Disneyland - 1955 Bank of America

Most Disneyland fans and collectors have seen this 1955 Bank of America Disneyland Guide. It’s a great piece of original opening year history with some super neat graphics. I am posting this for a reason as you'll see down below.

There are actually two versions of this guide, this would be version 1. The second version is slightly larger and the back page has the “550” branches slashed out in red and changed to “Now more than 600 branches!” See both compared on this great website: finddisney.com





When you open the first part you see the Disneyland Branch.






Fully open you get this big map of the park with all its UPT concessions’ goodness. The second version has a smaller map but with a large colorful boarder, buy one on Bay now (link). I like the art work better on this one.






The backside. What, only 550 branches?






This is the section you see when you unfold the brochure half way. I have looked at these Money Orders for years wondering if there are any out there. I don’t think they offered these for very long, I have not seen them in any other printed materials. Look at the $10 money order, the “Steam Boat” is a side wheeler!






Well, now I have seen one!!! It’s on eBay right now, $99 opening bid (Link to item #300223636761). It looks better in the picture than in the guide. I sorta/kinda want it. I wonder what it will sell for?







I suppose posting this auction here on the blog might increase its price. Believe it or not, this blog gets several hundred unique hits a day (surprises the @#$& out of me too). So IF one of you out there gets this great item, could you please send me a scan? 1200 DPI TIFF, front and back would be swell, thanks!

Knott's Berry Farm - 1949-ish

Here's a great old Knott's map from 1949-ish. Here is the link to the high resolution version. (link - 11mb). I am not sure on the year, it's not on the map anywhere.





The back side has some super information about Knott's early days. #52 The Birdcage Theater will be the only attraction "calling for a small admission fee". Check out the map too, no "Santa Ana Freeway" on that one, no Disneyland either. (full high resolution scan here - 5mb)

From around or near 1949, I've seen a few of these that say "Steak House Menu" (See one at Jay Jennings awesome Knott's Museum - link). This is the only one I have seen that says "Ghost Town Grill" if you read thru the text in the menu, this was just before the "Steak House" was built. Also some talk of a Hotel on the property "just east and north of the lake" Huh? Check out the prices too, Top Sirloin $2!!!!


Ghost Town Grill - Full download (9.5mb):

Let's match up these six old postcards with the attractions on the Map. These type of postcards are from the late 1940's, with a few referring to "Knott's Berry Place".

First of course, number 22, the Gold Mine!






Number 28, the Silver Dollar Saloon.






Number 35, Goldie's Joint "A questionable structure indeed".






The General Merchandise Store is at number 50.






Number 55, The Covered Wagon & Borax Wagon.






The "Old Borax Mine Train". Not sure what number that would go next to, maybe #29. Last time I was at Knott's, this little train was still there.





Boy does this post need some color! Here is the cover to a nice 1949-51 Guide Book. This is similar to 1952-54 editions, but this one lacks any mention of the Trains at Knott's. Oh, check back on Bonus Sunday for the complete Guide, it's a fun one!




Tomorrow: 1955 Bank of America - It's not exactly what you are thinking and I bet you've never seen one of these.... At least I haven't.

Bonus Sunday

Walt Disney’s Sleeping Beauty Castle, the booklet. Dated 1957, I see these frequently on EBay, I bet Walt ordered about 10 million copies! This one is in fine condition and always fun to look at. Here is the entire booklet in PDF format.

Sleeping Beauty Castle Booklet (24MB)





The center of the booklet opens to this beautiful panorama scene, rather large at 30 x 11 inches. Thank you Richard at Viewliner Ltd. for weaving these two scans into one for us. (High resolution scan here 6mb)





I have a few of these booklets, but this is the only one with this coupon still in it. Free mailing envelope available at the Arts and Crafts Store, I wonder what the envelope looked like?





As promised from Tuesday’s post (link), here is the complete "First Fantastmic" April 1992 Disneyland Guide Book. I was also going to post the “pre” Fantastmic guide, but it's just a mess. Odd that guide books that were my own when I was at the park are in the worst condition! This one looks like I kept it in my shoe all day and it has what appears to be chocolate ice cream soaked thru a few pages. Trust me, you aren’t missing anything,

Disneyland Guide Book – April 1992 (21mb) don’t worry, this one is clean, it wasn’t mine until eBay…





Check out number 13 on this Tomorrowland page. EPCOT Poll Person of the Century? A ten year poll to end in 2000. I must have missed that one, apparently I wasn’t alone.

“Person of the Century: This was launched on January 14, 1990. Cast your vote from 89 nominees or write in your own choice. At one point, some of the top nominees included Lucille Ball, Winston Churchill, Marie Curie, Thomas Edison, Mikhail Gorbachev, Michael Jackson, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Mother Theresa. The poll was discontinued before 2000 and no final winner was ever announced. Amazingly, Walt Disney was not one of the nominees! (Source: waltdatedworld.bravepages.com)




Tomorrow: Knott’s Monday is setting the time machine to back to 1949!

Main Street Electrical Parade - Part 2

On Part one's post (link) I mentioned a rumor of the Main Street Electrical Parade coming back to Disneyland. Nothing new to report, but there's more “Farewell, Main Street Electrical Parade” stuff to post so here we go.

Here is the invitation to the Annual Pass Holder Farewell Parade held on October 17, 1996. Pete's head is showing thru a little cut-out window on the cover.

The inside, Pete sure does look bright and shinny on this thick black paper.





The ticket itself, nice art work.





Neat stuff on the back that says by you walking thru the gate, Disneyland can use your likeness on film or video and pay you nothing. Say "Cheese" for the Mouse.





And lastly, I know you wanted to see the envelope, so here ya go.




See you on Bonus Sunday!

Disneyland Flyer Comparisons - Part 2

Let's compare some more flyers! I think these are "motel" flyers as opposed to "gate" flyers.

The front's of these flyers look pretty different, but they are similar overall. They both open up to a BIG photo poster inside with lots of fun pictures.





The first one is not dated but based on the attraction list (Pirates yes, Haunted Mansion no) I would place it as 1968.






This one is date stamped October 1973, with a print date of June 1973.







Tomorrow: More Main Street Electrical Parade!

Disneyland Flyer Comparisons - Part 1

How about some flyer comparisons? There must be some psychological reason some people love “comparisons”. I know whenever I see a “Before & After” post on a blog I start to drool. The comparisons are usually pictures, but it works for paper things too.

Today let’s look at two great flyers from Disneyland’s early days. Although these are different sizes, they share the same format and a lot of the same text.




Neither is dated, but the first this one appears to be from 1957 or near there. I see the “House of the Future” but no "Viewliner" or "Columbia" mentions. High resolution file here: (frontside-link) (backside-link).






Again not dated, 1959? Maybe 1960? This version is smaller, but still fun. High resolution file here: (frontside-link) (backside-link).





Tomorrow; More Flyer Comparisons!

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.