TGI-Hats!

When one thinks of souvenir hats at Disneyland, Mouse Ears are typically the first thing that one would think of. Oh, but there were sooooo many other types of hats for purchase at the Park back in the day. This post will do its best to cover most of them. Thanks to Bryan for suggesting this idea! Image #1 is a vintage Disneyland collector’s dream; just look at all those cool hats for sale in 1960’s Tomorrowland.

This December 1969 image shows a little boy near the entrance sporting one of those vibrant red hats:

In the foreground we have a Spaceman from the 1960s:

…and in the background, a sassy little tot with that same popular red hat:

A hat kiosk in Tomorrowland, from May 1959; note the Matterhorn under construction in the background:

A detailed view, showing the cast members handling this large group of hat connoisseurs:

Below is an undated image showing the Hat Bar:

Your name free!

In Town Square, circa 1955, you could get a Keppy Kap at the Information Kiosk:

Another angle of the Information Stand from October 1956:

Need another view? From August 1956:

This little girl in Town Square from 1956 is sporting one of the Kaps:

Wanna’ see a Keppy Kap up close? From the Heritage Auction website:

Can’t get enough Keppy? How about a black and white shot from June 1958 at the entrance:

Look how proud he is of his hat and comic book!

Perhaps the sombrero-style hat from May 1959 is what you’re seeking:

Somberos and subs; sounds like the perfect combo! From September 1961:

Those hats might have been purchased in this Frontierland shop where Audie Murphy and his wife are shopping, circa 1956:

You could also have your photo taken there wearing one of the coveted Davy Crockett coon skin caps:

A detailed view of the cap:

The souvenir kiosk in Fantasyland from July 1957:

The 1950s Fantasyland family that wears hats together stays together:

A rarely seen yellow version of the Keppy Kap AND a Zorro hat!

Same family over at Nature’s Wonderland; it would appear that the older brother is also a “Zorro” fan!

This little boy from February 1958 came to the Park fully prepared for Frontierland in his fringed jacket. He must have been a Davy Crockett fan. And that red hat…can’t help but love it!

This detailed 1956 view from the Nature’s Wonderland shot shows a boy with a monogrammed souvenir hat on the right that appears to be identical to the kids next to our red-topped tot in the previous shot:

Same hat on the Monorail from the 1960s:

My favorites are the hats with the ginormous plumes.

Two plumed hats from 1959:

 

The pink plume sure stands out in Tomorrowland, July 1963:

Perhaps you prefer the low-tech paper hats from July 1959:

They may be low-tech, but the paper hat knows how to photobomb a shot of the Stagecoach, from August 1959:

This girl in the wheelchair is protected from the July 1960 Anaheim heat with her souvenir paper hat:

The detailed view showing a stack of the Keppy Kaps:

I spy a trio of gorgeous gals wearing matching white hats with red ribbons. Perfect for their canoe ride, from April 1960:

What about this wacky hat from July 1962?

Probably purchased from the stand we saw in the very first photo. Notice the kooky hats on the top two rows in this detailed view:

A Tyrolean-style hat near the House of the Future, July 1963:

At the castle we have Mouse Ears vs. a Cowboy Hat, circa January 1964. This could get nasty.

A Civil War tribute hat (also seen in the very first shot), from the 1960s:

Last and most sassiest is my friend Arlette modeling a hat from the Mad Hatter in Fantasyland, April 2000:

I hope you enjoyed this tribute to Disneyland souvenir hats!

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

Return to Ferndell

A few years back I did a post on a little-known spot in Griffith Park called Ferndell, which, depending upon where you look, is also referred to as two words, Fern Dell. I usually go with the official signage, seen below from my last journey there in 2014. And yet, the official website calls it “Fern Dell.” These are the things that keep me up at night.

It is a magical somewhat hidden spot near the entrance that provides guests with some shade and a verdant journey that transports you to a tropical paradise. Am I still in L.A.? I love the vintage 1950 image of the happy lady relaxing, yet still decked out in high heels.

From the official website:

More than 50 fern species thrive among select tropical plants and flowers along this shady, winding trail. Located near the Western Canyon entrance.

I really need to go back.

See more photos at my main website.

Temple Tuesday: Nella and Shirley

Today’s first photo shows Mary MacLaren, Shirley, George Irving (who also played Judge Thompson in “Bright Eyes”), and Nella Walker as Mrs. John Mason, the wealthy Aunt of Shirley’s character in “Captain January” (1936). This was the first Temple film to have Nella Walker as a costar of Shirley’s.



Walker was born on March 6, 1886 in Chicago. Once a salesgirl, she started in show business as a vaudeville performer with her husband Wilbur Mack in an act called (appropriately) Mack and Walker. From a 1916 review of the act:

In “A Pair of Tickets.” This is a very cleverly written comedy skit and very well played. Lines are bright and they have two or three catchy songs, all of which got over in good shape. It is presented in a classy stage setting and deserves to take a place among the classiest acts of its kind of which vaudeville can boast. There are four persons employed in the offering of this skit. Closed very strong.

Mack dumped her and replaced her with Gertrude Purdy, both romantically and professionally. The new act was called “Mack and Purdy.” How original.

