Friday in Old Tucson

Occasionally a batch of Disneyland slides will yield a few extras from different areas. In this particular situation, the images looked like they could be from Calico…or Pioneertown…or maybe some old movie studio set. Checking with expert Ken from Stack’s Liberty Ranch, I learned that they were from Old Tucson. From the Old Tucson website:

Built in 1939, Old Tucson is a renowned film set and family theme park located just outside Tucson, AZ. Nestled between Saguaro National Park and Tucson Mountain Park, this beautiful desert setting has been the filming location of hundreds of classic western films and TV shows featuring stars such as John Wayne, James Stewart, Paul Newman, Jean Arthur, Frank Sinatra, Clint Eastwood, and Ronald Reagan. The studio opened its doors as a theme park in 1960 and continues to welcome guests for a variety of immersive experiences, special events, and tours.

One of the most famous movies to use this location is the 1986 comedy “The Three Amigos,” with Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Chevy Chase.



An April 1976 entrance shot:



Zooming in you can see the poster for the 1972 Paul Newman western/comedy, “The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean”:



The poster art was by Richard Amsel, best known (to me at least) for his incredible TV Guide covers (thirty-seven total!).



Back to Old Tucson! An undated shot of the main street:



So popular they even had their very own red pickup truck!



Plenty of saloons in town. First we have Ward’s, from February 1959:



…and the Railroad Saloon, circa June 1972:



Looks like there’s another place to go to on my travel checklist!

See more Old Tucson photos at my main website.

Tail O' the Pup

On the way to the Chateau Marmont from Beverly Hills High School (see previous post), I was coming down Santa Monica Boulevard and turning onto La Cienega. This is what I saw. THE GIGANTIC TAIL O' THE PUP HOT DOG!



I had first become aware of this iconic piece of architecture (?) when I saw it floating overhead during the opening of Steve Martin’s classic “L.A. Story” (1991). From the nearby signage today:

The famous Tail O’The Pup Hot Dog Stand debuted in Los Angeles in 1946. Originally located at La Cienega and Beverly Boulevard. Designed by architect Milton Black in 1939, this original building has been carefully preserved and fully restored to its former glory by the 1933 Group in 2022. From 1970–1971 this building was known as The Doors Workshop. It served as an office and rehersal (sic) studio for The Doors. The band used this space to record their sixth and final studio album LA Woman.



Wow! Talk about a historic building. It almost made me want a hot dog…but not quite. It definitely made me think twice about using spellcheck on my work. Please…fix this commemorative plaque!!



To avoid demolition, the beloved stand was moved into a warehouse in Torrance after the property it had been moved to was going to be cleared to make way for (you guessed it) more condos and apartments.



The 1933 Group purchased the structure in 2018 and reopened four years later. They were also behind the restoration of the Formosa Cafe. That alone earns them high marks in my book.



I definitely need to come back at night to see this sign lit up.



See more West Hollywood photos at my main website.

The Ambassador Hotel Lives On!

Two recent acquisitions show the fabled (and now defunct) Ambassador Hotel, once located on Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles. An American Airlines plane has touched down on the front lawn in the first photo.

In this color 1960’s image, John Gray is performing at the hotel’s famous Cocoanut Grove nightclub, with “extra added attraction” Peter Duchin Orchestra. Reminds me of a story from the old days of radio that my dad told me about. The script for the announcer listed the “George Cates orch.” The announcer apparently was ignorant to the fact that “orch” was short for “orchestra” and announced “George Catesorch.” Cates was known as the sometimes conductor of the Lawrence Welk orchestra. That was a long digression…

Even though the hotel closed in 1989, it was still very much alive in 1994, thanks to movie magic. Hollywood often used the building as a film location, including Jim Carrey’s entrance to the Coco Bongo club in “The Mask”:

Yup. That’s the Ambassador.

Three years earlier in Steve Martin’s “L.A. Story,” the Ambassdor was used for a variety of scenes, including the entrance to L’Idiot, the snobby restaurant where Patrick Stewart was the Maitre D’ and Chevy Chase was the abused patron.

