It’s more than a theme park. It’s an iconic American institution, a symbol of an imagined Golden Age in American history, and a site of many good childhood memories. We’re talking about Disneyland. Construction began in July 1954 in rural Anaheim, California, and the park opened but a year later in July 1955. And, thanks to this newly-cleaned up piece of footage, you can see Walt’s “magical park” just a short two years later. The babies in the strollers are likely grandparents today. But the park still looks much the same. Disney History Institute offers more commentary on the clip here.
If you would like to sign up for Open Culture’s free email newsletter, please find it here.
If you would like to support the mission of Open Culture, consider making a donation to our site. It’s hard to rely 100% on ads, and your contributions will help us continue providing the best free cultural and educational materials to learners everywhere. You can contribute through PayPal, Patreon, and Venmo (@openculture). Thanks!
Related Content:
Walt Disney Presents the Super Cartoon Camera
How Walt Disney Cartoons Are Made
Disney’s Oscar-Winning Adventures in Music
Donald Duck Wants You to Pay Your Taxes (1943)
I was struck by how nobody in the film was smiling… At Disneyland…..
That’s because they were stunned to have paid around $3.95 for each family member to get in…