Bonus Sunday

Welcome to Bonus Sunday. From Wednesday's post, here is the entire issue of Backstage Disneyland - Christmas 1966.


Download here: ******* Backstage Disneyland - Christmas 1966 (45mb) ******






There's a lot of "inside baseball" in these issues so be sure and take your time to read thru them for the good stuff. You can really tell this was the pinnacle of Walt's empire.

KIIS-FM at Disneyland December 16, 1996 & TRON: Legacy Review

On December 16, 1996 KIIS-FM visited Disneyland! Is this how Ryan Seacrest’s relationship with Disney started? Was the Christmas Tree still placed IN the moat by 1996 or is there some cut and paste involved here?




Neat Mid-90’s Castle watermark on the back, too bad the lawyers went nuts and printed legal stuff all over it!








Well here’s two things you don’t see every day; TRON Legacy and a NINETEEN DOLLAR Movie Ticket – Ouch! Yes I could have seen it in regular 3D for a few bucks less, but IMAX is amazing.

The movie was excellent, thoroughly enjoyable and I highly recommend it. Jeff Bridges was awesome (all three versions of him) the “1980’s’ version of Bridges was of course computer generated and looked somewhat like a video game, which actually makes perfect sense and ended up working quite well in the movie. It’s got lots of action, a fascinating (if not a bit jumpy) plot line and stellar state of the art special effects – Folks I’ve now been to the GRID.

In fact, its uncanny how this “sequel” shares quite a bit with the first movie; Jeff Bridges and Bruce Boxleitner both reprise there roles, TRON and CLU are back, the storyline has a few threads that jump around a bit and the ending comes somewhat abruptly as it slams you back to reality. Go see it!

The Story of TRON

It’s just possible that while you are reading this I’m seeing the grand opening of TRON: Legacy or maybe I’m still in line! As a tribute to the original TRON, here’s a great little book from the See – Hear – Read series.





There’s some pretty good artwork in this book, I’m guessing its original work for this series. Some of the illustrations are dead on accurate, others are so far off its not even funny. If I wasn’t getting prepared for my TRON:Legacy adventure I’d have the audio for you too, I’ll post it soon.

As part of my preparation for TRON: Legacy I watched the original TRON last night. The only copy I have of TRON is on a CED SelectaVision VideoDisc. Don’t confuse this with a LaserDisc (if you saw it playing trust me, you wouldn’t mistake it for laser quality). CED's are actually more like LP’s with video than LaserDiscs. The CED disc spin at 450 rpms and all things equal are slightly better than VHS in video quality but superior in sound having stereo several years before VHS Hi-Fi was introduced. Learn more here (link).





The original movie itself is still great to watch. The story is well told and acted, the special effects hold their own even when shown on a large screen. The light cycle sequence and the tank/battle scenes are just as exciting as they were in 1982. I'm excited about Legacy, lets hope its just as good or better than the original.

Christmas in Many Lands at Disneyland - December 17, 1961

Today we’ve got a fairly rare Disneyland gate flyer from December 17, 1961. This large and detailed flyer was for Disneyland's presentation of the “Christmas in Many Lands” parade.






A very cool stylized map with the brand new extended Monorail beam. The Christmas in Many Lands parade was quite the extravaganza





Where did they keep all these people, floats and stuff? “The Parade of Toys” parade featured Ed Wynn and Tommy Kirk riding in the fire engine!





Christmas in Many Lands was held on December 17th as was the Candlelight Procession, the “Living Christmas Tree” (what was that?) and Christmas Trees Around the World display (at the Pavillion?). Lots of special event dates, times and locations if Jason is still out there.






Disneyland’s “Toys on the March” was featured in the December 17, 1961 edition of the Los Angeles Examiner “Pictorial Living” insert.






Nice two page article about the parade with some great color photos.





For all of you hostesses who dream of enjoying your own parties as much as your guests, here are some great tips and recipes. Brandynog is simply “enhanced” eggnog, enhanced at 80 proof. I'm pouring a glass for the Major right now, anyone else?






The all new 1961 Thunderbird was indeed “Unique in all the world” – also a favorite prop of Rod Serling.





Come back tomorrow for a special TRON show & tell post.

The Show Must Go On

Another Parade photo, this one on is on a very sad note. This press photo was used with a December 19, 1966 article titled “The Show Must Go On.”. From what I’ve read thru many magazine interviews with Walt Disney its clear he knew he wasn’t going to be around forever and he definitely wanted the show to go on. Do you think he knew how big the show would get?







From Christmas 1966 here’s the cover to the Backstage Disneyland magazine.






Disneyland had its employee Christmas party just days before Walt’s passing…








Last, but by no means least…






Come back on Bonus Sunday for the entire issue its a great inside look at the pinnacle of Walt’s Disneyland.

1969 Disneyland Parade

These press photos are dated 1969. I should know the name of this parade, but being the huge parade fan that I am (not) I have no idea? Fantasy on Parade? Very Merry Christmas Parade?







Richard Burton does a cameo on a horse.








The Candlelight Ceremony, a little dark but hey, its at night!

Magic Kingdom Club 19th Birthday Party - December 11, 1976.

At one time the Magic Kingdom Club used to celebrate its birthday, this ticket was for the 19th Birthday Party held on Saturday December 11, 1976. “Disneyland” is only printed once on this ticket and in pretty small letters. “Fasten Ticket Securely and Keep in Full View” its obvious yet I’ve never seen it on these types of tickets.

Here’s the cover to a souvenir photo from the event.






Little Josette looks happy to be at the Magic Kingdom. Hey, that little bench is the same one I sat on in 1970 (link).





Fun drawing on the mailing label.






Here’s Josette in 1974 with what I assume are her parents. Again she’s got her name on her shirt, I wonder if she wanted to be a Mouseketeer?

Trip Report - December 9, 2010

Yes another trip report! Come see what a not so crowded Holiday visit to park is like and check out the Candy Cane madness!



**** TRIP REPORT LINK ********

Fantasy on Parade Press Photo - December 10, 1965

What better what to celebrate the Holidays than a parade with a giant cigar puffing roster and a sad eyed camel from December 10, 1965.

Credit where credit is due.





This ticket is being rebroadcast from a December 18, 2008 post (link) The Gala Premiere of Walt Disney’s Fantasy on Parade - Saturday Evening December 18 – 8:00 PM.