More on both of these recently rediscovered (to me) movies in future posts.

See more Los Angeles Ambassador Hotel photos at my main website.

Miscellaneous Monday at Knott's Berry Farm

Since this October 1959 image came with a batch of Disneyland shots, I originally thought it must be from the Golden Horseshoe, except for the inscription which clearly states Knott’s. Comparing the stage/curtain to Disneyland, it most certainly is not a match…

whereas it definitely matches this color shot of Steve Martin at the Birdcage from 1965:

Note the sign on the left advertising the Old-Time Melodramas at the Bird Cage in this 1950s shot:

This 1956 photo is another shot in the dark (pun semi-intended).

Perhaps it’s the Knott’s Berry Farm Pitchur Gallery?

The exterior of the Pitchur Gallery and Portrait Artist circa 2018:

This 1956 photo will have you saying “E-I-E-O”:

A closeup of the snack stand:

I wonder if these 1956 kiddie rides would pass a safety inspection today?

I can barely make out what the sign on the post at the left says; something about “No Folks … Please …Free Ride On Merry-Go-Round. Thanks.” Anyone…anyone?

The authentic San Francisco Cable Car that functioned as a parking lot tram:

Wonder if she has any tasty snacks in those bags?

Another vintage 1956 shot from my collection of the SF Cable Car at Knott’s. Apparently these were removed in 1979 and went back to San Francisco.

Last one for today is a 1957 shot of a little boy posing with one of the Indians at Knott’s…and he had the audacity to wear what appears to be a Disneyland Keppy Kap!

See more vintage and contemporary Knott's Berry Farm photos at my main website.

Disneyland Entrance, January 1960

Standing outside the entrance gate, we have guests on the left yucking it up and guests on the right standing near the Ken-L-Ration Ken-L-Land. It’s January 1960, and based on the sign atop the structure, your pet will be licking his/her chops to be dumped off here. Don’t believe it for a second.



In shot #2 from the same batch, our photographer has passed through the turnstiles and is busy snapping away at the Mickey Floral, the Disneyland Railroad, the attraction posters, and…

Eddie in Frontierland

I love it when I am able to acquire a good sharp negative. Typically you can see a wealth of details in just one image. This Summer 1959 shot is of the Zocalo marketplace in Frontierland. I love the look on this little boy’s face as he tries to figure out the scarecrow merchandise stand.



This couple is planning their next move at the Park; keep in mind this was before Fast Pass, apps, and all kinds of other technical diggery-dos were available. They’re using their brains and a Park map. AMAZING!!



This third detailed view shows Eddie Adamek’s trick rope stand. Only fifty cents; what a value! Looks like Eddie was on break, as well as comedian/writer/actor/banjo player/rope lasso expert supreme Steve Martin, who worked here for a short while. Steve gave a few other great details about this photo:

It’s across from the Mine Ride, in fact, you can make out a few Rainbow Ridge buildings in the far right background. We were serenaded daily by the Trio Gonzales, whose music gazebo was just adjacent. Eddie got moved from the Blacksmith shop when it was converted into the Fritos restaurant. The sign is clearly hand-made by Eddie; it’s not up to Disneyland standards. El Zocolo was owned by a great guy named Chris Porteas (sp?), who also owned Davy Crockett’s arcade as a leasee.

Steve also still remembered the creepy scarecrow merchandise stand. It obviously made quite an impression on people back then!



If you wonder what the package looked like, wonder no more:



In this September 1958 shot, you can see the Gonzalez Trio stand with Eddie’s stand in the back:



Zooming in, you can see the back of Steve Martin selling the ropes:



This 1956 image shows Eddie’s original location in the Blacksmith shop:



Here’s a vintage 1957 view of Eddie himself when he was still at his original Disneyland location:



Two more later day images of Eddie that Steve supplied:





On another note, welcome to a new decade! I hope 2020 is a great one for you!

See more Disneyland Frontierland photos at my main website.