By July 1, 1954, George Whitney of Disneyland, Inc. directed Amusements, with Ron Miller overseeing analysis, philosophy, capacities, planning, operator training, and amusement procurement.

During 1954, Walt was searching for participants to lease shop and restaurant spaces at Disneyland, and help generate the necessary capital to fund construction of Disneyland. In a synergistic relationship, the companies (in turn) could sell their products and advertise their corporate names in the Park.

Soon, UPT Concessions would lease and operate all fast foods in Disneyland, including the Yacht Club quick service food location, offering snacks and drinks. “55er” Dean Penlick was a Chef Manager in a very successful Beverly Hills Restaurant when it was purchased by the American Broadcasting Company. UPT brought Dean to Disneyland as a food consultant.

“Lessee Designs”

By the spring of 1955, Disneyland, Inc. printed materials for Lessees detailing specifications for architectural designs of exhibit spaces. These were revised by March 16, 1955 and issued to Lessees like UPT.

All of the interior architectural drawings were done by competent registered architects or an approved display house of the lessee's choice. All of the designs submitted by the lessee's architect, whether for buildings or construction of interiors in DISNEYLAND, were approved as to the theme and general plan of DISNEYLAND as established by WED Enterprises, Inc.

Three sets of preliminary drawings were furnished DISNEYLAND, Inc. as soon as possible after signing of the lease. Two sets were retained by DISNEYLAND and one set was returned to the lessee’s architect with any revisions noted thereon and stamped “APPROVAL TO PROCEED TO FINAL DESIGN.” This stamp when properly signed and dated constituted the lessee’s authority to proceed with the final drawings.

The Lessees revised their final drawings to incorporate any revisions noted on the approved preliminary drawings, and submitted three sets of the revised drawings to DISNEYLAND. One set was returned to the lessee’s architect and any revisions noted thereon are to be incorporated on the original drawings. When the lessee had incorporated the final revisions on the drawings, two sets of transparent ozalids were forwarded to DISNEYLAND for approval. DISNEYLAND would stamp both sets “FINAL DESIGN APPROVED” and “LESSEE’S CONTRACT DRAWINGS”, and return one set to the lessee who could then release drawings for bid and/or construction.

“Construction and Launch”

The construction crews didn't begin work on any of Tomorrowland until six months into the project. F.M. Franz, manager of operations for MeNeil Construction expressed: "We feel sure there has never been anything built like this in Southern California, or elsewhere in the United States. Many of the items were constructed from artist’s sketches.”

The construction of the structure was of a frame-stucco basic construction, with plate glass wall on the front of the elevation.

According to inserts published in area newspapers during July of 1955, Disney buildings were roofed by Pioneer Roof & Shingle Company (then located at 608 Mateo Street, Los Angeles, California; 7522 Westminster Avenue, Westminster, California). The roof structure consisted of a very steep shed type roof, ranging from eight feet (at its low point) to a maximum height of fifteen feet tall.

The structure had plaster interior walls and ceilings, and 1,042 square feet overall. In addition, there were fourteen 7’x7’ steel frame and canvas canopies. There were also eight circular plastic canopies with a radius measuring approximately eight feet.

Newbery Electric Corporation gave electricity to Disneyland. “The electrical installations were supervised by Roy J. Gruendler, manager of Newbery's Orange County district office located at 1335 Santiago Ave, Santa Ana.”

As of June 2, 1955, C.V. Wood Jr. sent an Inter-Office Memorandum to Walt Disney regarding the best estimates that could be obtained at the time regarding the completion status of individual sections of the Park and Opening Day. C.V. wrote: “The [sic] Yacht Club: Exterior of the building should be completed. It is very doubtful if we can have the interior due the time required to fabricate fixtures.”

“Grand Opening”

Soon, in 1955, Guests were introduced to the nautical-themed, Yacht Club. The quick-service restaurant offered breathtaking views of Phantom Boats gliding across the Tomorrowland Lagoon.

