“Old Betsy” at Knott’s Berry Farm - May 1963

Here’s the fun little Borax Mine Train “Old Betsy” that’s been at Knott’s Berry Farm for many, many years. This slide is dated May 1963. It’s interesting to compare the train over the decades.






In this undated but really old Postcard you can see the roof of the cab is a little different than it was in May 1963. There are other areas of the wood on the cab that don’t match up, probably a few other details too.






In my November 2008 photo you can see Old Betsy is still pretty much the same. Its amazing Old Betsey is still around, leave her alone Knott's… What’s even more amazing is the fact the “Engines & Hoists” has been painted in the same spot on that wall forever!





I have a really cool vintage price sheet from Knott’s that I was going to post with this slide, but it seems to have hide itself somewhere in all this vintage paper!!!! I’ll post if later if I can find it.

Disney World Open - Life Magazine October 15, 1971

It's been ages since we've had a Walt Disney World post so why not do a repeat? Since it's October 15th, lets set the way back machine exactly 38 years to celebrate Disney World Opens from Life Magazine - October 15, 1971.





(Note: I posted this magazine a year and half ago, but it's still fun to look at every once in while). Be sure to check out the two page aerial photo. It’s taken from an odd angle and with a super wide fish-eye type lens. This place is disorienting enough for me, but the aerial photos give me weird dreams.












Now for some vintage ads: Oh boy, lets buy a Pinto? “It was alleged that the car's design allowed its fuel tank to be easily damaged in the event of a rear-end collision which sometimes resulted in deadly fires and explosions.” In reality the number of fire related deaths from those early Pintos (over 2 million built) was 27, about the same as any other car of the period. Actually, it’s kind of cute.






Now this is more my size. I once owned a 73 Lincoln Mark IV (similar underneath to this T-Bird) it had those early anti-lock brakes (Sure-Track) and they worked rather well.






Can’t ignore the GM folks, this is the last year before the ugly bumper laws made the front ends look awful!






Moving away from the ads for a moment and for the sports fans, here is a great vintage article about George Allen joining the Redskins after being with the Rams. The “RamSkins” Interesting that his Redskins would loose to Florida (that seasons' undefeated Miami Dolphins) in Superbowl VII (1973) 14 to 7.







Back for two more ads. How about a couple of vices?

Let’s start with some alcohol. Ah yes Seagram's 7 Crown, what a lively looking bunch of folks, look how neat and organized everything is. When my friends and I hang around all day and drink whisky on the rocks in tall glasses, we aren’t quite as well behaved…






***Disclaimer – Cigarettes are gross and they will kill you, don’t do it!*** That said, “The Lady has Taste” Eve cigarettes will always have and odd and disjointed place in my mind, as a 6 year old, these ads really had an profound impact on my little brain. “Smoke Pretty”, Well “Lady”, you’ll look “pretty” in that open casket!

You can read this ENTIRE issue of this Life Magazine here (link) - the link is not my scan, but very cool - I would give proper credit, but I can't read Japanese...

Check out these two other vintage Walt Disney World magazine previous posts:


Take a LOOK at Disneyworld - April 4, 1971

Boys Life – July 1973


And don't forget Magazine Monday's; Still coming up this year, I've got one or two vintage Walt Disney World magazines that have not been posted before.

Disneyland Hotel - Vacation Special 1959

Anyone ready for a “Vacation Special” at Disneyland? Since it's January 1959 you’ll find some great deals in this brochure.







Check out those room rates! Not only was the Disneyland Hotel a bargain (at least in today’s dollars) you also got a Disneyland ticket book with admission and ten tickets! Imagine, at TV and Air Conditioning in EVERY room!






Airline fairs were not such bargain in 1959. Ironically, you could probably beat some of these fares today using 1959 dollars! I just checked Orbitz, your can get a round trip flight from JFK in New York to LAX in Los Angeles for $239 including taxes!

APRA Night at Disneyland - October 13, 1975

It’s October 13, 1975 and it's APRA Night at Disneyland! The Automotive Parts Rebuilders Association had their own "special party" from 4:00pm to 11:00pm. October 13, 1975 was Monday so was the park closed for the day and just opened for this event? Or was it like last week at Disneyland where the park closed at 6:00pm for “regular” guests and the parties were held afterwards? Was this party even "private" and did the APRA have then entire park to themselves or did they share their “special party" with other organizations?






The usual legal disclaimers on the back. Oh, this ticket also included parking!






How about a lovely Vacationland from the Summer of 1975? At the risk of sounding like a broken record, “This is a super edition of Vacationland.” It really is, just look at the cover! This is how I remember “It’s a small world”. This issue is in Mint condition, with the exception of the “Jack N’ Jill Motel” stamp, which in my book just enhances it.






