Retail Clerks Family Party - 1975

Today lets look at one of these Happy Flyer's that were given to credit union members. This one is for the Retail Clerks Family Party on Sunday October 12, 1975. One heck of a deal for only $4.50!

Here is the envelope these were mailed in. Nice matching theme on the outside! Hey why is this only 2 cents? Non-profit maybe? No date in the postage imprint, I think you get in trouble if you try that today. Do you like my fine photo editing job on the address (I am so lame with editing software!) I did that because this family still lives in the same house! ***UPDATE*** Richard over at Viewliner Ltd. fixed the envelope! Thanks Richard!





This has been a busy week for me and my darn Internet was down for 24 hours (gasp - the horror!) so the posting has been a little light, have no fear, the posts will continue! Even if I have to do it via wireless, which by the way, is painful.....

Monsanto's Easy Jingle Contest - 1956

Boys! Girls! Moms! Dads! Win a free trip to Disneyland with Monsanto's Easy Jingle Contest! This contest closes at midnight on January 14, 1956 so you better complete and mail this Official Entry Blank quick!

The First Prize trip to Disneyland was worth $2,000! Second prize was pretty good too, a 17" Philco Television Set.





Monsanto wants you to finish the Jingle, do a good job and you just might win. I've been trying for hours - but I am not very creative. Why don't you give it a try? I promise I wont steal your jingle and send it in as my own.

Back in November I posted a link to a great film that you can download (prior post link). This is a family in 1956 that won a similar contest to the Monsanto one above. Their contest was with Scotch Tape. This is a great film of vintage Disneyland, well worth the lengthy download (it's 2 GIG's). Here is the link to the film:

1956 Disneyland Family Vacation

I wonder how many entries Monsanto received on this contest? I would guess 100's of thousands. What do you want to bet they used that massive list of names and address's for some "marketing"?

See you on the next post!

Knott's Berry Farm - The "A" Ticket part 1

This will be the first part of an in depth look at Knott's Berry Farm's Lettered tickets. This will be similar to my multi-part series posts on Disneyland's Lettered tickets that I started back in November (link). As we work thru these tickets, remember that Knott's Lettered tickets are valued in the reverse order from Disneyland's. Knott's "A" ticket is the top of the line, whereas Disneyland's "A" ticket is the lowest value.

Prior to 1968 Knott's had free admission, the attraction tickets were sold at the attractions and were individualized (See prior individual ticket post link here). In 1968 Knott's "Fenced" the property and started to charge general admission. This policy obviously worked for Disneyland so why not at Knott's! (Nice pun!). Therefore, this multi part series will start at this point in Knott's History.

This undated (boy that drives me crazy) most likely 1968 ticket book is such fun to look at. Great train drawing with the happy 60's family, Dad with his pipe. Looks like "Whittles" is at the controls of the train and oddly, that family is happy about!

These first books do not have lettered tickets, just like the very first Disneyland ticket books (link) This is the "equivalent" on an "A" ticket that would appear soon. These are nice paper stock, with a high grade "stationary" feel to them.

Back of the 1968 book. The inside of the back is blank.

February 1970 Finds a whole new ticket book design. It looks A LOT like a Disneyland's ticket book, no coincidence I imagine.

Globe Paper! Again, if it worked for Disneyland, why not Knott's? The Attraction line up on this Golden Nugget ticket is pretty much the same as 1968 with the notable addition of the "Log Ride". "Old McDonald's Farm" is now just "Animal Farm". The number next to each attraction is it's location on the map shown below.

The term "Pac-O-Fun Book" did not last long at all, three months later the back cover will be completely redesigned and renamed, you'll see it in Part 2. Also, this book has "7" adventures, in three months it will go down to "6".

And now for some color! I have a few of these old full size souvenir guides. Most are pretty beat up, but this one came to me in the envelope it was mailed in. It was mailed from Knott's April 4, 1960 and this Guide is mint! It should be since I opened it in 2005!

I'm will be taking the next few Monday's for the Knott's ticket series. A & B tickets will be longer posts. The C & D tickets were not added until 1975 and then in 1982 they dropped the "D" ticket. Of course I might do more sooner!

