2020: A Year in Review, Pt. 2

Be careful about what you wish for…it just might happen. I was talking about country music with my friend Jansen one day and brought up Patsy Cline, who he had very little knowledge of. Not surprisingly, the song “Walking After Midnight” was discussed, and I said it would be fun to do a country-themed shoot…after midnight. A few nights later, he called and asked if I wanted to make that happen, and the next thing I knew, we were shooting the photo above. I love stuff like that, especially when it’s impromptu.

Even though I’ve been back in San Diego for over twenty years now, there are still places I had yet to explore, like the Quince Street wooden trestle bridge (built in 1905) and nearby hiking trails. 2020 is when it finally happened! Such a cool location!

A trip back to Palm Springs meant I got to stay at one of my favorite places again, The Movie Colony Hotel:

I had a photo shoot in Las Vegas; because I was not crazy about flying, I decided to drive it for the first time and finally see Calico Ghost Town along the way. DEFINITELY worth it!

While in Vegas, I made it back out to Red Rock Canyon:

Vegas itself kinda sucked; even RuPaul’s Werk Room was closed…due to COVID, of course. That became the catch phrase of the year. Anything that no longer worked like it should...just add “due to COVID” afterwards.

On the way back, I stopped at the Barstow Train Station, which was once a Fred Harvey Restaurant back in the day. I had to get a selfie in front of one of the vintage Santa Fe cars; if only it had said “Atchison and Topeka,” too!

What’s the best part of traveling? Coming home to Willis!

Another San Diego first was getting out to see the Desert View Tower and its incredible “collection” of rock paintings:

My workout group rented an Airbnb in Catalina; we made friends as soon as we got off the ferry as we sipped a few beverages by the water.

Don’t be shocked, but I managed to shoot a few photos while there. It was nice to return to the Island after my first trip sixteen years ago.

In December, I finally made it back to the Chateau Marmont after having been away for over a year.

Willis was glad to be back, too.

I was especially pleased to get back into painting again, and very grateful for the commission which provided that opportunity to be creative.

Last one for this post shows Willis sporting his Christmas bowtie (thanks Melissa, aka “The Colonel”).

I can’t really complain too much about 2020. It was actually nice not to be on a plane as much as I typically am; it forced me to stay home and get some work done around the house. I also was blessed to be able to spend more time with Willis, which always brings me joy. It doesn’t look like things will be changing any time soon,  so I’ll just continue to make the best of what life has given me, which has been pretty good so far.

See more Daveland photos at my main website.

2020: A Year in Review, Pt. 1

2020 is a year that will go down in history as…well, yet to be determined how it will be classified, but for many it was not a year for good memories. I have been very fortunate in that the pandemic allowed me more time with Willis, continued employment, and the ability to travel via automobile. My number one goal was to improve my health, which meant better eating and a regular exercise regimen. I also made it a goal to get back to the canvas and start painting, which I did, too. This post is a quick summary of the highlights, which started with the virgin trip to Joshua Tree State Park. I was in the Palm Springs area for the wedding of my very good friends Kamy and Amanda. It was definitely one of the most beautiful and touching ceremonies I have been invited to. The Parker Hotel in Palm Springs was the perfect backdrop.

The ready-made family of Amanda, Famous the dog, and Kamy:

The one (and only) plane trip of the year was to Austin, Texas to visit my brother and his family.

I allowed myself one night at the South Congress Hotel, so that I could get some shots of an area I hadn’t really explored before.

The hotel was an excellent choice; hip, clean, and the perfect location.

Neon was in abundance on Congress Avenue:

Back in California, I had the honor of doing the “farewell” shoot of the Dearly Departed Museum in Hollywood before everything was packed up and put in storage.

I was able to get up close and personal with the Jayne Mansfield death car:

The Shirley Temple that Shirley Temple refused!

My one and only “live” concert for 2020 was to hear The Doo Wop Project when they performed in Palm Springs:

It’s always a treat to hear these guys in concert.

2020 marked my first trip to the Anzo Borrego desert:

The pandemic allowed me to capture these shots of an empty Balboa Park at sunset:

There were still reasons to celebrate in 2020; I was hired to do a graduation shoot at San Diego State University:

SO many firsts for me in 2020, including lunch at the Rainbow Oaks Restaurant in Fallbrook:

…and my first trip on the Angels Flight Railway:

While in Laguna Beach for a photo shoot, I captured this. Yes, the anger that was building in this nation was palpable.

A photo shot took me back to Long Beach, which is so close to where I live but a place I rarely spend time in.

