the pickle barrel

2009-09-29T23:28:00.000-07:00

ENCHANTED TIKI ROOM EXIT SIGN, c.1967

Here's a neat one that I love. The only problem is I never want to leave....

Here's a not so well composed pic in my house.

...and here's the same one up in the park from a 1970s slide, with the same broken parts!

Damn you, Exit Sign!!! I ain't ready yet! Why can't you say, "WELCOME!",???

2009-08-18T07:56:00.000-07:00

Forgotten, But Not Gone!!!!!

Hello, Blog Werld!

Been a long time....

I continue to get requests for more stuff. It's flattering for sure that anyone would still check in to the Barrel. Honestly, I'm just a lazy bones about it. Also, the once small and uncharted (and once inexpensive!) world of Disneyland slides has simply become difficult to keep up with.

So, with that in mind, I'll occasionally come on to post random items from my collection.

I've been fortunate to work with the Disney Archives on several projects of late relating to Disneyland. They are a terrific bunch over there and I can tell you from first hand experience, we Disneyland fans have much to look forward to.

If you are not a member of D23, I highly recommend it. The magazine and club could use your support. It's expensive, I know. Try not to think of it as forking money over to big, rich corporate Disney, but rather, helping a fringe part of the Company prove that the REAL history and traditions of Disney is something worth celebrating. It's no coincidence the D23 magazine is so....'Disneyland-centric'. In fact, just take a look at the freebies so far: an exact replica of the 1956 pictorial fold out fan and a full set of the Disneyland '59 attraction shields in embroidered patch form! I don't know about you, but that's fairly specific Disneyland stuff! Somebody up there likes Disneyland! Woo-Hoo!!!

That said, now would be a great time to join. The D23 expo is coming up in September. It will be loaded with amazing stuff, including some major historical objects in the "Treasures of the Archives" walk-through presentation. This elaborate display will have the class and feel of a Tutankhamen exhibit at the Met. I don't know about you, but it's the historical objects relating to Disney that get me going! Seeing the animated children's blocks from Mary Poppins or a hero shooting figure of V.I.N.C.E.N.T. from The Black Hole in person is tre' cool!

Also, the latest issue of D23 magazine is one for the books! The lead article is by long-time Disney photo librarian and historian, Ed Squair and centers on the 40th Anniversary of THE Haunted Mansion in Disneyland. Some terrific insights are revealed for a topic which one would think has been beaten to death....well, I can assure you, there's still some life there to extinguish! Also, the magazine asked if they could use an artifact in my collection for the article and I said, 'sure'!

(To see the full image, get D23 magazine!)

It's this super-rare employee preview poster for the two days immediately before the August 9th opening of the attraction. To this day, the massive work force at Disney parks is a great/safe way to test an attraction under full load conditions before it opens to the public. On August 7th and 8th 1969, from 7pm to midnight, Disneyland employees stopped into their break rooms and found this poster inviting them to preview what was probably the most anticipated Disneyland attraction of all time!

Another great article, by Rob Klein, celebrates the 50th Anniversary of Disneyland '59. To all extensive purposes, June 14th, 1959 was the 'second opening' of Disneyland. Well, worth the price of the magazine plus you'll get one of those great attraction shield patches!

Ok, so navigate back every now and then and I'll try to keep posting. Thanks for checking in!

2008-09-28T19:24:00.000-07:00

1967 Vacationland Magazine Cover Painting

One of my favorite pieces. Disney WED designer/illustrator Neil Boyle's concept/publicity art for the creation of New Orleans Square. The painting, which is based on an early Herb Ryman concept view of the Royal Courtyard, dates from at least 1965. Before it was featured on the cover of the Winter/Spring 1967 issue of Vacationalnd, it was in the interior pages of both a 1965 and 1966 issue.

Boyle's work will be familiar to fans of the 1965 Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln LP on Disneyland records.

Check out the full 1967 Vacationland at http://vintagedisneylandtickets.blogspot.com/

2008-05-04T10:43:00.000-07:00

2007-08-23T23:47:00.000-07:00

FREEDOMLAND ON THE AUCTION BLOCK....SORT OF.

Well, posting the Freedomland posters got me thinking. I haven't close to enough wall space left to hang them so why not offer them to some Freedomland nut?

I'm certainly in no rush to sell 'em but if the right person was interested, they might be in better hands. Of course, they aren't cheap but when compared to Disneyland posters, the seven are a steal...especially since I believe these to be much more rare. Also, it would be a sin against humanity to break them up.

Anyhow, here's the link if anyone want's to double-check the lint in their pockets....

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260152895445

There's a bunch of other rare crap that might be of interest to visitors of this blog in my other auctions.

Now's the time to cash in yer kid's college fund!

2007-08-09T00:48:00.001-07:00

FREEDOMLAND UBER ALLES!

Here's the last poster for all you freedomland fans, you....

Probably the coolest of them all, yet still amazingly, Freedomlandy.

It's of the Braniff Space Ship from Freedomland's interpretation of Tomorrowland. Satellite City.

From the looks of this poster, you'll happily crash your space ship into the San Fransisco Bridge!
And you thought the Rocket Rods were a bad idea!

Well, that's my Freedomland poster contribution to the blogger world. Enjoy!

2007-08-08T00:12:00.001-07:00

EVEN MO' FREEDOMLAND GOODNESS!

Here's a couple more for ya.....

Civil War from the fake, New Orleans Square, Freedomland, USA.

And from Freedomland's psudo Main Street , Santa Fe Railroad Depot.

Something about these posters really bring the Freedomland Park alive to me. They represent the whole tone of that park. Not necessarily bad, not necessarily good. Just.....well, a decently soul-less replication of Disneyland done with the best intentions.

2007-08-07T08:06:00.000-07:00

MORE FREEDOMLAND GOODNESS!

Here's a couple more attraction posters from the elusive park in the Bronx.

From Freedomland's New Orleans Square, a rather gloomy looking clown.

I have seven posters. I'm not sure if that means they only did seven posters that happened to cover just these attractions or whether there were many other posters made. There's a couple for Satellite City so that probably means there are more...

From Freedomland's Tomorrowland, an Autopia Car driven by an insect.

Like the secret to how many licks it takes to get to a Tootsie Pop's chocolatey centre, the world may never know.

2007-08-05T23:01:00.001-07:00

FREEDOMLAND, USA!!!

Hello all! Been a while. Hope things are well with everyone.

I've been busy with work and found that it was too frustrating to keep up an even pace with the blog. So basically, I stopped. I've since received some very nice e-mails from people who occasionally check back. Thanks for the kind words!

Of course, my interest in all things Disneylandy is stronger than ever. I'll try to stop in from time to time and update.

That said, this post is in regard to Patrick's great postings on STUFF FROM THE PARK about that obscure and practically 'lost' theme park from Bronx, New York, FREEDOMLAND.

Freedomland was a short lived, East Coast answer to Disneyland. Even with the involvement of key Disneyland personel, the park lacked the magical glue that set Disneyland so high above its imitators. The park's short life span ran from 1960 to 1964. Poor attendance, bad weather, and the forthcoming World's Fair in Queens helped Freedomland into its early grave.

Here's a weird piece of original concept art I have for
the "PopityPop" Popcorn Cart from the LITTLE OLD NEW YORK theme area.

Not as well known or as many enthusiasts as Disneyland, Freedomland does have a rabidly fanatic fanbase...many of which were lucky guests of this lost New York park.

In response to Patrick's post that had some Freedomland signage, I'll post some extremely rare Freedomland Hand-Silkscreened Attraction Posters over the next few days. They cover various attractions from the seven themed areas of the park.

Combination Mr. Toad's Wild Ride and Autopia, the HORSELESS CARRIAGE
attraction was in the LITTLE OLD NEW YORK theme section.

Like most of Freedomland, they are a pale imitation of Disneyland's Attraction Posters. Cheesy as they may be, they have an absolute charm of their own.

Freedomland's answer to Disneyland's SKYWAY in THE OLD SOUTHWEST theme section.

I'm certain these posters are much more rare than even the rarest Disneyland posters. You simply don't see them around.

2007-03-05T23:17:00.000-08:00

I GET CHILLS......

Howdy fellow theme park fans!

Yeah, yeah...I know. I've been bad. Well, if its any consolation, I feel bad.

My hit counter has consistent numbers so, I'm aware that I must be creating disappointment. Trust me, I will pick things up.

Going through some slides tonite, I found this rather nice Matterhorn interior from 1980.

Seeing it's icy cool chunkiness made me realize how much that view is missed and of course, the attraction that allowed that killer view.

Next to world peace, racial harmony and the Never-Ending Gobstopper, I wish for the return of the Skyway.

Awlrighty, I'll gladly trade in any two for the Skyway.

Damn you, bittersweet fate!

2007-02-08T09:22:00.000-08:00

Ahoy, Mateys!
I've been busy swabbin' the poop deck. But me buckos, I'll be postin' some pirate booty soon!

In the meantime, munch on some tuna fishk sangwiches and gander at the Chicken O' the Sea Pirate Ship from 1956.

It's funny how this long lost attraction is now as etherial and legendary as the fantasy ship it portrayed....makes ya think, don't it!

2007-01-29T07:41:00.000-08:00

MORE DISNEYLAND '56 with the LIMPKNUTS!

...check out the fancy schmantzy panographic pics!

2007-01-26T07:05:00.000-08:00

A VISIT TO DISNEYLAND PARK, WITH THE LIMPKNUT FAMILY!
c. March 1956

2007-01-25T00:39:00.000-08:00

Now, Where The Hell Did I Put My Magic Feather?

Anyone tired of Santas's Village?

Here's a nice underbelly shot of the first Dumbo's Flying Elephants ride vehicle. Weird, since it's Dumbo himself. Notice the ears which have hinges at the skull.

These early Dumbos featured 'ear flap' animation which quickly caused more problems then the effect was worth. The sculptor, Chris Muller, was commissioned to fix the problem by creating new casts from a fixed ear Dumbo with no hinges for movement.

Well, it was a nice try anyhow.

Sorry for no posts. Just find myself so exhausted when I get home, the last thing I want to do is sit in front of a computer again. I'll get over it.... Thanks for checking back! I'll start up the routine soon!

2006-12-23T22:43:00.000-08:00

Merry Xmas! Jews, Gentiles and Everyone In-Between!

Hey everybody! Well, that beloved day is upon us!

The little Lord Jesus will have first laid down his sweet head approximately 2041 years ago! Talk about staying power!

Ya gotta respect Christianity's skill in the public relations department. No matter what your background, the thematic holiday of Christmas is most successful advertising campaign of all time!

A lot has been done by mankind in Jesus' name...some good and some well, not so good. One thing I'm certain he'd be proud of is, Santa's Village theme parks!

If there's one thing theme parks do best, it's to re-package a thematic concept, melt it down into a homogeneous syrup and spread it around for everybody with a colorful icing. Yummy, yum-yum!!!

This time, we'll center on the now defunct, Santa's Village in Skyforest, California.

Because I've been away and probably will be for a little bit more, I thought I'd choke you with an overdose of sugary images from this visual playground.

There's a lot so be sure not to swallow it all at once! These images consist of brochures, postcards and slides...

Of course, there's a billion reasons to love Santa's Village; colors, candy, cartoony architecture, 50s kitch, mushrooms, elves, reindeer, phallis, pixies, fat men, fat women, trains, seasonal denial...the list could go on forever.

More so than any other place, Santa's Village tip-toed the line between creepy and cute!

