 Books. New damask curtains. Making progress. The room has shifted. The bookcase has been moved to the wall in-between the two windows. This allows for the faux fireplace to go on the larger wall.
   Walt showing off his New Orleans Square on the Wonderful World of Color episode, Disneyland Around the Seasons, which aired December 18, 1966, three days after his passing.
 The Plaza Pavilion Restaurant. Guests would enter the restaurant off the plaza hub on Main Street, order their French Dip Beef Sandwich (an early specialty), exit the restaurant on the Adventureland side, and enjoy a meal and a scenic view of the Jungle Cruise on the terrace. Guests could do this until 1962, when the back side of the Plaza Pavilion was transformed into the Tahitian Terrace.     In 1908, John Hench - Disney’s Renaissance artist - was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. In his legendary 64 year career with the Walt Disney Company, John left his mark in films, theme parks, and hotels. Former head of Disney Imagineering Marty Sklar said "Other than Walt Disney himself, no one symbolizes the Walt Disney Company more than John Hench.”  After joining the Walt Disney Studio in 1939 John worked on both animated and live-action films as a set designer, artist and on special-effects. In 1954, John was one of the many studio employees asked to help with the design and construction of Disneyland. As an Imagineer, John’s first project involved the attractions in Tomorrowland. On the Rocket to the Moon attraction John worked with famed German rocket scientist Wernher von Braun on the design of the Moonliner. In his book, Designing Disney, John explains: “I wanted an elegant shape that suggested high speed even though it would be stationary…From any angle in Tomorrowland, the rocket appeared ready to blast off for the moon.”  John helped establish the philosophy behind Disney design from the ideas and concepts first shared by Walt himself. In a 1978 article in New West magazine titled “Disneyland is Good for You,” the author notes “Hench has become the Disney organization’s ranking theoretician on how movies and theme parks can be programmed to produce effects on the unconscious as well as conscious mind.” The article provides an extraordinary foundation for the psychology behind Disney theme park design and features extensive comments from Hench. He explains that “…the order here at Disneyland works on people, the sense of harmony. They feel more content here, in a way they can’t explain.” Hench explains that the essential message of Disneyland is that “there is nothing to fear….What we are selling is not escapism but reassurance.”    It all started with a mouse…or a suitcase and a dream, or a paper route…wait…news butcher…no, Red Cross ambulance driver. Well, it started because Walt persevered!!! Thanks Uncle Walt!
Walt’s uncle Robert was pretty key in the early days. He really helped out Ub and Walt. They were barely able to rub two nickels together. Roy was still selling vacuums. Herb was busy at the post office. It's not clear when Ray started selling insurance. Ruth was still at home with Flora and Elias. Uncle Robert really gave them the lift both with some funds and a little temporary studio. |
My Story
Growing up in Los Angeles in the 70s/80s we visited Disneyland on a regular basis and often after school, before "Annual Passes". 
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