More Disneyland Wardrobe Department!

It's time for yet another batch of vintage Disneyland Wardrobe Department photos (courtesy, as always, of Huck)!

You just don't see enough people wearing jumpsuits anymore. But in 1960's and '70's Tomorrowland, they were just the thing. Here's Sandy in her canary-yellow and ultramarine-blue "Peoplemover" ensemble (circa 1970). The Peoplemover was not a fast ride, but Sandy's costume was designed to reduce friction at supersonic speeds! White go-go boots are the perfect accessory. 

This guy is not happy. Not. Happy. Maybe because his outfit (dated June 1969) includes a jacket for the Summer? I remember looking through old LIFE magazines at a used book store, and one article - possibly from 1969 -  had "Fashions of the Future" (or something)... some of them looked very much like this (only the artwork typically showed the person wearing wrap-around mirrored shades).  

There's my favorite girl again, looking adorable in her groovy Tomorrowland Jets costume (circa April 1966). Her hairdo mimics the vapor vortices created as a space plane touches down on terra firma! 

THANKS, Huck!

Around the Park, June 1969

Here are a few random views from June 1969!

We'll start with my favorite, the Rocket Jets and Peoplemover. I'm not sure what to say that I haven't already said 100 times, so let's just enjoy the wonderful view.

Here's a typical view of the Mark Twain, with a canoe buddy nearby.

... and finally, a dark and murky photo as a few people wait for their turn to watch the Enchanted Tiki Room show!

Frontierland, September 1966

I like today's first photo, taken aboard the Mark Twain and looking over the heads of a group of ladies at the rail as they watch the settler's cabin burn. Fire! Fire! If you look carefully you can just see the settler's partially-obscured corpse. Life on the frontier was hard, and could be dangerous - not that you'd know it from today's Frontierland. Now the cabin is neat and tidy, with long-johns hanging from the wash line and a horse tethered outside.

The Columbia might not be sailing this day, but you could still go aboard her and go "below decks" to see how a sailor lived in the 19th century. 

Storybook Land

Storybook Land was designed with three extra spoonfuls of charm (sifted), and it is still awesome today, in its quiet way.

This first picture is from August 18, 1965, for those of you who need to know. Ol' Monstro sits with his mouth open all day just waiting for things to sail in - a surprisingly successful strategy.

This next photo is from August 17, 1965. Yes, our photographer went to the park two days in a row. What kind of crazy person would do that?? Meanwhile, it occurs to me that Monstro is probably perfectly proportioned, and yet there is a part of me that wishes he was about four times as large.

Back to August 18, and a view of a canal boat returning from its harrowing journey through the peaceful English countryside ("Alice in Wonderland", "Mr. Toad"), a Tyrolean village ("Pinocchio"), a French town (home to Cinderella's castle), and other places that exist in the world of fantasy.

The Mighty Matterhorn and His Pal Starry

Here are two more photos from December 30 1969, this time featuring the Matterhorn and the giant Christmas star that used to adorn the summit in the 60's and into the 1970's (supposedly the energy crisis of the mid-70's led to the star's demise). What a beautiful, bright and sunny day; just think, folks in the midwest might have been under several feet of snow when this picture was taken. That being said, the snow line of the Matterhorn sure looks like it is lower than usual. 

I love this second shot, taken from almost the same angle, as the sun has completely set and night envelopes the park. You can see the array of lights on the star, which look pretty great. I wonder if a new star could be built using energy-efficient LED lightbulbs so that it wasn't such an energy hog?

And by the way, thanks to some home movie footage that I had digitized, I can verify that the star did indeed turn!

Souvenir Sunday

I always love looking at vintage Disneyland ephemera; particularly paper ephemera. Gate handouts, maps, brochures, tickets, and stuff like that. GDB reader Steve Stuart (aka "Nanook") was kind enough to share some scans of some wonderful gate handouts from his collection!

1960 saw the opening of the fabulous Nature's Wonderland, one of the best Disneyland attractions of all time in my opinion. Everyone who entered the park received one of these beautiful flyers heralding the arrival of this new experience. It resembles the old circus broadsides that could be seen in the 19th century, with the wonderful engraving (probably an ink drawing, but humor me) and the creative use of a variety of typefaces. I would imagine that this was not easy to do in the pre-Photoshop era! Even the combination of cornflower blue and brown works so well.