Now that's one way to get an underage boy into your creepy boudoir!

For the purposes of this blog, I'd like to draw your attention to yet another aspect of the Santa's Village greatness...it's shameless, wonderful, roadside/carny-esque rip-off if it's beloved neighbor to the south, Disneyland.

Not entirely on the surface mind you, but there in spirit. I'll point some out and see if you can find some others.

Of course, the biggest comparison would be Fantasyland. So many elements in Santa's Village draw from Disney's European flavored land.....

Cinderella's Pumpkin Coach and Pinocchio's Village are represented. Tinkerbell's Toy Shop with dolls of many lands can be found. There was even a "Wee Puppet Theater" at the park.

Alice In Wonderland was sure not to miss her place at Santa's pad!

Ah, yes. Main Street and it's call back to a bygone era...

Steam trains, turn of the century automobiles and hand made candy emporiums flourished here...

And here we have a Santa's Village equivalent of the Main Street Flower Mart...

Pixies selling pansies...

Not to mention dads who just tried their darndest to let the spirit overtake them....

Herman likes Santa's Village 'cause at least it's a hellavalot cheaper than Disneyland!

Santa's Village was educational too! Did you know Santa responds to more than just milk and cookies after he shimmies down your chimney?

I'd lock up my house pets and small farm animals on Christmas Eve...just to be safe.

Hey, let's not forget Tomorrowland! Here we have representation of both the Monorail and the Astro Jets!

Part Matterhorn Bobsled, part Frontierland Stagecoach, Santa's Sleigh Ride was powered by almost live Reindeer...and occupied by almost live guests!

They look like pretty happy beasts of burden, don't they?

Well, I'm certain there's many, many more comparisons out there. I have some more pics but alas, I have to save some for next year!

Anyhow, have a happy holiday theme park fans and I'll see you on the other side!

2006-12-19T16:11:00.000-08:00

RUN, DON'T WALK!!!!!!

Wowzie, wowzie, woo-woo!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I've been searching for something on this new dvd set for 20 years! I'm on camera, grilling both Roy Disney and Art Linkletter about the possible existence of a very rare film. Dave Smith has heard my wrath on this subject! Low and behold, today it's finally released!!!!

Kodak Presents, Disneyland '59!

My sweet lord! I've been told time and time again that this thing simply didn't exist. Bill Cotter has said he had never heard of an existing print.

For those of you who don't know, this was the "second opening" of Disneyland in 1959. Broadcast live a'la "Dateline Disneyland", this 90 minute special was hosted by Art Linkletter and featured celebs and visual intros to what the newly revamped park had to offer on June 14, 1959. Luckily, Dateline Disneyland was filmed as a kinescope from the live broadcast. Disneyland '59 was said to not exist on film. Well, this surprise DVD set offers it in all it's restored glory. The 'pre-filmed' or 'canned film footage that was inserted live into the original broadcast has even been restored and inserted, crystal clear into this new DVD.

Talk about an early Kwanzaa for me!!!! This was the Holy Grail...now it exists in my fuzzy, greedy little paws!!

If you love Disneyland, YOU MUST GET THIS SET!!!!!!

2006-12-18T17:54:00.000-08:00

Jeez! Thanks Santa!

Joe Barbera (1911-2006)

Well, I'm sure many of you are wondering where I've been. Let me apologize in advance.

After almost eight years as an independent in animation, I've started a new gig at Dreamworks Animation. I have to say, so far I love it! What a great place.

On the excuse note, things were a little crazy when I first started and I had to place the blog on the back burner for a little bit. I promise to pick things up in the next week.

That said, I heard the crappy news today.....we lost another massive figure in animation today. Joe Barbera. He's absolutely one of my heroes and this is a big loss for those of us who loved his work.

I'm off to an event this evening but I'll try to post something later. just wanted to say....something before getting plastered this evening. Besides, it's very possible I might not make sense later!

In the meantime, get the latest news from my favorite site, Cartoon Brew.

Again, I apologize for the absence but I shall return!

2006-11-27T00:11:00.000-08:00

HA!
Casey Jr. Animal Car c.June 1965

Nobody puts people down better or more friendly than Disneyland!

Happy Monday!

2006-11-23T10:01:00.000-08:00

HAPPY THANKSGIVING, THEME PARK FANS!

2006-11-21T09:41:00.000-08:00

SAY, "AHOY!" TO THE BLACK PEARL AND FLYING DUTCHMAN!

Ah, yes. Those quality-striving folks in Disneyland management are at it again and there's talk of 're-theming' Tom Saywer's Island.

Since most kids today haven't ever picked up a book, Disneyland has decided to follow instead of lead.

Well, being a fan of Walt Disney's theory of consistent theming, I think they should re-christen the Rivers of America...er, make that Waters of Tortuga vessels with new monickers...

I mean, fer cryin' out loud, what blockbuster film franchise can a kid relate the first American trans-global schooner or a Mississippi river boat too? There needs to be a change....

So, let's get crackin! Get out your crowbars and bronze colored paint cans and get to work swabbies! We wouldn't want to send a mixed signal to our increasingly illiterate and historically ignorant, consumer youth now, would we?

Walt wouldn't have it any other way............I think.

2006-11-16T10:01:00.000-08:00

WE WANT MORE STUFFED PEOPLE!

Ya know, thinking about the lack of monkey at Disneyland the other day, I began to think about some of the other old-tymee goodness that has been cleansed from the theme park experience....

STUFFED PEOPLE!

Just Imagine the sawdust these three would kick up!

Both Knott's Berry Farm and Disneyland featured stuffed people throughout the park. Remember the Burning Settler's Cabin arrow victim or the Main Street squatters?

A rare snap-shot from the quickly removed, Disneyland Main Street
Bates Motel Attraction.

Be afraid little girl, be very afraid....

Why Disneyland and Knotts competed in this rather strange fringe of the display arts, I don't know. Must be an Orange County thing.

And we're not talkin' animatronics...No, sir!

We're talkin' stuffed skins over bamboo and balsa wood armatures!

This was quality entertainment folks!

Would you park your naive stuffed men with these two shifty lookin' kids?

What I do know, is that you and I (and our $60+ clams to get into the parks) are not worthy of this rare and lost art form.

Now that these residents of the parks and the Movieland Wax Museum are gone, the closest thing we have to stuffed people are the middle management in most of our corporate entertainment companies...

2006-11-15T00:49:00.000-08:00

MAIN STREET MONKEYSHINES!

I know it's not the most fascinating pic in the world, but if you remember a month or so ago, I begged for monkey. Well, looking for some stuff to post tonite, I found this Main Street castmember from 1957.

I like how everyone has their paws out in a gesture of friendship. If only we could all reach out with our monkey paws, the world would be a better place...

I haven't been to Disneyland in a while, but the last time I was there, I had no monkey. Please bring back monkey...please?

2006-11-14T00:57:00.000-08:00

MORE MONORAIL MADNESS!

Well, to add to everyone's Monorail posts, here's some more shots.

Is it possible to take a poor snap shot of the monorail I ask?

Bob Gurr...ya gotta hand it to the guy!

The Monorail alone should get him a first class ticket into Heaven, Nirvana, Shangra-La or a fairly good delicatessen in the sky!

Thanks, Bob!!

We are now passing General Dynamic's, Submarine Voyage!

Greetings, Space Mom!

Please have your hand stamped before you leave the platform!

2006-11-12T11:06:00.000-08:00

A gift from Disneyland on Sunday...

2006-11-10T11:08:00.000-08:00

IT'S 'FURRY-FREE FRIDAY' AT THE PICKLE BARREL!

Disneyland has always been full of posers. Yup! People who want their picture taken...on both sides of the costume!

There's no question the walk-around characters at the Disney parks are what set them apart from everything that came before them...and even the one's that have tried since then.

Walt wanted Disneyland to be a tactile experience. For a little tyke , actually touching and interacting with their fantasy friends is a powerful experience.

"I got ya poison apple...right here!"

It takes a special breed to take on the role of fantasy character...

In the days since their inception, that breed has expanded for better or for worse....

The wonderful thing about Tiggers, is they always take the Fifth!

"No bouncing 'til I speak to my attorney!"

But on the whole, the walk arounds are cool no matter how you look at them...

It's amazing how a polyester and rubber suit can break down walls...

...and get us closer to the things we love! yipes!

"Ahoy, Matey!"

I just hope the furry thing doesn't creep into the parks too much....

"Ok, Louie, you distract'em, I'll go for the cash..."

God knows we don't need Mickey Mouse molested by sauced-up soccer moms...

Anyhow, thought this would make a nice post today....Being Furry Free Friday and all...

Say "Bye, Bye, Mickey!"

"Bye, Bye!"

2006-11-09T02:20:00.000-08:00

The Original Walt Disney World,
MICKEY MOUSE REVUE!

Back in the early 1960s, Walt had several plans for his budding Audio Animatronics technology. We've all heard of the earliest concepts such as Lincoln and the Tiki Room.

Depending on how learned a nerd you are, you may have even heard of such concepts as the primal Dancing Man/Disneylandia show, the early pre-Ford pavilion-Disneyland dinosaur exhibit or the Main Street/Chinatown Confucius character.

True, all of these were conceptual thoughts that pre-date the Tiki Room, but another early concept that eventually came to be was The Mickey Mouse Revue!

Upon the first successful tests at WED, Walt immediately thought the Audio Animatronics technology would be a perfect progression in the evolution of bringing his film cartoons to life.

His concept was to reinvent the age-old presentation of a character puppet show. In keeping with the joyful thoughts of his little wooden head, these puppets would have no strings! The show itself, a musical gag production using songs from his greatest films. Of course, the emcee would be none other than....well, Mickey Mouse!

As we've heard before, there just wasn't enough time for all of Walt's ideas to be realized in his lifetime. However, when the new park was being prepped in the late 1960s, Walt's 'super-puppet show' would be resurrected and given a fitting home.

The show had many neat sequences , featuring Disney stock characters from the films: Alice in Wonderland, The Three Caballeros, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, The Jungle Book, Winnie the Pooh, Cinderella, and even some TV and short film characters such as Ludwig Von Drake and Clarabelle Cow. Yep, Minnie, Pluto, Donald, his wench, his rotten nephews, Goofy and the Three Humaniod Pigs were in on the act as well...

Unfortunately, if you never visited WDW in the 1970s or very early 80s, you wouldn't have seen it. The low attendance attraction was pawned off on the Japanese when they bought Tokyo Disneyland in the late 1970s. The Revue was dismantled rather than recreated and was ready for the April 1983 opening in Japan.

Oddly enough, if these rare interior shots pique your interest enough, you can still see this great show today. Tokyo Disneyland is still very much intact from it's 1983 opening...and the Mickey Mouse Revue just happens to be one of the survivors! The show is virtually the same as the 1971 show...except re-recorded in Japanese!

It seems like a no-brainer, but three dimensional recreations of the Disney CARTOON characters could really breathe some life into the parks again. America Sings, Country Bears and later, Splash Mountain all used AA technology to bring cartoons to life as opposed to the simple servo motor animation in the dark rides.

Hopefully with Pixar in the mix, the AA tech will once again bring the classic characters back to America with new shows in the spirit of Walt's, Mickey Mouse Revue!

2006-11-08T10:02:00.000-08:00

A SIGHT FOR SORE EYES!

Anyone out there tired of castle shots? Nah, I didn't think so!

Ain't she purty?

2006-11-07T09:24:00.000-08:00

DISNEYLAND'S DOUBLE DUTCH BUS!

