1956 Disneyland Hotel Grand Opening Rare Footage & Still Images

[oldhotelguy]

Wonderful stuff! I recognized Yvonne DeCarlo. She's best known for playing Lily Munster and playing Sephora in Cecil B. DeMille's The Ten Commandments, which was released in 1956. I have the DVD.

I spoke with Yvonne's son when writing the latest book and he told me his mom loved the part of Lily Munster. He said it allowed her to shop! I know many actors feel as if they are typecast and often times want out of successful TV roles but I got the sense she was perfectly happy to be working. Yvonne and husband Robert Morgan were also at the City of Hope Telrama (parts filmed at the Disneyland Hotel) in 1957 and good friends of the Wrathers.

[Not My Real Name]

Come to think of it, Commandments came out after the opening of the hotel, in November of 1956, so DeCarlo was relatively unknown at the hotel opening.

[oldhotelguy]

Come to think of it, Commandments came out after the opening of the hotel, in November of 1956, so DeCarlo was relatively unknown at the hotel opening.

Maybe even safe to say she was still working on the film at the time of the Hotel's grand opening? I have some pics of her and her husband at the opening and at the City of Hope event if any would like to see them.

[Circa1966]

Sweet stuff, Don...thanks for sharing and looking forward to the surprise

[brian11811]

$22 seems inexpensive, but in 1956 the average monthly income was $300 or $3,532 a year. (National Average Wage Index) - Although looking again, I am no math expert, but it still seems a suite would have a been a great deal, considering $41k is national average. around $3500 a month, so $350 is an average price for small room now. Then the small room should have been $30 to be close to today's pricing.

[Sambo]

Indeed - the Disneyland Hotel (as have others in the area) has pretty much jumped way over the standard in comparing wages/prices then and now. It used to be the DL Hotel was priced so an average family could stay with ease. Not so anymore. Granted, there are many who can afford to stay, and do, but the average working stiffs - not so much.

I think it is just part of the general Disney trend. They have huge crowds so there is no need to keep prices low. They cater to a far wealthier clientele than they used to. Their product is in demand, so increased prices keep the numbers right at the level Disney is comfortable with. That's the nature of business...

[DLandFansAZ]

Indeed - the Disneyland Hotel (as have others in the area) has pretty much jumped way over the standard in comparing wages/prices then and now. It used to be the DL Hotel was priced so an average family could stay with ease. Not so anymore. Granted, there are many who can afford to stay, and do, but the average working stiffs - not so much.

I think it is just part of the general Disney trend. They have huge crowds so there is no need to keep prices low. They cater to a far wealthier clientele than they used to. Their product is in demand, so increased prices keep the numbers right at the level Disney is comfortable with. That's the nature of business...

^This exactly. plus there are many other alternatives that are suitable and people's idea of a vacation have changed in the last 50+ years. When I was growing up in the early 70's we traveled in a motor home or camper and stayed at I believe a KOA somewhere where near where the Mickey and Friends structure is now (I think.) My dad wouldn't have never stayed at the Disneyland hotel. Not because we couldn't afford it, but because my dad was the mold for Clark Griswald. The 350 mile trek from Phoenix became a quest to get there, roadside picnics, a mandatory stop at Hadleys and 25 rest area stops. Disneyland was the destination, the finale to the adventure.

[oldhotelguy]

Indeed - the Disneyland Hotel (as have others in the area) has pretty much jumped way over the standard in comparing wages/prices then and now. It used to be the DL Hotel was priced so an average family could stay with ease. Not so anymore. Granted, there are many who can afford to stay, and do, but the average working stiffs - not so much.

I think it is just part of the general Disney trend. They have huge crowds so there is no need to keep prices low. They cater to a far wealthier clientele than they used to. Their product is in demand, so increased prices keep the numbers right at the level Disney is comfortable with. That's the nature of business...

