All In The Details, Pt. 1

This shot of the white swans in the Disneyland Sleeping Beauty Castle moat from approximately 1957 yields some interesting info. When zooming in, you can see the banner promoting the Richfield Autopia Fantasyland Autopia. Yes, the myths are true. There were once multiple Autopia attractions at Disneyland!



Don’t believe me? Just take a look at this December 1956 image:



I’ve always wondered if that Eagle “landed” anywhere?



Back to the first image…if you shifted your camera to the right, you would see the Monsanto House of the Future, as long as it was June 1957. I am guessing the swan shot was taken before construction on the HOF had begun.



This panorama from December 1956 gives you an idea of what the area surrounding the moat looked like at that time.



No Matterhorn…no Snow White Wishing Well…no House of the Future. Just a mound of dirt and some trees, “themed” as Holiday Hill, Lookout Mountain, Snow Hill, and unofficially “Lover’s Lane.”



Snow White’s Wishing Well joined the landscape here in 1961:





So many tangents from one image.

See more vintage & contemporary Disneyland photos at my main website.

Movement on a Monday

This overhead view taken from the long-gone Disneyland Skyway attraction was snapped by a guest on February 21, 1958. At least that's what they wrote on the slide. For all we know it could have been February 12.



SOOOOO much great movement going on here with the Autopia attraction, the Viewliner train, and the Skyway buckets floating above.



If you’re new to Disneyland history and don’t know what the Viewliner is, it has the distinction of being one of the shortest-lived attractions at the Park, running from June 26, 1957–Sept. 15, 1958. The Monorail took over less than one year later and guests didn’t shed a tear about this tiny little train biting the dust.



See more Disneyland Autopia photos at my main website.

House of the Future Anniversary

58 years ago today, the Monsanto House of the Future was unveiled to guests at Disneyland. The Disneyland Marching Band was on hand to drum up a little excitement about this big white plastic marvel.



Able to identify these Disney-related folks?



And to think this is where it all started:



Note the Richfield Autopia sign, Skyway bucket, and Snow Hill in the background:



See more of this wacky plastic house on my main website.

Skyway Madness

Soaring gracefully over the park, the Skyway attraction offered transportation between Fantasyland and Tomorrowland while providing a scenic rest for weary guests who had been walking all day. Here is a May 1960 shot, taken from one of the buckets as it glided over the Autopia.



Zooming in, this has got to be the best view of the Richfield Eagle in my collection; you can even see his red glaring eyes!



Howzabout those saucer hats with the red ties? This photo shows the easy temptation of Skyway passengers who felt the need to target the guests below on the Alice attraction with spitballs and other assorted ammunition.



By 1965, the round Skyway bucket had been transformed into the square shaped shown here:



Daveland reader Bill H. captured this colorful October 1980 view of the buckets over Fantasyland. Guests still had 14 years left to enjoy this attraction before its removal.



See more vintage Disneyland Skyway photos on my Skyway web page.

Monorail Mania!

Today seemed like a good day as any to have a little Monorail blowout, starting off with two shots from year one (that's 1959 for the Disneyland newbies) when this sleek new form of transportation first arrived on the scene.



Although most would have zoomed into the Monorail portion of the previous July 1959 photo, being the signage geek that I am, I have chosen instead to hone in on the Richfield Gasoline sign.



A favorite view from July 1962, capturing both Blue and Red Monorails:



And another gem from July 1962:



In this grainy 1962 photo, the Yellow Monorail proudly zips over the parking lot near the Disneyland Hotel:



Here's a February 1964 view, showing the 5-year-old Monorail looking just as shiny and sleek as it did on day one.



Those lucky kids...getting to sit in the bubble!



I have a hard time deciding which Monorail I like best; Blue or Red. This May 1964 shot (from the month and year I was born) makes a good case for Monorail Blue.



