Bear Country - Now Open

Who else misses the Bear County Jamboree? It makes me as sad as this little bear. Why they removed this attraction from Disneyland is beyond me. The Pooh ride isn’t awful, but it’s pretty lame when you compare it to what used to be in that building.






Photo from Disneyland!  I love that letterhead.






And here’s the nice press photo of Wendell our Mandolin Maestro.  Boy is he ever looking shinny and new.  Where do you suppose Wendell is these days? In storage for his triumphant return one day? Shipped to Florida for spare parts? Tossed in the dreaded “dumpster” (gasp)?

March 24, 1971 - Day at Disneyland

It’s March 24th, 1971 and you’ve just been handed this flyer at the parking lot entrance. You have two wonderful ways to enjoy Disneyland. IMPORTANT: you better read this thing!





1. Personally Guided Tours. I’ve never done it. I’m not sure about 1971, but in the older Vacationland magazines the guided tours seem to be available on the off season only, which makes sense. Now they run them all year? How can they do a tour on days when there are 60,000 “guests” at the park?






2. Ticket Book Specials. “Maximum Family Enjoyment” folks, it could on happen at Disneyland.






A slightly used, kinda worn, September 1970 Junior Ticket Book, $5.45 for 15 adventures, you do realize that’s an $11.75 value; check the chart above, its true.





Spring Fling ’71. Coming April 3rd (1971) - See: Gladys Knight and the Pipps (go ahead, start singing it, "He's leaving, leaving on that midnight train to Georgia); Dawn with Tony Orlando. It wasn’t "Tony Orlando and Dawn" yet (ready; Whoa tie a yellow ribbon 'round the ole oak tree it's been three long years do ya still want me) Great prizes too. A PINTO, even hot combs!!!






For those of you who like to know wha the park hourswere 38 years ago (Progressland) here you go.






This receipt is dated March 24, 1971, it appears to be for two items and ¢18 tax (5.15 percent?). Department 89? I see sleepless nights ahead trying to figure out what this was for.






This last little item came with the stuff above, its  Me-n-Eds Pizza - Order 119.  I like the “It’s a small world” reference.

Take a Bus to Disneyland - 1956

Welcome to Magazine Monday. Today’s feature is a little on the short side (two pages) but I’ll try and make up for it with a great advertisement.

From an unknown magazine, but dated January 1956, this two page article deals with the new dedicated Metro bus service from Los Angeles to Disneyland. This magazine was most likely a bus industry periodical, there are other bus stores on the back pages.

The new “Snow White Bus” looks fun, those Disney artists at Burbank did a fine job. I want some of those photos Jacques Rupp installed in the bus card racks.





Is that a bus on Main Street, what's next a moving van? (link). Great photo of Walt, I always enjoys seeing new pictures of Walt (new to me at least).






From another unknown magazine (boy this “unknown” stuff makes me lose sleep) this wonderful 2 page advertisement for the 1956 Nash must be from 1956 or late 1955. Well look at that, they just happen to be at Disneyland! Air Conditioning priced for everyone, nice! The famous airliner reclining seats and a 220 hp Jetfire V-8, too bad even with that “Sports Racer Grille” its pretty darn ugly.






From the back side of the Nash ad, here’s a great Revere Patio Ware ad. Those pans look great, I want a set. I do love that artwork, in some alternate universe that’s me with the chief’s hat on.

Desktop Cleaning Day

No Bonus Sunday today, this bloggers desktop’s (both real & computer) are out of control and have become actual living entities.  I can’t find anything! Please accept this vintage snapshot of the log ride at Knott’s Berry Farm while I do some spring cleaning. Oh and of course this photo is undated...

Souvenir Saturday - Disneyland Tattoos

Welcome to Souvenir Saturday! Today let’s check out some Tattoo’s (no, not the little breather kind). These are undated, but I’m will to guess they are from the earlier days of the park, possibly 1956, does anyone know?

The cover prominently displays the Disney characters, however they are relegated to the last page of tattoos and even though most of the tattoos are still in this booklet, the character page is almost empty.






