Sent from Disneyland

Clocky McDowell

Welcome to the Sent From Disneyland Podcast. "Here age relives fond memories of the past" On this podcast we will take a journey into the past and explore Disneyland and Disneyland history with mementos, snapshots, and postcards sent from Disneyland from 1955 to the present.

  1. SFD 356: Sent near Plaza Point

    1d ago

    SFD 356: Sent near Plaza Point

    In this episode of Sent from Disneyland, we continue the Disneyland Mailbox Tour with a stop at one of the most overlooked locations on Main Street, U.S.A.—the mailbox outside Carefree Corner. A 1967 postcard showing guests gathered outside the Insurance Company of North America information center provides the perfect starting point to explore the history of this unique Main Street landmark. From complimentary souvenirs and travel assistance to its later lives as the Hospitality Center, Gibson Card Corner, Photo Supply, and today's Plaza Point holiday shop, we trace more than six decades of changes to this iconic corner of Disneyland. Our second vintage postcard takes us to Frontierland and the Golden Horseshoe Revue, where can-can dancers entertained guests in one of Walt Disney's favorite shows. That postcard leads to a look at another Disneyland mailbox location and the surprising history surrounding it. We explore the Frontierland Photo Supply shop, coin-operated stamp machines, staged gunfights between lawmen and outlaws, Oak Tavern, the Stage Door Café, and how Frontierland once extended far beyond its modern boundaries before the arrival of New Orleans Square. To close the show, an incoming postcard from the Pixar Animation Studios campus in Emeryville celebrates Disney mail, pen pals, and the challenge of mailing postcards from all 25 mail locations across Disneyland Resort. A postcard from Judit and Parker of the Dear Penpal Podcast sparks a discussion about Disney mail, postcard collecting, and the connections created through the hobby. If you're interested in pen pals, letter writing, junk journals, and fun snail mail, be sure to check out the Dear Penpal Podcast on Spotify. I especially recommend their May 31st Episode 17, which featured most of the mail I sent to them from Disneyland. Below are some of the regulars on Art Throw Down, Follow all of them on Instagram anyway for great art and postcards in your Instagram feed: Hipstadufus, luluvision, jlynch9923, greenmosspaper, georgemailsart, state_of_the_funyun, RussRomano2021 From Main Street information centers to Frontierland photo shops, this episode uncovers the stories hiding beside Disneyland's mailboxes and the guests who used them to share their adventures with friends and family back home.

    12 min
  2. SFD 355: Sent with Tru-Vue

    Jun 6

    SFD 355: Sent with Tru-Vue

    This week on Sent from Disneyland, we set sail through Frontierland with two vintage postcards and a fascinating look at a forgotten piece of Disney history. Our first postcard, mailed in 1971, features the Mark Twain Riverboat steaming along the Rivers of America with the Matterhorn rising in the distance. A simple note to a friend captures a memorable day spent at Disneyland with family, while the postcard itself serves as a gateway into the history of the Tru-Vue Company. Long before View-Master became a household name, Tru-Vue was producing stereoscopic film viewers that brought destinations and stories to life in three dimensions. In this episode, we explore the evolution of stereoscopes, Disney's licensing agreement with Tru-Vue, and the Frontierland film cards produced during Disneyland's earliest years. A second postcard takes us back to 1959 and the Disneyland Railroad, featuring the C.K. Holliday pausing at the original Frontierland station and water tower. That image connects directly to the Frontierland Tru-Vue card in the collection, allowing us to examine all seven scenes preserved on the film strip—from the Frontierland entrance and stagecoaches to pack mules, the Mark Twain, and rare views of attractions that no longer exist in their original form. The episode concludes with an incoming postcard from Oregon's beloved Enchanted Forest theme park, sparking a discussion about regional storybook parks, childhood memories, and the unique charm of attractions inspired by classic fairy tales rather than major intellectual properties. Below are some of the regulars on Art Throw Down, Follow all of them on Instagram anyway for great art and postcards in your Instagram feed: Hipstadufus, luluvision, jlynch9923, greenmosspaper, georgemailsart, state_of_the_funyun, RussRomano2021

