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View Full Version : Bakersfield Celebrated Disneyland Opening



Wanda Woman
11-25-2006, 04:16 PM
The Bakersfield Californian newspaper has an article today (11/25/06) about a privately-owned grocery store called Green Frog Market. Apparently, when Disneyland opened in 1955, Green Frog Market had a publicity event.

The article says,


Around 1955, the Alta Vista store held a promotion to celebrate Disneyland's opening.

The store entrance featured a castle facade. Annette Funicello and another Mouseketeer danced and performed a skit. Autopia cars buzzed around the parking lot. The man who voiced Donald Duck also entertained the crowd.

Customers packed the place, spending to earn coupons to the theme park.

Here are the pictures that were in the paper:

The front of the store was decorated with a castle:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v418/WandaWomanAtCSUB/Post%20Pics/GreenFrog1.jpg




Autopia cars zipped around in the parking lot (left side of the store):
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v418/WandaWomanAtCSUB/Post%20Pics/GreenFrog2.jpg



How cool is that?

3894
11-25-2006, 05:24 PM
How cool is that?

Massively cool. Thanks for the heads up.

I Heart Disneyland!
11-25-2006, 05:45 PM
LOVE that old photo!!!! Thanks for sharing.

Park Freak
11-25-2006, 05:49 PM
I love those pictures!!!! Thanks for sharing:D

darph nader
11-25-2006, 09:32 PM
That is 'totaly wicked'. Just for grins and giggles,is Green Frog still around?

biolabetty
11-25-2006, 10:47 PM
Yes, Green Frog is still around, my mom remembers when this event happened. It was a big deal to have Annette in town.

disneyhound
11-26-2006, 05:42 AM
Great Photos! Just love those old automobiles: I'll bet there wasn't a seat belt in any of them!

disneyroxxx
11-26-2006, 06:58 AM
i was looking for the autopia cars, thinking where are they, and then i saw how small they were they are so tiny! i wish i was there! we need some disney spirit in our town. ev;eryone here just does drugs and listens to jimi hendrix. except me, of course. :)

DisneyLynn
11-26-2006, 01:10 PM
How cool. I grew up in Bakersfield, and used to go to that Green Frog quite often, until they opened a new one closer to my parents house. I'll have to have my mom save the article for me.