Happy 85th Birthday, Shirley Temple Black!

Shirley Temple Black has crammed a lot of living into her 85 years: an actress, a singer, a dancer, a wife, a mother, AND a diplomat. Starting out in 1932 as the female lead in a series of extremely politically incorrect movie shorts called "Baby Burlesks," Shirley learned quickly how to steal a scene.



Her big breakthrough came in 1934 when she sang the hit song "Baby Take A Bow" in the otherwise forgettable Fox Film "Stand Up And Cheer." For a country weary from the Depression and on the brink of war, Shirley was a real shot in the arm.



It wasn't long before the talented tot was immortalized in the cement of Grauman's Chinese Theater's forecourt.



Her roles as a child star are still memorable, whether she was the goody-two-shoes counterpart to Jane Withers' brattiness...



or attempting to charm President Lincoln into pardoning her father...



or teaching a cripple how to walk...



Here she attempts to impress the judge and jury in a courtroom with her dance skills. Whatever it was, Shirley Temple put a smile on the face of this nation throughout the 1930's.



She began 1939 by handing out the Oscar(s) to Walt Disney for his achievement with "Snow White."



1939 also saw the release of her first all-Technicolor motion picture, "The Little Princess."



One year later, her super career faltered when "The Blue Bird" failed to register with the American public. Nobody wanted to see Shirley as a brat.



The 1940's saw a small resurgence in her career in a number of prestige pictures, such as "Since You Went Away" with Claudette Colbert and Jennifer Jones:



and "The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer" with Cary Grant and Myrna Loy.



Sadly though, her career ended before 1950 thanks to a number of duds that attempted to make money by using the marquee value of Shirley's name. "That Hagen Girl" with Ronald Reagan was one of the most laughable.



In the late 1950's, Shirley found new fame on television, presenting a series of classic fairy tales. She was a more than lovely hostess:



Some of the screenplays featured Shirley as well, including "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" with Boris Karloff:



One of my favorite (and oddest) photos of Shirley is this one of her from 1964 with The Beatles.



By the 1960's, Shirley gave up her acting career and became a politician, earning a newfound respect thanks to her commitment and hard work. She was also one of the first women to come forward and encourage others by sharing the story of her breast cancer experience. Besides her stints as a diplomat (in Ghana and Prague), Shirley still appeared in the public eye to share stories about her Hollywood days. Here she is in 1978 with Jane Withers:



In 1989 she made best-seller lists with the publication of her autobiography, "Child Star."



She has supposedly finished part two of her autobiography, detailing the rest of her life, but has yet to get it published. I can only imagine the stories she has tell about her days in Washington. Last photo for today shows Shirley with Liza Minnelli, Milton Berle, and Jack Haley, Jr. In the background on the right you can see Eva Marie Saint.



So raise your Shirley Temple in salute to Shirley Temple Black - Happy 85th to a true American Princess!

See more Shirley Temple Black photos on my Shirley web page.

Disneyland Diary, 1965

1965 ADDITIONS

• GREAT MOMENTS WITH MR. LINCOLN (a personal experience with history, in a new theater in the Main Street Opera House) — Main Street, U.S.A.



• PLAZA INN (offering dining in the grand manner) — Main Street Plaza.



HIGHLIGHTS

Disneyland celebrated its tenth anniversary with a year-long "tencennial celebration."







New Year's Eve brought 20,000 to begin the observance of 1965,

A new addition to Disneyland, "Fantasy on Parade" was introduced during the Christmas season.



Walt Disney's "Wonderful World of Color" television show saluted Disneyland's first decade.

Disneyland's first Ambassador to the World, Julie Reihm, traveled to Europe, Canada, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and throughout the U.S.



Valentine's Dance, Catholic Schools Day, "Spring Fling" and special youth days attracted record attendance.

More than 50,000 celebrants from 138 high schools attended four all-night Grad Parties.



Les Brown, Si Zentner, Frank Sinatra, Jr., Stan Kenton, Wayne King, Harry James, Duke Ellington, Woody Herman, Tex Beneke, Hootenannies and Humdingers filled the summer with music.



Disneyland's Community Service Awards program honored 17 county organizations with cash awards totaling $15,000. The Outstanding Award was won by the Orange County Association for Retarded Children.

