Not sure if it was one of these May performances, but there was a September 15th NBC television special recorded at Disneyland in 1961. Here’s a rare vinyl LP reference recording, signed by Benny to lighting director Del Jack.
Photo of a 45rpm vinyl record with a red and silver label. McDonald’s is written at the top of the label, with an early logo and an illustration of the first Ronald center left and right. At the bottom it reads: THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS RONALD™ MCDONALD COMPLIMENTS OF McDONALD'S DRIVE IN RESTAURANTS Trademark Gee Gee Distributing Corporation
“These singles were given away during the 1963 holiday season by McDonald's. Ronald McDonald is portrayed on this record by an uncredited Willard Scott.”
youtu.be/q0m1XpCn4p0?...
Here are some of the first commercials featuring Willard as Ronald:
youtu.be/PhTT3gYNGeo?...
Source: Roy Fisher
Looks legit to me… 🤷♂️
Original packaging for “Hanna Barbera TV Friends Dy-De Mite ‘TUCK-A-WAY’ Holster Set for baby diapers. Peach-colored hang card featuring blue text and illustrations of Yogi Bear, Fred and Wilma Flintstone, Quick Draw McGraw, Huckleberry Hound and Top Cat, along with a diapered baby in a cowboy hat with a miniature cap pistol and holster disguising the diaper pin. Text at bottom reads: “Now your young cowpoke can ride the crib range, totin' the SMALLEST CAP PISTOL IN THE WORLD! HARVELL-KILGORE SALES CORP., BOLIVAR, TENN.” A clear plastic window shows the product, which includes a diaper pin and a miniature metal cap pistol in a leather holster, etched with an image of Wilma Flintstone in a cowboy hat.
Close up of card window showing the diaper pin and gin holster.
I still find things I never knew existed. Hanna-Barbera-themed diaper pin accessory, 1960s. Miniature (working?) cap pistol and leather holster, engraved with an image of Wilma Flintstone in a cowboy hat. I don’t know if this was recalled as a choking hazard, but I sure hope so.
Source: Kevin Mann
I was a production assistant on a TV Movie Olympia Dukakis was in, and drove her and her mother from the airport to their temporary apartment. Olympia’s mother had dementia or Alzheimer’s, and kept referring to me as her grandson.
Box cover image: illustration of a smiling white boy with red hair, wearing a blue and white striped shirt, holding up a black and white photo of what appears to be a girl’s face. Another photo is on the table below of a child holding up their hands curled like claws and mouth open, alongside paper costume accessories (large brown mustache, black and yellow striped glasses and a lapel award reading “champion.” Illustration of camera to the right (described in next photo) Box text: Kookie Camera TAKES AND DEVELOPS REAL PHOTOS! TAKES REAL PHOTOGRAPHS (Indoors And Outdoors) DEVELOPS THEM IN MINUTES (On The Spot) MAKES PHOTO GOOFS (With Extra Kookie Lens) COMPLETE WITH PICTURE ROLL DEVELOPER, FLASH CUBE AND LOADS OF ACCESSORIES! A RIDICULOUS THING FROM IDEAL
Photo of assembled toy camera. Primary made of plastic, the stand has a round black base similar to a manhole cover, with yellow plumbing pipes and a red faucet handle. The camera body has a wood-grain texture, and the viewfinder on top has an image of a bloodshot eyeball. To the right are two gloved hands: one holds a handle with a small platform, on top of which sits a red and white can marked “tomato soup.” The other holds up a flash accessory, which consists of a bowl-shaped metal reflector on a handle.
Photo image of the film box (center), which is yellow, with an image of the kookie camera, and marked “Picture and Roll Developer,” “Make 8 black and white prints,” and the Ideal logo. To the right of the box is a yellow plastic bottle with a black cap, marked “Kookie Kamera Developer” in blue text. To the left is a brown paper parcel stamped in black text, reading “Kookie Kamera Picture Roll, copyright 1968 Ideal Toy Corp., Hollis N.Y.”
Kookie Kamera (Ideal Toys c.1968) designed to produce a rather small polaroid-style print from proprietary film; even has two lens options and working flash. Regardless of functionality - this 'toy' stands 21 inches tall.”
