Would you believe...

Before there was EPCOT, there was supposed to be International Street, located right off of Town Square. Peepholes through the wall gave tantalizing views of what was supposed to be, however, the project never got off the ground. Each year the opening date was changed and eventually this same sign heralded the opening of Liberty Street, another project that never saw the light of day.

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

The Original Art Corner

Before it hit Tomorrowland, the Art Corner was temporarily near Central Plaza. This slide suffers from half a bad exposure, but is still worth posting. I would cringe at the amount of money these original animation cels were going for back in the summer of 1955, but that is all hindsight of course. And for those who can’t afford to buy the cels, maybe they'd like to have their pics taken for free with these cool cutouts.









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

Keeping it Clean

Another undated slide, but I believe from 1955/56, showing the white wing mentioned the other day in Matterhorn’s blog. This time you can see it in living color, and perhaps Matterhorn can tell the viewers out there if this is Trinidad or not. Amazon—hope you enjoy the HD Trolley shot!

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

At the Circus

Here are two views of the short lived Circus at Disneyland, showing what appears to be Professor Keller with his Tranquilized Kitties.



See more vintage Disneyland Mickey Mouse Club Circus photos at my main website.

Main Street Train Station

Today I present a batch of undated slides featuring the Main Street Train Station. What an entrance! First thing in the morning as the park is opening, to see the E.P. Ripley pull up, whistle blowing and steam smoking...great way to start your day at Disneyland. This is one area that has seen little change over the years. I also like the attraction posters that greet you as you go through the gates here, giving guests a glimpse of what is to come. Anybody care to date these slides? The first two images are from the same batch (although judging by the outfits, they are different visits).



This one IS actually dated: January 1960.



I BELIEVE this one is also from 1960 (same batch as the scary Stephen King girls).



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

Autopia Medley

Here are a few shots of the Autopia through the years, beginning with an undated shot of a little girl very happy to be behind the wheel. The 2nd slide (same batch) shows what appears to be the same little girl, who has now picked up a passenger.



This shadowy shot is from January 1960.



August 1982 shows a different car that definitely owes its styling to the Corvette.

4 & 5 are current shots of the Autopia route, including a nice tribute to the Midget Autopia, Fantasyland’s short-lived counterpart.







Might as well throw in a vintage one of the Midget Autopia from March 1959, which gives a good idea of its location near the Storybook Land area.



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

Adventureland Gate: Then & Now

Compare the Adventureland gate from May 31, 1956 to the one of today. At first glance, not a huge difference, however, there is something a little more “primitive” and authentic looking about the original that today just seems a slight bit more manufactured. Regardless, this is still one of my favorite themed entrances in the park.





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

Marching Band & Tiki Room correction

Here is the Disneyland Marching Band parading down Main Street, April 1958. I am also including a “rerun” of the 2nd shot (including close-up) which is from the same batch of slides, also showing the band dressed in red playing on the Mark Twain dock area.





The repost of this current and December 1968 shot is to correct my previous post, in which I compared the back of the Tiki Room to the front as the same before & after shots. My bad...so here are both BACK shots (makes for a better comparison).





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

Royal Street Bachelors, December 1968

Here are two views of the Royal Street Bachelors playing some Jazz in the heart of New Orleans Square. I believe they were originally only a trio, however, on this day, they were joined by a few other musicians. The African American boy in the second shot is a little jarring, as you would never see that kind of “costume” in the Park today.



This last shot is a slightly color-shifted Panavue slide, showing the Bachelors again with a lively tap dance by one of the shoe shine boys happening right in front of them. Today, there seems to be a resurgence of live music in NOS; there is a Pirate skit/show that runs daily with live songs, as well as a traveling jazz group, headed up by a lively chanteuse who belts her heart out. It’s really nice to see top-level entertainment pop-up unexpectedly in each area of the park—one of the reasons Disneyland stays unique.



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

Ready for Stephen King

Just for Tim, I am posting a few more of these 2 little towheads, who look like they just stepped out of a Stephen King novel. From February 1960, we have the first two shots of the little darlings near the gates of Frontierland and the Castle Bridge, most likely with the poor sap who rescued them from the orphanage and brought them home to wreak havoc on a small midwest town (or something like that).



I don’t know what’s more creepy in these next two photos; the little girls or the Three Little Pigs. Try to get these images out of your nightmares tonight, folks!





Fortunately, just like the original creepy Mickey & Minnie park costumes, these characters also evolved into something much less frightening (except for the little toddlers in strollers who will let out a blood curdling yell for anything in a mask, but that’s another story). And whatever you do, don’t have lunch at Casa de Fritos; those little girls might be there.



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

Indiana Jones and The Decoder Card

Today I am going to jump forward from the past and do a post on one of my favorite rides; fans of the vintage stuff, please forgive me, as tomorrow I will go back to the golden age of the 50’s/60’s. I have always enjoyed reading the “Mara-glyphics” (designed by art director Chuck Ballew) inscribed on the wall of the Indiana Jones Adventure queue, and now, with the help of this AT&T decoder card, you too can unlock the secrets of these ancient scribblings from 1995! Have at it!













For more Indiana Jones Adventure photos, visit my regular website.

Broggie Window, Main Street, and Town Square

Here is the photo of the recently installed Broggie window that the Major mentioned yesterday. The next shot is also Main Street, from July 1970. Where Disneyana currently is, there’s Berry’s Cookies and the Ring Shop. Next to the cookie sign, the Market House bears the title “Sugar Corner.” Main Street shops sure have undergone some change over the years. It would be nice to have a little more variety in the offerings there today.



Image 3 is Town Square, March 1964, featuring the Mickey Mouse Club in the Opera House and a Toy Shop to the right. Hills Brothers is still around, as you can see the logo above the garden area.



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

Town Square Display Window, Admiral Joe, and Trash Can

I posted this photo a short while ago, and last weekend, took a photo of approximately the same spot in Town Square for comparison’s sake.



My other image for today is of Admiral Joe Fowler standing in Central Plaza near the Castle. Although it’s cool to see a photo of the Disney legend, it’s even cooler to see this rare trash can in the background, which is definitely unthemed. Anybody able to date this slide by the can? I’ll go ahead and repost the other photo of Joe from this same trip, standing near the Chicken of the Sea Restaurant.





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