The Viewliner Sits Empty

Here’s an undated shot of the Disneyland Viewliner, the attraction known for its extremely short lifespan at the Park (June 1957-September 1958). The poor cast member driving the Tomorrowland Viewliner in the photo looks extremely bored.

In 1959, the Tomorrowland Viewliner station was demolished to make way for the Monorail, The Matterhorn, and the Submarine Voyage attractions.

Wonder what was on the other side of that billboard we see from the vantage point of the Skyway bucket?

UPDATE: It pays to have readers who aren't lazy like me OR have a better memory. Thanks to Darryl for pointing out that in a previous post I showed the front side of what is most likely the billboard in the previous shot:

See more Disneyland Viewliner photos at my main website.

Mrs. Voorhees Goes To Palm Springs

Betsy Palmer, best known as the mother of Jason from the “Friday the 13th” franchise, posed here at the Palm Springs Biltmore Hotel in 1955:

FUN IN THE SUN — Betsy Palmer, Columbia actress and New York TV star, enjoys the desert sun while in California for Columbia’s Cinemascope Technicolor story of West Point, “The Long Gray Line,” in which she makes her film debut. Tyrone Power and Maureen O’Hara co-star and John Ford directed. Location scenes were photographed at West Point.

One year earlier, it was actress Virginia Mayo doing the same, revealing a bit more skin:

Virginia Mayo poses for the still cameraman beside the pool at the Biltmore Hotel in Palm Springs, where the company stayed while on location for desert scenes for THE SILVER CHALICE, a Victor Saville production for Warner Bros. Virginia co-stars with Jack Palace and Paul Newman in the film.

On the site Palm Springs Lost Buildings site, comes this info about the hotel which has since been demolished:

Once again the City of Palm Springs has had little regard for the City’s architectural history and stood by and let an important landmark be destroyed. The Biltmore Hotel designed by architect Fred Monhoff in 1948 and the last remaining grand hotel in Palm Springs went under the bulldozer [in 2003]. In a flagrant violation of California State Law, the City allowed Nexus Properties, who…purchased the Biltmore in bankruptcy court, to start demolition without so much as a permit to do so. The City claims that an abatement order issued in 2001 that required the then current owner to take action to resolve issues of neglect and vandalism was enough to allow the demolition even though the abatement specifically stated that a permit must be filed before any construction or demolition occurred. The California State law that the City violated, specifically the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), requires that historic structures must have an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) prepared prior to issuing a permit for renovation or demolition — this was not done. The EIR specifically requires that alternatives to demolition be considered, including rehabilitation and/or adaptive reuse. The Biltmore Hotel was a well-known historic site, having been featured in several books on mid –century architecture including “Palm Springs Weekend;” a book that chronicles the unique mid-century modern architecture that has made Palm Springs famous. The Biltmore was also listed in the Riverside County Historic Resources Survey prepared in the 1980s and more recently in a 2001 Palm Springs Historic Structures Inventory. So claims by certain City officials that “they did not know” that the Biltmore was of significant stature architecturally are totally absurd.

I don’t know; I wouldn’t have messed with a property that had once been visited by Mrs. Voorhees.

See more Palm Springs photos at my main website.

The Pylon on the Hill

The Matterhorn is a classic Disneyland attraction; not only because it’s been around since 1959, but also because it’s one of the attractions you can see from the I-5 Freeway as you approach the Park. As a kid (and yes, even as an adult!), it gave me that joyous sense of anticipation. We’re almost there! Before the Matterhorn was built, what was there? A mound of dirt (which had been repurposed from the excavation needed for the Sleeping Beauty Castle and its moat) and an unsightly pylon for the Skyway. Dubbed “Holiday Hill,” “Lookout Mountain,” “Lovers’ Lane,” and then “Snow Hill” (in anticipation of the Matterhorn), this area provided a place for guests to relax and breathe a bit from the excitement of the park. In these undated 1957/1958 images, you can actually see (gasp!) a garden hose as a Park employee is watering the plants.

