It’s more than a theme park. It’s an iconÂic AmerÂiÂcan instiÂtuÂtion, a symÂbol of an imagÂined GoldÂen Age in AmerÂiÂcan hisÂtoÂry, and a site of many good childÂhood memÂoÂries. We’re talkÂing about DisÂneyÂland. ConÂstrucÂtion began in July 1954 in rurÂal AnaÂheim, CalÂiÂforÂnia, and the park opened but a year latÂer in July 1955. And, thanks to this newÂly-cleaned up piece of footage, you can see Walt’s “magÂiÂcal park” just a short two years latÂer. The babies in the strollers are likeÂly grandÂparÂents today. But the park still looks much the same. DisÂney HisÂtoÂry InstiÂtute offers more comÂmenÂtary on the clip here.
If you would like to sign up for Open Culture’s free email newsletÂter, please find it here. Or folÂlow our posts on Threads, FaceÂbook, BlueSky or Mastodon.
If you would like to supÂport the misÂsion of Open CulÂture, conÂsidÂer makÂing a donaÂtion to our site. It’s hard to rely 100% on ads, and your conÂtriÂbuÂtions will help us conÂtinÂue proÂvidÂing the best free culÂturÂal and eduÂcaÂtionÂal mateÂriÂals to learnÂers everyÂwhere. You can conÂtribute through PayÂPal, PatreÂon, and VenÂmo (@openculture). Thanks!
RelatÂed ConÂtent:
Walt DisÂney Presents the Super CarÂtoon CamÂera
How Walt DisÂney CarÂtoons Are Made
Disney’s Oscar-WinÂning AdvenÂtures in Music
DonÂald Duck Wants You to Pay Your TaxÂes (1943)
I was struck by how nobody in the film was smilÂing… At DisÂneyÂland.….
That’s because they were stunned to have paid around $3.95 for each famÂiÂly memÂber to get in…