More Mardi Gras World and Disney

Thanks to faithful Daveland reader Bryan, I realized that there is yet another statue at the Disneyland Resort whose origins are most likely Blaine Kern's Mardi Gras World in New Orleans. Check out the statue I photographed there a few weeks ago and the one below from Downtown Disney:



Throughout the warehouse I noticed a number of other more obvious Disney characters.



Zooming in you can see the Three Caballeros (next to Salvador Dali, no less!):



Look closely at this random group of sculpts…



and you'll see Mowgli from "The Jungle Book," front and center:



The Rescuers, from the 1977 animated film:



This one I almost missed:



A painting of the Partners Statue:



Rock your world with a little more Mardi Gras Parade Float Madness at my main website.

Mardi Gras Madness

The last time I was in New Orleans was pre-Katrina in June 2003. I've been to the French Quarter three times; in the near future it should be four. I cannot wait! In honor of today's Mardi Gras (aka Fat Tuesday) celebration, I am posting a few shots from Mardi Gras World, where most of the amazing floats for the big parade are put together.



I was in town for the HOW Design Conference, and one of the perks was an event that took place right smack dab in the middle of the studio. It was a blast to be able to walk around and see all of the gigantic floats up close while listening to a live band.



I swear I wasn't trying to feel up Mighty Mouse's knee; it was just a comfortable place to rest my arm.



It was pretty cool seeing all of the huge parade heads looming overhead and trying to identify who they were supposed to be.



This Louis Armstrong figure was a no-brainer.



All of the brightly-colored creations were a Technicolor dream for me.





Even the Fab Four were there:



You could almost hear Tarzan's call:



Mardi Gras World even had photo ops:



Jessica Rabbit needing a bit of a paint touch-up. I wonder if Disney's legal team just looks the other way for this kind of thing?



Our tour guide:



Let's take a closer look at the studio behind him:



even closer:



A Marilyn that definitely looks better from far away:



I hope you all have an amazing Mardi Gras celebration today, wherever you are located!



See more Daveland vintage & current New Orleans photos at my main website.

50th Anniversary Treasures: The Celebrities

2005 was a significant year for Disneyland in Anaheim; besides celebrating the 50th Anniversary of its opening, it also heralded a turnaround in the Disney Corporation's opinion of the park. Realizing that there was a huge interest in the park's history as well as its future, the powers that be realized that they needed to pay homage to both. In a publicity packet that was released for the 50th Anniversary, a number of images were released from the archives, including the first shot of Sophia Loren at the Main Street Train Station, 1963. Can you imagine what was going through the engineer's head while this photo was taken, with Loren's shapely legs draped over the side of the seat?

Although almost every inch of her skin is covered, Audrey Hepburn's smile radiates enough sunshine and warmth to distract the rain that forced her and husband Mel Ferrer to carry umbrellas. Son Sean is on the left in this 1967 photo, showing them in front of the small world attraction.



Elizabeth Taylor, throwing a little shindig at Disneyland in 1992 to celebrate her 60th Birthday Party:



Entertainer Danny Kaye on the Autopia. Although the press packet labels this as a 1955 photo, the Skyway in the background negates that:



Legendary jazz great Louis Armstrong is shown jamming aboard the Mark Twain, circa 1961:



Anwar Sadat is given a warm welcome by Pluto in this 1966 photo:



Bob Hope yucks it up with Goofy, Pluto, and Mickey at the entrance in this 1973 shot:



Last one for today shows a jubilant Walt aboard the Ernest S. Marsh:



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

Disneyland Diary, 1960-1962

1960 ADDITIONS

• NATURE'S WONDERLAND based on Walt Disney's Academy Award winning True-Life Adventure motion pictures opens in June with 204 life-like animals, birds and reptiles; a re-creation of wilderness and desert regions of the American West — Frontierland



• AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL, all new version of the 360-degree Circarama production in a specially designed theatre comprised of nine screens — Tomorrowland



• ART OF ANIMATION exhibit, an entertaining and informative display tracing the history and development of motion picture animation (since removed) — Tomorrowland

Attractions total reached 45 this year.

HIGHLIGHTS

The New Year's Eve Party was attended by more than 14,000 people.

The 20 millionth visitor arrived in April.

The Park presented its first Private Party on Friday, May 13, when 5,042 Knights of Columbus enjoyed exclusive use of Disneyland. On October 22, United California Bank (now First Interstate Bank) held a Private Party at Disneyland with 6,315 people in attendance. Their party continues today to be an annual event at the Park.

Disneyland's first "Dixieland at Disneyland" show attracted 9,000 people drawing acclaim from guests and reviewers. Six bands performed on Frontierland's Rivers of America aboard rafts, and in concert at various other Park locations.

"The Parade of Toys" was added to the "Christmas in Many Lands" parade.



Candlelight caroling by 800 singers followed the parades.

Disneyland's Community Service Awards program honored the work of nine county organizations with cash awards totaling $9,000. The Assistance League of Anaheim won the outstanding Award.

