See Gorgeous Vintage Disneyland Posters From the Park’s Early Years

2 minute read

When Disneyland opened in July of 1955, parents noticed something right away: as LIFE magazine reported, the price of admission wasn’t quite the whole cost of attendance. Children brought to the theme park clamored for souvenirs, and the park’s operators were only too happy to provide them with many options. Now, more than 60 years later, that’s still true—but it’s not just kids who want to stock up.

That feeling of wanting to bring a piece of the park home is one remembered by Mike Van Eaton in an essay introducing the catalog for an upcoming Nov. 19 auction at Van Eaton Galleries in Los Angeles: “Souvenirs of Disneyland.” The auction, a preview exhibition for which is now ongoing until the auction date, features more than 1,000 rare pieces of Disney memorabilia, including the posters seen here.

Since the beginning of Disneyland, posters were used within the park to draw visitors to specific attractions—some of them are known as “near-attraction posters”—as well as manufactured for sale to guests. Some of the artists’ visions of the attractions provide a peek at an their inside knowledge. For example, the Dumbo poster, as the Van Eaton catalog explains, shows a pink elephant, matching the original conception of the ride; however, on Walt Disney’s personal request, the actual elephants in the ride were painted gray rather than pink, to match Dumbo rather than his hallucinations. Other posters reference the American themes that Disney strove to evoke; he loved American trains and the park fittingly gestures at some of American history’s most famous travel posters in the designs for the Disneyland railroad.

See Photos of Disneyland When It Opened in 1955

Sleeping Beauty's castle in Fantasyland is overrun by children crossing drawbridge over moat. Inside, Disney plnas a model torture chamber.
Caption from LIFE. Sleeping Beauty's castle in Fantasyland is overrun by children crossing drawbridge over moat. Inside, Disney plans a model torture chamber.Loomis Dean—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
One of Disneyland's boat rides, Anaheim, California, 1955.
One of Disneyland's boat rides, Anaheim, California, 1955.Loomis Dean—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Rides at Disneyland in 1955.
Rides at Disneyland in 1955.Loomis Dean—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
People riding the teacup ride at Disneyland Amusement Park, 1955.
People riding the teacup ride at Disneyland Amusement Park, 1955.Loomis Dean—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
People riding a riverboat at Disneyland Amusement Park, 1955.
People riding a riverboat at Disneyland Amusement Park, 1955.Loomis Dean—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Disneyland Parade done as a preview for national television, 1955.
Disneyland Parade done as a preview for national television, 1955.Allan Grant—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Planted flowers forming design of Mickey Mouse's face, with Disneyland train in background, 1955.
Planted flowers forming design of Mickey Mouse's face, with Disneyland train in background, 1955.Loomis Dean—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Mickey Mouse riding the Circus train at Disneyland which is a replica of Casey Jr.'s train used in the movie Dumbo ,1955.
Mickey Mouse riding the Disneyland Railroad, 1955.Allan Grant—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Disneyland rides in 1955.
Disneyland rides in 1955.Loomis Dean—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Children scared during Snow White ride at Disneyland Amusement Park, 1955.
Children scared during Snow White ride at Disneyland Amusement Park, 1955.Loomis Dean—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Cups and saucers filled with squealing children as paying guests while through park's Fantasyland at Disney's "Mad Hatter's Tea Party."
Caption from LIFE. Cups and saucers filled with squealing children as paying guests whirl through park's Fantasyland at Disney's "Mad Hatter's Tea Party."Loomis Dean—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Showgirl performers taking a break and having a drink at Disneyland Amusement Park, 1955.
Showgirl performers taking a break and having a drink at Disneyland Amusement Park, 1955.Loomis Dean—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
People resting by TWA rocket at Disneyland Amusement Park, 1955.
People resting by TWA rocket at Disneyland Amusement Park, 1955.Loomis Dean—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Disneyland rides, 1955.
Disneyland rides, 1955.Loomis Dean—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
A family at Disneyland in 1955.
A family at Disneyland in 1955.Loomis Dean—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Disneyland rides in 1955.
Disneyland rides in 1955.Loomis Dean—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images

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Other items in the auction range from more typical theme park fare to surprising finds like a 1965 animatronic hand that was used in a “Great Moments With Mr. Lincoln” attraction and a tin of Disneyland-branded tobacco from the 1960s.

Original Disneyland "Fantasyland" Attraction Poster, Disneyland, 1950s.
Original Disneyland "Fantasyland" Attraction Poster, Disneyland, 1950s.Courtesy Van Eaton Galleries
Original Disneyland "Skyway" Attraction Poster. Disneyland, 1956.
Original Disneyland "Skyway" Attraction Poster. Disneyland, 1956.Courtesy Van Eaton Galleries
Original Disneyland "Jungle River" Attraction Poster. Disneyland, 1956.
Original Disneyland "Jungle River" Attraction Poster. Disneyland, 1956.Courtesy Van Eaton Galleries
Original "Sante Fe & Disneyland R.R. Via Grand Canyon Diorama. Disneyland, 1958.
Original "Sante Fe & Disneyland R.R. Via Grand Canyon Diorama. Disneyland, 1958.Courtesy Van Eaton Galleries
Original Disneyland "Sailing Ship Columbia" Attraction Poster. Disneyland, 1958.
Original Disneyland "Sailing Ship Columbia" Attraction Poster. Disneyland, 1958.Courtesy Van Eaton Galleries
Original Disneyland "Matterhorn Bobsleds" Attraction Poster. Disneyland, 1959.
Original Disneyland "Matterhorn Bobsleds" Attraction Poster. Disneyland, 1959.Courtesy Van Eaton Galleries
Original Disneyland Displayed Sheet Metal "PeopleMover" Attraction Poster. Disneyland, 1960s.
Original Disneyland Displayed Sheet Metal "PeopleMover" Attraction Poster. Disneyland, 1960s.Courtesy Van Eaton Galleries
Original Disneyland "Golden Horseshoe Revue" Attraction Poster. Disneyland, 1961.
Original Disneyland "Golden Horseshoe Revue" Attraction Poster. Disneyland, 1961.Courtesy Van Eaton Galleries
DIsneyland "New Orleans Square" Near-Attraction Poster. Disneyland, 1966.
DIsneyland "New Orleans Square" Near-Attraction Poster. Disneyland, 1966.Courtesy Van Eaton Galleries
Disneyland Main Street "Near-Attraction" Poster. Disneyland, 1966.
Disneyland Main Street "Near-Attraction" Poster. Disneyland, 1966.Courtesy Van Eaton Galleries
Original "Adventure Thru Inner Space" Attraction Poster. Disneyland, 1967.
Original "Adventure Thru Inner Space" Attraction Poster. Disneyland, 1967.Courtesy Van Eaton Galleries
Country Bear Jamboree "Bear Country" Disneyland Attraction Poster. Disneyland, 1972.
Country Bear Jamboree "Bear Country" Disneyland Attraction Poster. Disneyland, 1972.Courtesy Van Eaton Galleries

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Write to Lily Rothman at lily.rothman@time.com