On the reverse of that same flyer is an additional mention of the new and improved America the Beautiful in Spectacular CIRCARAMA. Even the Art of Animation exhibit is included! I wish I could go back in time and see these attractions when they were brand-new.

1958 had its share of new attractions as well, including the Columbia sailing ship, the Alice in Wonderland dark ride, and the Grand Canyon Diorama. Happily, all of these are still around to this day! 

MANY THANKS to Steve Stuart for sharing these wonderful items with us!

Ocean City, New Jersey - June 1960

When I think of seaside boardwalks, I think of New Jersey. Atlantic City, mostly. But there was (IS!) Ocean City as well! Another location full of fun and entertainment where folks from all over could come and enjoy the cool ocean breezes, watch their favorite bands, see a movie, ride some rides, eat cotton candy, red hots, and salt water taffy, and generally have a good time.

This couple has brought along a picnic lunch, which always tastes better when it has had time to warm up in a brown paper bag. I hope they don't see Alfred Hitchcock's "Psycho", that shower scene will make them lose their appetites. Ocean City seems to be considerably less flashy than Atlantic City, but I like it anyway.

I have to admit that I enjoy a round of miniature golf once in a while (even though that little windmill drives me crazy). Somebody at the Ocean City course has put a lot of time and effort into making each of the 18 holes a whimsical experience. There's Rip Van Winkle, sleeping as usual...

Thanks to Gnometrek for his correction (see his comment)!!

Tomorrowland, May 1964

Yay, it's my favorite place ever, Tomorrowland in the 1960's! 

Look at that gleaming yellow monorail... it looks like a giant mechanical shark that has eaten a bunch of lucky people. I've always liked how the support columns are all business (i.e. minimal and vaguely futuristic) above the water, but then they are carefully disguised as rock and coral for those riding through "liquid space" in the submarines.

Hey, I think I'm getting this watermark thing down. Only slightly annoying now, hopefully. Anyway, I never grow weary of photos showing the Flying Saucers. Note how everyone is torquing their bodies around in an effort to send their saucer skittering in the desired direction! From what I've seen online, this giant air hockey table looks like it was way more fun than Luigi's Flying Tires is over at Disney California Adventure (sadly).

New York World's Fair Selection

Today's visit to the '64 New York World's Fair starts with this wonderful photo of three happy kids posing with the Pool of Industry behind them (with the Fountain of the Planets filling the air with a mist of water). The two girls look very ladylike with their nice outfits and purses. The boy is armed with a Kodak "brownie" camera, I wonder if he still has those photos 48 years later?

We're looking down the "Avenue of the Americas", one of the "spokes" radiating from the giant Unisphere in the distance. There's the Masonic Center to our right... I hope you are wearing your fez, apron, and lodge pin, and that you know the secret password. The columns to our left are part of the Protestant Orthodox Center, while the red-painted wall beyond that is part of the Denmark pavilion.

Why drink a cola when you can drink the "un-cola"? Back in 1964, 7-Up's slogan was the clunky, "Get Real Action... 7-Up Your Thirst Away". They should have asked Don Draper to come up with a better campaign. The 7-Up Sandwich Garden .... serves up, buffet style, the food specialties of 16 countries, plus all the 7-Up a customer can drink. Some of the sandwiches included "Sliced lamb on Scotch barley bread", "Lomi-Lomi salmon on Aloha coconut bread", and "Chicken ginger coconut on cinnamon swirl bread". Sounds delish! 

One of the few structures that remains standing today, the New York State pavilion had two towers that provided spectacular bird's-eye views of the Fair. In addition, there was this "tent of tomorrow", with the world's largest suspension roof (bigger than a football field) that consisted of translucent colored panels. On the floor beneath this colorful roof was a huge terrazzo map of the state of New York. 

Unfortunately, the structure has fallen into terrible disrepair; what remains of the terrazzo map is probably beyond saving, and the colored panels have long since fallen, leaving the "tent" roofless.

Davy's Arcade and Pendleton Mills, July 17 1968

From July 17 1968 comes this pair of stereo views of Frontierland. No wiggle-vision this time, but stay tuned for those! 

"Slurry" is the word that comes to mind... the smooth, color-infused concrete used to pave the various lands. I'm not sure when they switched from ordinary blacktop (or whatever), but the reddish color is particularly noticeable here in these morning photos. Hey, there's Davy Crockett's Frontier Arcade!