A shot taken from the Skyway bucket as it soars over the hill:

A rarely seen angle of the Castle as we zoom in:

A wonderful view of the hill as the Skyway bucket approaches the Tomorrowland Skyway Station:

Zooming in you can see the tip of the Tomorrowland Viewliner Station as well as a little tot attempting to get in the way of the Park employee who is watering the plants:

What a charming area; the wooden rails and paths would have made for a lovely getaway. Today, there would be souvenir stands and vendor carts strewn along the way.

See more Holiday/Snow Hill photos at my main website.

Temple Tuesday: Quiet on the set!

The typical moviegoer watches a movie to follow the story and characters. I am not a typical moviegoer. I LOVE to watch classic (aka “old”) movies while listening to the director commentary, gaining behind-the-scenes knowledge. I also try to figure out if the scene is a set, a matte painting, or a true location. This set still from Shirley’s 1937 classic “Wee Willie Winkie” shows her costar Douglas Scott and stand-in Mary Lou Isleib “at ease” while the set is documented for the director, John Ford. Art direction on this movie was by William Darling and David Hall (both were nominated for a Best Art Direction Oscar for this film), with Thomas Little doing the set decoration.

Based on the outfit Mary Lou is wearing, I would guess that they were about to film this scene:

In most of the set photos from the film, this little sign is visible:

Another set, photographed on the same day (February 17, 1937) that also shows Scott and Isleib (this time with their backs to the camera), about to enter the Quartermasters Stores set.

What a dream to be able to walk around the sets and examine every detail! Well, to me at least!

A crew member is on the roof, getting the set ready for…something.

This extra is relaxing between takes:

I believe it’s the same actor with Shirley shown here:

See more Shirley Temple photos at my main website.

Welcome to the Academy

After a number of delays (some COVID related, some not), the Academy of Motion Pictures has announced an opening date of September 30, 2021 for their new museum located on Wilshire Boulevard, aka Museum Row, aka the Miracle Mile. The building it will inhabit was originally the historic May Company store, built in 1939 and designed by Albert C. Martin, Sr. (designer of the Million Dollar Theater and Los Angeles City Hall). Sadly, the Academy’s website ignores the history of this building, which has been renamed “The Saban Building,” because apparently the wealthy donors felt their name was more important than honoring the original legacy of this Streamline Moderne classic. An additional slap to Martin is that the only designer credited on the Academy website is Renzo Piano. Since he was born in 1937, he obviously had nothing to do with the original May Company.

Maybe this funky little space-age pile at the back of the building is his?

Just across the street is Johnie’s Coffee Shop (circa 1956), an example of Googie Architecture. Closed since 2000, it is only used as a film location and apparently, a campaign headquarters for good old Bernie Sanders.

Also nearby is the Petersen Automotive museum, which was apparently redesigned with this “unique” façade in 2015 as part of a $125 million renovation.  Huh.

If you want to get more information about the Academy Museum, you can visit the Academy website. Warning: it takes awhile to load, so if you don’t have a great internet connection, get ready for an exercise in frustration. See more Los Angeles photos at my main website.

Disneyland Monorail Red, July 1965

In this July 1965 image, you get the Disneyland Monorail, the Disneyland Hotel sign (which looks somewhat similar to the one that was on Harbor Boulevard), AND the Disneyland Hotel. Unfortunately, zooming in the sign is too blurry to read.

Don’t worry about it; in my collection I have a 1966 image that shows the Hotel sign:

Here’s the one that was on Harbor Boulevard, circa July 1965:

This view of the Park entrance was taken from the Monorail, July 1965:

Hope you all enjoy the weekend!

See more Disneyland Monorail photos at my main website.

