Here's a random pair of scans from a batch of slides that are from the early 1970s. Starting with this fun view of Snow White and Dopey posing on one of the “Monsanto House of the Future” walkways - known as "Alpine Gardens" after the house was removed. This is an unusual angle, the large building behind Snow White is where "America The Beautiful" was shown. Many people attempted to take photos inside Pirates of the Caribbean. Those who used a flash were escorted backstage and never heard from again. This photographer did not use a flash (I think), and the results are not perfect, but not b ..read more

I have a fun trio of photos from the Pitchur Gallery at Knott's Berry Farm! Three fun-loving gals probably went to enjoy a chicken dinner, but the line was long, so they figured they might as well explore the Ghost Town. And why not get a souvenir photo, while they were at it? They all picked the bucking bronc, seen many times here on GDB. I'm pretty sure these are all from the 1940s. This first woman reminds me of my second-grade teacher, she was very nice. She's sitting sidesaddle,  befitting her demure nature, but she's got a sunny smile, and a playful bow in her hair. I like the c ..read more

The photos of the Mark Twain are endless! Or so it seems. But I'm not complaining. Today I have five more taken-for-publicity-purposes photos for you, courtesy of the Mysterious Benefactor.  That cast member looks tired, because he just finished prying a few more guests aboard the Twain, using a giant crowbar (designed by Bob Gurr). Each guest was required to coat themselves with goose grease so that they could be packed in even more tightly. This guy looks pretty smug because he does not have crowbar duty on this shift. Or any shift. His hands are uncalloused and baby soft (more goos ..read more

Today I am sharing the second group of scans from a batch of slides from January, 1977. We're still on Main Street, heading north toward Canada. It'll take us weeks, but we'll get to British Columbia eventually.  Previously, we saw the gentleman with the brown cardigan posing with the Tobacco Store Indian, but their friendship has cooled, and he's moving on. Sad, but that's how life goes sometimes. The man is perusing his complimentary guidebook (formerly sponsored by INA, but they stopped their sponsorship in 1974).  I'm admiring the lilac macrame shawl/sweater (shweater?) with 12-i ..read more

I hope you didn't get too dressed up, because it's Snoozle Sunday. If you must know, I am wearing sweatpants and a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles t-shirt. As usual. Let's take a look at our first Snoozle, from September, 1959. I'm guessing our photographer was aboard the Mark Twain and not the Columbia, just look at how the river is all churned up. Tom Sawyer Island is very wild and forested, the sight of Fort Wilderness is a welcome one. On the far shore, the Indian Village appears to be busy. The tip of the big tent in Holidayland can also just be seen, if you look carefully. Here's one of ..read more

Say! It's been a while since we last visited the 1964 New York World's Fair. Let's go there today, shall we?  First up is this image of guests walking past the American Express pavilion. What goes on there? At the entrance to this pavilion, a million dollars' worth of real currency from many nations "grows" on a money tree; inside, the official scale model of the World's Fair is on exhibit. The pavilion also offers various services including foreign exchange, check cashing, the sale of American Express travelers cheques and information on all aspects of the Fair. Meanwhile, there was a b ..read more

FYI, today marks the 6,500th GDB post! I normally don't celebrate such a thing, but it will be almost two years until #7,000, so I might as well mention it! Aw yeah, it's Classic Tomorrowland time! Some might argue that it's the best time of all. Don't argue, just be nice.  It might be June, and it's probably hot, but that doesn't mean that these fellows aren't going to wear their three-piece suits. Aloha shirts and Bermuda shorts are for barbarians. Need a hankie? Ask a guy in a suit! You can tell from their body language that they really want to buy a souvenir hat (those ostrich plume ..read more

I almost always enjoy looking at photos taken from a speeding Monorail. Sometimes you might gat a view of Tomorrowland, or maybe even the motels and restaurants along Harbor Boulevard. But you mostly see the big parking lot, and sometimes Main Street Station. Which is great! This first view is surprisingly clear when you consider that the Monorail was moving at near light-speeds. The parking lot is vast, almost to the horizon, though the Disneyland Hotel looms through the smog. My main impression when looking at this image is the sheer number of Volkswagen Beetles in the lot. You can really o ..read more

You know me, I love Disneyland ephemera. The stuff that most people threw away after their trip! But a few people held on to every scrap for decades.  This first item is a nice, relatively large flyer from the 1965 edition of "Dixieland at Disneyland", a musical extravaganza of jazz and Dixieland music, performed at venues around the park. I love the very 60s graphics on this cover, along with the alternating stripes of red and orange. The horse has flipped his straw hat! Yes, yes, I know the interior is discolored - I actually have a second example of this flyer that is in great shap ..read more

I have a pair of beautiful views from July 1960, both showing the entrance to Frontierland. "But Major, that sounds boring as heck! And you smell funny!". First of all, the picture's AREN'T boring, and secondly: RUDE!  This first one is very pretty, with the reflections in the water (and extension of the castle moat) and the trees and shrubs that help to soften the appearance of the stockade & gated entrance. I was tempted to crop off the shoulder/arm of the person to the right, but decided to leave it be. I wonder if those imposing gates were ever closed for any reason?  Pho ..read more