1957 Disneyland Hotel 1st Anniversary Pictures

[oldhotelguy]

Here is a set of photos from the Hotel's 1st anniversary which I am assuming would be August of 1957. The Disneyland Hotel actually opened on October 5, 1955 but its official grand opening was celebrated on August 25, 1956. These photos depict the Wrather family celebrating poolside with a giant, multi-layered cake with "1st Anniversary Disneyland Hotel" decorated on the side of the individual layers. Some interesting facts about these pictures which I will go over in further detail a bit later.

---------- Post added 03-05-2012 at 02:48 PM ----------

The photos above also include Mr. Sherman Harris (and family). Sherm was the Hotel's very first General Manager.

[chris001]

These are great, thanks for sharing!

[oldhotelguy]

---------- Post added 03-05-2012 at 03:03 PM ----------



---------- Post added 03-05-2012 at 03:07 PM ----------

[oldhotelguy]

At these photo shoots, multiple pictures were taken and then analyzed for use in various publications. I have uncovered other details about a couple of pictures from this shoot and will share shortly.

---------- Post added 03-07-2012 at 09:17 AM ----------

When I first saw this picture, I had no idea who these people were with Jack & Bonita but they looked vaguely familiar. I knew that I had seen them before but where?

[Not My Real Name]

What a time capsule these pictures are, showing the clothes and hair styles of the day. I'm sure you have more.

[oldhotelguy]

So, the answer to who these people are (besides the Wrathers) is:



---------- Post added 03-07-2012 at 11:31 AM ----------

And based on the fact that they are wearing the same clothing in each picture, I would bet the two pictures are from the same photo shoot on the same day celebrating the Hotel's 1st anniversary in August of 1957.

---------- Post added 03-07-2012 at 11:32 AM ----------



---------- Post added 03-07-2012 at 11:34 AM ----------

The above and below were taken from a 1980 Disneyland Hotel magazine publication called Kaleidoscope.



---------- Post added 03-07-2012 at 11:35 AM ----------

Here is another page from that same article in Kaleidoscope:



---------- Post added 03-07-2012 at 11:36 AM ----------

Note the picture on the top right from the Hotel's 1st Anniversary.

---------- Post added 03-07-2012 at 11:37 AM ----------

Here it is from the set of photographs I found in the storage vault.



---------- Post added 03-07-2012 at 11:40 AM ----------

But I am saving my favorite picture for last! If you were fortunate enough to have been at the pool when these photos were shot back in 1957, you got to share in the cake!!!

[villagecreator]

showing the… hair styles of the day.

Or lack-thereof in Jack's case. Great photos as always! Thanks for continuing to post!

[DisWedWay]

The Coral Club has changed a lot over the years I'm sure since the opening of the Disneyland Hotel. Does it still exist? Would be fun to have a Coral Club Corner in Trader Sam's, or a least a special Coral Club Cocktail from that era. I'm still one of the first Coconino Cove Club members with Harriet Burns. PD

[oldhotelguy]

The Coral Club has changed a lot over the years I'm sure since the opening of the Disneyland Hotel. Does it still exist? Would be fun to have a Coral Club Corner in Trader Sam's, or a least a special Coral Club Cocktail from that era. PD

No more Coral Club. Went away in 1999 when they removed all of the original section of the Disneyland Hotel. One thing they did do was, name a room inside Steakhouse 55 as the Oak Room which was a long time club/bar/restaurant at the Disneyland Hotel. When Jack & Bonita were named Disney Legends this past August, my family was fortunate to have dinner with Chris and Molly Wrather and their families at the Oak Room. I had the Hotel staff provide a screan inside the Oak Room where I played a loop of Wrather family and Disneyland Hotel historical pictures. It was a very memorable evening.