[Chat] More 1950's Disneyland Kitsch Please!

[DisneyChrisDotCom]

I love the new enhancements made to the Disneyland Hotel, and rather than gutting it and trying to make it something more flashy and new, they instead went a different route, and decided to play up it's original design, adding a lot of classic Disneyland design elements from the 1950's and early 60's. It is funny to think that this era is as far away to us now, as Main Street USA was to the people of 1955 when Disneyland opened. The very time of Disneyland's origins is now nostalgia in itself, and Disneyland's very unique contribution to kitsch pop culture is an important thing to remember and celebrate. It makes me happy that Disney is finally starting to realize this, and that so many appreciate this. I hope they spread some of this feeling more into the park itself as well. One area that could benefit from this concept would be the Fantasyland Theater. I always wished they would make it a more permanent looking structure, and swank it up a notch. One great way to do this would to use elements of Fantasyland's 1950's tournament tent design. Don't try to make it too serious in its design - play up the fun element with crazy colors and tons of flags. The postcard below is an example of what I mean... I would love to see some if this style brought back to Fantasyland.

[Werner]

Re: More 1950's Disneyland Kitsch Please!

I also love that kitschy, pop-culture, "googie" style, and am really glad to hear the hotel is embracing some of that!

[Princess Victoria]

Re: More 1950's Disneyland Kitsch Please!

Disneyland was largely based on "the dreams, the ideals, and the hard facts that created America." American history played a big role in the early park. It would be a shame for them not to pay tribute to when and where they came from. Today, the Disneyland Hotel is no longer the hotel at Disneyland; it's the Disneyland Hotel. It is themed to Disneyland, with the other two hotels having their own themes. I appreciate the vintage approach they took with the redesign. I think they have taken great steps to modernize the hotel with today's technology, yet the decor and theme is based around the park's early days. I don't think we'll see much of this in the park, though, as they probably won't repeat the Hotel's theme in Disneyland. I greatly love the fact that some of 1950s Tomorrowland remains in the park... particularly the Monorail and train stations.

[DisneyChrisDotCom]

Re: More 1950's Disneyland Kitsch Please!

they should have something inside the park that pays tribute to this - perhaps even a great gift shop with all this type of merchandise. In Tomorrowland of Fantasyland.

[CASurfer65]

Re: More 1950's Disneyland Kitsch Please!

they should have something inside the park that pays tribute to this - perhaps even a great gift shop with all this type of merchandise. In Tomorrowland of Fantasyland.

Can you imagine how well a store like that would do? Sure, many would not be interested. But a whole heck of a lot would be. Especially in light of all the annual pass holders who visit the park. I'd be in there all the time.