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.

The Purple Trash Can

Although it doesn’t show the Fantasia mural, I still yelped when I saw this interior shot of the Welch’s Juice Bar in Fantasyland from March 1965. Pluto poses with these two chaps (Doug on the left, can’t read the name on the hat for the boy on the right) who can’t wait to have a 15¢ Welch’s Frozen Grape Bar! Note the themed purple bullet-style trash cans on the right and the left. I’m assuming the “W” visible on the left can is for “Welch’s. That’s a pretty safe bet! This little refreshment shop was where Pinocchio’s Daring Journey is currently located.



Zooming in to this August 1964 shot you can see the exterior:



See more Disneyland Fantasyland photos at my main website.

Holiday in Fantasyland, 1963

It’s December 1963, and my favorite feather hat gal’s daughter is meeting Pluto! In the background, you can see the Mad Hatter Shop. The detail shot below features the back of a Disneyland Tour Guide and two guests eating a DELICIOUS frozen treat from the Welch’s Grape Juice stand.



THIS feathered hat is even more spectacular. I think she wins the prize. Pluto thinks so, too.



Soaring high over Fantasyland on Dumbo, NOBODY’S feathered hat is safe. Hold on tight!



Moving a little further into the depths of Fantasyland we have STORY BOOK LAND! And of course Casey Jr., my favorite little circus train.



A rare shot of one of the Windmills:



The last two for the day show the Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship Restaurant:



…and what I probably miss the most about Disneyland of yore: Skull Rock Cove.



See more vintage Disneyland photos at my main website.

N.Y.C. or Bust!

The recently acquired slide from June 1962 is a nice addition to a few other items in my collection. In 1962, Walt “packed up” Disneyland and took it to the East Coast for a show at New York City’s Radio City Music Hall. Interesting that the moving line was Allied, not Bekins or Global Van Lines (who were Disneyland sponsors in Town Square). The famed venue is shown below as it looked in 1970:



According to the press photo below, it must have been some show. The caption states:

Walt Disney characters Goofy and Pluto make like movers shortly before the departure 3/6 of four large moving vans for New York’s Radio City Music Hall where Disney will present his first stage production “Disneyland, U.S.A.” which will open April 5. Included in the cargo caravan now enroute are many well known Disneyland attractions, including the fire engine, horse-drawn streetcar, costumes and properties for the New York production.



Anybody out there into license plates?







Note that in this sketch for the stage show (which I believe was by Bill Martin) for the stage backdrop, it appears that the Haunted Mansion was included. At this point in time, the exterior of the Mansion was being constructed, but the attraction would not open until 1969.



According to the Walt Disney Family Museum site:

Walt told one newspaper, “I raised my eyebrows when some of the figures began to come in, but everyone said to just keep on going. All I know is that it’s way beyond the usual Music Hall budget.” Ed Serlin was the public relations chief for the theater, and at that time said that from a production standpoint, it was the biggest show put on in the venue’s 30-year history. The show was developed by a team of Disney superstars including Disneyland's entertainment director Tommy Walker, choreographer Tom Mahoney (The Mickey Mouse Club, Babes in Toyland), and composer George Bruns (“The Ballad of Davy Crockett,”“Yo Ho [A Pirates Life For Me]”) served as music director.Disneyland, U.S.A. was essentially a virtual tour of the park, beginning with a scene entitled “Magic Kingdom.” This featured Walt Disney on film; interacting with Mickey Mouse, live on stage. The show continued to represent each of the lands with themed entertainment, including Wally Boag of “The Golden Horseshoe Revue” for the Frontierland scene.

Here is the short film that accompanied the “live” presentation:



A sketch of the stage set for the Golden Horseshoe portion of the production:



See more vintage and contemporary Disneyland photos at my main website.

Disneyland Has Character, Pt. 2

I’m still basking in the glow of 1970’s Disneyland, which is when this March 1971 image of Pluto in Fantasyland hails from. Standing outside of the Peter Pan attraction, Pluto is mobbed as a little varmint gets ready to squeeze his nose. Squeeze this, pipsqueak!!

The original costumed characters at the Park were borrowed from the Ice Capades; although Mickey and Minnie looked like zombie-eating beasts…

Pluto wasn’t too bad:

I shot this one of Pluto in 2011 when “On Stranger Tides” premiered at Disneyland:

As a dog lover, Pluto has always held a special place in my heart.

See more Disneyland characters photos at my main website.

Listen to Pluto

In times like this, I always believe levity (mixed with some sanity) is the best prescription. Please enjoy Pluto; he’s a wise little dog!

See more Daveland photos at my main website.

Pluto in Fantasyland

Time only permits a quickie today, so I present this February 1964 shot of Pluto posing with guests in front of the Welch's Juice Bar in Disneyland's Fantasyland. Despite the cooling temperatures, a Frozen Juice Bar sounds heavenly. The mom on the right looks like she could use a Juice Bar. Maybe even a fermented one.

See more Fantasyland photos at my main website.

A Cutout A Day: Pluto

Part two of this series shows Pluto licking the heck out of the little tot behind the cutout. He seems to be ok with the cartoon canine's slobber. I would be too.

More vintage Disneyland cutout fun at my main website.

May 1964 Color Images

These colorful images are from May 1964. Pinocchio and Pluto are on hand at the entrance to greet this young lad who appears to be a little cautious about the two costumed characters. Get a load of all those gorgeous attraction posters on the wall! If only...

Over in Fantasyland, Skull Rock is spitting out the water, providing shelter for those who want to eat their Chicken of the Sea Tuna Boats al fresco.



If you've had enough of Fantasyland, you can take the Skyway over to Tomorrowland. This is one of those golden shots that shows all of the movement that made Tomorrowland so vibrant back in the 1960's. Subs, Monorail, and The Skyway. In just a few years, The PeopleMover would join the mix.



Let's zoom in a little closer:



Back in Frontierland, a guest is attempting to capture a photo of the Nature's Wonderland Mine Train. To his right is Mineral Hall. If only I could find an interior view of that shop.



See more Disneyland photos on my Disneyland web page.

Wednesday WOW: 100 Millionth Guest

Some of you might remember my post from September where I posted an unidentified (to me at least!) photo of a guest with Disneyland Marketing Director Jack Lindquist, standing at the podium at Main Street Train Station. It wasn’t long before a reader identified the mystery girl as Valerie Suldo (sorry, Major - I know you were hoping it was bachelorette #1), 100 millionth guest of Disneyland, in June 1971. I was able to get in touch with Valerie and she was kind enough to send these additional photos from that memorable day.

Here, Pluto, Mickey, and Goofy are changing the sign at the Main Street Train Station. I don’t believe this is something I’ve ever seen in a photo or in person...always wondered who changed the number, how often, and when it occurred.



Here’s Valerie in Town Square looking like a pageant winner with her sash!



Valerie looks like a celebrity being mobbed in this shot that includes the other not-so-lucky guests of the day and Mickey:



Personally, this type of thing is truly a wow. To be able to put something unknown on the web, have it identified in a matter of hours, and then be put in contact with the person in the photo (which was taken 30+ years ago!) is just amazing to me. Another reason to be thankful for this blog and my readers.

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

Twiggy at Disneyland, April 1967, Pt. 6

Twiggy is at the Plaza Inn today, and as one would expect from a supermodel, there’s nothing to eat for her. Alternating between happy and pensive, Twiggy looks a little bored overall with the proceedings.







Over at the Castle, Twiggy is hanging out with Goofy and Pluto. It does seem a little strange that Mickey is nowhere to be found in any of these photos.









See more vintage Twiggy at Disneyland photos at my regular website.