Tony's Ticket Collection & other park ramblings

I spent the entire day Monday at Disneyland, it was a great day, medium crowds and mild weather. I stopped into the Opera House lobby to check out the pictures and models and what do I find??? VINTAGE DISNEYLAND TICKETS!!!! This is a new display, there was a neat display for about two years during the 50th anniversary, then the display case has been empty for a while.

Guess who's tickets are in that case now??? Tony Baxter! How cool is that? The entire set is beautiful and in mint condition. I had heard Tony collected tickets, and it sure shows here. Check out this first picture, Tony had a special "Jumbo" ticket book printed with his name, I can't tell if that's a real book or not, it's really well done.

I think this plaque was in the case from the previous display. Notice the opening day ticket above the plaque! Nice touch Tony! Sorry the pictures aren't too good, the CM in the lobby was watching closely, I must be the only one he has seen get that excited to see this display. He kept trying to tell me about the show and the other displays!



Fun little show in front of the castle.



Now this is just getting sad folks... She is slowly becoming part of the landscape, weeds growing out of her and the planks are starting to pop out here and there. How about a more graceful exit for the old girl?




I never noticed this sign before, is it new from the recent Splash Mountain refurb?




Speaking of critters, check out the cute kitty I spotted sitting under a chair at the Hungry Bear, she didn't move as I got closer, but this is as close as I got, I didn't want to spook her.



This critter was not about to be spooked! I asked him to hold still for a picture and this is what I got? Ain't he cute!



Oh and guess what? I'm a winner! I finally won something in the Year of a Million Dreams promotion. It only took 12 visits!


Tomorrow: 1950's Gate Flyer Comparison day.

UPDATE: Daveland has a sweet cat photo from Monday too (link)! Also, Major at Gorilla's Don't Blog asked a question on Dave's blog about who feeds the cats. Here is picture of two "Feeding Stations" these are just north of the rear stairs for the Hungry Bear eating area. You can also see them clearly from the train.

What, no Fantasmic? May 6th 1992

May 6th, 1992, as the ashes of Los Angles were still smoldering from the riots just days earlier I decided, “Let's go to Disneyland”. I Figured the crowds would be low and I could get to see the new “Fantasmic” show I had heard so much about.

Well, it wasn’t crowded; in fact, it was as empty as I have ever seen it. Zero lines and zero people, it was odd, but acted as a great distraction, since I live in Los Angeles and had just seen a total breakdown of society.

But there was no Fantasmic show that day. There really wasn’t any mention of why it wasn’t showing and I wasn’t aware at the time that it was scheduled to open on the day of the Riots, April 29, 1992. Source: Wikipedia (link). Can anyone verify that date as? I understand anyone can supply info to Wikipedia, so you never know.

From Wikipedia: "The original Disneyland soft-opening and press premiere was scheduled to begin Wednesday April 29, 1992 and continue through the weekend. By late afternoon rioting began in Los Angeles following the acquittal of the Los Angeles police officers involved in the Rodney King beating. Promotional materials with the catch-phrase "Be Here When the Night Ignites" were quickly pulled from public circulation."

Here is the Guide I was given at the gate on May 6th, 1992. Guide print date is 1/92. Isn’t it nice how I folded it as much as possible?





This is the Guide I should have been given and was given out after May 13th, 1992. The print date is 4/92.




The front cover folds out to a super 4-page layout of the new Fantasmic show!




Here is a cute page from the back section of the Guide.





Both of the above guides will be included in their entirety this coming Bonus Sunday.

I found the neatest thing at Disneyland yesterday - tune in tomorrow to see! No it wasn’t riding Thunder Mountain 4 times in a row (a two minute line) although that was FUN!!!

Knott's Berry Farm Ticket Sign

The last several Monday's have been dedicated to the Knott's Lettered ticket series, and while it did have to end (sob) I think we'll keep Monday's as Knott's ticket day for a while.

This great Knott's Ticket sign photo was donated to the blog by Chris Merritt. The price on the Super Bonanza Ticket Book places this around April 1979. However, as you can see, the prices were updated on this sign, therefore the sign itself is probably older. "Territory Unlimited" tickets, WOW, I've never even heard of those, I sure would like to see one, anybody?

Here are a pair of ticket books from April 1979. The prices (and the value prices) match the sign.



Front of the books, minus the gate admission ticket.



Although a couple of years older, this is what the Main Gate Admission ticket looks like.




The back of the sign has this "Special Event" sign. Chris suggested this could have been used for the Halloween Haunt and other private events. Thanks for sharing your sign with us Chris!





Here's a ticket from my last visit to Knott's. I went in July 2003. My employer gave me the tickets, which was nice and made the shock of what the place looked like not as bad. At least the Church and the lake were still there, now I am truly afraid to go and see "whats' left".

Tomorrow: What, no Fantasmic?

Today: I'm at the "Park" all day!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bonus Sunday

I bet you had a sleepless night wondering who was getting out of that Limousine in the Little Golden Book "Disneyland on the Air" from yesterday's post? Sorry about leaving the story hanging right there, please accept this full scan of the entire book. I promise, you will feel so much better after you read the whole thing.

