Disneyland Passport - November 7, 1992

A quick Saturday post, please enjoy the lovely early 90's artwork (what will you celebrate?) on this Complimentary Disneyland Passport - Valid thru November 7, 1992.

Top's Motel Postcard - June 1972

Taking a page from Gorilla’s don’t Blog, today’s post is an “offsite” postcard look at Disneyland. This postcard is not even close to being as cool as Major’s Waikiki Motel postcard from Tuesday (link). You many recall seeing the “Top’s Motel” on this blog before. Here’s a 1955/56 brochure back in the Motel’s prime (link). And yes the motel is still stand today, the pool with girls in bikinis is long gone and its no longer “Top’s” now its just “Classic” (January 2009 photo). Dig that room interior, the lamps, the TV, the chairs, the carpet, wow!

Our tourist gave a super account of their trip to Disneyland. “Many new additions”... The “Light Parade” must have been a far out concept “instead of flowers etc., the floats are made of strings of lights ---> it’s really very impressive”. I couldn’t have said it better myself.






Since we’re in 1972, how about a Vacationland from the Fall/Winter 1972? I was just in New Orleans Square a yesterday and boy has this area changed!






Neat article on the Haunted Mansion. Come back on Bonus Sunday for the rest of the article and the entire issue.

Light Magic Delayed?

Please accept this less than stellar flyer for today’s post. It’s about as exciting as Light Magic itself, but hey, not every post can be a gem…





Looks to be a beauuuuuu-tiful day in Anaheim, guess where I am???

Disneyland Brochure - 1968

You may recognize this type of brochure from a previous post (link). The previous posts brochures were dated 1976 and 1979, today’s is dated 1968. Where these handed out along with (or in place of) the INA guide books? 1968 only had two INA guide books, Summer and Fall/Winter, maybe this was done for the Spring of 1968?








The Bell System also featured “the futuristic Picture-phone where you can see the person you are calling”. I’ve heard about this before, it must not have stayed long? Who did you talk too and look at?






Hey, I never noticed the Columbia had a “B” ticket attraction – Columbia Museum (Winter Only) "B” - I wonder how long they did that???

Disneyland Main Gate Pass - 1970

Today we’ve got a “slightly worn” Disneyland Main Gate Pass. I didn’t realize this pass had a date on it until I scanned it. Now I can see the “1970” in the background. Were these for employees only? It doesn’t say you have to show your employee ID.






The gold old days when the wife wasn’t just refereed to as “Mrs. Man’s Name”, but her signature was that was as well! This is like an AP for up to four people and parking! Its interesting how this pass has no expiration date. I suppose the “1970” on the front assumes it’s only good in 1970, but it doesn’t say that anywhere on the pass.

Coloroto Magazine - September 5, 1955

Welcome to Magazine Monday. Let’s set the clock way back to September 5, 1955 for a special edition of Coloroto Magazine, from the Sunday News - New York’s picture newspaper. The cover features Suzan Ball (cousin of Lucille Ball) and Richard Long. Suzan was married to Richard for just over a year, sadly she died of cancer in August of 1955.






The Disneyland article is only two pages long, but it is the centerfold and makes up for it with seven color photos. I’ve never heard that Tomorrowland was supposed to be “1996”. “Alice in Wonderland” in 1955? “Colorfotos by Globe”






Here’s each page in higher resolution. Play “find the changes in the bricks” (link) – its fun!








The inside cover talks about the cover photo and some local sports stuff.






They were into “Before and After” comparison photos even in 1955!





I can play "Before and After" too, here's the same street scene from Google maps 2009! Notice on the 110 Building (first on the left), some of the 1892 elements have been restored!






Times were so much simpler in 1955.






Need Money? Sell Christmas cards, its got to be a sure way to get rich.

Bonus Sunday

Welcome to Bonus Sunday. I owe you one copy of the Disney News from the winter of 1979. My scanner drivers aren’t playing nice with my new capture card drivers, so maybe later today if I can get it fixed.

Let’s take a quick look at the newly re-opened Magic Shop on Main Street. These photos were taken on Thursday 10/29. Not sure when the Magic Shop re-opened, but I think it might have been that day. They really went all out on the outside window displays. The first thing you see is the big spinning disk, and it sure was getting folk’s attention.






The effect didn’t work for everyone, but when it does it sure gets some funny reactions!

The glass is “NASA” clean so it’s really hard to get photos in the morning sun, as you can see there’s some really cool stuff on display.








The antique items aren't just in the outside windows and the ones in the store are for sale. This reminds me of the “One of a Kind” shop and continues Disneyland’s fine tradition of selling something you won’t find at every other mall in the USA.






The Cast Members in the shop were excellent and had the kids mesmerized, again, this reminds me of the old photo’s I see on the vintage blogs.






The “Blank” deck trick is pretty convincing. $22.95 seems about right. Most of the prices were reasonable and most of the merchandise is unique and themed correctly. Good show whoever pulled this together.

The interior itself remains virtually identical; in fact I can’t see any difference except for the merchandise. Same counter and shelves. Hooray – Disney actually left something alone that was already perfect, maybe this will start a trend?






Books and puppets fill the first set of shelves. The puppets are cute, not sure how they fit the theme, but it seems to work.






The main case inside the shop has a few very expense items. If this photo wasn’t so blurry (no flash + my shaking hands = a blurry mess) you could see what appears to be some real Houdini items priced in the 4 figure zone – out of reach, but uber cool to look at.






My entire visit top the park Thursday was 45 minutes, that “work” thing called me with a 911 and took me away from the park, the nerve of them! So the rest of these photos I took in about 5 minutes! The smell of the candy always gets my attention.








Well, well, well, looks like some snow fell on the castle over night. Only in southern California can we get snow and have an 85 degree sunny day at the same time.






The water is back in the moat, the bridge is all fixed, all is well in the world.






I hope you got to ride Ghost Galaxy or that you are riding it today, Space Mountain closes tomorrow (just for one day) to remove the Ghost Galaxy overlay, see you next year!






Reaching to the sky and needing some paint.






Major Pepperidge has allowed me to share his favorite Orange monorail. I’ve realized it’s my favorite too, the striking orange with the black windows is sexy and bold, no wonder its Major’s favorite!






Don’t even try to go when this light is red! Funny thing was, the orange Monorail was the only monorail on the track, so why is the light red, what are we wanting for?






There were several small groups of kids all over the park. They had one or two cast members with them. At first it looked like a tour, but it’s different. The cast members were telling the kids about Walt’s work ethics and team work. Each kid was handed a piece of yarn, with all the yarn pieces forming a pattern as they held them. Then the CM would creature a scenario were some of the kids had to “Drop their sting” to do other things, as the stings dropped, the pattern erodes. Nice demonstration of team work! I later found out this was part of the Y.E.S. Program. I never know they had something like this, wow, nice extra touch Disney – Walt would be proud.






I’d rather jump on the Omnibus and head to the hub, but I had to leave. I’m thinking I won’t find another “non-crowded” day until January 2010!