26th Annual Family Christmas Party at Disneyland - Dec. 7, 1981

Bonus Sunday

Today's Bonus Sunday features the complete 4th issue in the TV Guide series "Disneyland Album". This issue covers January 22-28, 1955. (see link's below for the this full issue)







If you missed any of these great TV Guides, below are the links to the all four of the January 1955 TV Guides that feature the "Disneyland Album":


TV Guide Jan. 1-7, 1955 - 55MB

TV Guide Jan. 8-14, 1955 - 66MB

TV Guide Jan. 15-21, 1955 - 53MB

TV Guide Jan. 22-28, 1955 - 39MB    ** This Weeks Issue ***





TV was in a different universe in 1955, today's TV is all but unrecognizable. I think I like 1955's version better, how about you?

Disneyland Wall Map 1964 and a Bonus

Here's a super scan of a huge wall map from Disneyland 1964. This scan was donated by "Wishbook" check out their amazing vintage catalog site (link) they've got high resolution scans of entire vintage catalogs, amazing stuff.

This 1964 wall map has tons of detail, be sure to download it from the link directly below, the jpeg I upload on this post is low resolution, waiting for the 17mb version is well worth it. Be sure to examine every detail, I did!


1964 Disneyland Wall Map Hi-resolution scan - 17.5mb







Now some extra fun, you may recall I previously posted a link to Wishbook's 1976 Disneyland Wall map (link), that was also an amazing scan. Since it's always fun to compare, check out the link below. Wishbook created this .gif file where the 1964 map morphs into the 1976 version! Give it a chance to download to see the full effect.


1964 vs. 1976 Disneyland Wall Map Morph - 5.8mb


Thanks Wishbook for these amazing scans, I bet I'm not the only one to spend hours getting lost in these...

The Wonderful World of Wizardry December 19??

Here’s an interesting two sided undated (boy that drives me crazy!) flyer. One side depicts an “Extra Special Holiday Attraction” presented by Mickey Mouse himself it’s “The Wonderful World of Wizardry”. A Google search doesn’t find much, I’m not even sure what was all about, but what ever it was they did it 15 times daily!






The other side is all about the “Fantasy on Parade”. Although the condition of this flyer is excellent, its must be fairly old since the parade route goes into Indian Village which was taken out in 1971 to build Bear Country (Yesterland: Link).






A nice first year Fantasy on Parade photo from Gorilla Don’t Blog (post link).





In case you didn’t know, Fantasy on Parade had it’s Gala Premiere on Saturday December 18, 1965 at 8:00pm, I have an original ticket to prove it, check back on the 18th of this month to see it.

WDW Annual Cast Party - December 4, 1991

Quick post today as I am getting ready to go to the Park! (Disneyland, not WDW).

GLASS Family Nite at Disneyland - December 3, 1976

The night you’ve been waiting for has finally arrived; it’s Family Nite at Disneyland December 3, 1976. Sponsored by the GLASS “Greater Los Angeles Sunday School Assn.”  Wouldn’t that be GLASSA? Oh well, close enough.

This ticket is odd in that it’s actually two tickets but only the stubs have perforations to separate the stubs from the main tickets, the two main tickets are just one big ticket.  Since these gave you unlimited use of all Disneyland attractions, did you have to stick together or tear this thing in half if you wanted to go alone? Or since this was a "Private Party" did you need this ticket at all once you were inside the park? 






The back sure looks like it should be two separate tickets? How many people drive by themselves to Disneyland? Oh wait, I do that a lot!







This post needs some Christmas Color Cheer, here’s a great Whitman “Frame-Tray Puzzle” from 1956. These are big (11 ½'” by 14 ½”) and made from heavy duty cardboard that’s remained in decent shape for being 52 years old, pretty amazing since this puzzle looks to have been used a few times.




“Happy” looks like he ditched the rest of the dwarfs to be in this puzzle, is he riding one of Santa’s Reindeer on a pole? The artwork is so cute in this puzzle, everything is fun except Santa’s face is sort of scary, he looks like he is up to something and it’s not necessarily good…

Disneyland Employee Family Holiday Passes - 1981 vs. 1982

It’s time to ring in some Holiday Cheer with a couple of fun Disneyland Employee Family Holiday Passes.

At first glance these two “Holiday Pass” cards look virtually the same, with the year and specific dates being the only change. In fact, I have several of these (1978, 79 & 80) and they are all basically the same.

