Fifty years ago, today, Disneyland opened its doors for the first time. The LA Times has an extensive article on its history:
To build his dream theme park in Anaheim a half-century ago, Walt Disney borrowed against his life insurance policy and cashed in property, including a vacation home in Palm Springs, to pay the $17-million construction bill.
When the Anaheim theme park opened July 17, 1955 — with cranky Southern Californians fanning themselves on a sweltering hot day — toilets clogged, the food ran out and women’s high heels sunk into wet asphalt. Disney officials still call it “Black Sunday.”
But from the start, there would be no denying the world’s infatuation with Disneyland, a rite of passage for millions of vacationing families. In the 50 years since Walt Disney leveled Anaheim orange groves, the park has left an oversized imprint on American culture, influencing everything from family entertainment to shopping malls to corporate branding. LA Times
Read the rest here.