At The Yacht Club automat (a “self-service restaurant”), Disneyland guests could order “light food and snacks” - chili dogs, submarine sandwiches, shakes, and pizza all in one venue. Carnation Farms would also serve this UPT concession and 14 other wholesale customers who operated restaurants and snack bars in Disneyland.

During 1957, with the imminent arrival of the Viewliner Train of Tomorrow, the concession stand was relocated behind one Tomorrowland Exhibit Hall (near the future site of the Art Corner). Within view of Tomorrowland Lake, the restaurant was appropriately renamed The Yacht Bar.

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By September of 1958, an appraisal of Disneyland “land improvement” assets valued the Yacht Club at $49,199. This was enough to warrant the construction of a new concrete dance floor, which was installed during 1958, at the cost of $3,594.71 ($1.71 for blue prints; $3,593 for construction by subcontractor Barnes Construction Company). Joe Fowler (Disneyland Operations Committee) oversaw the Construction & Maintenance division including Engineering, New Construction, Maintenance, and Janitorial related to the installation of the attraction.

During Date Nite of 1957, The Yacht Club stage was one of four locations hosting live entertainment like the Yacht Club Combo.

The Yacht Bar also offered a view of the greatest construction show on earth! The adjacent Holiday Hill area was leveled to make way for the Submarine Lagoon (over the former Tomorrowland Lake) and the Matterhorn. After all, The Yacht Bar would still fit in with the nautical attractions of 1959 - like the Motor Boat Cruise and the Submarine Voyage Thru Liquid Space.

When the Viewliner Train of Tomorrow was replaced by the ALWEG-Disneyland Monorail, the Yacht Bar remained in this Submarine Lagoon-adjacent location (seen in the foreground). Those crowd control barricades around the Submarine Voyage thru Liquid Space entrance (and the adjacent Yacht Bar) were soon removed when “six spectacular attractions” opened during 1959!

The Yacht Bar (pictured to the left), was situated near Tomorrowland’s Monorail Station.

“Banners In The Sky”

It seems that the tops of many Tomorrowland structures were decorated with flags - including the Hobbyland exhibition buildings. Those towers atop the exhibit halls (bearing nautical flags) to the right and left, are attributed to a rarely-mentioned Italian Art Director Gabe Scognamillo.

Gabe was first contracted by Walt Disney’s WED Enterprises Inc. to create many detailed concepts, elevation drawings, and other architectural artwork which ultimately became the final facade of the Upjohn Pharmacy on Main Street. But Gabe Scognamillo was most instrumental in developing what was perhaps the most challenging land of all to develop - Tomorrowland! His most notable contributions were toward the design of the Richfield Autopia neon sign and fuel pumps located near the Autopia Loading Zone. But (in line with our subject), Gabe also contributed designs of Tomorrowland exhibit halls (with towers and flags atop), a certain “Automat,” and many of the yellow-canopies over the benches and dining areas.

The exterior of the neighboring Yacht Bar was soon decorated with nautical flags representing various letters of the alphabet, though it’s unclear if the patterns spelled anything relevant. Whatever the case, the colorful flags dancing in the breeze likely made it easy for hungry Guests to spot the restaurant they desired from afar. Passing along in a Skyway Cabin, Guests may have shouted “Snacks Ahoy”!

By 1959, The Yacht Bar was still operated by UPT Concessions with a scope of sales focused on snacks and soft drinks. The Yacht Bar was accounted among Disneyland’s twenty eating facilities which were predicted to contribute to accommodating “15,000 persons daily, hitting a peak of 60,000 o holidays and week-ends…” and one of “twenty restaurants and snack bars, capable of saving 8,000 hourly,” at least according to “Building A Dream” (prepared by the Disneyland, Inc. Public Relations Department).

