Mary Blair and “It’s a Small World”

Posted on July 12, 2013 by Todd

NT0958aIf you know anything about Disneyland history, then you are familiar with the name of Mary Blair.  And if you are familiar with her name, then you’ll know that she had a hand in many Disney films as well as a number of murals at Disneyland, EPCOT and the Contemporary resort in Florida.

Tonight I stumbled across a couple of cards that highlight her work on “It’s a Small World”.  One shows the actual interior of the ride and is a common Disneyland card (NT0985).  The other shows the concept work for this same scene and is found on one of the “Colors of Mary Blair” cards that I picked up at the Disney Family Museum.

DFM_MBT5As someone who has designed a lot of things as an engineer, seeing these two cards side by side is a real treat.  Concept and reality frequently differ in many, often compromised, ways. But here, you really get the sense that Mary was able to work with the engineers and technicians to make her vision become reality without having to sacrifice too much in the process.

Of course, Disney engineers continue to do this today…60 years after the founding of WED Enterprises.  Here’s hoping for many more years to come!

Until next time…

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“But Walt…we make movies.”

Posted on July 8, 2013 by Todd

The other day, right after July 4th, my family and I visited the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk in Santa Cruz, California.  It’s a fun place to visit as long as your expectations aren’t too high…and it has one of the greatest (and oldest) roller coasters in the country.  It’s got rides (like the afore mentioned Giant Dipper) and all of the American “cuisine” you could possibly imagine.  (Or maybe not…have you imagined chocolate covered bacon?!?)

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Lenticular 00011 13638

As we were walking around the Boardwalk, which is situated in a rather scenic area in Santa Cruz, it reminded me of something that the board of the Walt Disney Studios is quoted to have said to Walt Disney when he first proposed the idea of building Disneyland.  They said, “But Walt…we make movies.  Why would we want to get into the carnival business?” (Reference the last issue of twenty-three…the D23 fan magazine.)

Well…history has proven those men to be short sighted, but walking around the boardwalk in Santa Cruz (which is essentially a big carnival on the beach) one can imagine why they had that point of view.  While it’s a lot of fun, and there is plenty to do, there is a certain atmosphere that pervades the place that is just not very immersive.  It doesn’t transport a person.  You are still very much aware of the fact that you are in a place that is contiguous with the parking lot where you parked your car.  We were able to see our car, actually, from the log ride, as well as a giant pile of trash in a service area down below us.

Disneyland_signRealistically though, you do get what you pay for.  All told, for three adults and four kids, we spent a total of about $50 on our visit to the Boardwalk.  Not bad. But all the while, I was thinking of that fantastic sign at Disneyland, “Here you leave today and enter the world of yesterday, tomorrow and fantasy.”  Welcomed by Town Square, Main Street, and the central hub where all the Lands can be accessed really is like walking into a motion picture…and it really does serve to transport a person.

I don’t want to knock the Boardwalk too much, though.  It’s a great place…and the Giant Dipper really is a thrilling ride.  Check it out next time you are in the area!

Until next time…

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Happy July 4th!

Posted on July 4, 2013 by Todd

WDW-00141 55752A quick post today to wish everyone a happy Independence day!  I think Walt and the company he created have done a pretty fantastic job of  weaving patriotic themes throughout all the parks…just like this card says.  I have mentioned before how much I love “Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln” at Disneyland.  It’s hard not to have the patriotic sentiments go into overdrive after sitting through that show!  It’s always on my “must see” list when visiting.

I hope you, your families and friends are able to enjoy the day however you spend it.  And in the mean time…enjoy this patriotic card from the Magic Kingdom as well!

Until next time…

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Unknown Disneyland Postcards?

Posted on July 1, 2013 by Todd

LFA-4_0001When I first started collecting Disney related postcards, there were a few things that I tended to ignore.  Duplicate images, lenticular cards, princess cards (I am a grown man for goodness sake!) and even folders with “scences” from Disneyland.  Over time, I have become more open to these things…yes, even the lenticular princess cards!  While I may be a grown man…I am also a completist!

LFA-4One of the reasons that I started to collect folders was that they often contain images of the park that are not available in any other form.  Case in point…this folder from Fantasyland that contains this image of the Wishing Well next to Snow White’s Grotto.  This well is still there, located just to the right of the castle.  There is another image in this folder of the Dumbo ride, but it is similar enough to other images that I don’t show it here.  These images aren’t “unknown” postcards, they were never published as such.  But, in a way, they are “hidden”.  Unless you choose to open up that folder, you won’t get a chance to see them.

