Views of the Viewliner

The photographer who took these two images is my hero/heroine; they wrote the actual date on the back of the slides AND the camera setting! These April 26, 1958 shots are of the short lived attraction that transported Disneyland guests between Tomorrowland and Fantasyland, The Viewliner. Walt Disney’s predecessor to The Monorail only lasted from June 26, 1957 to September 15, 1958. It became a victim of progress and a large renovation in this section of the Park that included the Monorail, The Submarine Voyage, and The Matterhorn. See that pine-topped hill with guests hiking up the dirt path? Alternately known as Snow/Holiday Hill, Lookout Mountain, and unofficially “Lover’s Lane,” it was the future location of the Matterhorn, which would serve to hide the large Skyway support shown in the photo. At far right is the Tomorrowland Viewliner Station:



The camera settings for both of these were F8 1/50, in case any of you were wondering. Image #2 shows the Fantasyland Viewliner train which was blue; the Tomorrowland version was salmon/red in color.



A closeup of the train zipping over the bridge where the  Motor Boat Cruise sailed.



There were a few bridges where the two attractions overlapped:



This image shows the Fantasyland Viewliner Station:



While the Monorail is a classic, the Viewliner sure is cute. It’s too bad it couldn’t have been recycled elsewhere in the Park.

See more Disneyland Viewliner photos at my main website.

The Pylon on the Hill

The Matterhorn is a classic Disneyland attraction; not only because it’s been around since 1959, but also because it’s one of the attractions you can see from the I-5 Freeway as you approach the Park. As a kid (and yes, even as an adult!), it gave me that joyous sense of anticipation. We’re almost there! Before the Matterhorn was built, what was there? A mound of dirt (which had been repurposed from the excavation needed for the Sleeping Beauty Castle and its moat) and an unsightly pylon for the Skyway. Dubbed “Holiday Hill,” “Lookout Mountain,” “Lovers’ Lane,” and then “Snow Hill” (in anticipation of the Matterhorn), this area provided a place for guests to relax and breathe a bit from the excitement of the park. In these undated 1957/1958 images, you can actually see (gasp!) a garden hose as a Park employee is watering the plants.

A shot taken from the Skyway bucket as it soars over the hill:

A rarely seen angle of the Castle as we zoom in:

A wonderful view of the hill as the Skyway bucket approaches the Tomorrowland Skyway Station:

Zooming in you can see the tip of the Tomorrowland Viewliner Station as well as a little tot attempting to get in the way of the Park employee who is watering the plants:

What a charming area; the wooden rails and paths would have made for a lovely getaway. Today, there would be souvenir stands and vendor carts strewn along the way.

See more Holiday/Snow Hill photos at my main website.

Disneyland Skyway and that mound of dirt

For those not familiar with the Disneyland of yore, this July 1958 images shows you what the Park looked like shortly before the Matterhorn was built. The dirt that was excavated to make way for the Castle was used to create a 20-foot hill nearby known as Snow Mountain, Holiday Hill, Disney Peak, Snow Hill, and Lookout Mountain. Landscaping took root after awhile and benches and pathways were added, encouraging this area to be used for a leisurely stroll, a picnic, and eventually (but unintentionally by Disney) a little makeout haven for horny teens. Is there any truth to the rumor that one of the gardeners was growing wacky weed at the top of the hill? I have no idea. Another plus to the construction of the Matterhorn attraction in this spot is that it helped hide the unsightly pylons that are very visible in this shot.

Looks like some Disney landscapers in this closeup:



A female traversing one of the paths, toting a cross between a picnic basket and a purse:



Last closeup for today shows the passengers in the original round Skyway buckets. They have turned their heads to keep their anonymity intact.



See more vintage Disneyland Skyway photos at my main website.

Speeding on the Autopia, 1958

At first glance, this shot is a throwaway. Blurry Autopia vehicle...bleh.

Thanks to the source being the original black and white negative, a tight crop yields this wonderful image showing Snow Hill and the Skyway. That's right...you are looking at the future location of The Matterhorn.



More vintage and current Disneyland Autopia photos at my main website.

Skyway Madness

Anyone in the mood for a Skyway blowout? Let's start with an image from 1956, when the Skyway attraction at Disneyland first began operation. What? No Matterhorn? That's correct. Just a big mound of dirt, which came from where the Castle is. It had to go somewhere to make room for the foundation and the moat. I guess that kind of makes it royal dirt.

The rest of today's images are from August, 1959.



Call me a Peeping Tom if you'd like, but I love looking into the buckets and getting a closer view. You can also see the Richfield Autopia Eagle on the right side of the frame.





This detailed view provides a better look at the Astrojet attraction.



On first glance, this one kind of stinks because of the bar running down the center of the frame.



With a little cropping, it becomes a magnificent overhead view of the Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship.



Tuna boats for all!

See more vintage Disneyland Skyway photos my main website.

The Boy On The Hill

These two rare photos show a little boy standing where the Matterhorn would eventually be constructed. Dubbed Holiday Hill, Snow Hill, Lookout Mountain, and even Lover's Lane, this little mountain constructed of dirt from the Castle moat gives a lovely view of Tomorrowland. Although these photos were dated January 1961, they must have been reprints, as the Matterhorn was already built by that time.



More Holiday Hill and Matterhorn photos at my main website.

Floating Over Snow Hill, 1958

Holiday Hill...Lookout Mountain...Lover’s Lane...Snow Hill. All names refer to the same area at Disneyland. Before the Matterhorn rose from the former orange grove covered land in Anaheim, the mound of dirt (which needed a place to go when the Castle moat was excavated) with the many names was directly below the path of the Skyway. Most interesting thing about this shot is that you can see the Omnibus, which once had a route that extended into Fantasyland.



The huge support towers of the Skyway were somewhat of an eyesore, and the creation of the Matterhorn helped to cover them up from the view of Park guests. It's hard to believe that in one year the Submarines and The Matterhorn would take over the very same space you are looking at now.

This second shot was also taken from the Skyway as it cruised into Tomorrowland. You can see the station and tracks of the Viewliner below.




See more vintage & current Disneyland photos on my Disneyland web pages.