Source: Michael Green
Two drawings from a comic strip featuring Elton John and guests visiting Disneyland. One in front of Sleeping Beauty’s Castle, and one with Elton in front of a panorama, featuring one of the three pigs, the Disneyland monorail, and the Dumbo attraction. The text reads, “Elton's fame was spreading rapidly. But for him, this was the highlight of his tour. Speech bubbles read: DISNEYLAND AT LAST! I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO COME HERE EVER SINCE I CAN REMEMBER-IT'S JUST MY THING. AS THEY SAY IN SCOTLAND-ROBERT BURNS, BUT WALT DISNEY! Female guest: IT'S REALLY FUNNY-LIVING HERE WE NEVER THINK ABOUT IT. I'VE NEVER BEEN BEFORE EITHER.
Went to an estate sale today and dug through mounds of paper boxes to find a few gems. Picked up the inserts and poster from Elton John’s “Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy,” which I only just noticed includes a comic strip of Elton visiting Disneyland for the first time.
And now, the moment you’ve all been waiting for… ladies and gentlemen…
THE LIFE AND TIMES OF A PROFESSIONAL BRIDESMAID OR WALKING IS VERY GOOD FOR YOU My name is Lady Elaine Fairchilde. I am a Professional Bridesmaid and a famous model. I have appeared at the most fashionable weddings and my picture has been on the cover of many smart magazines. In fact, I've posed often for well-known weekly journals such as "Truth is Stranger Than Fiction" and I am happy to say I have recently been chosen the permanent cover girl for that lovely monthly magazine, "Is It Alive?" My career keeps me so busy for I must There are not many professional bridesmaids like me! So many smart young girls hire me to BRIGHTEN up their weddings. Hardly a day goes by that I am not paid to be in one big wedding or another. The reason for my fabulous success, I believe, is my imagination. I am considered very modest, out in all truthfulness - must say that I do not look like the average girl, nor do I dress like the average, but of course, you can see this for yourself. My motto is "The American Girl should use her imagination.” I believe in being different. I've even made my own bridesmaid dress that I wear to every wedding. Isn't it lovely? When I wear this creation I receive so many comments and so many people stare at me... but then, I'm used to that by now. There are too few faces like mine in this world. If people want to stare, I don't mind. Beauty is its own excuse for being and I must share my beauty with the world. I don't like to brag but.. not only am I beautiful...I am also extremely talented. Some people are talented singers... some are gifted dancers... some have a talent for painting... I HAVE A TALENT FOR WALKING! I walk everywhere... very quickly. It takes me two hours to walk from New York City to San Francisco. I use the heel-toe method. I walk everywhere...it saves so much time. I am really quite a lovely sight whizzing along on my talented dainty feet, with my hair floating in the breeze. I hate to mention it but isn't my hair beautiful?
I don't believe in store preparations… I like to try my own ideas… Now, if you want your hair to look like mine… all you have to do is braid it very tightly, dip it in boiling oil, wrap it in ice cubes, pour moustache wax over it and let it dry for three days. I'm sure you will be surprised at the results... your hair will look just like mine, you lucky creature. Being a model, a Professional Bridesmaid, and a walker is very hard work, so I've found a lot of timesavers for myself and I'd like to pass a few of them on to you. I always say that if you have a problem that's really a problem, your problem should be my problem because to me, no problem is really a problem. For instance, I was once a Bridesmaid for an unusually unattractive girl, poor thing, she had long golden hair, bright blue eyes, and a clear complexion. She was such a contrast to me, and I'm sure she realized it. Everyone loves beauty, and that's why I'm asked to be in so many weddings. When I'm in a wedding, no one looks at the bride. Well, let's get back to this Bride. Her name was Drucilla Poppedcorn, and she was marrying Gordon Dishwater, of the Minnesota Dishwaters you know. I could see when I arrived from Chicago that morning that Drucilla was very upset. Her white dress had not arrived. “Drusy,” I said, "You haven't hired a bridesmaid for nothing; let your problem be my problem. No problem is really a problem, and when you have a problem, remember that. Well, Drusy cried and said that her dress had not arrived. They were to have sent it from New York and it just hadn't come. "Don't worry; I'll walk over to New York and get it for you.” - "But you can't walk from Pittsburgh to New York," Drusy whimpered. "Of course I can,” I replied. "I'll be back in two hours." And so off I went… heel, toe, heel, toe, heel, toe. (That's my walking method, you know.) Thus, I saved the day for Drucilla Poppedcorn Dishwater, of the Minnesota Dishwaters, you know.
