Just as the other "Lands" at Disneyland had special marquees, Bear Country was to have had an iconic statue and dedication plaque at its entrance. Imagineer Marc Davis painted these watercolor concepts in 1971, but the statues were never built.
Wednesday, October 08, 2008
Country Bear Jamboree...90¢
Tucked just around the bend at the entrance to Disneyland's Bear Country was the Ticket and Information Booth. The friendly person sweltering inside would be happy to provide you with a ticket to see the Country Bears for 90¢. Or, for 75¢, you can paddle a Davy Crockett Explorer Canoe and do some sweltering yourself. This image is from the late 1970s.Disneyland's version of the Pacific Northwest -Bear Country - opened in 1972 - and it's star attraction was the Country Bear Jamboree, an Audio-Animatronic stage musical originally planned for Walt Disney's Sky Crown Resort in California's Mineral King Valley.
Monday, October 06, 2008
Swiss Family Treehouse...25¢
The ticket and information kiosks that had dispensed pastel attraction tickets to Disneyland visitors for nearly 30 years, permanently shuttered their little windows in 1982. Though a few of the original ticket booths still exist in the park (Alice in Wonderland's giant mushroom, for instance) others, like this beautiful little thatched hut, have disappeared forever.
I really like these compact microcosms of themed architecture. Did you notice the Tiki Room drum attached to the pole in the photos above? Branching out from the drum are two gas torches to spread a flickering glow over the area after sundown.
Ten attractions for $3.75!
I'd like to buy $10 worth of Swiss Family Treehouse, please.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Monday, September 22, 2008
Disneyland Steam Trains Illustration 1955
Part of an original pencil layout created in 1955 for a full-color newspaper section presenting some of the " many delights and wonders that are yours to enjoy at Disneyland."
The text for this page:
ALL ABOARD…AT DISNEYLAND
These are little trains by comparison with Santa Fe’s present day streamliners and powerful freight diesels, but in their day they did an important job of moving passengers and freight.
Built to accurate scale, you’ll find an inspection and ride on these trains one of the thrilling adventures awaiting you at Disneyland.
The “E. P. Ripley,” Replica of one of Santa Fe’s early trains, pulls into the Santa Fe Station at the entrance to Disneyland. The 5/8 scale version of the original train will carry visitors on a complete circuit of the 60-acre Disneyland park. Weighing 15 tons, the old-fashioned steam locomotive will pull six coaches accommodating 300 passengers.
The “C. K. Holiday” is the newest old freight train in America. Its run of 1-1/8 miles is made at 20 miles per hour pulling 3 cattle cars, 2 gondola cars and a little red caboose.
And for an adventure of travel on your next trip East, ride one of the modern streamliners in Santa Fe’s famous fleet of Chiefs –The Chief, El Capitan, or the world-famous Super Chief.
Part of an original pencil layout created in 1955 for a full-color newspaper section presenting some of the " many delights and wonders that are yours to enjoy at Disneyland."
The text for this page:
ALL ABOARD…AT DISNEYLAND
These are little trains by comparison with Santa Fe’s present day streamliners and powerful freight diesels, but in their day they did an important job of moving passengers and freight.
Built to accurate scale, you’ll find an inspection and ride on these trains one of the thrilling adventures awaiting you at Disneyland.
The “E. P. Ripley,” Replica of one of Santa Fe’s early trains, pulls into the Santa Fe Station at the entrance to Disneyland. The 5/8 scale version of the original train will carry visitors on a complete circuit of the 60-acre Disneyland park. Weighing 15 tons, the old-fashioned steam locomotive will pull six coaches accommodating 300 passengers.
The “C. K. Holiday” is the newest old freight train in America. Its run of 1-1/8 miles is made at 20 miles per hour pulling 3 cattle cars, 2 gondola cars and a little red caboose.
