Monday, December 10, 2012

I'm Dreaming of a 1930s Christmas!

Disney Department Store Christmas!
I really don't know if this cute little card is from the 30's, but it has that feeling.  I'm sure most of you are aware that the Disney California Adventure Park was remodeled recently to reflect Hollywood and Los Angeles of the 1920s and '30s.  I love the feeling of stepping back in time to old Buena Vista Street...to admire the Art Deco-style of the shops, the mission-style Carthay Circle Theater and hear the whistle of the old-time cop warning you not to step into the path of the Red Line Trolley cars.  It's a trip to a golden age...but even more so at Christmas!  George and I always make a trip for our anniversary which coincides with the unveiling of the holiday decor.  This is the first Christmas that California Adventure has almost more merry decorations than Disneyland itself.

Christmas on Buena Vista Street...
Oswald's Service Station.

I remember bells like these...even in the 60's!

"Ginormouse" Christmas tree!
All the music played is from that era.

Toy Train big enough for a child to ride.

All of our favorite vintage ornaments...large scale.

Classy Elias & Company Department Store.

Elias Window Display...vintage ornaments!
 
Another lovely window...

Happy Vintage Shoppers...
 
Millie the Messenger delivers Christmas packages...

Thirties glamour on the balcony...

Lots of tinsel on the tree...

Ho! Ho! Ho!
Department Store Santa!
It was almost a wish come true...my "Department Store Christmas!"
 
Merry Disney Christmas 1935!
 
 
 
 

14 comments:

Linda said...

Wonderful photos! Looks like a great place to visit, I'd love to see it too.

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

I grew up in the '50s and '60s and so much of this reminds me of those times. I remember Santa coming to the dime store and how exciting everything was downtown! Good memories!

ImagiMeri said...

Oh Shirley, you're killing me. Did you go recently???? I just wanna' die cause I want to go so badly. I haven't been there in soooooo loooong, and Mickey is calling me. Hopefully in the next few years, if my husband finds stable employment, we'll get to go again. Thanks for sharing.

Hugs,
Meri

P.S. your Christmas ornie, from the swap, is divine....so stinkin' cute.

Unknown said...

OMG!!!!! I would never want to leave! I wish I could have got there this yer, I had no idea it was this wonderful! :)
Meri and me both need a road trip, but it is really too late now...:(

Erica of Golden Egg Vintage said...

Awww! I didn't know that the park was remodeled! The pictures are beautiful. I was there a few years ago and it was so amazing. I MUST get there again!
Thank you for showing us Shirley!
Erica :)

vintage grey said...

How wonderful it is there!! I live here, but have never been. Can you believe that! Thanks for sharing!! xo Heather

Tammy's in Love said...

It's enough to make me wish for California on my next winter-vacation! I love the new California theme park! WOWZER Hollywood Holiday!

DearHelenHartman said...

Sigh. I haven't been back since I was a kid. Loved all the images.

Unknown said...

Ooh, I love it! When we were there for Halloween, I was so tickled to look in the windows over on Main Street and see all of the vintage style Halloween decorations. I would love to see the Christmas windows! Thanks for sharing this with us.

Chenille Cottage said...

What a fun post, Shirley! My Mom was a teenager in Pasadena in the 30s. What a delightful time to be alive. I love the Department store Santa...He reminds me of one of my favorite movies "A Christmas Story".
Thanks for sharing your trip and so many great photos.
Blessings and Merry Christmas!
Carolynn xxx

Unknown said...

Disney World is quite magical this time of year too! The vintage decorations are at Hollywood Studios Disney park. In the Disney campground....Fort Wilderness... people put out Christmas lights on their campers, all around their site, blow ups & all. Some people go all Griswold on their sites. There are so many that do you can go "Christmas light watching" in your golf cart around the campground!

LBP said...

That is so awesome! There is an old Woolworth Dept Store that is standing empty in the city on my way to work and I told DH I would love to buy it and stock it with items from the 1940's through the 1960's and re-open the lunch counter with waitreses in uniform.. Wouldn't that be fun!

My Vintage Mending said...

Don't you wish it were real. We could just move in...smiles..Renee

Perfectly Printed said...

love it!! I haven't been to Disneyland in years! I'm thinking Christmas would be a great time to go!!

chris