    12 min
  3. SFD 354: Sent by Wade & George

    May 30

    SFD 354: Sent by Wade & George

    In the final installment of Imagineering May, Sent from Disneyland explores the stories behind two overlooked Disneyland designers whose names still appear on a Main Street window. A 1972 postcard featuring the Disneyland Railroad and Floral Mickey leads into the life of art director Wade R. Rubottom, whose work helped shape Main Street, U.S.A. before he went on to design other theme parks across America. Then, a 1974 Mark Twain postcard highlights the career of George Patrick, a Frontierland art director whose influence can still be felt throughout Disneyland's western landscapes. *]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(--scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(--thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" data-turn-id= "request-69e35533-6b18-83e8-a0b1-99a3d4003a23-1" data-turn-id-container= "request-69e35533-6b18-83e8-a0b1-99a3d4003a23-1" data-testid= "conversation-turn-10" data-scroll-anchor="false" data-turn= "assistant"> Along the way, we uncover vintage postcard messages, park attendance and weather from the day of each visit, and the fascinating history of Disneyland's early designers who worked alongside Walt Disney during the park's construction. The episode concludes with a surprise Postcrossing postcard featuring the Dutch scene from "it's a small world," a deep dive into late-1970s Disneyland postcard booklets, and a look back at a month celebrating the Imagineers, artists, and cast members who helped build Disneyland. Below are some of the regulars on Art Throw Down, Follow all of them on Instagram anyway for great art and postcards in your Instagram feed: Hipstadufus, luluvision, jlynch9923, greenmosspaper, georgemailsart, state_of_the_funyun, RussRomano2021

    12 min
  4. SFD 353: Sent by McKim

    May 23

    SFD 353: Sent by McKim

    Travel through Disneyland history with postcards, park memories, and the artistry of Disney Legend Sam McKim. This episode begins with a colorful 1960 multi-view postcard featuring Sleeping Beauty Castle, the Mark Twain, the Jungle Cruise, the Monorail, and Submarine Voyage—capturing the excitement of Disneyland during one of its most ambitious eras of expansion. Along the way, we uncover the story behind the postcard's unusual dual cancels and trace a summer day in the park filled with long hours, warm weather, and over 22,000 guests. The history segment shines a spotlight on Sam McKim, one of the most influential artists in Disney theme park history. From early concept art for Frontierland and Rivers of America to attraction posters, souvenir Fun Maps, and designs for the 1964 New York World's Fair, McKim's artwork helped define the visual identity of Disneyland and beyond. His career stretched from Disneyland's opening years to EPCOT and Euro Disney, leaving a legacy still visible throughout the parks today. The second postcard visits Carefree Corner in 1963, offering a glimpse into a quieter but personal side of Disneyland history as guests registered for travel assistance and souvenirs in the park's official information center. The episode continues exploring McKim's later Imagineering work, including contributions to Haunted Mansion, Hall of Presidents, and Disney park cartography. Finally, an incoming postcard featuring a Bruce Lee stamp and motivational quote ties Disney inspiration to creativity and action, while also leading to a fascinating look at Disneyland attendance differences between a busy spring Saturday and Easter Sunday in 1963. From Main Street windows to souvenir maps and vintage mail, this episode celebrates the artists and guests who helped preserve Disneyland's magic one postcard at a time. Below are some of the regulars on Art Throw Down, Follow all of them on Instagram anyway for great art and postcards in your Instagram feed: Hipstadufus, luluvision, jlynch9923, greenmosspaper, georgemailsart, state_of_the_funyun, RussRomano2021

    12 min
5
out of 5
26 Ratings

About

Welcome to the Sent From Disneyland Podcast. "Here age relives fond memories of the past" On this podcast we will take a journey into the past and explore Disneyland and Disneyland history with mementos, snapshots, and postcards sent from Disneyland from 1955 to the present.

You Might Also Like