Temple Tuesday: You Belong To Me

If the title of the Shirley Temple film “You Belong To Me” doesn’t sound familiar, that’s because it was changed before release to “Now and Forever.” Need more proof? How about this vintage still labeled as such:

The photo shows a deleted scene set in Paris between Carole Lombard’s character, Toni Day, and her husband, played by English film actor Jameson Thomas (better known as King Westley in “It Happened One Night). If you thought Gary Cooper played her husband, well…you’re kind of right. In the original treatment, which was written just as the Hays Code was being put together, Cooper and Lombard are living in sin and she still has a husband in Paris (Thomas).

Joseph Breen and company were not crazy about that and pressured Paramount to ditch the hubby and make Cooper and Lombard a respectable married couple. Breen also didn’t like Shirley’s attempt at suicide. What?!? Yup… that was in an outline from February 22, 1934:

That outline also included the original “Thelma and Louise” ending:

What the heck was Paramount thinking?!? This is one instance of where it was probably a good thing that Will Hays and Joseph Breen came along to see what the movie studios were doing. Based on the title and other things that were in the script, it would appear that the main emphasis of the film was to be the unhealthy and co-dependent relationship, between Cooper and Lombard. 

Shirley offing herself?!? Please tell me that wasn’t filmed. 

See more Shirley photos at my main website.

Welcome to Main Street: Grapevine, Texas

As part of my visit to Dallas in 2016, we made an afternoon detour to Grapevine and explored their Main Street. The name came from its location on the Grape Vine Prairie near Grape Vine Springs, both names in homage to the wild grapes that grew in the area. 

Grapevine is probably most famous for its Bonnie and Clyde connection. On Easter Sunday, April 1, 1934, Henry Methvin, an associate of the crime-loving duo, killed two police officers, E.B. Wheeler and H.D. Murphy, during an altercation near Grapevine. A historical marker remains at the intersection of Dove Road and State Highway 114:

We the people of the state of Texas acknowledge and thank Troopers Edward Bryan Wheeler and H.D. Murphy for the great sacrifice they made to keep the public safe. Troopers Wheeler and Murphy were shot to death Easter Sunday, April 1, 1934, near this site on West Dove Road by the infamous criminals, Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow. Wheeler and Murphy stopped their motorcycles near Parker and Barrow’s car, thinking a motorist needed assistance. When they approached, they were shot. Their efforts will stand the test of time. May God bless their souls.

Today Grapevine is known for several wineries and its historic downtown. City Hall, the Grapevine Convention and Visitor's Bureau, public library, and recreation center are on Main Street in addition to many small businesses.

James Kirby Buckner built the Palace Theatre for $25,000, which opened on November 21, 1940 with “My Love Came Back” starring Olivia De Havilland. Threatened with closure in 1991, it was acquired by the Grapevine Heritage Foundation to keep it from being torn down.

The 1930's Buckner Cash Grocery Store, now the Lancaster Theatre, which was also acquired by the Foundation, has been restored to its Spanish Mediterranean style design and serves as an additional performance and meeting facility.

If only our visit had been at night to see this glow!

What main street could exist without a bandstand/pergola?

The Grapevine Sun building, from 1895, where its positive-messages only newspaper (where can we find that today?!?) was published by the Wall family until 1976.

Dino’s Steak and Claw House was the site of Yates Dry Goods Store, as well as the beautiful 1910 Farmers National Bank building. In 1942, a new international-style First National Bank of Grapevine building was constructed under the direction of bank president D. E. Box and world-renowned architect, Walter W. Ahlschlager, who also designed the Roxy Theatre in New York City and the Peabody Hotel in Memphis.

Last but definitely not least, the oh-so-important City Hall:

While it may look historic, apparently it is from 1997, incorporating architectural elements from Grapevine’s past. The columns in the front of the building are replicated from the old Farmers National Bank, the arched brickwork is a replica of Willhoite’s Warehouse, and the 14 stars on the front of the building represent the Grapevine City Council and the Planning and Zoning Commission members.

Definitely a cute little area to explore!

See more Grapevine, Texas photos at my main website.