There have been numerous book published about Disneyland and many of them are excellent reads. Disney fans devour these books. In addition to learning about what Disneyland was like, fans love seeing photos of what the park looked like in the years after it opened.
Although many Disney fans are familiar with photos of Walt Disney’s first theme park, there is a new book that is bringing a whole new perspective on how people will see and experience vintage Disneyland.
Dave Bossert, an award-winning producer, creative director, writer, and former Disney animator, has released his eighth book, “3D Disneyland: Like You’ve Never Seen It Before.” Not to sound cliche, this book truly is one book that Disney fans should have in their collection.
According to press notes, “‘3D Disneyland: Like You’ve Never Seen It Before‘ showcases a rare, never-before-seen collection of 3D photographs of Walt Disney’s theme park in all its glory.” This unique book it is collection of photos from the park’s opening week in July 1955 through the 25th anniversary in 1980 … and beyond. And yes, the book does come with a pair of classic 3D glasses to enjoy each stunning photo.
Experiencing “3D Disneyland” is similar to when kids looked at all kinds of images and scenes through a GAF Viewmaster. “That red and white plastic viewer transported me to far-off places allowing me to see the wonders of the world in glorious three-dimensional space,” stated Bossert. “At the time, it was the closest I could get to being there in person.”
The majority of the photos featured in the book were taken by Ted Kierscey. There are also some contemporary photos by Patrick Swinnea and a photo of Walt on Main Street U.S.A. by Gene Lester.
This is a beautiful book, divided into 12 chapters. The start with Main Street and end with Walt Disney at Disneyland. A pair of 3D glasses are included on the inside cover. A detailed description of a photograph on the left hand side of the page and while the image is featured on the right hand page.
Tom K. Morris, a retired Walt Disney Imagineer, wrote the Forward to the book. As he said, “This book is a book to be experienced.” And it is. Even though Disneyland is currently closed due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, when the “visitor” puts on the 3D glasses and looks at each of the images they are immediately transported inside the park.
Looking at each image one can hear the clip-clop of the horse’s hooves, laughter along the streets, music coming from each land, and the sound of people enjoying themselves. “3D Disneyland” is a dreamy book that takes the reader on an escape.
As Walt Disney said in 1955 when he opened Disneyland, “To all who come to this happy place; welcome. Disneyland is your land.” Readers of “3D Disneyland” will relive “fond memories of the past” and – at some point soon – “… savor the challenge and promise of the future.”
About Ted Kierscey
When he was in high school Kierscey won an art contest and the grand prize was scholarship to the Choinard Art Institute, sponsored by Walt Disney Productions. Walt presented the award personally to Kierscey.
A draft notice and a subsequent enlistment in the Navy – instead of the Army – delayed Kierscey from attending Choinard. In 1968 he was released from the Navy and promptly enrolled at Choinard. Two years later, he was released from active duty, graduated, and was immediately hired by Walt Disney Studios. He quickly rose through the ranks and worked on some of the most famous and important films from the Disney Studios including “The Little Mermaid” (1989), and “Beauty and the Beast” (1991).
Kierscey had a number of hobbies and one of them was taking 3D photographs. He began taking 3D photos back in 1955 and one of his subjects was Disneyland.
The genesis of the book
Bossert first met Kierscey in the 1990s when they shared an office at the Walt Disney Animation Studios. Kierscey was a master special effects artist with Disney from 1970 to 2013. Shortly after the animators were moved to the Roy E. Disney Animation Building, adjacent to the studios, Bossert says that is when he first saw Kierscey’s photographs.
“I have a vivid memory of one day in our new office when Ted brought in a collection of 3D slides of Disneyland,” said Bossert. “He shot the photographs when visiting Disneyland in 1980 during the 25th anniversary of the park and had others from shortly after the park opened in 1955 through 1958.”
Later that day and through the evening, a group of animators gathered in a conference room while Kierscey showed slides of photos he took at Disneyland. Many of these images included attractions that no longer existed. Bossert recalls, “the next day I told Ted he should put all those stereoscopic photographs of Disneyland in a book so that many more could appreciate them.”
Both gentleman remained friends long after they left The Walt Disney Company. Fast forward to 2018, Bossert and Kierscey were reminiscing about his 3D photographs and Bossert once again told him that he should really put them in book. This time Kierscey agreed.
In the introduction, Bossert goes into detail how stereoscopic photographs works giving the reader a very good understanding and appreciation of what is to come.
Bossert said one day while he was doing a podcast talking about the upcoming 3D book, a listener Patrick Swinnea decided to reach out to him. “Patrick happened to also be an accomplished stereo photographer,” said Bossert. “He offered to help convert the left and right eye views of Ted’s collection to the anaglyph images needed for the book.”
As Bossert says, “… the wonder of 3D photography [is] it can capture a moment in both time and space for posterity.”
“3D Disneyland: Like You’ve Never Seen It Before” is available at The Old Mill Press website, as well as on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Books A Million website.
3D Disneyland: Like You’ve Never Seen It Before
By Dave Bossert
200 pp. The Old Mill Press. Hardback, $65.00
