Frontierland Friday: BBQ and Pancakes

Did anyone hear me let out a “whoop” when I saw this image in a batch of random vintage Disneyland slides? This January 1959 shot shows what was then known as New Orleans Street and consisted of Don DeFore’s Silver Banjo Barbecue and Aunt Jemima’s Pancake House restaurants. Although this detailed view shows the Aunt J sign, in the background on the pink portion of the structure  at top you can see the banjo sign and down below the other signs for the Silver Banjo Restaurant.

Aunt J is promoting her wares with all those boxes in the window:

The placard in front of the Silver Banjo reads: “Silver Banjo Barbecue • Beef•Pork•Ham•Chicken and Spareribs • [can't read this one line] Dinner Sandwiches

The Silver Banjo closed in 1962, with Aunt Jemima following suit in 1970. This area is now the River Belle Terrace.

See more vintage Disneyland Silver Banjo Barbecue photos at my main website.

Growing up in Disneyland

Those of you who have followed this blog for awhile are aware of Don DeFore’s Silver Banjo BBQ, that tasty restaurant once located in Disneyland’s Frontierland where the River Belle Terrace currently resides. You have probably also seen that I know Don DeFore’s sons Ron and Dave, who through the years have graciously supplied information and photos from their Dad’s collection. Ron recently informed me that he has finished a book detailing his Dad’s career as well as a lot of interesting information about his own life and what it was like to have complete access to Disneyland in the early years. Ron was kind enough to answer a few questions for me about his upcoming book:



Were there any interesting people that you interviewed for the book?

My book, “Growing up in Disneyland” is a combination biography of my Dad and autobiography of my wild life growing up in a celebrity family, and, of course, Disneyland. So there wasn’t really a need to interview a lot of people. I did, however, lean heavily on brother Dave for his historical perspective. He did a great job filling in some memories as he’s five years older. He also did a thorough edit of the manuscript two times through. And as for the early years of Dad’s career, this book includes much of his unpublished autobiography, “Hollywood–DeFore ‘n’ After.” This is obviously the most appealing aspect of the book as it will include never-before read episodes of his career told in his own words. It, of course, includes how he met Walt Disney, how we got to ride in the opening day parade, and what led up to his own restaurant in Frontierland, Don DeFore’s Silver Banjo Barbecue. Dave Smith, Disney’s former Archivist, provided a great blurb for the back of the book that verifies Dad’s relationship with Walt as he was the only person allowed to display his name in the Park.

Although not an interview per se, I did have a great meeting with Sam Nelson (Ricky’s youngest son) and discussed much of the “Ozzie and Harriet” show and Dad’s role as their next-door-neighbor, “Thorny.”

Did you learn anything unexpected or new about your father?

I don’t know where to begin on answering this question. I’ve told several people that I learned more about Dad’s life and career than I had ever known while researching and writing this book. I spent months reading through his manuscript several times. I had never read it in its entirety before. That may sound odd, but I had heard enough of the stories from him directly that I never before had the drive to read it. Dave and I did some minor editing to tighten up the sections I wanted to include but there’s much I didn’t use and that was stuff that didn’t pertain to his career or our family. I believe the book will have great appeal to folks that remember his works, Disney enthusiasts, and others that may find it interesting to read about life growing up in “Hollywood” in the 50s and 60s, and of course my life dealing with things in Washington, D.C. later in my career. For those folks it will be a very entertaining “page-turner.”

I am assuming there are photos in this book; were you able to uncover any rare or new (to you) images?

The book contains nearly 100 photos and other graphics. I found several photos that will be new to those that follow our presentations and/or my Don DeFore Fan Club Facebook page. I did not find anything new related to the Silver Banjo. However, for the first time, I will be publishing photos of “The Plaque” and us Frontierland Banditos (but you all remain unnamed!). I also include a photo that I never even showed my business partners until just before I retired: me as the “Flying DJ” at Dillon’s Discotheque in Los Angeles that provides quite a contrast to my later career as a Reagan Appointee!

Your Dad is known for “Hazel.” What do you think he would most have liked to be remembered for professionally? And personally?