Nella continued on with show biz, making her first film in 1929 as a voice double in “Chinatown Nights,” and her first screen appearance in “Tanned Legs” the same year. She was typecast as snobbish upper-crust society matrons and known for her work in “Three Smart Girls” (1936 with Deanna Durbin). “Young Mr. Kildare” (1938 with Lionel Barrymore), and “Air Raid Wardens” (1943 with Laurel and Hardy). She stayed a busy supporting actress (always the bridesmaid!) until her final role as Humphrey Bogart’s and William Holden’s mother in “Sabrina” (1954). She died on March 22, 1971 in Los Angeles.

In Shirley’s one and only film for MGM, “Kathleen” (1941), Walker played the evil Governess Mrs. Farrell. Here, Shirley catches her snooping…again!



Shirley eventually gets the nasty witch fired. Go Shirley!



Here’s a behind-the-scenes shot of Kathleen (Shirley) returning from a visit to the paternal local antiques dealer (Felix Bressart) with nasty old Mrs. Farrell waiting at the top of the trap door to catch her.



Need a closer look? I know I do!



In 1947, Nella returned to grace a Shirley Temple movie. This time it was the Warner Brothers melodrama “That Hagen Girl.” Her role was Molly Freneau, the snobbish and gossipy mother of Shirley’s beau, played by Rory Calhoun. Here, Mrs. Freneau pays an unscheduled visit to Mary (Shirley) to inform her that the young girl isn’t fit to date her son.



Shirley arches her eyebrow and tells the old biddy to get lost. Well, not in quite those words but close.



Later on, finding out that Tom Bates (Ronald Reagan) is a hero, she and the rest of the nosey townspeople ask him to make a speech at the local graduation.



Reagan tells the old battleaxe to eat his dust. Well, not exactly in those words, but he does call her out on her hypocrisy.



Nella’s posture says it all. NOBODY played a villainess like Nella.



See more Shirley Temple photos at my main website.

Vintage Universal Studios Tour

Are you ready for your 1966 Universal Studios Tour? Looks like this bus driver was flirting a bit with the passengers. I was hoping a zoom-in to the bus would provide a better look at the map and an ID, but no luck.

Over at Stage 30 they are filming “Pistols 'n' Petticoats” and “The Jean Arthur Show.”

Set in 1870, “Pistols 'n' Petticoats” was a sitcom starring Ann Sheridan that only lasted one season. Sadly, she died a few months after the series was cancelled. “The Jean Arthur Show” only lasted for 12 episodes. Leonard Stone, known as Violet Beauregarde’s dad in “Willy Wonka” had a role as Jean’s chauffeur.

Done with the bus driver, our 1966 Universal Guest has made her way over to Park mascot Woody the Woodpecker.

A much better choice! I am assuming the arm pose of the statue was designed for posing with little kids.

From a May 1966 tour, this is the Pacific Ocean Naval Base set for “McHale’s Navy,” which had recently ended its four season run (1962-1966).

Gotta’ get a closer look. If only steadier hands had prevailed. We’ll just blame it on the tram driver.

From November 1965, another angle of the same set:

From the same batch

Interesting to note all the miniature watercraft in this shot:

See more Universal Studios photos at my main website.

Catalina Welcomes You!

It’s 1940, and Charlie Chaplin and Paulette Goddard had just finished filming “The Great Dictator” and vacationed in Catalina to celebrate:

Relaxing at Santa Catalina and letting the world go by are the Chaplins-three. Charlie, Sr., Paulette Goddard and Charlie, Jr. Sidney, the younger son, had to stay at home to make up his studies. Charlie has just completed his long awaited sound picture and is resting at his Santa Catalina hide-away dividing his time between fishing, tennis and strolling around Avalon Town with son Charles and Paulette.

The boat that took them from Los Angeles to Catalina can be seen in the background. The gents below are vacationing there, too, circa May 1958:

A vintage view of the Casion in the background, from September 1960:

This ho-hum Catalina shot from June 1962 got a little more exciting for me when I noticed there was a brochure in the little girl’s hands:

Zooming in and flipping the image 180 degrees I got this:

Which matches this “Catalina Welcomes You” vintage brochure easily found on ebay:

See more Catalina photos at my main website.

Janet Leigh: What to Do?

In 1962, Janet Leigh took her two daughters (Jamie Lee and Kelly) to Disneyland while her then-husband, Tony Curtis, was filming “Forty Pounds of Trouble” at the Park. In photo #1, she seems to be having a dilemma with Kelly, who is crying buckets. Could she be protesting a ride on the Matterhorn? You can see the wheels spinning in Janet’s head…does she force screaming Kelly to go on the ride or allow her child to remain behind and miss the fun?

Based on shot #2 it would appear that Jamie Lee but not Kelly went on the Matterhorn attraction.

Somebody from Janet’s entourage stayed behind to watch Kelly. Jamie Lee is either open-mouthed with glee or terror; not sure which, as I don’t have a follow-up image. These are the things that shape a kid’s future.

Wonder if she channeled this event for the movie “Halloween”?

See more photos at my main website.