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.

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.

Disneyland Trip, 1958

I was recently contacted by Traecy, who went overboard on the generosity scale by sharing these treasured images from 1958 which show her Dad's first visit to Disneyland at age 10 and a half. The family had just moved to Santa Barbara from New Jersey and they took his New Jersey Grandma to Disneyland. As Tracey tells it, “He remembered being enraptured and it felt like such a magical experience. The music was playing even in the parking lot, and he felt like he was in another world. He remembered being tall enough to ride the rides (he is the oldest boy in the photos).”

The best part is that it appears that the numbers of the photos correspond with the day's progression, as their journey to the attractions makes total sense. Grab that popcorn and let's travel back to 1958!



Interestingly enough, the Space Couple in Traecy's family shot is the same couple in one from my collection dated July 1958. It must have been their summer to greet guests!





The Autopia!



I figured a detailed view of the gas pumps was in order:



The train parked at the Tomorrowland Depot:



Don't worry, the family hasn't left Tomorrowland. They're just enjoying the Astrojets:



The real gem of this collection is this closeup view of the family in the Viewliner:



Time to sloooooooow things down a bit with the Motor Boat Cruise:





Two from Alice in Wonderland:





And a beauty showing the Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship:



You can just about make out the prices on the sign in this detailed view. It would seem that Paco the Parrot bore the brunt of being the "Free Exhibit."



The motion of the swirling teacups caught mid-spin; they are obviously having a blast!



A shot taken from the Mark Twain, or perhaps the newly christened Columbia?



The Stagecoach through Frontierland:



The Pack Mules, back when Disney allowed "live" animals to add a bit of unexpected excitement to the Park.



This makes me ache. To be able to go inside Fort Wilderness again...



The last two show the childhood joy of whizzing about on the Midget Autopia:





Words alone cannot express the gratitude of Traecy for reaching out and sharing these INCREDIBLE family photos!

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

Mama Said There'd Be Days Like This...

Some days you just feel like...well, like the two sitting on this bench at the Indian Village at Disneyland, circa September 1959. I'd say it must have been hot, but the lady lighting up on the right would tend to make me think that it was just one of those days. Notice the extra film box in the stroller on the right. I wonder how much ash that little boy got, sitting right under the cancer stick?



Note the discarded Disneyland popcorn boxes here:



Just in case you're having one of those days, here's a fun little clip of the Shirelles singing the title song for this post:



Hope your day just got better.

See more vintage Disneyland Indian Village photos on my Indian Village web page.