More WDW Top of the World & Contemporary Hotel

Daveland reader Greg Kelly generously shared some photos from his collection as well as a few memories of working at the Top of the World Restaurant in The Contemporary Hotel at Walt Disney World.

I worked at the Top of the World Restaurant in the Contemporary Hotel from 1974 through 1976. These pictures were taken in 1974, probably in the summer. The camera I had (and still have!) was a small Kodak. If only the technology was as it was today, I would have some great shots!



The pictures of the King Sisters came out too dark (old flash cubes!) but I still thought I'd include them with the others. All were taken from the Top of the World catwalks. I took one of the Contemporary Hotel from a distance; I was lucky to be out in Florida when it was wide open spaces!!!

The King Sisters:









I have many happy memories of my days as a cast member at the Top of the World. One of my favorite would be during the second show, all of us would go in the break room and watch Saturday Night Live back in the day when it was just starting and hillarious!



Meeting celebrities was great too. I've been around a lot of celebrities ever since I was a kid, as my Dad sang with the Modernaires (1958 to 1964) and sang on the Red Skelton Show and the Danny Kaye Show. Thanks to that, I was used to it. In fact the Modernaires played at the Top of The World for a week and it was great seeing them as they (Paula Kelly, Vern Polk, and Hal Dickenson, God Bless their souls) watched me grow up.





I think the best story I can share was when my friend and I were taking a break in the cafeteria on a slow morning and our colleague came down and his eyes were as big as saucers. He said John Lennon was in the dining room. Well, we thought he was kidding, as we used to kid around a lot. Sure enough though, John Lennon was sitting on the lower level with a whole bunch of kids and probably Yoko Ono's family. That was a trip seeing him and being that close to him! My friends followed him to the restroom and got his autograph. I couldn't as I had been around several celebrities in the past as I mentioned, and felt I should leave him to his privacy! Still, it was an experience I won't forget!



One other quick one I can share was serving Lawrence Welk (just pouring his coffee) and he tipped me $5.00 dollars. In 1975, $5.00 had a bit more mileage to it!! He was a very cool guy. So was Buddy Greco; super cool as a matter of fact! Mel Torme, Rosemary Cloney, etc. Another interesting experience was when The Amazing Kreskin was peforming for a week—he was quite a talent!



I was quite fortunate to get hired at The Top of the World and to have been part of Walt Disney's dream! It was an honor and I had such a great time. Now it is the California Grill. The new Top of the World is in the structure next to the Contemporary Hotel which is a private club or special "Key Club.”



I can't wait to go back and visit. Just to see WDW and all of its growth seems so exciting!

Thanks to Greg for sending his stories and photos!

See more vintage and contemporary WDW Contemporary Hotel photos at my main website.

Trini Lopez at the WDW Contemporary Hotel

The Contemporary Hotel was pretty much the flagship property at the Walt Disney World resort when it was first constructed. Though the design looks far from contemporary today, it is still a popular place to stay. Back in the summer of 1978, my dad took my stepbrother and I to Orlando for one very memorable week at Disney World. I still vividly remember going to the Contemporary Hotel to see Trini Lopez (of "Lemon Tree" and "If I Had a Hammer" fame) perform at the Top of the World.

I'm not sure why it sticks in my mind, but I do remember that the man who arranged our entire week was named Joe Petrovich. I believe he worked in publicity for Disney; whatever he did, he did a top-notch job for us. Here is, sitting between my stepbrother and father.



Two shots of Trini performing that night:





Trini came over to our table:



Hard to believe, but I still have the little program from that evening:





After the show, we were able to visit with Trini in his hotel room. Dig that mod wallpaper! Nope...I don't have that hat anymore.





See more vintage and contemporary WDW Contemporary Hotel photos at my main website.

Upjohn Pharmacy, Pt. 2

Leeches at Disneyland? Yech!

HEALTHY CURIOSITY (THIRD OF FIVE)

A slightly-scary exhibit makes Cathy Smith's eyes pop as she looks at a jar of leeches, the flat worms once considered very important in medicine. As part of the treatment of a variety of ailments, the creatures were used to draw blood from patients.

See more vintage and contemporary Disneyland Main Street U.S.A. photos at my main website.

Screen Gem Saturdays: Happy 100th Birthday, Lucy!

In honor of what would have been Lucille Ball's 100th Birthday, I am sharing a few photos of the zany redhead from my collection.

