A Day @ Disneyland, July 27, 1955 (pt. 3)

Today we join Grandma and family on the Rivers of America. First up is a nice close-up of the Mighty Mark Twain (c'mon Grandma - can you move to the right and get out of the picture?!?). Shot 2 shows the Mark Twain beginning another trip on the very barren ROA; look to the left and see a pick-up truck on the banks. The last pic is in the Old New Orleans of the original home of Casa de Fritos, which became the Silver Banjo Barbecue in 1957 (thanks DD for the clarification!). And in this case, “X” definitely marks the spot, as Walt Disney himself is standing amidst his “guests” (hey Bob Iger—this is a good idea!).





See more vintage and contemporary Disneyland photos at my main website.

A Day @ Disneyland, July 27, 1955 (pt. 2)

The family is in Frontierland today (amazingly enough there are no family pics from Adventureland). The landscaping around the gate is pretty barren, but what can you expect since the park has only been open for about 10 days. Moving a little deeper into Frontierland, we see the various modes of transportation available; almost looks like the line for taxis at the airport. In the third and final shot for today, we see grandma and grandson proudly riding one of the Conestoga wagons. What fun!







See more Disneyland Stagecoach and Conestoga Wagon photos on my Stagecoach web page.

A Day @ Disneyland, July 27, 1955 (pt. 1)

Although not as bright and detailed as slides, vintage photos can also be cool. So, with that theory I am going to start posting a group of bw photos from the first month that the park was open. This set shows one family’s day at Dland, starting with a great shot of the parking lot and then moving onto the obligatory shot in front of the Main Street Train Station. I can only assume the lady in the white hair must be grandma, enjoying a day at the park with her grandson. If you look to the upper left, you can see the passengers sitting in the open car awaiting a train trip around Disneyland. The last shot for today shows the horse-drawn trolley at Town Square, with the festive bunting still in place.





See more vintage and contemporary Disneyland photos at my main website.

Fantasyland Aerial, November 1962

Since the aerial shot was a huge success and I'm a total comment-ho, I am unveiling this semi-aerial of Fantasyland from November, 1962. Don’t you love it; hardly any of those pesky guests eating turkey legs or riding recklessly in electric wheelchairs and killer double-wide strollers. I am also throwing in a few other shots from 1962, this one of the Alice ride, and an enthusiastic little towhead waving to daddy with the camera. Next up are the same little darlings with the Big Bad Wolf, who doesn't look so bad with his arms around these cuties. The last 1962 shot is a colorful one from the Storybook Land.







See more vintage and contemporary Disneyland Fantasyland photos at my main website.

Disneyland, U.S.A. 1957

While the rest of you battle it out with Monorail photos, I am going to do a little counter programming and show 2 bw publicity stills for the 1957 CinemaScope film, “Disneyland, U.S.A.” The first shot could almost be mistaken for a scene from “The Music Man,” however, it’s the Disneyland Band marching down Main Street. Amazing lack of crowds! Shot 2 is a nice one from Frontierland showing the Conestoga Wagon and Stagecoach. Be sure to check out the Major’s blog today (Gorillas Don’t Blog, listed to the right)—killer Monorail shot!



See more vintage and contemporary Disneyland photos at my main website.

Disneyland Aerial View, February 1966

Today I present to you an aerial view of the park from February 2, 1966. You will also notice that this photo is about 3 times the size of what I normally post, because I figure everyone will want to zoom in on different areas (bandwidth be damned!). I am also adding a close-up that is of particular interest to me, showing the Haunted Mansion under construction. It was also pointed out in the comment field by Matterhorn that Pirates construction is going on, so I have included a close-up of that as well.





See more vintage and contemporary Disneyland photos at my main website.

Back to the Future

Once again I present you with a date unknown photo, this time it’s the House of the Future, all tied up in a bow for what I assume must be the Christmas holidays. Personally, I always thought it looked like a huge wheel of cheese. My second mystery date photo is of the Blue Monorail going over what appears to be some construction over the lagoon.



My third and final mystery date Tomorrowland photo is a nice bw shot passing over the Yacht Bar. All three are from different batches. OK you DL Sherlock Holmes’...I’m waiting!



See more vintage and contemporary Disneyland photos at my main website.

Red Wagon Inn, September 1963

This photo of the Red Wagon Inn near Central Plaza was taken almost two years before it would become the Plaza Inn. And just for good measure, I’ll throw in a Castle picture so that nobody calls me a one-post slacker. Happy Veteran’s Day!