I believe he was most proud of his family and that he was able to give us five kids such a wonderful upbringing. He was very conservative and was able to imbue us with many of those same values which I talk about in my book. Many of the kids of the famous that I grew up with were very spoiled, many died young, and many never left their parents’ homes. Professionally, Dad had many productions and characters that he was proud of, but as I emphasize in the book, perhaps his greatest contribution to entertainment history was when he was President of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in 1954 and 1955. His first year he did what several others before him were unable to do: he sold the first live national broadcast of the Emmy Awards to NBC. That accomplishment is also what led to Walt Disney wanting to meet the guy that was able to make that happen.



Do you have a favorite memory of your time "growing up at Disneyland"?

There are so many great memories of growing up in the Park it’s hard to choose the absolute best. One at the top of the list is a story I tell in the book about how my sister Dawn and I got to ride in the Christmas parade with Walt in a horse drawn carriage because his grandchildren were late and as Walt said, “I can’t go through the parade without any kids by my side!” Other great moments were when I brought a friend. I loved showing off all the things we were allowed to do: use my Dad’s employee pass to get on rides for free…and stay on as long as we wanted! We’d use all the employee back entrances, stay on Tom Sawyer’s Island for hours playing hide and seek. And, of course, the favorite of those to whom we’ve given your presentation: sneaking in the bushes of the Jungle Cruise Ride among the animatronics and pretending to be monkeys as a boat went by! We also loved it when we’d get a call at the restaurant requesting a few kids to test out a new ride.

“Growing up in Disneyland” is a book for all ages whether you’re interested in Don DeFore’s career and life, Disneyland history, life in a celebrity family, and my twenty careers from the Steve Allen Show, to Paramount Television, to several positions in the Reagan Administration, to forming a multi-million dollar PR firm in the nation’s capital. It’s been a life similar to that of Forest Gump: brushing up against historic events and people throughout my life like getting to meet the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, and being Mike Love’s PR guy for a day at the Live Aid Concert. It will be published July 15, 2019 by Waldorf Publishing and is available for pre-order now. Need more Don DeFore? How about joining the Don DeFore Fan Club Facebook page?

HUGE thanks to Ron DeFore for taking the time to share this information about his upcoming book. More details here as it gets closer to being released.

See more Don DeFore/Silver Banjo BBQ photos at my main website.

Fundraiser at the DeFore's, 1951

As luck would have it, I stumbled upon a batch of images that turned out to include Don DeFore ("Hazel" and Disneyland's Silver Banjo Restaurant) in them. His son Ron was able to explain their context:

These are from a fundraiser my Dad produced for the Village Church in Brentwood circa 1951. It was held at our house and had an old fashioned theme. Here’s another photo from that same event (see first black and white shot below). The local TV station covered the event, which included Eddie Bracken and a number of other celebrities.

A vintage publicity caption from July 25, 1951 provides some further info:

When the Village Church of Westwood, California needed funds for some new additions the Film Folk of the congregation decided to put on a Gay Ninetees box lunch social and entertainment to raise the money…Actor Don DeFore, one of the active members of the congregation, donated his home in Brentwood for the occasion and the rest of the film folk and congregation donated the box lunches which were auctioned off…the purchasers of the lunches then had the privilege of dining with the actresses who donated the luncheon. Tony Caruso, Don DeFore, and John Bromfield furnished some of the entertainment.



This closeup of the first image shows Don and his wife:



A detailed view showing actor/comedian Eddie Bracken:



He is best known to today's audiences for his cameo as Roy Wally of Wally World fame in the Chevy Chase comedy "Vacation":



The Village Church of Brentwood was built in 1946. Those not aware of this church may have at least seen the large cross which was lighted at night and visible for a mile along the 405 freeway.



DeFore and is wife are at left again in this image; I am sure there are a number of other celebrities that my readers would be able to identify. Many look familiar but I couldn't begin to name them.



I believe this last shot showing Ozzie and Harriet is from the same event.



See more Don DeFore/Silver Banjo photos on my main website.