FAMOUS GUESTS

• Konstantinos Rodopoulos, President of Greek Parliament (February)
• Her Royal Highness Princess Rudi Voravan of Thailand (March)
• Prince Ernst August of Greece (March)
• Princess Ortoud of Hanover (March)
• Crown Prince Hassan Ibn Talal of Jordan (March)
• King Mahendra and Queen Ratna of Nepal (May)
• Three Scandinavian Princesses, Margrethe of Denmark, Astrid of Norway and Margaretha of Sweden (June)
• King Bhumibhol and Queen Kirikit of Thailand accompanied by their children, Prince Vajiralongorn, Princesses Ubol Ratana and Sirindhorn (June)
• Prince Akihito and Princess Michiko of Japan (September)
• King Fredrick IX and Queen Ingrid of Denmark (October)



1961 ADDITIONS

• DISNEYLAND-ALWEG MONORAIL SYSTEM (2 1/2 mile expansion connecting the Park and Disneyland Hotel)

NOTE: Here is some additional info about the Monorail extension, from the February 1961 issue of the Disneyland Newsletter:

The addition to our Disneyland-Alweg Monorail System that will transport guests between the Disneyland Hotel and the Park is making rapid progress and will be the first passenger carrying monorail in America to run adjacent to a major highway.

Connecting to our popular Monorail in Tomorrowland, the new link will go over the berm, run south along Harbor Blvd. to the auto entrance, turn west across the parking lot and go over West St. to the Disneyland Hotel. Here is will stop to dishcharge and pick up passengers, then return by passing Holidayland and the Park's main entrance, go over the employee entrance and back into Tomorrowland where it will complete its trip over the original route.

Guests will be able to board the Monorail from either the new station at the Hotel or the present station in Tomorrowland. Total length of the round trip will be nearly 2 1/2 miles as compared to about 3/4 of a mile on the present attraction.

Being constructed at present are 700 holes, 24" in diameter and 30 ft. deep, which are filled with concrete and reinforcing steel. These will be the foundation for the pylons supporting the 200 additional sections (8,600 ft. ) of beamway for the extended "highway in the sky."



The next four months will see many changes in the face of the Magic Kingdom. The Heliport has been temporarily re-located just north of the main auto entrance, we will have our own "stack" (3-level variety) where the Monorail crosses itself and the mainline Santa Fe and Disneyland Railroad. The Holidayland boundary on the south side will be changed somewhat to accommodate the new beamway. Our main entrance will also have a completely new look with the addition of a canopy under the Monorail beam.

The parking lot will have a beautiful new face with base plantings surrounding the pylons at each isle along the Monorail route as well as in the center of West Street. Our landscape artisans will also be busy with overall beautification that will put the final Disneyland touch to the completed project.

The complete Monorail extension, which will open to the public about June 1st, will have a third train and an additional car on each of the present trains bringing the capacity of the three up to a total of 318 people, nearly double the present capacity of 164.

Disneyland employees are proud of the fact that they are Disneylanders for many reasons and the present pace setting Monorail extension, which has created world-wide interest, is just one more example.



• FLYING SAUCERS (individually controlled flight through space - since removed) — Tomorrowland

HIGHLIGHTS

The New Year's Eve Party brought 18,000 celebrants to Disneyland.

The 25 millionth visitor was greeted in April.

Benny Goodman played a three-night engagement Memorial Day weekend and for the opening of "Date Nite," the first time a big-name star ever appeared in the Magic Kingdom for more than one performance.

The first all-night Grad Nite Party was held at Disneyland in June, bringing 8,500 young guests for the biggest high school graduation party ever held in the U.S.

The "Date Nite" program entered its fifth season, presenting five permanent bands.

"TINKER BELL," a live performer, began summer flights from the peak of Matterhorn Mountain and across Sleeping Beauty Castle, setting off the nightly "Fantasy in the Sky" fireworks spectacular.

The second annual "Dixieland at Disneyland" brought 14,000 visitors. Louis Armstrong led the array of bands on rafts down the Rivers of America in Frontierland, followed by the "Mark Twain" with 50 musicians playing aboard.

The "Parade of Toys," "Parade of All Nations" and Candlelight Caroling Procession again highlighted the Christmas season.

FAMOUS GUESTS

• Prince Bernard of Holland (April)
• Prince of Montenegro (August)
• Maharaja and Maharanee of Jaipur, India (August)
• His Excellency, El Ferik Ibrahim Abboud, President of Sudan (October)



• Prime Minister Jawaharal of Nehru of India (November)



• General and Mrs. Dwight Eisenhower (December)

1962 ADDITIONS




• JUNGLE CRUISE (enlarged, including a new fun theme in animation featuring the "bathing pool" of Indian elephants) — Adventureland



• SWISS FAMILY TREE HOUSE — Adventureland



• SAFARI GAME SHOOT (since removed) — Adventureland



• PAVILION RESTAURANT — Main Street Plaza



• TAHITIAN TERRACE — Adventureland

HIGHLIGHTS

Some 17,000 guests greeted the New Year at Disneyland's New Year's Eve Party.

Four top bands played for "Spring Fling" during Easter vacation.



Vintage cars with 200 riders and dancers dressed in turn-of-the-century styles, promenaded down Main Street for the Easter Parade.

Two all-night Grad Nites helped Southern California high school graduates celebrate in style.



Disneyland became the mecca of big-name bands with Harry James, Benny Goodman and Ray Anthony, plus a special "Big Band Night" starring Count Basie and Charlie Barnet.



"Dixieland at Disneyland" presented Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong and many other top jazz musicians.



Another huge "Christmas in Many Lands" parade featured 2,500 participants and another 1,000 carolers in the Candlelight Procession.

Disneyland's Community Service Awards program saluted the efforts of nine county service organizations, with cash awards totaling $9,000. The Outstanding Award was shared by the Assistance League of Anaheim and the Big Brothers of Orange County.

FAMOUS GUESTS

• Pasha Kenitra, Morocco (January)
• M. Ahmed Kamel, Consul General of United Arab Republic (March)
• Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi of Iran (April)
• Gov. Edmund G. Brown of California (September)

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