Holiday Time at Disneyland - Wonderful World of Color (1962)
It’s no secret that Christmastime is a big deal for the Disney’s. Walt had always publicly celebrated and embraced it in his Mickey Mouse cartoon shorts, and Disneyland has always gotten a makeover each winter to celebrate the holidays.
Walt Disney in front of a Christmas tree. Image from: https://d23.com/five-moments-from-walts-most-memorable-christmas/
From 1954 to the present day, the Disney company has put out different versions of a television series to dedicate to their films and theme parks. It began as Walt Disney’s Disneyland from 1954 to 1958 to promote the opening of the park. It was then changed to Walt Disney Presents from 1958 to 1961. The most popular title it had was Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color from 1961 to 1969, and this was the last title Walt worked under before he passed. Walt personally hosted Wonderful World of Color and introduced us to many new faces and dreams he was thinking up. They eventually got rid of the hosting segment after airing his final episodes he shot, as he was the one that made that segment special.
Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color. Image from: https://d23.com/this-day/walt-disney-studios-receives-emmy-for-walt-disneys-wonderful-world-of-color-tv-show/
Walt Disney hosting his television show. Image from: https://twitter.com/wdfmuseum/status/1044259518052552704
On December 23rd 1962, an episode titled Holiday Time at Disneyland was released, and Walt was a tour guide for the audience for all of the changes the park had completed over that year.
The episode begins with Walt included in a group of carolers, singing “We Wish You a Merry Christmas”. Walt jokes about the snow falling in the background and how it’s practically impossible to have in California, so he calls over Tink who wishes the snow away. He then goes on to talk about the successes of Main Street USA, and how many important people have walked the street since opening.
During the Christmas holidays, or any other season here at Disneyland, Main Street USA is the happiest, busiest main street in the world. There’s always something going on. - Walt Disney
Holiday Time at Disneyland episode. Image from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAwjqXQbPuo
Tink takes us on a tour of the rest of the park during that time, showcasing the Mark Twain Riverboat, the Golden Horseshoe show, the Mad Tea Party, the Casey Jr. Circus Train, the Skyway, the Jungle Cruise, and shows us how different the parks used to be. In 1962, this was when Fantasyland had a carnival theme, and old Tomorrowland was still in place.
The main segment in this episode was to showcase the celebrations of the opening of 3 rides: the Matterhorn Bobsleds, the Monorail, and the Submarine Voyage.
It wasn’t too long ago when there wasn’t even a mole hill where Disneyland’s Matterhorn now stands. It’s the only man-made mountain in the world; one of our most ambitious projects. - Walt Disney
The episode then cuts to the opening celebration, with a massive parade filled with dancers, an orchestra, and characters all walking down Main Street. Admiral Charles Kirkpatrick opened the ceremony alongside Walt. Richard Nixon and his family cut the ribbon for the opening of the monorail: an important part of transportation history. For the opening of the Matterhorn, they had professional Swiss climbers scale the side of the mountain in order to properly dedicate it. They then laid the American and Swiss flags on top of the mountain as a tribute.
Walt and Richard Nixon’s family opening the Monorail. Image from: https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2014/06/a-look-back-at-june-14-1959-grand-opening-of-the-disneyland-alweg-monorail-system-matterhorn-bobsleds-and-submarine-voyage-at-disneyland-park/
Midway through the episode, Walt introduces the Sailing Ship Columbia to the world, that was celebrated during the 4th of July with a circus parade on Main Street.
She is the Columbia, a replica of the first American ship to circumnavigate the globe. - Walt Disney
After the celebrations that took place in Frontierland, the episode continues with a Christmas parade, “Parades of the Toys”, that Walt partakes in. Whilst hosting, Walt is stopped by people in the park for autographs and for thank yous, and I just have to wonder where these people are now.
The parade begins with the large headed character costumes that the park used to have. Mickey and Minnie skip together through the castle, followed by Snow White and the seven dwarfs, Chip and Dale, the Alice in Wonderland crew, and the 3 little pigs. There’s a march of the wooden soldiers, Disney and his family riding down in a small cart, and other characters and dancers behind them.
1960s Christmas parade in Disneyland. Image from: http://matterhorn1959.blogspot.com/2006/12/disneyland-christmas-parade-of-toys.html
Character costumes from 1962, during the 7th birthday of Disneyland. Image from: https://www.waltdisney.org/blog/pictorial-look-disneylands-first-decade
The next section of the parade begins with flags from all around the world to represent the holidays for everyone. Traditional figures from different cultures now walk the parade, to showcase how they celebrate Christmas. People from Palestine, Switzerland, England, Finland, Norway, Yugoslavia, Mexico, China, Japan, India, and other countries all walk the Christmas parade.
At nighttime, the lights are all up in Disneyland. Hundreds of people form church and school choirs all walk down Main Street USA with candles, ending at the top of the Disneyland railroad station to sing for the crowds. The episode ends with a simple “Merry Christmas”, and fades out.
Holiday Time at Disneyland title card. Image from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGq5fsKdjG4
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