Disneyland PHOTO June 14, 1959 Walt Disney Meredith Willson 76 Trombones Parade

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Disneyland PHOTO June 14, 1959 Walt Disney Meredith Willson 76 Trombones Parade
Disneyland PHOTO June 14, 1959 Walt Disney Meredith Willson 76 Trombones Parade
Historic Disneyland Memorabilia from Saturday's Toys presents...
an original 1959 photograph capturing one of the most spectacular moments in Disneyland's history...
The date is Sunday, June 14, 1959 as Disneyland celebrates the grand opening and dedication of three brand-new "E Ticket" attractions, including the Submarine Voyage, the Monorail, and the Matterhorn Bobsled.
At approx. 1:15pm the Vice President, with Mrs. Nixon and their daughters, Tricia and Julie, were escorted in a vintage "horseless carriage" from Walt's apartment in Town Square to the reviewing stand at the opposite end of Main Street (in front of the Plaza Hub).  The procession included such Disney luminaries as Annette Funicello and Roberta Shore with their newest co-star, "The Shaggy Dog."  Even the ABC Television camera are enjoying their finest hour.
Pictured from above the review stand in this 8" x 10" glossy black and white photo are (as shown in detail photo):
Meredith Willson (on raised platform), conducting "76 Trombones"
Art Linkletter
Walt Disney
Vice President Richard Nixon
Mrs. Pat Nixon (only top of head visible)
Mrs. Meredith Willson (aka Ralina "Rini" Zarova)
Roy O. Disney
Mrs. Edna Disney
Also in the reviewing stand, but not pictured here, were:
Mrs. Lillian Disney (wearing her "Oscar" bracelet of Walt's miniature Academy Awards)
Mr. & Mrs. Ron Miller and family
Hayley Mills
Hedda Hopper (columnist)
Admiral Joe Fowler
The vintage photo no longer has the original press blurb on the back of the photo as the celophane tape dried many years ago and was apparently lost.  There are additional pencil inscriptions on the back to identify the occasion.
As the parade prepared to conclude, a brass band was seen emerging from Town Square, led by Disneyland's head of entertainment, Tommy Walker, in top hat and tails.  The program's announcer and host, Art Linkletter, quickly turned to Meredith Willson, author and composer of the blockbuster Broadway musical, "The Music Man."  When Linkletter asks Wilson what song the band was playing... in an instant Willson recognizes his own show-stopping song, "76 Trombones."  Tommy Walker then hands Wilson the top hat and conductor's baton that he had been using to lead the band... and invites Wilson to step up to the podium.  The next two minutes are spectacular fun as the maestro conducts Disneyland's own brass band for a moment that had Walt Disney beaming with a smile that reached from ear to ear. The joy within Disneyland that day was absolutely palpable.
Try as we might... it'll be tough to come up with a Disneyland moment that will ever top this one.  Thank goodness it's been captured on film so future generations can understand what Disneyland was like when Walt Disney was at the helm.
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Saturday’s Toys and Disneyana Auctions
was founded in 1994 by Southern California author and Disney historian, Dave Mason. Soon after eBay's launch the following year, Saturday's Toys was among the first Disneyana specialists to strategize in embracing this rapidly developing technology. Having delivered over 10,000 coveted Disney treasures since then, Saturday's Toys is pleased to partner with researchers, collectors and friends throughout the world with a shared interest in the preservation of authentic and accurate Disney history.
Today, online offerings of archival Disneyana keepsakes are presented in celebration of the extended times that allow for family, friends and neighbors to join in memorable gatherings that nurture the strong connections that bind a community together. These treasures are affectionately known as "Saturday's Toys." In that light we present our adopted motto (with a tip of the cap to the Sherman Brothers):
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