Disneyland has had many odd historical moments, and we will share five crazy stories with you. With each story somehow getting crazier than the last. These are five moments in Disneyland's history that will not be relived again.
I rode Rainbow Ridge Mine Train once at age 4 in 1976. In the early 1980’s when I was 9 or 10 my dad brought home a Disneyland 25th Anniversary coffee table book. It featured 2 pictures of “Nature’s Wonderland” (the bears and the cabin on fire) I immediately asked my dad “hey dad you remember a nature ride of some sort? It was maybe tucked away somewhere around where Bear Country is? We rode a train?” My dad shut me down telling me I was probably thinking of the Disneyland Railroad and the cabin was what you saw doing the Indian canoes. Well, dad. We were both right, I’m just grateful that I had parents who ferried me from Fremont, CA all the way to Anaheim. Especially since they were very young parents who scrimped and saved bigtime in those early years and we rode all the E ticket rides on that trip.
Back during that era Tom Sawyer's was the best. You could run wild on the island. Fort Wilderness was so cool. The tree house the caves and various barrel rope bridges.
Very interesting oddities video. My father was a smoker. We went to Disneyland at least twice a year from 1961 'til 1971, when we moved up north to Redding (where my brothers loved to fish). During all that time, I don't remember him smoking AT Disneyland, even though he didn't kick the habit 'til he had grandkids in the 80's. But then again, we didn't buy merch in Disneyland anyway! Middle class Mexican-American family with four kids, we didn't even buy food in the parks. We'd leave the park and go out to the parking lot to eat the food my Mom prepared beforehand. So he probably didn't buy smokes in the park either. But we did buy the occasional hat at the Mad Hatters, across from the Chicken-of-the-Sea pirate boat restaurant (uh, which we didn't ever go to). And my Dad did buy fudge on Main St right before we took the last train around the park before it closed. Wonderful times. And ya know, there were other animatronics in the Mine Train ride besides animals. There were all those moving rocks, animatronic versions of formations in parks like Arches NP in Utah. The nearest I got to those natural wonders before I was 30 years old WAS at Disneyland. I didn't even know they were real back then. Ah, guns in Disneyland, now that's an oddity. We saw the Golden Horseshoe Review, but that was after the shop was closed. But we did take guns TO Disneyland. Yep, we took toy guns to Disneyland in the early 60's, and I have proof. The earliest film my family has of Disneyland: vimeo.com/718526725 Thank you for your unique and interesting take on things. I will continue to watch... although you are out of merch, btw. Keep up the good work.
You nailed it again Brickey! I’m too young to have seen the gun store, but I remember when you could buy toy flintlock pistols and rifles in Frontierland and the Pieces of Eight. The marina at the hotel was one of my favorite periods. A lot of good times there. I don’t think they have animatronic figures buried near BTMRR, as most of them were reused on the river and in Big Thunder, but either way, the story makes some interesting folklore. Thank you again for bringing a unique perspective on Disneyland!
I was a scuba diver at the park for 31 years. I can't speak to animation Buried in big thunder trail, However I can assure you they weren't thrown in the river! LOL!
Wow. Thats amazing. What sort of things did they use scuba for at the park? I’d be fascinated to learn more about what the role involved and anything neat that happened.
Well, they drain that place from time to time and I never heard of them finding anything like that in the water. Now, having said that I beleive the animitronic fish ~ really just a fish on a wheel is still near the old tunnel intrance. I seem to remember watching the "fish" jump out of the water for a while after the ride was closed.
I actually bought a flintlock pistol in the 80's from Pieces of Eight. I also have a rifle that either came from Disneyland or Knott's Berry Farm, again from the 80's. The rifle is solid and well made. Thanks for another awesome video.
An early 60’s movie called “40 Pounds of Trouble” features Disneyland in the final 1/3. It highlights the helicopter trip from LA to Dland. The movie features Tony Curtis, and Suzanne Pleshette. A very cute movie showing off Disneyland as it looked at the time. While some of the shots are misleading in how the park is laid out ( for instance the monorail station is made to look like it’s on Main Street) it is still a very fun movie. Interesting side note this was the first, and perhaps the only non Disney production given permission to film there. If you haven’t seen it try and get a copy.