See more vintage and contemporary Disneyland photos at my main website.

Mixed Bag

Since Matterhorn has been doing a band series, I thought I'd add this beginning of the roll shot (if only the dumbass had advanced the film a little more...) from 1956 with the band leaving Adventureland and heading towards Main Street. At some point I’ll attempt to do some restoration (just looking at all the holes, dirt, and fading hurts my brain right now). And just to show Jordan that I’m not bitter about the feedback, I am throwing in a few more Golden Horseshoe shots (most likely from 1963).







See more vintage and contemporary Disneyland photos at my main website.

Tomorrowland Monorail

Judging by the comment factor, the Golden Horseshoe is somewhat of a bomb, so I am returning to the ever popular Tomorrowland, this time with a nice shot of the Blue Monorail and the Autopia. These 2 slides are from another undated batch...yes, putting the call out again. Shot 2 begs the eternal question—why do older men tend to pull their paints up so high? It just can’t be comfortable.



See more vintage and contemporary Disneyland photos at my main website.

Back to the Golden Horseshoe

Time to revisit the Golden Horseshoe with a beautiful color shot of the cast. Again, date unknown (Bueller, Bueller?). I will also add a few other bw shots that are most likely from 1963.







See more vintage and contemporary Disneyland photos at my main website.

1950’s Tomorrowland: The Lost Post

I am reposting this one from the other day because it mysteriously disappeared on Blogger. This set of 5 slides turns out to be from 1956/57 (thanks to the gang for helping narrow it down). The first shot is a nice overview of Tomorrowland centered on the Clock of the World. Pic 2 focuses on two young men near the New York flag pole, with a Dumbo poster on the left. The dude on the left has probably left his job at the garage to go to the park (Goofus); preppy man on the right has left his fraternity for the day to spend time with the family (Gallant. Points to anyone who knows what I'm referring to).







Pic 3 is a nice shot of the Moonliner and the Hat Bar, and pic 4 shows the Skyway overhead and the Astro Jets ready to launch off on another adventure. The last pic is the interior for the Dutch Boy Paint Color Gallery (which closed in 1963).



See more vintage and contemporary Disneyland Tomorrowland photos at my main website.

Parking Lot & Ticket Booth

Blogger is screwy as hell, so I’m not going to put too many photos on today’s post. This entry is for Jordan, who often laments the lost parking lot. Today’s first entry is from 1956 (thanks again for the help in dating!). The other 2 are entrance gate ticket booths, first one from September, 1959 and the other from July 1963. Love the vintage outfits. And Blogger, would you please get your s&*t together?!?!





See more vintage and contemporary Disneyland photos at my main website.

A Day at Disneyland, September 1964 (pt. 4—the big finish)

I’m late today—lots going on with my website (Indiana Jones page, Jungle Cruise page, and SO MUCH MORE), so to make up for it, you get a plethora of images today. To finish off the 1964 Family Day Series, I start you off with our family rushing up the drawbridge to enter Fantasyland. I would bet that’s the favorite thing for children to do: run up the ramp and see what awaits them on the other side. Snow White’s Wishing Well (sans family) is next. Gotta’ love Adriana trilling away over there.





Our little blond beauties seem to be having a swell time with the Pack Mules. And, for the last family photo (taken by but not showing them), I present to you the Matterhorn. My last pic of the day is totally random, and only about 11 years old, but dagnabbit, I love it: Goofy greeting guests as they enter the parking lot. Yes, the parking lot (better get another box of Depends, Jordy).





See more vintage and contemporary Disneyland photos at my main website.

A Day at Disneyland, September 1964 (pt. 3)

Part 3 takes place in Tomorrowland, with the Flying Saucers (would love to have ridden those!) and the Midget Autopia. Both were closed down in 1966. Thanks to Jordan for the help with the Midget Autopia. And all you PC people, don’t get mad at me, I didn’t name the damn thing.



See more vintage and contemporary Disneyland photos at my main website.

A Day at Disneyland, September 1964 (pt. 2)

Today, the family is hanging out with one of the Three Little Pigs AND the Big Bad Wolf. Looks like they are standing near the Red Wagon Inn (one year before it would become the Plaza Inn).





The family also journeyed over the Rivers of America for a nice view of the Old Mill, the Rafts, and of course, the Mark Twain on the left. Stay tuned for more pics tomorrow!

See more vintage and contemporary Disneyland photos at my main website.