Silver Banjo Serving Line

WE INTERUPT THIS PROGRAM! My TPE series will take a short hiatus as I catch up from my weekend photography excursion. Taking over 1000 photos can tend to put one behind. For today, I will post this rare interior shot of Don DeFore's Silver Banjo Barbecue Restaurant, which replaced Casa de Fritos when it vacated its original location on New Orleans Street. From the October 1960 publicity blurb:

Actor Don DeFore samples food served in his Silver Banjo restaurant in Disneyland while waitresses watch.

See more Disneyland Silver Banjo BBQ photos on my Silver Banjo web page.

The Start of a Beautiful Friendship

From 1954-55, Don DeFore served as President of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. He was instrumental in arranging for the Emmy Awards to be broadcast on national TV for the first time on March 7, 1955, which earned him the respect of Walt Disney. This is what led to the two becoming good friends. That year, he was nominated for Best Supporting Actor in a Regular Series for his work on The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet. Here is a publicity blurb that accompanied the photo at left from November 1955:

11/15—NEW YORK: Don DeFore (C), president of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, shows Walt Disney (R) and Ed Sullivan the "Emmy" award which will be presented to President Eisenhower for "his distinguished use and encouragement of the television medium." The announcement of the presentation took place at a luncheon at the Hotel Plaza, here 11/15, honoring the 1954 "Emmy" winners from the East Coast.

Walt figured if a guy could get the Emmys on TV, SURELY he could make a restaurant work at Disneyland! This can-do attitue of Don's too him from the Emmy Awards to BBQ...who knew? Here's one of Don with his brother Vern, standing in front of the Silver Banjo Barbecue Restaurant (1957-1961):



Here is how the same location looks today:



See more Don DeFore & Silver Banjo BBQ photos on my Don DeFore web page.

Cubby O'Brien, Don DeFore, and Vesey Walker at The Disneyland Hotel

Mouseketeer Cubby O'Brien is shown here playing his heart out at the Disneyland Hotel, circa June 1957, near the hotel's olympic-size swimming pool. This was part of an event to benefit the City of Hope Medical Center. The talented O'Brien was one of the kids actually picked by Walt to audition for the Mickey Mouse Club. Following his time with the Mouse, Cubby had stints with The Lawrence Welk Show, Spike Jones, The Carol Burnett Show, and The Carpenters (as in Karen & Richard, for all you young'ens out there!).

Vesey Walker can be seen in front of the Disneyland Band, just waiting for Cubby to figuratively turn the baton back to him, and actor Don DeFore (of "Hazel" fame) is smiling on the left-hand side of the photo. Don was a good friend of Walt's, and operated the Silver Banjo BBQ Restaurant over on New Orleans Street in Frontierland. None other than Don's son Ron positively ID'ed Don for me:



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

Disneyland 56th Anniversary Less-Than-Spectacular, Pt. 2

One of the most beloved Less-Than-Spectacular attractions at Disneyland was The Flying Saucers. Although they had a respectable 5-year life span, the Saucers were infamous because of their technical problems. High in fun; low on reliability.



The Flying Saucers were the last attraction to open in the “original” Tomorrowland. From August 6, 1961–August 5, 1966, The Flying Saucers floated in a 16,000 sq. ft. arena. They were designed to hold one large guest or two small ones, with 16 saucers flying at once while the other 16 were being loaded. As the ride began, air valves pushed the saucer upward so that it was floating just inches above the ground. Guests shifted their body weight to fly across the arena and tilt their saucer (imagine a giant air-hockey table). Just like bumper cars, guests could crash into each other with their saucers.



The Flying Saucers were very popular and even made the cover of National Geographic Magazine. However, numerous mechanical problems which often were in direct proportion to the weight of the guest caused their demise. If the guest was too heavy, the saucer just sat in the same place; if too light, it was hard to tip the saucer, so it just stayed in one spot, bouncing. The collision of the saucers also made the ride a natural for back injuries (oh the ambulance chasers of today would have had a field day). In addition, they sometimes wedged into each other causing the saucers to flip.



Don DeFore’s son, David, was one of the original testers of the ride, back when the saucers were made of plywood and there was very little regulation over their speed. David said that the attraction was much more fun at this stage! David was so light that they had to put a keg of nails on his saucer to get it to balance and work properly.



The Saucers were replaced by the Tomorrowland Stage in 1967 and Space Mountain in 1977.





