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Walt Wednesday #29

8/31/2022

Walt Disney introducing us to Juan the Tiki Room Barker Bird (Jose’s cousin). Juan’s job was to perch himself outside of the Enchanted Tiki Room and explain to passing guests what they could see inside, and then invite them to see the show!

“Stop walking while I’m squawking! Caramba!!”

Tinker Bell Toy Shop

8/29/2022

This location started out as the Fantasy of Disneyland Shop. Next, it enjoyed a long tenure as the Tinker Bell Toy Shop (1957-2002), where guests could purchase Madame Alexander Dolls and other toys. Next, it became the Once Upon A Time Princess Shop, followed by the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique on April 17, 2009.

Hop Wing Chinese Laundry - KBF

8/26/2022

The Hop Wing Chinese Laundry and its interior diorama were completed in 1941. Like most of the wooden figures along Ghost Town's Main Street, Wing Lee was carved by folk artist H. S. "Andy" Anderson. The Assay Office, Chinese Laundry, and Barber Shop "peek-ins" were rebuilt in 2009, and the original carved wooden figures by Andy Anderson were restored.

Walt Wednesday #26

8/24/2022

June 22, 1955, Walt Disney received a memorandum from WED (the predecessor of Disney Imagineering) about the wording of the plaques that he wanted above the Disneyland tunnel entrances. Walt had asked for the plaques to set the stage for his guests before they passed under the train station through the tunnels, which have been referred to as the park’s “stage curtain.”

The June 22, 1955 memo included a draft reading: “Disneyland - Where you leave today … and visit the world of fantasy, yesterday, and tomorrow.” Walt made some slight edits and today the signs read: “Here you leave today and enter the world of yesterday, tomorrow and fantasy.”

The plaques weren’t quite ready for Disneyland’s opening day on July 17, 1955. According to the Disney Archives, the exact date they appeared is unknown though it was sometime later in 1955.

This particular version of the plaque was designed by Paul Hartley in 1969. Prior to that they were hand-painted by the sign shop.

Goldie's Place, Ghost Town - KBF

8/22/2022

Goldie’s is Ghost Town’s cat house, much to the disgust of Cordelia Knott. It was built of old lumber in 1940-41, and was a replica of an actual building the famous ghost town of Bodie, California, which burned in the big fire of 1932.

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Walt Wednesday #29

Tinker Bell Toy Shop

Hop Wing Chinese Laundry - KBF

Walt Wednesday #26

Goldie's Place, Ghost Town - KBF

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