And for an adventure of travel on your next trip East, ride one of the modern streamliners in Santa Fe’s famous fleet of Chiefs –The Chief, El Capitan, or the world-famous Super Chief.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Monday, September 15, 2008
Add This To My Profile
A special announcement to loyal friends and followers of this blog...I have recently been invited to "guest blog" at one of my favorite websites in the whole world, "Dinosaurs and Robots" ... a site that you will note has forever been present in my sidebar of favorites. If you're smart, you will have found it by now, too, and already know the love I feel. "D & R" is hosted by the inventive Mr. Jalopy and Mark Frauenfelder, whom you might run into later this week in Chicago at the American Maker event. I wish I could be there! Mr. Jalopy was a featured guest on "Michael Feldman's Whad'Ya Know?" last week and does incredible magic reworking worn out old things into useful and inspired NEW things. Go check out "Dinosaurs and Robots" -- I guarantee you'll discover some inspiration there.
A special announcement to loyal friends and followers of this blog...I have recently been invited to "guest blog" at one of my favorite websites in the whole world, "Dinosaurs and Robots" ... a site that you will note has forever been present in my sidebar of favorites. If you're smart, you will have found it by now, too, and already know the love I feel. "D & R" is hosted by the inventive Mr. Jalopy and Mark Frauenfelder, whom you might run into later this week in Chicago at the American Maker event. I wish I could be there! Mr. Jalopy was a featured guest on "Michael Feldman's Whad'Ya Know?" last week and does incredible magic reworking worn out old things into useful and inspired NEW things. Go check out "Dinosaurs and Robots" -- I guarantee you'll discover some inspiration there.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Monday, September 08, 2008
Saturday, September 06, 2008
DOWN BY THE STATION...
Part of an original pencil layout created in 1955 for a full-color newspaper section presenting some of the " many delights and wonders that are yours to enjoy at Disneyland."
The text for this page:
"At Disneyland this summer (1955), you'll see and ride replicas of the Santa Fe trains that, back in 1869, began pushing their way West --opening a vast frontier to settlement and commerce."
Part of an original pencil layout created in 1955 for a full-color newspaper section presenting some of the " many delights and wonders that are yours to enjoy at Disneyland."
The text for this page:"At Disneyland this summer (1955), you'll see and ride replicas of the Santa Fe trains that, back in 1869, began pushing their way West --opening a vast frontier to settlement and commerce."
Wednesday, September 03, 2008
Wonkywagen
Last week I posted three paintings I made for the 30th anniversary of "The Love Bug." This week I'm going to drive the extra mile by featuring a hardlines item I did for the same “retro Herbie” assortment.
This is a VW-shaped “trinket box” for holding all your... you know... trinkets.
Honestly it’s not even large enough to contain a spark plug, but as with most “collectibles” useful function isn't really the point.
The exciting challenge was translating the wonky graphic style of the flat artwork into a similarly wonky 3-D sculpture. To help make sure the shapes would be appealing, I made a preliminary Herbie out of Sculpey and cast up a couple of them in resin.
(Can you tell he has a subliminal happy face?
Awww...)
I painted one of the resin casts and worked out the racing stripes and 53s on pieces of paper over the contours.
This prototype was just three inches long – but it was a handy reference when sculpting the final version.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
The Love Bug!
For my amazing nephew Jeremy who is celebrating his birthday today, here are three Herbie paintings that I did for the 30th Anniversary of "The Love Bug" about nine years ago. (Jeremy is a serious Herbie fan -since about the age of four - and he can tell the difference between a good Herbie movie and a bad Herbie movie. He's seen 'em all.)
Though not intended to be final art, these "exploratory" Photoshop images nevertheless ended up on an assortment of merchandise from travel mugs to mousepads for the Walt Disney Gallery stores. I confess I borrowed heavily from "Toot, Whistle, Plunk and Boom" and the commercial animation of Halas and Batchelor for the look of these.
In 2005, I was surprised to see elements from all three images show up in the product development style guide for "Herbie, Fully Loaded".
A tip of the sunroof and a "beep beep" on the horn to Jeremy today! Hope he's having a great one!
For my amazing nephew Jeremy who is celebrating his birthday today, here are three Herbie paintings that I did for the 30th Anniversary of "The Love Bug" about nine years ago. (Jeremy is a serious Herbie fan -since about the age of four - and he can tell the difference between a good Herbie movie and a bad Herbie movie. He's seen 'em all.)
