Ruggles on Main Street

When we last visited Main Street with my story on the Hollywood Maxwell shop, I mentioned that it was replaced/combined with the Ruggles China & Glass Shop. Ruggles? Who came up with that name? Apparently it was named after actor Charles Ruggles, who starred opposite Hayley Mills in “The Parent Trap.”



From the Van Eaton Galleries catalog:

Created by Phil and Sophie Papel, “Ruggles China and Gifts” was selected by Disney to be among the first few shops to operate on Main Street U.S.A. when the park opened in 1955. Phil Papel’s experience in the giftware industry and his commitment to quality and customer service made him an excellent partner for Disney. When Papel was informed he had been selected to be an opening day merchant on Main Street, he decided to name his shop after Charlie Ruggles, and actor in the 1932 film, “If I Had a Million,” in which the owner of a China Shop receives an unexpected gift of a million dollars. To Papel, the possibilities of what could happen from a partnership with Disney rivaled the level of excitement that the actor felt in the film, and “Ruggles China and Gifts” was born.



The shop flourished on Main Street, and the company would grow to have numerous retail chains and sales in over 15 countries. While Ruggles’ partnership with Disney eventually ended in 1964, the high quality souvenirs from this cherished shop are still sought-after today as reminders of the great early days of Disneyland.


Renamed the China Closet in March 1964, the shop remains in the Park today, although its inventory is less about china and more about whatever the Disney Corporation cares to sell. The first shot above is from July 1963, shortly before the name change. The previously posted image below from October 1960. I wonder how many of those wacky lamps were sold?



Moving into the 70s, the shop appears to be all about the electric lamps that were attempting to evoke the gas lamps of yesteryear.



I’m not quite sure how I feel about the doll with the bulb up her skirt.



An undated color shot from the 1960s.



The exterior sign, circa September 2010:



An exterior overview of the shop from May 2011:



See more Disneyland China & Glass Shop photos at my main website.

St. Patrick's Day with Maureen

In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, I am repeating the celebration of Irish actress Maureen O’Hara as I did nine(!) years ago with some photos I recently acquired from “The Parent Trap” (1961). This wardrobe test shows the original concept of how Maureen was to look when she arrived at her ex-husband’s ranch to be reunited with her daughters. A turban? Who had the brain fart of covering up her gorgeous Irish red locks with a freaking turban?!?



Fortunately for the final movie, cooler heads prevailed and the turban was ditched. Placement of the brooch also switched from right to left side of Ms. O’Hara.



Note how she fluffs her hair in this shot: “Take that, turban!”



With Una Merkel, who played Verbena the housekeeper (“It’s none of my nevermind. I don't say a word”).



Director David Swift and Walt surround O’Hara; obviously, this was before the actress threatened to sue Disney over the billing of the film.



Papers regarding the suit came up for auction after O’Hara died in 2015, selling for $375.



From the auction description:

Comprising 28 pp of paperwork related to The Parent Trap, mainly correspondence, typed, and typed carbons, including a 2 pp typed letter signed ("Jack") from agent Jack Bolton, dated June 17, 1960, on MCA stationery, breaking down the terms of O'Hara's contract, annotated, and 6 call sheets for the film under the title We Belong Together, with an April 19, 1961, Variety clipping featuring a full-page ad for The Parent Trap and 2 other Variety clippings related to the film. For Walt Disney's The Parent Trap, Maureen O'Hara claimed that she was contractually guaranteed top billing, but during the film's release, costar Hayley Mills got top billing playing up her gimmick casting as twins.



Incensed, O'Hara took the matter to her agents. These letters and contracts document her complaints against the studio. However, it appears that O'Hara may have been in error: agent Jack Bolton's June 17, 1960, letter to O'Hara about her contract clearly states that Mills' name "will follow immediately after 'Walt Disney Presents' and be above the title. Your name on the screen and in paid advertising will be in first position below the title." In 2 Thermofax copies of a March 16, 1961, letter, Walt Disney Productions assures O'Hara that the smaller billing was an accident due to haste. O'Hara took her grievance to the Screen Actors Guild and threatened to sue Disney. Realizing that, even if she won, Disney could wreck her career, O'Hara relented. O'Hara writes in her autobiography that, despite The Parent Trap's immense popularity, she never worked for Disney again.



On the other hand, Joanna Barnes DID appear in a Disney movie again, playing the mother of her character from the original for the 1998 Lindsay Lohan remake. Don’t mess with Walt!

See more “Parent Trap” photos at my main website.

Let's Get Together: A Parent Trap Thanksgiving

On this holiday where we celebrate gratitude and friends/family, what better way to do this than singing the Sherman Brothers’ song, “Let’s Get Together” from the 1961 Disney classic “The Parent Trap”?!?

Let’s get together, yeah yeah yeah
Think of all that we could sha-are



Let’s get together everyday
Every way and everywhere



And though we haven’t got a lot
We could be sharin’ all we’ve got
Together




Yeah yeah yeah is right! I hope you and yours have an incredible day and take some time to relax, rejuvenate, and reflect.