As part of the new Cars Land at Disney California Adventure, guests will get a chance to experience the fun of the Flying Saucers attraction once again, as Luigi's Flying Tires will use technological advances to create a more stable (hopefully) and reliable attraction.



More Less-Than-Spectacular Disneyland to come, 1970's style!

See more vintage Disneyland Flying Saucers photos at my main website.

Walt Disney Birthday Blowout!

To celebrate the 109th Anniversary of Walt Disney’s birthday, I am presenting a bonanza of Walt Disney photos! For photo #1, it appears to be a few lucky guests at Disneyland who ran into Walt during a visit. The pic is hand dated March, 1955; since the park opened in July, this is probably a misnotation.

Here’s a great photo of Walt in what appears to be Adventureland, surveying the skulls and other decor located near the Adventureland gate. It may seem a little funky to see skulls at Disneyland, but this is one of my favorite entryways at the Park.



This July 27, 1955 semi-blurry shot was once a treasure to the guest who shot it; it shows New Orleans Street, the original home of Casa de Fritos, which became the Silver Banjo Barbecue in 1957. And in this case, “X” definitely marks the spot, as Walt Disney himself is standing amidst his “guests.”



These are two photos document Disneyland construction from May 1955. The first shows Walt walking in front of the unfinished castle:



And this one shows him having a conversation while standing near one of the castle’s spires. Not sure what this guy is telling Walt, but it looks like an excuse to me, and Walt does not seem interested. Just make it happen, buster!



Here’s Walt behind the scenes with some new Jungle Cruise animals, circa 1963:



One year, Walt called Don DeFore frantically from the Main Street entrance just before the Christmas parade was to begin. His grandchildren had not yet arrived, and Walt could not ride in the carriage without kids. Walt asked Don to send two of his children to the front gate immediately. Ron & Dawn were the lucky DeFore children who got to play Walt’s grandkids, and most of the guests probably didn’t even know the difference. Here are three photos from that parade:







Billy & Sybil were two lucky kids who got to join Walt on a ride through Frontierland atop the Pack Mules before the park was officially open. Note the stuffed Mickey Mouse doll on the rear mule. He looks much less scary than the Mickey Mouse that was at Disneyland during the first few years!



On May 28, 1960, Walt Disney & his grandchildren christened the new scenery of the Nature’s Wonderland attraction, which now had 204 “lifelike” animals. This photo shows Walt with his grandchildren Tammy, Joanna, and Chris Miller at the branch cutting ceremony.



Walt surveying a Tuna Boat on the Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship Restaurant, December 23, 1960:



The last one today is probably my favorite: a beaming Walt relaxing in front of City Hall in Town Square, March 1965. I believe this was his last official portrait at Disneyland:



See more Disneyland photos at my main website.

1000th Post: Opening Day Parade, Pt. 3

It’s official; today is my 1000th post...really hard to believe. To start us off, we’ll follow the Mouseketeers in the Opening Day Parade as they travel from Town Square down Main Street U.S.A. Kinda’ like the Wizard of Oz, watch ’em go from black and white to color.







Next up are some Frontierland images, including Fess Parker & Buddy Ebsen as Davy Crockett & his sidekick, George Russel.











For my last image from the July 17, 1955 Opening Day Parade, you can see TV & Film Star Don DeFore (wearing the white blazer) driving an Autopia car down Main Street:







Many thanks to all you readers out there, especially the ones who have left great comments and helped educate me on some of the finer points of Disneyland History. On another celebratory note, “Zorro” starring Guy Williams, is finally going to be released on DVD in glorious black and white.







See more Disneyland photos at my website.

The Ron DeFore Collection: Silver Banjo 3

These boys from the military got a hearty welcome from Don DeFore and his younger brother, Verne. 2nd shot is a rare interior view of the Silver Banjo Barbecue. If you look closely at the waitress’ tray, then shot #3 will have much more meaning to you. And if this photo makes the interior look cramped, well....it was cramped. It was a tiny space, both on the customer side as well as on the kitchen side.



Here is one of the original serving trays from the Silver Banjo Barbecuu:



To see more vintage Silver Banjo photos, visit my website.