First we start off with a page of tattoos for each land. I reversed all these scans so you didn’t have to hold your monitor up to a mirror to view these properly. And yes, I know your asking “Do these still work” they sure do! In fact, the “certified colors” still adhere to you skin quite nicely.










An entire page of Disneyland Logos! The art work in all of these is really fun. Hey, you can crop all of these and create you own 1950’s Clip Art collection!






Two page of land “extras”. I am so digging those light posts and Main Street Vehicles!







Here’s the last page, there’s just about a quarter of it left, even the characters are in costume for Disneyland!

Bye Bye View-Master

Sad news from earlier this month: “View-Master 3-D discontinues scenic travel series” (link).  Frankly, I’m surprised they were still producing the reels at all. It seems they will still make cartoon versions (Dora anyone?), so the format is not completely dead, yet.

An undated (I’m really starting to hate that) early advertisement for View-Master Reels of Disneyland. The packets shown are the 1955 versions and that Tomorrowland building looks all wrong so it may be from 1955, does anyone know?






I've been collecting View-Master's way longer than vintage tickets, but realizing I could never collect ALL the View-Master reels (and not really wanting ¾ of them anyway) I decided to try and collect all of the “Talking View-Master Reels”. They come in these large boxes and contain 3 talking-reels and sometimes a booklet. Unlike the tons of variations of regular Disneyland reels, there is only one Disneyland talking version, it came in a couple different boxes, but from what I can tell, the reels are the same.






The cover to the little booklet is not the same size as the box above (why does blogger do that to my scans???) It’s the size of one of the reels. Oh, this set is undated too but most likely from the first run of “talkies” in 1970/71.






"The good old days"






The front of “Reel 1”; scene 1 starts at the entrance of course!






After collecting almost the entire Talking View-Master series, I came to a startling realization; the quality on these things stink!  As you can see, the little record is attached to the back of the reel. This causes a couple serious problems; (1) the little record is clear, but it totally cuts down on the light since it has to shine thru the record and (2) that little record wobbles and groans on the plastic spindle, making for demonic sounds from the player. Here's a link that shows how the viewer/player works (link).





I’ve got something else lined up for Souvenir Saturday tomorrow, but I’ll try and record and post the sound from some of these Disneyland Talking View-Masters, it will make you laugh or cry.

Blast to the Past at Disneyland - March 1988-89?

Are you ready to "Blast to the Past"? Heck forget the 50's, it's time to celebrate the 80's! This flier is dated 1989 but the parking lot brochure in this post is from 1988? Did they do this event for two years????






The "Blast" always seemed more fun in the promotion materials that it really was. In all fairness I only saw it once, but it felt so contrived in person it almost seemed sad. Maybe it was just the 80's funk I was in??? Anyway, enjoy this fun parking lot brochure from March 19 and 20, 1988.














I had no idea you could actually rent those classic cars from National! I probably would have done that. In 1984 I rented the "New" Corvette from a place in Beverly Hills, it was $110 for one day plus a $2,500 deposit on my Visa! (after all that and my old '70 Firebird was still faster...)

We're building a better (Magic) Mountain - 1980

In case you haven’t heard, things aren’t looking so good for Six Flags Inc., owners of Magic Mountain in Valencia, California. It appears they may have to file for bankruptcy by summer time (link). From what I understand Magic Mountain is profitable and should still be around for a while, let’s hope so.

Looking back to a much brighter time in Six Flags history, this 1980 Magic Mountain brochure really shows off Six Flags most recent acquisition at the time, Magic Mountain.








The Buccaneer was so new they had to use the artist concept drawing. The Water Sports Spectacular is where “El Bumpo” (Bumper Boats) used to be located.






So much fun stuff. Hey, are those the Dapper Dan’s “B” team?   Check out the Barrel roll on the far right, that’s the “Tumble Drum” (1974-1980) it’s simple and silly, but I always hung out there. It wasn't really in "Kids world" as I recall it was more towards the "Electric Rainbow" and the "Himalaya". 






