Disneyland Comin' at Ya! Summer 1955, Pt. 1

I was very excited to acquire this group of 3D (presented here in Genuine FauxD©) slides showing Disneyland during its first year. The red white and blue bunting tells me these were taken during the first few months of operation. Look at the landscaping around the Mickey floral - positively barren! The first image shows the left and ride sides layered; the image below is a digital composite of the two, which provides slightly more information on both sides, including the slightly disheveled lady on the right.



The main subjects of our year one series can be seen standing in Town Square, waving to the photographer standing on the steps of the Main Street Train Station:



The panoramic view:



Zooming in, you can see that there’s still a crane near the Sleeping Beauty Castle turrets:



How about that non-themed trashcan that just says, “TRASH.” At this stage, the uniforms of the Disneyland Band were navy.



Our guests are standing in front of the Plaza Apartments just on the edge of Main Street/Central Plaza, with the Red Wagon Inn in the background. A Keystone Kop poses with them for good measure.



The panoramic view removes one of the obstructions from what I “assume” is a Main Street vehicle.



Last one for today shows our guests with their backs to Main Street:



A surrey and the Horse-Drawn Streetcar co-exist!



You can just barely see the Disneyland brochure in this gal’s hands in this detailed view:



Most likely this is what we see in the photo:

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

Greetings from Black Bart!

If you were at the Disneyland entrance on this day in June 1956, you could have been greeted by ne’er-do-well Black Bart. Stepping outside of his regular Frontierland home, he provided a little entertainment on this day outside the gate,



Noah “Dick” Morrison played the original Black Bart until approximately 1961.



Sometimes he was in charge…and sometimes Sheriff Lucky was!



Here he is shooting the s$%t with a plethora of Sheriffs in Frontierland. I guess in the 1950s they needed more!



You knew Black Bart was a bad guy…he smoked in public!



He knew how to charm the kids though.



He also had a way with the ladies.



The last one for today shows him giving a guest the whammy for taking his photo:



A close-up of his signature Ace of Spades, stuck in his hat.



See more Disneyland Black Bart photos at my main website.

Welcome to Disneyland, 1970s-Style

It’s June 1970, and our park guest captured the entrance sign (if only they had shifted the camera more to the right!!) which is touting the recently opened (August 1969) Haunted Mansion…and 1000 hotel guest rooms at the Disneyland Hotel.



This shot of Harbor Boulevard perfectly illustrates why Walt went to such great lengths to do a secretive land grab in Orlando.



Look at that cacophony of hotels, motels, and restaurants! I wonder what Mecca was like?



How the ticket booth/entrance area looked circa January 1970.



Hard to believe this parking lot area is what would eventually become the plaza between Disneyland and DCA.



This March 1973 shot shows a slightly better composition!



Ready for Spring Fling? Still touting those 1000 guest rooms.



For all you vintage auto nuts, here’s a closeup of the pileup of cars waiting to enter the Park.



See more Disneyland entrance photos at my main website.

Disneyland, 9-15-1960 in 3D, Pt. 1

Hold onto your chairs, as my Genuine FauxD© images can cause queasiness! The first shot from September 15, 1960, shows the entrance and ticket booth area at Disneyland. The changing of the times is already in motion, as you see the two ladies dressed. up in hats and heels on the left and the more casual youth on the right in shorts. Below, I have stitched both the right and the left side of the 3D image so that you can see the full panoramic view of this shot:



This set also included the Flower Market located on Main Street between the Upjohn Pharmacy and the Carnation Ice Cream Parlour:



The full stitched view:



As a bonus,  here’s a rare interior shot of the Carnation Ice Cream Parlour from August 1968:



See more Disneyland photos at my main website.

Monorail Expansion, October 1961

This October 1961 image shows a banner heralding the expansion of the Disneyland-Alweg Monorail System. In June of the same year, the Disneyland Monorail became a genuine mode of transportation. With a 2.5 mile track expansion, Disneyland Hotel guests could board at the hotel and begin their park visit by exiting the sleek comfort of their Monorail car at the Tomorrowland station. Did you know department: The Disneyland Monorail was the first in the U.S. to run adjacent to a major traffic artery.



At the end of the day, guests could return to the Disneyland Hotel and sip adult beverages at the Monorail Lounge that weren’t available in the park. Guests had the option to purchase two different types of tickets: the traditional ticket to Disneyland park (disembarking in Tomorrowland) or they could stay on for a round trip. Not only was the track extended, but trains grew from three cars to four cars and the fleet grew to three Mark II trains with the addition of a yellow Monorail.

With a time machine and a bag of quarters, you could make a good profit hoarding the 25¢ Disneyland Guidebooks available at the Disneyland News stand!



This previously posted June 1961 shot shows the entrance tunnel on the right side of the Main Street Train Station, draped with the same banner. My OCD tendencies have been satisfied!



The Grand Canyon Passenger Car shown here was eventually converted into the Lilly Belle.



So many great vintage paper items here!



Another previously posted 1961 shot showing the edge of the banner on the left side tunnel:



LATE ADDITION: A few readers have tried to figure out what text was covered up in the first shot. Most likely it matched what was on this display board: "First On Earth    Flying Saucers.”



See more 1960s Disneyland Railroad photos at my main website.

Unpaving "Paradise"

I’m not sure that I would call DCA “Paradise,” but for the purposes of a catchy title…let’s do it! The Disney Corporation did a reverse Joni Mitchell in 2001; what was once the main parking lot was now Disney California Adventure. Here’s how that space looked October 1972. Imagine being able to drive your car this close to the gate!



Another 1972 image shows the road leading into Disneyland.



In the background is the Disneyland Hotel. Somebody better pick up the traffic cones; looks like one of the guests failed the driving test.



Another image of the parking lot from December 1967:



Oops; there’s a lawsuit waiting to happen. J.B. Allen & Co.: please hurry!



Last one is from May 1968. Look at that sea of vintage cars!



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