Disneyland Diary, 1963

1963 ADDITIONS

• Walt Disney's ENCHANTED TIKI ROOM (unveiled a new media of three-dimensional entertainment called "Audio Animatronics;" birds, flowers and Tiki gods perform an exciting musical fantasy — Adventureland



HIGHLIGHTS

"Salute to Mexico," presented by People-to-People and Mexican Tourist Association was showcased as a cultural exhibit.



NOTE: From the L.A. Times:

From the L.A. Times on July 24, 1963: “An authentically decorated Mexican street exhibit will be opened Monday at Disneyland to celebrate a ‘Salute to Mexico’ sponsored by People-to-People, Inc., in co-operation with the Mexican Tourist Council. “Mexico’s former president, Miguel Aleman, now president of the tourist council, will act as official representative at the 11 a.m. dedication ceremonies. “The three-month exhibit will be a showcase of Mexican crafts ranging from pottery and jeweltry to contemporary art and bull fighting.”



From the Pasadena Star-News, July 31, 1963: “Mexico Invades Southland—A beachhead based on friendship and mutual understanding has been established at Disneyland with opening of the ‘Salute la Mexico’ under the sponsorship of People-to-People, Inc. Teresa Lucero, 8, of Los Angeles and Patrick Wade, 12, of Anaheim, pulled the ribbon to officially open the display. Watching were Edmondo Gonzales, Consul General of Mexico in Los Angeles; Walt Disney, executive committee member of sponsoring group; Carlos Arruz, of Mexico City, and Joyce C. Hall, chairman of People-to-People committee.”



More than 19,000 guests were on hand for New Year's Eve and thousands more participated in Easter Vacation's "Spring Fling."





Three Grad Nites brought 35,000 celebrants.



The "Cavalcade of Big Bands" with Gene Krupa, Les Brown, Charlie Barnet (seen below)...



and Lionel Hampton was followed by a summer-long big band parade — Count Basie, Tex Beneke, Tommy Dorsey's Orchestra with Frank Sinatra, Jr., and Harry James.



"Dixieland at Disneyland" featured Al Hirt and a cast of 300 in a musical mardi gras.

The "Parade of Toys" was a daily feature of Christmas week.



Disneyland's Community Service Awards program honored the charitable efforts of 15 county organizations, presenting $10,000 in awards, with the Outstanding Award going to the YMCA of North Orange County.

FAMOUS GUESTS

• 30 United Nations representatives (January)
• British Ambassador Sir David Ormsby Gore (February)
• President Srvepalli Radhakrishnan of India (June)
• Dr. Norman Dyhrenfurth and American Mt. Everst Team (August)
• King Mohammed Zahir and Queen Homaira of Afghanistan (September)
• Former King Umberto of Italy (November)
• President Victor Paz Estenssoro of Bolivia (November)
• Gov. Otto Kerner of Illinois (December)
• Gov. Tim Babcock of Montana (December)
• Astronaut John Glenn (December)

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

Disneyland's Cavalcade of Big Bands

June 2, 1962 was the first time Disneyland hosted the Cavalcade of Big Bands. Called "Cavalcade of Bands at Disneyland" in the park brochures, the week-long event featured Tex Beneke and the Glenn Miller Band with the Modernaires (with Paula Kelley) and Ray Eberle, Count Basie and his Band, and Charlie Barnet. Tickets were $5.50 (or $4.95 in advance). Concerts were from 8pm-1am (I am guessing they must have played "1 O'Clock Jump" at some point!).

June 1, 1963 was the 2nd Annual Cavalcade of Big Bands and it featured live performances from Les Brown and His Band of Renown, Lionel Hampton and His Orchestra, Gene Krupa and His Orchestra, Charlie Barnet and His Orchestra, and The Elliott Brothers Band (a "Disneyland resident crew"). Here's the complete schedule:

6/1: Les Brown and His Band of Renown, Lionel Hampton and His Orchestra, Gene Krupa and His Orchestra, Charlie Barnet and His Orchestra, and The Elliott Brothers Band

6/28-7/4: Count Basie and His Orchestra

7/22-7/27: Tex Beneke and His Orchestra featuring Ray Eberle, Paula Kelly, and The Modernaires

8/27-9/1: Harry James and His Orchestra

9/27-9/28: Dixieland with Louis Armstrong, The Dukes of Dixieland, trumpeter Teddy Buckner

Thanks to the Ulyate Family, here are some photos of Disneyland's 2nd Annual Cavalcade of Big Bands piano radio that can be seen in the vintage photo at the beginning of this post:







See more vintage & current Disneyland Plaza Garden photos on my Disneyland Plaza Garden web page.