One quick note.  In 1998, a lady named Linda Cervon put together an absolutely fantastic guide to all of the Disneyland postcard folders.  It has all the details and variations for each folder, and all of the “bonus images” not published as individual cards are shown as well.  I might get this checklist up on the site some day, but need to get her permission first!  If you happen to know how I can get a hold of her…please let me know.

Until next time…

P.S.  In case you are wondering…this folder shown is #LFA-4 per Linda’s guide.

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Disneyland Paris – et ses cartes postale!

Posted on June 25, 2013 by Todd

DP-00108 00002Over the last few months, I have been focusing on building the checklist tool and populating it with data from the Nickel Tour book.  We are at 1170 records and counting now…so that work is coming along nicely.  But what of the other parks?  This has created a bit of a conundrum, because I don’t have a complete set of post cards from Disneyland Paris or Tokyo Disneyland Resort, etc.  For that matter, I don’t have a complete set from any of the parks!

Last night though, I took the first step of entering what I do have for Disneyland Paris.  It’s only a handful of cards, but it is a seed upon which a larger database can be formed.  Interestingly, the cards all have numbers that start with 00108.  Later cards that I have seen online do have different numbers, but the cards I have put into the database suggest that the 00108 series was probably the first set to be published and has several hundred cards in it, starting with a number of Disney animated feature film posters in French.  These cards just show the posters, but they are branded “Disneyland Paris” on the reverse (click on either image here to see what I mean)

DP-00108 00314So…while I continue to search for an expert in this area (and to build up my own personal collection), I hope that the cards I do have will give you a flavor of what is out there.  One tip…if you are really serious about collecting these cards, visit delcampe.fr.  This is basically a French version of eBay (and yes, you can always try ebay.fr).  You don’t necessarily need to speak French to buy from these sites…but it helps.

If you happen to know anyone who might qualify as an expert in the area of Disneyland Paris postcards, let me know.  I would love to have them join us here at Disney Postcards.

Until next time…

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Enchanted Tiki Room 50th Anniversary!

Posted on June 23, 2013 by Todd

NT0310I couldn’t let this day go by without an tip of the hat to one of my favorite attractions at Disneyland – The Enchanted Tiki Room.  Today is the 50th Anniversary of its opening at the park!

As a kid I remember being completely enthralled by this show…especially when the thunder clapped and it started pouring rain.  Even though I knew it was bright and sunny outside, it was pretty easy to immerse yourself into that world and think that you really were in the South Pacific.  While I am not as easily transported today, I still put it on the top of my list when visiting Disneyland.  The show is so loaded with nostalgia, it’s impossible not to.

NT0683As far as postcards that refer to the Enchanted Tiki Room, if you go to the checklist and search on “Tiki”  you will get six results.  NT0310 (B-16) is a super common card that is probably the most recognizable card for the attraction.  Other cards all include the entrance to Adventureland, but mention the United Airlines sponsored Enchanted Tiki Room in the card text.  NT0683 is shown here (you can see the United Airline logo above the Tiki room shingle…but it is a little dim).  I do not have NT0681 or NT0682 in my collection…so I don’t have scans of those cards.  NT0699 is the same image as NT0310.

Anyway, imagining a Dole Pineapple float in my hand…I will propose a toast to the Enchanted Tiki Room and its 50 years…here’s to 50 more!

Until next time…

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The 1000th Record in the Database! – Baloo and King Louie at WDW

Posted on June 20, 2013 by Todd

WDW-0072I loved the Jungle Book growing up.  I still do, actually.  Several classic songs, the incredible voice characterizations, the great story.  There is lots to like here.

Probably my favorite scene in the whole movie is when Colonel Hathi is inspecting the troops.  Mowgli, having met up with Hathi’s son, is at the end of the line.  “Ahh… A new recruit, eh?”  And, my favorite line, “I don’t know what the Army is coming to these days.  These young whipper-snappers, who do they think they are?”  J. Pat O’Malley’s voicing here is just brilliant. Interestingly, O’Malley also voiced the Colonel in 101 Dalmatians…basically the same character as Hathi, but a dog, and fantastic all the same!

WDW-0072_0001This card has Baloo and King Louie joking around at Walt Disney World.  The card is WDW-0072 (01110245).

Checklist Update

1000 records!  Not bad!  Sure, there is still a long way to go, but we are making some real progress.  Pictures are slowly being added as well.