Right next door to the Arcade is the Pendleton Woolen Mills store. In July I probably wouldn't be too interested in wool goods, but once things start to get chilly, I'd be interested in a nice warm woolen coat, or maybe a colorful blanket (so that I can get rid of that embarrassing Snuggie). Or even some of those old-fashioned wool "long johns" that prospectors were so fond of, in spite of their itchy factor of 12.

Deja Vu and more

In looking back through some of my earlier posts, I couldn't help noticing how most of them leave a lot to be desired; my scanner was one of the old mule-powered kind. If you compare this first image to the original post, you'll see what I mean. This has always been one of my favorite Main Street photos, and the rescan was well worth the trouble.

This photo is not a rescan; instead it is one that I did not see fit to scan at all six years ago. But now I can appreciate it in a different way. Those orange trees and flowers up near the hub somehow feel like "old California" to me, and reflect the smaller, more intimate ambiance of the early Disneyland.

Posters and Town Square, September 1966

It is no secret that I love Disneyland attraction posters; specifically, the original silkscreened examples from the 50's and 60's. And it is always a lot of fun to see them in vintage photos, placed throughout the park in various places over the years - they still have them in the tunnels beneath the train as you enter Town Square. But for years, the best place to see them was right in front of Main Street Station! Like in this great photo, lit by a setting sun. There's the Monorail, Mark Twain, Nature's Wonderland, Matterhorn, Peter Pan, Small World, Columbia, Mr. Lincoln, and (barely) the Swiss Family Treehouse. A fortune in posters, today.

Speaking of Town Square, here it is, as seen on the same day. Maybe they rode the Disneyland Railroad around the park once, and then snapped this photo as they walked down the steps... the sun having completely set at this point. Lots of old ladies are enjoying the Horse Drawn Streetcar, while a Surrey makes its way up toward the hub.

Jungle Cruise, August 1958

I can't imagine a visit to Disneyland without taking a trip through the world-famous Jungle Cruise.

Don't even think about following that tributary to wherever it leads (probably an ancient temple full of gold and gems)... those three crocodiles a blocking the way. Notice the primitive suspension bridge made of vines in the background... a very nice touch that implies the presence of forest people without actually showing them.

There is nothing a python likes more than hanging out on the branch of a dead tree. Don't even try to understand a snake, it will drive you bananas. Apparently the python and his pet tree were moved around as the Jungle Cruise was modified. Is he still there? I can't remember!

Pretty Girls

It's Saturday, and that means that anything goes here on GDB. Anything! The mind reels, doesn't it?

I love today's photos, both featuring pretty girls. This first example is from 1943, with a lovely young lady apparently showing off her new outfit. Perhaps she sewed it herself, since this was taken during WWII and practically everything was in short supply. I'll bet more than a few boys at her school were infatuated with her. How could they not be!

This next picture was part of the same lot of photos, but was undated, and obviously shows a different girl. But I am guessing that it is from around the same time. This young miss is wearing her Sunday finest; it almost looks like she was playing "dress up" with her mom's wardrobe, since it seems a bit large on her. Or maybe she was expected to grow into it, as is the way with kids clothing, even today.

I hope you have enjoyed today's pretty girls!

Two Beauties, December 30 1969

Here are two more from December 30, 1969!

You can't ignore the mighty Matterhorn in either of today's photos, since it towers above both scenes. The Christmas star is included at no extra charge! I believe that this first picture was taken from the upper level of the Carousel of Progress building. Notice that the Skyway buckets in the foreground are actually lower than we are! There's the wonderful Tomorrowland Stage, and the Peoplemover too.

Next, a beautiful, colorful view from Fantasyland, with Tiimothy Mouse atop his mirrored disco ball while the Dumbos twirl around him. 

Kinda Blurry circa 1957

It's always a bit of a bummer to find blurry slides in a batch, and especially so when the image in question is the Viewliner. But I decided to show this one anyway, because I just love that little train. Don't worry, I have other nice clear photos of the Viewliner to come!

From the same batch, and also blurry, we see the horse that used to be in Frontierland. Presumably a wild horse, he is making sure that all is well in his territory. I'm not sure why this horse (I call him Stormy!) was there for only a short time, but at some point a mountain lion was added - though I don't think the lion was in the same exact place.