The New Fantasyland - Part 5 & Complete Guide & 1957 Bonus

That's right, the "New Fantasyland - Part 5" the fun never stops! My informal survey has confirmed that many agree this is the best make-over of any land at Disneyland, although I am guessing the "New Tomorrowland 67" is a very close second. If you missed any of the other four parts to this series, here they are:

The New Fantasyland - Part 1
The New Fantasyland - Part 2 - Pirate Ship Removal
The New Fantasyland - Part 3 & The Complete Guide
The New Fantasyland - Part 4


First lets take a look at a voided sample from the master ticket binder. Unfortunately, the "new" has a whole punched thru, but I assure you it did not say "old". Cute how everyone is dancing, they are having a "Fun Time". Hey, why is Jiminy so small? Life size I guess....

This innocent looking notice was slipped into the price guide & parking lot map. Sweet little Tinkerbell reminding you of Walt's "As long as there is imagination left...." quote. She's sprinkling pixie dust around hoping you won't notice "All of Fantasyland is Closed" Ouch Tink, are you gonna explain that to little Timmy and Suzie?

The Price Guide and Parking Lot Map. The America Sings gang on the front, I love it. Oh yes, the beige paper with brown print, that's so 1982... What, no credit cards accepted for ticket purchase? Try that today Iger!





OK, sue me, I miss the parking lot. You've heard all the reasons, the walk to the main gate, the anticipation, etc. It's all true, I know first hand. Actually, in a way it's still there. Last October I was at California Adventure for the first time. I got a danish & a coffee somewhere there in the concrete middle of DCA and as I sat down, a slight breeze came upon me and I swear it felt just like the old parking lot!

Here's a special treat, a donation once again from Christopher (a CM who worked at the New Fantastyland Dedication) he has scanned the complete Disneyland Guide book for 1983. This is the one while the New Fantasyland was under construction, one I am missing from my collection, so this was sure nice of Christoper to send this to me. Thanks Christoper! You can download the full PDF file here:

Disneyland Guide Book Early 1983 (7.8mb)

******* Sunday Bonus *******

From the "Bonus Ticket Friday" post, here is the Complete "Disneyland Holiday" magazine. This is actually the very first one, it is Volume 1, Number 1, Spring 1957.

It's got some great stuff in it, don't miss all the restaurant adds and some neat articles too. These are a fun Sunday read. It's only 20 pages counting the cover. So if you have not read this before, please do, its fun. Or even if you have read it, read it again, I just did for the 137th time and I still enjoyed it. The complete magazine can be download here:

Disneyland Holiday - Spring 1957 (38 mb)

Tomorrow lets start the Knott's lettered ticket series, see you there.

The Magic of the Mountain

Lets take a close look at "The Magic of the Mountain". This is a great souvenir book from the early 1970's. It measures 6 X 9 and has a lot of great color pictures. I've posted the whole thing on today's post and just because - here is the whole thing in a high resolution PDF file. (Link) 30mb.

Some of these pictures are repeats found on post cards and other Magic Mountain guides. However, the center of the guide photo (the centerfold?) is a splendid shot of the bottom of Valencia Falls & Fountains. I think this is still mostly there, however it has two roller coasters running thru it and looks very different. I think I see a before and after project coming.

That sign is still there (but with Six Flags on it) along with the little building that used to be a info and gift shop, I think it just has signs on it now. I always wanted to stop there but never did.

If you like amusement and theme parks (who doesn't?) check out Shane's Amusement Attic, I hope you have about 3 or 4 hours to kill, theres 46 pages!

Shane's Amusement Attic at Theme Park Review.com

See you on Super Bonus Sunday~!

Bonus Ticket Friday!

It's Bonus Ticket Friday here at Vintage Disneyland Tickets! A couple of gems for today's short but sweet post.

First, expiring June 15, 1957, these are "Special Bonus Tickets" This have no perforation on either side so they did not come from a booklet. I am not sure how these were given out, I'm guessing they came with the "tour" package or some other promotional deal.

Update: From Progressland: According to my sources, the Big 10+2 Winter Bonus Ticket Plan started January 19, 1957 and ran through May 12, 1957. (It must not have worked out as well as they had hoped as they extended it from a March ending.) You Get ADMISSION, 10 fabulous RIDES plus 2 bonus rides of your choice! You SAVE up to 34% over single priced admissions PLUS up to $1.00 in Extra Bonus Rides.






The back is pretty darn simple. Basic "Courier 10" font and a little sloppy. That's not dirt or grease, that original ink smeared on the back. You don't see blemished Disneyland ticket like that very often.

