The Eagle Eye of Archivist Jason

Although there is an overwhelming abundance of Disneyland fans/admirers/geeks/enthusiasts, NOBODY tops the knowledge of Jason Schultz, the unofficial Disneyland archivist supreme. Recently, his twitter feed featured a vintage 1950’s image from my collection that shows both Ron Dominguez AND the Dominguez palm. Below, you can see Ron on the right:



…and this detailed view shows the Gullywhumper Keel Boat, Aunt Jemima’s Pancake House, and the Dominguez Palm (2nd tree from the right).



If you don’t know about the Dominguez Palm Tree, here’s the 411: Ron Dominguez grew up on ten acres of orange trees that were sold to Walt Disney to build Disneyland. After a year of construction, that acreage became part of Frontierland and Adventureland. The Dominguez family asked Walt to keep this one tree, as it had been planted in 1896 as a wedding gift to Ron’s grandparents. The Dominguez Palm is located to the right of the Jungle Cruise boathouse.

Ron also has a Main Street, U.S.A. window:



Inscription: Orange Grove Property Mgt. - “We Care For Your Property As If It Were Our Own” - Ron Dominguez - Owner

Ron Dominguez was raised on a grove where the Rivers of America is now. He began working at Disneyland in its early days and eventually became Executive Vice President of Disneyland and “Mayor of Our Community.”

Thanks for knowing more about my collection than I do, Jason!

See more photos at my main website.

Thanksgiving Feeding Frenzy: Eating Your Way Through Disneyland

As I slave over a hot stove preparing my Thanksgiving Feast, I thought I'd share a few food photos to get YOUR appetites started. I take no responsibility for the hunger that this post might induce or the fact that some of these items might not be available any more.

Nothing could be finer that breakfast with Aunt Jemima (If you pronounce it the right way, I am sure you could make that last sentence rhyme!).

Since Aunt J's is long gone, you can get your pancake fix taken care of over at The Disneyland Hotel's Steakhouse 55:



Mickey Waffles are available over at the Storyteller Cafe:



Beignets from Cafe Orleans would also make a nice start to the day:



Just make sure you wash them down with a nice wholesome paper cup of milk:



Shifting away from breakfast towards lunch, perhaps a bag of Frito's would make a nice transition snack?



If you feel guilty about eating turkey...



then Silver Banjo BBQ might be your "thang"...



Oh, that's right. That place closed YEARS ago. The Celebration BBQ meal at Big Thunder Ranch would make a fine substitution.



Or perhaps Pork Loin & Coca-Cola BBQ sauce from Flo's:



If seafood is your "dish," you can't go wrong with Walt's personal recommendation of a Tuna Boat Salad:



Served by these lovely cast members (I wonder if they get time-and-a-half for Thanksgiving?):



If fried food is your weakness, then The Plaza Inn might be your choice, as they serve the best fried chicken:



For the ultimate in splurging, a deep-fried Monte Cristo at the Blue Bayou is about as good as it gets.



For dessert, how about a tasty blueberry pie at the Hungry Bear Restaurant in Critter Country?



Or perhaps a cupcake?



Jolly Holiday also carries cupcakes:



Caramel Apple Pie from Plaza Inn is always a Daveland fave:



The Golden Horseshoe holds its own when it comes to apple pie:



If paper plates aren't your thing, then go over to the Napa Rose for both taste and presentation:



If variety is what you need, you can stop by Marceline's for a sweet treat on your way to the tram:



Dole Whip might help calm your tummy a bit after all the indulging:



By the time you've done all your eating, you might need a cocktail to calm your nerves! Make sure it has the perfect ice cube from 1901:



I hope your Thanksgiving is also filled with friends, family, and blessings that can be shared with those that you care about!

See more vintage and current Disneyland photos on my Disneyland web pages.

Breakfast of Champions and Disneyland Memories

This 1960's image truly shows a breakfast of champions at Aunt Jemima's Pancake House on New Orleans Street at Disneyland. At first glance the photo may seem boring, but when zooming in...oh I can feel the pangs of hunger! Those pancake rollups with fruit look tasty.



Daveland reader M. Hulme graciously shared a photo of this certificate given to Aylene Lewis for her portrayal of Aunt Jemima at Disneyland:



Another Daveland reader David Grisanti recently shared some fantastic first-hand memories of his visits to the park and of his grandfather who managed Aunt Jemima's Restaurant:

My grandfather was Raul Grisanti, and he managed several eating establishments in the park, Aunt Jemima's included. I would go to the park often, and one day, when I was 15, I was with my grandfather, having dinner in the Polynesian Restaurant. A couple of tables over was Walt! I was introduced to him, and I have never forgotten that memorable event. Because of my grandfather's involvement from the very beginning (he was a friend of Walt), my parents were present on Opening Day. In fact, my mother still has black and white photos from a Polaroid camera of some of the activities and some of the dignitaries present, such as Danny Thomas, Ronald Reagan, and more.

So, from an early age, I was taken to the park countless times. On one occasion, maybe around 1957 or 1958, I was there with my family. As we were getting ready to watch a parade, someone from Disney came up to my parents and asked if my sister, probably 8 or 9 at the time, would like to ride in the parade. She ended up riding in the Grand Marshall's carriage, with Jimmy Dodd and some of the Mouseketeers (it may have been Karen and Cubby).

Another time, my grandfather introduced me to Aunt Jemima at the pancake house. For several years I was convinced that I had met the REAL Aunt Jemima!

