All Aboard! Casey Jr. Circus Train, circa 2007

Take a ride aboard the Casey Jr. Circus Train at Disneyland, circa February 2007! Based on the circus train from Disney’s animated classics “Dumbo” and “The Reluctant Dragon” (both 1941), it has been part of Fantasyland since pretty much opening day; technical difficulties caused a brief shut down for repairs.



Even seventeen years ago, establishing shots were important to me, including the original ticket booth (photo #1), the entrance sign, and of course the engine itself!



How Casey looked pulling into the station:



I scored the backseat on this ride, which provides unfettered views of Storybook Land:



…without any other guests, flailing arms, or selfie sticks to get in the way. In 2007, cellphones had yet to invade the world to the degree that we are unable to enjoy living without them.



The Matterhorn looks even larger against the back drop of the miniature landscape of Storybook Land.





An overview of the homes of the Three Little Pigs, the Three Windmills, and Toad Hall.



Gepetto’s Village:



Zooming in for a better look; who wouldn’t like to be able to walk around at their leisure to see all of the little details here?



Alice’s Village:



The French Village below Cinderella’s Castle:



The details of this still blow me away; even decorative items sitting in the windows.



Hope you enjoyed your ride aboard Casey Jr.!

See more Disneyland Casey Jr. Circus Train photos at my main website.

Nails and Nixon

Richard Nixon visited Disneyland in August 1955 with his family. This image shows the then Vice President getting ready to put daughter Tricia on one of the Dumbo Flying elephants. Wife Pat is looking very fashionable in her hat, gloves, and purse at left. Zooming in, you can see a few boxes of nails just sitting inside the perimeter of the attraction. Maybe kids could throw them at the peasants below as they circled over Fantasyland!



Proof that the Dumbo ears were designed to flap up and down; in this detailed view you can see that the ear was not originally molded to the vehicle.



In consecutive shot #2, Tricia is now in the vehicle, as sister Julie anxiously awaits her turn on Dumbo.



Lots of cameras that day, including one daring gent who has one foot on Dumbo’s seat and another on the arm that attaches the vehicle to the center mechanism.



In this image from the USC Digital archive, you can see that Fess Parker was nearby. Apparently the photographer of the first two images did not want to include him!



See more Nixon family photos at Disneyland on my main website.

Dumbo and Carnation

It’s not TGIF(riday), but TGIF(eather) today. This previously unpublished shot shows the Dumbo Flying Elephants attraction at Disneyland. Although undated, the lack of landscaping at the Casey Jr. attraction in the background tells us it’s most likely 1955/1956. Even more interesting is the hat/headband of the little girl on the lower right, which appears to be a feathered Indian headdress from Carnation. It must have been a bonus from one of the sponsored restaurants at the park that served Carnation products.



See more Disneyland Dumbo Flying Elephant attraction photos at my main website.

Holiday in Fantasyland, 1963

It’s December 1963, and my favorite feather hat gal’s daughter is meeting Pluto! In the background, you can see the Mad Hatter Shop. The detail shot below features the back of a Disneyland Tour Guide and two guests eating a DELICIOUS frozen treat from the Welch’s Grape Juice stand.



THIS feathered hat is even more spectacular. I think she wins the prize. Pluto thinks so, too.



Soaring high over Fantasyland on Dumbo, NOBODY’S feathered hat is safe. Hold on tight!



Moving a little further into the depths of Fantasyland we have STORY BOOK LAND! And of course Casey Jr., my favorite little circus train.



A rare shot of one of the Windmills:



The last two for the day show the Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship Restaurant:



…and what I probably miss the most about Disneyland of yore: Skull Rock Cove.



See more vintage Disneyland photos at my main website.

Monday with Mansfield

With my latest Jayne Mansfield at Disneyland in 1957 acquisition, I can now put together a fairly comprehensive pictorial representation of her tour of Fantasyland. Here she is with her daughter in front of the Sleeping Beauty Castle; note that the crest is still not on the Castle at this point. Husband Mickey Hargitay is on the left side of the shot in a dark suit. I love the expressions of the other guests as they see this bonafide movie star strolling right by them.



Perhaps next she went to the Carrousel, which was directly on the other side of the Castle:



…followed by a spin on the teacups:



A flight over Fantasyland via Dumbo. Note the hinged ears:
 


Some “adult” time on the dark rides with husband Mickey, first at Peter Pan:



…followed by Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride:



Will there be more Mansfield in the future? Only time will tell!

See more celebrities at Disneyland photos at my main website.

1955 Dumbo Details

This 1955 image of the Dumbo Flying Elephants attraction at Disneyland caught my attention for a number of reasons. The most obvious one is that it captures the mechanism that allowed Dumbo’s ears to flap while the attraction was in motion. Apparently it was problematic, and guests today will see that the ear is now part of the overall mold rather than a separate piece.



Even modern day technology couldn’t make it work.



The biggest “wow” for me in the 1955 shot was this phone booth; very jarring. I don’t think it must have lasted long, as in my VERY quick search, I couldn’t find it in any other shots from my collection. Any way, what would you have needed a phone booth for? “Hey Ma, I’m at Disneyland! You won’t believe it...Dumbo’s ears actually flap!”



I also enjoyed seeing all the little gadgets at this refreshment stand:



The one mystery to me is this little area which looks like a vintage coffee can sitting in a recessed area.



Here are some previously posted shots that show the same area and the refreshment stand:





Leave it to “Anonymous” to see the same phone booth in my shot from December 1955:



Now if only “Anonymous” could solve the mystery of the coffee can. Waiting…

See more Disneyland Dumbo Flying Elephants attraction photos at my main website.

The Evolution of Dumbo

At Disneyland, the original Dumbo’s ears flapped up and down, causing a number of mechanical problems. The original sculptor was Rudolph Parducci. Chris Mueller Jr., created new casts with no hinges for movement of the ears. This December 1957 shot shows the hinged movement.

Dumbo with his ears down:

The one-piece mold version seen today:

A figure of Timothy Mouse rides atop the central hub; he was not original to the attraction and didn’t appear until later in 1957. The figure originally held a training whip, which was briefly replaced with a magic feather during the 1990’s. It has since been changed back to the whip.

Unfortunately, I don’t seem to have any shots in my collection of that elusive feather!

See more Disneyland Dumbo photos at my main website.