December 15, 1966 Goodbye Walt, RIP

 

 

You were and still are ‘ The Showman of the World’. We were blessed by your presence.

To be so blessed.

offered without comment

Happy Birthday Disneyland

Thank you WALT. What was just simply roaming thoughts sitting on a bench watching your daughters go round and round became the icon and landmark for 'The Happiest Place on Earth'. For 56 years now, your gates have been opened, the tickets have been sold, the picture in front of the mouse have been taken, a short walk through the tunnel and disbelief is suspended.

There are many sites on the Internet to see pictures and read stories and enjoys other fans company. I hope each of you enjoy whatever remembrance you have planed either at the park or just in your minds. Remember the happy times, the wonderful experiences, the moments of pride in nation and the realization of times past were no different that times present nor times future; to smile with your heart is the true blessing Walt left for us all.

My Friend does the CHOC Walk!

 

I wish to let all of you know that my wonderful “Disney” friend Connie Moreno has signed up again to do the CHOC walk. Please go here and help her reach her goal. This is a wonderful cause and was important to Walt himself.

I know times are hard and we all have our own needs, but now is also the time we must remember the needs of others. Every little bit adds up and will be a blessing to children in need.

Thank you and if you have the time, let Connie know you are with her every step in the park.

Here is the link to Connie’s blog and you can go from there to her donation page.

Happy Birthday Disneyland

I am not sure it is possible to capture the true scope and meaning of what occurred 55 years ago today? Maybe Walt knew, I am sure he hoped; but anyone else? Those who's talents were tapped, those who had toiled for the past year and a day in the dirt, the staff; any of them? Did they really have a clue what this dream was about?

All those years ago there was a 100 acre parking lot which cost a quarter for the day and a ticket at the gate cost you a dollar for an adult and 50 cents for a child. Water fountains were few and far between due to a plumbers strike and the pavement wasn't cured and dry. It was hot. The river boat Mark Twain almost flooded because it was unsure what the load capacity was. Doh!

It is so much to so many. It was a testament to the 'Showman of the World', it is a source of enjoyment to the child in almost all who visit. Even on a hot and crowed day. It is forced prospective to anyone who enters. It is a dispensation of belief to all. The thrill of new paint, the assurance of cleanliness where cleanliness is of most importance, it is the smell of popcorn and it is the tears of a lost balloon fading from your child's sight, high in the air riding the wind. It's all that and more.

It is where cartoon characters live and where candy is made. It is a reason to smile. It is the happiest place on earth after all. There are detractors; but they are few. There are dying children whose lives are made whole by a visit; if just for the day.

 

This is a 1954 publicity picture of Walt for the TV series Disneyland from my collection. It was this TV show which provided (some) of the money to build the park.

What was where fifty five years ago:

Main Street USA:

Disneyland Fire Department - horse drawn and chemical equipment

Disneyland Street Railway - 4 horse drawn cars

Horse drawn station wagon (4)

Main Street Cinema - with 6 performances of silent movies, accompanied by pianist

Disney Penny Arcade

Shooting Gallery

Arcade Machines

Santé Fe & Disneyland passenger train and its six cars

Adventureland:

Explorer's boat ride - 7 boats

Frontierland:

Conestoga Wagons, Buggies, Buckboards and Surreys

Davy Crockett museum-theatre

Golden Horseshoe

Mark Twain river boat (turned out that the capacity was around 300 people)

Pack Mules - 2 packs, 1 lead horse and 9 mules in each group

Disneyland Stage Lines - 3 stages with 4 hitch

Fantasyland:

Canal Boats of the World - 8 boats

Casey Jr. Train Ride - 2 trains

Dumbo Aerial Ride - 10 Dumbo's

King Arthur Carrousel - 72 horses

Mad Tea Party - 8 cups

Mickey Mouse Theatre - seats 400

Mr. Toad's Wild Ride - 8 cars

Peter Pan Ride - 7 galleons

Snow White Ride - 8 cars

Tomorrowland:

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea - Exhibit

Autopia Freeway - 32 cars, 1 special Disneyland car, 4 police cars and 3 extra cars

Space Station X-1

Speed Boat Ride - 14 boats

TWA's Rocket Ride to the Moon - (Diana/Luna) accommodating 104 passengers each

Walt dedicating the park on this day in 1955 from my collection.

Dedication Plaque (unknown source)

Early 55’ aerial of Fantasy and Tomorrowland from my collection.Note what was referred to as either Snow or Holiday Mountain above the Castle which was dirt that had been dug from various parts of the park. Later to become location of the Matterhorn.

I stumbled upon a tree.