What a beauty this one is; taken from a Skyway Bucket, this 1960's shot includes The Autopia, The Monorail, and a Skyway Bucket. I'm sure there's a song title in there somewhere.



In this closeup, the lady in the cone is either shielding her face from the sun, or wishing she didn't have a front view! Sitting in the cone sounded good at first, but maybe her motion sickness kicked in.



See more vintage and current Disneyland Monorail photos on my Monorail web page.

Disneyland September 1962, Pt. 3

Riding a Skyway bucket afforded our September 1962 photographer(s) this view of the Submarine Voyage in Tomorrowland. Looks like a diver is searching for buried treasure...or maybe Mermaids...or Nemo perhaps?



From the other side of the bucket (apparently this photographer didn't mind moving their body around while floating over Disneyland).



And the view towards the Matterhorn, back when the Richfield Eagle proudly watched over the Autopia attraction that it sponsored:



For a totally different vibe, join me in Adventureland for this carved Tiki figure:



And a few from the Jungle Cruise:



Let's zoom in and see the passengers and cast members and what they're wearing:







Back in 1962, guests (and their children) were much smarter. Protective netting, bumpers along the dock, and other various safety features were not necessary. What happened to us in the last 50 years? Have we devolved?



The Mark Twain with construction walls on the left, hiding the destruction of the Chicken Plantation Restaurant and the progress on New Orleans Square.



The faithful "wooden" Indian stands guard over the Frontier Trading Post:



See more vintage and current Disneyland photos on my Disneyland photo web pages.

Walking Tour of Tomorrowland: 1955

One of my readers expressed his love for 1950's Tomorrowland, so I figured I'd attempt to piece together a walking tour circa 1955. As you originally stepped from Central Plaza to Tomorrowland, you'd see the Clock of the World (also referred to as the World Time Clock). Designed by the Disney Studios and sponsored by Timex, this clock told the time of day anywhere in the world at a moment's glance.

To the right, you'd be able to enjoy the Monsanto Hall of Chemistry. This exhibit featured The Chemitron, which were huge test tubes of the eight basic materials found in nature which helped to produce the 500 different Monasanto chemicals and plastics.





On the left-hand side of the Clock, you'd encounter Circarama, presented by American Motors. Circarama used eleven 16mm projectors mounted on the roof of an American Motors car (thus the red color for the letters "car" on the marquee) to create a completely circular picture on a 360-degree screen. The original films were shot by Paul Mantz and Frank Tallman, of TallMantz Aviation. Guests stood in the center of the screen and were able to look out in every direction and observe views of the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Las Vegas, Balboa Bay, and the streets of Los Angeles.



Venturing further into Tomorrowland, the 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea exhibit was next door to the Hall of Chemistry. Disney re-used the sets from the 1954 movie and installed them in Tomorrowland as a walk-through exhibit.





What else was in Tomorrowland? A veritable buffet of exhibits such as The Kaiser Aluminum Exhibit:



The Crane Bathroom of Tomorrow:



Richfield Oil’s “Years Ahead” Exhibit with "The World Beneath Us" CinemaScope film:



Towards the back of Tomorrowland, you could see the Avenue of Flags. Each of the U.S. Flags was arranged in the order of their admittance to the Union. On each flag pole was the name of the state, the date it was admitted to the union, and its motto.



To the right of the Flags was the iconic Moonliner and Rocket to the Moon attraction:



At 80' it was the tallest structure in the park—8' taller than Sleeping Beauty Castle. Adjoining the rocket was the “Rocket to the Moon” exhibit/show. 100 guests at a time would enter either the Luna or the Diana for a 10 minute trip to the Moon and back.







Hungry? You could stop by the Space Bar and get a tasty snack:



Once you refueled at The Space Bar, you could zoom around the Autopia:



Last, and according to some, least...the Tomorrowland boats:



I hope you enjoyed this brief retro tour of Tomorrowland!

See more vintage & current Tomorrowland photos on my Tomorrowland web page.