



Suggestion #4: Ditch Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlour and expand Carnation Cafe into the space.



Put a soda fountain counter into the Gibson Girl space and train cast members to use some showmanship when creating frozen sundaes and concoctions for guests who are eating lunch/dinner in the Carnation Cafe. Those who have dined at Farrell's Ice Cream Parlours back in the day would be familiar with what I am talking about. Many a child (and adult) happily celebrated their birthday at a Farrell's location while drums, bells, and whistles heralded the happy occasion. Creative frozen treats (anyone remember The Pig's Trough?) would be whisked out to the table and employees would gather around and sing a tribute to the guest that was celebrating. It's all about energy, showmanship, fun, and tasty food. What a welcome addition to Main Street this could be. For guests who want ice cream on the go, add a quick serve window location on the new street that backs up to East Main Street, or restore the pickup window that once operated at the back of East Center Street.



Most cast members at the Carnation Cafe seem to give good service, but why not elevate it to a performance? Make the food fun by adding a little entertainment and bumping up the $$ amount of the checks by serving a dessert accompanied with a show!

Suggestion #5: Restore the Penny Arcade with a Shooting Gallery.



Time has not been kind to the Penny Arcade. The Candy Palace has encroached onto its real estate and invaded what was once a lively space. Shove the candy back over to the other side, restore the shooting gallery, and have cast members in costume challenging guests to try all of the vintage machines within. You can't expect today's average guest to know what half of the contraptions in there are for; do a little Disney showmanship and engage the guests!

Suggestion #6: Put a vintage costume and photo studio behind the Photo Supply Company.



Keep this area as a place for ordering and pickup of prints and convert the back area (that is now currently retail) into a photo studio where guests could pose with park-related backgrounds and dress in vintage costumes. Another experience you couldn't have anywhere else. On the plus side for the bean counters, it would still be an opportunity to make money!



Last one...

Suggestion #7: Put a Music/Home Media shop in The Disney Showcase Town Square location.



Take out the bland retail shop that currently inhabits this space and convert it into a Music Shop that offers vocal "lessons" and sells music and other home media. In a little sound booth, guests can pick Disney-related songs and have professional cast members give them vocal coaching before they get recorded. What guest wouldn't like to take home a CD of them singing with the Dapper Dans? Or a Disney Princess?

What ideas would you have to spice up Main Street, U.S.A.? Or do you like it just the way it is?

See more vintage & current Disneyland Main Street, U.S.A. photos on my Main Street web pages.

Disneyland Town Square, 1957

1957 was an interesting time for Disneyland; the park was poised for a great deal of change, which was already going on behind the scenes.



Some of that change never came to be, as can be witnessed by this photo of the Opera House.



Zooming in, you can see the Disneyland Construction lettering painted above this faux construction wall, heralding the Liberty Street project which was to have a Grand Opening in 1958. Liberty Street got derailed and never really surfaced again until Walt Disney World was built in Orlando.



Panning across to the right, you can see that there’s not much going on at the Opera House. It would be at least 8 more years before Mr. Lincoln moved in.



The black sheep of this set is a nice exterior view of the Golden Horseshoe.



Today the 1871 date is still visible, but Slue Foot Sue has been banished to nothing but a smokey-glassed window.





See more Disneyland Town Square photos at my main website.