Tomorrowland, Sept. 1969 Pt. 1

Getting ready for the New Year, here are a future shots from the land of Tomorrow, starting out with the Carousel of Progress, one of my top missed rides of yesteryear. Shot 2 gives a nice overall view; love the mod ticketbooth (gone), skyway (gone), Autopia Eagle (gone), Peoplemover (gone), and the Yellow Monorail. Going, going, gone...



Shot 3 gives a glimpse on the left of the Carousel of Progress building, and 4 & 5 give other overview angles of Tomorrowland. Enjoy - and get those New Year’s Resolutions Ready!







For more Tomorrowland photos, visit my main website.

Viewliner, March 1958

Here’s a cool one of Tomorrowland, including the not often seen Blue Fantasyland Viewliner, The Skyway, The Yacht Bar, the Autopia Eagle Sign, and if you look closely, a poster advertising the Stagecoach Attraction in Frontierland. I have also included a closeup detail of the Viewliner, especially for Disney Dutchman.



And just because I'm feeling generous on Christmas Day, I’m throwing in a second shot that shows Mary Blair’s defunct Tile Murals and The Peoplemover as well (from Sept. 1969)



For more vintage Disneyland Viewliner photos, visit my main website

Golden Horseshoe, March 1958

Besides the regular image of the front of the Saloon, I am including two close-up views for the other signage geeks (besides me).





In addition, here’s a recent photo I have taken of the Pecos Bill frosted glass window, which I first noticed only recently.



For my Golden Horseshoe photos visit my regular, website.

New Orleans Square, March 1968

Here are the Royal Street Bachelors, formerly known as the Young Men of New Orleans, playing some jazz outside of the One of a Kind shop. I have lightened the doorways to the shop so that you can see the interior better.

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

1955 Construction Series, Pt. 4

Here are a few photos of the Carousel Horses on the backlot as they are in the process of being painted and refurbished for Disneyland. In the background of the photos, you can see the Frontierland Carriage and cars for Casey Junior, which were apparently part of the original Carousel that these horses were taken from.









Check out my regular Disneyland website, davelandweb.com/disneyland for more vintage and current Disneyland photos..

1955 Construction Series, Pt. 3

These are the last photos from the May 1955 construction batch. The first shows Walt walking in front of the unfinished castle, and the second shows him having a conversation while standing near one of the castle’s spires. Not sure what this guy is telling Walt, but it looks like an excuse to me, and Walt does not seem interested. Just make it happen, buster!



Moving on, we have pics of the Frontierland Gates and also an unfinished Mark Twain, looking a little nekkid without its decorative gingerbread trim.





This last photo shows the map currently at the Main Street Opera house and features the layout of the park on opening day. Although the miniature display at the Opera House has been criticized for some inaccuracies, it’s still a very cool work of art not to be missed.



To see more vintage & current Disneyland photos, visit my regular website.

1955 Construction Series, Pt. 2

Today’s photos are all from May, 1955 and feature Main Street under construction. This first photo is interesting mainly because the defunct bandstand/bowl appears to have been originally slated for Town Square. It really was a wise decision to move it, as visually, it was just too overpowering in the Town Square location. Next up is City Hall and a nice long shot of Main Street, with a car on the right that supposedly belonged to Walt Disney himself. The last photo shows an ABC TV camera near Central Plaza (with Frontierland Gates in background); ABC was there to document the construction of Disneyland.







To see more vintage and contemporary Disneyland photos, visit my regular website, davelandweb.com.

Construction Series

Today begins a short series of some construction photos and behind-the-scenes photos of Disneyland, 1955. The two today show the huge clay models for the Jungle Cruise African Bull Elephants. Modeled by Chris Mueller, each elephant consisted of about 2.5 tons of clay and stood at 8'6" at the shoulder. Both of these photos were taken in January, 1955 in Burbank.



To see other vintage Disneyland photos, go to my regular website, davelandweb.com.

Fantasyland Medley

Here’s an undated early morning shot through the archways of the Castle into Fantasyland (one of my favorite views). I have also included a closeup of what I assume is a ticketbooth? And from January, 1958, here are two adorable shots from the Midget Autopia







For the not-so-grand finale, a 1950's undated view of the teacups, including a close-up of the Mickey Mouse Club Theater area and Welch’s Juice Bar. I have always read that the Tiki Room was the first air-conditioned attraction, but based on this signage, it would appear that the Mickey Mouse Club Theater (which became the Fantasyland Theater in 1964) might take claim to that honor.





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

Rivers of America

Next time you get lost on Tom Sawyer’s Island, or you’re not sure what direction to paddle your canoe on the Rivers of America, just consult this handy-dandy cartoon map and you’ll be in great shape. I’m not sure of the origin or the date of this piece, but it sure is cool. I would place it to be somewhere between 1955 & 1958 since there is no evidence of the Columbia. I also thought I’d include the real thing, too: here’s one of Fort Wilderness from the 1950’s.



To see more vintage & current Disneyland Rivers of America photos, go to my regular website, davelandweb.com.

Adventureland, 1950’s

Composition-wise, these shots kind of suck, but since they are rare angles, I am including them anyway. This time of year, an ice cold drink doesn’t sound so good, but during the summer in Anaheim in the 1950's, it must have been heaven. Shot 2 looks like it was taken from the docks of the Jungle Cruise. Feel free to add/correct!



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

Disneyland Railroad

My first shot for today is a comparison shot: the E.P. Ripley some time in the 1950’s (exact year unknown) at the Main Street Station with the News Stand, and then how this area looks in December 2006.



I’m also throwing one in from August, 1968 showing the Frontierland Depot before it was retitled the New Orleans Square Station. The last slide is from the same batch and shows the train approaching what appears to be Small World. I can almost hear that infernal song now.



I’m also throwing one in from August, 1968 showing the Frontierland Depot before it was retitled the New Orleans Square Station.



See more Daveland Disneyland Railroad photos at my main website.

Central Plaza

Is she dead? Despite the Keystone Kops playing right in front of her, this poor damsel appears comatose, or maybe she’s one of the stuffed dollies from Matterhorn’s Blog who lost her way from Main Street. Red Wagon sign visible in background. Second shot is another 1950’s shot from the Pavilion.



My last shot is a call to anyone working at Disneyland on Pirates of the Caribbean: time to remove the painter’s tape with instructions—the ride has been open for months now!



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

Yet Another Main Street Montage

Here’s yet another 1950’s batch that has no date stamp; what the hell was wrong with the guy at the photolab?!? The first one is a nice long shot down Main Street, and the second one is for Amazon; sorry you didn’t get to ride it on Friday! My third shot also includes a detailed closeup of the A-Framed signage for the Horseless Carriage. To finish off the day, there’s one from City Hall, and 2 from the Carnation Company (amazingly, one actually DOESN’T have someone sitting in the cab of the delivery truck!). After having just spent the weekend at DLand, it truly amazes me how much the crowds at Disneyland have grown to unbelievable proportions.













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