First up are two from the classic "I Love Lucy" episode “Lucy and Ethel Buy the Same Dress” which first aired October 19,1953. It would be hard to imagine a better duo of comediennes than Lucille Ball & Vivian Vance. Besides having amazing chemistry, the two were 100% believable.



In the February 21, 1955 episode "Lucy Gets Into Pictures," (first aired on February 21, 1955) Lucy gets a bit part in a movie as a glamorous showgirl who gets shot and tumbles down the staircase.



Unable to walk down the stairs and balance her outrageously huge headdress, Lucy gets removed from her role. Lucy pleads with the director (expertly played by Lou Krugman) to reinstate her; as you can see in the photo, he just doesn't stand a chance with a desperately persistent Lucy.

One of the most touching episodes was “Lucy is Enceinte” from December 8, 1952. The word “pregnant” was still taboo, thus the title. Lucy announces to Ricky that she is pregnant with their first baby. The genuine emotion between the two is guaranteed to make a tear or two fall.



This last photo is from one of my very favorite episodes, "LA at Last," which first aired February 7, 1955.



Lucy smooches Director Bill Asher between takes as costar William Holden looks on.

Happy Birthday, Lucy - thanks for your legacy of laughter. To see more I Love Lucy photos, visit my main website.

Upjohn Pharmacy, Pt. 1

Back in the day when Main Street U.S.A. had a healthy diversity of shops, the Upjohn Pharmacy was a museum of sorts with an actual pharmacist on hand to talk to guests wanting to know more. Here's a vintage interior shot along with the accompanying publicity blurb from February 1960:

HEALTHY CURIOSITY (SECOND OF FIVE)

A bit of Old America, the Drug Store has an interior of fancy jars and bottles, ornate chandeliers and formally arranged displays of herbs, barks, extracts, granules pills and powders. Registered Pharmacists actually work at the store, but their job is to explain what the displays are all about, rather than compound medicines.

Gotta' zoom in for a closeup of the clock on the wall:



See more vintage and contemporary Disneyland Main Street U.S.A. photos at my main website.

Traveling Thursdays: Marineland

Just because I know squat about Marineland of the Pacific doesn't mean I can't post photos! Today's post is dedicated to the park that used to be in Palos Verdes from 1954-1987.

I wonder which came first; the Mickey or the Dolphin floral?



The colorful shots in today's post are from August 1958 (other than the initial exterior shots from July 1961).



At the time of its opening, Marineland was the world’s largest oceanarium. When it closed, its performing orcas/killer whales (Orky and Corky) were moved to San Diego's Sea World and renamed "Shamu."







Marineland can be seen in a number of classic TV shows, such as "The Beverly Hillbillies," "The Munsters," "The Partridge Family," and "The Lucy Show."



Eventually, Marineland was dozed and replaced with the Terranea Resort, a luxury California Oceanfront Resort.

See more Marineland photos at my my main website.

April 1977, Pt. 7

I love this bawdy painting that hangs in the Golden Horseshoe saloon; I have no info on who painted it, but I am happy to report that it still hangs above the bar. Something makes me think that at one time this lady was completely nude, but then painted over at some point for modesty's sake. Just a theory. Either way, the frame has changed since the 1977 photo was taken.



Things are dead over at the French Market; must be too early for lunch!



Here's a comparison shot from October 2007:



Over at Cristal D'Orleans, the doors are open and ready for biz.



Zooming in to see the wares in the window:



See more vintage & current New Orleans Square photos at my main website.

April 1977, Pt. 6

Welcome to Fantasyland, circa April 1977. For the first shot, all I can do is scratch my head. Whatever this train thing is supposed to be, it sure does look cheap and out of place at Disneyland. I'll just chalk it up to the polyester decade.

The Tinkerbell Toy Shop seems to have Pooh fever!



Let's peep into those windows, shall we?



And the shop itself:



This Skyway shot of Skull Rock is real gem; I still think this was some of the best faux rock work that I have ever seen at the resort:



Casey Jr. will help us exit today's post.



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

April 1977, Pt. 5

Picking up with more from a series I started back in May, our time machine takes us to April 1977. I may not be able to tell you the date, but thanks to slide number one, I sure can tell you what time it is!

This cannon still resides in Town Square today; thankfully, you will not find it in the poor condition it appears in this photo!



Wow, I could sure go for one of these sundaes right now!



Last one for today is of the Plaza Pavillion. Rumor has it that it will soon be repurposed as a bakery. No complaints here about that!



See more vintage and contemporary Disneyland Main Street U.S.A. photos at my main website.