Here's a couple of shots of Bob Gurr's, Main Street OMNIBUS!

Made from scratch, this old-timey fantasy vehicle still runs (believe it or not) at Disneyland today. It started operation in 1956 and is still going strong!

Here's a 1958 shot...

Goin' my way, ladies?

...and a snapshot from the upper deck of all the activity of Main Street in the summer of 1959!

...and a close-up of some sweet signage for the Disneyland '59 celebration!

Ah, the good ol' days!

2006-11-06T10:51:00.000-08:00

LET'S ENJOY THE ICY SLOPES OF THE MAJESTIC, MATTERHORN!

Been away from the blog for a few days...in the absence of ideas, I'll add to Major's Matterhorn post...

Here's some sweet angles on the freshly opened, Matterhorn Mountain from July 1959. At least that's the date on these slides. So, I'd say these were taken within a week or two of the Matterhorn's opening. A couple of the shots give you a glimpse of the hollow interior section where the Skyway went through.

The Matterhorn is one of my favorite attractions at Disneyland in that it's so "Walt".

It came about from his trips to Switzerland for the filming of the "Third Man On The Mountain" feature film. I like the fact that the Matterhorn was created simply because Walt looked up from his morning coffee and pastries, saw the actual Matterhorn and said, "I want one o' those!"

No focus group tests, no board of creative executives, no one to tell him "I don't think so, buster".

The Disneyland Matterhorn exists solely for the indulgence of one man.

In the process, he added great atmosphere to his park, reinvented the rollercoaster industry and proved once again, anything is possible..

Within a year of that coffee and pastry indulgence, the majestic Matterhorn rose over Anaheim, California-

Altitude: 160ft above sea level! YES!!!!

2006-11-02T08:46:00.000-08:00

THE TEA CUPS, 1965! Our Favorite Spin 'N Spray!

People like to ride the edge of puking...they always have...

The sick part about this ride is that the laughter you see on everyone's face, is in the hopes that the faster you spin, the better the chances are of making your cup-mate puke!

Only in Disneyland could this violence have such a charming setting!

2006-11-01T09:18:00.000-08:00

Halloween Ain't Over! Say It Isn't So!!!

A quick post today....here's the Backstage Magazine cover mentioned by Patrick.

It has all the sixties wackiness of the ride itself.

That's what I like most about the original Mansion. It's such a product of it's era. References to 'Doombuggies' (dune buggies), the walking funk bass line in the Grim Grinning Ghosts song, 'swinging wake' (swingers) and Hitchhiking Ghosts 'thumbing-it'.

The Madame Leota seance scene I'm sure was an outcropping of my favorite 'Imagineering Hippy', Rolly Crump's mystic gypsy concepts....very sixties.

I haven't had coffee yet, so I might come up with others. Anybody else?

Three points for a good answer!

2006-10-31T09:43:00.000-08:00

Haunted Halloween, All You Spooks!

Here's one of my favorite possessions (no pun intended).

This was pinned up in the New Orleans Square employee break room and saved by a young castmember as a memento.

It's an employee poster made for the 'soft opening' or employee preview of the Mansion on August 7th and 8th, 1969. Planned for after hours operation, the preview was an attempt to do full capacity run thrus of the attraction to find any kinks in the ride system.

I guess it worked out ok as the ride did officially open on August 9th, 1969...the very day of the Sharon Tate murders by the Mansion Family singers. Nice, huh?

Now, here's our favorite haunted domiciles from early periods of their history....

The Disneyland Haunted Mansion in 1974...

The Walt Disney World Haunted Mansion in 1972...

...and now, a carriage approaches to take you into the boundless realm of the supernatural!

Happy Halloween!

2006-10-30T09:59:00.000-08:00

Happy Day Before Halloween, All You Spooks!

Here's a cover page from a very neat technical manual done for the Haunted Mansion in 1969.

While working on the first Mansion for Disneyland, WED was well aware they would soon be building Walt Disney World's, Magic Kingdom. It too would feature the spook house so they went ahead and built two of everything.

The WDW Mansion was actually the first completed attraction for the new park. While they had time after the late 1969 opening of Disneyland's attraction, WED completed this through technical guidebook for the installation of the second Mansion.

A very scary puss!

It features many key effects and animatronic characters of the ride in schematic breakdowns.

If you ever win the lotto and decide to build your own Haunted Mansion, you'll definitely need one of these!

2006-10-29T10:03:00.000-08:00

a gift from Disneyland on Sunday...

To augment Patrick's post on the Tour Guide Hostesses, here's some name tags that would be issued in case you hit your head and forgot who you were. Dated 1958, these are a little earlier than the Hostess SOP guide which dates from the mid-sixties...

These are the less common type which were adhesive stickers rather than the later hang-tag type. The stickers didn't last too long as you can guess how quickly the adhesive would slip the surly bonds of your clothing and drop back to Earth.

A sad thing too, as a lost tag might cause one to end up in City Hall crying in a puddle of one's own tears...

2006-10-27T11:29:00.000-07:00

EPCOT CENTER 1982!

Part Five...

Even More Rainbows, Chrome and Purple Dragons!

We move forward with imagery from various areas around 1982-85 Epcot Center that showcase the optimism and style of this once great park...

Epcot Center was just plain trippy! It was a playground of 'extra-curricular ' activities for visually stimulated guests...

Please keep hands and arms on the exhibits and extinguish all smoking devices!

Man, is that car smooth or what?

Up, up and away in my Rolly Crump balloon!

Holy Shit! That group of vegetables are singing and playing instruments!

Whoa! Now the dairy products are speaking! What kind of weed is this stuff?

With all of it's style and innovation, there was a weird sterility to the park. Again, in my mind...not a bad thing. I was asked about "sex" at the park in relation to my posts about vintage Disneyland selling sex. Epcot Center absolutely, undeniably sold NO..ZERO...ZIP...NATTA sex within its pastel gates. The park was a sort of church to our future...

Kodak's Journey Into Imagination had an uncanny resemblance to The Crytsal Cathedral in Garden Grove, Ca.

This was the early 1980s and the Women's Lib movement was at it's peak. Women were equals in society. That's a good thing. It was about time too. The problem with this movement was a byproduct (well intended or not) that weakened the primal attractions between the sexes...at least in the media. At Disney, this created a world of polyester sterility where women and men became one in the same...Politically correct Lego-like characters where the only differentiating factor was hair length and the occasional mustache. Everyone was equal; On the space station platform or in the bedroom...

I guess I should let this one speak for itself...

Epcot didn't have lightly clad mermaids, riding crop wielding vixens in plaid or silver mini skirts with knee-high space boots...nope. Epcot foretold a future where everyone was equally bland and uninteresting.

But the architecture was sure cool!

Here's the Living Seas pavillion c.1985. It was Epcot Center at its best...

World Showcase also gave an extremely positive outlook towards our neighbors on Spaceship Earth.

The original participating nations were given the 'star treatment' by WED's artitsts with pavilions that surpassed anything previously presented at World's Fairs.

All of the Disney show tricks were used to place a generous light on the national advertisements presented in World Showcase.

Canada, Japan, China, Morrocco, Italy, The United Kingdom, France and Mexico were among the first to benefit from a hyper-presentation of their country's attributes through the eyes of the Disney masters...

Pavilions such as Journey Into Imagination, The Land, Horizions, Universe Of Energy, The Living Seas and World Of Motion were truly inspiring attractions that showcased art, technology and optimism in every way they possibly could. For those first few years, Epcot achieved some of what I believe Walt Disney intended for Epcot in spirit.

The Imagineers at WED had a final showcase for their artistry of mind and taste. Everything that came after Epcot 1982-85 was under a new umbrella. The Eisner regime. Idealism was dead in the theme park arts and commerce muscled in.

Well, that's our visit to the original Epcot center 1982-1985. Hope you got something out of it. For those of you who always liked it, this was a nifty look back. For those of you who always thought it was a hacked out compromise, I hope this look gives you reason to look again.

And, for those of you who never saw Epcot and think these two below are from the West Los Angeles Pavilion sponsored by Eveready Batteries...

...there never was a West Los Angeles Pavilion at Epcot!

2006-10-26T17:14:00.000-07:00

EPCOT CENTER 1982!

Part Four...

Rainbows, Chrome and Purple Dragons!

That's why I love Epcot Center 1982!

Today, we’ll focus mainly on style within Epcot’s perimeter…and stylish it definitely was!

As stated yesterday, science fiction and computer advancements had an incredible influence on Epcot’s design in architecture and show concept.

Being a ‘permanent World’s Fair’, the park followed in the path of such predecessors as the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair, The 1964 New York World’s Fair, the 1968 San Antonio HemisFair and the Osaka Expo 1970.

All of these featured state of the art “blue sky’ architecture in their pavilions with an emphasis on mod styling. The Pop Art movement and celebrity industrial designers such as Saul Bass, Raymond Lowey, Verner Panton, Eero Saarinen and the Eames’, all had showcased presentations of exhibition design. There’s little question these elements had a hand in the inspiration of Epcot’s concepts.

Just look at these interior pics of the Communicore section. Rolly Crump was one of the key designers of this kinetic display. There’s a striking resemblance to Charles and Ray Eames’, touring exhibition “Mathematica” and their “Information Machine” presentation for the IBM Pavilion at the 1964 NYWF.

As usual, Disney artists took inspiration from the visual work of others and ‘plussed’ it with the charm that only Disney could.

The thing that draws me to early Epcot more than anything else is how amazingly it captured the sensibility of the time. I call that sensibility “New-Age Sci-Fi”. (Think Jean-Michel Jarre or Stevie Nicks on the Space Shuttle and you're getting warm.)

It was a weird combination of conservatism mixed with science optimism, sprinkled with a dash of soul-less spiritualism.

What I mean by that is the almost religious nature of clean mysticism offered within the park. The pavilions and surrounding grounds were executed with a cold beauty. Everything from the pigmented asphalt to the ethereal drone of synthesizer muzak piped into the air gave one a sense of a new age dream.

1982 Epcot felt a lot like you were walking in the coldly beautiful future of Logan’s Run.

And, when I say “cold”…it’s a good thing! Star Trek: The Motion Picture was the epitome of this “New-Age Sci Fi”.

The sci-fi look of the era consisted of chrome and rainbows against starscapes.

Epcot drew much from this combo…

The many pavilions strove to inspire from every angle. Unlike Disneyland, the architecture was presented on a grand, roomy scale.

The distant view was taken full advantage of in that Epcot was a spacious layout.

Nighttime lighting was presented in the spectacle generally regulated to World’s Fairs and Nuremburg Party rallies….

Tomorrow: The High-fallootin' Promise of Epcot!

2006-10-25T00:45:00.000-07:00

EPCOT CENTER 1982!

Part Three...

What? You still here!? Boy, you must be really bored OR you’re a true connoisseur of Disney Theme Park history!

We left off with WED’s final decision to move forward with a remixed vision of Walt Disney’s original EPCOT. This time, the business plan was one the Imagineers could justify to the stockholders with sound corporate and foreign investors. The official presentation was made in July 1975. By 1978, the design phases for Epcot Center were well under way. We’re at the tail end of the disco age.

The Carter Administration was limping towards it’s last year in control. Ronald Reagan (one of Disneyland’s Opening Day hosts) would soon be nipping at their heels with a new brand of 1950s style Conservatism for America. Star Wars was a worldwide phenomenon that affected the cultural context forever. Science Fiction would have a hand in the style and design of many art forms. Computers and satellites were molding our future into our present.

