The Mtn. ReView Summer 2015

OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE V o l u m e V Page 3 Immigrant House Update MOUNTAIN VIEW HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION Issue III Page 4-5 Spring Event Recap Summer 2015 Page 6 Street Talk Page 7 Membership Giant spinning teacups! Flying elephants! Speeding bobsleds! What do they all have in common? Well, anyone who grew up in California over the past six decades can probably tell you they’re all popular rides at Disneyland. What many people don’t know is that all of these iconic attractions were made right here in Mountain View by amusement park ride manufacturer Arrow Development! 1955 Mad Tea Party* *Present on opening day, Snow White’s Adventures* July 17, 1955 Mr.Toad’s Wild Ride* King Arthur Carrousel* Casey Jr. Circus Train Dumbo Flying Elephants Arrow’s original building – constructed in 1946 – still stands at 243 Moffett Boulevard. The company’s “big break” came in 1953, when Walt Disney hired Arrow to help engineer and manufacture six of Disneyland’s original attractions. Arrow relocated to a larger plant at 1555 Plymouth Avenue after the success of the Matterhorn Bobsled attraction, the world’s first modern steel roller coaster. The company went on to achieve great success designing rides and roller coasters. July 17, 2015 is the 60th anniversary of Disneyland and the MVHA is marking the occasion by dedicating our Summer BBQ to Arrow Development and the prominent role it played in the park’s creation. So in addition to all the traditional MVHA Summer BBQ fun (Parisian burgers! Raffles! Music!), we are bringing a bit of the “Happiest Place on Earth” to Mountain View! DISNEYLAND RIDE SYSTEMS “MADE IN MV” 1957 Midget Autopia 1958 Alice in Wonderland 1959 We are thrilled to announce that legendary Disney Matterhorn Bobsleds “Imagineer” Bob Gurr will be our event’s guest 1961 speaker and will share stories from his long career as Flying Saucers Disney’s chief ride vehicle designer. If you ever admired 1963 the sleek design of the Disneyland monorail, or if your Mark VI redesign of Autopia first time driving a car was in one of the park’s miniature 1966 “Autopia” vehicles , then you’ve experienced first-hand It’s a Small World his remarkable work. Bob’s talk is sure to be fascinating! 1967 Pirates of the Caribbean Adventure Thru Inner Space BBQ ticket order forms were sent last week, but you can find another order form on Page 7. So dust off those mouse ears and join us on August 2! 1969 Haunted Mansion 1