Mother Murphy’s at Disneyland

Mother Murphy offered meals at all hours at Disneyland as can be seen in this July 1961 image. Located in the mining town of Rainbow Ridge, guests who took a ride on the Nature’s Wonderland attraction were able to see her little boarding house from the train. Where else in Disneyland could you get “nice beds” for only $1?



This April 1962 gives a little more perspective as to where Mother Murphy was located, between Miner’s Hardware and the El Dorado Hotel.





Another angle, circa May 1963, which includes a cast member:



This December 1963 image also shows the train:





Even further back, circa May 1964:



By the 1970s, Mother Murphy bit the dust and was replaced by Appleseed’s Groceries. I wonder what caused this change in proprietors?






See more Disneyland Nature’s Wonderland photos at my main website.

Back to the Biltmore

…The Biltmore Palm Springs, to be more exact. I have been to the Arizona Biltmore, the Biltmore in Los Angeles, and The Biltmore estate in North Carolina. Who knew there were so many Biltmores? Built in 1948 and designed by architect Fred Monhoff, The Biltmore Palm Springs it was once a  popular resort with the Hollywood crowd. This color image from 1949 features actor Don DeFore, best known for the sitcom “Hazel,” and wife Marion. Looks like the hotel used a Woodie wagon for transportation. Any of my vintage auto nuts able to give more info about the make and year?



DeFore also ran the Silver Banjo BBQ restaurant at Disneyland (1957-1962) in Frontierland (now the River Belle Terrace). The Silver Banjo was the only establishment at Disneyland to display the name of a non-fictional person and the only business ever to be owned by an individual. Below is DeFore behind the serving line. Sure looks tasty!



But back to the Biltmore Palm Springs! This previously posted shot of singer/actor Tony Martin and wife actress/dancer Cyd Charisse shows them sunning poolside.



A 1954 shot of actress Virginia Mayo ready for a dip in the pool. Did she actually go in? I doubt it!



The resort lost favor and closed in the late 1980s. It was converted into a condominum community and its clubhouse became an office building. It was bulldozed in 2003 because the city claimed it didn’t realize it was significant historically/architecturally.

See more Palm Springs photos at my main website.

Vintage Disneyland Christmas

Let’s travel back in time with this assortment of vintage images showing Christmas at Disneyland through the years, beginning with this December 26, 1955 image. It almost boggles my mind to see the simple decorations that initially hung on Main Street. In this December 1956 image, we see the area that is now Indiana Jones Adventure. Once known as Magnolia Park, it had a bandstand in the center that featured the Christmas Bowl show, which eventually morphed into the Candlelight Celebration.



Dancers, musicians, and a choir were all part of the show:



The Y’s Men was the name of the band; get it?



This family shot inside the INA Carefree Corner from December 1959 looks anything but carefree.



Three lovely carolers in the Park, from December 1960, are standing near Aunt Jemima’s Pancake House:



The legendary Matterhorn Christmas Star, as seen in December 1961:



This December 1969 Town Square shot has me perplexed; the area where the white Christmas tree is located appears to be backstage. Was it moved out into the Park after it was decorated?



These ornaments aren’t going to hang themselves!



From my first visit to Disneyland on December 27, 1970, my oldest brother’s photo shows the Sleeping Beauty Castle decorated for the season:



I’m on the right, sitting in front of the Castle with my Grandmother and my cousins, wearing those damn “corrective” shoes which didn’t correct a damn thing. Just made me look goofy.



The white Christmas tree in the background has a few barely visible ornaments hung on it:



Since the 80s are now vintage (yikes!), here’s one of the Castle from December 1980:



Merry Christmas to all who celebrate!

See more Disneyland at Christmas photos at my main website.

Monday with Mansfield at Disneyland

Just when you begin to forget about her, Jayne Mansfield (with husband Mickey Hargitay) comes raging back with a cute shot on Disneyland’s Peter Pan attraction, circa 1957.



You may recall this previously posted shot on Mr. Toad:



Could Snow White be far behind?

See more celebrities at Disneyland photos at my main website.

A Little Boy and His Wings

An August 1958 view of two little boys in front of the red Horseless Carriage. At first, my intention of zooming in on the little boys was to see the camera (note the Carriage driver in the background):



But then I noticed the pin the little boy had attached to his shirt:



Perhaps a souvenir from his trip on a plane? I remember when the airlines used to give these out to the tots. Any other guesses?

See more Disneyland Town Square photos at my main website.

Viewliner-ing on a Monday

Let’s (somewhat) zoom into the new week with a shot of Disneyland’s short-lived Viewliner Train. This particular one is the Fantasyland Train, designated by its blue color. Zooming in, you can see the C.K. Holliday train chuggling alongside the Viewliner:

This overhead Skyway shot gives us a glimpse of the Tomorrowland Viewliner station from above:

See more vintage Disneyland Viewliner photos at my main website.

Disneyland Keel Boat Detail

New to me is the discovery that on the Bertha Mae Keel Boat at Disneyland the front of the watercraft had what appears to be a hand-painted detail. A closeup from the December 1958 image:

The Gullywhumper had a placard affixed instead of the painted name of its sister-boat, as seen in this June 1964 image:

And while we’re on Keel Boats, here’s one from the Fall of 1956:

See more vintage Disneyland Keel Boat photos at my main website.

Flying Saucer Friday

It’s not truly a Flying Saucer, but it sure looks like one! Here’s a vintage shot of Theme Building at LAX from April 1962, less than a year after it opened. Dig that Mercedes Benz in front!

The original airport design was created by James Langenheim of Pereira & Luckman in 1959, but was apparently too ambitious. William Pereira, Charles Luckman, Paul Williams, and Welton Becket stepped in with the revised plan, which included the Theme Building built on the spot that was intended for the original airport terminal, as a reminder of the initial design. The futuristic Theme Building was dedicated on June 25, 1961 by Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson. Contrary to reports, the building’s restaurant never revolved. The structure was dedicated on June 25, 1961, by Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson.

Interestingly enough, Disneyland’s Flying Saucer attraction opened about the same time, August 6, 1961.

Saucers must have been on the brain in 1961! Thanks for the memory jolt, KS!

See more LAX photos at my main website.

Disneyland Has Character, Pt. 2

I’m still basking in the glow of 1970’s Disneyland, which is when this March 1971 image of Pluto in Fantasyland hails from. Standing outside of the Peter Pan attraction, Pluto is mobbed as a little varmint gets ready to squeeze his nose. Squeeze this, pipsqueak!!

The original costumed characters at the Park were borrowed from the Ice Capades; although Mickey and Minnie looked like zombie-eating beasts…

Pluto wasn’t too bad:

I shot this one of Pluto in 2011 when “On Stranger Tides” premiered at Disneyland:

As a dog lover, Pluto has always held a special place in my heart.

See more Disneyland characters photos at my main website.

The Wrong Mouse at Disneyland, 1958

Here’s a happy little tot aboard the Disneyland Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship, February 1958. Somebody needs to tell him he’s promoting the wrong mouse.

This September 1961 image shows the recently added Skull Rock Cove area, which ranks close to #1 for my favorite “lost” areas at the Park. Great for exploration, relaxation, hiding, and pretty durn cool photos.

What the area looked like before Skull Rock:

What a snoozer!!

See more vintage Disneyland Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship Restaurant photos at my main website.