Santa Fe & Disneyland R.R - “The New Circle Route” - 1956

Santa Fe & Disneyland R.R tickets are always fun to look at. Walt's pride in his Railroad is evident in the highly detailed and "authentic" looking early train tickets. Today's example is a scan that was donated by loyal reader Michael. I believe the "New Circle Route” wording was used immediately after the two trains stopped passing each other and each started identical station stops.

The hand written notes on the back of the ticket are almost as cool as the ticket itself. The Tomorrowland Boats - NICE!




Here's another 1956 Railroad ticket, this one is from my collection that I posted back in 2009. Is you want to see lots of Vintage Santa Fe & Disneyland R.R. tickets see my 5 part series here (link).

Sunset Magazine - August 1957

Welcome to Magazine Monday. Today’s we’ve got yet another article that’s lost the rest of its magazine. From Sunset Magazine August 1957, this two page article is full of great information and some nice photos too.

“Disneyland is two years old and continues to delight… What’s more, it doesn’t lose its luster in a day’s visit, nor in two or three. Possibly it never will for a good many visitors”. Even back in 1957 it must been clear that Disneyland was something unique. A “Concord Coach”?




Interesting note about how Disneyland “may resume 6 day week after September 14”. New Attractions, that rare “Santa Fe & Disneyland Streamliner, which goes from Tomorrowland to Fantasyland”. And of course the article ends with a push for Ticket Books, boasting a “26 to 42 per cent” savings!




We only get two vintage advertisements (from the back of the two pages above) and there both from oil companies. Multi Viscosity oil must have been a new thing in 1957, did you know its “The oil that thinks for itself”. See your Texaco Dealer in all 48 states.





Forget Texaco, obviously the New Royal 76 fuel over at Union 76 is better since they even have a pump at the ocean and that pretty lady too!

The Santa Fe Magazine - August 1955

Welcome to Magazine Monday. Today we’re going back to where and when it all started with the debut of Disneyland as chronicled in this August 1955 Issue of The Santa Fe Magazine. Walt’s smile is so infectious even old Mr. Gurley is grinning like a little boy.





There’s a lot of industry insider stuff in here, if any of you railroad buffs are
interested in any of these articles just let me know.





This five page Disneyland article is one of the better “day one” articles. This is back when it was still very fresh on everyone’s mind. Of course the focus of the article is on “Santa Fe”, but hey, the train was and still is the focal point of the entrance. There’s lots of standard stuff in the text, but some fun details too.








The photos on these last two pages are outstanding.







An excellent article about a boys ranch in Amarillo Texas where “maverick and delinquent youngsters farm and ranch 3,000 acres and go to school…” The boys also took a trip to Disneyland, all 200 of them!









For the accountant’s out there.





As with these industry magazines there really aren’t many advertisements and they are mostly “business to business” (boring) - This one however caught my eye, fun art work.





Is the back cover trying to tell us something?

A castle view from 1960

Here’s a super press photo of Disneyland Castle date June 4, 1960, but appears to be Christmas. I might be at the park today so I’ll try and get the same shot "now".




Credit goes to: Santa Fe Railway and Don Erb.

Freedomland Ticket Book & LP - Part 1

Welcome to Freedomland U.S.A. As if Freedomland itself wasn’t a complete and blatant copy of Disneyland, even the ticket book was quite similar. This rare book is missing the tickets (anyone have any????) but you can still see the obvious resemblance, even the “Welcome to” font on the front message sheet is the same as Disneyland’s!






I’m guessing the two red lines represent the Santa Fe Railroad tracks and the Ore Buckets path. Let’s see Freedomland had; a Santa Fe Train, a sky ride, a horse drawn trolley, a miniature car ride, a Pepsi Cola Music Hall, a fort, a sternwheeler, a river cruise, a mule pack ride, a horse drawn wagon and a futureland. Sure sounds familiar…






No mysterious date codes here, in fact, no date at all! The price for a child book is right in line with Disneyland’s early 1960’s pricing. New York City Amusement Tax? New York is about as amusing as Los Angeles.







My vintage collection is VERY light when it comes to Freedomland. I’ve got the ticketless book you see above, I’ve got a great 16mm amateur home move from 1961 that you’ll see someday, and I’ve got this neato record.

This LP was actually still sealed and yes I just removed the 50 year old shrink-wrap and it felt great, if not a little crispy.






They claim Freedomland is even larger than the fabled Disneyland. Maybe, but where are you now Freedomland? Apparently the music on the LP is the actual music that was heard on each ride.






