Vintage Disneyland Postcards: Main Street U.S.A.
Over the years I have shared selections from my vintage postcard collection, from Palm Springs to Portland, but I have never shared any of my vintage Disneyland ones! Today that changes! This is the first in what will be a series of five posts, each themed to one of the lands of Disneyland. Today we begin with Main Street USA, “Here is America in 1890-1910, at the crossroads of an era. Here the gas lamp is giving way to the electric lamp; and the newcomer, the sputtering horseless carriage, has challenged Old Dobbin to the streetcar right-of-way” as Walt puts it in one of his “pictorial souvenir” booklets. I’ve also included a few general Disneyland ones and any that pertain to the Disneyland Railroad.
A unique location along Main Street USA was that of the Upjohn Pharmacy, which showcased what a pharmacy would have looked like at the turn-of-the-century, and they even offered free samples of vitamins.
The Upjohn Pharmacy was there on opening day in 1955 and lasted until September 1970. Today the location is the Fortuosity Shop.
A unique item I have is a large folding postcard set that feature panorama views of various locations in Disneyland, and I quite enjoy this one of Disneyland.
When it comes to the holidays, Main Street USA certainly gives you that old-timey Christmas vibe. These three postcards are the only vintage ones I have run across featuring any part of the park decorated for Christmas.
Disneyland used to have a real tree each year, but with growing fire and safety concerns they switched to an artificial tree in 2008.
And here is a little bonus…a look at Disneyland’s lost land, Holidayland!
From 1957 to 1961 Disneyland offered Holidayland as a picnic and recreation area, featuring tables, baseball diamond, horseshoe toss, and more. It could also be rented out for special events, two of which were Dairy Day, featuring live cows and dairy farmers, along with a beauty contest, and took place August 22, 1959, and Car Club Day, which was booked by the Road Lords Car Club, but co-sponsored by a police advisory council to add a level of civility and credence, due to car clubs’ reputation for unruly teenagers, and took place September 5, 1959. The area closed due to several reasons, but ultimately to make way for what is now New Orleans Square. You can read more about Holidayland from the Disney History Institute here.
I hope you enjoyed this vintage look back at Main Street USA! Next time we’ll venture into the wilds of Adventureland!
Other Vintage Disneyland Postcard Posts
Adventureland
Frontierland
New Orleans Square
Tomorrowland
Fantasyland
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This was a fascinating look. I can’t wait for Frontierland and Adventureland. You might be able to guess some of my favorites based on that!
I also wanted to say that you’ve really upped your blogging. Lots of posts on lots of different, interesting topics. I don’t often…maybe ever!…comment here (but do occasionally on IG), but I wanted to acknowledge the new changes & let you know that I really love them. I bet lots of others do too.
P.s. This is based on your last post but I want to send a pic of the amazing gold mining jewelry set I found a couple of years ago. Your the only person I can think of who would get its awesomeness!!!
Thank you so much for your kind words! This revamp was a long time coming, and I really wanted to shift the focus away from vintage fashion for a variety of reasons, and it is so nice knowing the shift is welcome and appreciated!!
Ok, I didn’t think there was anything new I could learn about Disneyland, but I had legit never heard of “Holidayland.”
Thanks for sharing these!
It was so shortly lived, and it is said to be the least photographed thing at Disneyland, so there is little evidence of it.
You’re welcome! I hope you enjoy the rest! Stay tuned!
Great post! Especially liked the Upjohn Pharmacy and holiday parts! Wonder what they did with all the beautiful light fixtures, bottles, scales, signage, etc. from the pharmacy. Shame they didn’t leave it intact! Thanks again!
These are wonderful! Thank you so much for sharing.
I love your web-site. Thanks for posting all these fabulous postcards and photographs.
Here us another page that might be of interest to you. It’s about Walt Disney’s World in Florida – lots if interesting old pictures.
See:
http://www.imagineeringdisney.com/thenandnow/
All the best to you.