Two Tars in Tomorrowland

This August 1958 image shows two sailor on leave, enjoying a day in the Park, possibly heading to see the Circarama exhibit. Guest stood in the center of a huge room with a 360 degree screen surrounding them. Through the miracle of Circarama, they could get views of the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles. As always, I have to wonder where the pictures are today that the sailor on the left shot with the camera hanging around his neck.

Note the signage, too, promoting the Tomorrowland exhibits in alternating colors of red and yellow: Circarama (sponsored by American Motors), Satellite-View of America, The World Beneath Us (sponsored by Richfield), Color Gallery (sponsored by Dutch Boy), and The Art Corner.

Here’s a previously posted shot from February 1959 showing the Satellite - View of America exhibit:

Note the K-7 Spaceman sitting in the ticket booth:

See more vintage Disneyland Tomorrowland photos at my main website.

Disneyland Gems from ’56, Pt. 3

The final installment of 1956 gems begins with a shot of the TWA Moonliner. Most interesting part of this shot to me is the phone booth, which probably goes right over the heads of the current generation. A phone...you don’t carry it around...you walk into it...you put coins (what are those?) into the slot and then dial (huh?) the person you want to talk to. Yes...you had to know the number of the friend/relative/business you wanted to talk to. No memory buttons to push. Can you imagine the brainpower one of these things required? Probably not.

Toning down the snark, here’s a shot of what was once known as New Orleans Street, before the quaint Louisiana city got a square of its own. Casa de Fritos was located in the green portion of this building:

You can see the sign for Aunt Jemima’s Pancake House below right:

Look how barren the banks of the Rivers of America look. Obviously the landscaping would take a few years to make this section look believable.

A detailed view of the dock, the Mark Twain, and the cast members:

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

Central Plaza Details

The first view from today shows Central Plaza in 1956. Yes, the kids are adorable, but I love that “Be A Fireman” sign!

This shot of the Omnibus at the base of Snow Hill (which would eventually become The Matterhorn) also shows the House of the Future. I believe this shot is from December 1957. Construction of the House of the Future didn’t start until January 1957, and the other shots from this batch show Christmas decor.

Two gents survey Disneyland from Snow Hill...without the Snow.

Look at the crowd of folks near the House of the Future! And of course the little boy in the Tom Sawyer hat.

From the same batch as the previous photo we move over to Tomorrowland to see the ever popular Clock of the World.

Now a closer look (as always):

Besides the nuns, check out the Noel decor on front of the Hall of Chemistry and the Kaiser Aluminum sign. This is the first time I’d noticed that sign; checking my collection though, I realized I have a color shot of it!

See more Disneyland Tomorrowland photos at my main website.

Vintage Tomorrowland

You might think we’re stuck in May 1957 this week...and you could be right as far as this blog is concerned! This gentleman at the entrance to Tomorrowland is apparently blinded by the California sunshine. He should turn around and get some ice cream from that nice cart behind him. Note the state flags that are still at the entrance.



This second image was taken in the heart of vintage Tomorrowland, near the Rocket to the Moon attraction and the Flight Circle.



I often wonder (and muse on this blog) about where the photos now exist of the people holding cameras in these images from over sixty years ago!



For KS: this closeup of the ticket booth. Still pretty fuzzy.



See more vintage Tomorrowland photos at my main website.

July 1955 in 3D, Pt. 3

Today marks the final installment in my July 1955 Genuine FauxD© Disneyland images. This set only had one from Tomorrowland, so you better savor every pixel!

The mighty Mark Twain sails down the Rivers of America with very little scenery to look at.



Note the vehicle on the banks and the two gentlemen walking nearby.



I don't recall ever seeing these fancy lounge chairs on the top of the Twain before.



Last one today could be a teepee from Disneyland, or it might be from Knott’s Berry Farm. I'll let you decide.



While this ends the Disneyland July 1955 series, there are some from Marineland and Knott’s on the horizon!

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

Astro Jets and Rocket Jets

The first image for today is from February 1958 and shows the Astro Jet attraction in Tomorrowland. Zooming in we can also see the Flight Circle attraction and some of the model planes waiting to be flown around the arena.



The area where the construction is going on would be the future home of the Flying Saucer attraction, which would open in 1961. Not sure what the digging would have been for at this point.



Moving ahead about 12 years, the Astro Jet attraction became the Rocket Jets, and were moved high atop the PeopleMover queue:



Today, this little hub of "activity" is about as dead as could be.



See more Disneyland Astro Jet photos at my main website.

The Payoff: 1956 Vintage Disneyland Trio

Finally...for all you vintage Disneyland Geeks you get some images that might stir you up this morning. Here are 3 shots from a batch marked "1956 Vacation" that show Tomorrowland. The first one I believe is a rare interior shot from the 20K Leagues Under the Sea Exhibit, which happened to be an excellent example of recycling by Walt. The 2nd one is from the Kaiser Aluminum exhibit (Thanks, Major!):



This dark image shows the Rocket to the Moon attraction interior. Ready for blast off?



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

Moonliner Monday

How about some vintage Disneyland Moonliner shots to start your Monday with a blast...into space! The first image is from 1958 and gives us a look of the explanatory signage about the 80' tall 1/3 scale rocket space ship model that stood outside of the Rocket to the Moon attraction.



Today a 1/3 smaller version exists to sell Coke at Disneyland:



Back to the past with this undated image that also affords a view of the Flight Circle. I still miss Cox Pilot and his wonderful commentary.



At first glance this May 1956 shot seems ho-hum:



but a detailed closeup gives a view of the exterior waiting area for the attraction:



An adorable shot of a mom and daughter from April 1959:



Daughter is proudly holding a Park brochure; and how about that hand-tooled leather purse that mom is toating?



See more Disneyland Moonliner photos at my main website.

The Spica

I could make a very bad pun about "spica my language," but instead, I will refrain and show this glorious shot of the Spica jet from the Disneyland Astrojet attraction, circa Spring 1957. The slide was labeled Mary Ellen and M.M.; could the shy brunette lady be Marilyn Monroe in disguise? I'll let you decide.



More vintage and current Astrojet/Astro Orbiter photos at my main website.

Maternity at the Moonliner

The date on the back of this shot is difficult to make out; I know the month is April, but the year is obscured. The brochure in the little girl's hand holds the clue. Any takers out there?



BTW: digging the maternity outfit and the hand tooled leather purse!

See more of the Moon(liner) at my main website.

Lost at Disneyland

From the same 1957/1958 batch that gave us yesterday's Spaceman comes this shot of a shirtless little boy at the First Aid Station located near Central Plaza. Was he lost? Was he sick? Did he need to change clothes? Not sure, but he looks pretty happy to me!

This shot baffles me. I know it's in Tomorrowland, because it shows the Moonliner, but it seems like an odd place that would have guest access. Disneyland Geeks…any idea?



Zooming in you can also see the Wen-Mac flag that flew over the Flight Circle.



More vintage and current Disneyland photos at my main website.