Meet Me Down on Main Street
Main Street USA at Disneyland, looking from Town Square towards the Sleeping Beauty Castle.
Continuing on our look at the Park, we head today to the first place any Disneyland guest visits.
If there is anywhere in Disneyland where time stands still, this may be the place. Main Street USA is close to as it was on the day the Park opened to the public (Monday, July 18, 1955). Over the years since, yes, a fair amount has changed to be sure. But the flavor of small town America after the turn of the 20th century is still very much in evidence.
Once upon a time, guests needed to surrender the top coupon of this booklet to gain admission to Disneyland. A rare item now, a complete ticket book was filled with the promise of adventures ahead.
The Mellomen Barber Shop Quartet left their musical legacy on Main Street, with all of the versions of the Dapper Dan’s performing guest favorites over the years. Their album, “Meet Me Down On Main Street” remains a favorite of many. You can find it on iTunes today for only $8.99.
A vintage view looking back down Main Street, likely from the 1950’s, captures a typical day at the Park.
Yes indeed, these horses do work for a living, pulling the street cars along the rails of Main Street.
The Main Street Station of the Disneyland & Santa Fe Railroad welcomes guests to board the Grand Circle Tour for the trip around the Park, just as it has since 1955.
No mistaking where the train stops here.
Walt may have loved having an apartment above the Fire House, but it’s more than a safe bit that these guys didn’t take up their stations for a performance here while the boss was in residence.
Meanwhile, down at the Coca Cola Refreshment Corner, Alice and the Mad Hatter are about to start another game of Musical Chairs with the assistance of Ragtime Robert. Always great fun and riddles, too!
Main Street hosts one of the Park’s most beloved traditions with the yearly Candlelight Processional.
The Christmas holidays bring out the best Main Street has to offer for guests of all ages.
Main Street was at one time home to many shops that were right at home in any small town in America. Some of those remain, at least in signs on the buildings. A few classics still entice the right customers.
Newfangled, moving pictures! This fad will never catch on…
Just as it is the first thing seen by guests at the start of their Disneyland day, a view of Main Street all aglow in electric lights harkens back to the experience of Elias Disney at the 1893 Columbian Exposition in Chicago. Nostalgic it may be, but it creates the final moments of memories that will last a lifetime.