Though not intended to be final art, these "exploratory" Photoshop images nevertheless ended up on an assortment of merchandise from travel mugs to mousepads for the Walt Disney Gallery stores. I confess I borrowed heavily from "Toot, Whistle, Plunk and Boom" and the commercial animation of Halas and Batchelor for the look of these.
In 2005, I was surprised to see elements from all three images show up in the product development style guide for "Herbie, Fully Loaded".A tip of the sunroof and a "beep beep" on the horn to Jeremy today! Hope he's having a great one!
Monday, August 25, 2008
Friday, August 22, 2008
Sunday, August 10, 2008
GOUACHE ALMIGHTY
Today let's revel in some original illustrations created in the late 1950s by a handful of artists for Walt Disney Magazine. Inspired by the immense popularity of the Mickey Mouse Club television program, this high-quality periodical for kids featured stories about young studio stars, as well as articles touching on science, music and the interesting world around us.
Best of all is the sophisticated art direction lavished upon each issue by staff artist Paul Hartley. An accomplished illustrator himself, Hartley is revered today for having designed the look of Walt Disney's Cold War-era classic, Our Friend the Atom, as well as several of the original silk-screened attraction posters for Disneyland.
Here's a comical painting by Hartley for a story called The Pink Hat published in the August 1957 issue. (Click small images to view at larger sizes on Flickr.)
Legendary Disneyland designer Herb Ryman created this modern airport scene for a "Spin and Marty" adventure in 1959.
Al Dempster, a golden boy of Little Golden Books, painted this fantastic depiction of Johnny Appleseed for the series "Heroes of American Folklore" in 1957.
The uncredited title illustration for "Yellowstone: Land of Burning Mountains" published in June 1957, may have been the work of writer Milt Banta, who was also an artist. Banta died at a very young age, at 36, in late 1959.
Can't get enough of this good stuff?
A hug around the neck to Miss Stacia Martin- an illustrious illustrator herself- for identifying the titles and artists of these images. Thanks a million, Stacia!
Saturday, August 02, 2008
Skin Deep
The Restoration of Mr. Bali Hai
No bones about it, today's post is precisely seven years late.
Way back in August 2001 (mere weeks before "9/11" meant anything to us other than the eleventh of September) Jody and I volunteered to rescue an old, rotting lump of wood that had been sitting outdoors in the sun, rain, and salty sea breezes for half a century. Even worse, the lump had been touched, leaned upon, and sometimes even sat upon by hundreds of thousands of people.
Mr. Bali Hai is the world famous Sort-Of-Tiki that has stared down each and every visitor to the Bali Hai Restaurant on Shelter Island in San Diego, California since 1953. And, in our highly-respected opinion this deadpan deity is a bona fide star in the American Pop firmament. The Buster Keaton of Tikis!
Hewn from one massive solid chunk of native Californian Julian Pine by an undocumented carver, Mr. BH is widely recognized thanks to a souvenir ceramic mug in his likeness, carried off to all corners of the world by the bazillions of folks who ordered the "Mr. Bali Hai" cocktail with dinner.
For years Jody and I griped about the color scheme and sorry state of Mr. BH every time we ate at the Bali Hai, and finally we decided to see if we could do something about it. We took some unpaid vacation from work, bought several gallons of latex paint and, with the blessings of the restaurant's owner and the preservationist organization Historic San Diego, we set to work.
It didn't take long to discover that a fresh coat of paint was not going to cut it, as Mr. Bali Hai's troubles turned out to be more than skin deep. Decades of moisture had seeped into his back and a fungus had rotted away some of his insides.
About five pounds of moist, punky wood (think potting soil) had to be removed and the caverns scrubbed with a wire brush to get all contaminated wood out of there. The remaining fibers were flooded with termite pesticide and wood preservative. The "caves" were then coated in sealant, filled in with rock-hard wood putty, fortified with a layer of concrete, primered, painted and sealed again with three coats of marine polyurethane.
Referring to several vintage photographs of Mr.BH, we were able to recreate something close to his original appearance. It was thrilling to hold a 50-year-old photo up to his head and see all the same woodgrain traveling through his face. Somewhere back (we guess in the 1970s) he had been frosted like a cake with about a 1/4 inch of spackle.
