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The other day, Shorpy posted this photo of Saratoga Springs, which Dave described as "looking more than a little like one of those idealized Disney 'Main Streets'." One perspicacious commenter pointed out that Disney's relationship to the historic period portrayed in his Main Street (approx. 50 years past), would be like ours to the 1950s and 60s. So here you have it: Main Street in Disneyland, August 1963, roughly at the mid-point between the then-then and now. That's my brother in the gray shirt and Hush Puppies caught in mid-stride. I was just turning 17 when I shot this on Montgomery Ward's house-brand 35mm color slide film. View full size.
Our family from Vancouver would visit our grandparents who lived in L.A. back then. I was only 5 but do remember my first trip to Disneyland back in the summer of 1963. I must find that old photo album !! Would be funny if we were there the same day.
Near the Main Street Cinema is the upstairs window sign advertising the former Disneyland tobacco shop named for the late Mr. Van Arsdale France, a former San Diegan and lifelong tobacco user, as was his famous friend Mr. Disney. "Van" was a greatly valued longtime Disney employee who created the instructional manual used in training newly hired "Cast Members" in the hospitable art of gracefully dealing with the public in all situations. It was to be foremost that park visitors are guests and to be treated accordingly, whether on Disneyland's July 1955 opening day or 57 years later in July 2012.
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