As I got into high school, I would occasionally call my grandfather and request tickets to be left for me at the will call booth. He would always oblige. I would take a date there and, when it was time for dinner, I would go to whichever restaurant he would be at, and ask for him. It was usually either The Red Wagon or the Polynesian Terrace. There would often be a long line of people waiting for a table. I would always tell the hostess, "Please let him know his grandson is here." That would invariably get the attention of the hostess, and she would scurry off to get him. He would come out and warmly greet us, take us right in and sit us at a nice table and tell the wait staff to "take care" of us. It never failed to impress my date!

Back in the early 1980's, one of my close friends was in management at the Disney Channel, and his young daughter was one of the regulars on one of the daily shows (can't remember the name of the program). He invited me to go with him to the park and have dinner at Club 33. It was a very hot day in July. So, after spending several hours there and fighting the crowds, we went to the door-knob-less entrance, spoke through the intercom (felt like we were going into a speakeasy), and we were let in. Wow! The oak and brass elevator, the beautifully appointed furnishings, and the many gifts given to Mr. Disney from heads of state, it all was quite impressive. We were also given a tour. As we sat and ordered our steak, we looked out our window at the mass of humanity, eating corn dogs and popcorn, and just sat back and savored the outstanding meal we enjoyed in air-conditioned luxury! Of course, we were shortly again part of that mass of humanity, but grateful for the memorable experience.

We have taken our children there more times than we can remember, and, now that they are married adults, they continue the tradition. In fact, in February, we rented a home in Anaheim for a week with our children and grandchildren, and went to the park 4 times! We all love the place, and if we lived in Southern California, I am certain we would each have an annual pass.

I have been to Disney World in Orlando and we have been to Euro Disney and Tokyo Disneyland, but none of the other parks have the magic of the original. It is the best!

Some of the fondest memories I have of Disneyland are: seeing the incomparable Wally Boag many times at the Golden Horseshoe; riding on the Flying Saucers in Tomorrowland; getting a Daniel Boone Coonskin Cap when I was a boy; marching in a parade down Main Street as a teen when I was in a marching band; getting into the park via the Monorail from the Disneyland Hotel in the late 60's because I had long hair, and "hippies" were not allowed in (or we would wear hats that would conceal our long hair and go through the front entrance). Once we were in, they never made us leave. On Saturday nights back then, there were dances at the Tomorrowland Terrace, and they always had some good bands and there were lots of girls!

Thanks for sharing those great memories, David!

See more vintage and current Disneyland Aunt Jemima Restaurant photos on my Aunt Jemima photo web pages.

Frontierland Rarities, Pt. 1

Before the Riverbelle Terrace, the restaurant on the corner of New Orleans Street that bordered Adventureland was Aunt Jemima's Pancake House. Sponsored by the makers of the famous pancake mix, this restaurant was a popular staple for park guests who enjoyed eating breakfast. Aylene Lewis portrayed Aunt Jemima at the restaurant, pouring coffee and posing for photos. Here she is in a January 1964 photo.



Pictures of her are rare and snatched up quickly, which is why I was so excited to acquire these two Winter 1956 shots of her.





You can see the seating area that she was posing in by looking at this vintage shot:



See more vintage Aunt Jemima Restaurant photos on my Aunt Jemima web page.

TPE: New Orleans Street (not Square!)

Back to my special time-travel journey back to early Disneyland, I find myself exploring New Orleans Street. I know, I know...some picky newbie Disneyphile will correct me and say, "But Dave...didn't you mean to say New Orleans Square?"

Back in the day, this little parcel was referred to as New Orleans Street, and was going to have to suffice for Walt until he got the big bucks to build his special Square.

First shot of the day is from July 18, 1955, and appears to have been taken from the balcony of the Golden Horseshoe, back when guests could be trusted not to fall off, hurt themselves, and then file a lawsuit against ol' Mickey.

Zooming in, you can see the train at the original Frontierland Depot:



According to an early park brochure, The Oaks Tavern was a malt shop, which is currently known as the Stage Door Cafe. I don't know about you, but a malt sounds much better than chicken strips!



This little girl appears to have gotten her belly full at Aunt Jemima's; I wonder how many buckwheat pancakes she snarfed down?



Here you can see the original location of the Casa de Fritos:



One of the few restaurants at Disneyland to get its own poster:



AND a matchbook! The other day, you saw the version that featured the second location.



So you can see it in all its colorful glory:



Zooming in, you can see Sheriff Lucky making nice-nice with a young female. I sure hope Walt doesn't catch him doing that!



In this detailed view, you can also see Lafitte's Anchor in its original location:



Another early view of New Orleans Street and the pleasant grassy area where guests could dine:



What's this? I believe I have caught Lucky again (look at the back of the photo, dead center), this time hanging out by the condiments. Somebody better dock his pay.



By jove, I think these guests are having the time of their lives!



By the time this May 1959 photo was taken, Casa de Fritos was gone and Don DeFore's Silver Banjo BBQ was in!



Guests are gathering around Aunt Jemima, barely visible behind the trees:



A few shots of the Aunt Jemima restaurant, which seemed to have a design identity crisis; Adventureland or Frontierland?!?







A better view of the Silver Banjo.



An even BETTER view of the SBB as we zoom in closer:



Music was popular in this area, with The Strawhatters entertaining the guests along the Rivers of America:





And here it is, a rare photo showing the backside of water...I mean The Strawhatters:





The girl on the left is very annoyed that the Strawhatters are on break.



If you didn't have an appetite for BBQ or Pancakes, you could always much on popcorn:



This last photo shows the beautiful view one was able enjoy when dining in this area, as well as Lafitte's Anchor. No wonder it was so popular!



See more vintage & current Disneyland New Orleans Street photos on my Aunt Jemima/New Orleans Street web page.

Note to all Disneyland collectors: Olszewski Studios is ready to release the Fantasyland base. After completing Main Street U.S.A., the talented Robert Olszewski began tackling Fantasyland. The quality and detail on Robert's work is truly amazing.