Sunday is for Pancakes!

As a child, Sundays were my favorite day when it came to breakfast. Mom always made pancakes (sometimes she would do waffles or French toast for variety). As you can see by the look on my face, I was pretty happy with the pancakes!

At Disneyland, in 1957 they held their first Western National Pancake race. Look at #3 giving it her all as she is about to cross the finish line!



The background on this event can be found at the Seattle Times online:

Women in matching checkered aprons, headscarves and a rainbow of running shoes limbered up Tuesday as they prepared for the centuries-old pancake race in this English country town. At the word “Go” they sprinted through the streets, trying not to drop their pancakes as they roughly traced the path taken by a harried housewife in 1445, who legend has it heard the church bells signaling the Shrove Tuesday service and raced off with her skillet. The tradition has been repeated over the centuries — not only in Olney but across England and even in the United States, where the Kansas town of Liberal copied the idea and has been trying to outrun their friendly British rivals for 75 years. The race is held the day before the start of Lent, the Christian period of repentance and sacrifice before Easter. Celebrated as Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday in other parts of the world, the name Shrove Tuesday derives from the English word meaning to seek forgiveness or be granted absolution. Runners must flip the pancake at the start and finish. The 415-yard (380-meter) sprint itself may be a form of penance ahead of Lent.

Because Disneyland had an Aunt Jemima’s Kitchen restaurant, naturally Aunt Jemima participated in the parade/event herself:



This image from November 1962 shows Aunt Jemima leading the parade with Minnie and Mickey Mouse:



In the back you can see two of the Three Little pigs with a sign behind them:



Pluto is carrying the sign announcing the 6th annual Western National Pancake Races with Goofy lagging behind. Unfortunately, I do not have any shots of the actual race from 1962.



At Disneyland, Riverbelle Terrace (the former Aunt Jemima’s) was the usual place to get pancakes when at the Park:



For a more upscale experience, you could have these at Steakhouse 55:



For variety, Storytellers Cafe provided Mickey waffles:



It looks like Pluto liked waffles as much as I did!



Is your griddle out now?

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

Is That All There Is? DCA 23rd Anniversary

I had the opportunity to visit Disney California Adventure on May 18, 2001, just a few months after it opened (hard to believe it’s been 23 years!). I was part of a behind-the-scenes tour of all the dining facilities that were part of the Disneyland Resort second gate. One of the dining managers in my department was friends with Mary Nivens, who was Senior VP at the Disneyland Resort at the time, thus our tour. What did I think about DCA? As soon as the tour was over, I went home. I didn’t ride a single attraction nor did I take any photos. If you know me, that speaks volumes. I kept thinking of the Peggy Lee song, “Is That All There Is?”

It wasn’t until April 2002 that I returned with camera in hand and began to document the second gate. True to Walt’s quote about change, none of what you see in these photos remains at DCA today. Below, you can see the stationary California Zephyr, on of my favorite aspects (designwise) of the new Park.



Because of their ownership by Disney, there was significant cross-promotion going on for ABC programs, especially the soap operas.



One of the restaurants at DCA was titled, “Soap Opera Bistro,” featuring themed dining areas based on the sets from your favorite ABC soap operas.



These tile murals at the entrance were gorgeous.



An overhead view showing the first incarnation of Paradise Pier, before Pixar took over.



These imposing elephants at the Hollywood Pictures Backlot were an homage to the ones used in D.W. Griffith’s silent epic, “Intolerance” (1916).



Whoopi Goldberg in DCA? That’s right. Where the Little Mermaid attraction now resides, guests once entered a theatre to watch a film entitled “Golden Dreams,” starring Whoopi as Calafia, the Queen of California. She lost her thrown when the theater was torn down for Ariel in July 2009.



Was there ever a need for Fastpass for It’s Tough To Be A Bug!?!



Over at the Hyperion Theatre, a Reader’s Digest version of the Broadway show Blast! was playing.



In 2004, I returned for my birthday and posed with Minnie in the Condor Flats area.



The Tower of Terror was the first big draw to be added to the Park in 2004, followed by Monsters, Inc. This aerial view is from August 2006.



In other news, I just realized that DCA, James Dean, and Lana Turner also share the same “birthday.”





See more Disney California Adventure photos at my main website.

Temple Tuesday: Shirley, Dickie, and Disney

At the time this August 1933 photo was taken, Dickie Moore was a much bigger child star than Shirley. He’d already made movies with some of the greats: Spencer Tracy, Marlene Dietrich, and Barbara Stanwyck. He did a one year stint with “Our Gang” in 1933 and then portrayed the title role in “Oliver Twist.” The publicity blurb on this charming still says:

“Dickie Moore, cunning child motion picture actor, and adorable Shirley Temple, child actress, are, respectively, manager and director of the Mickey Mouse Puppet show now playing to capacity crowds in the Hollywood Assistance League nursery. The crew is pictured playing Mickey and Minnie with cookies and tea back-stage between acts of the show. Photo shows Dickie Moore and little Shirley Temple, serving tea to Mickey and Minnie Mouse back-stage at the puppet show the youngsters are giving at the Hollywood Assistance League, leading charitable organization.”