The artwork really is great in this book, check out the all-star cast inside, even Tinkerbell gets herself in on one of the pages! It's a fun read too, enjoy.


Little Golden Book - Disneyland on the Air - 1955(39mb)

From 1974, this is a Postcard/Dial Guide. I have dialed in number "2" The Skyway to Fantasyland, it's that little pink dot.




Closeup of the "dial" section.




The back is very cool, it has the key with all the attraction numbers and a neat triangle opening that shows the description of the numbered attraction you dialed in. This "Postcard" is 8 1/2" by 11" so it's a pretty big postcard!

Tomorrow: The Monday Knott's lettered ticket series ended last week, but how about some great Knott's Ticket signage???

Souvenir Saturday

Today we have two neat little items for Souvenir Saturday. First up, a Disneyland Hallmark Card from July 10, 1962.




Usually the hand written text is pretty standard dry stuff, “Having fun, wish you were here”. However, the author (“The Gababouts”) of this card had an eventful small airplane trip to get to Disneyland. From trying to gain altitude in Death Valley to landing in Van Nuys with a broken radio. Since they had to drive to Long Beach to fix the radio, why not go to Disneyland and Knott’s!




Here is it flipped upside down.





Fascinating information on the back side, the author states “We have one more ticket for one more ride, then we will go”. I wonder what ticket they had and what did they use it on?





Today's other Souvenir is a “Little Golden Book” from 1955. Disneyland on the Air, I guess at one time they considered doing the TV show from the Opera house. This little book does confirm that. It also shows how impractical it would be. Here is the cover and a few pages that show Main Street, oh and Donald!









See you tomorrow on Bonus Sunday!

Magic Mountain Double Ride Days - How about the New Colossus?

Time to head north of the Disneyland (or about 2 gallons north of Hollywood) to Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia.

Its Double Ride Days, you get to stay on the ride and go around again! I wonder how you got one of these? This card is large at 8 ½ by 3 inches. It’s also made of thick plastic; it won’t tear, wrinkle or fade. They must have re-used these?





I think I’ll use this on the New Colossus! As soon as Six Flags took over Magic Mountain (in 1979 for 51 million dollars!) they “fixed” Colossus. I rode Colossus before and after the changes done in these photos. In my humble opinion, it was much better before. It was more terrifying and thrilling, I recall getting lifted out of my seat and having to hold on or else. Come to think of it, I can see why they changed it.





Looks fun still, of course they are not showing the hills they cut way down, the ones where you had to hold on for your life!





In this photo, if you look behind and to the right of Valerie Bertinelli in the front row, you can see the lower section of the tracks, those “humps” used to be much more dramatic. The wizard looks confused, maybe it’s Eddie Van Halen in there?





And because these post really needs some color, here is a nice post card of the kids area from 1986.





I hear lots of good things about Magic Mountain these days, they really are trying to clean the place up and make it friendly again. I will be going to the “Mountain” in a couple weeks, I’ll be sure to update you on its progress and the Magic Mountain Museum they put up in the Sky Tower!!!

20 tickets in one book?

Those familiar with Disneyland Ticket Books will recognize the “11 Adventure” book or the “15 adventure" book. Older folks might remember the “Big 10” and “Jumbo 15” books, and if you go WAY back, you might remember the original “8 Fabulous Rides” book. But how many people remember the “20” ticket book?

These are the rarest in my collection, and up until recently I had very little information on them. I still don’t have a lot of info, but here’s what we know.

June 1963, this Child Special Guest Book in a special blue color. Oddly, this book has all 8 of its “D” tickets left, but no other tickets?





June 1964, this Adult Special Guest Book gets a neat purple color. There is only one “A” ticket left in this book; someone had a Great 19 adventure day in 1964!





June 1965, this Junior Special Guest Book has one neat “D” ticket left, another happy guest!






This is a page from a fantastic and rare 1958 Disneyland Catalog. You can find the entire catalog on Jed’s great blog, “Vintage Disneyland Goodies” (Post link). The first thing for sale in this 1958 catalog is “Gift Ticket Books for Giving”. Listed are the standard “Big 10” and “Jumbo 15” books, but also the “Golden 20” book. Note; the “plus 2 free tickets” are the same type as the “Bonus” tickets from my previous post (link).





And here is one of those “Golden 20 Books”. Looks like a special serial number prefix of “B” then “G” or Book/Golden?






These are the first style of ticket books that had the “Welcome” message on the blue sheet. This book may look like the books for the next 30+ years, but notice the “C” ticket is in the 3rd of 4 positions; there was no “E” ticket yet. Also the letter “C” is in black print, not the familiar purple it will get in 1959 and retain until 1982.





The inside of the back cover did not list the attractions until June 1959, prior to that, this area had this neat little message about ticket books from Tinker bell.






The 1958 “C” ticket. 8 of those 11 attractions are still in operation today. I am in no way counting the current Astro Orbitor as the 1956 Astro-Jet, especially since the original Astro-Jet mechanism sits up on top of the people mover platform to this day.






This is interesting; this card (currently on eBay #290227048654) is also from 1958. This was for corporations to give their employees discounted tickets. I don’t have any of those books! Yet.

By the way, there was a 13 ticket book too (a future post!)....