This is a beautiful poster advertising Disneyland’s grand opening ceremony, on July 17, 1955, in Anaheim, California.
The vibrant colors and detail of this classic image have been painstakingly brought back to life to preserve a wonderful piece of history.
The high-resolution image is printed on heavy archival photo paper, on a large-format, professional giclée process printer. The poster is shipped in a rigid cardboard tube, and is ready for framing.
The 13"x19" format is an excellent image size that looks great as a stand-alone piece of art, or as a grouped visual statement. These posters require no cutting, trimming, or custom sizing, and a wide variety of 13"x19" frames are readily available at your local craft or hobby retailer, and online.
A great vintage print for your home, shop, or business!
HISTORY OF DISNEYLAND
On Sunday July 17, 1955, America watched animation genius Walt Disney, preside over the grand opening of Disneyland, his long-awaited 160-acre magical theme park. After the national anthem, a benediction, and a flag raising ceremony, members of California’s Air National Guard performed a flyover. The star-studded national broadcast featured Fess Parker (star of Disney’s Davey Crocket, King of the Wild Frontier), Sammy Davis Jr., and Frank Sinatra.
Unlike other Disney events, this grand opening was plagued with problems. Walt Disney had compressed the construction timetable for the Magic Kingdom into a 1-year timeframe, and the park was unfinished on opening day. Guest were disappointed that several of the rides weren’t operational, including The Rocket to the Moon, Dumbo the Flying Elephant, and the Peter Pan ride.
Temperatures reached 100 degrees on opening day, and the newly laid asphalt on Main Street, USA melted into a sticky goo that entrapped numerous high heel-wearing ladies. An unexpectedly large crowd created a general shortage of working necessities like drinking fountains, and food and refreshments ran out in many locations. The Mark Twain Riverboat listed heavily when eager passengers filled the boat beyond capacity.
The opening-day failures didn’t prevent throngs of visitors from visiting Disneyland. In just 7 weeks, attendance at the park surpassed 1 million guests, and visits to Disney’s Magic Kingdom quickly surpassed the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone National Parks.
DISNEYLAND PARK
Disneyland Park, originally Disneyland, is the first of two theme parks built at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, opened on July 17, 1955. It is the only theme park designed and built to completion under the direct supervision of Walt Disney. It was originally the only attraction on the property; its official name was changed to Disneyland Park to distinguish it from the expanding complex in the 1990s. It is the oldest Disney Park in the world.
Walt Disney came up with the concept of Disneyland after visiting various amusement parks with his daughters in the 1930s and 1940s. He initially envisioned building a tourist attraction adjacent to his studios in Burbank to entertain fans who wished to visit; however, he soon realized that the proposed site was too small. After hiring a consultant to help him determine an appropriate site for his project, Disney bought a 160-acre (65 ha) site near Anaheim in 1953. Construction began in 1954 and the park was unveiled during a special televised press event on the ABC Television Network on July 17, 1955.
Since its opening, Disneyland has undergone expansions and major renovations, including the addition of New Orleans Square in 1966, Bear Country (now Critter Country) in 1972, Mickey's Toontown in 1993, and Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge in 20
