Where Oranges Turned Gold Short Month Ago, a Glittering Playground Now Lures America's Millions
It took the old Disney magic to transform 160 acres of California orange grove into a wonderland enchanting both children and grownups in less than a year. Magic and Mickey Mouse, to keep the record straight; for it was Mickey who gave the cartoonist his first real film success and sent him spiraling to fame and fortune. There was, of course, the small matter of the $17,000,000 that financed Disneyland; but to its creator and his associates that was – well, a small matter.... Walt Disney’s glamorous entertainment center, at Anaheim, is half an hour from Los Angeles, or perhaps 15 minutes as a Californian drives. Focal point of the playground is an old-fashioned city park; from this, the realms of Fantasyland, Frontierland, Adventureland, and Tomorrowland spread fanwise in four directions. Disney predicts five million customers per year for this unique new venture in mass entertainment; and what the Chicago-born genius prophesies usually comes to pass.
