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Few Disneyland visitors notice the park bench inside Main Street U.S.A.'s Opera House. Originally in Griffith Park. This bench may have been one where Walt Disney passed afternoons watching his daughters on the merry-go-round and, by his account, began envisioning Disneyland. As Disneyland Resort celebrates its 60th anniversary this year, the bench is a unique connection to this towering cultural figure. Here are a few other SoCal locations that played a role in Disney's remarkable career. written by Matt Jaffe.
WHERE IT ALL BEGAN: UNCLE ROBERT'S GARAGE
When Walt moved to California from Missouri in 1923, he lived with his Uncle Robert on Kingswell Avenue in Los Feliz. Walt paid $5 rent per week, and used a redwood garage--a shed by todays standards--as his animation studio. Reassembled at Garden Grove's Stanley Ranch Museum, it`s now filled with Disneyana, a vintage projector and a workbench likely assembled by Walt. Adults, $5 donation; children, $1 donation. Tours at 1:30 pm on the first and third Sundays of the month. 12174 Euclid Street, Garden Grove, Ca. (714) 530-8871 www.stanleyranchmuseum.com .
HOME, SWEET HOME: WALT'S DISNEYLAND APARTMENT
In the window above Main Street U.S.A. fire station in Disneyland, a lamp shines day and night. The lamp marks the 500-square-foot apartment where Walt often stayed with his family, making sandwiches on a grilled cheese press (it`s still there complete with knife marks). You can go inside the apartment during the three-hour Walk in Walt's Disneyland footsteps tours, an intimate look at the man and the park. Tours, $109. (714) 781-8687
DINNER WITH WALT: THE TAM O'SHANTER
One of Walt's favorites, The Tam O'Shanter restaurant was near the Disney Studios on Hyperion Avenue. In a half-timbered building where Snow White would feel at home, this 1922 spot displays original color illustrations by Disney Studio artists. And you can make reservations for Walt's fireside Table 31. 2980 Los Feliz Boulevard, Los Angeles. (323) 644-0228; www.tamoshanter.com
ALL ABOARD: WALT'S RAILROAD BARN
It comes as no surprise that Walt loved trains. In the early 1950s, he even had a 1/8-scale steam line, The Carolwood Pacific Railroad, on his Holmby Hills estate. The railroads red barn was later moved to the Los Angeles Live Steamers Railroad Museum in Griffith Park. Inside, you'll see train and Disney memorabilia, including engines and a section of track from Walt's backyard railroad. Free. Open 11 a.m.- 3 p.m. the third Sunday of the month. 5202 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles. (818) 934-0173; www.carolwood.com
WHERE IT ALL BEGAN: UNCLE ROBERT'S GARAGE
When Walt moved to California from Missouri in 1923, he lived with his Uncle Robert on Kingswell Avenue in Los Feliz. Walt paid $5 rent per week, and used a redwood garage--a shed by todays standards--as his animation studio. Reassembled at Garden Grove's Stanley Ranch Museum, it`s now filled with Disneyana, a vintage projector and a workbench likely assembled by Walt. Adults, $5 donation; children, $1 donation. Tours at 1:30 pm on the first and third Sundays of the month. 12174 Euclid Street, Garden Grove, Ca. (714) 530-8871 www.stanleyranchmuseum.com .
HOME, SWEET HOME: WALT'S DISNEYLAND APARTMENT
In the window above Main Street U.S.A. fire station in Disneyland, a lamp shines day and night. The lamp marks the 500-square-foot apartment where Walt often stayed with his family, making sandwiches on a grilled cheese press (it`s still there complete with knife marks). You can go inside the apartment during the three-hour Walk in Walt's Disneyland footsteps tours, an intimate look at the man and the park. Tours, $109. (714) 781-8687
DINNER WITH WALT: THE TAM O'SHANTER
One of Walt's favorites, The Tam O'Shanter restaurant was near the Disney Studios on Hyperion Avenue. In a half-timbered building where Snow White would feel at home, this 1922 spot displays original color illustrations by Disney Studio artists. And you can make reservations for Walt's fireside Table 31. 2980 Los Feliz Boulevard, Los Angeles. (323) 644-0228; www.tamoshanter.com
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| Walt Disney's table #31 |
ALL ABOARD: WALT'S RAILROAD BARN
It comes as no surprise that Walt loved trains. In the early 1950s, he even had a 1/8-scale steam line, The Carolwood Pacific Railroad, on his Holmby Hills estate. The railroads red barn was later moved to the Los Angeles Live Steamers Railroad Museum in Griffith Park. Inside, you'll see train and Disney memorabilia, including engines and a section of track from Walt's backyard railroad. Free. Open 11 a.m.- 3 p.m. the third Sunday of the month. 5202 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles. (818) 934-0173; www.carolwood.com
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| Walt's Barn at Griffith Park |
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| Walt's Carolwood Pacific Railroad at his Holmby estate. It want to thank Westways Magazine for the article, I added the photo's as they only had one picture. |