I love this inner sleeve - it's all in the details.






The LP itself is in fine shape, having never been played. It doesn’t appear to be warped or damaged. I would have recorded the LP for you, but I’m feeling a little under the weather (cue the violins) so it will have to wait until Bonus Sunday.

Santa Fe & Disneyland R.R. - Part 5

This just in: At first glance this appears to be another early Santa Fe & Disneyland R.R. ticket like some of the others I’ve posted before, you can view them all here (Parts 1-4 link).

Upon closer inspection I noticed this ticket differs from other tickets in my collection and other tickets I’ve seen. The Stub section lists “The New Circle Route”, this wording matches the little 1956 Santa Fe brochure from part 4 (link). 






Yes ladies and gentlemen, the back side of a rare Santa Fe & Disneyland R.R. ticket in all of its Globe Paper goodness.






Was the “New Circle Route” wording used when the two trains stopped passing each other and started making stops at the other stations? I’m confused, you better let me off at the Holidayland station so I can figure this all out.

Look Magazine - June 13, 1967

Welcome to Magazine Monday. Today’s feature magazine is LOOK from June 13, 1967, the summer of love!

The cover makes no mention of the 9 pages of fun Disneyland stuff inside. The boating lady sure does LOOK like she is having fun.






In fact, the 9 pages of Disneyland stuff aren’t even mentioned in the index. As you LOOK thru these pages, you’ll realize this is just one big long advertisement for Disneyland.






The famous new Tomorrowland preview art, complete with a snap shot of the real PeopleMover. That orange juice looks yummy.






The Disneyland Sponsors each get full page layouts. Starting out with Kodak: “Take Disneyland home with you… on Kodak film”






This is my favorite ad from this set. This painting for Wurlitzer captures “1967” perfectly for me. Wouldn’t it be great to have the original art work? 






“Take your mother to Disneyland” on United even if she looks like Sybil.






Frito Kid and Pecos Bill are the Happiest Pair in Frontierland. What a fantastic photo with the whole gang, and of course Fritos & Pepsi!






Santa Fe and Carnation share a page. “Tips for Teens” I bet that’s a fun read.






Global Van Lines checks in with the “Old and the New”. Since I’ve seen the old fashioned van in at least three locations at Disneyland, is it safe to say it was in running condition? What ever happened to it and was it a Bob Gurr creation? Wow, they actually drove a “Modern” moving van onto the hub area!






And here’s our lovely Disneyland Ambassador Marcia Minor offering us the “Summer ’67 at Disneyland” guide for only ¢25! These guides today go out for crazy $$$ on EBay. I still don’t have one. Here’s one that just closed at $59 (link). Or get one here for $106 (link). These guides are rare because they were not sold in the park, they were mail order only. I’m going to mail in this coupon with a quarter and see what happens.






Sadly, our tour of Disneyland has ended, now before we gaze at some swell vintage ads, here are a couple of oddities.

“Transparent Cover-ups” I predict these will become a huge success.






Killers “In cold Blood” Staring Robert Blake. File this under “Things that make you go hmmm”






Now for great some vintage advertisements. Campbell’s chicken noodle soup still looks the same today. Mmm, mmm good…






When I was a kid carpet tiles were the coolest thing to me. Think about it, carpet you can install yourself, anywhere! FYI: I checked at Lowes about a year ago, carpet tiles are “special order” only and pretty darn expensive.






A shout out to the big three out makers, lets all say a collective prayer that they make it thru 2009. For GM is the Chevy Caprice Custom Coupe “The Grand Chevrolet”. I’ll take mine with a 396 Turbo-jet please.






Up for Ford is the ’67 Mustang. I too have taken the Mustang Pledge, four times. If my ’67 Mustang had “Stereo Tape, air conditioning, center console, Tilt-away steering wheel and a 390 cubic inch engine" I’d still have it today. Mine was a 6 cylinder 3 speed, but it was still cute. (note: this ad is on page 67 - coincidence?)






Representing Chrysler the “Plymouth is out to win you over this year”. Check out that dashboard, “Houston do we have clearance for blast-off?”






Cartons of Coke, what joy. Cartons are not to be confused with “six packs”.






**The usual “don’t smoke” disclaimers apply** It’s so sweet how the doggies are waiting while Mr. 1967 lights his smoke. Smoking is wrong and yucky, but this whole ad has a macho flair to it and I gotta say I like it!