Posted on 07/17/2005 6:30:46 AM PDT by Liz
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP (AP) -- When Walt Disney built Disneyland, he supervised every aspect of planning and construction - right down to the paint color inside the railroad station. But there were a couple of things he couldn't control at the opening 50 years ago: the temperature and the turnout.
The sun rose bright and glowing in a cloudless sky on that Sunday, and the mercury climbed higher and higher. By early morning, all roads leading to the park were clogged. Thousands poured through the turnstiles, more than twice as many as had been invited.
The heat and the crowds, along with a Magic Kingdom full of other problems, contributed to what will forever after be called Black Sunday in the Disney organization.
Long lines formed at the rides, forcing visitors to stand in the sweltering sun. Later it was discovered that counterfeit tickets had been used by the uninvited. Adding to the congestion, crashers scrambled over fences and berms in remote areas of the park.
Several of the rides shut down because of overuse, and by the end of the day all the "Autopia" cars had been sidelined. The deck of the river boat Mark Twain was awash; too many passengers had climbed aboard. And a gas leak was discovered in Tomorrowland, forcing evacuation of the entire area.
Refreshment stands quickly ran out of food and drink, and there were few drinking fountains. Women's spiked heels sank into the newly laid asphalt on Main Street. Families waited in long lines to use toilets. A saboteur snipped electrical lines in Fantasyland, bringing all rides to a halt.
Survivors of Black Sunday retain vivid memories of that day, including Disney consultant Harrison "Buzz" Price, who chose the then-sleepy agricultural town of Anaheim as the location for Disneyland.
"I was on the bridge that led to Sleeping Beauty's Castle, and it was full of people," he recalls. "We couldn't move. and the asphalt was sticky. I looked down and saw Frank Sinatra, and he was cursing."
Bob Kurr, designer of the vehicles for Main Street, had been assigned by Disney to oversee "Autopia," a miniature freeway with real gasoline-powered cars.
"It was hotter 'n hell and these cars were suffering from the typical gasoline vapor lock," Kurr remembers.
Walt Disney knew little about the snafus, since he was busy on the live ABC-TV broadcast with his fellow master of ceremonies Art Linkletter, Bob Cummings and Ronald Reagan. The next day he read devastating reviews in the newspapers and heard dismaying reports from his staff.
"Walt was furious," Price recalls. "In a helluva hurry, he fired Woody, the guy who built the park in 18 months."
Woody was C.V. Wood, a former U.S. Army general. While opening day was crumbling, Price says, "Woody was upstairs mixing a lot of mint juleps for his staff; it was kinda like firing-squad day."
Disney's damage control was immediate.
"Walt was personally around the park every day that first week, looking into every situation and then getting something done about it," Kurr says.
He also was mending fences with the press, hosting small groups of reporters and editors for dinner and a tour of Disneyland.
One reporter had suggested that Disneyland had skimped on drinking fountains in order to sell soft drinks. Disney called her and explained, off the record, that a local plumbers strike had been settled shortly before opening day. He had to decide between toilets and drinking fountains.
Within seven weeks, thanks in part to months of national build-up on ABC's "Disneyland" TV show, the park had attracted a million visitors - 30 percent more than had been predicted. And they were spending 30 percent more money than predicted.
Realizing that swarms of journalists from around the world would be reporting about opening day, I decided to try something a little different: How would Disneyland look through the eyes of a pair of young girls?
With the aid of a park publicist, my daughters Nancy and Janet were treated to a tour of the brand-new park dressed in their pastel Easter dresses.
Nancy, who was almost 7, has vivid memories of the old-fashioned railroad that circles the property - "the first train ride of my life" - and the jungle boat "where the guide would crack jokes and make the most of the `threatening' moments."
Janet, who was only 3 1/2, understandably has little recall of that day, although she does remember her shoes "sticking in the hot asphalt and thinking that was great fun."
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Editor's note: The author has been covering the world of entertainment for The Associated Press for more than 60 years, including Disneyland's opening day on July 17, 1955.
© 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Learn more about our Privacy Policy.