FAMOUS GUESTS

• Lord Louis Mountbatten of England (March)
• President Maurice Yameogo of Upper Volta (April)
• New Zealand Defense Minister Dean Eyre (April)
• Gov. Mark Hatfield of Oregon (June)
• Princesses Chandra and Suddhavong of Thailand (June)
• Prince and Princess Mikasa of Japan (September)
• Gov. Hayden Burns of Florida (November)
• Premier W.A.C. Bennett of British Columbia

See more vintage & current Disneyland photos on my Disneyland web pages.

Disneyland Diary, 1964

1964 ADDITIONS

• COLUMBIA ("below decks" addition re-created quarters of 18th century American seamen) — Frontierland



• THE JUNGLE CRUISE showcased the "Trapped Safari" and other additions (including the African Veldt region with lions, giraffes, zebras, jackals, wildebeests, hyenas and antelope) — Adventureland



HIGHLIGHTS

A sellout crowd of 19,000 celebrated New Year's Eve at Disneyland.

"Spring Fling" was again the highlight of Easter Week.

More than 50,000 seniors and their dates from 130 high schools attended four all-night Grad Parties in June



Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, Count Basie and Wayne King starred in a giant five-night Big Band Festival.

Summer entertainment included weekly Hootenannies and appearances by Spike Jones, Perez Prado and Harry James with their orchestras.

Louis Armstrong, Kid Ory, Sharkey Bonano, Sweet Emma Barrett and Benn Pollack starred in the fifth "Disneyland at Disneyland."

Floats from 25 nations and more than 3,000 persons took part in the "Christmas in Many Lands" parade.

The "Parade of Toys" was a daily attraction during Christmas Time.



Disneyland's Community Service Awards program honored 15 county organizations with cash awards totaling $13,000. The Outstanding Award was won by the Volunteer Bureau of Newport Beach.

FAMOUS GUESTS

• Crown Prince Harald of Norway (February)
• 30 United Nations Ambassadors (February)
• Princess Chumbolt and Dhani of Thailand (February)
• Prince William of Gloucester, England (February)
• Lord Mayor Hansen of Copenhagen (March)
• Gov. Nelson Rockefeller of New York (May)
• Princess Abitya of Thailand (June)
• Prime Minister of Bjarni Benediktsson of Iceland (August)
• Other guests included ambassadors, legislators and cabinet officials from Ceylon, Denmark, Chile, Nepal, Mexico, the Arab states, Brazil, Sierra Leone, Naples, Argentina, England, Tunisia, Chad, Japan, Venezuela and Korea.

See more vintage & current Disneyland photos on my Disneyland web pages.

Disneyland Diary, 1963

1963 ADDITIONS

• Walt Disney's ENCHANTED TIKI ROOM (unveiled a new media of three-dimensional entertainment called "Audio Animatronics;" birds, flowers and Tiki gods perform an exciting musical fantasy — Adventureland



HIGHLIGHTS

"Salute to Mexico," presented by People-to-People and Mexican Tourist Association was showcased as a cultural exhibit.



NOTE: From the L.A. Times:

From the L.A. Times on July 24, 1963: “An authentically decorated Mexican street exhibit will be opened Monday at Disneyland to celebrate a ‘Salute to Mexico’ sponsored by People-to-People, Inc., in co-operation with the Mexican Tourist Council. “Mexico’s former president, Miguel Aleman, now president of the tourist council, will act as official representative at the 11 a.m. dedication ceremonies. “The three-month exhibit will be a showcase of Mexican crafts ranging from pottery and jeweltry to contemporary art and bull fighting.”



From the Pasadena Star-News, July 31, 1963: “Mexico Invades Southland—A beachhead based on friendship and mutual understanding has been established at Disneyland with opening of the ‘Salute la Mexico’ under the sponsorship of People-to-People, Inc. Teresa Lucero, 8, of Los Angeles and Patrick Wade, 12, of Anaheim, pulled the ribbon to officially open the display. Watching were Edmondo Gonzales, Consul General of Mexico in Los Angeles; Walt Disney, executive committee member of sponsoring group; Carlos Arruz, of Mexico City, and Joyce C. Hall, chairman of People-to-People committee.”



More than 19,000 guests were on hand for New Year's Eve and thousands more participated in Easter Vacation's "Spring Fling."





Three Grad Nites brought 35,000 celebrants.



The "Cavalcade of Big Bands" with Gene Krupa, Les Brown, Charlie Barnet (seen below)...



and Lionel Hampton was followed by a summer-long big band parade — Count Basie, Tex Beneke, Tommy Dorsey's Orchestra with Frank Sinatra, Jr., and Harry James.



