Kodak Presents Disneyland '59 (1959)

This live ABC broadcast covered the expansion of Disneyland in 1959 and acted as almost a grand reopening of the theme park. There were three major additions that opened in this phase of the parks history; the Monorail, the Matterhorn Bobsleds, and the 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea Submarine Voyage. Walt's friend Art Linkletter co-hosts the festivities just as he had the grand opening of Disneyland four years prior. The technology of live broadcasts had improved in that time, and it shows in the quality of this broadcast.

Among the distinguished guests at the festivities include then sitting Vice-President of the United States Richard Nixon, grand bandleader and composer Meredith Wilson, actor Clint Eastwood, and others. There's also a star-studded parade down Main Street USA that features both Walt Disney live action actors and general Hollywood stars of the time. You also see various sections of the park represented such as the American Indian village.

The major sponsor of this broadcast was Kodak and most of the commercials featured Ozzie Nelson and his family. The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet was a popular sitcom of the era, running from 1952 through 1966, and their son Ricky Nelson would go one to enjoy a popular Rock & Roll career. The Nelsons were friends with the Disneys and reruns of their TV series, which still holds the record as the sitcom with the most episodes, aired on The Disney Channel for years. Walt would also go on to enjoy a professional relationship with Kodak when his TV show transitioned to NBC as The Wonderful World of Color. The commercials are retained as part of the historical record.

The events of the day were also captured in the Technicolor theatrical featurette Gala Day at Disneyland which was released the following year with Walt Disney's Toby Tyler.

For many years this program was believed it have been lost until it was discovered unmarked in a film vault. It's an important historical record of Walt Disney history on the history of Disneyland and its place in American culture.

Original airdate June 15, 1959

Posted for historical purposes. This channel is not affiliated with the Walt Disney Company.