As a child in the '50s I remember the shootouts between the Sheriff and the bad guys. Later in the late '60s I worked a security guard job at a shopping center with my sergeant being the former Sheriff of Disneyland. He was a fast draw artist who was sponsored by Disney for years. Great memories.
Brickey this was one of the most fascinating and and jaw dropping episode every. Another great documentary and love the history that your able to bring to light. 👏👏 great job.
In 1962 and in 1968, the Disneyland Sikorsky helicopters crashed and killed over forty (40) people. The helicopters were known to be susceptible to "catastrophic rotor failure." Those crashes were truly horrific in nature. (I was raised in SoCal, near Lynwood, where one of the crashes occured and my friends and I were some of the first ones on the scene at Leuder's Park.) The scene was ghastly. I was 11 years old.
Hey Brickey, another great video! I just wanted to mention that when they had fishing on Tom Sawyer Island the River Belle Terrace didn't exist. The restaurant was Aunt Jemima's Kitchen in those days.
@@HeyBrickey I can understand that. Along with the Plantation House that area was sort of Song of the South personified. However you might want to do a video about these locations along with the black Shoe Shine Boys/tap dancers that lasted into the days of New Orleans Square. It may not be pretty, but like tobacco sales, it's a part of the history. I have edited photos if you're interested.
The Rainbow Ridge animatronic burial story is completely false. When they dug up that area for Galaxy’s Edge the only things found were molds from the Jungle Cruise
I was born in 61 and grew up in the city of Orange. I remember getting to take the helicopter once from the hotel to lax to board a plane for vacation.
So I was born in 93 and I was going through old disneyland pictures and I found one with the disneyland hotel marina in it I didn't know what it was until I watched this video.
I seriously doubt there's anything buried in the old arch way any more. If Disneyland is anything, it's not wasteful. If any animatronics were stored there in any capacity, it would likely have been very temporary, and then they were likely moved and either recycled or repurposed. That archway is almost certainly empty now. It's not an ideal place to store anything, and it's certainly not where original animatronics would be preserved. It's simply uncanny to think that any self-respecting Disney employee would agree to store them there. :(
he is not sayign the actual archway but the concrete you walk on. and i kidna agree that its unlikely the just buried broken animatronics. likely scrapped them. I do know that they left some ofthe river ones there in a summerged state.
The one thing I often wonder about but rarely see anyone talking about is the Frito Kid vending machine. You can hear clips of it on RU-vid, but as far as I know, there’s no video and no one knows what happened to this very unique machine.
Oh wow! Brickey… My daughter and I have often stopped and stared at that boarded up tunnel entrance…and then researched its history. What a revelation that the surrounding area is an animatronic burial ground; how lucky that they were allowed to stay close to their home …Fascinating! Thank you for this awesome vlog..
Awesome video Brickey! Iv known about half of the things you mentioned and the other half was amazing to learn. Its great to see someone talk about the fun facts that a lot of people dont know about. This is why Im subscribed to your channel!!!
This is fabulous! Just came across your videos and you are my new favorite. No politics or personal snarky comments, just the interesting facts. Really a great, informative and entertaining video. Having been a Disneyland visitor frequently from the late 50s, it was freaky cool to see old familiar things and find out what happened to some of the ones no longer there. Well done, Mr Brickey! Carry on.
Another great video, have you ever talked about the Disneyland Police Department once located to the left of city hall. Thank you for the content from a 27 year CM.
Oh this was so great! When we ran into each other, I mentioned that I was just there for the archeology. This is exactly what I was talking about. Thanks!
Did I catch when the gun shop closed? I recall visiting with my family in the 90s, my parents purchased replica cowboy style guns for my older brother and I and we ended up having a “shootout” with each other from separate cars on Autopia… fast forward to today I’d probably scold my toddler for even making the shooting gun motion with her hand. Man have times changed.
I remember in the mid 80’s we went to Disneyland and my cousin got a “toy” rifle and we were stuck in security at LAX for quite a while until they finally determined it was a toy gun. That was an experience! I am a new subscriber and this video was great! Your a wealth of information for the tons of Disney junkies like me out there 😊. Thanks Brickey!
