Guy Williams Tribute : When LIFE Magazine meets ZORRO at Disneyland in 1958

Guy Williams was born January 14, 1924 and here is a tribute to the best "Zorro" of all time thanks to this 1958 LIFE Magazine special report by LIFE photographer Allan Grant at Disneyland, Anaheim. Let's have a look at these rare pictures and remember how great Guy Williams was!

Here he is arriving in Frontierland for the Zorro show.



Guy Williams as Zorro leaping from a roof during the show. This remembers me that we had a Zorro show at Disneyland Paris at the opening of the park, unfortunately canceled since then.



We must remember how good swashbuckler Guy Williams was. I think the other guy is the actor who played the Monasterio character in the first season, isn't it?



After the show, Guy Williams signed autographs for his (young) fans at Disneyland.



Now, LIFE photographers shoot Guy Williams also on the ZORRO TV series set! Here are some pictures, beginning by the one at the top of this article. Below, Guy Williams on the set of the TV series, on a white horse - not "Tornado" who had a black colour, if i remember well...



Actor Guy Williams practicing swordplay on the set for his role as Zorro.



Guy Williams acting in the TV show, against Sgt Garcia and another soldier.




Always on the set, with a lovely waitress.



This last picture doesn't show Williams and was not shoot at Disneyland, but it's a very rare picture of Zorro's creator, author Johston McCulley, helping neighborhood fans to imitate their hero!



All pictures: copyright LIFE Magazine

LIFE Magazine meets ZORRO at Disneyland in 1958

LIFE Magazine photographers were not only at Disneyland during special events, they have also shoot a series of pictures with Guy Williams - legendary actor who played ZORRO - in 1958 at Disneyland, Anaheim. Let's have a look at these rare Allan Grant pictures.

Here is Guy Williams arriving in Frontierland for the Zorro show.



Guy Williams as Zorro leaping from a roof during the show. This remembers me that we had a Zorro show at Disneyland Paris at the opening of the park, unfortunately canceled since then.



We must remember how good swashbuckler Guy Williams was. I think the other guy is the actor who played the Monasterio character in the first season, isn't it?



After the show, Guy Williams signed autographs for his (young) fans at Disneyland.



Now, LIFE photographers shoot Guy Williams also on the ZORRO TV series set! Here are some pictures, beginning by the one at the top of this article. Below, Guy Williams on the set of the TV series, on a white horse - not "Tornado" who had a black colour, if i remember well...



Actor Guy Williams practicing swordplay on the set for his role as Zorro.



Guy Williams acting in the TV show, against Sgt Garcia and another soldier.




Always on the set, with a lovely waitress.



This last picture doesn't show Williams and was not shoot at Disneyland, but it's a very rare picture of Zorro's creator, author Johston McCulley, helping neighborhood fans to imitate their hero!



All pictures: copyright LIFE Magazine

LIFE Magazine at Disneyland in the 1950's Part One

Legendary LIFE Magazine did several photographic report at Disneyland in the 1950's, and today we will have a look at the colour pictures. All pictures are coming from the great LIFE archives now available for all on the on line LIFE web site. Click on each to see them in big size.

Above and below, two pictures of the castle shoot by Allan Grant on opening day, July 1955. We know the famous picture of kids running out of the castle - although the one above is a different one - but what is interesting is the picture below with the kids going back inside the castle!



A picture of Main Street Station with the flowers forming design of Mickey Mouse's face, also in 1955.



Another picture by Allan Grant on opening day with children inside the Mad Hatter tea cups.



The two next pictures are beautiful shots of Mine train through Nature's wonderland. Pictures by Ralph Crane.




LIFE photographer Ralph Crane was also there when the Matterhorn opened. And these pictures are particularly interesting, not only because the were shoot from the top , but because in the background you can see Fantasyland attractions. Generally, with the pictures of the Matterhorn shoot from the top you see Tomorrowland with the Submarine Lagoon, etc...but not this time! Note: the first picture below was reversed - you could see it when you looked at the Alice in Wonderland ride who was on the right side instead to be on the left. The picture is now turned the right way!





Let's end with this other Ralph Crane picture of the Disneyland fireworks over the castle, beautiful shot like all the others!



All pictures: copyright LIFE Magazine.