We counted six layers of different colors that he has been over the years. You might recall him being Martian green, but did you know that over the years he has been THREE different shades of green? And for awhile his pupils had been bright orange!
Today only one detail is still lacking: the bone through his nose. We had gotten approval to recreate the bone - which we did- out of newly acquired pieces of Julian pine. However a few factors need to be worked out before the bone can be restored....and more on that later....
Not long ago I came across the photos we had taken to document the process. With many of our friends recently in San Diego for Comic-Con, we've been reflecting quite a bit on the stalwart Mr. Hai.
No bones about it, today's post is precisely seven years late.
Way back in August 2001 (mere weeks before "9/11" meant anything to us other than the eleventh of September) Jody and I volunteered to rescue an old, rotting lump of wood that had been sitting outdoors in the sun, rain, and salty sea breezes for half a century. Even worse, the lump had been touched, leaned upon, and sometimes even sat upon by hundreds of thousands of people.
Mr. Bali Hai is the world famous Sort-Of-Tiki that has stared down each and every visitor to the Bali Hai Restaurant on Shelter Island in San Diego, California since 1953. And, in our highly-respected opinion this deadpan deity is a bona fide star in the American Pop firmament. The Buster Keaton of Tikis!
Hewn from one massive solid chunk of native Californian Julian Pine by an undocumented carver, Mr. BH is widely recognized thanks to a souvenir ceramic mug in his likeness, carried off to all corners of the world by the bazillions of folks who ordered the "Mr. Bali Hai" cocktail with dinner.
For years Jody and I griped about the color scheme and sorry state of Mr. BH every time we ate at the Bali Hai, and finally we decided to see if we could do something about it. We took some unpaid vacation from work, bought several gallons of latex paint and, with the blessings of the restaurant's owner and the preservationist organization Historic San Diego, we set to work.
It didn't take long to discover that a fresh coat of paint was not going to cut it, as Mr. Bali Hai's troubles turned out to be more than skin deep. Decades of moisture had seeped into his back and a fungus had rotted away some of his insides.
About five pounds of moist, punky wood (think potting soil) had to be removed and the caverns scrubbed with a wire brush to get all contaminated wood out of there. The remaining fibers were flooded with termite pesticide and wood preservative. The "caves" were then coated in sealant, filled in with rock-hard wood putty, fortified with a layer of concrete, primered, painted and sealed again with three coats of marine polyurethane.
Referring to several vintage photographs of Mr.BH, we were able to recreate something close to his original appearance. It was thrilling to hold a 50-year-old photo up to his head and see all the same woodgrain traveling through his face. Somewhere back (we guess in the 1970s) he had been frosted like a cake with about a 1/4 inch of spackle.
We counted six layers of different colors that he has been over the years. You might recall him being Martian green, but did you know that over the years he has been THREE different shades of green? And for awhile his pupils had been bright orange!
Today only one detail is still lacking: the bone through his nose. We had gotten approval to recreate the bone - which we did- out of newly acquired pieces of Julian pine. However a few factors need to be worked out before the bone can be restored....and more on that later....
Not long ago I came across the photos we had taken to document the process. With many of our friends recently in San Diego for Comic-Con, we've been reflecting quite a bit on the stalwart Mr. Hai.
"Mr. Bali Hai's Restoration" Photo Album.
And of course, next time you're in San Diego, please stop in and say Hai.
And of course, next time you're in San Diego, please stop in and say Hai.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
PASTORAL IN PURPLE
"FANTASY, FANTASY EVERYWHERE—AND WONDERFUL WELCH’S TO DRINK!
Welcome to Welch’s Grape Juice Bar at the Mickey Mouse Theatre in Fantasyland! You’ll know it by those big bunches of luscious Concord Grapes you see in the picture. Head for those—you’ll be heading for the greatest refreshment treat in Disneyland."
(Centaurs and centaurettes, a unicorn, a faun, and several winged cherubs traipse through a Sleeping-Beauty-esque landscape hauling a bounty of Concord grapes. The mural was designed by Eyvind Earle, can't you tell? Make sure to click it to make it bigger!)
"We whistle while we work. We have a reason, too.
We know that we’ll be drinking Welch’s Grape Juice when we’re through."
