This post was inspired from an email asking me about when the change occurred on the Jolly Roger talking skull that greets visitors just as they are about to plunge down the waterfall. This first photo I snapped in October 1995. #2 is from 2002:



The 3rd shot is from 2007. I am not sure how many other incarnations existed. Experts? I also received a request for a photo of the entrance line queue scene where “Pirates of the Caribbean” was written out in pinpoint lights. I am still looking!



And a recent shot with no flash:



This just in from Bill Sauder, Daveland Blog reader; here is a screen shot from the Disney World of Color show that introduced America to Pirates:



See more Pirates of the Caribbean photos at my regular website.

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Our 1959 family is getting a great overview of the park from the platform of the Main Street Train Station. If we zoom in, we can still see the large banners announcing the gala year of 1959: Monorail, Matterhorn, Submarines...so much going on! And isn't it great to know that all 3 are still in operation?



Riding on the top of the Omnibus gives guests a fantastic (and not often-seen) overhead view of Main Street and the Castle:



Once again, we’ll zoom in for the placards hailing all of the fantastic improvements for 1959:



This image might make you dizzy! The boys are enjoying the Astrojets:



Now they have finally gotten into the swing of things with these way-cool feathered hats:



This definitely calls for a closeup! Note the Blue Monorail in the background; just 3 months old at the time! And how about those Hawaiian shirts?!? Looks like something Kevin Kidney would have whipped up!



See more current and vintage Disneyland photos at my regular website.

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Time to hop aboard the magical Disneyland Hotel Tram and take a trip back in time to September 1959. You won’t see dad in any of these photos; he's busy snapping away these colorful Technicolor slides for your enjoyment in 2010. Can you believe that peeling paint? That would surely stir up some controversy over on the MiceAge chat boards...and under Walt's watch, too!

Look at those frowns! We shouldn't judge though; how happy would you be if you were steps away from entering the Happiest Place on Earth and you had to stop to pose for some lousy pictures?



Check out those virgin ticket books in the little tykes' hands...if only I could grab a few of those.



The family finally made it through the turnstiles, but dad isn’t ready to let his boys have any fun yet...just one more picture, kids! They can't wait to feel like cattle by riding the cattle cars of the Disneyland Railroad.



How about another virgin ticket-book closeup?



See more current and vintage Disneyland photos at my regular website.

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This photo was taken in Tomorrowland on June 16, 1962 during Grad Night festivities. At the top of the photo, you can see the Art of Animation sign. The caption for this AP wire photo was fairly gushing about the event:

They had a ball—it looks like an ordinary graduation dance, but it isn’t. It’s the 1962 version, Disneyland-style. The famed amusement park re-oened its doors at 11 pm after it closed to the public, and threw an all-night graduation party for more than 26,000 grads on Thursday and Friday nights. Besides the rides there were eight bands and the kids were doing the “twist” all over the park.

Just look at those crazy teens dancing! Hey readers—were any of you there that night?

See more current and vintage Tomorrowland photos at my regular website.

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Today’s post is a fairly comprehensive albeit not so artistic look at the Jungle Cruise, circa August 1958. Naturally, I have posted these images in the order they were taken. Enjoy!





















This photographer definitely had an affinity for the back side of water! See more vintage (and current) Jungle Cruise photos on my regular website.

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The Fantasyland section of this series is the most amazing; not necessarily because of the photos, but because Walt was able to slide this through and to make it part of an educational film strip series. This isn't even a behind-the-scenes-how-we-created it series, but a full-on promotion for Disneyland and Walt's movies. Yup, Walt was a genius and a showman...and a pretty smooth-talker. Plenty of Bobby & Susie in this land!



Two shots of the castle; our favorite little tykes appear in shot #2.





This is the kind of shopping little Susie has been waiting for!



OK...I guess I did learn one thing today as I never knew this fact about the shields above the Carrousel:



Here is one of the shields today:



I'm not touchin' this caption.



Raise your hands if you're ready for a frozen Welch's grape juice bar!



See more Encyclopaedia Britannica photos at my regular website.

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If you’ve ever wondered why you are admonished not to use “Flash Photography” while in your Doombuggy, this photo shows the perfect reason why you should listen (except for those of us taking photos to document the ride for posterity, of course). This tree near the cemetery does not look quite so scary when seen in the harsh light of a camera flash. Almost looks like a home craft project you’d make with tin foil. Just goes to show how much of an important part lighting plays in the total effect of this attraction (and many others).

Presenting the iconic caretaker from the graveyard scene:



Here’s the first photo of the Cemetery Caretaker that Disney released to the public on August 21, 1969. Compare with this contemporary shot:





Here are a few I took without my flash; MUCH more atmospheric:





I missed the first year of the Haunted Mansion NBC overlay, but made it for the 2nd season. I took this photo in January 2003 of the Caretaker, who was hanging out at the Disney Gallery while his home was being invaded by Jack Skellington & Co.



See more Haunted Mansion (both recent and vintage) photos at my website.

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Hope you enjoy these "flash-free" photos!





This poor feller is plum tuckered out; just needs a little rest. ETERNAL rest.



And one from my evil flash-photographing days before I reformed. As if a sword in the back wasn’t bad enough, now this poor feller has crabs.



Back to flash-free:





A few more recent shots taken in the mysterious grotto; love that blue lighting on the rocks and waterfalls. Most guests probably miss the skull & crossbone projection after the two drops.





See more Pirates of the Caribbean photos at my regular website.

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