Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Date Nite at Disneyland 1967 - Part 2

Let’s take a second look at Disneyland’s “Date Nite” tickets; our first look was way back in January 2008 (link). Back then I only had one lonely faded Date Nite “A” ticket, since then I’ve acquired a few more. These are also from May 1967.

Progressland over at Disneyland Nomenclature explained this vintage annual event best: “Date Nites began in 1957 and might have happened every year into the 1970s. Some of the early Disneyland newspaper advertisements just seem bizarre, like a Date Nite one from 1958 that's all text and is headlined "6 STEPS TO BECOME A BMOD* *Big Man On Dates." The focus seems to be on dancing and live music... By September 1958 they were claiming more than a half-million people had already become "Date Niters." It was held on Friday and Saturday nights, or sometimes just Saturday nights. I don't believe it was year-round, though I have seen advertisements for it outside of the summer season.






You gotta down load this song (link - save file) it’s the Elliott Brothers with “Let’s Dance at Disneyland” from the 1956 Album Date Nite at Disneyland. What a fantastic song! "Take your date to Disneyland, where open 'till the clock strikes 1 AM!" Hey, is that Walt doing the introduction???

I’d sure like to get a Date Nite admission ticket and the “D” & “E” tickets, these seem fairly rare which makes sense that those would be the first to be used. I do like the blue ink in place of the usual purple (link). Notice how the welcome message was reworded to include “Date Nite”.






Now for the tickets, these tickets are on the rare Castle and Star paper produced in 1966 & 1967 only. Other than the Castle & Star paper, these are standard tickets with a special “N” serial number prefix (date Nite?) and of course the happy couple dancing the night away. Paging Darrin and Samantha Stephens.







Vivid and crisp are the best way to describe these tickets. There condition is amazing for being 42 years old, especially considering these were never intended to last four decades? I’ll use this “B” ticket on the Keel Boat next year.







Some great dark rides!







How about a Summer 1967 guide book to go with your Date Nite tickets?






New Orleans Square is pretty new here, no Haunted Mansion yet.






A brand new Tomorrowland, so new it wasn’t ready for pictures before these guides went to print. Also notice this is the only guide which lists Monsanto’s “Magic Microscope”. Also the Tomorrowland Terrace is referenced as “Coca-Cola Refreshment GardensTomorrowland Terrace has a much better ring to it.






Here is the Tomorrowland section from the back pages of the guide listed under free shows and entertainment. Notice here the name is correctly listed as “Monsanto’s Adventure thru Inner Space”. Also note: this is the only guide which lists BOTH of Monsanto’s attractions, Adventure Thru Inner Space and the House of the Future.





Come back on Bonus Sunday for the entire Summer 1967 Guide.

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