The 1981 “Pass is Reusable” and “Good daily from Dec. 2 thru Dec. 18, 1981”






The 1982 pass is “Good for one visit only” and “Good from Dec. 1 thru Dec. 17, 1982". The reason for the change in 1982 was because the “lettered tickets” had been phased out earlier in the year in favor of the all for one Passport. The previous family passes were good for multiple visits because you had to buy attraction tickets to do the good stuff, so why not come back many times and spend more $$$.





By 1982 these Holiday Passes had a whole new value, since getting thru the gate was now the key to the Magic Kingdom and all the rides you can ride! Either way these passes are fun and a neat thing for Disney to do for its employees.

It's the holiday season

So whoop de doo and dickory dock

It's time to go and hang up your sock.

Disneyland Album - TV Guide January 1955 - Part 4

From January 22-28, 1955, this TV Guide is the final part of a four part series called “Disneyland Album”. You can see parts one, two and three here (Part 1) (Part 2) (Part 3). I was supposed to post this last Friday, but I was so stuffed with turkey I forgot all about it.

Ed Sullivan was an amazing showman, but he seems to have more of a "radio" face.





New York and Hollywood TV Teletype's. "Judy Garland was this close to signing an exclusive TV contact with NBC, but the deal fell through..." I think her TV show would take few more years to materialize.






Weird TV Teletype information from Washington, I don't recall seeing that in other old TV Guides. 44 million viewers tuning in to see Ed, WOW!






This weeks Disneyland Album final installment at least closely relates to Disneyland the park. The early illustrations of the Jungle Cruise sure make me smile.







"Davy Crockett Goes to Congress" part 2 of 3 was featured on the Disneyland TV Show. If you have been following each weeks episodes, you will notice there is no order to the shows, was this Walt's was of making sure you always would come back?






1955 had a look all of its own and I like it.






Come back on Bonus Sunday for the complete TV Guide from January 22-28, 1955. I hope you have enjoyed this little series and its time-capsule look at Americana as it was in January 1955. I've read these guides before, but I always find something new when I read them again.  Oh, and fear not, I've got plenty more Disneyland related TV Guides for future posts...

Bonus Sunday

Welcome to a short Bonus Sunday, short but sweet. From Monday's post (link) here is a great Vacationland from Winter Spring 1969. This is one from the two year period where the magazines were slightly larger, mostly taller.


Vacationland Winter-Spring 1969 - 50mb





Super Centerfold.






I like this C & H Sugar ad from the last page. I guess "Speckles" was no longer the official Disneyland sugar, when did that change occur?





Having some spare time this long Holiday weekend was great, I am happy to report my blogger desk is finally all cleaned up and most of my goodies are organized, categorized and safely placed in protective sleeves and binders.  Wow, I've got a ton of stuff to post.  December will be quite busy here on the blog, there's lots of Holiday tickets n' stuff to share! 


**** Update **** Here's a fun little (used) C & H Sugar packet.

Disneylander - April, 1958

From April 1958, this is what appears to be a reproduction of the “Disneylander” magazine, published monthly by the Disneyland Recreation Club.

While it is a so-so reproduction, it has a great cover photo and some neat detailed information about how the Columbia hull was moved into place.








Also an interesting article on the Grand Canyon Diorama official dedication. Did you know both Omnibuses left Disneyland and went to the Anaheim Santa Fe train station to pick up Santa Fe officials and take them to Disneyland?  Are the Omnibuses street legal?






The rest is pretty dry and “insider” info from 1958.  Did you know Joe Derkowski shorted out all of the lights on the last Viewliner car without even trying?

Thanksgiving Weekend at Disneyland - Nov. 28 & 29, 1980

It's Thanksgiving Weekend at Disneyland - Nov. 28 & 29, 1980. Great line-up of talent including Frankie Avalon and Harry James and his Big Band.






Lots of 25th anniversary celebrations still going on, at least they would cease by the end of 1980 and not continue for 2 more years, how silly would that be?





The "Polynesian Revue" Bring back the Tahitian Terrace, doesn't Disney know all thinks Tiki and Tahitian are in again!





Wishing everyone a happy and safe Thanksgiving, god bless you and every single person in this great country, I don't know about you, but I sure have a lot to be thankful for.

