Since it’s conception, Walt Disney’s Disneyland has made the “news.” Walt and company began dreaming, planning, and developing, and as that “little” spark grew, journalists reported these “new things,” their stories containing references to Walt’s project, like generous sprinklings of pixie dust. Disneyland made headlines the day that ground was broke. Reports continued to mention the construction crews that raced to meet the deadline of Disneyland’s televised premier and grand public opening date. Many articles whet the public’s appetite for Disneyland’s coming attractions. Walt Disney’s Disneyland was the news of the day on July 17, 1955, with the televised broadcast of its Press Preview day which was attended by an aggregation of press members from around the United States. Through the following days and weeks Disneyland’s opening was still talked about on radio programs, and was the subject of headlines in magazines and newspapers around the world. Passing months and years attracted countless VIPs, new adventures, milestone anniversary celebrations, and with these current events, continuing Press coverage of Disneyland.
Some reporters chose more of a factual approach to their stories, with information gained from Walt Disney Productions or directly from Disneyland Public Relations. Other writers were seemingly more imaginative, their articles laden with personal opinion. Notwithstanding this fact, each article and column offers a rare retrospective glimpse into the feelings of the public. Now, we will look back on just a few samples of these reports.
“Pre-Opening Domestic Press Releases”
On May 1, 1954, The Anaheim Bulletin was the first newspaper to break the news about Disneyland. Then, long before the Park opened and during its “Bluesky” phase, a multitude of contributing writers of periodicals began anticipating the fantastic adventures in store for visitors of Disneyland. One writer for “Los Angeles Mirror” reported: “There’ll be all kinds of games, entertainment, even a miniature railroad ; two theaters, two restaurants, and a baby-sitting service.”
In order to assure that details were accurately conveyed to the public, the Walt Disney Studio organized an event for 600 Orange County government officials, in July of 1954. It was at that time, that Roy Disney announced, “It will not be a honky tonk annoyance, but a credit to the community… its impact will not only be national, it will be international.”
A few months later Louis Berg of This Week Magazine announced “Walt Disney’s New Ten Million Dollar Toy” in an article published September 19, 1954. A photograph of Walt hovering proudly over Herb Ryman’s Aerial Over Disneyland was published, accompanying Louis’ preview of Walt’s 60-acre Disneyland: “On October 27, there will be a television preview of his fabulous project, the details of which until now have been reluctantly released… On October 27, there will be a television preview of his fabulous project, the details of which until now have been reluctantly released. What we give you here - a preview of the preview - is the first complete picture of the enterprise, gained from snooping around the Disney studio and fair grounds. For the first time, too, a map of Disneyland is here released to the general public.”
This Week Magazine announced “Walt Disney’s New Ten Million Dollar Toy” in an article published September 19, 1954.
Then LOOK magazine proudly announced, “Here’s Your First View of Disneyland” with a panoramic aerial view of Disneyland in a two-page pictorial spread! The fine print divulged that “at present, Disneyland exists mainly in drawings. models and the color map on these pages”, while “its four major areas… are backdrops for the Disneyland TV show, making its debut October 27.”
The fabulous aerial over Disneyland appears in a two-page spread of LOOK magazine.
The construction of Disneyland was perhaps “the greatest construction show on earth.” Soon, many Disneyland Participant Sponsors followed suit by publishing articles within the pages of their own periodicals, each promoting their forthcoming exhibits within Walt Disney’s soon-to-open Park. There was Hudson Family Magazine, Vol.1, No.3; Nash Airflyte Magazine, June of 1955 ; Upjohn Company’s Scope Magazine, and Coca-Cola’s The Refresher.