Strong thematic influences for a new theme park…

As Disneyland before it, the WED designers of Epcot Center knew the cornerstone of their new park had to address the current public consciousness. Epcot had to engage it’s audience by not only showcasing the present state of the World, but offer a tangible forecast of what the future would hold for them. Luckily, this era contained lots of great inspiration to the writers and designers of Epcot Center. Computers and interest in space perhaps had the greatest influence on the creative direction of the park. Both were the most prominent within its many pavilions.

Everything from the architecture to show presentations to the park signage had to project optimism…better yet, DISNEY OPTIMISM. Using some of the finest designers from within WED and the studio, the Disney team went whole-hog with an extremely tasteful approach.

Some of the key figures in Disneyland’s creation were applying almost 30 years of experience to the project. John Hench, Herb Ryman, Rolly Crump, George McGinnis, Bob Gurr, Collin Campbell, Blaine Gibson, Wathel Rogers, Gene Johnson, Claude Coats, Walt Green, and Marvin Davis were among the many veterans lavishing unbelievable amounts of good taste and visionary audacity to the project. Add to them WED outsiders such as Ray Bradbury, Robert McCall, Claudio Viazzoli and Ward Kimball and things quickly gelled into something very new.

The Disney hype machine wasted no time in the marketing of this new wonder. I first read about this “Epcot Center” from Starlog magazine in 1978. A several page article showed concept art and linked the project to a ‘lost’ Walt Disney concept finally brought to life. Soon newspaper articles, posters, radio ads and TV specials followed. The anticipation within the public was masterfully stoked as the countdown to October 1982 drew closer.

Driving through the sprawling, well-manicured Disney turnpike one could see the rising ball of Spaceship Earth over the horizon. At the turn off to the Epcot construction site, there was an Epcot Preview Center that showed what was in store for guests in the future. The presentation was amazing. A beautiful scaled model of the park was angled in the middle of the gallery and if you weren’t hooked before you walked in, the model harpooned you with fascination.

In a gesture of goodwill and good marketing, Disney offered Florida residents a Monorail Preview of the construction site starting in the late Spring of 1982. The tour took you from the main WDW Transportation Center across the property to the Epcot Center construction site. A brilliant plan as the Monorail prevented guests from seeing too much or somehow getting loose in the park. It was just the right taste to get you hooked on that Disney brand of primal entertainment heroin!

The views were a striking glimpse upon the shape of things to come…

Tomorrow: The Style of Epcot Center 1982!

2006-10-24T01:02:00.000-07:00

EPCOT CENTER 1982!

Part Two...

OK! Welcome back to our tour of the Future Past!

We left off where Walt’s team was struggling with the responsibility of his legacy…namely, EPCOT.

Well, the Disney team had to continue. The many facets of the studio had always functioned to execute directives from a creative leader. In December 1966, that leadership was gone.

The company had to continue. Yet, the problem facing this company was, “Who’s creative vision shall we follow now?” No one was personally or politically equipped to fill Walt Disney’s shoes. This question alone is why I believe the Disney Studio floundered thru the 1970s. It ran on ‘automatic’ until a new strategic game plan could be devised that everyone under the corporate umbrella could agree upon.

Phase One of ‘The Florida Project” was the acquisition of land and the initial development of the Orlando property. The Magic Kingdom theme park or Walt Disney World was set into motion before Walt’s death. According to Roy Disney’s financial plan, the theme park is where revenue would flow to finance the later ‘phases’ of the “Florida Project”. Roy himself saw to the execution of this first phase as a philosophical debt to his beloved brother. Immediately, Phase One was designed and built.

Let’s move forward to 1974. The company was still dealing with it’s next big move. At this point, the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow and Mineral King are gone. Vietnam is quickly drawing to a close and optimism is low on the cultural ‘to do list’ for the country. Money is needed to keep W.D.P. afloat. At first, several past concepts are floated to the surface: a St. Louis, state financed park, an expansion of the Walt Disney World theme park, a foreign Disneyland park. For the immediate future, these ideas are dashed. Still, no one is willing to take the reigns left by Walt. What to do?

A facet of the original EPCOT idea was to feature an international presence. Perhaps the Florida expansion could continue with sponsorship from foreign investors? A World’s Fair type expansion that could showcase the cultures of the world in one park!

A World Showcase!

Soon, a presentation was designed and foreign governments were approached. This model had been successful for World’s Fairs and Expos for years. Well, investors were there but the financial plan wasn’t enough to merit a Phase launch. At this point, EPCOT was resurrected.

Perhaps the spirit of Walt’s original plan could be built…an attraction that meets some his original goals while feasibly attaining investment from corporate sponsors.

A new plan was devised to build a permanent World’s Fair attraction…one that would combine the World Showcase/International park with a corporately sponsored, science based park. A true hint of E.P.C.O.T….

This park had to be stylish. It had to make a mark and pull in visitors from all over the world. A game plan was devised. Walt Disney Productions would jump in with both feet…

We pick up with the "New EPCOT" tomorrow......

2006-10-23T10:22:00.000-07:00

EPCOT CENTER 1982!

Part One...

It's EPCOT Week at the Pickle Barrel!

Not Walt Disney's personal vision for a city of the future, but the corporate wonder created by his immediate successors at Walt Disney Productions!

I give you 1982's orgy of coolness...EPCOT CENTER!!!!

Over the week, I'll post some great images from the original 1982-85 Epcot Center and pepper the posts with thoughts about the park itself.

It's a fascinating saga of a lost visionary, his loyal team trying to find their way without him, the popular culture of a changing America and an organization of seasoned veterans bringing their skills to fruition in a powerful showcase of environmental art.

For many years, the realized EPCOT Center was snubbed (at least by the artistic/historical elite) as a corporate cop-out that aimed and fired far below the targeted heights of Walt Disney's visionary concept for an Experimental Prototype City Of Tomorrow. Well, to a certain extent, I agree.

The issue I took with these criticisms was the overriding disregard for the wonderful work that was achieved there.

When Walt Disney died in 1966, there was no one....NO ONE who could possibly take his place. With the passage of time, that only becomes more clear. It was his personal company to commercially exploit his ideas and creative will. Publicly owned or not, what they sold was WALT DISNEY. For almost 40 years, The Disney Bros. Studio did just that.

The way I see it, without Walt, that commercial entity morphed into a marketing tool. To think that someone could ever succeed Walt was a losing proposition that I believe Walt himself chose to avoid. In the almost 40 years since his death (Dec. 15, 1966), little has changed in regards to filling the void left by Walt.

That said, I do believe much credit needs to be given to Walt's immediate successors. Roy Disney, Card Walker, Ron Miller, Marty Sklar and Dick Nunis had their plates full with good intentions and personal responsibilities to their late leader. They and many others at the studio were charged with an impossible task. One has only to glance through any accounts of creative and strategic decisions of the late 60s and 70s at the Walt Disney Company to find the quote, "What would Walt do?" all over the place.

Remember, this was (and is) a publicly owned corporation that had vision because the one man who could stand up to very nature of corporate struggles had the political authority to do so. Anyone else was a target.

I believe, these guys tried their best and it's silly to think you or I could do any better.

Whew! Ok, got that out!

Tune in for the next installment of EPCOT Center 1982!

2006-10-21T01:12:00.000-07:00

WEEKI WACHEE Hi, Mecca Heinee Ho!

Weeki Wachee Springs is a neat Florida attraction that started in the late 1940s and is barely hanging on to this very day. By the time I first visited it in the 1970s, it was already a dinosaur from another age...one that is on the verge of extinction. I sure hope it survives...

Located on the sight of a natural fresh water spring, many things were presented within the attraction gates....the explosively colorful tropical gardens, the wild birds, the glass-bottom boat tours, the undersea creatures and......

THE LIVE CITY OF MERMAIDS SHOW!!!!!!

Call me crazy, but there's something pretty neat about voyeuristically watching beautiful, acrobatic women on the verge of drowning through a 4-inch thick wall of glass!

The show included all types of staged performances underwater accompanied by the strains of Martin Denny and Arthur Lyman. Trips to Disney World in Orlando sometimes included side trips to Weeki Wachee...

Apparently, everyone and their bloodthirsty mother is out to close down the joint and make 'alternative' commercial use of the property.

Here's the website for the attraction today although they could benefit from some better art direction: PUSH ME!

Look for the "Save Our Tails" section of the sight to follow the saga of preservation attempts over the past couple of years.

I don't know about you, but it's nice to know places like Weeki Wachee still share the planet with us!

2006-10-20T01:23:00.000-07:00

Carousel Of Progress 1920s Scene In Walt Disney World!

To augment the posts on Major's and Rod's blogs, here's a nice clear professional shot from the 1975, newly installed COP at Walt Disney World. Subtle differences from Disneyland and the New York Wold's Fair, but there nonetheless.

Bask in the positivity!

2006-10-19T00:09:00.000-07:00

Main Street, That Great Street!

Here's a couple of shots of Main Street from early 1956. It's always nice to see images of Main Street in it's heyday...

This is the northward view featuring the Emporium and the Penny Arcade...both still there physically if not in spirit 50 years later.

Here's the same side of the street, but facing south towards the train station and plaza.

Next, a request to the Disneyland historians/photo maniacs out there...

I have a varied collection of rare Disneyland stuff. Some simple to identify and some that create a CSI-esque puzzle once you get them. The object below is of the latter type...

This is a hand constructed and painted sign of our favorite rodent all decked out in naval gear.

It's made of masonite with a raised cut out of Mickey over an amoebic 50s shape colored in salmon pink. Especially noteworthy is Mickey's ultra slick, rat-like rubber tail...a nice touch for sure!

I bought this years ago from the estate of Disneyland and Studio artist, Jay Gould. Jay did a great deal of the graphic signage around the park in the early days before the Sign and Pictorial Dept was formed in 1956. That rather famous pose of Mickey was used all over the place in the 1950s and 60s and was created by Jay. He was an expert in hand lettering and he did most of the title cards you see of Disney films and television from the 30s thru the 70s.

According to his daughter, this sign graced the exit of the Phantom Boats attraction during it's short run at the park. Apparently, it had a dimensional arrow sign that pointed towards the exit from the unload dock. When the ride was removed for the Motor Boat Cruise expansion, this sign was returned to Jay and he displayed it in his Burbank studio office for many years. It's marked with his name on the reverse.

I faked this image to show the general area where this sign might have been...(i know, i should get a life!)

The Phantom Boats connection makes sense to me in that it matches the very 'hand-made' nature of early park signage as well as the 50s amoeba shape. By 1959, most of that free-form future was gone from Tomorrowland. The naval outfit with the Disneyland 'D' on the sleeve places it thematically with some type of water attraction.

So, the question is, does anyone out there recognize this sign or better yet, have a photo of it in the field?

C'mon people, restore my faith in humanity!

2006-10-18T09:12:00.000-07:00

Up, Up and Away, In My Beautiful Douglas Rocket!

The McDonnell-Douglas Rocket during it's last years as the Rocket To The Moon in 1965.

What needs to be said here? Ok, I'll shut up and you take in the sweet scenery!

2006-10-17T08:15:00.000-07:00

Wake Up White People!

The Tomorrowland band, Establishment bring down...er...make that, bring UP the house!

Not much to say today. Here's some fine young Americans boogying out in 1967 Tomorrowland. Entertainment at it's best....

2006-10-15T13:45:00.000-07:00

a gift from W.E.D. Enterprises, Inc. on Sunday...

