Main Street Model Monday, Part 2

Faithful readers knew that at some point I’d get around to part 2, and here we go! This recently listed vintage image from ebay shows the model that was created for Disneyland’s Main Street, U.S.A. If you look closely at the original model, you can see that the original intention was to call the store below Crystal Palace. At some point before opening it was changed to Crystal Arcade.



The model also shows the building below as being a Sporting Goods Store; Coke stepped in at the right time with a sponsorship and won this coveted location…



where it still resides today. Could the Crystal Palace and Candy Palace co-existed peacefully on the same street? I guess we’ll never know.



Eagle-eyed readers will see the concept art for Storybook Land on the back wall…



and Peter Pan’s Flight…



and the Jungle Cruise.



See more Disneyland Main Street photos at my main website.

All In The Details, Pt. 2

One of the great advantages to having the original source material is that it allows you to zoom in on specific areas and look at some of those glorious details! In this September 1969 shot, we can see that the ticket booth is closed (what’s a guest to do?!?) and get a better look at the signage. “Purchase tickets here for Tomorrowland Adventures.” No ticket, no adventure.



The ho-hum Astro Jets attraction got a lift with the “New” Tomorrowland revamp in 1967…literally. Here the newly christened Rocket Jets attraction sits high atop the PeopleMover platform.



Here’s a somewhat run-of-the-mill Main Street shot from 1957 with the Omnibus lumbering towards Central Plaza.



Zooming in, we can see that the photographer captured the sign for the former Hollywood Maxwell’s Intimate Apparel shop all covered up, waiting for the new sign that would say, “China Closet.”



Over in Fantasyland, on the Peter Pan’s Flight attraction, we see Peter flying the Darling children back to London.



In the lower portion of the image you can see the Crew List book:



Walt Disney himself gave these lucky kids a tour of Frontierland before the actual opening of the Park.



Looks like Mickey Mouse was included as well.



See more Disneyland photos at my main website.

Trip to Disneyland, May 1964

This collection of images was shot May 1964, the month and year I entered this Universe. In the background are three military men; one is smoking a cigarette, visible in this closeup (along with the little boy falling asleep while he drinks his coke!):



It looks like the family was having lunch at the Red Wagon Inn, now known as the Plaza Inn. A Reuben with mustard?



The adorable little girl is getting her Vitamin D with a nice carton of Carnation milk.



Care to see the pasteurization offices and plants? Of course you do.



Mama takes baby girl for a spin on King Arthur’s Carrousel:



Here’s the original mock-up for the proposed color scheme for this horse from 1955:



How it looked circa 2012:



Back to May 1964, the little boys are ready for a flight to Neverland:



A closeup of the bored operator, the two little devil boys in red, and the control panel. I wonder what the “G” on the hats stood for?



A spin around Fantasyland on the Midget Autopia:



Let’s take a closer look at the vehicle:



The Swiss Family Robinson treehouse wasn’t quite two years old when these images were taken:







The last shot of the bunch is the saddest of all; time to board the Tram to head home. Until next time!



See more photos at my main website.

Hump Day at "New" Fantasyland

The attractions at Disneyland’s original Fantasyland area had Tournament Festival “Tent” façades. This was much cheaper than the original idea of Tudor façades. Here is the original Peter Pan attraction as it looked in the 1950’s. Note the mother covering up her son’s face; the little tyke was probably scared to fly through the dark ride, as many still are. 



In getting this post ready, I noticed this little design element on top of the attraction building. At first I wasn’t sure if it was a microphone, a mechanical bird, or…?



The Snow White façade from 1968:



…which also had the same doohickey on top. It seems like it was tacked on as an afterthought.



In 1982, Disneyland did a scrape and burn of the original Fantasyland, rebuilding everything with the original Tudor façade concept. Here is the area in the midst of construction, as workers feverishly attempt to finish in time for the grand re-opening, May 25, 1983.



Just in case you wondered what brand of paint was used:



Painting the new windows: 



Here are some of the black and white publicity stills that the Disney Corporation sent out in advance of the grand opening, with this one showing the “new” Snow White attraction exterior:



Oops…they weren’t quite camera ready.



The Peter Pan Tudor façade:



A shot of the little kiddies being let loose into the revamped land:



Who let this clown in?!?



See more Disneyland Fantasyland photos at my main website.

Monday with Mansfield

With my latest Jayne Mansfield at Disneyland in 1957 acquisition, I can now put together a fairly comprehensive pictorial representation of her tour of Fantasyland. Here she is with her daughter in front of the Sleeping Beauty Castle; note that the crest is still not on the Castle at this point. Husband Mickey Hargitay is on the left side of the shot in a dark suit. I love the expressions of the other guests as they see this bonafide movie star strolling right by them.



Perhaps next she went to the Carrousel, which was directly on the other side of the Castle:



…followed by a spin on the teacups:



A flight over Fantasyland via Dumbo. Note the hinged ears:
 


Some “adult” time on the dark rides with husband Mickey, first at Peter Pan:



…followed by Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride:



Will there be more Mansfield in the future? Only time will tell!

See more celebrities at Disneyland photos at my main website.