Disneyland July 1956 Gems

A few gems from Frontierland, circa July 1956. These two well-behaved children are standing outside the Frontier Trading Post. It sure is fun taking a peak inside the windows at the merchandise.



Over at the queue for the Pack Mules attraction a cast member looks a bit bored.



You can see maintenance working on something in this detailed view:



Over at the Rivers of America, some of the scenery near the Indian Settlement is still under construction:





The complete tableau, from 1957:



The tents are still very plain at this time, without any decor.



A much more vibrant Indian Settlement is seen in this September 1959 shot:



See more photos at my main website.

Childhood Issues

At first glance, I thought this April 1965 shot was taken at Knott’s Berry Farm. Very rarely do you see one of the Native Americans outside of the Indian Village at Disneyland. This was one of those rare cases, as the Frontier Trading Post and iconic Wooden Indian Statue are also clearly visible in the photo. The gent on the right seems incredulous, too. I obviously am not alone!



Just seven months later, my family visited Disneyland in honor of my oldest brother’s 8th birthday. I got stuck at home with Grandma. What a raw deal; no wonder I visited the Park so much in my adulthood!



Everything stems from those childhood issues!

As a follow-up to yesterday’s post, leave it to David from Gorillas Don’t Blog to know the answer about the mystery Fantasyland poster. He immediately contacted me with info AND images. The best!



The poster in your blog post is from a set of six litho posters (25" X 38") that were sold in the Park; I wasn't sure if they went on sale in 1965 or 1966, but your photo is from 1965, so that solves that.



I'm not sure I've ever seen another photo in which you could see one of these posters for sale!



I remember in my early poster collecting days, you could acquire the whole set of six for around $800 to $1000. Now they can fetch several thousand dollars EACH.



The Van Eaton auctions have had many of these posters for sale, sometimes referred to as "near attraction posters."





See more Disneyland Frontierland photos at my main website.

TGIF-rontierland

Just because...a medley of previously posted Frontierland shots that were intended to get us to that 5 o’clock weekend bell...but as usual, I was running behind yesterday morning. All are from March 8, 1956.

Zooming in for a closeup of the Miniature Horse Corral sign:



And an early drinking fountain:



I wonder if trading was actually done at the Trading Post?





I love the way the lamp shadow was caught in this photo of the Assay Office exterior:



For those who want to weave a reproduction of the blanket, here’s a closeup:



In a pure case of nepotism, Walt put his father-in-law’s name as the Sheriff on the signage in Frontierland:



Sorry; no Pack Mules today!



Care to buy a trick rope?



I wonder who painted the art on this sign? Painted...as in brush and paint. Yes. It used to happen.



See more vintage Disneyland Frontierland photos at my main website.

Disneyland's Miniature Horse Corral

When Disneyland first opened, Frontierland had a Miniature Horse Corral.



Lasting until July 1957, this area had miniature horses, ponies, and donkeys that guests could view and pet. On the right of this detail shot, you can also see the Frontier Trading Post:



Another 1956 image of the same area:



Very rarely do I see shots with the animals; maybe they were resting.



A few previously posted shots of the Corral:



In the background you can see one of the Conestoga Wagons:



An overhead shot from July 18, 1955:





I wonder how a petting zoo would go over in the Park today?

See more Daveland Frontierland photos at my main website.

The Franklyn Taylor Collection: Frontierland, Pt. 1

Chris Taylor has kindly allowed me to post some historic photos that his father, Franklyn, shot of the park during the early years. The photos posted today are from Frontierland, showing how it looked in 1956. Previously, you may have seen the amazing photo that Chris' father snapped of Walt outside of the Mickey Mouse circus. Here's the background in Chris' own words from that first trip to Disneyland:

In 1956 my father was transferred by his employer, Goodyear, from Akron to Los Angeles. We drove across the country on Route 66 in a Buick sedan with four kids, then spent the summer in a Long Beach motel right along the beach waiting for our new Anaheim house to be built. The weekend before we moved into the house, we splurged and stayed at the Disneyland Hotel, which we had heard all about on the Disneyland TV show the previous year while still in Akron. While at the Disneyland Hotel, we, of course, visited Disneyland for the first time. Again, we had heard all about this wonderful place for the last year while watching the Disneyland TV Show.

Of course I had to zoom in on the silver mask hanging outside of the Frontier Trading Post:



A few shots of the Pack Mules, sauntering through Frontierland:







Nothing like riding the Mark Twain while being serenaded by live music:



Look at the lines in front of the Golden Horseshoe; almost looks like the crowds you'd find in front of Star Tours!



A few of the E.P. Ripley and the Cattle Cars, with the first shot showing some kind of construction crane in the background; for the Disneyland Hotel, perhaps?





Zooming in, I am assuming that these are "live" Native Americans sitting amongst the guests, and not statues.



Last one shows a Stagecoach making its route in the golden glow of sunset.





More gems to come from this fantastic collection. I would also be remiss if I didn't wish everyone a Happy Valentine's Day!

See more Franklyn Taylor Disneyland photos on my Taylor collection web page.