Pens not Plush at Disneyland

This November 1959 image shows a gent hanging out in front of the Pen Shop at Disneyland. Lasting from 1955-1959, you could purchase pens, get a handwriting analysis, and check out the replicas of historic documents on display. Something tells me this shop would never fly today; not enough ROI for the stuff shirts. Below is an overall 1950s image that shows East Center Street (just off Main Street, U.S.A.) where you could find the Pen Shop in the back left corner.



From June 2012, you can see that this quaint little corner has been maximized for profit with juice and fruit cart offerings as well as lockers (to store all the stuff you don’t need) and an ice cream shop at the rear.



In this September 2007, you can see that the “Painless Dentist” is where the Pen Shop used to be.



See more Disneyland East Center Street photos at my main website.

1950s Main Street: The Test Wall

This 1950’s shot of East Center Street at Disneyland shows a very interesting spot in the Park: the test wall. Zooming in, this little faux brick wall was apparently a test to see which type of brick would look best. It has also been suggested that this wall was not a test, but meant to be a transition into the never-constructed colonial area, “Liberty Street.”



This contemporary shot from 2008 shows the different types of “bricks” tested and also that this test lasted for quite some time. Anyone know if this wall still exists? On a Disneyland tour I took, I was told that Main Street was built with zero actual bricks; everything was done with paint as if it were a movie set.



This detailed view shows the window of Imagineer W. Dennis Cottrell as it originally looked:



…and how it looked in 2009 when I shot it:



W.H. Cottrell was the first president of the newly formed Walt Disney Imagineering when Disneyland opened. Better known as Bill or Uncle Bill, Cottrell headed the group from 1952-1964. Cottrell started as a camera operator for Walt Disney Studios. He directed the Evil Queen & Wicked Witch sequences in “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” and wrote for “Pinocchio,” “The Three Caballeros,” “Alice in Wonderland,” and “Peter Pan.” 

See more Disneyland Main Street, U.S.A. photos at my main website.

Vintage East Center Street

Two more vintage gems from Disneyland show East Center Street. In this February 1958 shot, a well-dressed guest is looking in the window of Gibson Greeting Cards.



This undated shot is most likely from the same period, giving us more of a view to the right.



Care to visit the Pen Shop?



See more Disneyland photos at my main website.

Sax at Disneyland

The legendary Wayne King, Count Basie, Duke Ellington and Bill Elliot pose at Disneyland near Tomorrowland as they prepare to play in the Disneyland Big Band Festival, June 14, 1964. This photo is part of the UCLA Library Digital Archives.

For all you sax fans out there, here's a closeup of Bill's instrument. Wonder what the letters are in his pocket?



Individual portraits of the quartet from different gigs at Disneyland. Wayne King:



Count Basie from September 1978 at the Plaza Gardens:



Duke Ellington from August 1965:



Bill Elliott from August 27, 1965 in FauxD©:



Not enough sax for you? How about this March 1981 image of the Firehouse Five playing on East Center Street:



Hope you've had enough sax for today!

See more vintage & current Disneyland photos on my main website.

"Art" at Disneyland

"Art" lovers needed to look no further than Main Street, U.S.A. to find unique pieces to decorate their abodes. In the early years, original Disney cels could be purchased near the Plaza Inn, as you can see in this unfortunate beginning of the roll wacky exposure. The gent in the Stetson seems to be admiring little Alice.



Those not wanting to go quite as "high brow" as a Disney animated cel could create their own art, thanks to these colorful cutouts that were in the same area:



By the time this September 1960 color-shifted photo was taken, the art had moved to East Center Street.



Granted, the detail when zooming in is not that great, but these interpretations on canvas of the Castle and the Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship appear somewhat amateurish.



If you're wondering how I could tell the previous shot was from East Center Street, just compare the buildings at the top of the photo with this shot of the Art Festival:



It would truly make my day to discover that this wacky pirate painting still exists:



"Live" artists were also on hand to do portraits for guests, as seen in this September 1964 photo:



If "art" wasn't your thing, you could always walk across the way to West Center Street and pick up some plastic flowers.