Another experience I had in the line of Professional Bridesmaid duty was the time I was engaged to be a Bridesmaid for Augusta June Marchsoup, a rather peculiar looking girl, poor thing, with very black hair, shining black eyes, and a clear complexion. I don’t think the American girl eats the right things these days to look like she does.) Well, Augusta had picked the strangest wedding dress--White Satin with a train. I told Augusta that this wasn't a very imaginative dress to wear. (The American girl should use her imagination; I always say that.) So I took this silly white satin dress, and I dipped the sleeves in purple dye. Then, I took a fried egg and streaked the front of the dress. I cut the train in four pieces, dyed one watermelon green, tramped on the other one with a muddy foot (Size 3 1/4 shoe, of course), set one panel in a bucket of water, and spilled iodine on the other. Oh, such a dress, such a wedding, such comments... you have no idea what the people said when the bride came down the aisle. Oh, yes, and I also changed her veil a little. I made it into a bright green, blue, red, yellow plaid. I imagine you might be getting a little curious about my walking method. I conducted a class in walking method once, and I had a student named Judy Breadenbutter. This peculiar looking girl, poor thing, had black hair, blue eyes, and a golden suntan (These American girls just don’t eat the right things, I’m sure.) Poor Judy just couldn't turn her right heel in and her left toes out. I sang to her. I believe in singing when I conduct a class. I've been told I have a most unusual voice. I sang, “Put your right heel in and your left toe out; put your right toe in and your left heel out... I have a lot of rhythm in my singing too, you know… and all of a sudden poor Judy fell flat on her face. (These American girls just don't eat the right things these days.)
After 29 lessons, Judy's nose was broken and she had a black eye, but she walks beautifully... in fact, she walked down to Florida last weekend... I got a lovely card from her. Speaking of what the American girl eats… you know, I'm very particular about my diet. I always eat the same thing every day; it makes planning so much simpler when you're walking from state to state. I have a light breakfast of Prune Juice, Prunes and Cottage Cheese, and Hot Lemonade. My lunch is usually a Prune sandwich with Graham Crackers, Cottage Cheese Salad, and Hot Lemonade. For dinner, I have Prune Soup, Cottage Cheese Rarebit, and Hot Lemonade. If you follow this diet, you certainly will come to look like I do. I want you to know a few of my Beauty Secrets. All of the models in New York beg me for them. I have been told that I have the most unusual face in the whole world… but I am very modest… I like to say that I have ONE of the most unusual faces in the world. The secret I am going to give you is asked for again and again. HOW TO GROW A WART ON THE END OF YOUR NOSE This is a very simple thing to do and one that gets wonderful results... if you follow these directions, your nose will never look the same. TAKE TWO DAY OLD VEGETABLE SOUP... TWO WET WASHCLOTHS… USED COFFEE GROUNDS… TWO TEASPOONS OF PLASTER OF PARIS... ONE TABLESPOON OF RUBBER CEMENT… SIX WEEDS... A DANDELION... AND A SLICE OF CORNED BEEF. MIX THEM TOGETHER TO FORM A PASTE. PUT PASTE ON NOSE SIX INCHES THICK. LET STAND FOR THREE DAYS AND FOUR NIGHTS (this can be shortened to two days if there is a new moon.) PEEL OFF GENTLY… A little skin may come off too, but don’t worry… the new wart will cover your nose nicely. And so… remember this… walking is good for you and so are prunes; and be sure to use your imagination, girls. lf you try hard enough and follow all my advice, some day you may look like I do. LADY ELAINE FAIRCHILDE, B.C.
Lady Elaine Fairchild, featured in these pages from the 1954 Children's Corner book "Our Small World." The book, limited to a print run of 5000 copies, was written by Fred Rogers and Josie Carey and illustrated by Norbert Nathanson.
Source: Mr Rogers Neighborhood Archive
*alt text abridged to fit
Wait, is that Cindy Morgan (Lacey Underall) from “Caddyshack”?
You just awakened a memory of being a ten-year-old, having just finished “The Once and Future King” and then reading the author blurb that T.H. White was no longer alive. Bawled my eyes out. ☹️
* Clicks stopwatch to see how long it takes for this to appear in a Van Eaton auction *
And Mason Adams, whose voice I immediately hear every time I see a jar of Smuckers
Disneyland Showtime (4/22/70) with The Osmond Bros, Kurt Russell, E.J. Peaker, and a brief appearance by Disneyland Tour Guide Emily Zinser who’d become Ambassador two years later.
