Disneyland Holiday Program - 1988

Can you believe the Holiday’s were once celebrated at Disneyland for only two weeks? Today the park starts out with Halloween in late September and Christmas starts November 13th, it seems to never end.






Splash Mountain coming in the Spring of 1989! Ok, make that the Summer of 1989 (link).






Christmas in the Magic Kingdom. Roger Rabbit looks like he’s all prepped for a Cartoon Spin! It’s Roger’s first Christmas in Disneyland.






The old Hotel’s were still looking good in 1988.






Disneyland NEVER CLOSES… When did they stop closing on Monday’s & Tuesday’s? Yes, I should know this…




Be sure to come visit the blog tomorrow for your special Christmas Present Post.

Fantasy on Parade - 1974

It’s Holiday time at Disneyland, 1974 style. This flyer mentions the 19th Annual Fantasy on Parade, which would make this one year before Meet the Worlds “Gloria Gaynor at Disneyland – 1975” for from a couple of weeks ago. Nice grease stain, I say it adds charm and authenticity or its just gross.






No Gloria Gaynor in 1974, don’t worry, she will survive. But I’ll be making two trips to Holiday Time 1974, first to see one of my favorite musicians Jose Feliciano, and of course who would miss the DeFranco Family? it's interesting that they depicted both Parade Routes as two separate illustrations, in 1975 its just one illustration with a confusing “Point A - Point B” legend (link).

Disney News - Winter 1973

Still no time for text, please continue your self guided tour.












A special movie review for Major! I've only seen this movie once (in the '70's) and its was really weird... I thought it was an old funky movie back then!

Some Disneyland Operating Hours for Jason...

Panorama Magazine - Spring 1955

Ran out of time for text - talk amongst yourselves...

Review - The Return of Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln

See my full report on the return of Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln on my trip reprot blog.


Mr. Lincoln Returns and a Mini Trip Report - December 18, 2009

Abe's Back!

I’m pleased to announce that Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln has re-opened as of this morning. A full review and mini trip report will follow tomorrow, but let me say – WOW! The show is amazing; Mr. Lincoln is the most realistic Audio- Animatronic I’ve ever seen. While sitting in the front row (on my third show in a row) Old Honest Abe looked right at me with those gray eyes, stunning in his realism.





And as an added bonus, hearing Paul Frees’ voice narration booming over the state of the art sound system in the Opera House was pure bliss (Ah that voice: And still I continue to shrink, is it possible that I can enter the atom itself?). Paul Frees also does the pre-show announcement, here’s a clip.

The triumphant return of Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln

Taking a little break from Christmas, let’s celebrate the triumphant return of Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln to the Opera House at Disneyland. According to a few sources, Mr. Lincoln should be re-opening today. Several other sources also say “no way, you won’t see him until next year”. Some sources as late as this Monday said the stage was still empty still and wires were everywhere, makes you wonder how Disney produced this video and released it Tuesday.

I’m just nutty enough to be at the park bright and early today hoping to see some Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln. I know it’s a long shot, but I’ll either get to be one of the first to see a great show or I’ll have some of Laura’s Magical Pancakes at The River Belle, either way I’m lucky to be there!

Let’s take a look behind the scenes of the original Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln.






One of the main reasons I feel compelled to see the re-opening of Mr. Lincoln is because he’s my first (1968) memory of Disneyland, in fact, he’s one of my first memories of anything. He must have driven my interest and passion in history and all things Disneyland. I’ve gotten over the fact he scared the living @#$% out of me the first time I saw him.








I wonder if the Lincoln Historical Center is still in the Lincoln Savings building in Sherman Oaks.






The Lincoln Savings building in Sherman Oaks is definitely still there, I see it from the Ventura Freeway all the time, yesterday in fact. It hasn’t change much at all, just the sign.






Here’s the Official Souvenir Record from the 1964 New York Worlds Fair. Special “Stereo” version.






According to a few sources the original Royal Dano voice of Mr. Lincoln sound track will be re-mastered for the return of Mr. Lincoln. How cool is that?






Let’s take a listen shall we? Side one has some amazing vintage Paul Frees narration, WOW - I feel like I just rode Adventure Thru Inner Space!


Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln Side I – 5mb







Side two is powerful and moving, I hope they use this "word for word" in the new show. And the end has a rousing rendition of Battle Hymn of the Republic . Double -WOW!


Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln Side II – 5mb






Wish me some "magic"...

A Pair of Parade Tickets

Here's a couple of Christmas parade ticket's, one from "Fantasy on Parade" December 21, 1980 and one from the "Very Merry Christmas Parade" December 12, 1992. I like how the "arrive early" "reserve seating" wording is (almost) exactly the same 12 years later. How were these tickets issued and who got them?

Family Circle Magazine - December 1958 + a Bonus

Welcome to Magazine Monday. Today is a special Holiday edition of Magazine Monday (presented on Tuesday) that includes a fun alternate look at a vintage magazine that features Disneyland.

From December 1958 we’ve got Family Circle Magazine. This issue features the tale of “A Christmas Adventure in Disneyland”. The Disneyland story covers eleven pages and has poems and song lyrics accompanying it.






As you can see my copy of this Magazine is not only old and faded, but appears to have some decent water damage as well. And naturally the Disneyland article has the worse damage!






Rather than present dull, faded, stained pages, I just so happen to have the same story as told via a 1958 Disneyland Record. This grand LP included a full size booklet in between the covers and has held up remarkably well for 51 years.






The inside cover describes what’s on the record.






How about listening to the record as you follow along reading the story? I recorded each side of the LP, the files are below. No video this time, I discovered you get much better sound quality when you connect the stereo directly to the computer. That said, this record is 51 years old and has its share of pops & scratches.

The narration is a bit annoying, with the worse Mr. Toad impression I’ve ever heard. However, the record is fun to listen to. You MUST check out the song “Jingle Bones” at 10:30 on side one, classic late ‘50’s Disney at its best.



Adventure Christmas Adventure in Disneyland - Side 1 (9mb)


Adventure Christmas Adventure in Disneyland - Side 2 (7mb)



The 11 pages of the story are below. They are posted without interruption, my only comments are; WOW – amazing artwork and Gee- what a neat story. Merry Christmas!


























Some of the other “Story Teller” series of Disneyland Records available in 1958. I have few of these, most are fairly rare including this one.







Now back to the magazine. These sets of pages represent all things Christmas in 1958. Each of these five articles is spread over two pages. I did a decent job of stitching them together but you will notice color variations on each of the two pages. It appears to have been printed that way or half the pages faded more than the other half.

A hearthside supper for your tree-trimmers.






A cheery welcome – check out that snack cart, yummy!






This marvelous buffet includes a “Chicken-cranberry Mold” yuck…






“Cooky fantasies to charm children” Those cookies mounted on the wall are not for human consumption, I know this for a fact…






Sugar Dandies indeed!






"Stockings to treasure” – paging Kevin Kidney.






How about some vintage holiday time advertisements? Up first a classy lady for Pepsi, nice hat – especially created by Sally Victor for Pepsi.






This lady must be related to Barbara Billingsly?






Bake a “Mystery Fruitcake” from Betty Crocker. Aren’t all Fruitcakes mysteries?






“No shrink, no waste” precooked sausage from Disneyland sponsor Swift Meats.






More Christmas cookies with recipes, this time from Ceresota Flour (unbleached – naturally white). Have you ever heard of “Ceresota Flour”, I sure haven’t.






Mazola was way ahead of the health food curve, promoting corn oil as more heather than regular oil (lard).





I hope you enjoyed this little Christmas treat.