More Janet Leigh at Disneyland, 1962

Actress Janet Leigh is in Disneyland’s Town Square, circa 1962, with daughters Kelly and Jamie Lee Curtis. Those Mickey Mouse sunglasses on Jamie Lee are the bomb;



On the right it looks like a Keppy Kap, but the design is different from the original ones sold at the Park. How about that Disneyland Guidebook? Shown in living color below:



I love the little girl munching on her popcorn; in the previous shot, she is giving the death-look to her companion: “Touch my popcorn and die!”



Meanwhile, Jamie Lee is focused on the Mickey Mouse Disneyland balloon:



See more Janet Leigh at Disneyland photos at my main website.

Treasures from 1957, Pt. 1

This 1957 gem shows a demure lady wearing a classic Disneyland paper hat from the early years of the park, standing in front of the Monsanto Hall of Chemistry. I am going to guess she’s visiting from Missouri, as that’s the flagpole at the Tomorrowland entrance that she chose to pose by.



In her hand is a Disneyland Guidebook. This version of the souvenir was released in 1956, but as you can see this must be an updated version since it has the year 1957 added in the upper right hand corner.



My version, from 1956:



Here’s an interior look at the colorful Hall of Chemistry, circa July 1960:



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.

Wonderland Wednesday

Before there was Big Thunder Mountain, there was the Rainbow Caverns Mine Train. What it lacked in speed it more than compensated with thrills. The above undated 1950s shot shows Mineral Hall on the right, where the Black Light Corporation of America had a little display inside.



Behind the post you can see the original name of the attraction, before it became The Mine Train Through Nature’s Wonderland in 1960.



Another undated 1950s image with a great view of the original Rainbow Ridge mining town. While scale would have proved a problem, wouldn’t it have been great if the Barber Shop, Hardware Store, and Hotel were truly in operation for guests?



Zooming in for a look at the souvenir bag, which is not familiar to me, while the booklet in the gent’s suit pocket is.



It’s the back cover of the 1956 Guidebook:



The next consecutive shot shows a Rainbow Ridge bulletin board:



While I can’t believe a guest shot this back in 1956, I am so grateful!



Another undated (but most likely 1956-57) view of Rainbow Ridge, but this time the train is at the station:



I see three cameras (where are those photos/slides now?) and a popcorn bucket!



See more vintage Disneyland Nature’s Wonderland photos at my main website.

Hump Day at the 1950s Castle

It’s hump day, that day that signals we’ve made it half-way through the work week. I rarely post shots of the Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland because there are SOOOOOO many of them out there that after it while it becomes a snoozefest. Image #1 is from August 1958. Note that there is still no coat of arms above the drawbridge.

This December 1958 shot shows a very stylish lady carrying her Disneyland Guidebook. I am fairly certain that my brothers had the same white with blue/red stripes sweater that the kid on the left is wearing.

Let’s take a closer look, shall we?

Here’s what the cover of the 1958 Disneyland Guide looked like:

The back cover, which we see tucked under the woman’s left arm:

Another shot from December 1958, which was most likely taken from Tom Sawyer’s Island:

Zooming into the Castle you can see that the Matterhorn is still in the dream stage as the Skyway buckets float from Fantasyland to Tomorrowland:

This 1955 shot gets me every time; look at the barren Frontierland landscaping!

Last one for today is a 1950’s 3D shot of the Castle, before it received the Kim Irvine treatment:

See more Disneyland Sleeping Beauty Castle photos at my main website.

Disneyland Entrance, January 1960

Standing outside the entrance gate, we have guests on the left yucking it up and guests on the right standing near the Ken-L-Ration Ken-L-Land. It’s January 1960, and based on the sign atop the structure, your pet will be licking his/her chops to be dumped off here. Don’t believe it for a second.



In shot #2 from the same batch, our photographer has passed through the turnstiles and is busy snapping away at the Mickey Floral, the Disneyland Railroad, the attraction posters, and…

Disneyland Railroad 1950's Medley

While scanning one image, I realized there were a few more that I had yet to post, all from the 1950s, and all showing the Disneyland Railroad. Let's begin with the earliest one, which hails from September 1958. The banner over the entryway hails the recently opened Columbia sailing ship and the Grand Canyon Diorama. In addition, we can see the Disneyland News stand, as well as two Disneyland Guide Book Salesman/Boys. This is the same job that started a young Steve Martin on his show business career!



A 1958 interior view of one of the passenger cars:



And two interior shots of the recently opened Grand Canyon Diorama. First is from 1958:



This one is from October 1959:



A shot of the Main Street Train Station from November 1959:



A closeup of the Kalamazoo Handcar:



The last one for today is undated, and shows the E.P. Ripley pulling into the station. In the background is the parking lot, which eventually disappeared to pave the way for Disney California Adventure.



More vintage and contemporary Disneyland Railroad photos at my main website.