Upon building the park, all the trees were tagged for either removal or to be kept in place. There were different colored ribbons which were tied around the trunk of almost all the existing trees. Well, wouldn’t you know it, the person who came to remove or leave said trees was colorblind. This isn’t that story but does provide some insight into the parks very early days.

Another tree related story and quote of Walt’s is just prior to the opening to the park the press was invited to take a first hand look at the parks progress. Everyone by now knows of the forced perspective used in the park with regards to all the buildings and structures. A reporter noticed there was a lot of live vegetation (read as trees) and upon questioning Walt about their use and on how to deal with their growth, Walt responded:

“Trees have no scale.”

Why do I share these stories with you? Well, I continually get amazed but the showman’s ability to just astutely observe and then bring a mere glance of something as mundane and everyday as a tree to become a beloved symbol of excitement and adventure. I had never read nor knew of this ‘ LITTLE ‘ tidbit of park history. Check this out:

A shout out to a fellow blogger

I would call your attention to one of the many Disney blogs which I follow:

This morning Vintage Disneyland Tickets is running an excellent post entitled 'Where it all started'.

This is a look at the Merry-Go-Round at Griffith Park... and I will let that site tell you the story if you are unaware of it. Enjoy!

43 years ago today.

DISNEYLAND DAZED
By Thom Barley
Santa Ana Register Staff Writer
December 15, 1966 / Afternoon Edition

“Feel? Nothing yet. I’m so numb ... I felt like this when they told me President Kennedy was dead.”
“I was trying hard and now you’ve made me cry. I’m hurt deep inside. To think that that marvelous, marvelous man won’t be back ... “

“Mr. Disney stood right there and told me that when his apartment was finished my group was to come and play for him ... Said we played his kinda music. All I can say is that he played my kinda music too.”

The tributes came from Disneyland employees who were desperately trying to carry out an unprecedented instruction from the top brass: “Carry on normally. Behave as if nothing had happened.”

For once, a Magic Kingdom order wasn’t being carried out very well.

Guide Suc McKinnon, 19, took a firm grip on her reception table near the Main Gate and a deep breath before she answered our question. She spoke slowly and clearly. “I’m just empty inside. I wouldn’t have thought that such a thing could happen. I thought Mr. Disney was getting better.” Her companion, Sally Sherbin, 19, took over as Sue nervously shuffled papers. “I felt like this when they told me President Kennedy was dead.”

“We should close Disneyland if only for a day,” said Carol Paul, 21, trying hard to maintain her composure as she welcomed visitors to a Frontierland saloon. “He was a marvelous man, a good and kind man,” the Anaheim girl went on. “We were all on a first name basis with him and he wouldn’t have it any other way. This has been the biggest shock of my life and I have an idea that I haven’t really accepted the news yet.”

Reactions from Disneyland’s young visitors ranged from tongue-stilling astonishment to disbelief. Susan Burky, 7, of San Francisco, happily confirmed that she knew just who Walt Disney was -- “I’ve seen him a lot on TV.”

But she stopped smiling when she was told that Walt Disney, the man indirectly responsible for the “Mouseketeer” hat her father had bought her a few moments ago, had died that morning. “Yes, I’m sorry,” she said. “No, I don’t know what to say ... . ”

So it was with a shocked David Squire, 10, of Urbana, Illinois, and Sandy, 14, Carol, 12, and Janet Fritzen, 10, of San Francisco.
Overlooking New Orleans Square, we wandered through what had been, we understood, one of Disneyland’s closely guarded secrets: a suite of rooms which Walt Disney was to have moved into on January 15.

Painter Ernest Hart of Santa Ana interrupted his masterly glazing of a fireplace to acknowledge, with a sad smile, that he had heard of the death of the man who would have been admiring that beautiful fireplace a month from now.

Below a balcony of the executive suite, a Disneyland quartet was preparing to entertain the incoming crowds and obviously trying valiantly to “behave as if nothing had happened.”

“He loved to hear us,” smiled Herman Mitchell. “He told us, not very long ago, that when his apartment was ready he wanted us to come in there and play some Dixieland. “I told him, ‘Walt, just let us know when and we’ll be around.' ”

They weren’t playing Dixieland as we made our way to the Main Gate. We couldn’t place that slow blues by name but we’re sure that Mr. Disney would have enjoyed it.

Sometimes, a newsman gets his best reactions when he’s back at the office, pulling his story together.

Mrs. Ilse Henry of Newport Beach phoned in to ask: “Is it true that Walt Disney is dead?” “Yes, ma’am, I’m afraid it is.” The voice of a child broke in, apparently via an extension phone: “He’s dead,” but it’s Christmas!” “She didn’t believe it,” the obviously upset Mrs. Henry added.