How many of you would like find one of these in your mailbox?

This is a neat flyer that was mailed out to WED Enterprises clients and associates back in 1966, Walt's last year.

It announced the move from Sonora St. offices to the new, swanky Mod-offices on Flower St. in Glendale. It features a fold out map with directions to the new digs and also features this neat write up on WED on the reverse...

"We look forward to welcoming you to our new headquarters..."

I wonder if owning this flyer entitles me to take them up on that invitation 40 years late?

2006-10-13T12:16:00.000-07:00

I WANNA GO BACK TO MY LITTLE GRASS SHACK IN ADVENTURELAND!

Ah, the cool refuge of the Tahitian Terrace!

In this day of Tiki love, it's amazing that the old Terrace hasn't been resurrected.

It would perfectly compliment the Enchanted Tiki Room, fill the void that's been in Adventureland for the last several years and shouldn't be that costly to re-construct.

WDI must have the original plans...how hard could it be?

Look at this pic over here...

Even the side seating areas dripped with charm and ambiance.

All it needs is some pineapple chicken, wiggly-bellied gals and some live steel guitar and we're transported back to all the kane and wahine that we used to know!

2006-10-12T00:29:00.000-07:00

DISNEYLAND: The Movie!

Here's proof positive that Disneyland was truly art directed as a film you would traverse. Every angle was approached from the point of view of a cinematographer.

Actually, from a layout artist's POV in animation. This beautiful 1956 shot is of the early 'Fantasy of Disneyland' Shop in the Fantasyland Courtyard. This soon became the 'Tinkerbell Toy Shop'.

The view is from the tunnel exit leading from Tomorrowland's side of the Hub through a Sleeping Beauty Castle turret.

...Purty, ain't it?

2006-10-11T01:25:00.000-07:00

Hallo from Tomorrowland Space Peoples!

Here's a nice pic from August 1960 of "Space Man and Futuristic Girl" as stated on the slide.

Yup, I'll buy that....

2006-10-10T01:27:00.000-07:00

I'm A Lazy Bastard, I Know.....

Hi everybody. Sorry for the lack of posts...been busy and lazy...lazy like a snake on a sunny desert rock.

But hey!!! Here's a distracting shot of Tomorrowland from 1959 of the first 'America the Beautiful' in Tomorrowland. At nite none-the-less!

On a side note, I watched 'Conan, The Destroyer' tonite. I smiled at least twelve times.

Life is swell, ain't it!

I'll post again this week...I promise!

2006-10-04T02:42:00.000-07:00

Yipes! We've Got Parking Problems!

Speaking of the parking lot yesterday brought something to mind; "Ye reaps what ye sows"...

The Disney Company is making so much damn money at the parking booths these days that guys in PORSCHES are sticking them up! Whoa! Now that's what I call INFLATION!

Time was, trains, banks and liquor stores were the chosen prey of stick up banditos. Disney must really be cleaning up if a single ticket booth is worthy of robbing...ON CAMERA!

Walt was often questioned about his policy of a very slim profit margin for Disneyland's parking rates. For over twenty years, the rate remained under a dollar. His theory was basically, to not squeeze his guests dry for things that have little to do with the park itself or certain souvenir items that would promote the park once the guest left.

In other words, people have to park their cars in order to PAY admission to the park itself...let's not get greedy and we'll end up getting return business through goodwill.

The Eisner management thought this showcased Walt's naivete and poor business sense. What do you think?

2006-10-03T00:23:00.000-07:00

BRING BACK THE PARKING LOT!!!!

Man, I'm almost at the point where'd I'd pay extra admission just to bring back the parking lot!

Who remembers this view?

It provided storage, shelter, safe-haven, comfort, convenience, entertainment, privacy and dare I mention...fun?

Ah, the good ol' days...

2006-09-29T10:35:00.000-07:00

Hey Everybody! Let's Hop Aboard THE FRIENDSHIP TRAIN!

Back in the 1960s and 1970s, Disneyland's Summer entertainment was downright FUNKY!

Groups like The Kids of the Kingdom, The Sound Castle, The Establishment, Sunshine Balloon and The Friendship Train walked the line of good Christian values and racial separation.

How dare they!?!?!?!?!

Rising from the underworld like a Faustian nightmare, these musical groups would emerge into Tomorrowland and drag the wholesome youth of Disneyland into sex, drugs and rock n roll...

Well, okay...just sex and drugs. Anyhow...

Ladies and gentlemen, straight from the depths of hell, I give you...

THE FRIENDSHIP TRAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Everybody in the house....Put your hands together people, strip off that clothing of the establishment and let's make it happen!

Tonite, The Friendship Train is gonna show you the true meaning of an E-Ticket Attraction!!! Well, at least that's the plan.....

2006-09-28T00:25:00.000-07:00

Be Somebody! Be A Fireman!

Here's a couple of nice pics of the 1956 Disneyland Fire Department's now retired, Fire Wagon. Also dating from this period was the Chemical Wagon.

Both are long gone from the streets of Disneyland. At one time however (especially in the turn of the century Mid-Western small town), being a fireman was an extremely romantic notion for a young tyke.

Cool trash can! It ain't screwin' around!

I believe it was this primal romance that drove Walt to include a Fire Department on his Main Street recreation at Disneyland.

Pretty quaint and great eye candy at the same time. It's a fairly accurate element for a turn of the century town replica.

I'd say it's more relevant for kids today to see this than kids of the 1950's. We're as distant from 1956 today as the kids in this pic were from 1901.

Last time I was at the park, the Fire Wagon was still sheltered in it's Fire Dept stall. Still there or is that a pin trading station now? Inquiring minds wanna know....

2006-09-26T09:44:00.000-07:00

Randotti's Visit WDW Construction Site and The Country Bears!

Here's an interesting case study of how the original theme park souvenir products were created...

Many people remember the perennial skulls, snakes, tombstones and tiki plaques at Disneyland and Walt Disney World's various souvenir shops. Since the early 1960s, one company supplied these novelty items to the parks: Randotti Products of Stanton California. Chalkware and plaster items were their specialty and this small family owned company landed an extremely lucrative contract with the Walt Disney Company.

A Jungle Cruise bathing elephant maquette with tiki plaques on the wall.

They were especially lucky in that the subject matter of their Disney products could be themed price point items in several of the park's attractions. Their various skulls were sold on Main Street in the Magic Shop, The Advetureland Bazaar and The Tiki's Tropical Traders Tent, as well as The Haunted Mansion and Pirates related shops in New Orleans Square.

These shots are part of a collection of the Randotti's research tour of WDW and it's rarely seen Preview Center. Patrick Jenkins has some terrific shots that may be from the same collection here.

In late 1969 thru 1971, the Randotti's traveled to WDW to preview the new attractions and themed areas they would be providing souvenir products for. It seems they toured the property construction site and then headed to the Preview Center.

Passing the Polynesian Resort under construction

A model of the WDW Adventureland Sunshine Pavillion and Enchanted Tiki Room.

Here's the Randotti's molesting a bunch of original Country Bear maquettes...

It appears that these actual WED Model Shop maquettes were considered for replication at one point.

Here's the "WDW Temporary Merchandise Division" which was a trailer parked on dirt. I'll bet some fine times were had in that trailer!

It looks like they were especially interested in the new Country Bear Jamboree and the unrealized, Great Western River Expedition planned for WDW's Frontierland.

This series of pics are of the Marc Davis concept art that was posted around the Preview Center building.

Between this artwork and the maquettes, the Randotti's would produce figurals for mass production in chalk and plaster.

Here's some Great Western Expedition concept art.

More to come.....

2006-09-25T10:54:00.001-07:00

Aryans Love Disneyland!

Yes, it's true! Especially the gals!

This just supports my theory that Disneyland sold sex! What does this bubbly vessel of blondness say to you? She's happy, she's ingesting, she's wearing a funny hat with fully erect plumage.

Run! Don't Walk! Hop in your jalopy and race on down to Anaheim!

2006-09-24T02:58:00.000-07:00

a gift from Disneyland on Sunday.....

Make your own 1957 Poopcorn Box!

Cut and fold at the creases, kiddies!

Make sure an adult is present!

Don't poke out a kidney!

2006-09-22T11:05:00.000-07:00

Hey Paw! Circle The Waguns!!! Thar's Injuns In Frontierland!!!

Yes, that's right kiddies! Once upon a time, Frontierland was chock full of Indians!

And just like Manifest Destiny of the Old West, we chased them outta Anaheim too!

Honestly, I can't think of a better way to get kids involved with American history than theme parks. Disney knew he could teach kids better while they had fun. Frontierland did this in spades with the 1950s-1970s Indian Village.

Guests were treated to a full environmental experience in a romantic and dare I say, politically correct display of various American Indian cultures. When I say this, Disney used tribal consultants to create displays and practice rituals that were passed down through individual tribal customs.

The Indian Village was to represent not just a television writer's fanciful amalgamation of Indian life, but a fair cross section of many tribes across the West and their differences.

One of the best examples of these hands-on learning experiences was the Indian Dance Circle.

Several tribes were represented and they would 'trade off' for six month period runs at the park. Very much like EPCOT's World Showcase exchange program, tribal performers were invited for a periodic contract with housing for the duration of their run at the park. Within six months, another tribe would be represented with slightly different performances of their
tribal customs.

Kids were invited to participate during these performances and get hands on with people who were represented for the most part as "the enemy" on TV. I don't think you have to guess the positive impact of a 1950s kid meeting an actual Indian and seeing how great Indian culture was. Especially when you consider how small the chances were for kids of the era to travel through the West and Southwest and visit the various tribal visiting centers.

As usual, Disney took a sample of something from the world, cleaned it up, packaged it and tried to keep it a fairly authentic presentation within his theme park...

It's a part of the park that I think was underestimated for the good it did while giving kids an experience they just won't have access to as easily.

The Village itself consisted of several areas. Some of which were meant more for travelers on the Rivers of America than for pedestrians in the Village itself. The river village was mainly for the Columbia and Mark Twain passengers to experience from their ships.

Another good view of this was from the Indian War Canoes which embarked just yards away from the sectioned off river village.

I've been lucky enough to acquire some original design paintings done for the original 1955 Indian Village. These tribal symbols are seen throughout the area on shields, tepees and ground areas.

If you look closely cowboys and cowgirls, you will see some of these in the field!

These were created for the Disneyland Scenic Department to apply to the sets. Sam McKim told me he designed most of them using books on tribal symbols from the studio library.

Let's all write our Congressmen to pressure Disneyland to bring back them Indians!!

2006-09-21T09:29:00.000-07:00

A New Attraction Concept For Tomorrowland.....

Just build one of these....

and we can go back to this!...

2006-09-20T09:21:00.000-07:00

I scream, You scream, We all scream for ICE CREAM!

Aw! The Carnation Ice Cream Parlor is no more on Main Street. In it's day, it was the perfect blend of theme and corporate sponsorship.

Here's a great overhead shot of Carnation's corner in 1955...

And here's some menus from the shop. One from 1955 and one from 1957...

I think I'll have a 2000 A.D. Special!

2006-09-18T23:52:00.000-07:00

Beam Me Up, Mr. Morrow!

Who at this point doesn't love the sheer greatness of the 1967 Flight To The Moon attraction?

As a much needed follow-up to the 1955 TWA's Rocket To The Moon, the 1967 New Tomorrowland brought McDonnell Douglas' Flight To The Moon. This was even more topical in 1967 as opposed to 1955 in that it arrived during the last phases of NASA's Gemini program and heading into Apollo.