From Major at Gorilla's Don't Blog (I'm going to owe him some residuals soon!) a neat set of Bonus Tickets that expire May 31, 1958. Check out the stereotypical picture of a 1950's family on each ticket. This does appear to have a perforation on the left side so maybe it came from a special ticket book. Even though these Bonus Tickets are not indicated as "special" they sure look special to me. Thanks Major!

Update: From Progressland: Bonus Time at Disneyland ran from January 18, 1958 through April 6, 1958. 2 Free rides of your choice with every ticket book! Here's the hook: "If you buy 4 Big 10 or Jumbo 15 ticket books for your family, you'll get 8 additional bonus rides at no extra cost. That's an actual $4.00 bonus value! Yes, you get two big bonus rides of your choice with every Big 10 or Jumbo 15 ticket book! And it's available now!"

As my regular readers know, I can't have a post without some color. From Spring 1957 here is the cover of "Disneyland Holiday" Gotta love that 12 cents a foot wire fence protecting the grass (and dirt). Check back Sunday, this entire magazine might surface.

Thanks for the great information Progressland!

Happy Leap Year Day!

Japanese Village & Deer Park - 100th Post!

I just noticed this is my 100th post! WOW, that went fast! Had I noticed sooner I might have done a Disneyland Post, I'll make up for it tomorrow.

Today lets head to "Japanese Village & Deer Park". I had never even heard of this place until I started Blogging a couple years ago. I was born and raised in Southern California, but I guess my parents never knew about this place either...

For some great Pictures of the place, try these two GREAT Blogs!


Gorilla's Don't Blog

Stuff From the Park


Here is a neat little Courtesy Pass. It's not dated, so a guess would be 1969/70.






Here is a Guide from 1969. I had a heck of a time with the Map part, I could not get it to post as normal size. I'll try to fix it later.

From Gorilla's Don''t Blog:

From "Stuff From the Park":

Also from "Stuff From the Park", These are the "Fuji Folk" guys that hung around the park. These Gargantuan Muppet's from an alternate universe scare me.

Some Publicity stills I found on the Internet. Rumor has it that the Fuji Folk eat small children, using freaky puppets and coy fish to lure them in...

Tomorrow it's 1950's Disneyland Special Ticket day.

Santa Fe & Disneyland R.R. Tickets - Part 2

Taking a look back to my "D" Ticket post (link), here is a 1956 "D" Ticket showing the two trains and there two related stations. Main Street's "SF&D Passenger Train" and Frontierland's "SF&D Freight Train" (scan courtesy of www. keeline.com).

This "D" Ticket is from Late 1957 and shows three stations now, but the trains are all called "SF & D Railroad Trains". No more Freight Trains and no more "round trip only". Now you can exit or enter at any station, that makes a lot more sense.







The next three images were most graciously donated by Major over at "Gorilla's Don't Blog" THESE ARE INCREDIBLE - THANK YOU MAJOR!

I believe these are from 1957. These are the Individual tickets you would purchase at the Train Stations. Could you use these until the stubs where gone? Thereby letting you board at all three stations. Does that seem right? It's the same price as one "D" ticket. On Monday's post, that long ticket was only good once. But these do say "Good for one Stop Over at".

What is this one all about? Fantastyland to Main Street 25 cents? This has to be VERY rare, I didn't even know such a thing existed. How did they enforce this? Did they used to check everyone's ticket on board? Did everyone exit at the Main Street Station? Thanks again for the scan Major, these are great!

Back to my "Conductor's checkless" collection, here is a Child's Train ticket.

When the conductor took his "check" he would stamp the back like this.

This Late 1958 "D" Ticket now has the new Tomorrowland Station. (scan courtesy of www. keeline.com).

By late 1958 they stopped the large stylized individual tickets shown above. The little tickets seem to have taken there place. Shown below are samples of the "stub" style tickets. These are individualize for each of the four stations, and allowing you one stop-over at any other station. What do they mean by "stop over"? These are also the same price as the "D" ticket and that's only good once, so where these only good once also? This hurts my brain!

This just in. Sent to me by a reader (actually the seller of the Green Press Ticket, it sold for $1000 by the way, congratulations to the seller!) This is the same 1955 Yellow ticket I posted Monday, except this one has the Conductors Check! Thanks for donating this scan.

Tomorrow we head east to Knott Avenue, but it wont be to the Berry Farm, we're heading to the Village (and Park).