Take a LOOK at Disneyworld - April 4, 1971

In Honor of my upcoming trip to Walt Disney World this summer, lets take a look at Walt Disney World six months BEFORE it opened. Today's posts comes entirely from the April 4th 1971 edition of LOOK magazine. I sure like the HUGE size of these old LOOK and LIFE magazines, I still feel like kid when I hold one of these classic magazines. They measure 10 1/4" by 13 1/4" just in case you are curious.

The Mickey on the cover looks a little odd to me, I can't exactly figure it out, but he has a Twilight Zone look to to him as do the early WDW TV commercials.





You will notice that WDW looks like it's pretty far along at this point. Most of these photo's look like completed areas.







This blurry page is not a scanner error, several of the pictures in this article are like this, my guess is two fold; (1) It's artistic and (2) I think they are trying to hide the fact that the place isn't quite finished yet.





"Thousands of Acres of Computerized fun" Thousands? The Mickey Mouse Musical Review sure looked neat, was it? From Wikipedia: "In October, 1971, the Mickey Mouse Revue show opened as an 'E' ticket attraction in Fantasyland, in the Magic Kingdom, Florida. The show ran until it was closed on September 14, 1980. The building that housed it was renamed the Fantasyland Theater. Mickey Mouse Revue found a new home at Tokyo Disneyland park in Japan, where it plays to this day in the Japanese language."






More blurry fun! Check out the text on this page, Disney was still claiming it would build "Walt's" EPCOT, 20,000 people and all...





Hey, where exactly is that submarine floating? Looks too big to be the lagoon at WDW.





Is that Castle finished?





I wonder if THIS is what Walt had in mind for the Florida project?







And now a couple of full page ads. [Disclaimer alert: I in no way endorse or approve of cigarette smoking, it's nasty and deadly] That said, this is 1971 and cigs were cool still. These Eve ads used to really creep me out as kid. That art work reminds me of my cousin who lives in Topanga Canyon and grows all her own food! "Smoke Pretty" and I guess you "Die young"!





2nd Disclaimer alert: I do fully endorse and approve of Mustangs, in fact I just so happen to drive an 06' Mustang GT, but I'd trade it for that 1971 Mach-1 in heart beat! Of course that has to include the stylish model and that Lear Jet too! A better idea for safety; buckle up.

Knott's Berry Farm - The "C" Ticket part 2

Part 2 is the final part of the Knott's Berry Farm “C” ticket series covering 1978 thru 1981. To be more specific on that date in 1981 “Knott’s Berry Farm went to an 'unlimited' park ticket on Friday December 18th 1981 - ticket books were discontinued and guests 'paid-one-price' thereafter.” This information comes from Ken at "Outside the Berm” (link), thank you Ken!

This May 1978 Adult ticket has no attraction changes from the May 1977 ticket where we left off in Part 1 (link). There is small change however, about a 5¢ worth! The “C” ticket now sports a 45¢ price tag.





For a change of color, here is a May 1978 Adventures Ticket. This is good for any attraction so we’ll pretend it’s being used as a “C” ticket.






April 1979, no changes, just posting it because I am officially obsessed with Globe Ticket paper….






I think the “Tail Spin” in this incredible concept art actually became the “Propeller Spin”. Chris Merritt was kind enough to supply this blog with the artists name; Wendy Pelzer, who worked under Art Director Rick Cambell's direction. Wendy produced some fine work for Knott’s.






December 1980, last of the larger style tickets. No changes again, just vivid Globe paper.





More of Wendy’s great concept art. Did they build the Sky Diner like this?






Last of the “C” tickets, from 1981. This is when the tickets shrunk down to the same smaller size that Disneyland had switched to in 1974! Knott’s also went to A-B-C with these smaller tickets, eliminating the “D” ticket. I would guess they knew the “pay-one-price” day was coming. The "Archery Range" and "Merry Go Round" join the "C " ticket, moved up from the old "D" ticket.






