Disneyland Service Awards - December 8, 1977

Here's a switch, I'm usually a day or two late on matching an old date with the current date, today I'm a day early... from December 8, 1977 we've got the program to the Disneyland Service Awards Banquet held in the Embassy Room of the Disneyland Hotel.




Tinkerbell has a nice spot here on the fancy separator page, which itself feels like thick parchment paper.

Nice Agenda; get drunk, eat, watch a program, have the awards presentation, then dancing!





Who would ever want to know all these names of people that worked at Disneyland and when they retired?

"Doorway to Yesterday" - Disneyland Press Photo

This Disneyland press photo makes me smile. I like the unusual angle and the framing using the doorway to what must be the Bekins/Global Van building (link)? This photo is undated, looking closely at the clothing and hair styles (and sideburns!) I'd place it around 1970 plus or minus a year, what's your guess?

News and Views - Fall 1982

Welcome to Magazine Monday – Florida Edition. From the Fall of 1982 its GMAC’s “News and Views” Magazine. The Cover and main article are about GM’s amazing World of Motion opening at Walt Disney World’s Epcot Center.




All of the color pages in the magazine are dedicated to Epcot and the World of Motion article. This attraction seems like it was the ultimate Audio-Animatronic – I sure wish I could have seen it. What happened to all the AA’s when it closed in 1996?
















This Magic Kingdom Club article is in between the World of Motion article so I thought I’d include it here.








The Aero2000 had some features that actually did make it into production. The “heads up” instrument panel projection system was first available on the ‘98 Corvette then a few years later on Pontiac’s and I think others GM’s as well. Video camera for 180-degree back up view – check, Radar assisted braking – what the heck is that?, full electronic diagnostics – OBD-II check, Satellite assisted navigation – like that will ever happen, what's next, flying cars???





The back cover...

Magic Mountain’s Red Badge of Courage and a Construction Photo

Time for some vintage Magic Mountain fun. This little card appears to be part of a promotion or contest called “Magic Mountain’s Red Badge of Courage”. The Troll looks dizzy, blame the Crazy Barrels and the Spin Out! Since the Log Jammer is now permanently closed (how sad it that?) there are only two attractions on this card that are still left at the park; Gold Rusher and the Jet Stream, both are excellent rides! I’m thinking there’s an iron on patch or a pin out there somewhere that looks just like that circle with the Troll.





This next picture is unrelated to the card above but boy is it exciting! Once again a loyal and dedicated blog reader has sent the blog some amazing images. This is one of 12 personal Viewmaster photos taken of Magic Mountain in its early construction phase (The park would open in May of 1971). I recently visited the Mountain for some before and after shots so you’ll be seeing those and the vintage construction photos over the next couple of weeks.

An after shot of the scene below is virtually impossible today, blame Tatsu! I’m going back this weekend to see if I can get this shot from the Tatsu load area (I might even ride it, maybe…). Let’s examine this shot taken approximately from the base of the yet to be completed Sky Tower;

Dead center; under those yellow tarps are the "Funicular" trains (currently "The Orient Express") with it freshly graded double track and custom lower station. Moving clockwise; the structure with the stone chimney is the "Coffee Grinder" (today’s "Cyber Café"), far left; the “Feather Merchant” (now the "MPorium" - link); center back; the main bathrooms and the ticket booths to the right of the bathrooms, next is the "Holiday Bazaar" merchandise store, then the "Gazebo" and lastly to the far right; the "Grand Carousel".




What’s really amazing about this picture is that with the exception of the ticket booths, every structure in this photo is still there. You’ll see them all in detail in the next couple of weeks.

Disneyland - Pop Warner, November 28, 1964

Happy December everyone! (Since this post is three days late lets pretend its November 28th again) Presented on November 28, 1964, this Certificate of Achievement in Good Sportsmanship was for players in the 6th National Pop Warner Disneyland Bowl Football Festival. The current Pop Warner Championship Tournaments are being played at the Walt Disney World resort starting this Friday (link).