What my research has found is, Jack Wrather had the family in mind with just about every business venture he took on. The Disneyland Hotel, his television shows, Lassie, The Lone Ranger, etc., the Erector Set/AC Gilbert, television stations and even to some degree his involvement with Public Television stations. He wanted families to experience things together and share fun times to provide lasting memories. He liked making a profit after all, what business man doesn't, but it was not first and foremost on his mind. This is the essence of why I so admire Jack Wrather and have chosen to research and document him through his favorite business venture, the Disneyland Hotel. I see it in his speeches, his work, his ventures and in his private life. He had a family and knew first hand what made families happy. It's really sad in that now days, it's all about the bottom line-money, and not just with Disney but many others. Yes, the Disneyland Hotel has neat stuff, water slides, restaurants, bars, shops, pools but its lost its charm to me. In the 80's, I used to feel a special magic when staying at the Disneyland Hotel. Yes it was more expensive than many of the other local hotels but it was worth it. It was magical and charming with a ton of things to do. I think having separate ownership outside of Disney contributed to the magic in that to some degree, the Hotel had to stay innovative to compete with the Park, not that that was the intention. Don't get me wrong, I still love the Hotel and it does have many fun and exciting adventures. It's just that, at least to me, it's lost a very special magic.

[Sambo]

What my research has found is, Jack Wrather had the family in mind with just about every business venture he took on. The Disneyland Hotel, his television shows, Lassie, The Lone Ranger, etc., the Erector Set/AC Gilbert, television stations and even to some degree his involvement with Public Television stations. He wanted families to experience things together and share fun times to provide lasting memories. He liked making a profit after all, what business man doesn't, but it was not first and foremost on his mind. This is the essence of why I so admire Jack Wrather and have chosen to research and document him through his favorite business venture, the Disneyland Hotel. I see it in his speeches, his work, his ventures and in his private life. He had a family and knew first hand what made families happy. It's really sad in that now days, it's all about the bottom line-money, and not just with Disney but many others. Yes, the Disneyland Hotel has neat stuff, water slides, restaurants, bars, shops, pools but its lost its charm to me. In the 80's, I used to feel a special magic when staying at the Disneyland Hotel. Yes it was more expensive than many of the other local hotels but it was worth it. It was magical and charming with a ton of things to do. I think having separate ownership outside of Disney contributed to the magic in that to some degree, the Hotel had to stay innovative to compete with the Park, not that that was the intention. Don't get me wrong, I still love the Hotel and it does have many fun and exciting adventures. It's just that, at least to me, it's lost a very special magic.

Brilliant. It seems for all the things we got wrong in the 50's - we got some things right. Sadly, I miss those...

[Circa1966]

Amen brother -

What my research has found is, Jack Wrather had the family in mind with just about every business venture he took on. The Disneyland Hotel, his television shows, Lassie, The Lone Ranger, etc., the Erector Set/AC Gilbert, television stations and even to some degree his involvement with Public Television stations. He wanted families to experience things together and share fun times to provide lasting memories. He liked making a profit after all, what business man doesn't, but it was not first and foremost on his mind. This is the essence of why I so admire Jack Wrather and have chosen to research and document him through his favorite business venture, the Disneyland Hotel. I see it in his speeches, his work, his ventures and in his private life. He had a family and knew first hand what made families happy. It's really sad in that now days, it's all about the bottom line-money, and not just with Disney but many others. Yes, the Disneyland Hotel has neat stuff, water slides, restaurants, bars, shops, pools but its lost its charm to me. In the 80's, I used to feel a special magic when staying at the Disneyland Hotel. Yes it was more expensive than many of the other local hotels but it was worth it. It was magical and charming with a ton of things to do. I think having separate ownership outside of Disney contributed to the magic in that to some degree, the Hotel had to stay innovative to compete with the Park, not that that was the intention. Don't get me wrong, I still love the Hotel and it does have many fun and exciting adventures. It's just that, at least to me, it's lost a very special magic.

[Druggas]

There is a style and flair in those old pictures that we have lost along the way.

[oldhotelguy]

Here are some great pics of Yvonne Decarlo (and others) at the City of Hope event in 1957 and the Hotel's Grand Opening in 1956.

[oldhotelguy]

One interesting fact about the Yvonne Decarlo pictures at the Hotel's opening day: her son Bruce had just been born a little over a month before these pictures were taken.

[my7dwarves]

Yvonne DeCarlo is beautiful! I could only hope to look half as good and it's been 4 months since my son was born, lol.

Thanks for the pics, OHG. Always a pleasure.

[oldhotelguy]

Yvonne DeCarlo is beautiful! I could only hope to look half as good and it's been 4 months since my son was born, lol.

Thanks for the pics, OHG. Always a pleasure.

She also dated Howard Hughes!! I did not know that.