I am still searching for people who are experts in Disneyland Tokyo and Disneyland Paris postcards and who have a checklist of what has been publish.  If you know anyone…please let me know.  I personally have under 50 cards from each park…if you have a list you are willing to share, we could “crowd source” the checklists!

Until next time…

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The Nautilus at Disney World

Posted on June 17, 2013 by Todd

WDW-0070Going through my collection the other night I came across these two cards of the Nautilus submarine from the 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea attraction that used to be at Walt Disney World.  The most common card of this ride is shown here at right…that’s WDW-0070 (01110243)*.  If you look around eBay, it is not uncommon to see multiple copies of this card available at any given time.  It’s not a bad card, per se, but it’s just not as interesting as the newer card, WDW-0410 (0100-0243, also at right, below).

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea opened a couple of weeks after the opening of the Magic Kingdom itself.  Despite a substantial crew of workers trying to get it ready for the October 1, 1971 opening of WDW, problems related to the lagoon prevented that from WDW-0410happening.  Nevertheless, these 40 ton boats ended up serving in the lagoon for almost 23 years before the ride was ultimately closed in September of 1994.  At the end of the run, low passenger loading rates and upkeep on the ride spelled its demise, despite its popularity.  You can read more on Wikipedia.

The beauty of the Harper Goff inspired, George McGinnis design is on full display in the later postcard.  With the surrounding vegetation and lagoon, you really feel as if you are getting a secret glimpse of this mysterious ship.

Checklist Update:

Almost 200 records have been entered into the database in the last few days!  (Thanks Dianne!)  Total entries are 824…and I am slowly loading photos.  I don’t have a complete set of cards (does anyone??) so if you are interested in helping fill in any section with scans (for any park)…please let me know!

I am still aiming to get all the NT cards in by end July, hopefully sooner.  After that, I will move on to WDW postcards.  I only have about 50 Euro Disney/Disneyland Paris postcards, so I continue to look for an “expert” on these cards as well…if you have an tips, please let me know.

Until next time…

* The WDW numbering is consistant with Roger Le Roque and Nick Farago’s 1982 Disneyland and Walt Disney World Postcard checklist guide supplement.

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A Strange Result for a Booklet Postcard from Walt Disney World

Posted on June 15, 2013 by Todd

0111-0073_frontEvery once in a while, a card will come up for auction online that makes a collector perk up and say, “What….is THAT?”.  Well, this week I came across such an auction.  Not being an expert on Walt Disney World cards, I thought it was something rather uncommon, since it was not a familiar looking card.  The card ended up getting $12.27.

Well…a little research, and a closer look at the image made me think that it might be from a booklet.  And that appears to be the case.  Referring to Big Brian’s site, the complete contents of this booklet are presented.  The thing that doesn’t make any sense is why someone would pay over $12 for this card…outside of the booklet.

WDW_0111-0073_backIf any of you WDW experts have an answer to that question, I would be most interested.

As an aside…some of the early WDW post card booklets were recently offered online, all fetching between $10 and $20.

Until next time….

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A Disney World Postcard Oddity

Posted on June 12, 2013 by Todd

Recently I have been picking up some random lots of cards online where it isn’t entirely clear what cards will be included in the lot.  I love this sort of thing…it’s like “Let’s Make a Deal” – if you remember that game show.  You pick a curtain, take a little WDW-01110236risk, and hope for the best.  Sometimes you get what you expected, sometimes you get a variant that you didn’t have, and sometimes you get a rarity like that pressed penny card from a couple weeks back.

I don’t think I have any cards in my collection that have a totally blank back.  If I do, they would be buried somewhere in the recesses WDW-01110236_0001of the shoeboxes I store all my cards in, waiting to be discovered.  But as part of this recent lot…I did find a blank backed card.  It’s a variant on 01110236 dp 79905-C.  According to a fellow collector (you know who you are), there are three variants of this card;  one with the Florida penant on the back, one without the penant (like the one I show here), and one with a “W” after the primary card number in the stamp box.  As I said though, the card I got the other day is totally blank on the back.  Go figure!  Either way, this is a great card that has three classic Disney characters included.

As an aside, speaking of Mickey, Pluto and Goofy – if you have never checked out the early Walt Disney Comics and Stories comic books from the 1940’s and 1950’s, they are a real treat.  Mickey has a lot of wacky adventures with these two dogs!

Checklist Update

Things have stalled a little on data entry…but that won’t be the case for long.  So keep your eyes peeled for changes.  I am still thinking of having the entire NT database loaded by end of July (text only).  I am working on scans too…slowly but surely.

Until next time…

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