The Best Seat for The Mine Train!

For these two little boys from March 1962, there is no better seat on The Mine Train Through Nature’s Wonderland than the ones they are occupying right now. Look at those smile!

A closeup for all gear-heads!



This detailed view shows guests on pack mules riding by some of the buildings in the quaint town of Rainbow Ridge.



This previously posted shot, also from the 1960’s, shows another family that is also very happy about their seat on the attraction. And how about those hats!!



See more photos at my main website.

Childhood Issues

At first glance, I thought this April 1965 shot was taken at Knott’s Berry Farm. Very rarely do you see one of the Native Americans outside of the Indian Village at Disneyland. This was one of those rare cases, as the Frontier Trading Post and iconic Wooden Indian Statue are also clearly visible in the photo. The gent on the right seems incredulous, too. I obviously am not alone!



Just seven months later, my family visited Disneyland in honor of my oldest brother’s 8th birthday. I got stuck at home with Grandma. What a raw deal; no wonder I visited the Park so much in my adulthood!



Everything stems from those childhood issues!

As a follow-up to yesterday’s post, leave it to David from Gorillas Don’t Blog to know the answer about the mystery Fantasyland poster. He immediately contacted me with info AND images. The best!



The poster in your blog post is from a set of six litho posters (25" X 38") that were sold in the Park; I wasn't sure if they went on sale in 1965 or 1966, but your photo is from 1965, so that solves that.



I'm not sure I've ever seen another photo in which you could see one of these posters for sale!



I remember in my early poster collecting days, you could acquire the whole set of six for around $800 to $1000. Now they can fetch several thousand dollars EACH.



The Van Eaton auctions have had many of these posters for sale, sometimes referred to as "near attraction posters."





See more Disneyland Frontierland photos at my main website.

Lost and Kinda' Found!

I have been “lost” for awhile...with a bout of E. coli. I DO NOT recommend it. Still on the road to recovery but thought it was time to start blogging again. Just one “new” shot today, showing Mickey standing outside the Guided Tour Office door, circa April 1965. Of course I wanted to get a closeup of the Guided Tour and Lost and Found signs!



Mickey wore this style of tie for a few years before it became a regular bowtie in the late 60's. Here’s a previously posted shot of the same Mickey from May 1967:



Naturally I had to zoom in for some details, like the Bank of America lettering on the window and the lady on the bench who appears to be holding a brightly colored souvenir bag.



Panning right is the souvenir kiosk:



At first I thought the poster said “Disneyland,” but it appears to say “Fantasyland.” I don't recall ever seeing this one before.



I may still be a bit sporadic for awhile. Thanks for your patience!

See more Mickey Mouse photos at my main website.

Temple Tuesday: Three Lovely Lasses

This image from 1944 shows Shirley Temple sandwiched between her stand-in and friend, Mary Lou Isleib, and Marybelle Currie, who subbed for Mary Lou when she attended school. How do I know this? Thanks to Shirley Temple expert SUPREME, Rita Dubas, who graciously sent me this article:



The lovely trio are on the Goldwyn Studio lot for “I’ll Be Seeing You.” Producer David O Selznick used Goldwyn for its sound facilities. Check out the vintage recording unit bus behind them.



Built in 1925, Stage 2 no longer exists; it was demolished when Grant Tinker (of Mary Tyler Moore fame) remodeled the studio.

Rita also graciously sent this additional shot of the trio, sitting in the bedroom set of Shirley’s character in the film. Note the photo of actress Vivien Leigh on the wall next to Mary Lou:



See more teen Shirley photos at my main website.

Movie Palace in 3D!

Our Disneyland 3D photographer also took a detour to the famed Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. The hands must have been a little shaky here though.



William Lundigan? Of all the movie stars they could have photographed they chose this guy? To each their own, I guess. He was in “Love Nest” with Marilyn Monroe.



See more Grauman’s photos at my main website.

