This 1956 “Your Guide to Disneyland” brochure map, sponsored by Bank of America, was distributed to guests in the park’s second season of operation. It is slightly larger than the original 1955 iteration and features a more elaborate, colorized, cartoon map of the park and its increased offerings from the previous year.
The relationship between Disney and Bank of America dates back to the release of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, a film they helped to finance. They would provide backing for many of the studio’s early animated films, as well as play a large role in funding the construction of Disneyland, even maintaining a fully-functional branch on Main Street, U.S.A., for several decades. This complimentary brochure map was made available to guests who utilized the branch’s services or just stopped in for a look. In fact, two of the sixteen panels are dedicated to the facility that was built to coincide with the turn-of-the-century style of Main Street. Coupled with a rendering of the branch is the following introductory text:
Disneyland branch of Bank of America…
In the unique, old-fashioned atmosphere of this branch, you may find it hard to believe that it is a fully-equipped, completely modern banking office! Yet that’s why we’re here—to be your bank away from home! It is our desire to provide you with the same friendly service that you receive at your hometown branch. Out-of-state visitors—as well as our regular California customers and friends—are cordially invited to make full use of these facilities.
Another four panels of the brochure describe the custom money orders, made specially for the Disneyland branch, and available in one, five, or ten dollar-amounts, that guests could purchase as souvenirs. All three money orders are pictured, accompanied by a brief explanation:
A souvenir from Disneyland…
SPECIAL BANK OF AMERICA MONEY ORDERS!
Here’s the perfect gift to send to the family or friends at home! Specially-printed one, five, and ten dollar money orders are available, without charge, right here at the Disneyland branch. Accepted by stores, shops, and banks anywhere in the nation, these souvenir money orders are as good as cash whenever you want to convert them. Be sure to get some while you’re here.
The brochure unfolds into an eight-panel map of the park, divided into its five lands: Main Street, U.S.A., Frontierland, Fantasyland, Adventureland, and Tomorrowland. This version features the 1956 Walt Disney Productions copyright at the bottom of the map (while retaining the 1955 copyright on the brochure’s front panel). Below can be found the park’s 1956 offerings, grouped for the most part by general location, rather than in the form of an itemized list as would be standard in later maps.
MAIN STREET
- Bank of America
- Main Street Depot; Refreshment Stand (Railroad Station)
- Horse-drawn Streetcars
- City Hall; Fire Department; Police Department
- Horse-drawn Fire Engine
- Eastman Kodak Exhibit; Coffee House (Maxwell House); Jewelry; Locks & Keys (Yale & Towne); Main Street Cinema; Pianos & Organs (Wurlitzer); Music Store; The Camera Shop; Tobacco Shop
- Books, Children’s; Gem Shop; Emporium Department Store; Glass Blower; Upjohn Pharmacy; Locker Service; Toy Store (Emporium)
- Bakery, Puffin; Candy Palace; Ice Cream Parlor (Carnation Co.); Jams, Jellies, Fresh Candied Fruit; Penny Arcade; Refreshment Corner (Coca-Cola Company); Shooting Gallery; Swim Suits and Sports Wear
- Ceramics & China; Swift Market House; Greeting Cards; Pen Shop; Metal and Wood Gifts (Ellen’s Gift Shop); Silhouette Studio; North America Information Center; Watches & Clocks
- Surrey Ride
- Red Wagon Inn
- Horseless Carriage; Omnibus
- Pavilion Restaurant (Cafeteria style)
- Motion Picture Souvenirs; Newsstands; Print Shop; Real Estate; Strollers and Wheel Chairs
FRONTIERLAND
- Conestoga (Covered Wagon) Ride; Mule Pack Ride; Rainbow Caverns Mine Ride; Stagecoach Ride
- Mark Twain Riverboat Ride
- Casa de Fritos (Mexican Food); Oaks Tavern (Malt Shop); Pancake House (Aunt Jemima); Refreshment Stand
- Bone Jewelry; Davy Crockett Cantina; Golden Horseshoe Saloon (Pepsi-Cola presents complete Old Western Stage Show); Jewelry, Handbags, Women’s Dresses and Skirts (Mexican Village); Men’s and Women’s Sports Wear and Blankets; Trading Post
- Chicken Plantation Restaurant; Tom Sawyer Island Raft Ride
- Frontierland Depot
- Mike Fink’s Keel Boat Ride
- Indian War Canoe Rides & Village
FANTASYLAND
- Sleeping Beauty Castle
- Magic Shop; Mr. Toad’s Wild Car Ride; Toys and Novelties; Peter Pan Ride
- Grape Juice Stand (Welch’s); The Art Corner, Pictures and Art Supplies; Mickey Mouse Club Cartoon Theater; Snow White Adventures Ride
- Food and Refreshment Stands; Casey Jr. Train; Dumbo the Flying Elephant
- Skyway Ride to Tomorrowland
- Carrousel; Mad Hatter Tea Cup Ride; Pirate Ship Restaurant (Chicken of the Sea)
- Food and Refreshment Stands; Storybook Land Canal Boat Ride
TOMORROWLAND
- Clock of the World
- Aluminum in our Future (Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp.); American Dairy Association Dairy Bar; Crane Exhibit (Bathroom of Tomorrow); Hobbies and Toys; Monsanto Hall of Chemistry (Chemistry Contributes to Tomorrow’s Living); 20,000 Leagues under the Sea Exhibit
- American Motors Circarama (Movies that Surround You); Dutch Boy (Color Gallery); Richfield Oil Corporation (“The World Beneath Us”) CinemaScope Technicolor Cartoon and Diorama); Space Station X-1; The Art Corner, Pictures and Art Supplies; Yacht Club
- Tomorrolwand Boats
- Autopia Cars and Freeway
- Skyway Ride to Fantasyland
- AstroJet; Rocket to the Moon; Space Bar
ADVENTURELAND
- Jungle River Boat Ride
- Bazaar; Chinese Gifts; Curio Hut; Guatemalan Weavers; Hawaiian Shop; Here and There Imports; Island Trade Store; Mexican Mart; Refreshment Stand; Tropical Imports; Tropical “Saloon” and Cantina
The back panel of the brochure includes an advertisement for the sponsor, with a quick blurb about the more than six hundred Bank of America branch locations nationwide, while the front features the “Your Guide to Disneyland” heading, sponsorship (“Compliments of Bank of America”) and original copyright (“1955, by Disneyland, Incorporated”) information, as well as simple drawings representing each of the park’s five lands.
This early Disneyland brochure map features one of the most popular early-park maps for today’s collector. While the 1955 version is sought after for its connection to the park’s opening, the 1956 has become desirable for the Walt Disney Productions map featured in its interior.
DISNEY COLLECTOR ARCHIVES 