BRING BACK THE METRO MONORAIL!!!!!!! There I said it.






I loved those Taco’s! But what the heck is on that plate???






You won’t find any Trolls or Wizards in this brochure; however I believe they were still at the mountain in 1980, . “In 1972, Magic Mountain began using their famous trolls as their mascots. For the 1971 season, Magic Mountain had gotten permission from Warner Bros. to use the Looney Tunes characters. A little foreshadowing, as it turns out. The three trolls and the Wizard became a recognizable symbol of Magic Mountain. Bleep, Bloop, King Troll and The Wizard made their home at the park until 1985.” (Source Link).





If your into the Magic of the Mountain, be sure to check out all my previous posts here (link).

Boy's Club Day at Disneyland - April 1962

It's "Boy's Club Day at Disneyland". The Boy's Club had its beginnings in 1860 with several women in Hartford, Conn. Believing that boys who roamed the streets should have a positive alternative, they organized the first Club. The Boy's Club is still around, now it's called the Boys & Girl Club of America (Link).






This ticket of course was never used so there is no date stamp on the front, but the back holds a clue to its date: 624, April 1962.

Jack and Jill - Triple Bonus

Welcome to Magazine Monday. It's triple bonus Magazine Monday featuring three separate issues of Jack and Jill Magazine. Jack and Jill, a Curtis Magazine for young children 7 to 10. Amazingly, Jack and Jill started in 1938 and is still in publication (subscriptions were suspended during World War II due to paper shortages) Check out some of the newer covers here (link) you can even get a current subscription.

Up first today it's Jack and Jill from May 1960 and features Kevin Corcoran in front of the Disneyland Castle with the three little pigs.






The article “In Disneyland with Kevin Corcoran” follows “Moochie” around Disneyland. City Hall looks the same today, however today’s Mickey and Minnie are distant cousins from these mice.






The photos are neat, the little drawings are even better…






Kevin is finding all kinds of things to do at Disneyland. The park appears to be rather empty or maybe no one has noticed it's “Moochie”!!!






Where is that fake tree, the Art Corner? The little dude has three hats!!! Moochie’s got the whole Autopia to himself.





The May 1960 Scans above were donated to the blog by “Anonymous”, thanks! There are no advertisements because Jack and Jill did not accept outside advertizing until 1962.

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The next issue is from June 1966 and has a charming clown cover. "Do you want it!” (“IT” fans know what I’m talking about). Does anyone really like clowns?






There’s “New Magic in Disneyland” Direct from the New York Worlds Fair (minus the Tower of the Four Winds sign) It’s a Small World, After All. Is there someone standing in the “Welcoming Banner” photo? I say it’s Walt.






This is just a three page article, but still some fun vintage photos nonetheless. Please sing “Summer Fun”, it will put a smile on your face.






This Mattel advertisement is weird. Now I know where Disneyland got the idea for the Big Heads in “America on Parade”. I’m guessing these did not catch on, I sure don’t remember them being around in early 70’s. I do remember “Weebles”, you know, “they wobble but they don’t fall down”.






Color Magic, hey this looks kind of cool (for girls that is).





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The third issue of Jack and Jill is from May 1967 and has a friendly (and hungry) looking raccoon on the cover.






In this issue “Mickey Visits Disneyland” an "Exclusive for Jack and Jill". Mickey sure does get around! I’m guessing it's Paul Castle in that Mickey Costume, he played Mickey Mouse from 1961 to 1986. Check out this article about Paul (link).






Mickey stayed clear of Tomorrowland, the “New Tomorrowland 67” was just a month or two away, but not photo ready yet.






Expo ’67 has some groovy artwork.






Talk about groovy artwork, the entire look of the “Flower Man” rings a distant bell way back in my head; being a toddler in the late 60’s was weird.






Several of the Jack and Jill issues feature “My father is a ____” articles. This month the father was a Helicopter Pilot and the story is told from his son’s point of view. Not Disney related, but I like it and thought it would be nice to share.