Some of those patrons, were regular customers, one of whom was Walt Disney. “55er” Dean Penlick recalled: “Walt's appetite was very plain, American. He liked hot dogs, hamburgers, chill. Since I worked mostly in fast foods, I had an opportunity to see him and serve him many times, because he'd just walk up and order whatever. He had a very definite philosophy which we still use as our guidelines in serving our guests. That is to serve a good, whole some, good value meal. That principal policy exists today. Walt might build a $5 million food facility but it didn't bother him that good hamburgers and hot dogs would be served in it.”

With the Submarine Voyage Thru Liquid Space soon-to-open, Walt was searching for ways to alleviate the boredom of waiting in lines (especially during the summers). Now, the “stage” attraction was already part of a concept which Walt helped pioneer - entertaining queue lines with live performances. So it was decided to shape the atmosphere of lands though themed shows. Such entertainment became a fundamental and traditional part of effecting the Disneyland show. In fact, “THE DISNEY THEME SHOW - an introduction to the art of Disney outdoor entertainment” said: “Important are the sounds which permeate the scene, for without them, the theme show is a silent movie . . . but with them it is a symphony of music, effects, and natural sounds that the finest stereo system in the world can't duplicate. These sights and sounds are provided not only by imagineered attractions and shows, but also through the multi-talented efforts of live entertainers . . . in special musical groups . . . in parades and pageants . . . providing an ever changing backdrop to virtually every area in the theme show.” This resulted in even non-Disney events like Expo ‘67, finding the “stage” show along to queues to be a success!

According to their record album : “Tommy Walker, Director of Music and Special Events at Disneyland Park, heard a group of four young men who called themselves The Yachtsmen and who were doing college shows and club dates in the Long Beach area. He was so taken with their unique manner of handling folk tune and popular material, that he booked them for the summer to entertain in Disneyland Park.” By 1959, Chuck Corson (who was a big fan of the Golden Horseshoe Revue) had become Disneyland Entertainment Director. He soon helped create many new acts for the “stages”, or lands of Disneyland. Fantasyland had its life-size characters, Frontierland had its gunfighters, while both Adventureland, Main Street USA and Tomorrowland would have live musical entertainment. Chuck would have a hand in bringing two memorable quartets into Disneyland – the Dapper Dans of Main Street, USA, and The Yachtsmen of Tomorrowland!

The Yachtsmen consisted of four members - Carl Berg, Ray Gordon, Jay Huling, and Bill Reed. “Carl Berg, leader of the group, is a Long Beach Boy who has been singing and playing guitar since his early childhood. Ray Gordon, whose instrument is banjo or string bass, lives in Garden Grove, California. Jay Huling of Downey, California sings and plays guitar and bongos. Bill Reed of Norwalk, California plays bass.”

The “natty vocal-instrumental quartet” generally performed near the Submarine Voyage Thru Liquid Space Entrance and adjacent General Dynamics Stage near the Yacht Bar. From both stages, they entertained crowds, and performing six days a week – week days (from 11:30am to 6:45pm), and Saturdays (from 1:45pm to 9pm).

“In the summer of 1961, The Yachtsmen returned again to their singing duties at Disneyland. While shooting a television show in Walt Disney’s Magic Kingdom, Benny Goodman heard the Yachtsmen perform and was so impressed that he immediately asked them to appear with him on his television show. In his introduction, Benny mentioned many of the other famous musical talents which he had discovered through the years and predicted a bright future for the Yachtsmen. Walt Disney is featuring theme in a soon-to-be-released television program, ‘Disneyland After Dark’.”

When the Yachtsmen weren’t performing from the stage, they also occasionally played Disneyland’s other venues. As mentioned, they would put on a show near the Submarine Voyage Entrance. But by 1960, there were two other bandstands in Disneyland - Magnolia Park and Plaza Gardens. So, The Yachtsmen were regularly scheduled to relieve the bands at Plaza Gardens and the 20,000 Leagues stage during the New Years Eve Party of 1962.