Knott's Berry Farm

Today's "Knott's" offerings are all a bit on the underexposed side, leaving the photos kind of dark. But they're still worth looking at! All three are from October, 1967.

First, a look down "Main Street", with Goldie's house of ill-repute, and a sign indicating the Jail - permanent home to Sad Eye Joe. The Livery Stable at the end of the street serves food that tastes livery.  The building to our right has smoke wafting from it... I think that's where the town blacksmith hammered out red-hot horseshoes. 

If you walked down toward the Livery Stable in the first photo and looked to your left, you would have seen a view very much like this one. There's the Bird Cage Theater, and the "Candle Kitchen" is to the right. 

See, I told you these were dark! You can hardly see this little market that sold jams, jellies, and other products that made perfect souvenirs (what's better than a souvenir you can eat!).

It's a Small World, December 30 1969

The tumultuous 1960's were almost over when these photos were taken... the next night was New Year's Eve, and then... hello 1970!

As is often the case, winter days mean blue skies and brilliant sunshine in SoCal. The high temperature was only 65º, so it was a bit on the chilly side even at its warmest. (Thanks again to Jason's Disneyland Almanac)!

I'm so glad that the façade of "It's a Small World" has returned to its original color scheme, as seen here. Mary Blair considered white the most festive of colors, which sounds strange at first, but she knew a thing or two about color. As the building gleams in the winter sun, with gold highlights for added warmth, it really dazzles. The topiaries are awesome too!

The animated mechanical clock is doing its thing (every 15 minutes, folks), making the wait in line go a lot faster. It's so novel to see Disneyland guests so bundled up!

Two From February 20 1960

Here are two images from a small group dated "2-20-1960". According to Jason's Disneyland Almanac, the attendance for that Saturday was 18,690 (f you had gone the day before, it was only 4,885). The high temperature was 70 degrees. That would have been a great day to go, as long as you had a jacket for later!

I love this charming photo of Mickey Mouse greeting us. Minnie can just barely be seen to our right. There's the wide open parking lot behind MM, and a smattering of vintage cars. On the horizon to our left is the sign for the Disneyland Hotel (and the Hotel itself, of course). Thinking of bringing a big paper bag full of onion and limburger cheese sandwiches into the park? That sign reminds us to think again.

This scene looks suitably wintery - for Southern California anyway. The park closed at 7 o'clock, but in February that meant they probably had at least two hours of nighttime fun, and it eventually got quite chilly... a mere 39 degrees. Brrrrr!

New York World's Fair, IBM Pavilion

Today's trip to the New York World's Fair features the distinctive IBM pavilion. It's hard to miss the 90 foot-high, egg-shaped theater; note that it is covered with the letters "IBM" in relief. Famed architect Eero Saarinen (the TWA terminal at JFK airport, and the St. Louis Arch, among other projects) was involved in the early stages of this design, although he died in 1961. Some say that the "egg" was built to resemble the typeball of an IBM selectric typewriter.

Out in the courtyard... well, not much to see here, unless you like geraniums. Which I do! What appear to be steel beams jutting up out of the picture frame are actaully the "trunks" of metal trees that helped to support the main structure.

Inside the "egg", visitors would view a 12 minute film created by Charles and Ray Eames. It was called  "The Information Machine", which sounds appropriately 1960s-ish. In order to view this film, up to 500 guests sat in this steeply-angled grandstand called "The People Wall".

The entire audience was raised up 50 feet via massive hydraulic lifts. At one point, a host descended from the ceiling on a tiny "crow's nest". You can see pictures of it here... pretty cool!

In this next photo, the People Wall is rising up into the theater. The film was "... a 12-minute show full of visible and audible surprises (special lighting effects, stereophonic sound, 14 slide and movie projectors throwing images on screens and surfaces of various shapes and sizes)...". It described "the similarity of methods that are used by the human mind and computers to solve problems".

Here's what you would have seen if you were part of the People Wall before it was raised. The "Fountain of the Planets" is to the left, while the Better Living Center and General Electric's "Progressland" are to the right. Let's go to Progressland next, dad!

From this raised view, you get a better look at the steel "trees" supporting the whole shebang!

I hope you have enjoyed your visit to the IBM pavilion.