Evening star., 1955-07-20
ON THE AIR
BY BERNIE HARRISON
Star Staff Correspondent

land park and his eyes light up
like sincere neon sign. Walt
Disney is the No. l Californian
and it didn't require an official
proclamation by the Governor
last week to make him so.
And somewhere during the
citizens enthusiastic summary
"- of the masters latest accom-
plishment will be added the
phrase
"And it's all real. They're not
Just fronts"
This is the veteran Of make
believe land speaking, of course.
Disneyland Is not q movie or a
television set. When you walk
through q door into the sheriff's
office, the sheriff is there. When
you walk into the saloon, the
place is jammed with youngsters
- ordering straight Pepsis.
They may never get over this
out here.
:, Actually. Disneyland is not
yet completed. Once the 105-.
foot stern-wheeler, the Mark
Twain. leaves the pier, there is
nothing much to see. The seem
cry has not yet been planted and
the passengers spend most Of
their time inspecting the ship.
The evidence, too. is many of
the shop owners, the concession
aires, have not yet had the time
to ship in goods designed to fit
the settings. Most of the mer-
chandise falls into the trinket
category-the same kind you can
buy in any novelty or gift shop.
You'll not find your area ma
tive heading for Disneyland Park
on a week end. either.
It took a bus driven by wiz
ard nearly an hour and half
to drive the 80 miles to Anaheim
So, Sunday. The freeway was
:. jammed bumper to bumper with
citizens fleeing the blistering
heat.
There isn't much to see on the
road to Anaheim except a va,
riety of billboards advertising
dozens Of housing developments.
There was one proclaiming al
signature house-just sign your
name" and all of them screamed
the message, mo down."
:. The biggest single development
will be just outside Disneyland
Park-a $40 million hotel and |
motor hotel to take care of thet
influx of visitors. One unique
feature will be the the provision
of dormitory accommodations for
organized youth groups, clubs
and children's organizations, at
an economy" price. The first
'aunit will open about August 15
As for the cost Of a visit toI
aDisneyland, exclusive of trans
esportation and hotel. the sum will
vary with the number Of chill
dren and their appetites.
y + 4 +
Grownups who want to see
what Disney has built can tour
the park economically. skipping
the rides. Admission to the park
is 81 for adults and SO cents for
children.
You can buy a hot dog for
Is cents or dine sumptuously
at the Red Wagon Inn on al
sirloin steak for $3.50.
- The rides vary in prices. too,I
with most Of them listed at 35l
cents for adults and Is for
children. The merchants them
selves seem J undecided about
the prices of their goods. AL
friend Of mine, with orders to
come back with Donald Duck
toy for his daughter or drop
dead had three different prices
quoted to him by different
'salesgirls. CThe girls got to-.
gether and agreed on the high
est.)
:. It would be safe to say that
not one opportunity has been.
missed to turn buck In this
160-acre fairyland. The Disney
studio is well represented here.
One place sells frames. of which
there are millions, from old
Disney pictures at 81 each. II
you want 1t in color and framed,
Its $25.
I don't know what it cost
: Disney to make "Snow White"
Z and all Of his other full-length
Z npics, but he could get the orig
. inal production cost back right
: this week.
. #M&
II you want to really see the
park and take the children on