Sax at Disneyland

The legendary Wayne King, Count Basie, Duke Ellington and Bill Elliot pose at Disneyland near Tomorrowland as they prepare to play in the Disneyland Big Band Festival, June 14, 1964. This photo is part of the UCLA Library Digital Archives.

For all you sax fans out there, here's a closeup of Bill's instrument. Wonder what the letters are in his pocket?



Individual portraits of the quartet from different gigs at Disneyland. Wayne King:



Count Basie from September 1978 at the Plaza Gardens:



Duke Ellington from August 1965:



Bill Elliott from August 27, 1965 in FauxD©:



Not enough sax for you? How about this March 1981 image of the Firehouse Five playing on East Center Street:



Hope you've had enough sax for today!

See more vintage & current Disneyland photos on my main website.

The King at Disneyland

No, not that King...I'm referring to Wayne King. In this June 1968 photo, Wayne is shown playing at the Carnation Plaza Gardens.



Taped to the back of this publicity shot was his obituary:

Big band leader Wayne King, called the "waltz king" of the late 1920s and early 1930s died Tuesday night. He was 84.

The alto saxophonist, a longtime Phoenix area resident, developed his fondness for the waltz during his dance group's regular engagement at the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago. His theme became The Waltz You Saved For Me.

In the early '30s, King's sound became widely associated with a cosmetics line manufactured at home by a brother and sister. The two hired King's band to play for a weekly radio show pushing their product and paid the group $500 per show.

The Lady Esther Serenade became one of the most popular shows on radio. Sales figures for the costmetic line soared and King was paid $15,000 a week.

The show was most popular with matrons who used makeup generously and responded with swoons to King's lush romantic music, interspersed with poetry readings.

Among the singers who appeared with King's band were Bob Eberly and Buddy Clark.

Besides Wayne King, the Carnation Plaza Gardens were a musical venue for Frank Sinatra, Jr.:



Bill Elliott:



The Osmonds:



Lionel Hampton:



Benny Goodman:



Stan Kenton:



Count Basie:



Who did you see play at The Gardens?

See more vintage Disneyland Plaza Gardens photos on my Plaza Gardens web page.