See more “Parent Trap” photos at my main website.

Transformation Friday!

In the 1961 Disney classic, “The Parent Trap,” Maureen O’Hara begins the movie as a dowdy (well, as dowdy as Maureen O’Hara can be, which is still better than the best for the rest of the competition!) Boston divorcée who must reunite her twin daughters at the California home of her ex-husband (Brian Keith). He first spots her after she has taken a shower and is wearing his robe:



Having been encouraged by her wily father (Charles Ruggles) to get some new clothes and a less matronly hairdo, she stops in New York City on the way to California for a makeover. After seeing her ex in a robe, she goes upstairs to get cleaned up and makes a grand entrance down the staircase wearing this outfit:



Even in a basic wardrobe test shot, Maureen wows ’em! Note the tape mark on the floor so that the actress knows where to pose?



And please note the perfectly turned heel!



In the final movie, Maureen looks even more ravishing in color, as you can see from this screenshot:



It’s no wonder she got her ex back!



See more “Parent Trap” photos at my main website.

RIP Maureen O'Hara and a Full Moon

Just a quickie today, as I show a photo I captured late Saturday night/early Sunday morning from my balcony. I love the color blue, so sue me…but the rest is for real! I love my new 600mm lens!



With great sadness, I read about the passing of actress Maureen O'Hara. The redheaded legend was a favorite of mine. Here she is in "The Parent Trap" with Brian Keith.



I get all teary eyed every time I see the scene where they finally reconcile.



All kinds of stuff at my main website. Check it out!.

A Shamrock Chiffon Pie Celebration!

In honor of St. Patrick's Day, today's post features two of my favorite things that are Irish: actress Maureen O'Hara (still kicking' at 93!) and Shamrock Chiffon Pie. First photo shows this stunningly gorgeous raven-haired thespian with director David Swift and Walt Disney during filming of "The Parent Trap" (1961). Below, she gives co-star Hayley Mills a hug in a scene from the same movie. Born in Ireland, O'Hara came to Hollywood in 1939 for "The Hunchback of Notre Dame." She became a naturalized U.S. Citizen seven years later. What an import!



When my family lived in San Diego, my mom used to shop at the local Food Basket grocery store in Lemon Grove. As a promotion, the store gave recipe cards from Mary Morgan, who was a Betty Crocker knock-off. I don't know squat about Mary, but I know that a number of her recipes were childhood favorites. They may not have been the most nutritious meals, but boy did they taste good. Shamrock Chiffon Pie holds many a fond memory for me; it made the annual suffering of corn beef and cabbage worth it! Here's the recipe, copied from the original card:

Shamrock Chiffon Pie

In Leprechaun language, here's a dessert to do St. Patrick proud, and sure and begorra, it is good! Our Shamrock Creme Chiffon, a light froth of a refrigerator dessert with a flavor lilt as Irish as the field of shamrocks from which it gets its name, makes a delightful finish for any March meal. Piled into a chocolate cookie crumb crust, the rich pastel green filling is high and handsome! To make it more picture-pretty, sprinkle a "shamrock" of chocolate curls over the top!

For the crust you'll need:
1 cup chocolate cookie crumbs, crushed fine (16-2.5" plain chocolate wafer cookies)
1/4 cup melted butter

Blend until moist, then pat the mixture into an 8" square pan. Chill while ingredients for filling are blended, in the top of a double boiler or small saucepan soften:
1 envelope unflavored gelatin.
in
1/2 cup cold water
Allow to stand 5 minutes, then add
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt

Place over hot water, on medium heat, and stir until all ingredients blend and gelatin dissolves completely. Remove from heat and stir in
5 tablespoons green creme de menthe
1 cup heavy cream (you'll need most of 2 half pints in all)
1 or 2 drops green food coloring

Pour into the small bowl of mixer and place in refrigerator to chill. When mixture becomes firm, remove from refrigerator and beat on low speed of mixer to break up the gelatin mixture. Now blend in another
2/3 cup heavy cream

Set mixer speed on high and continue beating until mixture becomes very light and fills the bowl to the top. Pour over the chilled crumb crust. Top with a shamrock design made of chocolate curls grated from
1 — 1 ounce square unsweetened chocolate

Return to refrigerator and chill until firm. Cut in squares to serve. Makes 9 portions.

Let me know how you like it!

See more Daveland photos from my collection on my main website.

Belated Walt Birthday Tribute

Last Thursday, December 5, marked what would have been the 112th birthday of creative genius Walt Disney. Today's belated tribute celebrates that momentous day with a recently acquired assortment of photos featuring Walt himself. The first one from August 1954 shows him with a model train, inside of what I believe to be the machine shop at the Disney Studios in Burbank. It is easy to attempt to interpret Walt's thoughts, especially since he isn't around anymore, but this particular quote on Disneyland is about as clear as it gets:

“I just want it to look like nothing else in the world. And it should be surrounded by a train.”