Walt Disney World 1978 E-Ticket to Space Mountain

It’s time for the Florida park some to get some attention. Let’s take his 1978 “E” Ticket and see if we can have some fun. This “E” ticket really does have Walt Disney World’s best attractions, decisions decisions…





How about Space Mountain? The attraction sure looks great even in black and white! The photo is dated 1978, but it could be an older stock photo. The Skyway bucket sure seems "open"...






The description is taped to the back and the tape has become one with the photo backing so you’ll have to tilt your head to read it. Oh, Copyright Walt Disney Productions, so there.






In case you’re curious, here is the back of the 1978 WDW ticket book. They stopped listing all the attractions a few years after they shrunk the tickets down (Disneyland listed the attraction until the end of the lettered tickets). It does list the free attractions, too bad “If you had Wings” is gone, it seemed really fun.






$9, late 70’s inflation rearing its ugly head. Notice the Florida state sales tax, the marvelous state of California (in one of its many states of confusion) is considering a 10% sales tax on theme park tickets, that’s bound to help the economy!





Come back tomorrow to kick off a Thanksgiving Weekend at Disneyland with Frankie Avalon.

Square Dancers Night at Disneyland November 22, 1980

It’s Square Dancers Night at Disneyland November 22, 1980. November 22nd seems to have been a popular day for private events at Disneyland; I have at least 5 event tickets with November 22nd as the date, odd given the historic significance of that date.

A rare appearance of Horace Horsecollar and Clarabelle Cow (see them on a neat post from Gorilla’s don’t blog).





OK everyone, swing your partner, allemande left and promenade...

Aerojet Employee's Annual Family Fun Night at Disneyland - Nov. 22, 1969

Not much time for text today, so this is a self-guided post. Google "Aerojet" you'll see they are BIG, Check back on Bonus Sunday for the complete Vacationland shown below.

Bonus Sunday & Knott's Before and After part 5

Welcome to Bonus Sunday. Up first, from Friday’s Disneyland Album - TV Guide January 1955 - Part 3 post, here is the complete TV Guide. Loads of fun 1955 stuff in here!


TV Guide Jan. 15-21 1955 – 24mb






This one is for you Katella Gate:






Heading back for one last look at my recent trip to the farm, here is the current Knott's map. It's HUGE, which does make up for the flimsy tissue paper it’s printed on.






Lot’s of detail on this map, for the high resolution version click here (Link – 24mb)






More details on the back.






One last before and after I forgot in the previous posts. Here is Deadwood Dick’s Grave on 1950’s post card.






Deadwood Dick is still dead. They either did a great job “recreating” the wooden tombstone or it's the same piece of wood that’s been there all along.






I have not seen this vintage fire engine in any old photos, has it always been at the farm?






Now for a little bit of “what’s gone”. The issue of "what’s gone" at Knott’s could constitute an entire blog on its own, there is so much vintage Knott’s that is gone without even a trace. So, I’d like to bring up these “recent” missing attractions, as I seem to recall they were there not too long ago.

First and foremost, WHERE IS THE ORIGINAL BERRY STAND???? It was at the farm in 2002/03 I’m sure of it, the stand had an old pickup truck next to it and both we located near where the Church of Reflections used to stand.






I sure hope the berry stand was kept somewhere at the farm, at least backstage in storage.






And second in importance is the Little Chapel by the Lake. This was a trademark building for Knott’s Berry Farm. I know they took it out to build a roller coaster (Silver Bullet I think) but what did they do with it? This is depressing, it would be like taking the Bears out of the Country Bear Jamboree, oh wait…..






And last up, indulge me as I get just a little more depressed. This was the entrance to Knott’s Bear-y Tales. Unused and…






Un-maintained. At least sand and paint this please.






As fans of Knott’s Bear-y Tales remember, the attraction had you exit via a ramp the let you out downstairs in the arcade. Well ramp is still there.






Very, very unused. Oh the many times I ran down that ramp just to go outside and run back up the entrance ramp to ride this fabulous attraction again and again.






The arcade looks remarkably the same. The games have been updated (in technology and price) but otherwise this room is so unchanged it’s like visiting my grandma’s house.





Hopefully I have not lost any of my faithful readers with this Knott’s before and after reminiscing all week. I really was surprised at how much old Knott’s (mostly Ghost Town) still exists so I’d thought it would be nice to share.. Next week we’ll get back to some cool vintage Disneyland stuff.