To the editor: In studying this text, I really feel compelled to solid my vote for Disneyland’s first decade as one of the best of instances for these of us who had been capable of take pleasure in it (“What was the best Disneyland period? We glance again on 70 years on the happiest place on Earth,” July 17).
Shortly after I turned 5, my dad and mom took the household to Disneyland simply two weeks after its opening in 1955. Even in its early days, it match the definition of “magic kingdom” to a T. Whereas I used to be watching a parade, Zorro himself (Man Williams) stopped his horse proper in entrance of me and scrolled a well-known “Z” within the air together with his well-known saber. He then dismounted and signed my autograph guide after having his merry band of characters just do the identical.
The icing on the cake got here when Walt Disney himself all of the sudden appeared, patted me on the top and advised my dad and mom “good child.” I suppose it helped that I used to be sporting an official Davy Crockett coonskin hat. To today, I really feel like Disney royalty on account of his sort phrases. These of us who keep in mind what an “E” ticket is are a dwindling horde, however even in spite of everything these years, I nonetheless do not forget that day and the sort pat on the top from the person himself.
Stephen Lash, Carlsbad
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To the editor: Thanks for this glorious overview of the 70-year historical past of Disneyland. Seventy years in the past, once I was 8, my sister was 12 and my brother was 6, my dad and mom determined to take us on a five-week drive throughout the nation from the Boston suburbs to Los Angeles to be a part of the grand opening of Disneyland. We drove with out GPS, however with the previous AAA booklets, to see our stunning nation. Alongside the way in which, we stopped at Yellowstone, Bryce, Zion and Yosemite nationwide parks. However what was most memorable was our fantastic time at Disneyland’s grand opening.
All our neighbors got here out to say goodbye as we began our journey, and we drove in an previous DeSoto with out air con. However we didn’t care as a result of we obtained to see a lot. We collected small pendants from every state and realized to understand this nice nation’s magnificence and pure wonders. Due to this expertise, I’m nonetheless an energetic traveler all around the world, and it began with my dad and mom’ need to imbue in us a love of seeing this nation and the world — and naturally, Disneyland.
Fran Lyons, Encino
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To the editor: My dad started working at Walt Disney Studios in 1956 simply after the opening of Disneyland. He would inform us that the Disney motto was “By no means cease creating.” All Disney workers got free tickets to the park yearly. Whereas driving from Hollywood to Anaheim took about two hours for the reason that 5 Freeway was simply being constructed, my mother would pack a lunch to eat within the automobile through the lengthy journeys. Very particular recollections.
Cheryl Ortega, Los Feliz
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To the editor: Disney could have created “70 years of magic” however, elsewhere in the identical version of the paper, the Los Angeles Instances famous that Disney pledged $15 million for President Trump’s library to resolve a defamation lawsuit (“After CBS and ABC’s Trump settlements, Democrats need to curb presidential library presents,” July 16). That just about cancels out Disney magic in my guide.
Mary Montes, West Hills