“Don’t miss the ‘Mr. Toad' ride,” advises the beloved Dopey. You’ll thrill to a series of misadventures in a 1903 automobile, knock over a cow, crash through a barn, and glide through the Pearly Gates. You’ll meet lots of old and good friends in Fantasyland. One of the best, especially when you’re thirsty –is cool, delicious Welch’s Grape Juice."
"Look for the gay and colorful Welch’s Grape Juice Bar right at the Mickey Mouse Theatre. Make it your headquarters for healthful refreshment."
(In 1965 the theater was renamed the Fantasyland Theater and you could catch a humdinger of a show there that summer called "Humdinger!" The Theater and the Juice Bar were torn down in 1982 to make way for Pinocchio's Daring Journey and the Village Haus Restaurant. Nevertheless, this particular area of Fantasyland has left a purple stain on my heart that nobody's ever been able to wash off.)
1970s.
"FANTASY, FANTASY EVERYWHERE—AND WONDERFUL WELCH’S TO DRINK!
Welcome to Welch’s Grape Juice Bar at the Mickey Mouse Theatre in Fantasyland! You’ll know it by those big bunches of luscious Concord Grapes you see in the picture. Head for those—you’ll be heading for the greatest refreshment treat in Disneyland."
(Centaurs and centaurettes, a unicorn, a faun, and several winged cherubs traipse through a Sleeping-Beauty-esque landscape hauling a bounty of Concord grapes. The mural was designed by Eyvind Earle, can't you tell? Make sure to click it to make it bigger!)
"We whistle while we work. We have a reason, too.
We know that we’ll be drinking Welch’s Grape Juice when we’re through."
“Don’t miss the ‘Mr. Toad' ride,” advises the beloved Dopey. You’ll thrill to a series of misadventures in a 1903 automobile, knock over a cow, crash through a barn, and glide through the Pearly Gates. You’ll meet lots of old and good friends in Fantasyland. One of the best, especially when you’re thirsty –is cool, delicious Welch’s Grape Juice."
"Look for the gay and colorful Welch’s Grape Juice Bar right at the Mickey Mouse Theatre. Make it your headquarters for healthful refreshment."
(In 1965 the theater was renamed the Fantasyland Theater and you could catch a humdinger of a show there that summer called "Humdinger!" The Theater and the Juice Bar were torn down in 1982 to make way for Pinocchio's Daring Journey and the Village Haus Restaurant. Nevertheless, this particular area of Fantasyland has left a purple stain on my heart that nobody's ever been able to wash off.)
1970s.
Friday, July 18, 2008
in amazing realistic presence...
Okay, Disneyland, old boy...It's your birthday today, so blow out the candles on your cake and make a wish. Atta park! Now, what did you wish for? Oh, I know it spoils the wish to blow and tell, but tell us anyway.
What does a 53 year old cultural institution wish for? A pretty new Skyway, maybe? How about losing a little weight - you could start with "Honey I Shrunk the Audience"!
I bet you're wishing you could be 10 years old all over again, just like all of us do; a bright-eyed young thing with your Main Street still in its original and best color scheme, a swanky Tahitian Terrace packing 'em in every night, and big bands with big headliners...or at least a little Dixieland jazz. You know, I really miss your Dixieland jazz. How about merchandise that is specific to each of your themed lands - golly, that would be a total diller, wouldn't it? Man!
Say, I'm just thinking, if you were 10 again, Walt would still be around, wouldn't he? I bet you still miss him. We do too - terribly. At least your castle is about to re-open with a beautifully restored "Sleeping Beauty Walk-Thru" attraction - Walt would certainly be thrilled with that, I imagine! Do you think he'd let you drop that awkward "Resort" moniker and let you just be plain ol' Disneyland again? Why not - that's your real name, for goodness sake??
Oh, sorry if I'm getting too personal. How rude. After all, it's YOUR day, and whatever you wish for is your own business. You know, you still look great - a total knockout actually - and I predict a wonderful future for you. I won't say "don't ever change" but just don't stop being yourself, okay? Have a happy, fabulous, amazing birthday, Disneyland - and many, many more. Fifty-three is something to be really proud of...Heck, I'm right behind you myself....a ways!