Brickey, I am really enjoying your content the last few months. It’s such a unique and creative perspective. Keep it up! I’m also at the parks today and wearing the “Vibes Over Rides” shirt.
We had a tobacco shop a little way down the street from my parents house. I got a Zippo lighter to just carry around. And I would go there for flints and lighter fluid. I remember the smell of tobacco was very nice. Can't stand cigarette smoke, it causes me to cough, but I liked the smell of tobacco. Go figure.
Wow…very cool stuff. The minute you said the teens “returned the guns with an apology note” I had the exact same thought….someone’s mom and dad played a big part in that note! 🤭🤣 But, cool..a real sign of the times. I remember taking candy from the store when I was little and my mom made me take it back and apologize to the manager. Ruh roh. I knew you could get tobacco, but not guns. Yet gum was 🚫. Great video 🎉
Gum was a clear no, because people dropped it on the ground and stuck it everywhere. At the time, the replica guns were just considered harmless toys, and thus not a concern at all.
No story about Hollywood Maxwell’s on Main Street!!! That is a true oddity. Maybe a story for another day. Great video. Love the fun stories. #club1313
I grew up basically across the street (Katella) from Disneyland. They recruited Loara Highschool my freshman year and I started working at the park in 1982/83. I won't get into all the details but man I know that place inside and out. Even had Snow Whites apple and Jiminy Crickets Left hand for a number of years... 😅
i never feel compelled enough to comment on RU-vid videos, but this video impressed me so much! i feel like i’ve heard every disneyland story/secret 100x, but these were all completely new!
Interesting- in Disney World, fishing is a feature. Bass fishing is a big sport in the area, and Disney has many spots where you can pay for an excursion in the Park's waters. Boat, guide and all equipment, including refreshments. Years ago Bassmasters had a tournament there, if memory serves. Key point though, all fishing is catch and release.
Fun Fact: If I dug a tunnel to Disneyland (256 mi away) at 5 feet per day, in roughly 750 years my great, great, etc descendant would pop up out of the ground in TomorrowLand and it STILL wouldn't have a People Mover.
Think of it this way-- the passengers were on their way to Disneyland. Excited anticipation filled everyone on board, no lingering upset over height requirements, Timmy hasn't fallen down a well, or spilled a soda on Mom. Their day at Disney lay before them, perfect
A couple of interesting things no one talks about is Owen and Dolly Pope who literally lived at Disneyland from 1955 to 1971. Also discussing the Disneyland Cats. I have seen them several times. Rather rare but they have a long history and story. Just ideas for you. Love your channel, brother 👊
To Mr. Brikey: I'm baby boomer born between 1946a.d. and 1966a.d.. You keen mentioning Frontier town and shutting down parts of it, the gun store and the fish pond. There was an amusement park in the south end Santa Clara County Calif (early 1960's) called Frontier Villiage that look like a real outline log fort. You could go fishing, horseback righting, hiking, connuing, bb shooting range, ride in a stage coach, then there was a hollow out log coaster splashing over or near waterfall, yes we got wet. Assortment of rides and my favorite was the "Haunted Miner Caverns."
Very cool video. Super fun. There are other animatronic graveyards at Disney Park, I’m pretty sure under the carousel progress at the Magic Kingdom is one.
15:00 In New Hampshire we had Six Gun City until 2014. They had street shootouts every 1/2 hr or hour (I forget, I was much younger). Was a great place. Being on an open area surrounded by mountains as a setting... you could have been in Colorado with your imagination. We still have Santa's Village, Storyland, Clark's Trading Post (closest to a western theme), etc.
my dad use to fly on the helicopter to LAX from Disneyland. He did that about ounce a month. He worked for GE and flew all over the world for them. I remember watching the helicopter taking off and landing. I got one ride to LAX on the copter to LAX, I remember.
The marina worked at the hotel bc dt Disney did not exist yet and there were multiple other pools. Plus, they turned it into an ice rink in the winter. This was an excellent episode.
I remember the tobacco shops specifically because some friends owned tobacco shops in the area and the smell of pipe tobacco was really sweet back then. I seem to remember at least one if not both of the Indian statues held a pipe. I think they modified the statues and would like to see a picture with them holding a pipe.