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A DISNEY Company...
...not run under the command and influence of some very powerful Friends of the CLINTONS...
...i.e. President MICHAEL EISNER and Chairman of the Board GEORGE MITCHELL...
...was indeed a transforming happy time for kids of all ages.
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And 5 minutes after closing time there were always those fire hoses the public never saw hosing down all the then darkened streets ..clean as a whistle.
That was a real trip having to dodge the water jets while walking out to our cars parked out there in the employees' parking lot late at night on a warm summer's night.
Such fond memories gliding thru my mind this night.
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Those were the days before interstate highways. The few kids in my grade school who got to goto Disneyland were mini-celebrities. My parents couldn't afford a cross-country car trip with 5 kids.
When my son graduated from high school, we went to Orlando and went to Walt Disney World. Honest to pete, when I got off the ferry and stood in front of Sleeping Beauty's Castle, I started crying. I was 38 years old, and almost all my life I had wanted to see the Disney park.
I haven't been back since the mid-90's, but I hope to go with my grandkids in the next couple of years. I want to go on the Peter Pan ride and Pirates of the Caribbean.
Thanks for the memories, all!
Such fond memories gliding thru my mind this night.Mine too but not just of Disneyland but of those fantastic times in Anaheim, Fullerton, Brea, Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, Costa Mesa, Balboa, Orange County and Southern California in general...
BTW, I too am a Viet Nam vet. Vung Tau (know where that is?) Feb. 10 1967 thru May 9 1968
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I never made it to those beautiful long white sandy beaches of Vung Tau, my friend. Just everywhere in Vietnam's Central Highlands.
Thank you for selflessly fighting for the Freedom of others.
LOVE is coming to Vietnam.
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The OC = The Greatest
And WALT DISNEY knew it first.
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And now the 1st Vietnamese American State Legislator to take office in U.S. History, California State Assemblyman VAN TRAN, has introduced a Bill that will protect places like Disneyland better in this new Time of War.
It will allow City Councils to meet in closed session to discusss the vulnerabilities of privately-owned parks and malls' against terrorist attacks, just like they do now for Public Places.
This is a good thing, a very good thing.
ASSEMBLYMAN VAN TRAN's Assembly Website:
http://republican.assembly.ca.gov/members/index.asp?Dist=68&Lang=1&Body=&ReflD=&WelcomelD=
Fascinating! Thank you for sharing!
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You're very Welcome, Alamo-Girl.
It's been a real kick sharing with you today, on this the 50th Anniversary of Disneyland.
Just Wising on a Star...
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It has been illuminating for us, too! Thank you so very much!
I grew up right in the area, too, and I do remember the old ticket system (you couldn't even give away an 'A' ticket). We also watched the fireworks every night from the back yard.
I lived on Antigua near Brookhurst and Ball....
And I was closer to Katella and West St.
:) :)
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50 years ago today we kids in our family missed the TV Opening of Disneyland as our relatives all went Sunday driving that afternoon from Portland, Oregon to Oregon's beautiful Pacific coast. So we listened to it live on car radios in...
1955 Nash Rambler
1954 Oldsmobile 88
1953 Studebaker 2 door coupes.
But by the Fall of that same year we had all moved to Southern California. I was suddenly within bicycle riding distance of WALT's brand new Park, just 15 miles from Long Beach where my family had parked itself. And I took advantage of this with great zeal, balloon tire bike and all.
T'was a Beaut-i-ful move.
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WOW! If I remember right West was the street between The Disneyland Hotel and the park....
You're correct. I lived in the residential area between West and Harbor, just south of the park.
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Try this:
DISNEYLAND HOTEL
My Year 1960 Rancho Alamitos High School Graduation Night Dance
My Year 2000 Rancho Alamitos High School 40th Anniversary Reunion Dance
Blessings, both.
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I'll bet you remember Orange County when it had orange groves. :)
How wonderful for you!!!
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Yes, I'll NEVER FORGET that sweet, sweet smell of the organge blossoms of Springtime every where we went in the OC long, long ago.
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