Face it...the main loved trains. If you do, too, you might enjoy this clip of Walt's backyard train setup. It's a wonderful glimpse of him having a ball and enjoying life:



The Lilly Belle, Walt's beloved miniature train that is featured in the video, can now be seen at the Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francsicso:



Moving forward to 1961, this onset photo from the film "The Parent Trap" shows Walt with director David Swift and stunning leading lady Maureen O'Hara. The film was nominated for two Academy Awards: one for Sound by Robert O. Cook, and the other for Film Editing by Philip W. Anderson.



O'Hara was a knockout as Maggie, the spunky ex-wife of her soon-to-be-remarried ex-hubby, Mitch (Brian Keith). Here they are during a dinner cleverly arranged by their twin daughters (played by Hayley Mills) who would like nothing more than to have their parents reunited. The black eye on Keith's character was courtesy of his feisty ex, who had no interest in being told what to do.



I defy anyone with a pulse to have a dry eye during this little romantic reunion scene from the finale of the film. The chemistry between Keith and O'Hara is supreme.



OK, this is about Walt, not Maureen O'Hara. Pardon me for the interuption.

For the Pepsi-Cola small world exhibit entrance at the 1964 World's Fair in New York, Walt wanted a "wow." He spent $200,000 on 100 ton Wally Crump creation that was 120'/12 stories high and 46' wide at the base. This creative medley of mobiles was called The Tower of the Four Winds and required a 60' deep foundation to keep it from blowing over. Opening Day for the fair was April 22, 1964; the Disney press release for the occasion described the Tower in this way:

"Attached to three primary columns and four slender buttresses will be more than 100 spinning, swiveling, oscillating elements of as many colors and shapes. Propellers of every description and size, a miniature, purely decorative carousel with animals from several countries (a giraffe, camel, reindeer, llama, horse, elephant and donkey), a stylized representation of the sun; figures of birds, flying fish, winged dragon, butterflies, bees and other creatures—all will be in perpetual motion."



Although it was well received and "Meet me at the Tower of the Four Winds" became a catch-phrase for the fair, the Tower was basically dismantled and dumped. I am not sure if the model on display in the Contemporary Hotel at Walt Disney World is the same one from the photo with Walt, but for sentimental reasons, I'd like to think so.



However, zooming in to the descriptive display material, it would appear that this is most likely a modern-day recreation.



Last one for today is a Bob Taylor cartoon this was the most fitting of tributes to Walt when he passed away.



The quote sums it up perfectly:

"Laughter and Happiness for children of all ages."

See more "Mary Poppins" photos on my Disney movie web page.

Favorite Movies: The 1960's

Only in a 60's melodrama could an affair be so glamorous. In "Back Street," (1961) Susan Hayward steals the show as good-girl Rae Smith. She falls in love with a married man who has two kids, but it's ok...his wife (Vera Miles) is a wicked drunk.





For drama on a much more serious note, "Judgment at Nuremberg" (1961) is the movie to watch. Judy Garland and Montgomery Clift give riveting cameos in a movie that deals with the atrocities that occurred during World War II.



Lightening up the mood quite a few notches, "The Parent Trap" (1961) is probably my very favorite live-action Disney film. Sure, Hayley Mills is wonderful, but Maureen O'Hara is spectacular as the independent Irish woman who is still in love with her ex (Brian Keith).



"Bye Bye Birdie" (1963) is a powder-puff of a musical done on the cheap, but thanks to a memorable score, Ann-Margret, and Paul Lynde, it is a ton-o-fun to watch.



"North by Northwest" is Hitchcock to perfection, but "Marnie" (1964) is the master at his most gloriously raw and flawed self. Hitch carefully and painfully guided model Tippi Hedren into a top-notch performance as the frigid kleptomaniac who is able to resist Sean Connery.



What can be said about "Mary Poppins" (1964) that hasn't been said already? Julie Andrews proved that you don't have to be a huge name to carry a film. Walt's instincts on her were supercalifrag...you get the idea.



Often criticized as being too saccharine, "The Sound of Music" (1965) still stands the test of time. Who could ever tire of Julie Andrews going from nunnery to Captain's wife with all the gusto and bravado of a "whirling dervish"? You can't help but fall in love with the beauty of Salzburg as well, as Maria and the Von Trapp children take you through the city on a musical tour with "Do Re Mi."





Just when you think you might overdose on the sweetness of the film, Eleanor Parker comes on board to even the playing field as the quietly bitchy Baroness. Hisssssssssss...





Glamorous MGM screen siren Lana Turner lets it all hang out in "Madame X" (1966). Whether she's tying one on with Burgess Meredith in Mexico or dramatically collapsing in a bank of snow in Europe, she will tug on your heartstrings as the poor misunderstood girl from the wrong side of the tracks, Holly Parker.



"The Graduate" (1967) shows Hollywood transitioning from artifice to reality, as it shows the trouble an aimless college graduate gets into when he has an affair with a much older married woman.



"Oliver!" (1968) is the Hollywood musical of the 1960's; dirty, gritty, and a wonderful soundtrack to boot, it doesn't shy away from showing the not-so-pretty side of Charles Dickens' characters.



See more classic Movie & TV photos on my regular web page.