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.

Disneyland Transportation Cutbacks: Fantasyland & Tomorrowland

One of the lesser-known transportation cuts at Disneyland was the extended route of the Omnibus. This duo of July 1957 images shows the Omnibus in Town Square. Nothing strange about that! However, the next shot clearly shows it in the middle of Fantasyland, near the Fantasyland Autopia!



Before the construction of the Matterhorn, the Omnibus took guests right into Fantasyland, as seen in this 1958 shot:



This December 1957 shows Snow Hill (eventually the Matterhorn) on the left and the Monsanto House of the Future at right.



Shot from the Skyway (more on that in a minute), you can see it near the Alice attraction, circa July 1958:





This provides a great segue into one of my largest transportation disappointments at Disneyland. When Toon Town opened in 1993, it had the Jolly Trolley, which took guests around the new land. It didn’t take long for the Park to bolt this little cutie to the ground and turn it into a photo op:



I wish…oh how I wish…that instead of bolting it down, the Disney Corporation would have seen fit to expand its tracks to have the Troller run all the way to Central Plaza. Once at Central Plaza, there is no good way (other than walking) to get to Toon Town.

The Skyway opened in the Summer of 1956:



Guests could soar over the Park from Fantasyland:



All the way to Tomorrowland, as seen in this July 1957 image. What a great way to save time, steps, and get some incredible views!



This one is probably a debatable transportation cut, as it really falls more into the attraction category. Still…for a nice leisurely cruise, the Motor Boat Cruise operated in one form or another from 1955—1993. The Skyway afforded this overhead shot from August 1956:



Loving this 1960s shot with the Monorail AND the Motor Boat Cruise dock all together:



Last time I saw it, the Motor Boat Cruise dock was just rust and decay. Here’s an interesting idea…with the Autopia sorely needing an update, how about creating a vehicle that goes on land AND water. Since both attractions use a track for the vehicles, I wouldn’t think a hybrid would be all that difficult.



Finally, the most mourned loss of Transporation in Tomorrowland is the PeopleMover. Circa July 1968:



August 1969 gives a great view of the Rocket Rods when they used to soar majestically over the center of Tomorrowland, and the Mary Blair murals on the right:



This 1969 images shows the PeopleMover entering the attraction building. So much to see on this slow little attraction!



The PeopleMover was changed into the Rocket Rods in 1998; they were a bomb, and ended up shuttering the entire thing by September 2000.



Today, the decaying/crumbling tracks are all that are left of this one.

Did I miss any?

See more Disneyland photos at my main website.

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.

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.

Central Plaza Details

The first view from today shows Central Plaza in 1956. Yes, the kids are adorable, but I love that “Be A Fireman” sign!

This shot of the Omnibus at the base of Snow Hill (which would eventually become The Matterhorn) also shows the House of the Future. I believe this shot is from December 1957. Construction of the House of the Future didn’t start until January 1957, and the other shots from this batch show Christmas decor.

Two gents survey Disneyland from Snow Hill...without the Snow.

Look at the crowd of folks near the House of the Future! And of course the little boy in the Tom Sawyer hat.

From the same batch as the previous photo we move over to Tomorrowland to see the ever popular Clock of the World.

Now a closer look (as always):

Besides the nuns, check out the Noel decor on front of the Hall of Chemistry and the Kaiser Aluminum sign. This is the first time I’d noticed that sign; checking my collection though, I realized I have a color shot of it!

See more Disneyland Tomorrowland 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.