An actual moon landing was just around the corner!

Saturn rockets were the launch vehicles of the period and WED designer George McGinnis based his art direction on the industrial design of those space vehicles and NASA's actual Mission Control Center.

For kids of the time, this had quite an impact!

Taking further advantage of a full environmental theme, WED advanced the experience with the addition of the now famous, Disney queue pre-show.

The Mission Control queue area was meant to help prep guests thematically for their simulator flight as well as 'uplift' the boredom of waiting the for next trip.

These days, the space that once had kids thinking about the future has them thinking about how to get fatter...

The future's so bleak, I gotta poke out my eyes!

Wow. What does a Walt Disney's Disneyland fanatic see when they look at this image? To me, it's a crime scene. Forensic study reveals a lack of taste, judgement, direction, funds, ideas, philosophy and most of all hope...

I honestly try to steer away from the negative with these posts and just center on the old, good stuff. Tomorrowland makes this very hard. It's the one aspect of the parks that I believe blatantly pisses on Walt's memory.

This must be addressed by the new creative management as a priority.

To the Pixar guys: Mayday! Fire retros!!! Tomorrowland is in a decaying orbit!

For far too many years in Tomorrowland, failure's not only been an option, it's been a mandate!

2006-09-18T00:18:00.000-07:00

Disneyland 1956: Arriving In Style!

I had a request for more heliport pics after my post a few weeks ago. It included the backstage heliport entrance behind the Tomorrowland Skyway Station in 1956. Here it is again...

I didn't think I had anything else until I found two shots at the end of a 1956 trip to the park.

Say, "Howdy" to Enud and Gurdt....

Out from Seattle, WA, these fine looking folks arrived by rental car and departed their Disneyland dream vacation via helicopter.

After dumping the 1956 Plymouth Savoy rental at their picturesque North Garden Room and a skinny dip in the pool at the swank Coral Swim Club...

...Enud and Gurdt hopped aboard one of the powerful Disneyland Hotel Trams to cross West Street to The Happiest Place On Earth!

The simplicity of its tasteful color scheme made even the loud and diesel-stinking tram look like candy in 1956!

Well, i'll post pics from their Disneyland adventure later...

There were only two shots of the copter but I thought I'd toss 'em up for you to see...

The air service was provided by Los Angeles Airways and took passengers to and from LAX to Disneyland in about fifteen minutes flight time. Too bad that's gone!

As it's 1956, this is still the first Disneyland Heliport near the 5 Freeway off of Harbor Boulevard. Guests would travel to and from the Disneyland Hotel by tram.

In 1960, the heliport was moved to its new location north of Disneyland Hotel.

Well, say so-long to these fine folks and thank 'em for taking us along for the ride!

2006-09-17T10:04:00.000-07:00

a gift from Disneyland on Sunday....

2006-09-15T09:54:00.000-07:00

Swingin' With The Disneyland Strawhatters!

I believe Patrick may have done a post about these fellas a few months ago. Going thru some slides, I found this nice shot of them on stage in 1956. This stage stands today btw, at the end of the patio of The French Market in New Orleans Square.

The funny thing is, it's not the same guys that are featured on the rare Stawhatters EP from 1956.

So, are these guys dopplegangers or is it possible that just like any costumed Mickey Mouse character, The Strawhatters were whomever donned a straw hat? Please, say it isn't so! My world is rocked...

Speaking of rocked worlds, my spiritual hero and emperor of vacuum cleaners, Duane "DOG" Chapman has been unceremoniously captured and held in custody for extradition to some country called, "Mexico". Huh, you ask? Captain America has been arrested for some strange political favor and handed over to sum ferigners? Not in my America damn you!

I love DOG and his whole family...all two hundred and fifty seven of them!

However, the more I read about this the more I come to understand the marketing genius that is DOG the Bounty Hunter. He's Paris Hilton with a mullet and parachute pants! Paris slyly orchestrates her 'public foul ups' into mega bucks. So does DOG!

Arrested for an outstanding warrant about to expire by the Mexican government, DOG and his 'bras' did a political no-no when they crept into Mexico three years ago and captured that asshole Max Factor heir person. Apparently, in Mexico, bounty hunting is illegal. But, but....we're talkin' about DOG here! DOG knows not of borders. Sheeat, DOG would hop aboard a Russian Soyez rocket if there was a wanted perp aboard the International Space Station.

Anyhow, DOG's show on A&E (my fav), goes to great lengths to dramatize elements of DOG's life...exciting and mundane alike. Looking at pics of the sad, captured, mullet-ruffled DOG in prison today, I think back to the cool pics of him in jail three years ago, before his fame took off. It's the same pose! The only difference is he hadn't the time for the moody lighting and dramatic angles. Gotta hand it to the DAWG!

All he's doin' is uppin' his street cred....word.

All I know is, DOG is good. DOG is great. Please, please come home soon, DOG.

Peace, my sweet bra....

2006-09-14T09:49:00.000-07:00

Waiting for Pirates To Open...

Here's a pic of the entrance to the highly anticipated,
Pirates of the Caribbean attraction in late 1966.

Disneyland was careful to start a building's exterior
construction first on new attractions. This way there wouldn't be huge plywood walls ruining the atmosphere
in areas of the park. Also, this heightened the anticipation for visiting guests so they would return.

That would be a nice feature today...

Here's a neat Main Gate flyer for Pirates soon after opening day.

Amazing, the great effort Disneyland went to in advertising new attractions once you were already in the park.

In its slimplicity, this rare flyer must have been incredibly effective in 1967. It still is today...even without Jack Sparrow!

2006-09-13T08:51:00.000-07:00

Somebody water the plants!

Here's another early shot of Disneyland shortly after opening day...

The C.K. Holiday passes the Fred Gurley on the bypass track that would later be used for handcar display. The Mickey planter although barren with young growth, looks exceptionally neat.

Shots like this really show what a huge play-set Disneyland was for Walt.

I think it's what made the park so great...Walt made it for himself first.

2006-09-12T10:21:00.000-07:00

Sleeping Beauty Castle...Git Yo Ass Up Beeotch!

Here's the Castle, early 1956. Nice ain't it?

I really love that Walt interview from the early sixties where he brags about placing latin tags on the weeds in order to fill out Disneyland's thin flora problem.

The second shot shows that new nature of the park...even six months after opening. Disneyland foliage was still fairly barren, not to mention its winter.

Very soon, all of this will change.

It's hard to make out in this second slide, but notice the orange tree in the bare dirt (center).

Gotta hand it to the guy, he's a thinker!

2006-09-11T09:53:00.000-07:00

In Disneyland, Mi Casa Es Su Casa!

Casa de Fritos was a pretty neat themed food house in Frontierland.

Sponsored by Frito Lay, the restaurant opened shortly after opening day in August 1955. Fritos continued sponsorship until 1982, when control was shifted to Lawry's (owners of the Disney favorite, Tam 'O Shanter).

Casa De Fritos was a Mexican themed restaurant planned and operated by fairly bland white people. Like much of Southern California fantasy fast-foods including Taco Bell, menu items that just didn't exist in Mexico were offered.

Here is the Frito Seniorita greeter from 1957. Que Buenita!

The neatest contraption being the "Ta-Cup"...get it? A taco shell shaped like a cup...THE TA-CUP! Man, why don't we get cool fantasy food like that any more at Disneyland?

This is a mail gift box available to Casa De Frito guests for sharing the bounty back home in 1955

The neat thing is that Casa De Fritos came from an era when corporate sponsorship was logically placed at the park. It does make sense that Frito Lay would feature their famous corn-chips at a Mexican themed restaurant in Frontierland. They knew that their product would receive the best exposure if they absolutely took advantage of the environmental theme.

This great looking party recepie book was available free to guests who purchased Golden Chips of Corn from the automated in-store vendor, The Frito Kid!

Today, Disneyland has so many stores and sponsors that have little to no relation to the themed environment. It's amazing how small the corporate intrusion is when the sponsorship is well themed. In many ways, I think it helps sell the fantasy. The first "Back to the Future" movie took advantage of corporate presence to sell the idea of a relatable future. I think that's why the idea of much needed corporate sponsorship at the park was palatable to Walt. If it helps sell the theme, why not? It makes sense that McDonnell-Douglas would sponsor the Rocket to the Moon ride and not the Jungle Cruise.

Well, there's Casa De Fritos! Another fine marriage of theme environment and corporate sponsorship brought to you by Walt Disney!

2006-09-10T11:37:00.000-07:00

a gift from Disneyland on Sunday....

apparently, white boyz were fair game at Adventureland in the 1950s!

yum-yum, eat 'em up!!

2006-09-08T11:22:00.000-07:00

Show Me Your Monkey!

I miss monkeys at theme parks. Please give us more monkey...

This l'il man is a photo op cast member from Knott's Berry Farm c.1960.

She looks like another satisfied customer! Ride em, cow-monkey!

2006-09-07T09:40:00.000-07:00

Snow White's Scare the Hell Out of Little Kids Adventure!

Today's post is a follow up to Major Pepperidge's post about dark rides and queue areas.

The original Fantasyland was fairly cheap. But, what it lacked in financial wealth it overflowed with Barry White-esque soul!

Also, these rides often caused involuntary bladder release for little kids as the presentation magnified the DEATH themes featured in the movies. YIPES!

The queue areas for these dark rides were to act as a set-up for the story. As you wound around the chained queue line, you were treated to themed music and a large, hand painted mural of whatever the story featured was. Mr. Toad, Peter Pan and Snow White all featured one of these.
Generally, the artists who actually worked on the original films did the mural art. Ken Anderson, as art director for Fantasyland often did these himself.

The neat part about these murals was they were to approximate the travels you the rider would experience on the attraction.

The original Snow White queue mural was a great example and shows the neat detail put into something as seemingly mundane as loading backdrop.

If you look closely, the Snow White mural is actually a loose map. It shows four vignettes transitioned by dark trees. At the bottom of these is a roadway...the road which the rider will take as they move through the attraction.

The four scenes featured are The Dwarfs' Mine, The Dwarfs' Cottage, a group shot of Snow White and the cast and the Wicked Witch in her Jeffery Dahmer chamber. C'mon, kiddies!!!!

These murals were done by studio artists, generally from the animation department who were on loan to WED. They would be painted on illustration board and then projected onto the full size plywood surface much like old billboard sign painters. From there, the Disneyland scenic dept would paint over the enlarged projection full size.

Bruce Bushman, one of the earliest Disneyland art directors was the king of this technique. He singlehandedly did the entire Mickey Mouse Club TV show this way.

I've been lucky enough to find some rare Snow White stuff over the years.

Here's two original paintings done for the queue mural.

They were actually painted by Disney studio artist Paul Hartley under the direction of Ken Anderson. Because so many of the studio artists were working on Sleeping Beauty at the time of Disneyland's construction, the look of the paintings is very Eyvind Earle in style. Trees in the forrest are especially Sleeping Beauty-ish. Actually, these look very much like Golden Book art. you can see the black trees which frame the scenes...a half tree on each side. This way, the vignettes could be interchanged on the spot yet still transition into one another. You'll also see the roadway flow through the scenes. I'm still trying to find better pics and i'll post...

Here's the shield standard from the entrance to the ride. All of the Fantasyland ride exteriors were changed slightly in the late 1960's. Why, I don't know but this shield replaced the original, slightly more mideval styled shield.

Anyhow, there you have it! Next time you want to build an attraction that might fill some kid's diapers with fear, look only to the example set by Snow White's Adventures!!

