Video 1950s Disneyland & Disneyland Hotel Footage

[oldhotelguy]

How about a little fun. I recently obtained a vintage film which featured footage of Disneyland and the Disneyland Hotel from the 1950s. I have clipped out this footage and pasted it below.


1950's Disneyland & Disneyland Hotel footage. Not sure of dates although I would say this is some time in 1956. Strange that there are no people in Disneyland. Doesn't look like the shops area of the Disneyland Hotel is open for business although the Gourmet Restaurant may be. Gourmet opened in February, 1956. Pool has no people and it opened in June of 1956. Missing some items in the pool area like the cabanas for dressing which were added last, just prior to opening and no lounge chairs around the pool. I can even see a truck parked on Main Street inside Disneyland in one part of the film.

Any guesses to specific dates? Please provide evidence and reasoning for your input.

[ScottG]

Re: 1950s Disneyland & Disneyland Hotel Footage

That's fascinating. It kinda looks like DL isn't even open yet.

[CASurfer65]

Re: 1950s Disneyland & Disneyland Hotel Footage

That's fascinating. It kinda looks like DL isn't even open yet.

I was going to say the same thing.

Hard to say; all I know is another great find, hotel guy!

[oldhotelguy]

Re: 1950s Disneyland & Disneyland Hotel Footage

There has to be some clues in this footage to at least give a ballpark estimate of the date.

[oldhotelguy]

Re: 1950s Disneyland & Disneyland Hotel Footage

I was going to say the same thing.

Hard to say; all I know is another great find, hotel guy!

Thanks!!

[4Apples4Disney]

Re: 1950s Disneyland & Disneyland Hotel Footage

Amazing! I don't even know what else to say!

[Druggas]

Re: 1950s Disneyland & Disneyland Hotel Footage

I'm pretty sure I see a 56 Chevy convertible in that footage.

[ScottG]

Re: 1950s Disneyland & Disneyland Hotel Footage

I'm pretty sure I see a 56 Chevy convertible in that footage.

The white one? I see it too so it could be late-mid 1955.

[Druggas]

Re: 1950s Disneyland & Disneyland Hotel Footage

The white one? I see it too so it could be late-mid 1955.

Yep, the white one.

[Harvey DeBunny]

Re: 1950s Disneyland & Disneyland Hotel Footage

Always fascinated by how much has, and how much has not changed.

[oldhotelguy]

Re: 1950s Disneyland & Disneyland Hotel Footage

I am thinking this footage has to be before June of 1956. I can still see ladders and construction at the Disneyland Hotel and again, the pool does not appear to be open.

[Druggas]

Re: 1950s Disneyland & Disneyland Hotel Footage

I am thinking this footage has to be before June of 1956. I can still see ladders and construction at the Disneyland Hotel and again, the pool does not appear to be open.

If I remember correctly, Chevrolet would announce their new car line-up in October, so that would make sense that it was a 56 Chevy in that movie.

[jchamb268]

Re: 1950s Disneyland & Disneyland Hotel Footage

Thank you

[Mojave]

Re: 1950s Disneyland & Disneyland Hotel Footage

That's fascinating. It kinda looks like DL isn't even open yet.

Or the footage was shot on one of the days Disneyland was closed - was it Mondays and Tuesdays?

[Bob Weaver]

Re: 1950s Disneyland & Disneyland Hotel Footage

At 0:44 is a terrific shot of the long-gone Katella entrance to the parking lot!

It was definitely shot on a day the park was closed. In the off-season (not summer and not the holidays) the park was closed on Mondays (1955 to 1957) and on both Mondays and Tuesdays (1958 to 1985). During the summer and holiday seasons it was open 7 days a week. At least I think those dates are correct. Someone with better knowledge than me can verify this. I remember it being closed on both Mondays and Tuesdays when I was a kid.

[whydoyoucare]

Re: 1950s Disneyland & Disneyland Hotel Footage

a certain someone would probably know more however haven't seen him in a while though i'm not much one to come around often myself

[oldhotelguy]

Re: 1950s Disneyland & Disneyland Hotel Footage

Got this from a good friend:

Definitely betweenmid-Jan and end of may 1956.

The Prof Keller sign is up, so that makes it after Jan 1956.

Maintenance is being done during the day, so the park is closed. That' makes it before June 1956.

It looks like the Island is not yet finished--but it's kind of hard to see as the boat is in the way. If I had to take a guess, I'd say Feb/March 1956.

[jenmurray]

Re: 1950s Disneyland & Disneyland Hotel Footage

Amazing. <3

[oldhotelguy]

Re: 1950s Disneyland &amp; Disneyland Hotel Footage

One thing I just noticed, there is still construction going on in the administration wing of the Disneyland Hotel. This puts this in the first part of 1956.

[CASurfer65]

Re: 1950s Disneyland &amp; Disneyland Hotel Footage

I think I find some of this old footage of the Disneyland Hotel as fascinating as the park itself in many ways. So many memories.

Never stayed there as I'm an OC local, but being the Golden Age Thinker that I am, I am fascinated by anything retro, and I would love to visit that time period again!

As for park operations, when I first began working at the park in '83 we were closed on Monday and Tuesday. I think Bob W. said that lasted until '85? That sounds about right. Can't totally remember myself though.