"Dixieland at Disneyland" featured Al Hirt and a cast of 300 in a musical mardi gras.

The "Parade of Toys" was a daily feature of Christmas week.



Disneyland's Community Service Awards program honored the charitable efforts of 15 county organizations, presenting $10,000 in awards, with the Outstanding Award going to the YMCA of North Orange County.

FAMOUS GUESTS

• 30 United Nations representatives (January)
• British Ambassador Sir David Ormsby Gore (February)
• President Srvepalli Radhakrishnan of India (June)
• Dr. Norman Dyhrenfurth and American Mt. Everst Team (August)
• King Mohammed Zahir and Queen Homaira of Afghanistan (September)
• Former King Umberto of Italy (November)
• President Victor Paz Estenssoro of Bolivia (November)
• Gov. Otto Kerner of Illinois (December)
• Gov. Tim Babcock of Montana (December)
• Astronaut John Glenn (December)

See more vintage & current Disneyland photos on my Disneyland web pages.

Disneyland Diary, 1960-1962

1960 ADDITIONS

• NATURE'S WONDERLAND based on Walt Disney's Academy Award winning True-Life Adventure motion pictures opens in June with 204 life-like animals, birds and reptiles; a re-creation of wilderness and desert regions of the American West — Frontierland



• AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL, all new version of the 360-degree Circarama production in a specially designed theatre comprised of nine screens — Tomorrowland



• ART OF ANIMATION exhibit, an entertaining and informative display tracing the history and development of motion picture animation (since removed) — Tomorrowland

Attractions total reached 45 this year.

HIGHLIGHTS

The New Year's Eve Party was attended by more than 14,000 people.

The 20 millionth visitor arrived in April.

The Park presented its first Private Party on Friday, May 13, when 5,042 Knights of Columbus enjoyed exclusive use of Disneyland. On October 22, United California Bank (now First Interstate Bank) held a Private Party at Disneyland with 6,315 people in attendance. Their party continues today to be an annual event at the Park.

Disneyland's first "Dixieland at Disneyland" show attracted 9,000 people drawing acclaim from guests and reviewers. Six bands performed on Frontierland's Rivers of America aboard rafts, and in concert at various other Park locations.

"The Parade of Toys" was added to the "Christmas in Many Lands" parade.



Candlelight caroling by 800 singers followed the parades.

Disneyland's Community Service Awards program honored the work of nine county organizations with cash awards totaling $9,000. The Assistance League of Anaheim won the outstanding Award.

FAMOUS GUESTS

• Konstantinos Rodopoulos, President of Greek Parliament (February)
• Her Royal Highness Princess Rudi Voravan of Thailand (March)
• Prince Ernst August of Greece (March)
• Princess Ortoud of Hanover (March)
• Crown Prince Hassan Ibn Talal of Jordan (March)
• King Mahendra and Queen Ratna of Nepal (May)
• Three Scandinavian Princesses, Margrethe of Denmark, Astrid of Norway and Margaretha of Sweden (June)
• King Bhumibhol and Queen Kirikit of Thailand accompanied by their children, Prince Vajiralongorn, Princesses Ubol Ratana and Sirindhorn (June)
• Prince Akihito and Princess Michiko of Japan (September)
• King Fredrick IX and Queen Ingrid of Denmark (October)



1961 ADDITIONS

• DISNEYLAND-ALWEG MONORAIL SYSTEM (2 1/2 mile expansion connecting the Park and Disneyland Hotel)

NOTE: Here is some additional info about the Monorail extension, from the February 1961 issue of the Disneyland Newsletter:

The addition to our Disneyland-Alweg Monorail System that will transport guests between the Disneyland Hotel and the Park is making rapid progress and will be the first passenger carrying monorail in America to run adjacent to a major highway.

Connecting to our popular Monorail in Tomorrowland, the new link will go over the berm, run south along Harbor Blvd. to the auto entrance, turn west across the parking lot and go over West St. to the Disneyland Hotel. Here is will stop to dishcharge and pick up passengers, then return by passing Holidayland and the Park's main entrance, go over the employee entrance and back into Tomorrowland where it will complete its trip over the original route.

Guests will be able to board the Monorail from either the new station at the Hotel or the present station in Tomorrowland. Total length of the round trip will be nearly 2 1/2 miles as compared to about 3/4 of a mile on the present attraction.