Where is the Cordelia K. these days? Is there enough water anywhere at Knott’s to float her?

Bonus Sunday

Bonus Sunday, time for some leisurely reading. I just re-read the entire Summer 1971 Vacationland, fun stuff. A simpler time indeed.


Vacationland Summer 1971 (46mb)

Two Guides from Friday's "Today at Disneyland- 1987" post.

Disneyland Guide Book 1987 (22mb)

Disneyland Handicapped Guest Guide (6mb)

Tomorrow: Knott's "C" Ticket, Part 2 - be there or be square.

For the Ride or Attraction of Your Choice

It's blogger house cleaning day. Please accept this coupon for admission to ANY attraction at Disneyland, in 1967 of course! Castle & Star Paper, ahhhhh.....





Several cool things lined up for Bonus Sunday, be sure to check back.

Disneyland Today - 1987

Disneyland Today - April 18th & 19th 1987. This gate flyer has all kinds of neat information. It features the “Circus Fantasy” I thought Disneyland had it enough of the circus back in 1956?






Star Tours NOW OPEN!!! Well, its been open since January, but "Now the Adventure is Real”.







Snow White's 50th Special Edition Commemorative Passport, I wonder what those looked like? Oh what the heck, let’s order one and find out.





Nice artwork on the front.





I so want to take that coin out and hold it! Fun pamphlet enclosed.







Yes, I knew you wanted to see the entire little fun pamphlet, so here it is.






Oh, how about a ticket? It from August 1987, but I think they looked the same in April.





In fact, these were printed in 1986!





And here is the guide book from 1987, check back for the full post of this guide on this coming Bonus Sunday.





Also from 1987, this Handicapped Guest Guide is very interesting. It’s nicely written and it’s notable in that it lists the attractions by land but only includes the ones that are handicap accessible. The attractions that are not handicap accessible are not shown, keeping the tone positive, nice touch. Full post of this guide also on Bonus Sunday.

Knott's Berry Farm - Calico Mine Co. Mine Tour Tickets

Today lets take a look at Knott's Berry Farm's famed "Calico Mine Co." Mine Tour tickets. Opened in 1960, this attraction is still running strong today.

These first three scans were donated by Chris Merritt. Chris got these actual tickets from Bud Hurlbut. Bud is the designer of the Calico Mine Train Ride and the Calico Log Ride at Knott's. Bud is an amusement park legend. "The Dean of Amusement Rides". If you have not read the "E-Ticket" volume 35, you should, Bud has an amazing story as interviewed by Chris. Thanks Chris and Bud for the donations!

Not dated, but it sure does look old! Chris mentioned Bud designed one of these three tickets, but I'm not sure which one?

The 75¢ price is interesting as most paper items I have show it was always 50¢ on the individual tickets. Was the price possibly lowered at some point? I'm guessing this is the one Bud designed.






From Bud's collection, a very low serial number of the more common type of ticket.






From my collection, this is basically the same as Bud's, with the exception of the word "adult" missing near the 50¢ part on this one. And now it is on Globe Ticket Paper. Oh, and it was used hence the whole punched in it.






Here is a little back story on the back.






Still no dates, but these just seem a little newer than the previous one. Also from my collection.






The backs also changed a little bit. Notice the Globe Ticket Co. reference, missing from the earlier tickets, even though they are Globe paper as well.






Similar to the one above, this is a "Child" ticket.






Chris Merritt also donated a bunch more ticket scans from Bud's collection, here are three in a row, WOW, I really like these! More to come in future posts....






I am crazy about this one! Globe paper and Independence Hall!





Sombrero Fun!





Although this post does have some color, it needed more so here are a couple of pages dedicated to the Calico Mine Train Ride from the 1976 Knott's Souvenir book. If you missed this guide, you should give it a look.

Knott’s Souvenir Edition Guide Book 1976 (93mb)

Ok, this is not the Calico Mine train, it's a runaway mine train! It could only happen at Disneyland.