Monday, February 14, 2011

Disneyland December 1962, Pt. 2



It never ceases to amaze me that an attraction that didn’t open until 1969 was already well underway by December 1962. You can already guess the attraction I'm referring to is The Haunted Mansion, visible in this detailed closeup view. The length of time is attributable to the fact that the Imagineers just weren’t quite sure what was going to happen INSIDE the Mansion.



In photos #3 & #4, you can see both ends of the Twain, as our photographer waited patiently on the banks of The Rivers of America to capture each view.





In this detailed view, you can see some of the construction occurring near the Mansion and the Frontierland Depot, with Retlaw 1 visible through the trees.



Happy Valentine's Day to all; may your day be filled with love!



See more Disneyland Town Square photos at my main website.

5 comments:

HBG2 said...

Any pic with HM construction in it is a winner. In this case, it also indicates when the shot was actually taken. By December, the building was essentially done on the outside. This photo was likely taken in the spring or early summer, and sat in the camera until December. Happens all the time, as you know.

Snow White Archive said...

That's a great shot of the Mansion. Just think, those younger kids on the raft would have to wait until their mid to late teens before experiencing the HM.

Connie Moreno said...

SWEET!!!

JG said...

The architect I worked for years ago did drafting on the HM drawings in his time at WED.

I used to spend hours poring over the old prints. He had the drawing of the weathervane at 100% scale, and many other plans, elevations and sections of the structure and the ride processes inside.

Several of the Hat-Box Ghosts were detailed, the pop-up mechanisms were noted "BY MAPO".

My employer told me that stood for the "Mary Poppins Organization" which was an independent animatronics manufacturer established by WED with the profits made from that movie.

I wish I could have afforded copies of those prints, but alas, too much money, so long ago.

JG

Daveland said...

JG - How cool that must have been to look over those original prints—I am envious!