Members of the Press were often invited to visit the future site of Disneyland as “sidewalk inspectors” even before there were any actual sidewalks on Main Street U.S.A. Many of these members of the press (like Bob Thomas of Associated Press) were personally given tours by Eddie Meck (of the Disneyland Publicity Department) or even Walt Disney himself. For example, toward the beginning of her article “Walt’s Wonderland” (published July 10th, 1955), Florabel Muir mentioned, “I’ve just taken a tour of this unique, $17,000,000 wonderland that Disney beamingly refers to as ‘160 acres of happiness.’ My guide was the boss himself. Like a kid who’s got the toy he’s always wanted, 53-year-old Walt bubbled with boyish pride and excitement as he ushered me into his brand new world of make believe.” One contributor to The Los Angeles Examiner (published Sun., Aug. 21, 1955) wrote: “Soon we had parked in the huge auto lot capable of handing 12,000 cars, and were walking to our meeting place at the main gate with Eddie Meck, publicity manager for the $17,000,000 enterprise.”
This printed publicity certainly sparked the public’s curiosity! After reading such pieces, quite a few people even attempted to visit the construction site in the hope of applying for a job and supporting the Disneyland show. John Catone, Jack Taylor, and Boyd Diaz each read about Disneyland in their local newspapers. Boyd recalled “I was living in Anaheim, working in a wire factory, when read about Disneyland in the papers.” All three of these individuals soon became “Disneylanders” and part of an elite group known later as “55ers.”
Walt's 160-acre amusement park is teased in the fine text of this full page photo published in The Illustrated London News, February 26, 1955.
“Pre-Opening International Press Coverage”
Earlier, Roy Disney had predicted that Disneyland’s success would become internationally known, mostly owing to reports of the national press! “The newsworthiness of Disneyland and the universal Disney appeal has been the subject of a vast amount of unsolicited favorable publicity. From editorial to feature and news articles in the press and magazines, to radio and television coverage, this publicity has taken every form of expression nationally and internationally,” according to “Disneyland U.S.A.” (a 44-page book designed for potential sponsors). Reporters “across the pond” wanted the story of Walt Disney’s Disneyland. According to John Grover (Staff Writer of The Los Angeles Mirror, published for June 10th, 1955) Eddie Ettinger (of Disneyland Publicity) was “trying to keep too much publicity from being written about his giant baby. He’s had transatlantic calls from London papers wanting stories.” (See the excerpt above.) There was even an (English-Translated) article featured in The Asian Pictorial, June of 1955 (pictured below) which also gave a preview of Disneyland!
Disneyland is the star of a promotional (English-translated) article featured in The Asian Pictorial, June of 1955!
“Negative and Mis-informative Pre-Opening Press”
According to Disneyland policy, every Guest (including members of the press) is entitled to his or her opinion. Even before Walt Disneyland’s Disneyland opened, some reporters chose to write articles which may not have been outright negative, but raised questions in the minds of readers. The following quotes are best examined in the context of their articles and columns, but may leave their readers with many questions. Did the journalist’s information come from a sanctioned source? What was the author’s or publisher’s intent to write and release such a statement?
For instance, a write-up by John Grover (Los Angeles Mirror, June 10th, 1955) referenced the contemporaneous Union issues that had arisen over the operation of Disneyland’s trains and steamboats. Grover wrote: “There’ll be a real 1890 train circling the grounds, but will the engineer be a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers or of one of the entertainment unions with jurisdiction over amusement park employees? Will the skipper of the 160-foot sternwheeler on Disneyland’s own river be a Master, Mates, and Pilots Union member, or not?”