“Sure, we’ll carry on, just like they said. But it isn’t going to be easy.” Jeri Heffner, 20, was feeding the sparrows at her Floral Market stand “because I just had to something.” She responded to a question with unseeing eyes. “Look, that’s ‘Fatty’ over there,” she pointed out. “He comes every day and he eats too much. It’s better to keep busy like this. I guess I’m just stunned at the news, that’s all ... “

Orders or no orders, Linda Lee, 19, a soda counter waitress quickly abandoned her forced smile and wept. “Oh, he was a wonderful, wonderful person,” sobbed the San Francisco girl. “Nothing you or anybody can say is going to make this any easier. I met him several times here and I ... I’m sorry,” Linda cried, “I’m very, very sorry ... .”

Walt on What’s My Line

This is the Nov. 11th 1956 appearance of Walt Disney on What’s My Line. What is interesting to see is the famous eyebrow raising of Walt’s. Also of interest is his ‘down beat’ almost secretive attitude of what he was planning for Disneyland. Also, the money plug by J. Lewis is funny especially today. For fans of older TV game shows and of Walt Disney, enjoy this look into the past. It was a different time when TV was new. 

 

 

I am reminded of the time Walt was asked about running for political office to which he responded…

"Why be a governor or senator when you can be king of Disneyland?"

To all who come to this happy place..

Welcome!

Happy Birthday Disneyland. Thanks for the wonderful and happy memories. You look pretty good for being 54.

Yes, I know the official opening was July 17, 1955; however, I am getting it kicked off early in remembrance of the 'dry run' held on the 16th. I somehow would rather have been there on that day if for no other reason than to experience the true birthing pains which are a part of the lore and history of the park.

matterhorn

ok, if the castle and mark twain are icons, then matterhorn mountain is surly the landmark. opening as part of the 59’ tomorrowland expansion, the mountain was latter moved to be a part of fantasyland. a move on paper only. see old tickets and park maps. i have never heard or read a real explanation.

there is a rec-room in the upper part of the mountain put there to have a place for the climbers to have a rest. in an effort to make their time pass, a basketball hoop was installed. the original climbers were members of a local sierra club group.

an interesting fact: the matterhorn was the first ever tubular steel rollercoaster built. prior, they were wood.

in it’s original form, they was a single bobsled which provided a very smooth ride. later, the tandem car setup was adopted to increase ride capacity.  another common debate is which of the tracks provide the better ride? most people and i believe the tomorrowland side entrance provides the better trip down the mountain.

here is an especially pleasing look at the matterhorn at night.

the idea came to walt during filming of third man on the mountain. considered ‘impossible’ by many at the time, walt simply smiled and uttered his famous quote:

It's kind of fun to do the impossible.

next time we head into tomorrow!

beloved by most; accursed by the ear

to continue in fantasyland, today we make our way to it’s a small world. put your ear plugs in now as that song will be with you the remainder of the day.

originally built for the 64’ worlds fair, this attraction MAY Just be the most beloved attraction in the park.

here we see the entry motif clock.

 

believe it or not, the track (waterway) is officially referred to as the seven seaways.

and an interior shot (referenced ~ latin america)

and now the controversy:

this attraction just recently reopened after a long refurbishment and ride rehab. god love mary blair, the internet went into a crazy ‘civil war’ over the changes made to the ride. “THEY” updated and added several references to disney characters and films. i as a purest ride the fence here because walt himself often changed and updated attractions calling it “plus-ing”. i also am in favor of an updated ‘star tours (2)’ if you will. you can find both sides of this argument well represented on the web. just a few weeks ago, my daughter and i were in discussion on this very subject. for the purest in all of you, here are some pictures of walt taken on opening day for iasm from my collection:

one of the cool things long filtered away is that on opening day, all the kids from various countries and regions around the world brought and poured into the waterway, water from the rivers, seas and oceans from their native countries.

i hope you enjoyed our look at iasw and tune in next time for a look at the mage’s favorite ride in the park.

designing disney – imagineering and the art of the show

turned out to be a special wednesday after all. comics this morning and a ‘ups’ delivery from amazon.com this afternoon.

my love of disneyland gets another fix and my daughter gets another part of my life to pass down. meet mr. john hench.

john joined disney in may 1939 as a sketch artist  and worked up to imagineering and served as senior vice president of ‘wed’.

his claim to fame is he was responsible for the look, feel and ambiance  of the original ‘tomorrowland’ and became a legend with the 1959 redo and addition of tomorrowland adding the matterhorn,monorail and submarine voyage attractions. hence becoming know as ‘the guru of disney design’.

