Mouse Trap

There have been numerous books written about Disneyland from the Cast Member perspective. Randy Bright's brilliant, Disneyland: Inside Story and Van Arsdale France's Window On Main Street to name a few.

Kevin Yee, author of Magic Quizdom has penned a collection of memories while working at the Happiest Place On Earth.

Right now, this book is only available in a Preview Edition through Mice Age. As Kevin states, once the proof-reading is finished and final cover art is received, the book will be available through Amazon and other stores in January.

I'm about a third of the way through the book, and I'm enjoying it.

13 Panorama Views Of The Magic Kingdom

It seems like years that I've been trying to track down this folder, but it was worth the wait. It contains 13 views of early Disneyland that were taken with a panoramic camera. The folder itself is pretty big - measuring almost 12" x 4".

There's no copyright listed, but I'd put the date as pre-1959 as the views of Sleeping Beauty Castle and Tomorrowland do not include views of the Matterhorn.

For those collectors out there with deep pockets, there are also individual postcards of each of these views.

Huey, Dewey, Louie and Dumbo Postcard

I've been collecting postcards for many years and I'm still amazed that you can find unused cards that are 40-50 years old. I mean, here's a product that was designed to be used - to be written on and mailed. What's extra special about this Art Corner card, (finding one in mint condition) is that the front also featured a section for a greeting.

Did the original owner of the postcard just buy it and throw it in a drawer for 40 years? Did they intend on mailing it, and just never got around to it? Did they buy a stack of cards and this one was an extra?

So many questions.

1987 and 1989 Pictorial Souvenir Books

1987 - We're now three years into the Michael Einser era. Recent additions to the Guide Books, as well as Disneyland, include Star Tours and Captain EO. Star Tours is so new that the full-page devoted to it includes mostly concept art. The photo style of these books begins to make a subtle change as more of the photos are posed. (They're very easy to spot as the people included in them are over-dressed and the camera angles are from areas that John Q. Public is unable to access.)

1989 - Very similar to the above 1987 Guide Book except for the following changes: Splash Mountain gets a two-page spread; photos of Tomorrowland now include the People Mover with its new color scheme. (The cars are now solid white with a colored stripe along the side - which matches the color scheme of the Monorail. Gone are the multi-colored cars); and photos instead of concept art are included with Stars Tours. Although, the choice of photos only include the interior queue.

Mickey's 60th Postcard

Here's an unusual novelty postcard. This one features Mickey's 60th birthday. We've got a nice drawing of film-star Mickey greeting Theme Park Ambassador Mickey.

I'm pretty sure that this is the only Disneyland postcard to feature a characters birthday, and only two times that Mickey's age was acknowledged.

There was a celebration for Mickey's 50th birthday, (I had a great looking 1978 Mickey Mouse 50th limited edition watch, that I accidentally destroyed - but that's another story), and also the "Mickey is 60" campaign. There was no "Mickey is 65", "Mickey is retirement age", "Mickey is 70", etc. And, at the end of next year, he'll be 80 years young.

I guess the Disney Co. like to keep their spokesmouse timeless these days.