Disneyland August 1958, Pt. 1

This glorious image from August 1958 shows the colorful attraction posters and Mickey Mouse entrance floral just as the E. P. Ripley is pulling into the Disneyland Main Street Train Station.



In Town Square, Vesey Walker is conducting the Disneyland Band as guests relax on the surrounding benches. Below, White Wing Trinidad Ruiz pushes his cart down Main Street, collecting the horse puckey from the Horse Drawn Streetcars.



Last image for today is a shot of the Monsanto House of the Future, perched atop its concrete foundation off Central Plaza.



I’m glad plastic homes never caught on, aren’t you?
 
See more Disneyland photos from my collection at my main website.

1950s Disneyland: Town Square

Today seems like a good day to relax in Disneyland’s Town Square, especially with some photos from the Park’s early years. In this 1956 image, chicken wire is still the standard for protecting the plants, and the Bekins Storage area features the unique architectural details that would later be removed.



Ugh. Who approved this change?



Back to happier times…a detailed view of a cast member cleaning up one of the A-Frame signs in the Square.



A few from March 8, 1956:



Who wants to be a Fireman? This could be your opportunity.



Note that City Hall at this time is for First Aid and Press Information:





Both these boys are doing their part to show support for Mickey Mouse!





Mabel Normand is at the Main Street Cinema and two Keystone Kops are getting ready to wow guests with some music as they cross the street.





Glad I wasn’t there that day; the Disneyland Railroad was temporarily closed!





Music stands are piled up in the Opera House alcove, awaiting the Disneyland Band to pull them out for a concert.



See…I don’t make this stuff up!



This was back when there was a Print Shop in Town Square; the Disneyland News is for sale in front of the window:



These two DANGEROUS gents are getting ready to attempt some mischief in Town Square, roughly 1955-56:



Be glad there was no ammo in the 19th century cannon. Walt was smart enough to have these sealed up before these screwballs arrived. Also note the chicken wire around the landscaping:



One of the goofballs thought it would be funny to have his buddy take a photo of him pretending to blow his head off with the rifle the Tobacco Wooden Indian was holding. I wonder if these kids survived into adulthood?



Moving ahead a few years to August 3, 1959:



Bekins is still there!



Thus ends our day in 1950s Town Square.

See more Disneyland Town Square photos at my main website.

The Leader of the Band

As I have been struggling to replace my old computer with a new one (after eleven years) and going through the hassle of finding the right cables/software to make my old scanners work, and the....let’s just say it’s been a pain in the arse but I think I am finally done! While I attempt to get caught up, here’s a gem from July 1955 (aka month one) showing Vesey Walker and the Disneyland Band in Town Square.



Vesey looks a little fearful of his future replacement!

See more Disneyland Town Square photos at my main website.

Disneyland Tour, July 1958: Part 3

After your journey to Disneyland, you might be a bit hungry. The Red Wagon Inn at Central Plaza is a nice choice! Sign says it’s open...why are these people gathered outside?!?



Across the way you would find The Pavillion:



Here is a series of sequential images that begin at Plaza Street, showing the Ruggles China and Glass shop and (eek!) the Pablum Baby Station.



There are miniature parking lanes for the strollers. How cute!



The Disneyland Band begins their journey towards Main Street:



Vesey Walker proudly leads the crew towards the Train Station:



The Penny Arcade and Candy Palace:







Last one in the sequence shows the Coca-Cola Refreshment Corner:



Serving up DELICIOUS sandwiches. At least that’s what the sign says.



Just a month earlier, this shot was taken of Walt and “Alice in Wonderland” heading towards Central Plaza/Fantasyland to celebrate the opening of the new dark ride.



A closeup of the carriage’s celebrities:



Last view from July 1958 shows the moat outside the Castle:



You can see the Plaza Gardens bandstand in the background on the left, and the top of the Columbia towering overhead:



Which Land should we go to first? Adventureland? Frontierland? Fantasyland? or Tomorrowland?

See more Disneyland Central Plaza photos at my website.

Main Street and Judy Garland

One of the short-lived original attractions at Disneyland was this bandstand, where the Disneyland band would entertain guests. Here’s an early construction shot with Walt standing at the (future) Main Street Train Station with the bandstand still being put together near the (future) Opera House:

Originally built in Town Square, Walt realized that the structure would block the important view of the Castle at the end of Main Street, U.S.A.

…so it was quickly moved to the area that now houses Fantasy Faire. The third move did not prove so lucky for the bandstand, as shown in this (undated) photo from its Adventureland/Magnolia Park location (now the location of Indiana Jones).

Vesey Walker conducts the band here under the shade of this charming gazebo which was very appropriate for small-town America, but not for the thrill-seeking guests of Disneyland. When the Jungle Cruise expanded in 1962, this quiet little parcel of music and rest was removed (the story is on my website).

In the 1936 musical short, “Every Sunday,” Judy Garland and Deanna Durbin attempt to get townspeople to attend a concert at their own little Main Street Gazebo. Even in 1936, there were problems finding an audience for such a thing!

It would be the only time that these two musical geniuses would be paired together on celluloid.

See more vintage Disneyland Magnolia Park bandstand photos at my main website.

Journey Down Main Street, U.S.A. 1956

Join me as we stroll down Disneyland's Main Street, U.S.A. circa 1956. Our first image shows the Main Street Cinema. Zooming in, it would seem that back in the day there was a real person working inside the Cinema's ticket booth, versus Tilly the “dummy” that's there now.



This one appears to have been shot while our National Anthem was being played.



A tighter crop of the same shot, taken in front of the Gibson Greeting Card Shop.



You can almost smell the popcorn roasting in this little cart outside the Gibson Shop.



A closeup of the little mechanical clown doing all the work:



At the end of Main Street, Vesey Walker leads the Disneyland Band towards Central Plaza.



Zooming in, we can see a Circus Wagon from the former Mickey Mouse Club Circus, now being operated by Professor George J. Keller.



A Surrey takes guests around the Plaza.



I drop you off at the Sleeping Beauty Castle:



A closeup of the driver of the newfangled horseless carriage:



...and a sign that has seen better days:



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