[Steely Tom]

But by the Fall of that same year we had all moved to Southern California. I was suddenly within bicycle riding distance of WALT's brand new Park, just 15 miles from Long Beach where my family had parked itself. And I took advantage of this with great zeal, balloon tire bike and all.

T'was a Beaut-i-ful move.

My family moved to Santa Monica from upstate New York in 1960. I was six years old. We only stayed six months (my father was a trainee at a defense contractor). But that six months stayed with me the rest of my life.

My parents took me to Disneyland once. I was crazy about science and the space program, and for me the Disneyland experience was a high-voltage blast of the future. I loved steam engines, and their was a real steam engine powering a real river boat. The "moon rocket" ride was my favorite; I think I watched the presentation five times.

The combination of post-war optimism, low-cost energy, the newness of everything on the West Coast, the unbelievable weather, made all of Southern California a wonderland then. A wonderland of freedom, adventure, fun, and optimism. Walt Disney saw that vision and attempted to "bottle it" and charge admission... he called it "Disneyland."

(steely)

[ALOHA RONNIE]

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http://www.ocregister.com/entertainment/disney-358878-fans-greatest.html

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[thecodont]

The combination of post-war optimism, low-cost energy, the newness of everything on the West Coast, the unbelievable weather, made all of Southern California a wonderland then. A wonderland of freedom, adventure, fun, and optimism. Walt Disney saw that vision and attempted to "bottle it" and charge admission... he called it "Disneyland."

Great summary. What a privilege it was to be alive in those times.