The Assistance League was established in 1919 by Anne Banning and Ada Edwards Laughlin. Recognize the Laughlin name? She was the daughter-in-law of Homer Laughlin, whose art deco dishes fill my cabinets! But that’s another story. The first Assistance League raised money for Day Nursery, Girl’s Club, and other philanthropic programs. Many Hollywood celebrities participated in the league’s charitable events, including Jean Harlow. Shirley’s own involvement ran much longer than just this publicity shot opportunity; according to a San Diego Union-Tribune article published shortly after Shirley’s death:

“She was delightful,” recalled Marilyn Knowlden. That was 80 years ago when both had been cast in the 1934 film, “As the Earth Turns.” In the end, a schedule conflict prevented Temple from doing the movie, but they acted together four years later in the film, “Just Around the Corner.” She admired and respected her fellow actress. “Shirley was very intelligent and very committed to acting,” Knowlden recalled. “She worked hard. She always knew her lines. Plus, she was a very skilled dancer and always sang on pitch.” The last time Knowlden ran into Temple, she had transformed into Mrs. Charles Black and was working behind the sales counter in an Assistance League gift shop in the couple’s hometown of Atherton as a volunteer — another of Shirley’s passions.

Back to Dickie, Minnie, and Minnie! As fate would have it, I found one of the Mickey Mouse marionettes pictured with Shirley and Dickie online.





The torn paper tag on the bottom of Mickey’s foot says: “Manufactured for Bullocks Wilshire by license arrangement with Walter E. Disney, creator of Mickey Mouse.” Bullocks was a luxury department store located on Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles and was the flagship of the Bullock’s store chain. In 1933, Bullock's commissioned the Hestwood Marionette Studio of Glendale, California and Henri Gordon to create marionettes featuring Disney characters, such as the Mickey & Minnie pictured above. They were made of composition, wood, and cloth: the ears felt and Minnie’s hat was velvet. They were approximately 12" tall.



Nine years later, the careers of both Dickie and Shirley were on the skids. They were teamed together for “Miss Annie Rooney,” where Shirley received her first screen kiss.



Barely a chaste peck on the cheek, it received worldwide press attention.

See more Shirley photos at my main website.

Lurking in the Bushes, July 1960

It’s time to show off my newest acquisition in the Scary Mickey/Minnie collection. Yes, these two lurking in the bushes by the Main Street Train Station at Disneyland would scare the s$%t out of most people. Especially Minnie, with her hands wrapped around the railing and her nose perched on top of it.



In case you crave more (you know you do, dahling!), here’s Mickey circa March 1960:



Undated in the 1960’s. He’s sucking the life out of this guest while tightly holding her hand.



Still, not quite as scary as Mickey and Minnie from January 1959.



Hope you enjoyed this morning’s blog post. More of a jolt than a cup of java!

See more vintage Disneyland Railroad Main Street Train Station photos at my main website.

Freaky Friday: Scary Mice

These poor unsuspecting elderly folk from March 1960; it's bad enough that Scary Mickey is posing with them, but even Scarier Minnie is creeping up behind them. Seriously; who designed this batch of costumes?!?

More Disneyland costumed characters at my main website.

Just when you thought it was safe...

Yes folks, it's the return of SCARY Mickey and Minnie Mouse! Three new vintage shots to add to my collection, beginning with one of Mickey and Minnie from January 1959, hanging out in Fantasyland. The little girl in front looks like she's about to lose it. I think I would, too.

Even though this second image is from the 1960s, I think this particular iteration of the mouse costume might even be scarier. Instead of soft furry faces, you now have giant hard ones.



In this August 1961 shot, Minnie looks a bit more approachable; could it be the parasol?



More vintage and current Disneyland character photos at my main website and see more photos of the Monorail at Disneyland.

Gone Fishing

I have added a "new" vintage cutout to my collection. Located near the Plaza Inn during the 1950s, guests of Disneyland could poke their heads through the holes and create their own photographic souvenirs. Here are some of the other previously posted ones that guests could choose from:











More Central Plaza images at my main website.

Christmas at The Club Pt. 2

Now that we've enjoyed our beverages in the Jazz Lounge, it's time to mosey on over to Le (aka "the") Grand Salon Restaurant at Club 33. You just can't beat being greeted by these two. Are these pants too subtle for the season?



The vulture that once graced the Trophy Room is now out in the lobby:



The hallway leading to the Grand Salon:



This feller has been moved around a bit as well:



That face looks like someone who has eaten too many turkey legs at the Park.



An elegant place setting:



We were fortunate to have the Carolers follow us over:



Now we were able to get the inside view of this wreath that we had spotted outside from down below in New Orleans Square:



The peacock Christmas tree:



Festive garland:



The five course meal was delicious:





I also have to give kudos to the staff, who had definitely stepped up their game since my last visit to the Club in May.



No Daveland Club 33 post would be complete without a few shots of the Men's Room.



My subtle pants photobombed this one:





It was a beautiful evening, and I felt so fortunate to have been able to experience it during the Christmas season.



More Club 33 version 2.0 photos at my main website.