Thanks to Chris Merritt and Major Pepperidge for image help on this one!

2006-09-06T09:34:00.000-07:00

the visual candy of old Disneyland....

yum.....

here's the Fantasyland thrill ride, The Mad Tea Party or better known as the Teacups in 1964. plywood, fiberglass and paint...a Disneyland combination that rarely disappoints! sure its loud and cartoony, but at the same time, it's so tastefully done. the colors are so subtle. i mean, compare this to Toon Town..the colors there are generally loud and feel as if they were squeezed right out of the tube with little of the subtle blending of old Disneyland.

it seems the art directors at WED were using the same good taste and subtlety as the art directors of the animated films of that period. just compare the incredibly subtle color choices in films such as Alice In Wonderland, Peter Pan

and Lady and the Tramp. Disneyland had that same colorful, muted palette. I think that's the key...Disney would use great color combos but at the same time, mute them in such a way that they were soft and didn't scream over each other for attention. The fun color in the Teacups above I believe shows it.

now, go just over to Toontown today or "New" Tomorrowland or even the castle and you'll see what i mean. loud, overly saturated and kinda tasteless.

honestly, take a look at Sleeping beauty's Castle over here! whoa! who pimped my ride? it looks like a Reno brothel...and i know 'em when when i see em!

i'd be very surprised if an art director came up with that without being coursed.

that said, i do think there are plenty of incredible things current Imagineering does well. it just seems that a uniform or singular vision is missing from the thought process. vintage Disneyland didn't happen on it's own. Walt gave his people the creative authority to make choices and it definitely showed...

2006-09-05T01:25:00.000-07:00

NEXT STOP....THE CONTEMPORARY RESORT HOTEL!!!

well, it just doesn't get much cooler than the swanky mod-super stylings of Walt Disney World's original 1971 masterpiece, the Contemporary Hotel!

first, thanks for all the nice e-mails. i'm amazed how many people you can reach with one of these blog thinghies! i guess i'd better act responsible and start posting!

i love the overall styling of WDW in it's formative years. up until recently, WDW was laughed at for it's 70s cheesiness. with time, that campy 70s style has grown more and more appreciated as a unique progression of the 1960s pop movement.

it just goes to show what incredible designers were working at WED in the 60s and 70s. these people were at the epicenter of style and design for that era. they had a whole 'world' to display their great taste with the Florida Project. what's even better, is that WED designers such as John Hench, George McGinnis and Mary Blair were doing what animation stylists did in cartoons...taking what was going on around them and caricaturing it on film...in this case, functional architecture. what you see in early WDW is their commentary on what was happening in fashion, art and technology of the time.

many places in WDW featured themed futruism with a contemporary flair. none more so than this joint...
man, i LOVED the Contemporary Hotel! now, the Polynesian was absolutely my favorite but the Contemporary was right up there.

in Walt's plan, the hotels on the WDW property were to carry through the Disney themed environment philosophy. more than simply slumber palaces, they were conceived to transport you into a specific themed setting. that's why they went heavy on the "Resort" nomenclature in all of the marketing (Polynesian Resort Hotel, Contemporary Resort Hotel, Fort Wilderness Resort, etc). cool, huh?

several hotels were part of the initial planning. some of the unrealized hotels included an Asian resort and an early American/Cape Cod Bay resort.

working with long time Disney partner and architect, Welton Beckett, the Contemporary was to showcase the atmosphere of today with the conveinence and case-study building techniques of the future. quasi sponsorship was provided by United States Steel as well as manufacturing.

the idea was to have a hotel that would be inexpensive to construct and yet grab the attention of the world audience. concepts usually lead to more concepts. Disney's initial team of artists were confident enough to start an idea and see where it took them. this hotel is certainly one of those!

the idea of having the WDW monorail system run through the center of the hotel was an added feature that eventually dictated the architectural configuration. that configuration then lead to the massive atrium to take advantage of the dramatic use of an indoor monorail system.

absolutely theatrical...and something that could only be done by Disney in this 'experimental' city. remember, the whole Florida property was part of the EPCOT project. the theme park and hotels were Phase One of the experiment. okay, sorry...back to the hotel!

the hotel's theme grew out of the impression it's canyon-like atrium projected. thus, the Grand Canyon Concourse concept was developed. the system of two sides of the buildings 'leaning' inward is how the effect was created. in doing this, each floor would have an incredible view of this 'canyon' from each balconied level. with no interior wall space, a tower was needed for the elevator system. for some, this giant walled in structure would pose a problem for the grand atrium effect. this is where Disney stylist Mary Blair was brought in. she was commissioned to create a towering mosaic mural using the theme of the Grand Canyon. what she came up with is the world's largest hand made mosaic featuring modernistic southwest themes. her designs of southwest indian children were used throughout the resort, in the lobbies and in each of the hotels rooms.

the ground floor, located just below the grand concourse level (where the monorail loaded) contained retail and dining space. it too was pretty neat. modular lighting and seating which screamed early 70s pop. accenting this cool insanity were plexi glass trees using warm colors such as yellow, red and orange! taking advantage of the naturally lit atrium, 'stained plastic' was used throughout the space.

well, all good things come to an end and the Contemporary went through several make-overs. in the mid eighties, the beauty you see above was torn out and things were never the same. the Mary Blair mural is still there but that's about it from the original, southwest theme. it's been many years since i've been back. as i recall in the late 90s, i was shocked at how soul-less and generic the interior design had become. it looked like service counter at a Target store. dark blue carpets which just suck up the natural light and i couldn't tell you what the theme was...i felt like i was in an eastern bloc bank.

the good thing is the initial building plan is so great, so innovative and solid that it can easily be returned to it's stylistic glory.

i'm not one for replicating what was there, but rather getting the top interior stylists involved at Imagineering and letting them go to town. it wouldn't even be that expensive! look how simply the original was done!

2006-09-03T13:55:00.000-07:00

a gift from Disneyland on Sunday.....

2006-09-02T19:29:00.000-07:00

DISNEYLAND WAS A GREAT PLACE TO GET DRUGS!!!!

yeah, it sure was! the Main Street Apothocary was sponsored by pharmaceutical giant, Upjohn in the 1950s thru the early 1970s. there, one would find vitamins, aspirin tablets and the ever popular live leeches in a jar!

interior shots are rare. here's a couple appropriately blurry shots. no doubt the photographer had a few too many free vitamin tablets.

as its saturday and i'm about to go out for some holiday cheer, i'll add to this topic later.

in the meantime, here's a couple of shots to get ya 'hooked'....

2006-09-01T15:34:00.000-07:00

DISNEYLAND-LITE!!!!

okay patrick jenkins! i'll see your Nara Dreamland and raise you with...LOTTE WORLD!!!

patrick first told me about Nara dreamland and i must admit...i was floored. how cool was that? and the fact that its so decrepit made it even more delicious.

a few years ago, i was producing a show at nickelodeon called Invader Zim. i really was trying to avoid going to Korea (where it was being animated) because i'm basically a homebody and the idea of working abroad as opposed to simply visiting as a tourist wasn't very appealing. i ended up going out of necessity and boy, i was glad i did! Korea is a terrific country!

very fascinating and neat culture all onto itself. from some of the Korean animators i was told about a fake Disneyland right there in Seoul that i would appreciate. LOTTE WORLD!

now, it's not Dreamland, but it was definitely a third rate Disneyland rip off. all the surface, and absolutely no substance of the real thing. I"M THERE!!!

as you can see above, the castle is a poor man's Cinderella Castle with a little Sleeping Beauty's Castle thrown in. the "lands" sorta followed Disneyland themes but something was molested in translation...also, very good.

when in the 'adventureland' area, i came across, "The Voyages of Sinbad" which was their version of Pirates. needless to say, Yes...yes, it was everything you'd hope for in an asian rip off of Disneyland. filled with incorrect interpretation and loaded with skeleton pirates molesting live-animatronic human women! below, some poor dead bastard is about to be killed again by walking the plank...good luck skinny!

i'll have to find the other folder with more pics but this is what i have for now.

next, this was a display that was not far from Lotte World that same day. i saw a poster for it and knew i had to go. it was the Korean Ice Lantern festival where they took a huge airplane hangar , sealed it off, pumped it full of sub zero temperatures and made huge replicas of world monuments and icons out of ice. it was visual candy for sure!

everything from frozen dinosaurs to the Forbidden City to the bow of the Titanic was featured...Korea's a neat place and i'd love to go again. in the world of cheap Disneyland rip-offs, Seoul's Lotte World is right up there!!

2006-08-31T17:13:00.000-07:00

ED BENEDICT...So Long, Chum! We'll Miss Ya!!!

sorry for the double post today. i just wanna say something about a swell fella...

for those of you who haven't heard or aren't aware of animation stuff, the world lost a great man this week. i received a call from Amid Amidi (www.cartoonbrew.com) yesterday filling me in on the news...thanks amid!

Ed Benedict is absolutely one of my top heroes and very thankfully, a teriffic friend. as much as we (in the disneyland blogs) all love the visual candy of Disneyland, Ed was the reason for a great deal of visual candy in animation. i don't like pigeon holing Ed into just Hanna-Barbera for why he is so great but it was probably his most prolific legacy.

if you fancy the clean goodness that is early HB work such as Ruff n Reddy, Huck Hound, Yogi and Boo-Boo, Quick Draw McGraw among others, then you too are a fan of Ed Benedict. my fav however, is his incredible work on the Flintstones. wow, was that stuff great. honestly, as far as cartoons go, first season Flintstones is about as close as you're gonna get to visual nirvana. it's the most charming, enveloping, innovative and expressive design i've ever run across. his work has certainly a big impact on pop culture. iconic to say the least...
i met Ed about 15 years ago through my mentor, John Kricfalusi. John and i met when i was still attending Cal Arts and we hit it off for a bunch of reasons, but none more so than our love of HB cartoons. back in the late 80s, i was in the minority among animation students for loving HB stuff so much. most people were on a Bluth/Disney Little Mermaid kick. the visual heroin that surged in our veins was intense while we marveled Ed's great design work.

John had finally tracked down the elusive Ed B. and eventually invited him over to Spumco while we did the first season of Ren and Stimpy. i peed my panatones for sure when John dragged Ed over to my desk. what a thrill it was meeting this, this....this GOD! wow, not only is Ed a real guy, but he looks like one of his characters! Ed usually had at least seven planes of perspective on his body at any given time...just like his characters!

eventually, Ed and I became close pals and I visited him and his wonderful wife, Alice several times up in Carmel, Ca. each visit was a marathon of theory and appreciative critique of anything under the sun. when i was approached by the folks at Turner Publishing to participate in the creation of the Flinstone Book from the mid nineties, i made sure they gave credit where credit was due. the author and several others from Turner visited Ed a few times and gave him a fitting place in the book.

around that time, Ed, in his late 80's did these fantastic Flinstone drawings for me. man, i don't know about you but there's not many people in their 20s and 30s who can draw that well!

here's a shot (taken by Alice Benedict) of Ed forging one of those drawings on his anvil of art. wot a guy!

anyhow, just wanted to say something about Ed...he was one of the good ones!

here's a few links to other blogs about Ed's work and life. there's a few great interviews by John K. done for the Flintstone laserdisc set that are certainly worth the read. you can see the admiration and fun ribbing John gives that old coot as he squirms away from praise...great stuff!