Oh my! I’m setting my Time Machine to the Summer of 1975 to checkout a mature yet original Frontierland. What are those rocks and things doing in the photo on the far right? Wasn’t Mineral Hall long gone by 1975?






Snap! Crackle! Boom….. Here's a stellar photo if ever there was one. There’s a neat article that accompanies this picture. Come back on Bonus Sunday for then entire issue, again, it’s a great one!

Western Family Magazine - August - 1956

Welcome to Magazine Monday. Today we set the way back machine to the August 1956 edition of Western Family Magazine. This magazine must be intended for women (of the west) as it mostly has child care, clothing, how-to articles, recipes and advertisements.






The great painting on the cover is The Regatta by Phil Dike, it really sets the mood nicely. “16th year, 2nd issue – August 1956 – Volume 31, No.2” - I’m confused, so they started in June 1940, wouldn’t this be Vol. 16, No.2??? I think I’ll just call Hollywood 9-8331 and ask for them myself.






This four page Disneyland article reminds me of a similar article from McCalls February 1956 issue, which happened to be this blogs first Magazine Monday post from January of this year (link). The McCall photos were in color, Western Family must not have had the budget for that, even most of the advertisements are not in color.

“The Casual Western Woman” is a super time capsule of the 1956 styles and the “bright new world of sweaters”. You do know of course that “Emphatically, a wardrobe of sweaters is the fashion essential”. This is why these should be in color: “Jacquard Cardigan” and “Green and Red Paisley on white”. Where is the girl on the right standing???






The prices were all looking pretty reasonable so far, then along comes Tomorrowland lady at $90! Well it is cashmere & black Chantilly Lace (I know that song just went thru your head!). The lady on the top left would look more at home on the Jupiter 2.






Someone (preferably a woman) should try and redo this Adventureland photo, you could still get that exact same angle and background. The “pixie mood” hood lady looks funny.






Oh boy, the fire truck back when it ran out on Main Street. I bet those metal wheels were murder on the street. What do we have here, the Gullywhumper! Soon to make her triumphant return to Disneyland’s Rivers of America. (Remember, you heard it here first).






How about some vintage advertisements? I’m hungry, how about a "Smorgasbord”? All those trays look yummy but I’m taking that entire cold cuts tray back to my table! The serving trays and bowls are extra cool too… Hey is that mayonnaise yellow?






Quilted aluminum foil, from Kaiser! It’s “Ribbed for extra strength”.






This woman got a big kiss because she remembered to have Budweiser on hand for her husband’s poker friends.






Let’s set the content of this ad aside and focus on those two stunningly beautiful 1950’s ladies. Did people really look like that? I love all the stars and sparkles and the colored background, wow.





Hi-C Orange was my favorite drink as a kid (ok, it’s still my favorite and I get it every time I go to McDonalds). Unfortunately, Citrus Cooler (my 2nd favorite) is no longer made. I’ve never seen “Hi-Cecil” before, he’s cute.






I remember toilet paper that came in “tinted shades”, do they still make toilet paper in colors?






What do you do with all those empty mayonnaise jars? Torches of course.

Bonus Sunday

Welcome to Bonus Sunday. From Wednesday's "Incredible Shrinking Courtesy Guest Ticket" post, here is the complete Spring 1979 edition of Vacationland Magazine.


Vacationland Spring 1979 - 80mb






It sorta came out like this...






And for Viewliner Ltd., here's a neat article on the Pendleton store. Be sure and download the entire issue, its a great one!







On last weeks Bonus Sunday I posted a link to the Yachtsmen's High & Dry LP and unfortunately that link stop working not long after I posted it. I did manage to download one of the tracks and its a great one. As requested by Pegleg Pete and from what I understand is also Kevin Kidney's favorite track, here is Sinner Man.



Sinner Man Mp3 - 2mb

I will freely admit I love this song, 2 minutes and 18 second of pure sonic/harmonic joy!

Come back tomorrow for Magazine Monday 1956 style.

Trip Report

It’s been a couple of months since my last trip report so this one is extra photo heavy! I’m not a huge fan of the holiday make-over’s at Disneyland, but I’m starting to warm up to the harvest colors for the Halloween celebration. I ended up going to the park Thursday instead of Tuesday, which was fine since the weather was truly made to order, crisp and clear.






First stop the new Disney Gallery that is in the former Bank of Main Street building. You can see full photo essay’s all over the Disney-net-universe, so my focus was on what the other guys didn't focus on – The Vault!!!






Finally I was able to get a decent photo of the Vault, but what's even better is I got to touch it!






There are two original “Shag” style works of art in the small vault, if you have 12 or 16 thousand dollars you can part with they can be yours.








