When Wrecks Go Historically Wrong

The day: July 17th.
The year: 1955.

After years of anticipation, Disneyland was ready to open its gates. People gathered by the hundreds to experience the new park.

But all was not smooth sailing on that fateful summer day, as many of the characters failed to impress.

There was, of course, Walt's favorite mouse:

But many of the other characters were sponsored by popular businesses of the time. Characters like:

Asbestos Jim:

Lead Paint Larry:

And Little Timmy the Coal Miner:

Another character to only last the day was Oscar the Ogre:

Unfortunately, Oscar was sponsored by Johnson's Fancy Heroin Hemorrhoid Cream.

In fact, only one other opening day character made the cut. An imagineer, desperate to impress Walt, glued a sailor hat to a passing duck and the rest, as they say, is history.

Later the duck was given a shirt and a large dose of amphetamines.

Thanks to Nick, Anony M., Cyndy O., Meghan M., Julie A., & Sydney D. for the fowl history lesson.

*****

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