Being constructed at present are 700 holes, 24" in diameter and 30 ft. deep, which are filled with concrete and reinforcing steel. These will be the foundation for the pylons supporting the 200 additional sections (8,600 ft. ) of beamway for the extended "highway in the sky."



The next four months will see many changes in the face of the Magic Kingdom. The Heliport has been temporarily re-located just north of the main auto entrance, we will have our own "stack" (3-level variety) where the Monorail crosses itself and the mainline Santa Fe and Disneyland Railroad. The Holidayland boundary on the south side will be changed somewhat to accommodate the new beamway. Our main entrance will also have a completely new look with the addition of a canopy under the Monorail beam.

The parking lot will have a beautiful new face with base plantings surrounding the pylons at each isle along the Monorail route as well as in the center of West Street. Our landscape artisans will also be busy with overall beautification that will put the final Disneyland touch to the completed project.

The complete Monorail extension, which will open to the public about June 1st, will have a third train and an additional car on each of the present trains bringing the capacity of the three up to a total of 318 people, nearly double the present capacity of 164.

Disneyland employees are proud of the fact that they are Disneylanders for many reasons and the present pace setting Monorail extension, which has created world-wide interest, is just one more example.



• FLYING SAUCERS (individually controlled flight through space - since removed) — Tomorrowland

HIGHLIGHTS

The New Year's Eve Party brought 18,000 celebrants to Disneyland.

The 25 millionth visitor was greeted in April.

Benny Goodman played a three-night engagement Memorial Day weekend and for the opening of "Date Nite," the first time a big-name star ever appeared in the Magic Kingdom for more than one performance.

The first all-night Grad Nite Party was held at Disneyland in June, bringing 8,500 young guests for the biggest high school graduation party ever held in the U.S.

The "Date Nite" program entered its fifth season, presenting five permanent bands.

"TINKER BELL," a live performer, began summer flights from the peak of Matterhorn Mountain and across Sleeping Beauty Castle, setting off the nightly "Fantasy in the Sky" fireworks spectacular.

The second annual "Dixieland at Disneyland" brought 14,000 visitors. Louis Armstrong led the array of bands on rafts down the Rivers of America in Frontierland, followed by the "Mark Twain" with 50 musicians playing aboard.

The "Parade of Toys," "Parade of All Nations" and Candlelight Caroling Procession again highlighted the Christmas season.

FAMOUS GUESTS

• Prince Bernard of Holland (April)
• Prince of Montenegro (August)
• Maharaja and Maharanee of Jaipur, India (August)
• His Excellency, El Ferik Ibrahim Abboud, President of Sudan (October)



• Prime Minister Jawaharal of Nehru of India (November)



• General and Mrs. Dwight Eisenhower (December)

1962 ADDITIONS




• JUNGLE CRUISE (enlarged, including a new fun theme in animation featuring the "bathing pool" of Indian elephants) — Adventureland



• SWISS FAMILY TREE HOUSE — Adventureland



• SAFARI GAME SHOOT (since removed) — Adventureland



• PAVILION RESTAURANT — Main Street Plaza



• TAHITIAN TERRACE — Adventureland

HIGHLIGHTS

Some 17,000 guests greeted the New Year at Disneyland's New Year's Eve Party.

Four top bands played for "Spring Fling" during Easter vacation.



Vintage cars with 200 riders and dancers dressed in turn-of-the-century styles, promenaded down Main Street for the Easter Parade.

Two all-night Grad Nites helped Southern California high school graduates celebrate in style.



Disneyland became the mecca of big-name bands with Harry James, Benny Goodman and Ray Anthony, plus a special "Big Band Night" starring Count Basie and Charlie Barnet.



"Dixieland at Disneyland" presented Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong and many other top jazz musicians.



Another huge "Christmas in Many Lands" parade featured 2,500 participants and another 1,000 carolers in the Candlelight Procession.

Disneyland's Community Service Awards program saluted the efforts of nine county service organizations, with cash awards totaling $9,000. The Outstanding Award was shared by the Assistance League of Anaheim and the Big Brothers of Orange County.

FAMOUS GUESTS

• Pasha Kenitra, Morocco (January)
• M. Ahmed Kamel, Consul General of United Arab Republic (March)
• Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi of Iran (April)
• Gov. Edmund G. Brown of California (September)

See more vintage & current Disneyland photos on my Disneyland web pages.