1957 Skyway Sequence

Welcome to 1957! I am always interested in seeing the sequence a photographer shoots; what story they are possibly telling, and what they chose to capture, especially for vintage film shots when each photo was expensive and couldn’t be redone if it came out wrong (vs. digital shots of today). In today’s four-shot sequence, our Disneyland Guest Photographer was shooting from their Skyway bucket as they flew from the Fantasyland Skyway Station towards Tomorrowland. Monstro and Storybook Land were apparently of particular interest. A closeup view of the Wendy boat entering Monstro’s mouth:

Only a few seconds later the photographer decided to snap again:

…capturing some backstage construction going on. Look how deserted it is back there!

Now the photographer is facing forward on the way to Tomorrowland. This time they captured Holiday Hill/Lookout Mountain, which is where the Matterhorn would appear in two years.

And true to its other nickname, “Lover’s Lane,” I see a couple meandering around the mountain below in this detailed view:

The last shot I have in this sequence shows the short-lived Viewliner:

How about that vintage gas station in the background, too?

Last one for today is a bonus shot of the Tomorrowland Skyway Station, also from 1957:

This one warranted two zoom shots, with the first showing the passengers:

…and Harbor Boulevard in the background. Hard to believe it’s the same road of today!

None of these shots could easily be duplicated today, as the loss of the Skyway has taken away that vantage point of the Park and Anaheim.

See more vintage Disneyland Skyway photos at my main website.

Space Bar Vending

This 1955 image shows two guests checking out the flowers in Tomorrowland, with the Space Bar vending machines in the background. Nice to know that flowers will still exist in the future. Sandwiches, ice cream, soft drinks, pastry, and coffee are just the touch of a button away.



Here are some previously posted shots of the same area; this one from 1956 has the added bonus of the vintage attraction posters in the foreground:



Yup, people used these machines!



I think I would have preferred to order directly from the Space Bar itself!



See more Disneyland Tomorrowland photos at my main website.

Space Bar: The Final Frontier

I know very little about this retro-modern food establishment at Disneyland. This slide is dated August 1965, but it is a dupe, and the look of the peeps in the photo makes it seem like it might be a bit older than that. I do not believe that the Space Bar survived the 1967 Tomorrowland remodel.

Here's a closeup of the creepy twin boys at left and the people congregating around the ordering counter:



And a great shot of the vintage Tom Sawyer Island poster:



Another image from my collection gives a better view of the ordering area:



Isn't this elderly couple adorable?



A zoom of the ordering area:



More vintage (and current) Tomorrowland goodness at my main website.

July 1959 Gems

Two beauties from a golden period in Disneyland history, July 1959. Taken from a Skyway bucket, this first shot could yield a number of close crops that would be gems in their own right. How about this happy kid soaking in all of the Park below him? Looks like he could almost reach out and grab the Richfield Autopia Eagle on the left!



I am fascinated by shots that show the inside of the Skyway stations; watching the buckets go around for another loop around the Park gets me every time! Here's the Tomorrowland Station:



Over in Fantasyland, it appears that the Park is packed to the gills!



This is before Pinocchio joined the dark rides of Fantasyland and the Mickey Mouse Club Theater kept guests entertained…and air conditioned!



Find more vintage July 1959 Disneyland shots at my main website.

1950's Disneyland Gems, Pt. 6

Standing in Central Plaza, Disneyland guests of the 1950s were at the border of Tomorrowland. The gleaming white plastic Monsanto House of the Future is the main focal point of this slide:



MY main point of interest in this image is the entrance to Snow Hill. Walking up the small set of steps, guests could climb a little mound of earth and neck the afternoon away. The Matterhorn would eventually take this spot over and change all of that!



How about this Skyway shot? Taken as the buckets floated over Snow Hill, you can see Tomorrowland ahead (the Autopia, the Space Bar…)



and even get the briefest glimpse of the blue Viewliner and the Tomorrowland Viewliner station:



See more Daveland vintage & current Disneyland Tomorrowland photos at my main website.

Put on your Sunday best—we're going to Sears!

That's right, readers—this batch of August 1966 slides was developed at Sears. Who knew that Sears was the place where you could see your memories appear in bright colors, right before your eyes? We begin at the entrance to the Enchanted Tiki Room. Get a load of that line! You'll also note that the barker bird is still outside the entrance, giving a little pre-show to the guests who pass by.



Over in New Orleans Square, the Ernest Marsh is just arriving at the station.



Zooming in, get a load of that vintage guide in this gent's hand:



Let me in, let me in! I am pea green with envy at these guests who get to explore a vibrant Fort Wilderness:



AND the signage!



Canoes, Cascade Peak, and...



Pack Mules! All in one shot. Could it get any better?



Over in Tomorrowland, the Moonliner has switched its sponsorship from TWA to Douglas. Today, it's sponsored by Coke. Somewhere in there is an ironic/sad message about Tomorrow...I'll let you figure it out.



Gotta' zoom in for the entryway to the Rocket to the Moon attraction:



AND the Tomorrowland ticket booth:



This image is absolutely breathtaking; two Monorails zig-zagging in one shot!



The recently released square Skyway buckets sure look colorful in 1966:



and a little closeup of the Space Bar:



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

TPE: Riding on the Viewliner

It may not be as sleek (or long lasting) as its replacement, The Monorail, but I would still love to venture back in time and squeeze into the Viewliner for a ride between Tomorrowland and Fantasyland. I remember seeing my first image of the Viewliner; I had no idea what this miniature was, or what it was doing on the railroad tracks next to the E.P. Ripley.

Apparently, it was inspired by this train, the Aerotrain:



Seeing Walt with a young guest, you get an idea of the scale of this thing:



And a front side-by-side view with the C.K. Holliday; this really looks odd to see the "future" right next to the past:



The Skyway gave guests a great view of the Viewliner:



From one great photo, I get many fantastic zoom-ins!



The Tomorrowland Viewliner Station:



Station Signage:



The Space Bar:



And last (but definitely not least), the original round Skyway buckets:



Enough digressions, let's get back to the Viewliner, in all its bright salmon-colored glory:



And let's not short-shrift the blue Viewliner, shown here at the Fantasyland station:



At the Tomorrowland station:



Last one for today shows plenty of energy: The Skyway, The Autopia, and The Viewliner. Note that the Matterhorn is still part of the future when this March 1959 photo was shot:



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