Nothing but "class" on Main Street!

See more vintage & current Disneyland East Center Street photos on my main website.

Move It And Lose It

Before viewers had the ability to TIVO their programs, do you remember how changing the night of a TV show was typically the kiss of death? Whether a show was good or not, somehow changing its time slot or especially its night of the week usually resulted in a drop in the ratings, which then led to cancellation. We are creatures of habit. We don't like change. Today's post shows how at Disneyland, the same theory applies. Notice our first image from 1975, showing the Flower Market located on West Center Street. Guests could purchase plastic bouquets or arrangements of fruits and vegetables to proudly display in their home.

Taken just a few months later, this August 1975 photo also shows the Flower Market. See any differences?



Of course you do—nobody is going to pull the wool over your eyes! The Flower Market moved across the way to East Center Street, allowing the Carnation Cafe to expand its dining location to include outdoor seating. Here's another shot of the Flower Market on East Center Street, circa July 1977.



This gent, slurping down a tasty sundae in April 1977, seemed very happy with the change. No complaints about being able to enjoy his ice cream outdoors!



It wasn't much later that the Flower Mart went bye-bye completely.

Next up is arguably the most famous case of "Move It And Lose It": The Disneyland Bandstand. Originally located in Town Square, shortly before the park was opened, it was realized that this large structure would block the view of the Castle and disrupt the cinematic “long shot” desired looking down Main Street.



Its next residence was near the castle, where it resided until Walt decided that the Disneyland Band needed a more permanent stage.



John Hench sketched up a few ideas for the Carnation Plaza Gardens and the bandstand was moved (again), approximately July 1956; this time to Adventureland, in an area known as Magnolia Park, located between the Jungle Cruise and the Chicken Plantation Restaurant.





When the Jungle Cruise expanded in 1962, the addition of the Elephant Bathing Pool meant that the Bandstand had reached the end of the line at Disneyland. According to the book The Nickel Tour, the Bandstand was donated to the City of Anaheim, who kept it for a few years before donating it to nearby Rogers Gardens.

This quiet little spot between The Haunted Mansion and the French Market is referred to as "Magnolia Park." It looks totally different, but why waste a good name? Are there even any Magnolia trees in the vicinity?



Another victim to change was The Indian Village, which was originally located on the cusp of Adventureland and Frontierland, in the area that became Magnolia Park.



In 1956, it was moved to the back of the park at the furthest border of Frontierland.



In 1971, The Indian Village disappeared for good and became Bear Country.



The Disney Gallery was created in 1987 in New Orleans Square, making use of the space that Walt Disney had originally mapped out as a VIP guest suite for his family and friends. The Disney Gallery was a combination museum/gift shop, displaying art, props, and other things from the Disney archives.



This caretaker from the cemetery was here temporarily during one of the Haunted Mansion refurbs.



A few props from the "Pirates of the Caribbean" movies:





A view of the lovely courtyard of The Disney Gallery:



In 2007, Disney announced that the Gallery would be restored to Walt's original vision, and used as a “Dream Suite” for lucky guests to spend an unforgettable night during the Year of a Million Dreams promotion. This version of The Disney Gallery closed on August 7, 2007, reopening in Town Square in the former Bank of America location in 2009.





With The Market House being converted to a Starbucks, rumors have begun to buzz that at least part of the space that is now Disneyana will be given to The Market House. Disneyana began its life in 1976 in the former Upjohn Pharmacy location. It moved in 1986 to its present location on East Main Street:





Will Disneyana bite the dust? I wouldn't be surprised. I also wouldn't care. With the Disney Gallery and Disneyana in such close proximity to each other, the two locations seem redundant. The Disney Gallery sells much of the same high end/collectible merchandise that Disneyana sells, so the need for two retail spaces that are so close in concept seems like a waste of space. Only time will tell!

Any other changing attractions/shops that I missed?

See more vintage and current Disneyland photos on my Disneyland photo web pages.