The Yachtsmen were also booked for the New Year’s Eve Party of January 1963, when they were assigned to play an area near the Disneyland Main Gate. Later that year, they participated in Disneyland’s big Summertime Spectacular of 1963 and Grad Nite 1963, when they performed (appropriately) from the upper deck of the Columbia! Owing to all these appearances, “The Yachtsmen were an immediate success with the Disneyland patrons, and since attendance at Disneyland Park during the summer is over 50% from outside the state of California, the Yachtsmen’s fame spread rapidly all over the United States.”

The Yachtsmen recorded twelve traditional and modern songs tracks released on one album (“High and dry with the Yachtsmen”), distributed through Buena Vista Records and Walt Disney Productions. Below is a transcript of the album’s track list of songs, some of which were occasionally performed inside Disneyland Park.

High and Dry (Berg-Huling) Seeing the Yachtsmen in full uniform and walking through the Disneyland desert one day on the way to work, Tommy Walker said “You boys look high and dry” and the Yachtsmen were so impressed with his anomaly that they composed the song which became the title song of this LP.

Cindy (Traditional) This is one of the most frequently performed banjo songs arising out of our American Folk Song Heritage.

MacPherson’s Lament (Traditional) Poor MacPherson is condemned to die from the Gallow’s Tree. We don’t know the reason for his death, but rather than let someone take his fiddle he breaks it through the middle.

Erie Canal (Tradional) This is the rocking song of the salt water sailors who wound up working on the famous inland canal.

John Riley (Traditional) This is the narrative song from England which tells the story of a young man who returns to a faithful wife after he has been away at sea for many years.

Those Green Eyes (Tom Campbell) This number in the folk song tradition tells the tender story of love for a beautiful woman.

Let Me Fly (Traditional) This is an old negro spiritual full of life, brilliance, and high spirits.

Sinner Man (Traditional) This is the age-old story of a man in search of some way to rid himself of sins.

East Virginia (Traditional) A love song from the southern mountains.

Fast Freight (Gilkyson) In this newer song done in the old tradition, Terry Gilkyson has written a haunting number telling how the low-wailing tone of the freight train’s whistle calls to many men.

Durante Jail (Berg-Campbell Huling) This original written by two of the Yachtsmen in collaboration with Tom Campbell tells how the outlaws of the Old West had a great dislike for the rather run down interior of the Durante Jail.

Darlin’ Cory (Traditional) A memorable song from the mountain country of the south, about a young maid whose investment in a liquor store still made her some fine money.

Despite The Yachtsmen’s rigorous schedule, other bands managed to perform on the General Dynamics Stage (including the unidentified band, pictured). This continued until the Yacht Bar (and its nearby stage) were both replaced by a larger venue.

Ultimately when the New Tomorrowland opened in 1967, the Yacht Bar (and its adjacent stage) were swept away by “the wave of the future” - Tomorrowland Terrace!

Though The Yacht Bar did not make the transition into New Tomorrowland, Its name indirectly lived on decades later, through Disney's Yacht Club Resort at Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. But, the resort itself was inspired mostly by the late 19th-century yacht club culture of coastal towns like Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, and Newport, Rhode Island. However, at Disney's Yacht Club Resort was a restaurant located just off the main lobby, called Disney's Yacht Club Galley. The menu motif looks strikingly familiar.

If you would like to read more about The Yacht Club, it’s my pleasure to recommend Marcy Smothers’ “Eat Like Walt - The Wonderful World of Disney Food” to your personal Disney Home Library! Therein, Marcy has extensively researched and finely crafted a small section of a chapter dedicated to “Walt Disney’s Disneyland - Tomorrowland.” If you would like to bring the magic of Disneyland restaurants and concessions to your dining room table, “please step this way” toward www.eatlikewalt.com where Marcy has shared a few recipes for memorable Disneyland menu options, so you too can “Eat Like Walt.”