Belated Haunted Mansion Anniversary Post

No dear readers; I didn’t forget. It just took me longer than I expected to put together this special vintage panoramic shot of the Haunted Mansion during its construction. While yesterday marked the 50th Anniversary of my FAVORITE (yes, I'll go ahead and say it) Disneyland attraction, construction began almost nine years prior to its opening. Previously, I had combined two images from a November 1962 contact sheet; today, I was able to merge four, providing an incredible view from the original Frontierland Depot all the way over to the trail that would eventually take guests to Splash Mountain. How bout dat for Photoshop magic?!?

Also for today is one of my very favorite shots that I captured of the Mansion at night:



Thanks to all the original Imagineers (especially Marc Davis, Claude Coats, and of course Walt) who put together this unique dark ride experience!

See more Disneyland Haunted Mansion photos at my main website.

C.K. Holliday at the Station, 1950s

This undated 1950s image shows the C.K. Holliday pulled into the Disneyland Main Street Station. Be sure to check out all the publications at the Disneyland News Stand! Based on the merchandise I would place this shot around 1956.



See more Disneyland Railroad photos at my main website.

1950s Disneyland Golden Horseshoe Saloon Interior

This undated 1950s shot is one of the earliest in my collection showing the interior of the Golden Horseshoe Saloon located in Disneyland’s Frontierland. Note the ad for Wally Boag’s Boag-aloon Animals:



Shifting left, we can see the center mirror and Pepsi ads:



…which became home to the suggestive painting from the Disney movie “Summer Magic.” Why waste a good prop?



A closeup of the painting (that damn flash from 1977!):



…and my shot from December 2006 which shows a different frame:



See more Golden Horseshoe Saloon photos at my main website.

Tippi Tuesday

This Tippi Hedren photo did double duty. With a date stamp of February 14, 1964, the first publicity blurb on the back reads:

‘Tippi’ Hedren finds a bouquet of flowers in her dressing room on the opening day of shooting her current film being directed by Alfred Hitchcock.

Considering that filming of “Marnie” began in November 1963, the date stamp is most likely for the alternate blurb:

TIPPI WINS HER WINGS

Remember blonde and shapely TIPPI HEDREN, who scored such a personal triumph in the Alfred Hitchcock thriller “The Birds”? Well, she has wings of her own now, awarded by aces of the United States air forces serving in Germany. These lads, who daily run the gauntlet of “incidents” near the Berlin corridor are “inspired” by the beauty of TIPPI HEDREN, claims their commanding officer, who declares that she has been voted the lads’ pin-up and mascot. No wonder the know-alls are prophesying that her next film will feature airmen.



The know-alls didn’t know much; her next film after “Marnie” was Charlie Chaplin’s “A Countess from Hong Kong” in 1967 which took place on a cruise ship.

See more Tippi Hedren photos at my main website.

Marineland in 3D!

Located in Palos Verdes, Marineland opened in 1954, one year before Disneyland. I believe these genuine FauxD© images are also from July 1955.



Anybody want to see the Humboldt Penguins?



They're from the Western Coast of South America; I can read the sign!



I’m guessing this is some kind of lobby display?



This August 1959 image came with the same batch but remains a mystery. Anyone know what it might be from?



I'm guessing this is the tale of Humpty Dumpty. But where?



See more Marineland photos at my main website.

Knott’s in 3D!

Just when you thought your stomach was safe…I present a trio of Genuine FauxD© Knott’s Berry Farm images from July 1955. Care to take a ride on the Calico Railroad in Ghost Town?

Another view of Ghost Town:



It is so unfortunate this one is blurry; would have loved to zoom in on the wall, the clock...oh this hurts.



See more Knott’s Berry Farm photos at my main website.

July 1955 in 3D, Pt. 3

Today marks the final installment in my July 1955 Genuine FauxD© Disneyland images. This set only had one from Tomorrowland, so you better savor every pixel!

The mighty Mark Twain sails down the Rivers of America with very little scenery to look at.



Note the vehicle on the banks and the two gentlemen walking nearby.



I don't recall ever seeing these fancy lounge chairs on the top of the Twain before.



Last one today could be a teepee from Disneyland, or it might be from Knott’s Berry Farm. I'll let you decide.



While this ends the Disneyland July 1955 series, there are some from Marineland and Knott’s on the horizon!

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