.....
Today I'm sharing three pieces of 1955 artwork created for a full-color newspaper section advertising the opening of Disneyland. Some of the color illustrations seen here were also printed as the Park's very first souvenir postcards. Pretty cool, huh?
Here is a portion of the text that accompanied this 2-page spread:
"Enter this fascinating realm over the drawbridge of Sleeping Beauty's Castle, whose parapets and towers rise dizzily above you. Here in Fantasyland, Walt Disney recreates the fairytale folk he has immortalized in film, book and television --Peter Pan, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Sleeping Beauty, Mr. Toad from Wind in the Willows, Dumbo, the Flying Elephant, and a host of others. Here they are, close enough to touch, in amazing realistic presence. You may ride them, or stroll with them, in the pirate galleon to Never Never Land, to a mad tea party, whirling with Dumbo in aerial gyration, to the diamond mines with the Seven Dwarfs, to King Arthur's courtyard -- to many happy ports of Fantasy."
The original pencil layout...
...and the same piece with its original vellum overlay containing the text...
And in case you think I'm a day late in my birthday tribute...here's proof that the rest of the world started celebrating a day early! ;-)
And THANK YOU, TONY BAXTER for restoring the Castle Walk-Thru! We can't wait for December to get here, so we can all see it!
Okay, Disneyland, old boy...It's your birthday today, so blow out the candles on your cake and make a wish. Atta park! Now, what did you wish for? Oh, I know it spoils the wish to blow and tell, but tell us anyway. 
What does a 53 year old cultural institution wish for? A pretty new Skyway, maybe? How about losing a little weight - you could start with "Honey I Shrunk the Audience"!
I bet you're wishing you could be 10 years old all over again, just like all of us do; a bright-eyed young thing with your Main Street still in its original and best color scheme, a swanky Tahitian Terrace packing 'em in every night, and big bands with big headliners...or at least a little Dixieland jazz. You know, I really miss your Dixieland jazz. How about merchandise that is specific to each of your themed lands - golly, that would be a total diller, wouldn't it? Man!
Say, I'm just thinking, if you were 10 again, Walt would still be around, wouldn't he? I bet you still miss him. We do too - terribly. At least your castle is about to re-open with a beautifully restored "Sleeping Beauty Walk-Thru" attraction - Walt would certainly be thrilled with that, I imagine! Do you think he'd let you drop that awkward "Resort" moniker and let you just be plain ol' Disneyland again? Why not - that's your real name, for goodness sake??
Oh, sorry if I'm getting too personal. How rude. After all, it's YOUR day, and whatever you wish for is your own business. You know, you still look great - a total knockout actually - and I predict a wonderful future for you. I won't say "don't ever change" but just don't stop being yourself, okay? Have a happy, fabulous, amazing birthday, Disneyland - and many, many more. Fifty-three is something to be really proud of...Heck, I'm right behind you myself....a ways!
.....
Today I'm sharing three pieces of 1955 artwork created for a full-color newspaper section advertising the opening of Disneyland. Some of the color illustrations seen here were also printed as the Park's very first souvenir postcards. Pretty cool, huh?
Here is a portion of the text that accompanied this 2-page spread:
"Enter this fascinating realm over the drawbridge of Sleeping Beauty's Castle, whose parapets and towers rise dizzily above you. Here in Fantasyland, Walt Disney recreates the fairytale folk he has immortalized in film, book and television --Peter Pan, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Sleeping Beauty, Mr. Toad from Wind in the Willows, Dumbo, the Flying Elephant, and a host of others. Here they are, close enough to touch, in amazing realistic presence. You may ride them, or stroll with them, in the pirate galleon to Never Never Land, to a mad tea party, whirling with Dumbo in aerial gyration, to the diamond mines with the Seven Dwarfs, to King Arthur's courtyard -- to many happy ports of Fantasy."
The original pencil layout...
...and the same piece with its original vellum overlay containing the text...
And in case you think I'm a day late in my birthday tribute...here's proof that the rest of the world started celebrating a day early! ;-)
And THANK YOU, TONY BAXTER for restoring the Castle Walk-Thru! We can't wait for December to get here, so we can all see it!
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