Frontierland Entrance

As an excuse to post some of my more recent Frontierland shots, I am dipping back into the archives and revisiting some photos from previous posts, starting off with a few from July 18, 1955, the first day that Disneyland was open to the general public. Frontierland sure looks bare, but naturally, the set design people thought enough about the details to include a few tree stumps for authenticity, making the fort look that much more natural in its rough setting. Shot #2 was most likely taken from the Mark Twain; anybody know what the spheres on the right hand side are that appear to be over Tomorrowland? Interestingly enough, in the detail shot, it doesn’t appear that the Wooden Indian had made his debut in Frontierland yet.





Moving forward to December 26, 1955, this shot was taken over by the Frontierland Station. Note the descriptive sign for the Mike Fink Keel Boat attraction in the detail shot:





One more from December 26, 1955 features the Miniature Horse Corral and the Frontier Trading Post—still no Wooden Indian!





Moving forward to the present, I took these shots a few weeks ago. The crowds were somewhat low, which gave me time to focus on a few areas I may not have noticed in the past.





Even today, it’s still about the details for me; the items hanging on the stockade leave you with a somewhat haunting feeling that the owners may be back at anytime to retrieve them.





See more vintage & current Frontierland photos at my regular website.

Trains, Trains, and more Trains, pt. 2

As a followup to my August post, here are a few more undated 1950’s shots from the Frontierland Depot, featuring the front of the C.K. Holliday and its caboose.



Over on Main Street, it must be Christmas, according to the festive decor (and howzabout those cool attraction posters!). The C.K. Holliday is pulling into the station, whizzing by the Kalamazoo Handcar.



The cloudy gloomy nature of this shot is more like Halloween, but at least it provides us with a rare view of the tracks as well as a farely uncluttered background free of landscaping, guests, and the current commotion of Harbor Boulevard.



See more Disneyland Railroad photos at my regular website.

Disneyland in Focus: Adventure Thru Inner Space pt. 2

Back again today for the conclusion to this 2-parter. When it came to edu-tainment, few did it as well as Disney. Who woulda’ thunk that an attraction about molecules and atoms would be so popular? Or maybe it was just the fact that the Omnimover system provided the perfect place for a quick little makeout session (under the watchful guidance of Disneyland cast members). Either way, this attraction is still talked about with extreme fondness over 20 years after its removal (Sept. 2, 1985).



Even cast members got a little lovin’ on this attraction:









A little Monsanto propaganda, which is only natural since they sponsored the attraction until September 1977. Once Monsanto was gone, virtually all traces of the sponsor’s name were removed and ATIS carried on for another 8 years.



See more Adventure Thru Inner Space photos at my regular website. For the Major who asked the other day if the Main Street Wooden Indian was still around, here is a visual timeline from 1955 to present of the famous icon which is still there for guests to enjoy:















See more Disneyland Adventure Thru Inner Space photos at my main website.

Disneyland in Focus: Adventure Thru Inner Space

Although it’s been gone for over 20 years, this particular attraction truly has a cult following. I rode it many a time in my youth, and just remember it as being extremely weird, yet fun...very hard to describe. The thing that sticks out in my mind the most about this attraction was watching the "guests" in the Omnimovers who had supposedly been shrunken by the Mighty Microscope. I remember staring in wonder at the miniature vehicles and figures knowing that it couldn't be possible, but maybe...just maybe....
















See more vintage Adventure thru Inner Space photos at my regular website.

February 1962, Pt. 2

Today I begin with 2 from the oft missed Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship Restaurant. By this point, the Skull Rock Cove area had been added to the scene. It doesn’t look like the photographer’s wife was particularly happy that he took shot #2; I am guessing he paid for this later on.



Over in Frontierland, the Wooden Indian is more than happy to pose for this one; wonder if the cigarette ash ever hit the kid?



Here are a few other shots of the same spot throughout the years for your viewing pleasure, starting off in 1959:



My dad and brothers in 1965:



And two from 2007:





See more vintage & current Frontierland photos at my regular website.

February 1962, Pt. 1

Although I won’t be giving out any blue-ribbons to this photographer for his composition, I do have to give him credit for his choice of subjects! The intro shot is naturally of the Castle; the Disney family crest is still missing from the entryway. Mom and son are standing off to the left; as you’ll see tomorrow, mama looks a lot like Patsy Cline. In shot #2, we have reached Tomorrowland; rather than shoot what everyone is looking at, our photographer chose to capture everyone’s posterior for....well, posterity.



3 time’s the charm with this view of the still fairly new (less than 6 months old) Flying Saucer attraction.



Rounding out today’s post are a few shots of the Monorail & The Submarine Voyage attraction:





And here is the exact same angle as it looks now:



See more vintage & current Tomorrowland photos at my regular website.