“Negative Preview Day Press Coverage of ‘Black Sunday’”
When Press Preview Day arrived and some journalists chose to focus on the negative Opening Day conditions at Disneyland. The very next day (following the Press Preview Day), “Headlines blasted: ‘Walt's Dream a Nitemare,’ ‘Park Can't Handle Opening Day Crush,’ ‘Disneyland Opens Amid Traffic Jams, Confusion,’ ‘Disneyland Shatters Illusion’ and ‘Gripes Tarnish Disneyland's Glitter.’ Critics proclaimed the park ‘Disney's Folly’ and ‘a Hollywood spectacular... a spectacular failure.’” [“Mouse Tales: A Behind-The-Ears Look at Disneyland” by David Koenig, page 26]
United Press headlines read : “Walt Disney Opens New Park But Guests Call It Confused Mess.” James Bacon (of Associated Press) wrote the headline, “Disneyland Opens Amid Confusion, Traffic Jams,” where he mentioned “unfortunately the opening is about one week too early as 30,000 invited guests learned yesterday at a special preview.” In the same article, James went on about the “TV complications.” William H. Mooring (of the popular “Hollywood In Focus” column) wrote a short article entitled “Walt’s Dream Is A Nightmare.” On July 18th, 1955, one newspaper carried pessimistic headline “Park Can’t Handle Opening Day Crush.” Like Art Linkletter once said, “The first reviews were not too kind, because it was a hot day and there was a certain amount of disorganization.” Some journalists suggested that Disneyland had given preferential treatment to television.
Some persisting articles (while not negative) were still mis-informative and thus a little confusing. For instance, one New Zealand newspaper reported about Sleeping Beauty Castle: “among these wonders is a dungeon with rack and wheel and torture chamber.” (To be fair, this last quotation was borrowed from “A Visit To Disneyland,” page 3, which was prepared by the Disneyland, Inc. Public relations Department, and further mentioned “the large dining hall of knights and other castle appointments are other wonders passed before entering the courtyard.”)
“Anaheim and surrounding territory became world famous as press, radio and television reporters and photographers described Disneyland to people of all nations.” Finally, a special section was published for newspapers as the Press Preview day arrived.
The Welcome to Disneyland insert included in some Newspapers.
“Optimistic Opening Day Press”
But despite even these reviews (and more), the Press was largely optimistic. Reporter McLemore (of “The Lighter Side”) wrote about the press preview of Disneyland and described being “there when the gates opened, dressed in my Sunday best, and tingling with excitement.” The renown LIFE Magazine published a short article a month later (on August 15, 1955). The article was more of a pictorial (with photos by Loomis Dean and Allan Grant), featuring page-filling pictures of “the stuff children’s dreams are made on” and the very attractions that “Uncle Walt” packed his park with! Columnists Henry McLemore (of “The Brighter Side,” distributed by McNaught Syndicate), Sheilah Graham and James Bacon, UPI Correspondent Vernon Scott, Will James of the Minneapolis Tribune, Bob Thomas of the Associated Press and others gave optimistic reports. Some of their positive excerpts were printed in the second issue of Disneyland’s own newspaper - “The Disneyland News” (August 1955 ; Vol. 1, No. 2).
About this time, roving television reporters featured a tour of Disneyland on “Wanderlust,” at 10 p.m. on Monday, August 22, 1955, KABC-TV, Channel 7 with Bill Burrud narrating and Slim Barnard. Now the public could see Disneyland and firm their own opinions.
Local reporters like Bob Thomas (Hollywood reporter for Associated Press) would come to regularly publish articles on new developments and coming attractions of Disneyland. As soon as Disneyland held its Press Preview Event, magazines affiliated with Disneyland Participants (like Monsanto, Coca-Cola, the Upjohn Company, and others) published articles about Disneyland, occasionally giving unique perspectives of their exhibits and attractions. Articles were published in publications like Nash Airflyte Magazine (July 1955) giving previews of Walt Disney’s Disneyland.
As for those who made negative reports of “Black Sunday,” Jack Lindquist recalled how Eddie Meck (Disneyland Publicity Manager) set out to invite these ones back to see the improved state of Disneyland. Many members of the Press who once gave negative reviews were invited to attend the unveiling of future attractions, restaurants, and shows, with the hope that their new reports would reflect the Park’s change, growth and success.
An ABC-TV News Press Release about Walt Disney's Disneyland.
