George Hushman was kind enough to share some of his memories from his 1955 employment at Disneyland. Visit his website to view his photography and more nostalgia.
“In 1955, if High School graduates could get a job at Disneyland, that was a big deal. I didn’t work directly for Disney at the time, because most all concessions were farmed out. I worked for The Royal Tone Photo Company, at the Eastman Kodak store.
All I did was sell film and flash bulbs; no computers or digital cameras in those days!
The job paid $2.50/hr.; for my half-hour lunch break I’d walk to the Pavilion. Sunday, July 17, 1955 arrived with great fanfare as Disneyland was introduce to the world. Thousands of people converged on the city to be the first to visit the “Happiest place on earth,” bringing with them vehicles which caused “the worst traffic mess we’ve ever seen,” as expressed by one Police official. Lines of cars more than two miles long stretched “bumper to bumper on all roads leading to Disneyland, creating major traffic jams and short tempers as people waited in 87-degree temperature.” Extra Anaheim policemen and Highway Patrolmen were placed on duty to control traffic and deal with the additional safety responsibilities associated with Disneyland. Cars lined Harbor Boulevard from the entrance to the park to Katella Avenue. Many parked overnight waiting admission to the park. When asked by the Anaheim Bulletin to comment of the police activity, Captain Tommy Taylor answered, “Don't ask me how many cars we had from Disneyland yesterday...don’t even lead up to it.” An older man who lives here in Texas bought the first ticket to get into Disneyland; my sister was the third to walk through the gate. Everyday that I worked there, Walt Disney paraded down Main Street and greeted all his friends that came out to see the park; it was a big site to see. My music vocal teacher from High School, Sheldon Disrud, ran the Disneyland Choirs for five years; if he’s still alive, he would be about 85–90 years old now.*”
*A reader recently wrote that Mr. Disrud is still alive and in his 80’s. |
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Omnibus License Plate: The licence plate (see photoat left) was because of the California State Law regarding taxes. My father was with the State Board of Equalization (taxes) and said that Disneyland was taxed like a town of its own. Utilities, streets and roads, motor vehicles, food sales, etc. The plate was a device to place the tax stamp (we know it as the licence registration renewal), and that ALL motor vehicles in the state must be registered and have a plate (even if only used on private land) which included farms and such. The vehicle also was taxed as a commercial carrier. Later, Disney got a variance to delete the plate, but still had to pay.)
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