I dined twice at the Bali Hai Restaurant on Shelter Island:

I decided to wear a vintage Hawaiian shirt that belonged to my dad. I had worn it frequently during my college years, and it still fit!

I joined Eric Lynxwiler (neon aficionado and LA history/Knott’s Berry Farm expert) and Darin for the first dining experience at Bali Hai:

…and with the group of guys I have been doing my outdoor workouts with. We definitely had earned our dinner (and drinks)!

Stay tuned for Part 2 on Monday! See more Daveland photos at my main website.

Fun on the River

Former Disneyland Keel Boat skipper graciously shared these vintage images from 1988-1989 showing himself (pics one and two) and some of his fellow cast members from when they once worked at the Park. And no…he didn’t fall in after pushing The Gullywhumper away from the dock. This man had skills!

Thank you Bryan for sharing these very fun images of an attraction that is still missed today! Another Daveland reader has put together a VERY cool video about famous graves of Disney Legends, which uses a few photos from the Daveland archives.

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

Nikon on Opening Day

In this Opening Day at Disneyland image from July 17, 1955, California Governor Goodwin Knight, Walt Disney, and Santa Fe President Fred Gurley descend the steps of the Main Street Train Station to join the throngs of guests below. Behind Knight and Disney is Art Linkletter, who acted as host for the live telecast.

When I zoomed in to get a closer look at the photographer’s camera, I was happy to see it was a Nikon! Maybe not quite as advanced as mine, but the same brand. Like me, he was living dangerously by walking along the edge of the wall of the steps, most likely attempting to get ahead of the action. I wonder what happened to his photos from that day?!?

See more vintage Disneyland opening day photos at my main website.

Temple Tuesday: Shirley and Macy's

In November 1959, Shirley and her family arrived in New York City so that they could be on the opening float for the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. A vintage ad promoting the parade and Shirley’s appearance:

Here’s a previously posted photo from my collection showing Shirley and her three children on the float, waving jubilantly to the crowd:

Gene Rayburn was the host for the NBC telecast; the Ideal Toy Company and Lionel Trains were the sponsors for the show. November 26, 1959. Shirley came into view for the audience at home with “On the Good Ship Lollipop” playing in the background. Shirley and family were on the first float of the parade. The TV announcer breathlessly spoke:

Here comes the first float in the parade, straight out of Storybook Land, a glittering castle covered with the sparkle of snowflakes, reading from a book big enough to hold all the fairy tales ever told, by someone whose name and face is probably known everywhere in the world. One of the most famous and best loved of all the great movie stars, the little girl who was America’s favorite little princess, now grown up to be our Storybook Queen, Shirley Temple. So they could be together for this holiday, Shirley Temple’s children are here with her on that first trip to New York. That’s Susan, age 11, Charles Junior, age 7, and the youngest girl is Lori, age 5, and that fourth little girl is a Shirley Temple doll! They’ve had an exciting trip by jet plane from California, and there they are on a float down Broadway. Hi Shirley!

Recently I acquired this rare original color 35mm slide of Shirley from the parade (thanks to Melissa, aka “The Colonel,” for identifying the location as W. 37th and Broadway):

A closeup of the family; Susan’s arm blocks the head of her genuine Shirley Temple vinyl Playpal doll, which stood almost 3' tall. It was the tallest doll that the Ideal Toy company ever produced bearing Shirley’ childhood likeness.

Years later in 2015, a Playpal doll from Shirley’s own collection was sold by Theriault’s in the “Love, Shirley Temple” auction.

From the catalog description:

LARGE SHIRLEY TEMPLE PLAYPAL DOLL BY IDEAL IN PARTY DRESS Lot Number: 335 36" (91 cm.) The rosy-cheeked doll has sleep eyes, lashes, wide-smiling expression with sculpted teeth, gleaming lips, double-impressed dimples, original ringlet-curled coiffure, jointing at neck, shoulders, hips and with swivel wrists. Marked Ideal Doll/ST-35-38-2. The doll is wearing her original cream/aqua nylon dress with puffed sleeves, lace trim at collar and sleeves, and embroidered flowers on yoke, original undergarments, socks and shoes. The doll was presented in 1959 by Ideal. Realized Price: $2,500 Presale Estimate: 400+

Wouldn’t it have been great if this was the doll that Susan held in the parade? Unfortunately the doll Susan is holding wears a pink dress; this one is sporting a cream colored one. It’s still amazing that this one survived all these years in such great condition!

See more Shirley Temple photos at my main website.