During the week of July 17, 1955, Walt Disney’s new theme park, named “Disneyland,” opened to the public in Anaheim, California. The 17th, a Sunday, was intended to be an “international press preview,” limited to selected invitees who could ride the attractions, witness the parades, and take part in the televised dedication of the park.

Here’s a Disneyland inspired music mix: Castles Made Of Sand, Magical Mystery Tour, Do You Believe In Magic, Midnight Rider, See See Rider, All Down The Line, Ticket To Ride, Write Me A Ticket, Fun Time, Happy, Then He Kissed Me, Passionate Kisses, A Rock And Roll Fantasy.

Unbeknownst to Walt Disney or the television audience, the press event was rife with problems, in large part due to the unexpectedly large crowd and scorching outside temperatures of over 100 degrees. Drinking fountains were dry, restaurants ran out of food, rides were breaking down and a gas leak in Fantasyland caused half the park to temporarily close. Company insiders would later refer to opening day as “Black Sunday.” Walt Disney worked hard to restore faith in the park, inviting the press to return again once the problems had been sorted out.

Walt Disney nurtured the idea of Disneyland for years. Throughout the late 1940s and early 1950s he visited other amusement parks and carnivals with an eye towards creating his own. He began to envision a cleaner theme-based park where families could become a part of the magical world that his films depicted on the big screen. In 1952, he assembled a small group of artists and designers from his Walt Disney Studio staff and created a new company called WED (his own initials) to help make his amusement park dream a reality.

SOURCE: The Atlantic, ABC,Anaheim, P.B.S.