Ed Benedict/John K Interview

also, here's a short piece on Ed i did for Amid's Animation Blast a few years ago:

"My Pal, Ed"

well, that's it. Ed, it was great to know ya. i sure you're already up there in that great split-level boulder in the sky, figuring out what's wrong with it and letting everybody know it!

cheers, you old curmudgeon!!!!!!

2006-08-31T11:32:00.000-07:00

Once Upon A Time, The Disney Company Celebrated Artists!

in the immortal words of that learned scholar, Curly Howard, "Truth is stranger than fiction, Judgy-wudgy!"

yes, i kid you not. the organization that is currently The Disney Company once thought artists were the bees-knees. sure, Walt took official credit for the films and other creative product that the studio churned out, but i honestly believe the oft quoted theory that he did it out of marketing strategy rather than ego. in fact, Walt was one of the first studio producers to lavish some screen credit to his artistic staff on film...in main titles none-the-less.

there are many who complain he didn't do enough. honestly, sit down and zip it. i'd GLADLY take a man-sized can of Walt abuse any day to the types of neglect and underappreciation that goes on in the film biz today.

Walt knew that the public was connected to art. whether they be rednecks fresh off the farm or sophisticates atop some lofty, urbane high-horse, Disney wanted them all to know his films were special because they celebrated art. commercial, yes. middle of the road, absolutely!

Walt Disney was about accessibility. in the animation art world, there are so many that knock Disney because of that. those people will never be happy and search out fault in practically anything. yeah, i love Clampett too...so what? should i hate Walt because of it?

screw you! I LOVE WALT and his middle of the road trajectory!

all i know is, Walt Disney took the theory of accessibility, caressed it to earn the public trust, and lead them on paths they never would have taken on their own. i could go down the list of huge risks such as the concept of feature cartoons, Fantasia, early-QUALITY television, but that's another story...

to me, Disneyland was the ultimate experimental art theory of all time! a three dimensional film that would be totally emmersive. literally, theater in the round!

most of all, it was designed by ARTISTS. not by committee. not by focus groups. and most certainly, not hijacked by people who had no business making creative decisions. Walt had good, sound IDEAS and built a team of artists whom he TRUSTED to run with those sound ideas. many times, these people weren't aware themselves of what they could do. Walt knew.

hey! let's look at this drawing by Herb Ryman. here's a guy who dabbled in animation, fine art and live action studio art direction. yet, he wasn't an environmental theme park designer...at least not back in 1953. Walt knew what he was capable of. This Tomorrowland concept rendering is done just like a cartoon layout. in fact, it's even done on punched animation pan paper. this is from 1953.

now, here's an image from Tomorrowland 1956. it's the opposite side of the street but it shows the close, filmic blocking that came directly from a Disney studio artist, as he imagined it. all this without 300 meetings to figure out if they should do it..."does the accountant like it?"..."why are we are giving this big creative choice to a lowly artist?"

Walt was not an artist in the classical sense. however, he was a creative thinker and a fantastic artistic facilitator. he was the ultimate studio general who was well aware of his creative arsenal and absolutely knew what it was capable of.

not only that, he was well aware that letting those great, hand picked artists do their thing would make money for his company and make his own creative dreams come true.

going back the the first pic in this post...Walt really didn't need to have a special "Disney Artist Exhibit" at Disneyland. its sorta redundant. DISNEYLAND was THE DISNEY ARTIST EXHIBIT itself!!!!

to the Walt Disney Company and the rest of the studios in town: harbor your artists...trust them that they know what they are doing. give creative responsibility to them and try not to second guess it too much. it worked well for Walt. it can for you too!

2006-08-30T12:37:00.000-07:00

SEX! Disneyland-style!

Disneyland was just plain sexy! call it what you will, but the park peddled lots and lots of sex. as unintentional as it may have been, 1950s and 60s Disneyland was a very sexual in its presentation.

wonderlands of corsets and bras, orally fixated whales...hell, even the early park layout had a womb-like nature to its triangular design.

certainly, figures such as the riding-crop weilding Disneyland Tour Hostesses fit into this naughty but nice concept.

perhaps no land best took advantage of this primal theme than Tomorrowland.

just gander at the gleaming, erect rocket as the main symbolic theme. whoa. down boy!

i mean, really...Walt wasn't kidding when he called these visual icons "weenies".

perhaps these two (L) are on their way to Stovall's, Space Age Lodge for a futuristic rendevous?

now check this fine representative of the future (R): accurately dressed for educational purposes only i gather!

all i know is, that's a future i want to live for!

the only thing sexy about the Tomorrowland of today is that it will hopefully be torn out and rented for more hot pin trading stations! YES!!!!! nothing drips sex more than a fully appointed lanyard, baby!

now, here's the ultimate in Tomorrowland electric dreams...The Sub Lagoon Mermaids!!!!! i don't know about you, but i could live with no attraction in the Tomorrowland Lagoon for my $56 if they at least returned the mermaids as temporary place holders.

in fact, Disneyland was so proud of the Sub Mermaids that they returned full time in the late 60's after their brief introduction in 1959. below is a rare news wire photo featuring two of the sexiest half human/half fish creatures i ever saw! not only did they feature real, naked flesh in the sunshine instead of flesh colored leotards, but they wore lacey bras instead of bulky seashells or swim tops! that my friends, was entertainment!!!

the park is so soul-less now, it's hard for me to go anymore. it seems all the fun, all the value and most certainly, all the sex has been completely drained from Walt's wonderland. it's been about four years since i've been there and i really don't miss it. it's probably why i've immersed myself so much in the park's past. all i know is, i ain't gwoin' back until i get some of the old fashioned sales techniques that made the park such a stimulating themed experience.

so, the next time you blow a wad on admission to the current Disneyland, make sure to bring your imagination. you're going to need it to find joy in those bronze colored-empty ride areas and flesh leotarded women.

and when you pass the empty sub lagoon that your admission paid for, be sure to wave towards the coral reef in the distance...the memory of those sexy mermaids is waving back at ya and saying, "wish we were here!"

2006-08-28T21:15:00.000-07:00

BACKSTAGE: Disneyland '56!!

well, here we are jaunting down the 5 freeway, one exit away from Disneyland 1956! here, we follow a tour group of either a small town rotary club or secret members of the german american bund...i'm not quite sure. all i know is, as usual in 1950s slides of Disneyland, kids are far outnumbered by adults!

this slide you may have seen thru our pal, Chris Merritt but i never got around to doing picture correction to it. just one of the many reasons why i dreaded starting this blog stuff! it opens a can of worms in a life that already has too many excuses for procrastination!

that said, this image is of the heliport and what must have been an alternate tour bus entrance behind tomorrowland. backstage images such as these are a real treat for Diz fans as they give ya a glimpse into the seedy underworld just outside the berm that makes it all work. if anyone has shots of backstage cast members staging cock fights or tossing dice, now is your chance!

here, our swingers disembark for their happy day...don't they look happy? for those wise guys out there, no, those aren't the grand tetons or the nuclear reactors outside of san diego. sheesh! i'll have you know those melons hold our future!

here's another amazing shot. sure, go ahead! walk all over the loose lumber piles and gardens of rusty nails! we're Walt's Disneyland in the 1950s! lawsuit? what the hell's that? we're all here to have fun!!!

ah, the good ol' days!

2006-08-28T00:28:00.000-07:00

Backstage: DISNEYLAND '59

here's a nice shot in volley for the great July 17th opening day parade images we saw on Patrick and Marjor P's over the last couple of weeks.

this is a 'backstage' image of the video cameras setting up for live coverage of the 'Kodak presents Disneyland '59' telecast on June 14th, 1959.

this was considered the second opening of the park as so many new features had been added. Art Linkletter again hosted the show as master of ceremonies as he did in 1955.

things are heating up as the camera crew readies for a sequence at the Mark Twain/Columbia dock queue.

also, here's a pic of a press pass for that day's event...

now here's a request all you disneyland collectors: anyone have a copy of the 90 minute live telecast from that day? we've all seen the 'Gala Day at Disneyland' theatrical film but no one i know has ever seen this footage. even Art Linkletter told me he's never seen it. i asked Dave Smith a few years back and he too said he's not aware of its existence.

i'll bet that show would be every bit as neat to watch as 'Dateline Disneyland'...

c'mon you guys! pony up!!!!

2006-08-26T08:50:00.000-07:00

thanks for the welcome gents!

i hope to make a routine outta this at some point. i'll have to get some tips from you patrick. i'm sure there's a way to build a good pattern.

i really like the theme you guys tend to follow...in other words, stay on one subject for a few days. i'll try to start scanning with that in mind. so few of my slides are scanned.

that said, i'm going to post a slide that has absolutely nothing to do with george mcginnis...unless he likes buffalo.

i had dinner last nite at the 'saddle peak lodge' in the topanga canyon/calabassas hills area yesterday. i highly recommend to any disneyland fan as its an old hunting lodge converted to a restaurant. feels VERY frontierland! they specialize in game meats and i had a pile of buffalo which reminded me of this slide!

now, how cool was disneyland? a live buffalo display right in the center of frontierland! think of huge the effect on little davy crockett would-be was to see an actual, live buffalo just a few feet from some actual, live injuns? in the early years, disneyland took great lengths to encapsulate what one would experience in a cross-counrty/roadside america tourist trip for each land.

with this in mind, i'll start searching for rare shots of frontierland which had all kinds of surprises back in the day!

thanks again for the welcome!!

2006-08-23T23:53:00.000-07:00

otay! so it begins! i toss my hat into the burning ring of blog!

what we have here is a testament to one of my favorite Disney designers of all time: George McGinnis!

it goes without saying what tremendous individual talents went into the shaping of Walt Disney's master concept, Disneyland. i'm sucha harcore fan of Walt and his team that i won't even attempt to touch upon that overall appreciation right now.

many of the thoughts found here are my own opinion and are written from that perspective. i absolutely invite everyone to correct my missed facts or misguided thoughts on a given subject. these blog posts are about my impressions of the given subjects and should be taken in editorial context.

for this first entry on my blog, i pulled an image (from an original slide) that showcases what magic can happen when so few are able to design so much: i give you the 1967-1977 Tomorrowland in Disneyland, USA! many were involved in the creation of this white washed, streamlined world of the future yet none had such a creative voice as the master Imagineer, George McGinnis.

this slide showcases the perfect blend of late 1970s Space Mountain with the late 1960s Apollo vision of the Rocket Jets ride. seemless to be sure but there is a common thread between these decade wide counterparts....

Disneyland's 'World of the Future' in 1955 was in many ways, outdated before the ceremonial ground was broken in 1954. this has absolutely no bearing on the wonderful artists and visionaries who designed this promising glimpse into the future, yet 1955-1966 Tomorrowland was in many ways, following the curve of futurist visions before it.

by 1967, a new voice had become paramount at the Glendale , Ca offices of WED Enterprises and that voice was allowed to sing out in absolute clarity. McGinnis was a new generation of Imagineer. one of the many Art Center grads (like Bob Gurr before him) who jumped into the field with fresh ideas and enthusiasm for something that seemed to fade in the post Sputnik area of scientific practicality: STYLE! George McGinnis took industrial design at Disney theme parks away from the freeform approach of tailfins and atomic symbols and steered it in the direction of moderne futurists such Saul Bass, Raymond Loewy, Eero Saarinen and Bob McCall.

this first post is mainly a stab to get my feet wet. as i get caught up in the blogging process, i'll try to add to the string of McGinnis appreciation and move ahead into another of my favorite Disney theme destination projects: 1982-85 EPCOT Center!!!!!