Next to the Haunted Mansion scenes, this is my favorite part. No Kids of the Kingdom were harmed during filming ;)
Anyone else still have the audio cassettes he used to put out as a supplement to the magazine?
Yes! One of my guilty-pleasure episodes, and still makes me randomly exclaim “E.J. PEAKER?!” Had to include this audio when I co-hosted Strike’s Kitsch Niche “Disneyland Anniversary Show” on Luxuria Music back in the early aughts. Simply love the Park-specific lyrics.
Cover of Persistence of Vision Issue #6/#7, with General Electric Progressland artwork.
As a teenager, I thought the Persistence of Vision issue about the Disney attractions at the 1964-65 New York World's Fair was the best thing written about them. Over 30 years later and my opinion hasn't changed.
Anybody else with fond memories of this issue?
Indeed. I was a subscriber, and learned so much from this issue. Paul Anderson kept having to push back his release dates because he couldn’t stop researching! I didn’t care though, because each subsequent issue was fatter and more fascinating than the last.
I need to share this one Catherine O’Hara and Andrea Martin SCTV sketch. It has lived rent-free in my head since I first saw it broadcast. Absolute genius comedy. Love you Catherine. 💝
Stephen Miller is a domestic terrorist
I was on LSD or mushrooms the first time I saw this, and it destroyed me.
Leo Decaprio pointing meme, but he’s a grandpa
🥰
Must be jarring to know that millions of people are looking at social media each morning for their daily “Is he dead yet” check in
Never got to meet Bruce, but I loved that he pushed so hard for the ramp at the Walt Disney Family Museum’s “Christmas Morning” Gallery 9 entrance. People always gasped when they came around that corner.
One of the strange things I remember about Dave was that he always had a bottle of Diet Pepsi at the crack of dawn. Leon once half-jokingly told me that all he wanted to do was retire and engineer the trains around Disneyland for the rest of his days.
I have a fond memory of riding the Metrolink Blue Line to Burbank, sitting across from Dave Mumford and Leon Janzen as they tried to think of anything left from Walt’s 1955 Disneyland. The morning meetings we shared as three enthusiastic Disney nerds are treasured moments of my existence.
Color newspaper ad for Disneyland’s Tencennial Summer. It features illustrations of live performers Si Zentner, Stan Kenton, Wayne King, Harry James, Duke Ellimgton, Woody Herman and Tex Beneke, with the dates they appeared at Disneyland After Dark. Also mentioned are Bill Elliot & the Disneyland DateNiters, The Firehouse Five + 2, Kay Bell & Her Humdingers, The Young Men from New Orleans, The Original Clara Ward Singers & The Royal Tahitians. Hootenanny every Monday night, Fantasy in the Sky fireworks every evening at 9pm, and Humdinger every Tuesday night. Prices are listed for Big 10, Deluxe 15 and Starlite ticket books, as well as guided tours. At the bottom is the logo for S&H Green Stamps, “The ONLY stamp that can take you to Disneyland ‘65”
“In 1965 S&H Green Stamps could be exchanged for a child's Disneyland Deluxe Ticket Book. It took two full books of Green Stamps for an adult's Deluxe Ticket Book. Ticket Books for admission and 15 attractions were $4 to $4.50 for children up to 17 years old, and $5 for adults.”
Source: Leo N Holzer
Thanks for saying so 💝
Battery operated toy space car in original box. The body is blue plastic, triangular in shape, with a pointed front, two fishtail-like wings on the sides with silver edging and a white antenna on the rear. The cab is globe-shaped with a clear plastic dome over a bright red surface, with a large singular eye as the driver. The eye has a green iris and sits in a silver seat that looks like an eyelid. In the box behind the car is a black “magic wand” with a clear plastic tip, ribbed to look similar to a radio tower. The box is yellow with red edging and bold text in black, yellow and red. The text reads: “Remote Controlled Moon Car; battery operated; Rotating Magic Eye. Space Wand -Starts, stops motor; drives car in all directions; fires rockets. Motor driven mechanism. Magic wand dictates direction! Go, left forward, right reverse. $9.95. Rotating magic eye finds path!”
Remote control Moon Car with Rotating Magic Eye and Space Wand
Source: Tesco’s Toys
