My parents at Disneyland the year it opened.

58 years ago today, July 17th, 1955 at 2:30 pm, Disneyland opened.
My parents were there either that month or the very next one 
since their pictures are dated August 1955.

I remember my Mom talking often about Disneyland that first time she went....
how she left me and Richard with our grandparents. 
I was 15 months old and Richard was 3. She said she was so homesick for us that she didn't even enjoy herself. I remember her saying about that trip, "It's unnatural for a mother to be separated from her baby."

This must explain why she does not look very happy in these pictures.


 The picture below is proof that people wore strange clothing even back in 1955. 
What is the point of an umbrella on that man's back? Or is that a lamp?
The happiest place on earth and she couldn't even smile.


 Meanwhile this is where Richard and I were. Pineflat with Grandma and Grandpa Slinkard.
They weren't camping. That is actually where they lived for a year...in that trailer while building their home.
Then they decided they didn't like living in Pineflat and moved back to Fresno.
If you look really closely you can see 3 year old Richard. Doesn't look like he has a shirt on.
In her scrapbook with all these pictures, Mom wrote:

(She often said she couldn't spell!)

They should have just brought us with them!

Happy Birthday Disneyland!

9 comments:

Richard said...

Of course I didn't have a shirt on. None of the hod carriers did.

Anonymous said...

Why didn't they take you with them? Too young?
My grandfather took our whole family to Disneyland that summer. I remember it well, even though I was only 6. It seemed like the happiest place on earth, for sure!
darlene

Grandma Honey said...

Since Disneyland was brand new maybe they didn't really know what to expect. Or maybe my Mom thought she could use the break from 2 little kids but didn't realize how much she would miss us. Or maybe my Dad or her parents talked her into it. Not sure. But it must have been traumatic for her because she brought up those feelings often through the years.

Karen Mortensen said...

It just goes to show you that Disneyland is better with kids.

grandmapeg said...

I love the pictures of your mom and dad there at one of my most favorite places in the world :-)

the Rich girl said...

When Tyler and I were on our honeymoon at Disneyland, we had such a great time. We have talked so many times about how much fun it will be when we can take a family trip out there with our kids. (I can't even imagine how much fun it would be to experience Disneyland through a little kid's eyes. Especially if that little kid was Richie.)

Anonymous said...

Black and white just doesn't do Disneyland justice, does it?
darlene

Rebecca said...

This is so fun you have these pictures. I lived in California but we were too poor to make that trip clear down to Disneyland. But I do remember our neighbors went and we heard all about it. Also, isn't it funny how they all wore dresses back then? Even to Disneyland!

Grandma Honey said...

Rebecca~ I noticed the dresses too. My Mom was such a casual pants person but I guess back in 1955 even she thought it appropriate to wear a dress out in public.

Darlene~ Agree. But nostalgia just would not be the same without the black and whites. When I think back to the 50s and 60s I visualize everything colorless!

Karen~ I can imagine what crazy fun Richie and his little brother will have there in a few years. What a great tradition to start with your honeymoon.

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