 

over the years john has had control over almost every aspect of design and development at both parks including such attractions as space mountain and has worked on such films as 20,000 leagues under the sea.

this wonderful book will become a treasured addition to my WALT DISNEY collection.

competition for the mouse

in the early days’ felix ruled the young cartoon world (sometimes referred to as the golden age). he only ran into one problem. no talk-ie. walt had the foresight to make his cartoons with sound and then in color. the mouse won the cartoon battle and felix was regulated to second place.

sometimes, i no talk-ie; i just hope i am not regulated to second place. although, felix does look like he is having a good time fishing. maybe not so bad being the runner up.

sketch by my daughter, dated 1996

"Fantasy, if it's really convincing, can't become dated, for the simple reason that it represents a flight into a dimension that lies beyond the reach of time. In this new dimension, whatever it is, nothing corrodes or gets run down at the heel, or gets to look ridiculous like, say, the celluloid collar or the bustle. And nobody gets any older." - Walt Disney

a victory after a lot of effort.

yes, i have written snail mail. e-mails. corresponded with like minded friends. wrote more mail. finally, finally; disney(land) comes to its senses and will be re-opening Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln. i have shared with you some of my happy memories of this wonderful show in the past and what a part of my family’s disneyland going experience it was.

with the return of the subs (all be it as nemo), refurbishment of IASW earlier this year and now this. there is hope that the peoplemover is also on the minds of imaginers and suits at the park.

it is good to have a victory when it comes to the park. my belief is that the meanings of walt was to add to the park not close the old and add the bad new! i by no means know, but that's my belief and i’m sticking to it.

YES, Mr. Lincoln is coming back. this is a victory.

finally, one for the girls

one of the really cool things about being a grandfather to boys is, you have a lot of stuff which they can relate to after you are long gone. my two grandsons’  have a lot to remember me when that time comes.

as you all know by now i have a love of comics and disney. well, today, i finally got a legacy for my grand-daughters which encompass both of those hobbies. after a year of waiting and searching by charlie, i finally got disney comics the classic collection.

for the first and only time that i am aware of; all the rare disney comic books are in one collection.

the collection:

walt disney’s snow white and the seven dwarfs, 1944

walt disney’s bambi, 1942

walt disney’s dumbo, 1941

walt disney’s alice in wonderland, 1951

walt disney’s peter pan, 1953

short of collecting all of the originals, which would be fairly hard and a little expensive; this volume (published once in 2006 and limited) by disney enterprises, inc.; is a wonderful addition to my collection and it will go to my girls. i hope they will someday come to know how important this is to go from me to them. i am excited and i trust it will be a warm and worthy legacy from me.

 

take care girls and i hope you will enjoy this special book. it was hard for me to get. i love each of you in a way that i hope you will someday know.

 

gosh, grand-daughters are hard!

December 15, 1966

December 15, 1966

TO: All Employees
FROM: Roy Disney

The death of Walt Disney is a loss to all the people of the world. In everything he did Walt had an intuitive way of reaching out and touching the hearts and minds of young and old alike. His entertainment was an international language. For more than forty years people have looked to Walt Disney for the finest quality in family entertainment.

There is no way to replace Walt Disney. He was an extraordinary man. Perhaps there will never be another like him. I know that we who worked at his side for all these years will always cherish the years and the minutes we spent in helping Walt Disney entertain the people of the world. The world will always be a better place because Walt Disney was its master showman.

As President and Chairman of the Board of Walt Disney Productions, I want to assure the public, our stockholders and each of our more than four thousand employees that we will continue to operate Walt Disney's company in the way that he has established and guided it. Walt Disney spent his entire life and almost every waking hour in the creative planning of motion pictures, Disneyland, television shows and all the other diversified activities that have carried his name through the years. Around him Walt Disney gathered the kind of creative people who understood his way of communicating with the public through entertainment. Walt's ways were always unique and he built a unique organization. A team of creative people that he was justifiably proud of.

I think Walt would have wanted me to repeat his words to describe the organization he built over the years. Last October when he accepted the “Showman of the World” award in New York, Walt said, “The Disney organization now has more than four thousand employees. Many have been with us for over thirty years. They take great pride in the organization which they helped to build. Only through talent, labor and dedication of this staff could any Disney project get off the ground. We all think alike in the ultimate pattern.”

Much of Walt Disney's energies had been directed to preparing for this day. It was Walt's wish that when the time came he would have built an organization with the creative talents to carry on as he had established and directed it through the years. Today this organization has been built and we will carry out this wish.

Walt Disney preparation for the future has a solid, creative foundation. All of the plans for the future that Walt had begun -- new motion pictures, the expansion of Disneyland, television production and our Florida and Mineral King projects -- will continue to move ahead. That is the way Walt wanted it to be.