Sleeping Beauty Castle in 1956

Some days, only a bit of retro Disneyland art will fit the bill. Today is the day. This piece showcasing Sleeping Beauty Castle comes from 1956 Kodak guide. My father-in-law worked for the company for over 30 years, and they were very good to him! Good to us too, as our early days of marriage were filled with tons of Disneyland passports and free developing on our film. 

Back then, it was a kindler, simpler world. A world where employees worked hard to make others successful and CEOs were not in it to fleece the employees and customers so they could retire with hundreds of millions of dollars!

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Beautiful Black and White Disneyland

The year:1956 The place: Fantasyland at Disneyland in Anaheim California. The map: A piece of artwork designed by someone- most likely in Imagineering- to give a feel of what Walt Disney's magical little kingdom would look like. These pieces were created to spark the imagination of kids and forever kids all over the United States. Flying elephants, spinning tea cups, a pirate ship, and a chance to ride into Monstro the Whale from Pinocchio. Who wouldn't love that? It worked like a charm! 

Millions visited this "Happiest Place on Earth", opening the door to Walt Disney World and then outside the country: Tokyo Disneyland, EuroDisney (now Disneyland Paris), Hong Kong Disneyland, and now Shanghai Disneyland. Where will the next Magic Kingdom unveil itself? My bet is India. We shall see.

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Vintage Disneyland Map

Freebies at Walt Disney's new Magic Kingdom were not unheard of. And sometimes, they yielded some great treasures. In 1956,  Bank of America, one of Disneyland's proud sponsors, offered this map to any guest at request. A stylized look to the map, now retro but then very consistent with the times, gave visitors a quick look at the attractions, shops, and eateries to be enjoyed.

A quick look finds some now long gone favorites: the Conestoga Wagon Ride, Stagecoach Rides, the Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship Restaurant, and more. Miss the Welch's Grape Juice Bar? I do, but here it is, right on the map. 

Back then as now, even bathrooms were marketed, hence the Bathroom of the Future in Tomorrowland. (Take that, Tangled restrooms at Florida's New Fantasyland!)

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)