OK so the art work is cool, but what the heck is this on the back wall of the vault? My first guess was one of those tubes that uses air to shoot messages upstairs, but that’s not what it is. Is it for emergency air? I was so temped to “Turn Tee handle" and "Pull out fully” just to see what happens… It looks very “1955” what ever it is. KatellaGate, no pressure, but I’m expecting you to know what this is…






The rest of the gallery has the some classics, including these two gems.








These beauties were sort of hidden in the corner. I was not able to get a clear shot of the “Ghost Galaxy” poster on the left. Speaking of Space Mountain’s “Ghost Galaxy”, I rode it and really enjoyed it. It’s very dark and understated which was perfect, a true case of less is better.






In the Mr. Lincoln preshow area they have moved the big 1955 model to a windowed display and tilted it so it’s super easy to see now. I never noticed that Adventureland was a dead end and had no pathway to the Rivers of America.






Speaking of models, they’ve got the original Splash Mountain model on display, it’s so cool and very difficult to photograph!






Here's the real thing just 30 minutes later. Hey, it looks just like the model!






The preshow area also has some great photos of Walt, not sure if they were in there before, but it’s sure nice to see them.












Back out at town square, the fire engine is gleaming as always.








You’re going to see lots of yellow and orange in this post.






Stunningly bright flowers.








Speaking of stunning, this version of Alice really caught my eye.






For telling Alice “Good morning” I got this cute smile.






I started to ask the Mad Hatter if he would take my picture with Alice and when he saw she was smiling I got the "hand" and he told me that he and Alice had to leave because they were late for a very important date! And they really left, what a stinker!






Obligatory castle shot showing the light crowds.






Dreamy aint it?






Monorail Red is running tip-top.






Three Fences is doing very well. I leaned way over for this shot.






The whole grassy area around three fences is not doing so well. How about some water and new grass? This looks like my backyard; it even smells (dry) like it.






Monorail Orange making its Halloween appearance.






It looks like the Smurf’s must be out for the day.






This is a rare sight; someone using a payphone! In reality, this man was desperately talking to his cellar phone company trying to reprogram his cell phone, the poor man.






These make perfect Halloween decorations.








Here kitty kitty kitty…






As more guests gathered and “talked” to the kitty he/she hissed and spit and turned into a bit of a beast.






Where’s my sack of sugar when I need it!






Ok, I’ve seen the white ones before, but these look new or did I just never notice them?






The Columbia gets some tender love and care.






I did mention it was a beautiful day right?






Getting hungry at 10:30am at Disneyland does not leave you many options, it's too late for breakfast and too early for lunch. The Bengal Barbeque was open so I decided to give it a try.






Yes, I’ve been to Disneyland about 100 times in the last 15 years and I've never ate here. I thought they only had those turkey legs (turns out they don’t even sell those!). I got the Chieftain Chicken Skewer and it was so yummy I went back for a second one.






The moat and its connecting waterway’s were pretty much drained. The waterways on the Frontierland side were really getting gross, I think I saw mosquitoes hatching.






They are pumping a small amount of water into the waterways that flow thru to the Frontierland and Adventureland entrances. It's such a small amount it doesn’t seem to look like its moving.






Wow, that really is a draw bridge; I always figured it was just welded in the open position, maybe not?






What do you suppose the huge concrete squares are for?








Disneyland or the swamps in Florida?






Snow White was still singing.






I know, never stare into the sun, what about taking pictures into the sun?






These bright flowers at the hub look great, but they smell like 3 day old road kill.






Mighty and Majestic.






I’m happy to report the new Monorail awning got itself some proper lights, they replaced these (link) – thank you whoever did that!






I call this one “Speedramp to my dreams of youth” when can I get on?






A quick trip on the E.P. Ripley from Tomorrowland to Main Street Station. You can't really see it in this photo, but the "Engineer" was a beautiful young blond haired woman, WoW, I think the train was whistling on its own!






Fun displays at the Main Street Station. You’ve seen some of that stuff here on this blog!






Hey, some of these are just reprints glued to cardboard? I'd be happy to loan them some of my tickets!





Was this an actual ticket window at one time? I’m thinking it was.






Inside it’s mocked up to look like a turn of the century ticket booth, nice touch, its all in the details.








Time to leave the park, one last look at the fall colors.






His ride was over, but he didn’t want to exit the vehicle, can you blame him?








This was my attempt to get a photo of the Keelboat that’s backstage. As you can see, I snapped it at the wrong time, nice monorail shot, but I missed the Gullywumper entirely. She’s still back there, in fact, she’s on a wheeled dolly thing and just needs some TLC to be River worthy. My prediction – In the Summer 2010, you’ll see her on the river again.






Heading away from the park towards Lincoln Avenue you’ll find this place, anyone want to join me for some tap beer?