I wonder where they played in 1964? I bet Jason knows. Speaking of Jason, according to his recent fine book "Jason's Disneyland Almanac" (get your copy here - link) on November 28, 1964 Disneyland's operating hours were 9am to 12am, park attendance was 24,190, the weather was a high of 69 and a low of 39, it was also a Date Nite! I love this book!

A Musical Tour of Disneyland on 45 rpm records - 1956

Are you ready for some super audio souvenirs? After I posted “A Musical Tour of Main Street U.S.A. – 1956” last week (link) a loyal and dedicated blog reader sent in the scans and music for all five records in the series! Since I only have the one “Main Street” 45 this came a quite a treat.


Up First, Fantasyland! Neat map/poster on the left, those only lasted the first couple years.

Download here: Fantasyland Musical Tour MP3 – 8MB






Frontierland showing the original “four window” Gullywhumper Keel Boat.

Download here: Frontierland Musical Tour MP3 – 6MB






Adventureland showing the backside of a Jungle Boat!

Download here: Adventureland Musical Tour MP3 – 7MB






Tomorrowland with another one of the map/posters showing detail of the land ahead.

Download here: Tomorrowland Musical Tour MP3 – 6MB





Here’s Main Street again with a clean copy of the record below.

Download here: Main Street Musical Tour MP3 – 6MB





All the back covers are the same, with artwork this nice why not! A huge thanks to the loyal ready who sent these into the blog, a case of bananas is on its way.

Rolling Stone Magazine - September 25, 1975

Welcome to Magazine Monday on Wednesday. Today we’ve some mid-seventies, well, whatever it is… From September 25, 1975 its Rolling Stone Magazine, the Eagles on the cover must have objected to shirts and haircuts, Don Henley looks like a poodle.




Ralph Steadman interprets Disneyland in this odd 2 page “article”. Ralph is still doing his artwork and has his own website here (link).




Zooming in on the upper left we find some deranged Disneyland Characters.





Seriously, I don’t get this at all… Ralph is British so maybe I just don’t get the humor from across the pond?




To me Monstro really does appear to be eating the guests so I get this one.





These last two drawings are not from this magazine, I found them on the Internet but they do seem to be from about the same time period. From what I can tell he wants a beer!





Interesting mix of backgrounds, nice touch with the Disneyland bag on the wheelchair.





Here’s a super article comparing laser video discs and CED video discs, clearly a laser was a better technology than using a disc similar to a vinyl LP, complete with grooves and skips. I have both vintage systems and while the laser is obviously superior, the CED system has its own charms (see the TRON CED Disc on my prior post here – link).







The Eagles were about to become ultra-popular and Rolling Stone magazine knew it.





Who else remembers the Bay City Rollers? I remember two things; these ridiculous outfits (link) and this ridiculous song (link) yes I know the words by heart, don't ask.




Fleetwood Mack, realigned and about to become super stars.




Aerosmith too was on the verge of becoming huge.





Who is this Bruce guy? I wonder if he ever had any hits?





How about a few advertisements? This front loading Pioneer Cassette deck with Dolby, was state of the art in 1975. Cassettes still were behind 8 tracks in popularity in 1975 - that would change in a few years.





Speaking of 8-Tracks, here’s Billy Preston telling us how good the Craig Powerplay car stereo is, also available in cassette.





He smokes for pleasure and to get sweaty? Smoking is bad, don’t do it, its gross. And if you do you might wake up one day looking like this guy and be forced to wear those pants with that belt and that necklace!

A Musical Tour of Main Street U.S.A. - 1956

It’s Audio Visual souvenir day (come back on Wednesday for Magazine Monday) this little 45rpm record is not dated but I believe its from 1956 and was part of the larger LP “Walt Disney Takes You to Disneyland”, you can see my previous post on that LP here (link). Today’s 45rpm record is “Walt Disney Takes you to Main Street U.S.A., a Musical Tour”. Great fence work surrounding the stylish drinking fountain.




Super fun 1956 Map on the back, I see the never made Phantom Boats 2.0 with the propeller on the back! Notice the train tracks have the bypass line at both stations.





Let’s take a listen shall we?

You can hear side two here (link) for some reason the video quality is lacking on side two but the sound is good.





This ticket is probably from 1957 or early 1958, not 1956, but I like it and it fits this post pretty good.