In Your Easter Bonnet, Pt. 2

Easter 2024 has come and gone, but at Daveland, it still lives on. This vintage Disneyland image from the 1950s shows a shop window with three unique hats that look just perfect for the Easter Parade! I have no idea who Robbie Nesbitt Grinnell is; in a rare situation, Google failed me.



To see where this window is located, you need look no further than the Opera House in Town Square. The Summer of 1955 shot below just happens to include the same display window.



The sign and the hats are different, but the window itself matches in every other way.



In this 2012 shot, the same window is still there, but easy to miss because of the awning hanging over it.



Oh, to have some interesting hats available at the Park again!



See more Disneyland Opera House photos at my main website.

Disneyland in 3D: June 26, 1966, Pt. 1

For Daveland, June 26, 1966 was a WONDERFUL evening! In my collection, I have a series of 3D slides shot at night of the Park. Of course, I will attempt to stretch these out over two posts. When I digitally combine the left and right slides, I get a slightly wider view for most of these:



By this point, the Main Street Train Station has 50,000,000 listed as the guest count. I love seeing the people inside the station, too. It’s almost like being there.



As we enter the Park, we see that Mr. Lincoln is now playing. At this point, the show had been going on for about a year.



The combined view:



In the detailed view, you can see the interior of the Wonderland Music shop on the left, and inside the Opera House, there is a bust of Lincoln at the entrance.



Continuing up Main Street we see the Magic Shop and the Wurlitzer Music Hall:



The combined view:



A great view of the Wurlitzer display window, with the slogan, “The name that means music to millions.”



A view of Town Square shot from the Main Street Train Station:



The combined view:



If you notice that many of the people are blurred in these shots, that’s because an evening exposure would mean the shutter would have had to stay open longer.



On the other side of Town Square we see City Hall:



The combined view:



Do guests still just hang out at night and sit on benches? I’m guessing if they do, they are busy with their phones.



The Disneyland Fire Department:



Not much of a difference with the combined view other than better focus on the edges.



Since Walt was still alive at the time this was shot, the light in the window at night was not a standard thing to see.



Moving back up Main Street we encounter the Emporium:



The combined view:



I LOVE looking inside the windows! I’m so nosy! Note the photographer with a tripod on the left.



More to come!
 
See more vintage and contemporary Disneyland photos at my main website.

Mickey at the Opera

Today’s post is a mixed bag of new and previously published shots showing Mickey Mouse in front of the Disneyland Main Street Opera House. These were taken during the period when the Mickey Mouse Club Headquarters resided inside the grand structure. Guarded by Toy Soldiers from the Babes in Toyland movie, it was a great temporary attraction while Walt figured out what to do with the building. First shot is from September 1963.



Two from February 1964:





Ah, my birth month and year! May 1964. What kind of partnership is Mickey forming with this mysterious lady in sunglasses?



Love the little girl with the pink purse; she already knows how to pose like a super model, circa November 1964.



Notice the people in line inside in this detail shot...and the poor little ginger boy who did not make the photo. Probably plotting his revenge at the very moment this photo was taken.



By July 1965, Walt put “Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln” inside the Opera House and Disneyland attraction history was made. Here are two Genuine FauxD© images from August 28, 1965:





See more Disneyland Opera House photos at my main website.

Abe and the Patriotic Sunset

When it comes to patriotism, Walt sure knew how to bludgeon guests over the head with it. This October 1977 shot shows the big wow finish to the Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln show at the Main Street Opera House.

Flash forward to my last visit, the sunset flag image still wows them!



Abe just sits there, soaking it all in, waiting for the applause.



See more Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln photos at my main website.

Monday Moments with Mr. Lincoln

In honor of President's Day, today's post will feature some previously unreleased shots of Abe from a December 2015 visit to the Park. Yes. I am behind. What's new?!?



Shots #2 and #3 are from the slideshow of paintings that depict the life of our 16th President.



My wide angle lens gives a complete view of the stage, Abe, and props. Typically I am focused on getting as close to Mr. Lincoln as possible.







I love the lighting effects towards the end, which completely change the mood of the scene as the patriotic music in the background begins.



Sunrise or sunset?



The background showing the Lincoln Memorial statue as Abe sits calmly in his chair. Didja' know...Daniel Chester French was the designer of the statue which was carved by the Piccirilli Brothers, a family of renowned marble carvers and sculptors that lived in the Bronx.



See more Disneyland Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln photos at my main website.

60th Anniversary Trip, Pt. 15

After indulging in a heavy day at the Haunted Mansion, let's take a little breather before we delve into the "new" Club 33. Today's post begins with a concert by the Disneyland Marching Band, entering Central Plaza over the Sleeping Beauty Castle drawbridge.





Out come some of our favorite Disney Toons: Mickey, Pluto, Goofy, Donald, and Chip 'n Dale.



Ta da!



Lunch was over at the Celebration BBQ. After everyone was evacuated because of a kitchen fire, we were seated at our table and allowed to indulge in the all-you-care to eat BBQ fixins.



The birthday dessert was a fantabulous chocolate chip cookie served in a deep-dish skillet à la mode.



Doug made his birthday wish:



The entertainment during lunch is an added bonus:



It was already turning out to be a high-crowd day, so we took leisurely tour around the Rivers of America on the Mark Twain.



Meanwhile, other guests took a not-so-leisurely turn around the Rivers in a canoe.



The Twain didn't scare this bird; he just stayed perched on his barrel.



Fowler's Inn:



A closeup:



It's gotten bigger over the years, as you can see in this comparison shot from June 1965:



Turning the corner you can see the Gullywhumper Keelboat:



with Wavy Indian in the background:



A better view of the Gullywhumper:



and the non-burning cabin:



Want a closeup?



I prefer mine flaming. How about you?



The busy little beaver:



And some other less convincing "animals" along the way:



There was plenty of room at the Shooting Gallery:





I'd never noticed this ghostly figure that rides across the background; very cool!



Last item on the agenda for the day was to visit Abe Lincoln in the Opera House. Cast member Michael was our host:



Abe waited patiently in the dark until it was his moment to speak.



He did a great job as usual; never flubs a line.



A rousing patriotic finish every time.



NEXT UP: Club 33!

More Frontierland at my main website.