1959 New Attraction Preview Map

This vintage image shows a New Attraction Preview map for Disneyland 1959. I have no idea where in the Park this was located, but I think it's pretty cool nonetheless. Even more than 3 years after opening, Tinkerbell is still the spokesperson rather than Mickey Mouse. Apparently the uncertainty of whether or not the Park would make it was the reason she was put front and center instead of Mickey.



A closeup of the Matterhorn/Skyway/Monorail portion of the map. It looks like a tunnel was originally part of the plan for the Monorail to the left of the Matterhorn.



See more behind-the-scenes photos of Disneyland at my main website.

Steve Allen and Casey Jr.

More from Steve Allen's December 1957 trip to Disneyland. The accompanying publicity blurb for their spin around Fantasyland aboard Casey Jr. was as follows:

Steve Allen's three sons, eleven year-old Brian; Steve Jr., 13; and David, seven, leave Fantasyland for Frontierland during a recent visit to Disneyland.

I think the reporter was a little mixed up, or just not familiar with Casey's journey.

Apparently actress Donna Reed was also there that day.



I won't even try to connect the dots on that one.



Meanwhile, Happy St. Patrick's Day to all who celebrate, especially my friends in Savannah where they need a year-round headquarters for today's parade.



More photos and pop culture fun at my main website.

Steve Allen and The Autopia

MORE from Steve Allen's December 1957 very public visit to Disneyland. These are all from his spin around the Autopia track. Looks like Steve had the special privilege of driving the police car! It'd be cool to bring that one back. Here's the accompanying publicity blurb:

"Steve Allen gets some advice from son David, seven, as they prepare to drive Autopia's freeway during a recent trip to Disneyland. Steve's other sons, Steve Jr., 13; and Brian, 11, accompanied their father also.





A closeup of the cast member; I will bet that whistle got a lot of use throughout the day.



Drive on over to my main website for more Disneyland Autopia photos.

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.

MORE Steve Allen at Disneyland

Here are two shots from Steve Allen's December 1957 visit to Disneyland with his kids. His Skyway bucket is about to drop them off at Fantasyland. Or is it on the way to Tomorrowland?



A group shot at the Fantasyland Skyway Station. The boys were from his first marriage to Dorothy Goodman; the boys (not necessarily in this order) were Steve Jr., Brian, and David.



More vintage and current Disneyland 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.

Frito Friday

I am digging this 1956 image of the Gonzalez Trio in Frontierland. Not only do we get to see the Trio in action, but the Frito Kid is in the background licking his chops over those tasty crunchy chips at the Casa de Fritos.



Here's another shot of the trio from October 1959.



Zooming in we see a very chic looking guest who appears to have been influenced by the style of Audrey Hepburn. Too cool for Disneyland.



Upon closer inspection, today it appears that the Gonzalez Trio is only a duo. I want a refund.



More Gonzalez Trio at Disneyland photos at my main website.

Town Square Thursday

Being able to scan negatives is so much better than a print. The details that are available in a negative are crazy amazing. These images come from a 1958 batch that I recently acquired. This first one looks like it came out of a fashion magazine; how about that hat? Image two shows the Omnibus parked in front of the Main Street Train Station.



How about a detailed view? The recently opened Grand Canyon Diorama is featured on the Omnibus' banner:



This alternate angle looks like it was shot from the platform of the train.



The Alice in Wonderland attraction is featured on the opposite side of the Omnibus:



The last one for today shows the Horse-Drawn Streetcar and one of those amazingly vintage hitching posts.



More vintage and current Disneyland Town Square photos at my main website.

The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas

The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas opened December 15, 2010 next door to the Bellagio. Chic, modern, trendy...it is an absolutely beautiful property that doesn't try to be a faux recreation of something else.



It definitely feels posh, but not overdone. This is a concept not easily found in Las Vegas.



Well, maybe just a trifle overdone.





You might even see Johnny Depp at the hotel.



The spacious room felt comfortable and open.



The shade in the bathroom allows the room to seem lighter and more open while allowing privacy during use.



A great place to get ready for a photo shoot.



The view from the balcony...well, I guess it will do.



At nighttime, maybe just a bit more spectacular...and a great place to watch the Bellagio fountains.



There are plenty of dining options at the hotel. I enjoyed breakfast at The Henry:



An amazing cold-pressed juice concoction at The Juice Standard (the girl that waited on us deserves salesperson of the year):



Cookies at Milk:



Would I stay here again? Definitely.

Get more Cosmopolitan at my main website.

Temple Tuesday: At Home with the Blacks

Shirley Temple Black, normally a private person in her adult life, allowed the cameras into her home to shoot a few publicity shots for her upcoming television show, "Shirley Temple's Storybook." Here the kids gather around Shirley while she "reads" them some classic fairy tales. Linda Susan, Lori, and Charles do not seem very thrilled about the photo shoot.



Husband Charles joins the session in this photo; wouldn't you love to know what was playing on the family's home movie projector?



This close-up view allows you to see what Shirley is reading from: "Old French Fairy Tales."



And if you'd care to buy the book that Shirley is reading to her family from, you just missed a 1920 first edition that was on eBay for the low low bargain price of $899.



More Shirley family photos at my main website.