Many travel magazines (published by a variety of sponsors) commonly spotlighted Walt Disney’s magic Kingdom during the 1950’s and 1960’s! Some articles were short, (as in the American Express- sponsored “1965 See America’s West - World of Scenic Grandeur”) while others (as the “Travel - The Magazine That Roams the Globe” article, pictured below) were much lengthier.
“Walt Disney Disneyland” (printed by Officine Grafiche Arnoldo Mondadori - Verona; first published 1964) commented about how the “letters and newspaper clippings that pour into Disneyland are a commentary on its stature all over the world. A prospective juror in San Antonio, Texas, explains that he is perfectly willing to serve, but had plans to take his six children to Disneyland. The learned judge, noting that he had ‘made a similar commitment for this year,’ rules without hesitation, ‘the juror is excused’ . . . The Louisville (Kentucky) Courier Journal writes: ‘Foreign tourists should not be frightened away by reports of excessive red tape in the United States. It is not true, for example, that a separate visa is required for Disneyland.’ . . . A youngster in Peoria, Illinois, pens a letter: ‘We are planning to move to Disneyland. Can you, please send us some booklets about the rides and the town?’”
Road and Track (September of 1955)
Road & Track, September 1955.
Railway Progress, October, 1955.
The Disneyland News featured articles by contributing writers, some of whom wrote columns for other newspapers, magazines, and periodicals. For example Army Archerd (Daily Variety columnist; Hollywood Correspondent for the Central Press Association of King Features Syndicate) wrote the Guest Column for “Santa‘s Headquarters Moved to Burbank?” published in The Disneyland News, December 10, 1955.
TV Radio Mirror (April, 1956) above, Child Life (June-July, 1956), and the Soviet weekly “Light” magazine (January, 1956) below.
Wisdom Magazine, Volume 32 (published December of 1959) published the historic “THE WISDOM OF WALT DISNEY” containing quotations by Walt, from INTERVIEWS BY THE NEWS MEDIA, FILMS HE NARRATED, AND ARTICLES THAT APPEARED UNDER WALT'S BYLINE. These were notably compiled and published by the University of Disneyland.
FORD TIMES (September 1960)
Ralph Hulett had previously performed the role of “color stylist and background specialist” in Walt Disney Productions, as well as designing several Disneyland attractions. Accrording to the “Contributor’s Page”, Ralph was “born in Kankakee, Illinois, the son and grandson of doctors… he broke tradition to become an artist, studying at Chord Art Institute in Los Angeles.” At the time, he was “famed for his Christmas cards” before providing the colorful illustrations for this article.
Ford Times, September 1960.
The Westerner.
The Westerner.
Much publicity was prepared for the Disneyland Tencennial celebration of 1965. Publications included:
Herald Tribune, New York June, 1965
Rocky Mountain News, Denver, Colorado June, 1965
Jack and Jill Magazine June, 1965
This Week - (Sunday Newspaper Magazine) By June, 1965
Esquire May, 1965
Family Weekly By June, 1965
New York Metro-Sunday-Group April, 1965
Parade April, 1965
Family Circle May, 1965
Argosy Magazine Summer, 1965
Holiday Magazine June, 1965
Woman's Day Magazine June, 1965
Life Magazine July, 1965
Seventeen Magazine August, 1965
Ladies' Home Journal September, 1965
McCall's September, 1965
Gentlemen's Quarterly October, 1965
Glamour Magazine October, 1965
Venture Magazine October, 1965
The Golden Magazine for Boys and Girls (June of 1965).
Many of these journalists and writers have developed such an appreciation for Disneyland, that they have periodically revisited the subject in their work. For instance, a Vernon Scott (a veteran UPI correspondent who covered the Opening Day ceremonies of Disneyland), later admitted that he had “visited Disneyland at least twice a year for 25 years.” This admission was made in a contributed article published in the “Happy Birthday to a Dream” advertising supplement prepared for publication during the 25th anniversary of Disneyland in 1980.