On Saturday, July 17, Disneyland theme park celebrated its 55th anniversary with a number of special events, performances, merchandise, and artist signings. What follows are some highlights from Disneyland 55th anniversary.
At the Main Street, U.S.A. Cinema, Disney began screening “newly discovered” film footage that provides highlights of Disneyland’s first five years. Eight minutes long and in color, which is shown on the cinema’s five screens, the footage provides a look at the park’s construction and some of its original rides and closed attractions, including Nature’s Wonderland and the Mule Pack.
Another screen shows some of Disneyland’s opening-day footage that was broadcast on the ABC network on opening day, including moments with host Art Linkletter and Walt Disney. Both film clips are scheduled to be shown through Labor Day weekend, temporarily replacing the classic Disney cartoon clips that usually show at the cinema.
At noon, a "re-dedication" ceremony was held at Town Square on Main Street, U.S.A. ho Current Disneyland Resort President George Kalogridis introduced the ceremony and “When You Wish Upon a Star” was the featured song.
Disneyland 55th re-dedication ceremony, AllEars.net
Robb Fischle, who was captured on film as he ran across the drawbridge of Sleeping Beauty Castle on opening day 1955 and who now works as a park security guard, also spoke at Disneyland’s 2010 ceremony.
Also in attendance for the re-dedication and day’s events were five members of Club ’55, a group which consists of people who were involved with Disneyland at its beginnings – working in 1955 in positions from Imagineering to front-line cast members – and who knew Walt Disney. Club ’55 members include Ron Dominguez, former Executive Vice President, Walt Disney Attractions, Bob Penfield, former Disneyland Project Manager, and Marty Sklar, former Executive Vice President and Disney Imagineering Ambassador.
Club '55 memories, Disney Parks Blog
The Disney All-American College band celebrated its own anniversary, the 40th, on July 17. Nearly 300 current and former performers from both Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort performed twice on Saturday as part of the Disneyland festivities.
At 4:15 p.m. guests joined cast members in a “Happy Birthday” sing-a-long that took place throughout the parks and was centered in Town Square. Afterwards, Disney cast members and characters took to the street to perform a dance routine set to a pop version of “A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes.”
Guests were invited to return to Town Square to sing Happy Birthday to Disneyland. The sing-along was followed by a "flash mob" of Disney cast members and characters who filled the street in Town Square to perform a brief dance routine to an upbeat rendition of "A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes."
Disneyland 55th anniversary "flash mob," MouseInfo
In addition to the special events to mark Disneyland’s 55th anniversary, Disney offered special merchandise and artist signings to commemorate the special day. For more on those events, see Erin De Santiago’s article, “Disneyland sees large turnout for 55th Anniversary events including special artist signing."
For other coverage of the Disneyland 55th anniversary, check out the in-depth contributions made to these Disney fan websites:
Disneyland vision, Disney Parks Blog
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Comments
Great article. I can't wait to go to Disneyland again (currently missing having an annual pass). I love all the history behind Disneyland.
Can't wait to go back!
Have family on the way down who will be doing a Disneyworld trip next week. I have been sending her all your links and the articles have been really helpful!
That "flash mob" dance is so cute!
Can't believe it's been 55 years already. Love all the video clips!
Wow...that opening day photo is something else, huh? Great recap of the events - I wish I could have been there this year! Thanks so much for the link! I am going to link this back to my article as well. Love the flash mob!
I can't believe it has been 55 years...wow, time flies.
Thanks for the background, great article.
I want to go on a vacation! Some day! :)
I have some very happy childhood memories of going to Disneyland while visiting my aunt.
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