Twainapalooza

Today we celebrate the Mark Twain with a random assortment of vintage shots of the venerable riverboat at Disneyland. First up are a few from April 1960. Zooming in we can see a raft at Tom Sawyer Island as well as some guests paddling away their churros on a canoe. I wonder how many of those hats ended up in the river?



A lovely shot of the Twain, also from April 1960.



Know anybody?



A July 1967 shot:



Although it was a few years away from being opened, the Haunted Mansion was completely built by this time:



This closeup shows a nearby ticket booth. For the rafts to Tom Sawyer Island, perhaps?



Another gem from July 1967:



Here we see the ticket booth for Nature's Wonderland as well as the festive umbrellas for Casa de Fritos:



In November 1968 the Disneyland Marching Band was at the Mark Twain dock:



The leader does not appear to be Vesey Walker, though:



Actor and game show host John Davidson visited the park while he was filming "The Happiest Millionaire" (1967):



Last one has been posted before, but you know how much I love those FauxD© shots; this one from July 17, 1968 shows the Young Men from New Orleans playing their hearts out aboard the Mark Twain:



Get your Mark Twain fix at my main website.

Journey Back To 1956 Pt. 2

Welcome back to 1956. The paddlewheel of the mighty Mark Twain is churning round the green Rivers of America at Disneyland.

The more decoratively appointed Bertha Mae Keel Boat can be seen cruising the River.



A closer look:



From the dock side of the river we get an alternative view of the Bertha Mae:



as well as an Indian Canoe:



C'mon people, get the lead out! Start paddling harder!



There's a raft full of peeps ready to explore Tom Sawyer's Island.



A detailed view provides a look at Fowler's Harbor and the original tunnel for the Disneyland Railroad in Frontierland.



Our 1956 photographer sure loved the River!



I am guessing this shot of the Golden Horseshoe was taken from the treehouse (or thereabouts) on Tom Sawyer Island.



By this point in Disneyland history, the Indian Village had already been moved from its original location near Adventureland to its new spot in Frontierland.



Care to ride a canoe?



I love interior images of Fort Wilderness; if only it could be restored to its 1956 glory.



The final two shots in the collection show Knotts Berry Farm, starting with this image of panning for gold.





I have read that panning for gold is supposed to return to Knotts this year. Hooray!



More vintage (and current!) Disneyland images at my main website.

1950's Disneyland Miscellaneous Gems

The train is at the Disneyland Main Street Train Station, waiting to take us on a journey of 1950's miscellany. Zooming in for a nice juicy close-up of the Kalamazoo Handcar:



Over at the Frontierland Depot, we have a glimpse of the backend of the Excursion Car as it pulls away from the station:



An Indian War Canoe circles Tom Sawyer Island:



Somebody call Child Welfare - that poor little girl in the back seems to be doing all the work!



As the Mark Twain leaves the dock, guests can see a little action going on over at the Fishing Pier:



I wonder how many people actually took the fish home and cooked them?



Today's post ends in a blaze of glory as The Mark Twain approaches the infamous Burning Cabin:



You knew it was coming, folks; a closeup of the poor dead geezer out front:



See more vintage & current Disneyland Storybook Land photos from my collection on my main website.

Fowler's Harbor, February 1958

I was immediately taken by this February 1958 image of Fowler's Harbor. Sure, it's not the best angle to see the main structure, but it contains a number of rarely seen details elsewhere in its frame. I am guessing that the wooden slide/supports are in preparation of the Columbia arriving for construction, as it would still be four months before its debut when this photo was taken.



Zooming in to the left, you can see the sign for the Indian Village War Canoes. Anybody care to take a spin? You can also see the tunnel for the Frontierland Depot stop of the Disneyland Railroad.



Amazingly enough, the same tunnel is still around today. NOTE: Daveland reader HBG2 pointed out that the tunnel was moved (approximately 1962) to make room for the Haunted Mansion.



See more vintage & current Fowler's Harbor photos on my Fowler's Harbor web page.

Taxidermy at Disneyland

Today's post shows one of my favorite oddities from the long-gone Indian Village in Frontierland. A banner above this bridge alerts you to the wonders of the Indian Village ahead, with the Frontierland Depot peeking out from the background, September 1955.



This 1956 shot of the entrance to the Indian Village shows the canoes still under tarps with the ticket booth behind them; either out of season or not quite ready for guests.



And now we get to the subject of today's post. In Walt's opinion, no Indian Village would be complete without a stuffed buffalo/bison.



This August 1956 shot shows the same scene in color:



For those who can't get enough of stuffed animals, this photographer wanted you to see more of this area by pulling back for a long shot:



Zooming in for the taxidermy:



July 1967, he's still there:



On December 10th, "Mary Poppins" will be released for the first time in High Definition on Blu-ray in a 50th Anniversary Edition.



See more vintage Disneyland Indian Village photos on my Indian Village web page.